| CPC G03G 15/2017 (2013.01) [G03G 15/20 (2013.01); G03G 15/2028 (2013.01); G03G 15/2046 (2013.01); G03G 15/2053 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2003 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2016 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2032 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2038 (2013.01); G03G 2215/2061 (2013.01)] | 7 Claims |
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1. A fixing apparatus comprising:
a fixing belt that is rotatable and is configured to heat a recording material;
a heating roller configured to be in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt and to heat the fixing belt;
a nip portion forming member configured to be in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt and to suspend the fixing belt;
a pressing rotary member configured to form a nip portion by pressing the nip portion forming member via the fixing belt,
wherein, with the fixing belt, the pressing rotary member is configured to pinch and convey the recording material and fix a toner image to the recording material;
a suspending roller that is disposed upstream of the nip portion forming member and downstream of the heating roller in a direction of rotation of the fixing belt and configured to suspend the fixing belt,
wherein the suspending roller has a center and both ends in an area where the fixing belt and the suspending roller are in contact with each other in a width direction of the suspending roller, and
wherein outside diameters at both of the ends of the suspending roller are greater than an outside diameter at the suspending roller center by a value between 50 micrometer (μm) and 300 μm, inclusive; and
an urging unit configured to urge the suspending roller from the inner surface of the fixing belt toward an outer circumference surface of the fixing belt,
wherein, in applying a force, the force that the urging unit applies to the suspending roller ranges between 50 newtons (N) and 100 N, inclusive.
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