Patent ID: 8639170

Claim:
A fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip, the fixing device comprising: a heat-generating endless belt having, on a circumferential surface thereof, a sheet passing area through which the recording sheet passes; a first pressure member disposed inside a running path of the heat-generating endless belt; and a second pressure member disposed to press the heat-generating endless belt against the first pressure member from outside the running path to form the fixing nip, wherein the heat-generating endless belt includes: a resistive heat layer that generates heat upon having electric current applied thereto; and a pair of electrode layers that receive electric current, the electrode layers flanking the sheet passing area, and the resistive heat layer is in contact with the electrode layers at a different one of end faces opposing each other in a width direction of the resistive heat layer, wherein each electrode layer is continuous to extend, from a portion thereof in contact with the end face of the resistive heat layer, along an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer, and the heat-generating endless belt includes insulating layers, one between the electrode layer and the inner circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer and, another between the electrode and the outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer.