Fixing device

A fixing device for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, the fixing device comprising:

• (A) a roller;
• and
• (B) a film unit that forms a nip in cooperation with said roller, the recording material being fed through the nip, said film unit comprising:
• (a) a cylindrical film;
• (b) a heater contacting an inner surface of said film;
• (c) a supporting member for supporting said heater, said supporting member being provided in a hollow space of said film;
• (d) a first portion for preventing lateral movement of said film in a generatrix direction of said film by receiving an end surface of said film, said first portion being supported by a frame of said fixing device and holding said supporting member;
• and
• (e) a second portion opposed to a surface of said heater that contacts said film, said second portion being provided at the same position as said first portion with respect to the generatrix direction of said film.

A fixing device for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, the fixing device comprising:

• a cylindrical film;
• a heater contacting an inner surface of said film;
• a supporting member for supporting said heater, said supporting member being provided in a hollow space of said film;
• a first portion for preventing lateral movement of said film in a generatrix direction of said film by receiving an end surface of said film, said first portion being supported by a frame of said fixing device and holding said supporting member;
• and
• a second portion opposed to a surface of said heater that contacts said film and mounted to said supporting member by sliding with said supporting member in the generatrix direction of said film, said second portion being provided at the same position as said first portion with respect to the generatrix direction of said film.

A fixing device for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, the fixing device comprising:

• a cylindrical film;
• a heater contacting an inner surface of said film;
• a supporting member for supporting said heater, said supporting member being provided in a hollow space of said film, said supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion in a generatrix direction of said film;
• two first portions for preventing lateral movement of said film in the generatrix direction of said film, said two first portions being supported by a frame of said fixing device and holding the first end portion of said supporting member with respect to the generatrix direction of said film;
• and
• a second portion opposed to a surface of said heater that contacts said film, said second portion being provided between said two first portions in a widthwise direction of said heater.

A fixing device for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, the fixing device comprising:

• (A) a roller;
• and
• (B) a film unit that forms a nip in cooperation with said roller, the recording material being fed through the nip, said film unit comprising:
• (a) a cylindrical film;
• (b) a heater contacting an inner surface of said film;
• (c) a supporting member for supporting said heater, said supporting member being provided in a hollow space of said film, said supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion in a generatrix direction of said film;
• (d) two first portions for preventing lateral movement of said film in the generatrix direction of said film, said two first portions being supported by a frame of said fixing device and holding the first end portion of said supporting member with respect to the generatrix direction of said film;
• and
• (e) a second portion opposed to a surface of said heater that contacts said film, said second portion being provided between said two first portions in a widthwise direction of said heater.