Patent ID: 8190060

Claim:
A fixing device, comprising: a first fixing member having a roller shape; a second fixing member having an endless belt shape and disposed opposite the first fixing member, the first fixing member and the second fixing member forming a pair of fixing members to nip a recording medium so as to fix a toner image on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium; a plurality of rollers around which the second fixing member is stretched; a pressure application lever to press the second fixing member toward the first fixing member, including an immovable end fixed to a fixing device support and a movable end provided opposite the immovable end; a pressure release lever rotatably supported by the pressure application lever, a lock member rotatably supported by the pressure release lever at a first end, with a second end provided opposite the first end; a first shaft to rotatably support the pressure release lever and the lock member; and an elastic member to engage the second end of the lock member to pull the lock member in a lock direction, wherein the pressure release lever rotates to move the lock member between a pressure application position, at which the lock member causes the pressure application lever to press the second fixing member toward the first fixing member so as to apply tension to the second fixing member, and a pressure release position, at which the pressure application lever moves toward the second fixing member to separate the second fixing member from the first fixing member and release tension applied to the second fixing member, the elastic member pulls the pressure application lever and the lock member in the lock direction when the lock member is positioned at the pressure application position, and when the pressure release lever moves about the first shaft in a counterclockwise direction, the pressure release lever moves toward an upper side of the lock member.