JPH09120223A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the relative deviational movement of relative contact surfaces to contribute to energizing between a feed member and a power receiving member and to allow both members to have large area and low contact resistance for the entire size thereof by forming the feed member to be a valley- shaped surface or a chevron-shaped surface corresponding to the crest-shaped surface or the valley-shaped surface of the power receiving member. SOLUTION: A pair of ring-like power receiving members 11a and 11b consisting of conductive copper alloy is fit to the outer periphery part at both ends of a resistance heating element layer 13 projected from a mold-released layer 14, and fixed on the layer 13. The contact surfaces of the members 11a and 11b with the feed members 12a and 12b are formed to be the valley-shaped surface. The valley-shaped surface continues like a circular ring. The feed members 11a and 11b are rotated integrally with a core roller. A pair of feed members 12a and 12b made of conductive carbon is arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the members 11a and 11b. The contact surfaces of the members 12a and 12b with the members 11a and 11b are formed to be the crest-shaped surface corresponding to the valley-shaped surface of the members 11a and 11b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device for heating and fixing an unfixed image such as a toner image on a recording material in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fixing device in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine is generally provided with a heating roller, and a recording material holding an unfixed image such as a toner image is attached to the heating roller and a backup member. The unfixed image is fixed by being heated and pressed on the recording material by passing it while being sandwiched between (generally a pressure roller).

Hitherto, a heating roller having a built-in heating heater such as a halogen lamp heater and heating the roller by radiant heat from the heater has been widely used. However, according to the heating roller using a built-in heating heater such as a halogen lamp heater as a heat source, the temperature rising speed from the start of energization of the heater to a predetermined fixing temperature on the surface of the heating roller is slow, so that the power switch of the image forming apparatus is turned on. The preheating time (so-called warming-up time) from when the fixing device reaches a predetermined temperature after that, becomes longer, and the device becomes more difficult to use.

Therefore, as a heating roller in which the temperature rising time required to reach a predetermined temperature can be shortened, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-18 is used.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9381, there has been proposed a heating roller in which a core roller is provided with a resistance heating element made of a substance that generates heat when energized so as to rotate together with the core roller. This type of heating roller has high electric-heat conversion efficiency, and can quickly raise the heating roller surface temperature to a predetermined temperature after starting the energization of the resistance heating element, thereby shortening the preheating time of the fixing device. You can

In a fixing device using such a heating roller, in order to energize the resistance heating element, generally, a power receiving member which is electrically connected to the resistance heating element and rotates together with the resistance heating element. A current-carrying part is used which is composed of a fixed-position power supply member which is in sliding contact with the power supply member.

[0006]

However, this general type of current-carrying part has the following problems. That is, one is a problem that due to a relative lateral shake between the power feeding member and the power receiving member, the contact surfaces that contribute to the energization of both of them deviate from each other to cause an energization failure. In order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the size of the fixing device. Therefore, in the case where the energization unit is also required to be downsized, when the contact area between the power feeding member and the power receiving member becomes small, When a large current is flown for the contact area, which is necessary to raise the heating roller to a predetermined fixing temperature, the current-carrying part generates a considerable amount of heat, which easily oxidizes. Is a problem that occurs.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-72
As taught in Japanese Patent No. 32, the power feeding member may be fitted into the groove portion of a ring-shaped power receiving member having a groove-shaped cross section and brought into contact with the bottom surface of the groove. In this case, between the power feeding member and the power receiving member. Even if the relative displacement of the mutual contact surfaces contributing to the energization can be suppressed by the groove sidewalls, the problem of heat generation and oxidation due to the contact resistance of the two members cannot be solved.

Therefore, the present invention includes a core roller and a heating roller formed on the core roller and including a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized, and is electrically connected to the resistance heating element and together with the resistance heating element. A fixing device configured to be able to energize the resistance heating element through a rotating power receiving member and a power feeding member that is in sliding contact with the power receiving member,
Relative displacement of the mutual contact surface that contributes to the energization between the power feeding member and the power receiving member is suppressed, and both members can contact each other with a large area in view of their overall size. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing device in which heat generation due to contact resistance is suppressed even when formed in the above-described manner, and by these, electric conduction to the resistance heating element is stabilized and stable image fixing is possible.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a fixing device for heating and fixing an unfixed image on a recording material, which is formed on a core roller and the core roller. A power supply member that includes a heating roller including a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized, is electrically connected to the resistance heating element, and rotates together with the resistance heating element, and a power feeding member that relatively slidably contacts the power receiving member. In the fixing device configured so that the resistance heating element can be energized via
The contact surface of each of the power receiving member and the power feeding member to the other party, the power receiving member, while forming at least one chevron surface or valley surface, for the power feeding member, the chevron surface of the power receiving member or There is provided a fixing device characterized in that it is formed on at least one valley-shaped surface or mountain-shaped surface that is in contact with the valley-shaped surface.

The power feeding member is usually supported by a power feeding member support holder and brought into contact with the power receiving member. Further, the contact with the power receiving member is generally made under the pressing force of the spring means provided in the holder. In any case, when the power feeding member is supported by the support holder and is brought into contact with the power receiving member, the support holder crosses the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member (the original movement direction for contact). The holder supporting means may be movably supported in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction so that the power receiving member can be brought into contact with the power receiving member by following the swinging movement of the power receiving member.

In any case, the forms of the power feeding member and the power receiving member can be exemplified as follows. a. The resistance heating element is formed along an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface of the core roller, and the power receiving member has a ring shape having the same rotation center line as the core roller in an electrically connected state to the resistance heating element. When the resistance heating element is on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller, the power feeding member is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped power receiving member, and the resistance heating element is inside the core roller. When on the peripheral surface, the power supply member is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped power receiving member.

In this case, when the power feeding member support holder is movably supported by the holder supporting means, the direction traversing the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member is the direction of the center line of rotation of the core roller. b. The resistance heating element is formed along an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface of the core roller, and the power receiving member is substantially connected to the resistance heating element and is substantially perpendicular to a rotation center line of the core roller. It is formed in a block shape such as a disk shape, a shaft bar shape having a circular cross section, etc., on the surface of which the center of rotation is the same as that of the core roller,
The power feeding member relatively slidably contacts a surface of the block-shaped power receiving member facing outward in the direction of the center roller rotation center line.

In this case, when the power feeding member support holder is movably supported by the holder supporting means, the direction traversing the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member is substantially perpendicular to the rotation center line direction of the core roller. It is in the right direction. In any case, various mountain-shaped surfaces that provide a member surface for conducting electricity between the power receiving member and the power feeding member include a triangular section, a trapezoidal section, and an arc section. In addition, various valley-shaped surfaces corresponding to this can be similarly considered. In any case, by removing at least one of the top of the mountain-shaped surface and the bottom of the corresponding valley-shaped surface and making the space after the removal a play portion, both surfaces can be smoothly contacted. Good. Further, foreign matter may be allowed to escape into this space, depending on its size and the like.

When a plurality of chevron surfaces (or troughs) are formed on the power feeding member and corresponding troughs (or chevron surfaces) are formed on the power receiving member, the power feeding member may be conversely reversed. The valley surface (or the mountain surface) may be in a state in which the corresponding mountain surface (or the valley surface) is formed on the power receiving member. In the fixing device of the present invention, a voltage is applied to a power feeding member that is in contact with a power receiving member that is connected to the resistance heating element of the heating roller, and the resistance heating element is energized through the power feeding member and the power receiving member to heat the heating roller. To a predetermined fixing temperature,
It can be used for heat fixing of an unfixed image to a recording material.

The contact surface of each of the power receiving member and the power feeding member with respect to the other side is formed to be at least one chevron surface or valley surface for the power receiving member, and for the power feeding member, the chevron surface or valley of the power receiving member is formed. Since it is formed on at least one valley-shaped surface or mountain-shaped surface corresponding to the shape surface, the current contact area between the power receiving member and the power feeding member is simply a flat current-carrying surface as in the conventional current-carrying part. It will be in a premium state compared to just letting it. Therefore, for example, even when the current-carrying portion is formed in a small size, the mutual contact area between the power-receiving member and the power-supplying member becomes larger than the conventional one,
The contact resistance is suppressed to such a low level that heat generation in the current-carrying part is suppressed, and current-carrying failure due to deterioration of the power supply member due to heat generation is suppressed.

Further, since the power receiving member and the power feeding member are in mutual contact with each other due to the relationship between the mountain-shaped surface and the valley-shaped surface fitted to the mountain-shaped surface, the relative displacement movement of the mutual contact surface contributing to the energization between the power feeding member and the power receiving member occurs. It is suppressed, and the current to the resistance heating element is stabilized accordingly. These enable stable image fixing. The power feeding member is supported by the power feeding member support holder and is in sliding contact with the power receiving member, and the support holder follows the swinging motion of the power receiving member in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member. When the holder supporting means is movably supported so as to be able to come into contact with the power receiving member, the power supply to the resistance heating element is further stabilized.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a fixing apparatus that heats and fixes the toner image on a recording sheet that is a recording material that holds a toner image that is an unfixed image. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus.

This fixing device has a heating roller 1 and a pressure roller 2 which is pressed by a pressing means (not shown). The heating roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 are rotatably supported by supporting means (not shown), and are rotationally driven by driving means (not shown). The heating roller 1 has a cylindrical aluminum core roller 10, and the core roller 1
0 has an electric insulating layer 15 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, a layered resistance heating element 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electric insulating layer 15, and further the outer peripheral surface of the resistance heating element layer 13 has an outer peripheral surface. The release layer 14 is formed.

The release layer 14 has a recording paper of the heating roller 1.
And the pressure roller 2 facing the heating roller 1 are sandwiched between the heating roller 1 and the heating roller 1 so that the heated toner image is easily peeled off from the heating roller 1. It has the above width. The release layer 14 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (P
TFE). In addition, the resistance heating element layer 13
Is formed wider than the release layer 14 for fitting the power receiving members 11a and 11b described later. The resistance heating element layer 13 is formed of barium titanate-based ceramic having a positive temperature coefficient of generating Joule heat by itself when energized. The electric insulation layer 15 includes the resistance heating element layer 13 and the core roller 1.
In order to maintain electric insulation with respect to 0, it is formed between the two and is made of polyimide which is a heat resistant insulating resin. The resistance heating element layer 13, the release layer 14 and the electric insulating layer 15 are the core roller 10
And rotate together.

A pair of ring-shaped power receiving members 11a and 11b made of a conductive copper alloy are fitted on the outer peripheral portions of both ends of the resistance heating element layer 13 protruding from the release layer 14 to form the resistance heating element layer 13. It is fixed to. Power receiving members 11a, 11
The contact surface of b with the power supply members 12a and 12b described later is formed into a valley surface. The valley surface is continuous in a circular ring shape. The power receiving members 11a and 11b also rotate integrally with the core roller 10.

On the outer peripheral surfaces of the power receiving members 11a and 11b, a pair of conductive carbon power feeding members 12a and 12b are provided.
Are arranged in contact with each other. Power feeding members 12a, 12
The contact surface between the power receiving member 11a and the power receiving member 11b of FIG.
It is formed in a mountain-shaped surface corresponding to the valley-shaped surfaces of 1a and 11b. The power feeding member 12a (12b) is fitted to the power feeding member support holder 161a (161b), and the spring 160a (16) in the power feeding member support holder 161a (161b) is fitted.
0b) is pressed against the power receiving member 11a (11b).

The power feeding member support holder 161a (161)
b) is a holder 171a which is a holder supporting means.
(171b) and 2 in the holder 171a (171b)
By the two springs 170a (170b), the power receiving member 11a (11) of the power feeding member 12a (12b) in the holder.
It is movably supported in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction to b).

The direction transverse to the touch movement direction is the rotational center line direction of the core roller 10, X ₊ and X 1 _- is a direction indicated by. The power feeding member 12a is connected to one end of a power source (not shown), and the power feeding member 12b is connected to the other end of the power source. Therefore, the resistance heating layer 13 includes the power feeding members 12a and 12b and the power receiving members 11a and 11b. Is electrically connected to the power source via. Resistance heating element layer 1
A voltage 3 is applied by the power source to heat the Joule 3 to heat the entire heating roller 1.

According to this fixing device, the recording paper carrying the unfixed toner image is passed between the rotating heating roller 1 and the pressure roller 2, and the toner image is heated on the recording paper in the meantime. It is fixed under pressure. According to the fixing device of the present invention, when a voltage is applied to the resistance heating element layer 13 even if lateral movement or the like occurs between the power feeding member 12a (12b) and the power receiving member 11a (11b), the power feeding member 12a ( 12b) and the power receiving member 11a (11) fitted to the chevron surface.
Since they contact each other due to the valley-shaped surface of b), the power feeding member 12
It contributes to the voltage application between a (12b) and the power receiving member member 11a (11b), and the relative displacement movement of the sliding mutual contact surfaces is suppressed, and the electric power supply to the resistance heating element layer 13 is stabilized accordingly.

Further, in this fixing device, the power receiving member 1 is arranged in the rotation center direction of the core roller 10 (X ₊ and X _- directions in FIG. 1).
Even if 1a (11b) shakes sideways, the feeding member support holder 1
By the holder 171a (171b) of 61a (161b) and the spring 170a (170b), the power feeding member 12a (1
2b) can follow the swing motion, and the power feeding member 12a (1
2b) and the power receiving member member 11a (11b) are applied, and the relative displacement movement of the sliding mutual contact surfaces is further suppressed, and the electricity to the resistance heating element layer 13 is stabilized accordingly.

Further, since the power feeding member 12a (12b) is formed in a chevron surface and the power receiving member 11a (11b) is formed in a valley surface, the contact surface between both members is flat as compared with the conventional case. The contact area between the members is large, so the contact resistance is small, heat generation in the power supply member 12a (12b) and power reception member 11a (11b) is suppressed, and power is supplied due to deterioration of both members due to heat generation. Defects are suppressed.

When the amount of heat generation is the same as in the conventional case, that is, the power feeding member 12a (12b) and the power receiving member 1 are used.
When the contact area with 1a (11b) is the same and the contact resistance between both members is the same, the power feeding member 1 is different from the conventional example.
The size of 2a (12b) and the power receiving member 11a (11b) can be reduced, and the entire fixing device can be downsized accordingly.

The shapes of the contact surfaces of the power receiving member 11a (11b) and the power feeding member 12a (12b) to the other party are not limited to the valley surface and the mountain surface shown in FIG. The shapes of the contact surfaces shown in cross sections in FIGS. 2A to 2E can be given. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the shapes of contact surfaces of the power receiving member and the power feeding member, which contact each other. The members shown in each of FIGS. 2A to 2E are not limited to which one is the power receiving member (power feeding member), and when one member is the power receiving member (power feeding member), the other member is It becomes a power feeding member (power receiving member).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2F and 2G, at least one of the top of the chevron and the bottom of the corresponding trough may be removed. In this way, the space after the removal is removed. Becomes a play space, and both sides can contact smoothly. Next, a fixing device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The fixing device shown in FIG. 3 is also shown in FIG.
Similar to the fixing device shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device heat-fixes the toner image on a recording sheet, which is a recording material, that holds a toner image that is an unfixed image. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the device.

The fixing device shown in FIG. 3 is different from the device shown in FIG. 1 in that the resistance heating element layer 13 and the electric insulating layer 15 are provided in the core roller 1.
0 formed on the inner peripheral surface and the power receiving member 11
a, 11b, power feeding members 12a, 12b, a power feeding member support holder 161a (161b), and a holder holder holder 1
The difference is that 71a (171b) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the core roller.

The parts of the fixing device shown in FIG. 3 which have substantially the same structure and function as the parts of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Also in this apparatus, the power feeding member 12a (12b) is formed in a chevron surface, the power receiving member 11a (11b) is formed in a valley surface, and the holder 171a (171b) and the spring 170a (17) of the support holder are formed.
0b), the power feeding member support holder 161a (161b)
Is the direction of the center of rotation of the lead roller 10 (X ₊ and X in FIG. 3).
_- because it is movably supported in the direction), the feed member 12a
(12b) and the power receiving member 11a (11b) are suppressed relative displacement movement of the mutual contact surface that contributes to the energization, and both members can contact each other in a large area with a small contact resistance relative to the overall size, Therefore, even when the current-carrying portion is formed in a small size, heat generation due to the contact resistance is suppressed to that extent, thereby stabilizing the current-carrying to the resistance heating element layer 13.

Also in this fixing device, the shapes of the contact surfaces of the power receiving member 11a (11b) and the power feeding member 12a (12b) with the counterparts are limited to the valley surface and the chevron surface, respectively, as shown in FIG. Figure 2
It can take various shapes exemplified in (A) to (G). Next, a fixing device according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the fixing device shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device shown in FIG. 4 is also a fixing device for heating and fixing the toner image on a recording sheet which is a recording material holding a toner image which is an unfixed image. It is a schematic sectional drawing of this apparatus.

The parts of the fixing device shown in FIG. 4 which have substantially the same function as the parts of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. This fixing device has a heating roller 1 and a pressure roller 2 which is pressed against the heating roller 1 by a pressing means (not shown). The heating roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 are rotatably supported by supporting means (not shown). The heating roller 1 has a cylindrical aluminum core roller 10, a release layer 14 on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller 10, and an electrically insulating layer 15 on the inner peripheral surface of the core roller 10.
And the resistance heating element layer 13 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the electric insulating layer 15. The resistance heating element layer 13, the release layer 14, and the electric insulating layer 15 are formed of the same material as that of the fixing device shown in FIG. Disc-shaped power receiving members 11a and 11b are fitted and fixed to both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the resistance heating element layer 13. The contact surfaces of the power receiving members 11a and 11b with the power feeding members 12a and 12b, which will be described later, are formed into valley-shaped surfaces. The power receiving members 11 a and 11 b rotate integrally with the core roller 10.

Core roller 1 of the power receiving members 11a and 11b
The power receiving members 11 are provided on both outer sides in the direction of the rotation center of 0.
The power supply members 12a and 12b having the mountain-shaped surfaces corresponding to the valley-shaped surfaces of a and 11b are arranged in contact with each other. Power supply member 12a
(12b) is a power feeding member support holder 161a (161
b), and the feeding member support holder 161a (1
The spring 160a (160b) in 61b) presses the power receiving member 11a (11b).

The power feeding member support holder 161a (161
b) is a holder 171a (171b) of a support holder which is a holder supporting means, and the holder 171a (171b).
By the four springs 170a (170b) in (b), the power feeding member 12a in the holder 171a (171b)
(12b) is movably supported in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction of the power receiving member 11a (11b). More specifically, in this embodiment, each holder 171a (171)
b) is formed in the shape of a circular container, and the feeding member holder 161a (161b) is arranged in the center thereof, and
It is supported from the surroundings by springs 170a (170b) provided in the holder 171a (171b) at 0 ° intervals, and thus the power feeding member 12a (12b) is connected to the power receiving member 11a (1).
It is movable in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction to 1b). The direction transverse to the contact movement direction is a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation center line direction of the core roller 10.

Also in this apparatus, the power feeding member 12a (1
2b) is formed into a chevron surface and the power receiving member 11a (11b) is formed into a trough surface, and the holder 171a (171) of the support holder is formed.
b) and the spring 170a (170b), the power feeding member support holder 161a (161b) is movably supported in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation center line direction of the core roller 10, so that the power feeding member 12a (12b) and Power receiving member 11a (11
b) Relative displacement of mutual contact surfaces that contribute to energization is suppressed, and both members can contact each other in a large area with a small contact resistance in view of their overall size, thus forming a small energizing portion. Even at that time, heat generation due to the contact resistance is suppressed to that extent, and these stabilize the energization to the resistance heating element layer 13.

Also in this fixing device, the shapes of the contact surfaces of the power receiving member 11a (11b) and the power feeding member 12a (12b) to the other side are limited to the valley surface and the chevron surface, respectively, as shown in FIG. Figure 2
It can take various shapes exemplified in (A) to (G). In the case of the power receiving member 11a (11b) and the power feeding member 12a (12b) shown in FIG. 4, when a plurality of chevron surfaces (or trough surfaces) are formed, they are arranged concentrically.

The material of each part of the fixing device shown in each of the above embodiments need not be limited to the above.

[0039]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heating roller including a core roller and a resistance heating element which is formed on the core roller and generates heat when energized. The resistance roller is electrically connected to the resistance heating element and the resistance heating element is heated. A fixing device configured to be able to energize the resistance heating element via a power receiving member that rotates with the body and a power feeding member that relatively slidably contacts the power receiving member,
Relative displacement of the mutual contact surface that contributes to the energization between the power feeding member and the power receiving member is suppressed, and both members can contact each other with a large area in view of their overall size. It is possible to provide a fixing device that suppresses heat generation due to contact resistance even when formed in the above-described manner, stabilizes energization to the resistance heating element, and enables stable image fixing.

Further, the power feeding member is supported by the power feeding member support holder and is in sliding contact with the power receiving member, and the support holder swings in the direction transverse to the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member. When it is movably supported by the holder support means so that it can follow the operation and come into contact with the power receiving member, the power supply to the resistance heating element is further stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the shapes of contact surfaces of a power receiving member and a power feeding member with each other.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating roller 10 Core roller 11a, 11b Power receiving member 12a, 12b Power feeding member 13 Resistance heating element layer 14 Release layer 15 Electrical insulating layer 160a, 160b Spring 161a, 161b Support holder 170a, 170b Spring 171a, 171b of power feeding member 2 Pressure roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device for heating and fixing an image on a recording material holding an unfixed image, comprising: a core roller; and a heating roller formed on the core roller and including a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized. And is configured to be able to be energized to the resistance heating element through a power receiving member that is electrically connected to the resistance heating element and rotates together with the resistance heating element and a power feeding member that relatively slidably contacts the power receiving member. In the fixing device described above, the contact surface of each of the power receiving member and the power feeding member with respect to the other party is formed into at least one chevron surface or trough surface for the power receiving member, and the power receiving member for the power feeding member. The fixing device is formed on at least one trough or trough that is in contact with the trough or trough. 2. The power feeding member is supported by a power feeding member support holder and is in sliding contact with the power receiving member, and the support holder extends in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction of the power feeding member to the power receiving member. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is movably supported by a holder supporting means in a direction transverse to the contact movement direction so that the power receiving member can be brought into contact with the power receiving member while following the swinging motion of the power receiving member.