Patent ID: 8086119

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a heating rotating body that is heated by a heater and rotates about a first rotation shaft; a pressurizing rotating body that is in contact with a surface portion of the heating rotating body extending along a direction of the first rotation shaft and rotates about a second rotation shaft, and that forms a fixing portion through which a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is passed; a pressing mechanism that presses the pressurizing rotating body against the heating rotating body and that uses a plurality of springs disposed on both end portions of the pressurizing rotating body in a direction of the second rotation shaft; and a switching mechanism that switches between a first pressing state in which first combination of springs selected from among the plurality of springs in the pressing mechanism are maintained so that a pressure of the first combination is exerted and a second pressing state in which second combination of springs selected from among the plurality of springs except the first combination of the springs are maintained so that a pressure of the second combination is exerted.