Patent ID: 8295751

Claim:
A thermal fixing unit configured to fix a toner image on a printing medium, the fixing unit comprising: a heat member configured to be in contact with the printing medium and defining an axis, the heat member being positionally fixed and including a heat roller rotatable about the axis defined by the heat member; a pressure pad disposed in opposition to the heat member, wherein the pressure pad is configured to nip the printing medium in cooperation with the heat member; a movable supporting assembly configured to pivotably movably support the pressure pad, the supporting assembly comprising: a mount portion disposed along a length of the pressure pad and having a shaft member defining an axis, the pressure pad being fixed to the mount portion, and an arm portion pivotably movable toward and away from the heat roller, the arm portion configured to pivotably movably support the mount portion about the axis defined by the shaft member; and an urging member configured to connect to the arm portion and to bias the supporting assembly to urge the pressure pad toward the heat member for providing pressure contact between the heat member and the pressure pad, wherein the heat roller, the pressure pad, the mount portion and the arm portion are positioned in a geometrical relationship such that the pressure pad is pressable against the heat roller in a direction parallel to a line passing through the axis defined by the shaft member and the axis defined by the heat roller.