Patent ID: 7783218
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus, comprising a fixing member; a pressure member; an external heating device, in which a belt set around a plurality of supporting rollers in contact with a peripheral surface of the fixing member is heated by a first heating section so as to heat the fixing member and the belt is rotated according to rotation of the fixing member; the fixing member and the pressure member sandwiching and transporting a recording material, so that an unfixed image formed on the recording material is fixed onto the recording material by heating from the fixing member, said fixing apparatus, further comprising: a first temperature detecting section for detecting a surface temperature of the belt; a rotation driving section for driving to rotate the fixing member; and a control section for causing the first heating section to heat the belt for start of rotation of the fixing member, and causing the rotation driving section to rotate the fixing member when the belt reaches a first target temperature at which the belt is softened, wherein: 0.1 mm≦L