FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

摘要

A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt stretched taut across a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A pressure rotator is pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, includes a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and a bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid. The bulge projects toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid.

主权项

1. A fixing device comprising:
a first roller including a surface elastic layer; a second roller; an endless fixing belt stretched taut across the first roller and the second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a pressure rotator pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, the fixing nip through which a recording medium is conveyed; and a separation aid disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, the separation aid including:
a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt; anda bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid, the bulge projecting toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid.