Fixing unit and image forming apparatus

A fixing unit comprising:

• a film having a tubular shape and extending in a longitudinal direction;
• a nip forming member arranged in an interior space of the film;
• a heating unit configured to heat the film;
• a rotary member arranged to sandwich the film together with the nip forming member, the rotary member being configured to form a nip portion between the nip forming member and the rotary member and to nip a recording material with the film at the nip portion to convey the recording material;
• and
• an end portion regulating member configured to be in sliding contact with the film and to regulate an end portion of the film in the longitudinal direction,
• wherein the end portion regulating member includes a first surface facing an inner surface of the film, a second surface facing an end face of the film in the longitudinal direction, and a third surface facing an outer surface of the film and configured to regulate the end portion of the film from deforming in a manner separating from the first surface,
• wherein the third surface is disposed on an upstream side and on a downstream side of a center position of the nip portion in a conveyance direction of the recording material in the nip portion, and
• wherein a distance between the first surface and the third surface at a position of a most upstream portion of the first surface in the conveyance direction is smaller than a distance between the first surface and the third surface at a position of a most downstream portion of the first surface in the conveyance direction.

A fixing unit comprising:

• a film having a tubular shape and extending in a longitudinal direction;
• a nip forming member arranged in an interior space of the film;
• a heating unit configured to heat the film;
• a rotary member arranged to sandwich the film together with the nip forming member, the rotary member being configured to form a nip portion between the nip forming member and the rotary member and to nip a recording material with the film at the nip portion to convey the recording material;
• and
• an end portion regulating member configured to regulate an end portion of the film in the longitudinal direction,
• wherein the end portion regulating member includes a first surface facing an inner surface of the film, and a second surface facing an end face of the film in the longitudinal direction,
• wherein the second surface includes an inclined portion that is inclined such that an angle between the first surface and the inclined portion of the second surface is an acute angle, and that is configured to regulate the end portion of the film in the longitudinal direction from deforming in a manner separating from the first surface, and
• wherein an entirety of the inclined portion is disposed on an upstream side of a center position of the nip portion in a conveyance direction of the recording material in the nip portion.