Patent ID: 8417169

Claim:
A fixing device comprising: a hollow, open-sided stationary heat roller to heat an outer circumference thereof, the heat roller having an elongated longitudinal side opening therein that opens into a hollow interior thereof; a flexible fuser belt looped for rotation around the heat roller to transfer heat radially outward from the outer circumference of the roller; a fuser pad held substantially stationary along the roller opening outward from the roller interior and inward from the loop of the fuser belt; a rotatable pressure member disposed opposite the heat roller with the fuser belt interposed therebetween, the pressure member pressed against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip through which a recording medium is passed to fix a toner image under heat and pressure; a reinforcing member disposed within the roller interior to thrust against the fuser pad through the roller opening for reinforcement; and a sealing mechanism disposed on the roller opening to prevent foreign matter from entering the roller interior through the roller opening.