Fixing device including outlet guide member and image forming apparatus thereof

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a fixing device including:
• an endless fixing belt;
• a pressure roller configured to contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt;
• a nip forming member configured to press the fixing belt against an outer circumferential surface of the pressure roller from an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt;
• a nip portion formed between the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt and the outer circumferential surface of the pressure roller;
• a heater configured to heat the fixing belt to fuse and fix toner onto a recording sheet in the nip portion;
• an auxiliary driven roller, downstream of the nip portion in a recording sheet feeding direction;
• an auxiliary drive roller configured to drive the driven roller, disposed downstream of the nip portion in the recording sheet feeding direction;
• an auxiliary nip portion, formed between an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary driven roller and an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary drive roller, configured to nip the recording sheet after toner fixation conveyed from the nip portion;
• and
• an outlet guide member, downstream of the auxiliary nip'portion in the recording sheet feeding direction, configured to guide the recording sheet after toner fixation conveyed from the auxiliary nip portion, with the recording sheet bent such that a surface of the recording sheet on which toner fixation has occurred is bent in a concave shape,
• wherein the auxiliary drive roller includes a plurality of rollers and a plurality of stepped portions between the plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers having varying horizontal width in an axial direction thereof;
• wherein the outlet guide member includes a plurality of ribs having guide surfaces that oppose the auxiliary nip portion, the plurality of ribs are interleaved between the plurality of stepped portions, and
• wherein the auxiliary drive roller continuously extend in an axial direction substantially along an entire width direction of the recording sheet.