Fixing device and image forming apparatus including the same

A fixing device comprising:

• a first rotator configured to transmit heat to a sheet on which a toner image has been transferred;
• a second rotator configured to form a nip portion by making pressure-contact with the first rotator and apply pressure to the sheet passing through the nip portion;
• a support mechanism configured to support the first rotator and the second rotator in such a way as to be displaced between a pressure-contact attitude in which the first rotator and the second rotator make pressure-contact with each other and form the nip portion and a distanced attitude in which the first rotator and the second rotator are distanced away from each other and release the nip portion;
• a displacement mechanism configured to transmit a driving force to any of the first rotator and the second rotator such that the first rotator and the second rotator are displaced in attitude between the pressure-contact attitude and the distanced attitude;
• a separation member having an electric conductivity, extended toward the first rotator, including a first end portion on a side of the first rotator, and configured to separate the sheet that has passed through the nip portion from the first rotator by using the first end portion;
• and
• an interlocking mechanism configured to, in interlock with a displacement from the pressure-contact attitude to the distanced attitude by the displacement mechanism, displace the first end portion in a first direction of going away from the first rotator, and cause the separation member to be in a first state where the separation member is conducted with a predetermined reference potential member having a reference potential so that a potential of the separation member becomes the reference potential, and discharge from the first rotator to the separation member is accelerated.