Fixing device that ensures downsized opening/closing space of fixing cover and image forming apparatus

A fixing device comprising:

• a fixing device main body having an opening across a back portion and an upper portion of a conveying passage for a recording sheet;
• and
• a fixing cover openably/closably covering the main-body opening by being rotatably supported with a first axle as a rotational central axle, the first axle extending in a width direction of the recording sheet in a lower end of the back portion of the opening, wherein the fixing cover includes
• a first fixing cover portion that covers the back portion of the conveying passage, a lower end portion of the first fixing cover portion being rotatably supported with the first axle as the rotational central axle,
• a second fixing cover portion that covers the upper portion of the conveying passage, wherein the second fixing cover portion has a bendable structure with respect to the first fixing cover portion,
• a conveyance guide provided rotatably on a third axle, as the conveyance guide's rotational center axis, extending in the width direction, the third axle having an abutment at an inferior axial end thereof, and
• a pair of side covers, at least one of the side covers having a support region, wherein
• an abutment support area of the support region comes in contact with the abutment on the third axle such as to support the fixing cover, the abutment support area having a horizontal flat portion provided where the abutment on the third axle positions in state in which the fixing cover closes over the main-body opening, and having an inclined portion provided descending from an edge portion of the horizontal flat portion along an end of the abutment support area upstream with respect to recording-sheet travel.