Patent ID: 7187894

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming section for forming an unfixed image on a transfer medium; and a fixing device for fixing the unfixed image by sandwiching and heating the transfer medium on which the unfixed image is formed, wherein the fixing device comprises: a fixing roller that contacts the unfixed image; a press roller that contacts the fixing roller via the transfer medium; a heat belt that contacts the fixing roller and heats the fixing roller; a plurality of support rollers that support the heat belt such that the heat belt is wound around the support rollers; a heat source that heats the heat belt; and means for pressing the heat belt against the fixing roller in a portion of a contact area where the fixing roller and the heat belt contact each other; wherein pressure distribution in the contact area where the fixing roller and the heat belt contact each other is asymmetric in a running direction of the heat belt, and pressure is higher at an upstream side in the running direction of the heat belt.