Patent ID: 8594551

Claim:
A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording medium, comprising: a fixing member that is flexible; a pressing member, exterior to the fixing member, that is in pressure contact with the fixing member; a contacting member in an interior of the fixing member which contacts the fixing member and is stationary relative to the fixing member; a heater that emits infrared rays; and a heat transfer member which receives the infrared rays from the heater, is heated by the heater, and transfers heat from the infrared rays to the contacting member, and a perimeter of a cross-section of the heat transfer member surrounding the heater and having only curved lines, wherein: the contacting member is in contact with the pressing member via the fixing member, the contacting member transfers heat from the heat transfer member to the fixing member, the contacting member and the pressing member sandwich the fixing member thereby forming a nip portion, and during a fixing operation, the contacting member is stationary relative to the fixing member.