Fixing Device Having Endless Belt and Nip Member Slidably Contacting Inner Surface of Endless Belt

Abstract

A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heat source, a nip member, and a backup member. The endless belt has an inner surface. The nip member has a contact surface slidably contacting the inner surface. The nip member is configured to be heated by the heat source. The backup member is configured to pinch the endless belt in cooperation with the nip member while the backup member rotates together with endless belt. The contact surface includes a first portion receiving urging force from the backup member and a second portion other than the first portion. At least a part of the first portion is coated by a first material providing a slidability higher than that of the nip member. The second portion includes a region uncoated with the first material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.