Patent ID: 8811838

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a fixing rotary body heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a pressing rotary body rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body and separatably pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed in a state in which an image side of the recording medium that bears the unfixed toner image contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body and a non-image side of the recording medium that does not bear the unfixed toner image contacts an outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body; a protected object disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body and upstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body; a stationary duct disposed upstream from the protected object in the direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body, the stationary duct including a blowoff outlet disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body through which airflow impinges on the outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body; and a shield interposed between the blowoff outlet of the stationary duct and the protected object in the direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body to protect the protected object against airflow from the blowoff outlet.