# US 5,349,423 A · Recording apparatus and heating apparatus for use in recording apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,423 A - Document ID: US5349423A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/944,264 - Filed: 1992-09-14 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1991-03-16 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Hitoshi Nagato; Yuzo Koike - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349423A ## CPC - G03G 15/2064: {combined with pressure} - G03G 15/2053: {Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A heating apparatus includes a heating apparatus including a heating member having a structure in which a combination of a pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer a region of which can be conducted upon being pressed and a heat-generating resistor layer are sandwiched between first and second conductors. Alternatively, a recording apparatus includes a power supply member having a first electrode and a second electrode aligned with the first electrode, and a conductive member which is in slidable contact with the power supply member, wherein a voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes, so that a current flows in the heat-generating resistor layer or the conductive toner image to generate Joule heat, thereby fixing the toner image by using the Joule heat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating apparatus comprising heating means having a first conductor, a pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer formed on said first conductor and a region of which can be conducted upon being pressed, a heat-generating resistor layer formed on said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer, and a second conductor formed on said heat-generating resistor layer, wherein said heating means and a material to be heated are partially brought into tight contact with each other, and a voltage is applied across said first and second conductors, so that a current flows in said pressed region of said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer and a portion of said heat-generating resistor layer around said region to generate Joule heat, thereby heating the object to be heated by using the Joule heat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pressure-sensitive conductive resin is used to form said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-sensitive conductive resin consists essentially of pressure-sensitive conductive rubber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer comprises a plurality of electrically insulating spacers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein conductive rubber is used to form said heat-generating resistor layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is a heat roller obtained by laminating a pressure-sensitive conductive resin layer, said heat-generating resistor layer, and said second conductor on said first conductor which has a solid roller-shape or a hollow roller-shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is a heat roller obtained by laminating a pressure-sensitive conductive resin layer, said heat-generating resistor layer, and said second conductor on said first conductor which is formed on a solid roller or a hollow roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second conductor has a structure in which a metal is deposited on said heat-generating resistor layer by vapor deposition. ### Claim 9 A recording apparatus comprising heating means having a first conductor, a pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer formed on said first conductor and a region of which can be conducted upon being pressed, a heat-generating resistor layer formed on said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer, and a second conductor formed on said heat-generating resistor layer, wherein said heating means and a recording material to be heated are partially brought into tight contact with each other, and a voltage is applied across said first and second conductors, so that a current flows in said pressed region of said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer and a portion of said heat-generating resistor layer around said region to generate Joule heat, thereby fixing a toner image on the recording material by using the Joule heat. ### Claim 10 A recording apparatus comprising heating means constituted by a fixing sheet having a first conductor, a pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer a region of which can be conducted upon being pressed, a heat-generating resistor layer formed on said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer, and a second conductor formed on said heat-generating resistor layer, wherein said fixing sheet is partially brought into tight contact with a recording material to be heated, and a voltage is applied across said first and second conductors, so that a current flows in said pressed region of said pressure-sensitive conductive switching layer and a portion of said heat-generating resistor layer around said region to generate Joule heat, thereby fixing a toner image on the recording material by using the Joule heat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second conductor has a structure in which a metal is deposited on a heat-generating resistor layer by vapor deposition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fixing sheet is pressed by a metal roller on the recording material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fixing sheet is an endless belt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fixing sheet is wound on a reel to form a roll. ### Claim 15 A recording apparatus comprising power supply means having a first electrode and a second electrode aligned with said first electrode, and a pressure-sensitive conductive member which is in slidable contact with said power supply means, wherein said conductive member and a recording material having a conductive toner image are partially brought into contact with each other, and a voltage is applied across said first and second electrodes, so that a current flows to generate Joule heat, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording material by using the Joule heat. ### Claim 16 A recording apparatus comprising power supply means having a first electrode and a second electrode aligned with said first electrode, and a conductive member which is in slidable contact with said power supply means and which comprises a member having anisotropic conductivity in a direction of thickness, wherein said conductive member and a recording material having a conductive toner image are partially brought into contact with each other, and a voltage is applied across said first and second electrodes, so that a current flows to generate Joule heat, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording material by using the Joule heat.