A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a fixing roller, a pressure
roller, a sheet heating element, and a support. The fixing roller and
support are positioned on the inside of the endless belt. The endless
belt is entrained about the fixing roller and the support. The support
supports the sheet heating element. The pressure roller is positioned on
the outside of the endless belt. The pressure roller cooperates with the
fixing roller to hold the endless belt between the fixing roller and the
pressure roller in sandwiched relation such that a nip is formed between
the endless belt and the pressure roller. The sheet heating element is in
contact with the inside of the endless belt and heats the endless belt.
The sheet heating element is disposed in an area outside of the nip.