Full-color toner image fixing method and apparatus

A method for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising the step of:

• bringing toner images transferred to said image receiving member into contact with a heater in the form of a belt with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),
• wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and
• wherein said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are in a relationship of T<T′≦T+10° C., and said linear speeds A and B are in a relationship of ⅓A≦B≦⅔A.

A method for fixing full-color toner images with high glossiness on an image receiving member, comprising the step of:

• bringing toner images transferred to said image receiving member into contact with an image fixing belt so that said toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm.

An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising:

• a heater for heating toner images transferred to said image receiving member in such a configuration that said heater is brought into contact with said toner images, with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),
• wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are equal.

An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising:

• a heater in the form of a belt for heating toner images transferred to said image receiving member in such a configuration that said heater is brought into contact with said toner images, with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),
• wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and
• wherein said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are in a relationship of T<T′≦T+10° C., and said linear speeds A and B are in a relationship of ⅓A≦B≦⅔A.

An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images with high glossiness on an image receiving member, comprising:

• an image fixing belt for heating toner images so that said toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm by bringing said belt into contact with toner images transferred to said image receiving member.