Patent ID: 6577840
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A fixing apparatus, comprising:a receiving roller configured to rotate around a rotation axis fixed at a position; a fixing roller having an elastic layer; a fixing belt wound around a surface of said fixing roller and configured to receive a pressure via said fixing roller to push said receiving roller so that a fixing nip area is formed between said fixing belt and said receiving roller; a heat source configured to apply heat to said fixing belt; a driving source configured to rotate said receiving roller; and a supporting roller arranged inside said fixing belt in contact therewith, said supporting roller guiding said belt to provide a portion of said fixing nip area at a location apart from said fixing roller, wherein said receiving roller has a structure resistant to deformation in comparison with a structure of said fixing roller, and wherein a recording sheet carrying an image on a surface thereof is conveyed to said fixing nip area in an orientation in which the surface carrying the image contacts said fixing belt and another surface of the recording sheet carrying no image contacts said receiving roller.