Patent ID: 8606163

Claim:
A fixing device for causing a recording sheet, on which an unfixed image has been formed, to pass through a fixing nip, and thermally fixing the unfixed image onto the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt that is endless; a first pressing member provided inside a closed rotation path of the fixing belt; a second pressing member operable to press the first pressing member from outside the closed rotation path so as to form the fixing nip; and a meander regulation member provided adjacent to an edge of the fixing belt in a width direction thereof, and operable to prevent meandering of the fixing belt, wherein the fixing belt includes: a resistive heat layer that is tubular and generates heat when an electric current is applied thereto; and first and second electrodes that are provided circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer, and that receive and apply the electric current to the resistive heat layer, and the first electrode is provided closer to the meander regulation member than to the second electrode, and is at a distance from the edge of the fixing belt in the width direction that is greater than or equal to 2 mm.