Patent ID: 8401414

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a pressing member to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation; a flexible endless fixing member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the pressing member; a nip formation member provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes; a first heat generator facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member; and a second heat generator facing the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member, and disposed adjacent to the first heat generator along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, wherein: the fixing member is substantially cylindrical, and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator is arc-shaped both at an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, the fixing device further comprising: a first temperature detector contacting the first heat generator to detect temperature of the first heat generator; a second temperature detector contacting the second heat generator to detect temperature of the second heat generator; a first driver connected to the first heat generator to drive the first heat generator; a second driver connected to the second heat generator to drive the second heat generator; and a controller connected to the first temperature detector, the second temperature detector, the first driver, and the second driver to control the first driver based on a detection result provided by the first temperature detector and control the second driver based on a detection result provided by the second temperature detector.