Patent ID: 8909117

Claim:
A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium, comprising: a rotatable endless belt; a nip forming member provided inside a loop formed by the belt; a support that supports the nip forming member, the support including a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and exactly two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member; a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt; a heat source configured to heat a portion of the belt directly by a radiant heat without directly heating any portion of the nip; and a reflector provided between the heat source and the support to reflect the heat from the heat source, such that the reflector covers the support without surrounding an entirety of the support, and a concave portion of the reflector extending between the two arms of the support, wherein a first portion of the heat source is positioned to be directly between the two arms of the support and within the concave portion of the reflector, and a second portion of the heat source is positioned to be outside of the two arms of the support and the reflector.