Pressure-applying member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A pressure-applying member that is pressed against a heating member that is rotatably supported and includes a heat source at an inner section of the heating member, the pressure-applying member comprising:

• a band-shaped member that extends in a width direction of a medium that passes through a fixing area in which the band-shaped member faces the heating member;
• a support member that is opposed to the heating member with the band-shaped member disposed between the support member and the heating member;
• and
• a pressing member including a base-end portion that is supported by the support member and a free-end portion that extends toward the fixing area from the base-end portion, the pressing member having a plurality of urging portions arranged with intervals therebetween in the width direction, the urging portions being elastically deformable in accordance with a thickness of the medium that has a non-uniform thickness in the width direction when the medium passes through the fixing area, the free-end portion urging the band-shaped member in an urging direction, which is toward the heating member, so that the band-shaped member is pressed against the heating member.