Patent ID: 8532529

Claim:
A fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image to a recording medium while conveying the recording medium, comprising: a fixing portion; a pressing roller; a cleaning portion; and a contact/separation mechanism, wherein the fixing portion includes: a fixing roller so as to rotate freely; a heating roller; and a fixing belt that is looped over the fixing roller and the heating roller and heats and fuses the unfixed toner image on the recording medium to fix onto the recording medium, the pressing roller is provided at the position facing the fixing roller via the fixing belt so as to rotate freely and conveys the recording medium while pressing to the fixing belt, the cleaning portion comprises a cleaning member impregnated with silicone oil that comes into contact with the pressing roller to clean up the pressing roller, the contact/separation mechanism brings the fixing portion into contact with/separation from the pressing roller, viscosity of the silicone oil is 3,000 cs or more, and while the cleaning portion remains in contact with the pressing roller, the contact/separation mechanism separates the fixing belt and the pressing roller during preliminary rotation of the fixing belt and the pressing roller in preparatory operation before fixing, and wherein the fixing belt has a multilayered structure, and the surface layer of the fixing belt is formed of a fluororesin tube, and wherein the cleaning member is formed of a web material made of a heat-resistant nonwoven fabric.