Fixing device

Abstract

A fixing apparatus is provided that enables a recording medium that has undergone heat-fixing to be separated smoothly from a heating medium without causing a sheet jam or image disturbance. In this apparatus, there are provided on the guide surface of a separator two step parts raised along the guide surface guide width direction. Recording paper is transported gripped by a fixing nip, is guided so as to come into contact with only the apex parts of step parts, and is separated from the surface of a fixing belt. Thus, a gap is formed between the guide surface and the heat-fixing surface of recording paper guided along the guide surface, the contact area between the heat-fixing surface of recording paper and the guide surface decreases, the heat-fixing surface of recording paper becomes less prone to adhere to the guide surface of the separator, and recording paper is smoothly separated from the fixing belt without causing a sheet jam or image disturbance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.