Patent ID: 8831495

Claim:
A fusing device comprising: a fusing belt disposed in a rotatable manner; a heat source placed in the fusing belt to heat the fusing belt; a pressure roller including a shaft and an elastic layer surrounding the circumference of the shaft to apply pressure to an outer surface of the fusing belt; and a nip plate to support an inner surface of the fusing belt to define a fusing nip between the fusing belt and the pressure roller, wherein the nip plate includes: a pressure portion arranged to face the pressure roller and to apply pressure to the inner surface of the fusing belt; and a stepped portion located at an outer side of the pressure portion and the elastic layer with respect to a longitudinal direction of the nip plate, the stepped portion being spaced apart from the inner surface of the fusing belt to define a space for accommodation of a lubricant applied to the inner surface of the fusing belt.