# US 6,456,819 B1 · Image heating apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,456,819 B1 - Document ID: US6456819B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/628,002 - Filed: 2000-07-28 - Granted: 2002-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsuyoshi Abe; Hitoshi Sato; Masaaki Takahashi; Masahiro Suzuki; Tatsuro Hayakawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6456819B1 ## 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 2215/2016: Heating belt - G03G 2215/2035: the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member - G03G 2215/2038: the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract The present invention provides an image heating apparatus which has a supporting member, a moving member slidable with the supporting member, and a backup member forming a nip with the supporting member via the moving member, wherein a lubricant is provided between the supporting member and the moving member, and at the nip, an image on a recording material is heated by heat from the moving member, and wherein the supporting member includes a plurality of recess portions in a surface thereof adjacent to the moving member, a width of one of the plurality of recess portions in a moving direction of the moving member is smaller than a width of the nip in that direction, and the plurality of recess portions are arranged in the moving direction of the moving member, and range over the whole of the nip in the moving direction of the moving member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a supporting member; a moving member slidable with said supporting member; and a backup member forming a nip with said supporting member via said moving member; wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and at said nip, an image on a recording material is heated by heat from said moving member, and wherein a surface on a side of the nip of said supporting member includes a plurality of dimples, a width of one of said plurality of dimples in a moving direction of said moving member is smaller than a width of said nip in that direction, and said plurality of dimples are arranged in the moving direction of said moving member, and range over the whole of said nip in the moving direction of said moving member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a total area of said dimples corresponding to said nip is 20 to 60% of an area of said supporting member corresponding to said nip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of each of said plurality of dimples along the moving direction of said moving member is 0.1 to 3 mm, and a depth thereof is 0.01 mm or greater. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of dimples is circular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of dimples is of a waterdrop shape having an arcuate portion and a pointed end portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An image heating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the arcuate portion of each of said plurality of dimples is provided at a upstream side of the pointed end portion with respect to the moving direction of said moving member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a sliding member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising magnetic flux producing means for producing a magnetic flux, wherein an eddy current is created in said moving member by the magnetic flux produced by said magnetic flux producing means, and said moving member generated heat by said eddy current. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a heater, and the image is heated by the heat from said heater passed through said moving member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member is a film. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said backup member is a roller. ### Claim 12 An image heating apparatus comprising: a supporting member; a moving member slidable with said supporting member; and a backup member forming a nip for nipping and conveying a recording material with said supporting member via said moving member; wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and at said nip, an image on the recording material is heated by heat from said moving member, and wherein a plurality of dimples are distributed on a surface on the side of the nip of said supporting member, and any point on the recording material passes through said dimples. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a total area of said dimples corresponding to said nip is 20 to 60% of an area of said supporting member corresponding to said nip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a width of each of said plurality of dimples along the moving direction of said moving member is 0.1 to 3 mm, and a depth thereof is 0.01 mm or greater. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of dimples is circular. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said dimples is of a waterdrop shape having an arcuate portion and a pointed end portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An image heating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the arcuate portion of each of said dimples is provided at a upstream side of the pointed end portion with respect to the moving direction of said moving member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said supporting member is a sliding member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising magnetic flux producing means for producing a magnetic flux, wherein an eddy current is created in said moving member by the magnetic flux produced by said magnetic flux producing means, and said moving member generates heat by said eddy current. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said supporting member is a heater, and the image is heated by the heat from said heater passed through said moving member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said moving member is film. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) An image heating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said backup member is a roller. ### Claim 23 An image heating apparatus comprising: a supporting member; and a moving member slidable with said supporting member; wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and an image on a recording material is heated by the heat from said moving member, and wherein said supporting member includes a groove in a surface thereof adjacent to said moving member, and an angle of said groove with respect to a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of said moving member is less than 45°. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said groove is a plurality, and a width of said groove is 0.1 to 1 mm, a spacing between said grooves is 0.1 to 3 mm, and a depth of said groove is 0.01 mm or greater. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said supporting member is a sliding member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising magnetic flux producing means for producing a magnetic flux, wherein an eddy current is created in said moving member by the magnetic flux produced by said magnetic flux producing means, and said moving member generates heat by said eddy current. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said supporting member is a heater, and the image is heated by the heat from said heater passed through said moving member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said moving member is film. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) An image heating apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a backup member forming a nip with said supporting member via said moving member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said backup member is a roller. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) An image heating apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a total area of said groove corresponding to said nip is 20 to 60% of an area of said supporting member corresponding to said nip. ### Claim 32 An image heating apparatus comprising: a supporting member; and a moving member slidable with said supporting member; wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and an image on a recording material is heated by heat from said moving member, and wherein said supporting member includes a first groove and a second groove in a surface thereof adjacent to said moving member, and said first groove and said second groove intersect with each other. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a smaller angle of said first groove with respect to a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of said moving member and a smaller angle of said second groove with respect to that direction differ from each other. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein widths of said first and second grooves are 0.1 to 1 mm, depths of said first and second grooves are 0.01 mm or greater, said first and second grooves have plural grooves, and spacings between the grooves are 0.1 to 3 mm. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said supporting member is a sliding member. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising magnetic flux producing means for producing a magnetic flux, wherein an eddy current is created in said moving member by the magnetic flux produced by said magnetic flux producing means, and said moving member generates heat by said eddy current. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said supporting member is a heater, and the image is heated by the heat from said heater passed through said moving member. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said moving member is film. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) An image heating apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a backup member forming a nip with said supporting member via said moving member. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) An image heating apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said backup member is a roller. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) An image heating apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a total area of said grooves corresponding to said nip is 20 to 60% of an area of said supporting member corresponding to said nip.