Patent ID: 8687995

Claim:
An electrophotography type image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic type printing unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a printing medium; and a fusing device to fuse the transferred toner image on the printing medium by heating and compressing the transferred toner image on the printing medium as the printing medium passes through a fixing nip, wherein the fusing device includes: a heating roller to generate heat; and a compressing element engaged to the heating roller to form the fixing nip, wherein the heating roller comprises: a supporter extending along a support axis and having a cylindrical outer circumference; a resistive heating layer being electrically conductive to receive electrical current and that is formed on the outer circumference of the supporter, wherein the resistive heating layer generates heat in response to the electrical current; and a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of electrodes being disposed between the supporter and the resistive heating layer, and electrically connected to the resistive heating layer to deliver the electrical current to the resistive heating layer, wherein the plurality of electrodes are spaced apart along a direction of the support axis of the supporter.