Patent ID: 8364052

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a hollow, stationary metal roller extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner circumference thereof subjected to heating; a flexible fuser belt looped for rotation around the metal roller to transfer heat radially outward from the heated metal roller; a rotatable pressure member extending opposite the metal roller in the longitudinal direction, with the fuser belt interposed between the metal roller and the rotatable pressure member; a fuser pad held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt to press against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip through which a recording medium is passed to fix a toner image thereupon under heat and pressure; a reinforcing member disposed stationary within the roller interior to reinforce the fuser pad; and a heating assembly disposed stationary within the roller interior to heat the metal roller from inside, the heating assembly including: a first heater having a heating element thereof positioned facing a longitudinal center of the metal roller; and a second heater having a heating element thereof positioned facing two longitudinal ends of the metal roller, the first and second heaters being arranged in juxtaposition with each other along the inner circumference of the metal roller.