Fixing device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming device to form a toner image;
• and
• a fixing device, disposed downstream from the image forming device in a recording medium conveyance direction, to fix the toner image on a recording medium,
• the fixing device including:
• an endless fixing belt rotatable in a set direction of rotation;
• a first roller contacting the fixing belt and including a surface elastic layer to generate a rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller to rotate the fixing belt;
• a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt,
• the fixing belt stretched taut across the first roller and the second roller;
• a pressure rotator pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which the recording medium is conveyed;
• and
• a separation aid disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt, the second inhibition force being added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller,
• wherein the separation aid projects from an outer circumferential surface of the first roller radially.

A fixing device comprising:

• an endless fixing belt rotatable in a set direction of rotation;
• a first roller contacting the fixing belt and including a surface elastic layer to generate a rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller to rotate the fixing belt;
• a second roller contacting the fixing belt to exert a first inhibition force to the fixing belt in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt,
• the fixing belt stretched taut across the first roller and the second roller;
• a pressure rotator pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed;
• and
• a separation aid disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to decrease a curvature of the fixing belt and exert a second inhibition force to the fixing belt in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fixing belt, the second inhibition force being added to the first inhibition force to obtain a combined inhibition force that is smaller than the rotation friction force between the fixing belt and the first roller,
• wherein the separation aid is spaced apart from the pressure rotator.