Patent ID: 8064798

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a flexible endless belt to move in a predetermined direction to heat and melt a toner image on a recording medium; a pressing rotary member pressed against the belt to form a nip portion to nip and convey the recording medium bearing the toner image as the recording medium passes between the pressing rotary member and the belt; a heater to generate heat; and a heating member fixedly provided inside a loop formed by the belt and facing an inner circumferential surface of the belt, the heating member heated by the heater to heat the belt, the heating member comprising: a primary heating portion directly heated by the heater; and a secondary heating portion continuous with and adjacent to the primary heating portion and heated by heat conducted from the primary heating portion, the primary heating portion and the secondary heating portion being provided in a circumferential direction of the heating member, the secondary heating portion having a heat capacity smaller than a heat capacity of the primary heating portion.