Patent ID: 8731450

Claim:
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, comprising: a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element disposed inside the fusing member; a nip plate disposed on an inner surface of the fusing member in such a manner that permits the fusing member to slide along the nip plate, and configured to be heated by the heating element; and a backup member configured such that the fusing member is nipped between the backup member and the nip plate to form a nip portion between the fusing member and the backup member, wherein the nip plate is bent to: form a recessed portion which opens toward the inner surface of the fusing member and which is configured to hold a lubricant, and include first and second portions, each configured to be a flat plate extending along a recording sheet conveyance direction, connecting portions extending from inner edges of the first and second portions toward the backup member, and a central portion connecting the connecting portions, wherein bent portions of the nip plate, at least partially provided by the first and second portions and the connecting portions, each serve as the recessed portion.