Foamed body molding system, roller produced by foamed body molding system, and image forming apparatus with roller produced by foamed body molding system

A roller employed in an electro-photographic fixing device, the roller having an elastic layer constituted by a foamed body, the foamed body produced by a foamed body molding system, the foamed body molding system comprising:

• a side mold defining a vertically columnar inner space, the side mold constituting a side surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• a flange unit including:
• an upper connection member connected to an upper end of the side mold to constitute an upper surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• a first vent hole to connect the cylindrical cavity with an upper space formed above the upper connection member through the upper connection member to vent air therein;
• and
• a metal shaft having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity, the metal shaft supported within and coaxially with the cylindrical cavity by the upper connection member;
• an upper cap unit to hold the flange unit from above the flange unit and connect the side mold with the flange unit, the upper cap unit having a second vent hole to vent air ejected from the first vent hole outside the foamed body molding system;
• and
• a lower cap unit including:
• a lower connection member to connect to the side mold from below the side mold and constitute a lower surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• and
• a raw molding material introduction cylindrical hole to introduce a composition consisting essentially of molding purpose foam resin from below, the raw molding material introduction cylindrical hole coaxially formed with the columnar inner space.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a roller having an elastic layer constituted by a foamed body, the foamed body produced by a foamed body molding system, the foamed body molding system comprising:
• a side mold defining a vertically columnar inner space, the side mold constituting a side surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• a flange unit including:
• an upper connection member connected to an upper end of the side mold to constitute an upper surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• a first vent hole to connect the cylindrical cavity with an upper space formed above the upper connection member through the upper connection member to vent air therein;
• and
• a metal shaft having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity, the metal shaft supported within and coaxially with the cylindrical cavity by the upper connection member;
• an upper cap unit to hold the flange unit from above and connect the side mold with the flange unit, the upper cap unit having a second vent hole to vent air ejected from the first vent hole outside the foamed body molding system;
• and
• a lower cap unit including:
• a lower connection member to connect to the side mold from below the side mold and constitute a lower surface of the cylindrical cavity;
• and
• a raw molding material introduction cylindrical hole to introduce a composition consisting essentially of molding purpose foam resin from below, the raw molding material introduction cylindrical hole coaxially formed with the columnar inner space.