Patent ID: 8331821
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device, comprising: a fixing member which is rotatably provided around an axis thereof, heats a recording material bearing an unfixed toner image, and melts a toner constituting the unfixed toner image; a pressure member which is rotatably provided around an axis thereof, comes into pressure-contact with the fixing member to form a pressure-contact portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, pressurizing the conveyed recording material bearing the unfixed toner image at the pressure-contact portion, and fixing the unfixed toner image to the recording material in cooperation with the fixing member; an external heating section including a plurality of supporting rollers, an endless external heating belt rotatably supported around the plurality of supporting rollers with tension so as to come in contact with an outer periphery of the fixing member, and a heating member for heating the external heating belt, thereby heating the outer periphery; and a separation/contact section which carries out separation/contact operation of the external heating section with respect to the fixing member by rotating the external heating section using a central axis of one supporting roller out of the plurality of supporting rollers, as a rotation axis, wherein out of the plurality of supporting rollers, only the supporting roller having a central axis as the rotation axis has the heating member therein.