Patent ID: 8311469

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing device, including a flexible endless belt member to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation; a rotary pressing member disposed opposite the belt member; a stationary member provided inside a loop formed by the belt member and pressed against the rotary pressing member via the belt member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the belt member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes; an expandable heating member provided inside the loop formed by the belt member to face an inner circumferential surface of the belt member to heat the belt member, the heating member comprising an upstream portion provided upstream from a center of the nip in the direction of rotation of the belt member and a downstream portion provided downstream from the center of the nip in the direction of rotation of the belt member; and a regulator to regulate expansion of the heating member, the regulator contacting the downstream portion of the heating member to expand the downstream portion of the heating member, wherein an amount of expansion of the downstream portion of the heating member is greater than an amount of expansion of the upstream portion of the heating member.