Patent ID: 8219015

Claim:
A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, comprising: an endless belt member to rotate in a predetermined direction; a rotary member in rotatable contact with an outer circumferential surface of the belt member; and a fixed member provided inside a loop formed by the belt member over which an inner circumferential surface of the belt member slides, the fixed member pressed against the rotary member via the belt member to form a nip portion between the rotary member and the belt member through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes, the fixed member comprising: a body opposing the nip portion; a low-friction sheet member wrapped around the body of the fixed member in a sliding direction in which the belt member slides over the fixed member, in such a manner that the low-friction sheet member covers a surface of the body opposing the nip portion; and at least one plate spring contacting an outer circumferential surface of the low-friction sheet member to press the low-friction sheet member against the body with an elastic force to apply a predetermined tension to the low-friction sheet member.