Patent ID: 7383010

Claim:
A fixing apparatus for an electronic induction heating system, comprising: a heat roller that comprises magnetic and conductive material; a magnetic excitation coil configured to generate a magnetic field that extends to the heat roller, to generate an eddy current within the heat roller, and to generate Joule heat within the heat roller; a coil positioner configured to position the magnetic excitation coil around a portion of a periphery of the heat roller; a fixing roller configured to fix toner image on a recording medium; and a belt configured to contact a portion of a periphery of the heat roller and the fixing roller to conduct the generated heat from the heat roller to the fixing roller, the coil positioner being further configured to have a surface of first curvature substantially identical to a curvature of a periphery of the heat roller at an opposition area, the opposition area being opposite to a contact area where the heat roller makes contact with the belt, the coil positioner being spaced from the belt by a predetermined distance, the coil positioner being further configured to have a first extension extending from a first end of the opposition area of the coil positioner and to have a second extension extending from a second end of the opposition area of the coil positioner, the first extension and the second extension being spaced from the belt distances larger than the predetermined distance.