Fixing device including a pressure rotator and a thermal conduction aid, and image forming apparatus including the fixing device

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming device to form a toner image;
• and
• a fixing device disposed downstream from the image forming device in a recording medium conveyance direction to fix the toner image on a recording medium,
• the fixing device including:
• an endless belt;
• a pressure rotator disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt, the pressure rotator having a first span in an axial direction of the endless belt;
• a nip formation pad, disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator,
• the nip formation pad including a belt-side face disposed opposite the endless belt;
• a radiant heater, disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, to heat the endless belt;
• and
• a thermal conduction aid that is made of metal, contacting the belt-side face of the nip formation pad, to conduct heat in the axial direction of the endless belt, the thermal conduction aid having a second span within which the first span of the pressure rotator is provided at the fixing nip.