Patent ID: 7792476

Claim:
A fusing apparatus, comprising: a heating unit to generate heat to fuse an image onto a printing medium; a pressurizing roller that faces and contacts the heating unit having an endless fusing film that is rotated while facing and contacting the pressurizing roller and presses the printing medium toward the heating unit; a nip forming member to contact a portion of the fusing film to the pressing roller to form a nip comprising: a main body formed inside the fusing film to surround a heat source; a plurality of adhering portions having an opening portion on a horizontal base therebetween and adhering a portion of the fusing film toward the pressurizing roller; a plurality of opening forming portions formed vertically with respect to the adhering portions so as to connect each of the adhering portions to the main body and form the opening portion such that heat generated from the heating unit arrives at the fusing film via the opening portion; and a supporting member to support the nip forming member.