Patent ID: 8472855

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a metal pipe that is tubular and stationary; a heater disposed adjacent to the metal pipe to heat a circumference thereof, the metal pipe having multiple through-holes provided at least at a circumferential perforated section thereof that radially faces the heater; a flexible fuser belt looped for rotation in a rotational direction around the metal pipe to transfer heat radially outward from the circumference of the metal pipe; a rotatable pressure member extending opposite the metal pipe with the fuser belt interposed between the metal pipe and the pressure member; a fuser pad accommodated within the metal pipe and held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt, in contact with the fuser belt to press against the rotatable pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip through which a recording medium is passed to fix a toner image thereupon under heat and pressure; and a tubular pipe cover disposed between the metal pipe and the fuser belt, the tubular pipe cover being formed of a fluorine-containing polymer fitted around the metal pipe to cover the circumferential perforated section.