Patent ID: 8437675

Claim:
A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, comprising: an endless belt-shaped fixing member rotating in a predetermined direction of rotation, formed in a loop; a pressing member contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes; a laminated heater facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member to heat the fixing member; and a heater support provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member to support the laminated heater, the laminated heater provided between the fixing member and the heater support and comprising a flexible, first heat generation sheet having a predetermined length in a circumferential direction of the fixing member and a width in an axial direction of the fixing member, the first heat generation sheet comprising: an insulating base layer; at least one resistant heat generation layer provided on the base layer to generate heat; and at least one electrode layer, provided on a surface of the base layer parallel to a direction of travel of the recording medium, to supply power to the at least one resistant heat generation layer, wherein the laminated heater further comprises a second heat generation sheet provided on the first heat generation sheet, and comprising: an insulating base layer; at least one resistant heat generation layer provided on the base layer to generate heat; and at least one electrode layer provided on the base layer to supply power to the at least one resistant heat generation layer, and wherein the second heat generation sheet is divided into a plurality of regions and the at least one resistant heat generation layer is provided in at least one of the plurality of regions to generate heat independently.