Patent ID: 8989643
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device comprising: an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt; an opposed rotary body pressed against a part of the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed, and a belt holder contacting and rotatably supporting each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof, the belt holder having a semi-circular shape with an opening therein so as to form a C-shaped cross-section and being oriented such that the opening faces the fixing nip, wherein the nip formation assembly includes a base pad defining the fixing nip, the base pad including: wherein a location of the curved portion of the base pad relative to the belt holder is defined with respect to a hypothetical circle that overlaps an outer circumference of the C-shaped belt holder and a hypothetical plane that orthogonally intersects the hypothetical circle at two points so as to extend through the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction, such that the curved portion is located inside a region enclosed by both the hypothetical circle and the hypothetical plane, and the curved portion being spaced apart from the hypothetical circle and the hypothetical plane.