Patent ID: 8526871

Claim:
A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, the fixing device comprising: a fixing roller comprising a first elastic layer as a surface layer and having a roller hardness A; a separation roller provided downstream from the fixing roller in a recording medium conveyance direction and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing roller, the separation roller comprising a second elastic layer as a surface layer and having a roller hardness B smaller than the roller hardness A of the fixing roller; an endless fixing belt wound around at least the fixing roller and the separation roller; and a pressing roller pressed against the fixing roller and the separation roller via the fixing belt to form a nip portion between the fixing belt and the pressing roller through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes, the pressing roller comprising a third elastic layer as a surface layer and having a roller hardness C not smaller than the roller hardness A of the fixing roller.