Patent ID: 8543045

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a rotatable fixing roller; an endless fixing belt that rotates in contact with the fixing roller; a pressing unit having a first pressing member and a second pressing member, the first pressing member contacting the fixing belt from a back side of the fixing belt and pressing a surface of the fixing belt against the fixing roller to form a fixing portion through which a fixing object passes, the second pressing member contacting the fixing belt from the back side of the fixing belt and pressing the surface of the fixing belt against the fixing roller to form the fixing portion through which the fixing object passes; a fixed support member that supports the fixing roller rotatably; a movable support member that rocks closer to and away from the fixing roller, supports the first pressing member in a fixed state, and supports the second pressing member adjacent to the first pressing member in a manner such that the second pressing member is movable closer to and away from the fixing roller; a first pressure spring that applies pressure to move the movable support member closer to the fixing roller; a second pressure spring that applies pressure to move the second pressing member closer to the fixing roller; and a switch mechanism that changes a movable range of the movable support member so as to switch between a first state in which the first pressing member and the second pressing member are pressed against the fixing roller with the fixing belt being disposed therebetween and a second state in which only the second pressing member is pressed against the fixing roller with the fixing belt being disposed therebetween, wherein the first pressing member is an inelastic material, and the second pressing member is an elastic material.