A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member to be heated and a
pressure-contacting member for pressure contacting the fixing member. The
fixing apparatus directs and conveys a recording member through a nip
formed between the fixing member and pressure applying member in such a
manner that a toner image carried on a recording member contacts the
fixing member in order to be fixed thereto with heat and pressure. The
fixing apparatus is configured to direct a tip margin of the recording
member toward the pressure applying member across a virtual linear
extension line drawn from a downstream end to upstream end of the nip
when only the tip margin exits from the nip. A fixing member side
separation device may be separately provided from the surface of the
fixing apparatus so as to separate the recording member exiting from the
nip. A gap formed between the downstream end of the nip and the tip of
the fixing member side separation device is set smaller than the width of
the tip margin.