Patent ID: 7603069

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that comprises a fixing apparatus including an external heating section that brings an endless belt member into contact with a surface of a rotatable fixing member and supplies heat from the belt member to the fixing member so as to externally heat the fixing member, said fixing apparatus causing a printing medium to pass between the fixing member and a pressure member pressed against the fixing member, so as to fix a toner image formed on the printing medium, the external heating section including; the belt member; a heating member provided inside the belt member and pressed against the fixing member via the belt member; and a release/contact mechanism for causing the heating member to separate from or contact with the fixing member, the belt member and the fixing member being in contact with each other, with the heating member separated from the fixing member by the release/contact mechanism, wherein the belt member is provided with a resin layer; wherein the belt member is suspended by a plurality of belt-suspending rollers including at least one heatable belt-suspending roller having a heat source therein, and at least one unheated belt-suspending roller, the heatable belt-suspending roller serving as the heating member, and wherein the release/contact mechanism moves the heatable belt-suspending roller and does not move the unheated belt-suspending roller.