Fixing member having layers with radiation-transmitting and radiation-absorbing properties, and a fixing assembly including such a fixing member
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMotoi Kato, Kenya Ogawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixing member having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer and a surface layer. The base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of the base layer in non-contact with the fixing member. Also disclosed is a fixing assembly having this fixing member and a radiation source disposed on the internal side of the fixing member. Even though the radiation source is disposed on the internal side of the fixing member, the fixing member can perform good surface heating in a good heat response.
Claims40
A fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer, wherein,
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said base layer comprises a seamless tube having a thickness of from 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm.
A fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer, and a surface layer, wherein,
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said surface layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.5 W/m·K or more.
A fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer, and a surface layer, wherein,
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said surface layer has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of said base layer.
A fixing assembly for fixing toner images to an image-fixing medium, said assembly comprising:
- a fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer;
- a press member disposed opposingly to the fixing member;
- and
- a radiation source disposed on the back side of the base layer of said fixing member, wherein
- the surface layer or its vicinity of said fixing member is heated by radiation coming from said radiation source, and is pressed, at the time the image-fixing medium passes through a fixing nip formed between said fixing member and said press member;
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said base layer comprises a seamless tube having a thickness of from 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm.
A fixing assembly for fixing toner images to an image-fixing medium, said assembly comprising:
- a fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer;
- a press member disposed opposingly to the fixing member;
- and
- a radiation source disposed on the back side of the base layer of said fixing member, wherein
- the surface layer or its vicinity of said fixing member is heated by radiation coming from said radiation source, and is pressed, at the time the image-fixing medium passes through a fixing nip formed between said fixing member and said press member;
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said surface layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.5 W/m·K or more.
A fixing assembly for fixing toner images to an image-fixing medium, said assembly comprising:
- a fixing member used to fix toner images, having the form of a film or belt which is multi-layer constructed to have at least a base layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer;
- a press member disposed opposingly to the fixing member;
- and
- a radiation source disposed on the back side of the base layer of said fixing member, wherein
- the surface layer or its vicinity of said fixing member is heated by radiation coming from said radiation source, and is pressed, at the time the image-fixing medium passes through a fixing nip formed between said fixing member and said press member;
- said base layer is formed of a material having radiation-transmitting properties, capable of transmitting radiation coming from a radiation source disposed on the back side of said base layer in non-contact with the fixing member;
- said surface layer or intermediate layer is formed of a material having radiation-absorbing properties;
- and
- said surface layer has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of said base layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.