Fixing device including elastic plate for nipping endless belt in cooperation with heating roller, and holder having supporting surfaces for supporting elastic plate

A fixing device comprising:

• a heating roller rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a rotational axis direction;
• and
• a pressure unit configured to nip a sheet and convey the sheet in a conveying direction in cooperation with the heating roller and to thermally fix a toner image onto the sheet, the pressure unit comprising:
• an endless belt circularly movable while in contact with the heating roller;
• an elastic plate extending in the rotational axis direction, the elastic plate making contact with an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt to nip the endless belt in cooperation with the heating roller;
• and
• a holder extending in the rotational axis direction, the holder being positioned within a space encircled by the endless belt and supporting the elastic plate, the holder having:
• an upstream supporting surface facing the heating roller;
• and
• a downstream supporting surface positioned further downstream than the upstream supporting surface in the conveying direction, the downstream supporting surface facing the heating roller,
• wherein the elastic plate has:
• a nip-forming surface having at least a portion for nipping the endless belt in cooperation with the heating roller to form a nipping region between the nip-forming surface and the heating roller;
• an upstream supported surface in contact with and supported by the upstream supporting surface;
• a downstream supported surface in contact with and supported by the downstream supporting surface;
• an upstream connecting surface connecting the nip-forming surface and the upstream supported surface to each other, the upstream connecting surface being curved when viewed in the rotational axis direction;
• and
• a downstream connecting surface connecting the nip-forming surface and the downstream supported surface to each other, the downstream connecting surface being curved when viewed in the rotational axis direction.