Fixing device and image forming apparatus

摘要

A fixing device may include an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
an endless fixing member; a heater inside an inner periphery surface of the endless fixing member, the heater configured to heat the fixing member; and a nip forming unit inside the inner periphery surface of the fixing member, the nip forming unit configured to come into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween so as to form a nip through which a recording sheet is conveyed, the nip forming unit including,
a supporting member having first and second ends in a recording sheet width direction, anda contact member supported by the supporting member, the contact member configured to,
bend a bent amount when the pressing member presses against the contact member with the fixing member interposed therebetween in a load state, andprotrude towards the pressing member less than the bent amount when the pressing member does not press against the contact member in a no-load state, whereinin a direction perpendicular to the surface of the recording sheet, a length of the contact member at a center of the contact member in the recording sheet width direction is longer than a length of the contact member at the first and second ends of the contact member in the recording sheet width direction.