Patent ID: 8447199

Claim:
A fixing device, comprising: a fixing member to heat an unfixed toner image on a recording medium; a pressure member disposed opposite the fixing member, to press against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium, the position of the fixing nip being changeable; a sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member to guide the recording medium to the fixing nip and move in conjunction with movement of the pressure member; and a pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member to adjust an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member, wherein the sheet guide includes a contact portion to contact the pressure member outside an area where the recording medium passes and a biasing member to press against the contact portion and bias the contact portion against the pressure member, to maintain a constant gap between the leading end of the sheet guide downstream of the conveyance direction of the recording medium and the pressure member.