Patent ID: 8346145

Claim:
A fixing unit for fixing a toner image onto paper, comprising: a member to be heated; a pressurizing member configured to press against the member to be heated and fix the toner image to the paper; at least one coil surface disposed along one surface of the member to be heated and including a coil configured to generate a magnetic field for inductively heating the member; at least one magnetism shielding member disposed in the vicinity of the at least one coil surface; and a switching member including a rotatable center core configured to allow a passage of a magnetic flux of the magnetic field and a movable shielding member configured to prevent the passage of the magnetic flux of the magnetic field, wherein the movable shielding member is attached to the center core, the amount of heat for the member when the switching member is situated in a first position where the movable shielding member is close to the at least one magnetism shielding member is smaller than when the switching member is situated in a second position where the movable shielding member is distanced from the at least one magnetism shielding member, and the at least one magnetism shielding member is disposed between the at least one coil surface and the member to be heated.