Heating device having a motion restrictor and fixing device and image forming apparatus including the same

A fixing device comprising:

• an endless rotator configured to rotate in a rotation direction;
• a heater configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and extend in an axial direction of the endless rotator;
• an elastic body configured to contact the inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and disposed downstream from the heater in the rotation direction of the endless rotator;
• a holder configured to hold the heater and the elastic body;
• a pressure rotator disposed opposite the heater and the elastic body via the endless rotator to form a nip between the endless rotator and the pressure rotator, the nip through which a recording medium bearing a developer is conveyed;
• and
• a motion restrictor mounted on the holder, the motion restrictor configured to restrict motion of the heater downstream in the rotation direction of the endless rotator,
• wherein the motion restrictor is disposed outboard from the elastic body in the axial direction of the endless rotator.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming device configured to form an image;
• and
• a fixing device configured to fix the image on a recording medium,
• the fixing device including:
• an endless rotator configured to rotate in a rotation direction;
• a heater configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and extend in an axial direction of the endless rotator;
• an elastic body configured to contact the inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and disposed downstream from the heater in the rotation direction of the endless rotator;
• a holder configured to hold the heater and the elastic body;
• a pressure rotator disposed opposite the heater and the elastic body via the endless rotator to form a nip between the endless rotator and the pressure rotator, the nip through which the recording medium bearing the image is conveyed;
• and
• a motion restrictor mounted on the holder, the motion restrictor configured to restrict motion of the heater downstream in the rotation direction of the endless rotator,
• wherein the motion restrictor is disposed outboard from the elastic body in the axial direction of the endless rotator.