US 6,687,482 B2 · Heating apparatus and image forming apparatus incorporating the same

Abstract

The fixing apparatus which acts as a heating apparatus, includes a heating roller; a pressure-applying roller, arranged face to face with the heating roller, for allowing a recording sheet to be conveyed by the heating and pressure-applying rollers as nipped therebetween; and a heating device for heating the heating roller. The heating roller has a first elastic layer made of an elastic material, a conductive layer disposed in the outer periphery of the first elastic layer, an elasticity-imparted second elastic layer disposed in the outer periphery of the conductive layer, and a peeling layer disposed in the outer periphery of the second elastic layer. The conductive layer of the heating roller is induction-heated by the heating device, thereby reducing the warm-up time. By providing the second elastic layer, adequate elasticity is imparted to the heating roller's surface. The toner image on the recording sheet excels in fixability and gloss property.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus comprising:

a heating apparatus including:
a heating rotary member having a first elastic layer made of a material having elasticity, a conductive layer disposed in an outer periphery of the first elastic layer, a second elastic layer, made of a material having elasticity, disposed in an outer periphery of the conductive layer, and a peeling layer disposed in an outer periphery of the second elastic layer,
wherein a tensile elasticity modulus of the peeling layer is kept in a range from 1.96×108 Pa to 9.8×108 Pa;
a pressure-applying member disposed in press-contact with the heating rotary member, for allowing a sheet-like to-be-heated material to be conveyed by the heating rotary member and the pressure-applying member as nipped therebetween;
and
heating means for applying heat to the conductive layer of the heating rotary member;
a visible image forming unit for forming a toner image on a to-be-heated material;
and
conveying means for conveying a to-be-heated material having a toner image formed thereon in a region between the heating rotary member and the pressure-applying member.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heating apparatus and image forming apparatus incorporating the same

Life of this patent

Heating apparatus and image forming apparatus incorporating the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10