# US 2014/0153986 A1 · Fixing member, method of producing fixing member, and fixing device

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- Number: US 2014/0153986 A1
- Document ID: US20140153986A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/090,253
- Filed: 2013-11-26
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Hiroki Muramatsu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153986A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/2057: {relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

When filler particles are added to a surface layer of a fixing member in order to enhance a toner releasing property, if the filler particles are randomly oriented, chemical affinity between the surface layer of the fixing member and toner is enhanced and a sufficient effect cannot be accomplished. Therefore, whisker-shaped filler particles are added to the surface layer of the fixing member, and the filler particles are oriented to approximately follow a rotation direction of the fixing member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fixing member comprising
a base layer; and
a surface layer provided on the base layer,
wherein filler particles are added to the surface layer and 75% or more of the filler particles have an aspect ratio of 5 or more and are oriented to be within ±30° with respect to a rotation direction of the fixing member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein Rp satisfies 1 μm≦Rp≦3 μm where a maximum peak height of the surface layer is represented by Rp.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fixing member according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic layer between the base layer and the surface layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fixing member according to claim 1,
wherein a base of the surface layer is composed of fluorine-based resin, and
wherein at least one of carbon fibers, ZnO, TiO2 and 2Al2O3.B2O3 as the filler having an aspect ratio of 5 or more is added to the surface layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fixing member according to claim 1,
wherein a base of the surface layer is composed of PFA resin, and
wherein 2Al2O3.B2O3 having an aspect ratio of 5 or more is added to the surface layer as the filler.

### Claim 6

A fixing device comprising
a fixing member including a base layer and a surface layer provided on the base layer and configured to fix a toner image formed on a sheet; and
a heater configured to heat the fixing member,
wherein filler particles are added to the surface layer and 75% or more of the filler particles have an aspect ratio of 5 or more and are oriented to be within ±30° with respect to a rotation direction of the fixing member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fixing device according to claim 6, wherein Rp satisfies 1 μm≦Rp≦3 μm where a maximum peak height of the surface layer is represented by Rp.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The fixing device according to claim 6, further comprising an elastic layer between the base layer and the surface layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The fixing device according to claim 6,
wherein a base of the surface layer is composed of fluorine-based resin, and
wherein at least one of carbon fibers, ZnO, TiO2 and 2Al2O3.B2O3 having an aspect ratio of 5 or more is added to the surface layer as the filler.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The fixing device according to claim 6,
wherein a base of the surface layer is composed of PFA resin, and
wherein 2Al2O3.B2O3 having an aspect ratio of 5 or more is added to the surface layer as the filler.

### Claim 11

A method of producing a fixing member comprising:
adding filler particles having an aspect ratio of 5 or more to fluorine-based resin that is a base of the fixing member; and
coating the resin to which the filler particles are added onto a base layer while the base layer configuring the fixing member is rotated.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the base layer is relatively moved to a rotation axis line direction relative to a coating mechanism that coats the resin to which the filler particles are when coating the resin on the base layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising forming an elastic layer on the base layer,
wherein the surface layer is formed on the elastic layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of carbon fibers, ZnO, TiO2 and 2Al2O3.B2O3 is added as the filler particles as filler particles.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the fluorine-based resin is PFA resin and the filler is 2Al2O3.B2O3.