Sliding member for fixing device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A sliding member for a fixing device, the sliding member comprising:

• a fluororesin layer comprising a sliding surface,
• wherein the sliding surface comprises a plurality of recesses arranged in a grid array,
• wherein the grid array comprises a plurality of basic arrays,
• wherein each of the basic arrays comprises:
• a basic array perimeter defined by four of the recesses;
• and
• a fifth one of the recesses provided inside the basic array perimeter;
• wherein one side of the basic array perimeter is parallel to a sliding direction,
• wherein the basic array is configured such that a center of the basic array perimeter is nonconcentric with any center of any recess,
• wherein at least one recess exists on every straight line that defines a width of a central portion of the sliding surface along the sliding direction, and
• wherein the basic array perimeter is configured such that no recesses other than the four of the recesses exist on the basic array perimeter.

A sliding member for a fixing device, the sliding member comprising:

• a fluororesin layer comprising a sliding surface,
• wherein the sliding surface comprises a plurality of recesses arranged in a grid array,
• wherein the grid array comprises a plurality of basic arrays,
• wherein each of the basic arrays comprises:
• a basic array perimeter defined by four of the recesses;
• and
• a fifth one of the recesses provided inside the basic array perimeter;
• wherein one side of the basic array perimeter is parallel to a sliding direction,
• wherein the basic array is configured such that a center of the basic array perimeter is nonconcentric with any center of any recess,
• wherein at least one recess exists on every straight line that defines a width of a central portion of the sliding surface along the sliding direction, and
• wherein the basic array perimeter is configured such that no recesses other than the four of the recesses and the fifth one of the recesses exist inside the basic array perimeter.