Fixing device, image forming apparatus and fixing method

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image forming section configured to form an image on an image receiving medium;
• and
• a fixing device, comprising:
• an endless fixing belt configured to be movable;
• a pressing roller configured to be movable with the endless fixing belt;
• a fixing pad configured to be contacted with an inner periphery of the fixing belt and be pressed against the pressing roller to form a fixing nip;
• a lubricant configured to be coated on an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt,
• an exciting coil configured to generate a magnetic field;
• a magnetic shunt alloy member configured to abut along at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt;
• a shield member provided to be facing the magnetic shunt alloy member and configured to shield the magnetic field generated by the exciting coil at least at an upstream end of the shield member along a moving direction of the fixing belt;
• and
• a flow-out prevention section configured to prevent the lubricant from flowing into a gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the shield member, wherein
• the magnetic shunt alloy member includes a bent portion that widens a gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the fixing belt, and narrows the gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the shield member, and wherein the fixing device is configured to fix the image on the image receiving medium.

A fixing method, including:

• rotationally driving a pressing roller;
• driving an endless fixing belt to rotate through the rotation of the pressing roller;
• generating a magnetic field from an exciting coil;
• abutting a magnetic shunt alloy member along at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt to shunt the magnetic field;
• arranging a shield member to face an inner side of the magnetic shunt alloy member to shield the magnetic field;
• heating the fixing belt and the magnetic shunt alloy member through electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field;
• and
• contacting a fixing pad with the an inner periphery of the fixing belt and pressing the fixing pad against the pressing roller to form a fixing nip, wherein
• a lubricant coated on the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt is prevented from flowing into a gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the shield member, wherein the magnetic shunt alloy member includes a bent portion that widens a gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the fixing belt, and narrows the gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the shield member.