Patent attributes
A fixing device has a heating rotary (30) with a nonconductive surface that contacts a press (33) to form a nip (N). A sheet passes through the nip (N) to fix a toner image on the sheet. An electrically conductive base (50) is positioned near the heating rotary. A separator (51) has a separating portion (67) for separating the sheet from the surface of the heating rotary. The separating portion faces the surface of the heating rotary at a first clearance (G1). A charge-remover (52) is retained by the base (50) for removing electric charge from the surface of the heating rotary. The charge-remover (52) has a charge-removing portion arranged along the circumferential surface of the heating rotary downstream along a rotational direction of the heating rotary (30) than the separating portion (67), and faces the surface of the heating rotary at a second clearance (G2).
