# US 12,111,590 B2 · Fixing device having reduced increase in rotational torque of second rotatable member providing an image with reduced unevenness in gloss to be formed and image forming apparatus using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,590 B2 - Document ID: US12111590B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/153,106 - Filed: 2023-01-11 - Published: 2024-03-21 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-01 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. - Applicants: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. - Inventors: Kenji Omori; Hideaki Ohara; Ryohei Yoshikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111590B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/2025: {with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid} - G03G 15/20: for fixing, e.g. by using heat - G03G 15/2057: {relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof} - G03G 15/206: {Structural details or chemical composition of the pressure elements and layers thereof} - G03G 15/2064: {combined with pressure} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A fixing device includes: a first rotatable member; a second rotatable member disposed in contact with the first rotatable member; a pressing member that is disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and presses the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member such that the second rotatable member is pressed against the first rotatable member; a sliding member interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the pressing member; and a lubricant interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the sliding member. The inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member contains a resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of an amido group, an imido group, a ketone group, and a sulfide group. A sliding surface of the sliding member contains a heat resistant thermoplastic resin other than a fluorocarbon resin and a resin having a siloxane group that is other than the heat resistant thermoplastic resin. The lubricant contains an oil having a siloxane group in a main chain. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixing device comprising: a first rotatable member; a second rotatable member disposed in contact with the first rotatable member; a pressing member that is disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and presses the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member such that the second rotatable member is pressed against the first rotatable member; a sliding member interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the pressing member; and a lubricant interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the sliding member, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member contains a resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of an amido group, an imido group, a ketone group, and a sulfide group, wherein a sliding surface of the sliding member contains (A) a heat resistant thermoplastic resin and (B) a resin having a siloxane group, wherein the lubricant contains an oil having a siloxane group in a main chain, wherein the heat resistant thermoplastic resin is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone resins, polyphenylene sulfide resins, polyetherimide resins, polyphenylsulfone resins, polyethersulfone resins, and polysulfone resins, wherein the heat resistant thermoplastic resin is not a fluorocarbon resin, wherein the resin having a siloxane group is at least one selected from the group consisting of thermosetting silicone resin particles and silicone oil gums, silicone elastomers, and siloxane-modified polyetherimides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the resin contained in the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyimide resins, polyamide-imide resins, polyether ether ketone resins, and polyphenylene sulfide resins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the resin contained in the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member is a polyimide resin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the heat resistant thermoplastic resin contained in the sliding surface of the sliding member is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone resins and polyphenylene sulfide resins. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting silicone resin particles are unmodified thermosetting silicone resin particles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the content of the resin having a siloxane group and contained in the sliding surface of the sliding member is from 1.0% by mass to 20.0% by mass inclusive based on the mass of the heat resistant thermoplastic resin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the oil contained in the lubricant is an amino-modified silicone oil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the resin contained in the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyimide resins, polyamide-imide resins, polyether ether ketone resins, and polyphenylene sulfide resins, and wherein the oil contained in the lubricant is an amino-modified silicone oil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein the resin contained in the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member is a polyimide resin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the heat resistant thermoplastic resin contained in the sliding surface of the sliding member is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone resins and polyphenylene sulfide resins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fixing device according to claim 10, wherein the thermosetting silicone resin particles are unmodified thermosetting silicone resin particles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fixing device according to claim 11, wherein the content of the resin having a siloxane group and contained in the sliding surface of the sliding member is from 1.0% by mass to 20.0% by mass inclusive based on the mass of the heat resistant thermoplastic resin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 1, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 2, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 3, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 1, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 4, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on a surface of the image holding member; a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer to form a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording medium; and the fixing device according to claim 1, the fixing device fixing the toner image to the recording medium. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the resin having a siloxane group and contained in the sliding surface of the sliding member is at least one selected from the group consisting of thermosetting silicone resin particles, silicone oil gums, silicone elastomers, and siloxane-modified polyetherimides. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface of the sliding member is obtained by mixing and melting (A) the heat resistant thermoplastic resin and (B) the resin having the siloxane group.