Fixing device, fixing method, and recording apparatus

摘要

A fixing device for fixing the toner on the recording medium comprising a pair of fixing rollers which face each other and rotate in opposite direction to form a nipping and fusing section for toner fixing, with at least one of the rollers internally provided with a heating element, and a recording medium guiding device for changing the length of contact area of the recording medium to the fixing roller with heating element in accordance with the recording medium thickness, which is provided at the downstream side extending from the nipping and fusing section. This allows the device to be reduced in size and the fixing strength to be increased independent of the recording medium thickness.