Patent ID: 7489896

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a fixing member for fixing a transferred toner image onto a transfer target through a heating process; and a pressing member disposed in contact with said fixing member to define therebetween a nip zone for passing the transfer target therethrough, wherein said fixing member includes: a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal; a temperature-sensitive metal layer made of a temperature-sensitive metal; and an induction coil for applying a magnetic field to said nonmagnetic metal layer and said temperature-sensitive metal layer to cause induction heating therein, wherein: said temperature-sensitive metal layer is disposed closer to said induction coil than said nonmagnetic metal layer; said nonmagnetic metal layer is made of aluminum and formed to have a thickness allowing said nonmagnetic metal layer to be substantially free from a temperature rise due to said induction heating; and a lower limit value of the thickness of said nonmagnetic metal layer is set at 50 μm.