Patent ID: 8320808

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a rotational fixing member configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet; a pressing member configured to press against and create a nip on the fixing member; at least one sheet separation member configured to separate the sheet ejected from the fixing nip; at least two spacers each having a leading end configured to engage the rotational fixing member and distance the at least one sheet separation member from the rotational fixing member by an amount; and at least one biasing device configured to bias the at least one sheet separation member together with the at least two spacers toward the rotational fixing member, wherein each of leading ends of the at least two spacers has a width and a curvature in a rotational direction of the fixing member, and a radius of the curvature is largest at the widthwise center and gradually decreases toward both ends from the widthwise center in the each of the leading ends.