Patent ID: 8417138

Claim:
A fixing device for fixing a toner image transferred onto a sheet, comprising: a fixing roller configured to have a conductive layer provided thereon; a pressure roller configured to rotate in a state engaged with said fixing roller to thereby cause said fixing roller to be rotated in a driven manner; an induction heating unit including a magnetic core and an exciting coil and configured to generate an eddy current in said conductive layer provided on said fixing roller to thereby cause heat to be generated in said conductive layer; and a control unit configured to control driving of said induction heating unit, wherein a plurality of said induction heating units are arranged at different locations along a rotational direction of said fixing roller, and wherein in a state where said fixing roller and said pressure roller are disengaged from each other, said control unit drives said plurality of induction heating units with a phase difference therebetween to thereby cause a rotation force to be generated in said fixing roller.