Patent ID: 8265538

Claim:
A fixing device that fixes an unfixed image formed on a recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing roller that is elastic and rotates with a surface thereof heated; a fixing belt that is brought into pressure-contact with the surface of the fixing roller; and a pressing member that presses an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to bring the fixing belt into pressure-contact with the surface of the fixing roller so as to allow the fixing belt to revolve according to the rotation of the fixing roller, and form a fixing nip portion between the fixing belt and the fixing roller, wherein the pressing member has an opposing surface opposing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and including a pressing area that presses the surface of the fixing roller via the fixing belt, part of the pressing area in each end portion of the opposing surface in an axis direction of the fixing roller is smaller than part of the pressing area in a central portion of the opposing surface in the axis direction, and a pressure intensity per unit area that acts on a surface of the fixing roller by each end portion is greater than a pressure intensity per unit area that acts on a surface of the fixing roller by the central portion.