Patent ID: 8401452

Claim:
A fixing device, comprising: a fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a recording material by application of heat and pressure; and a glossing unit that controls a gloss of the toner image fixed on the recording material, the glossing unit disposed downstream from the fixing unit relative to a direction of conveyance of the recording material, and the glossing unit including: a heating roller, an endless belt stretched taut over multiple rollers including the heating roller, a pressing roller pressed against the heating roller with the endless belt therebetween to form a nip therebetween, and a separating member that separates the recording material from the endless belt downstream from the nip, wherein the multiple rollers are positioned to maintain the recording material in contact with the endless belt for a predetermined distance downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording material, and wherein the separating member is movable along the endless belt downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording material, to control a length of contact between the recording material and the endless belt.