PURPOSE: To reduce scratches on a fixing roller by a peeling pawl while peeling transfer paper securely, by separating the peeling pawl, provided in contact with the fixing roller, from the fixing roller when it is not in use for peeling operation.

CONSTITUTION: On the paper discharge side of a fixing roller 1, a peeling pawl 11 which is freely rotatably around a fulcrum shaft 9 and has its tip part coming in contact with the surface of the roller 1 through the operation of a spring 10 is provided. A solenoid 14 is provided as a peeling pawl control member which operates to separate the tip part of the peeling pawl 11 from the roller 1. The solenoid 14 is coupled with the side of the peeling pawl 11 by a release lever 15 fixed at one end on the fulcrum shaft 9 and when the front end of transfer paper 3 is detected by a paper discharge switch 18, the solenoid 14 turns on to put the release lever in operation, separating the tip of the peeling pawl 11 from the fixing roller 1. After the transfer paper is passed, the peeling pawl 11 comes into contact with the roller 1 again.