Fixing device and image forming apparatus

A fixing device comprising:

• a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation;
• a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt,
• the pressure roller including:
• a shaft fixedly positioned;
• and
• a deformable elastic layer;
• a fixing pad disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed;
• a biasing member to bias the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller;
• and
• a stopper to restrict motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member, the stopper to contact the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip,
• wherein a width of the fixing pad is greater than a width of the elastic layer in an axial direction of the pressure roller,
• wherein the fixing pad includes a lateral end portion disposed outboard from the fixing belt in an axial direction thereof, the lateral end portion to come into contact with the stopper,
• wherein the stopper includes a cored bar disposed outboard from the elastic layer and disposed at each lateral end of the pressure roller in the axial direction thereof, and
• a distance between the fixing pad and the elastic layer of the pressure roller is smaller than a distance between the fixing pad and the stopper when the fixing pad is not pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt.