IP Library Granted Patent US 7,433,642
Granted Patent B2
US 7,433,642 · App. 11/302,225 · Granted Oct 7, 2008

Fixing member, fixing device and image forming device with metal layers having different specific resistances

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,433,642
App. No.
11/302,225
Granted
Oct 7, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a fixing member having a heat resistant resin layer, a metal layer having two or more layers, and a releasing layer, in this order from the inner peripheral side, wherein a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed at the outer peripheral side is larger than a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed at the inner peripheral side in the at least two metal layers, and a modulus of an internal stress of the metal layer disposed at the outer peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less. Further, a fixing device includes the fixing member, an electromagnetic induction heating device in which an electric field is applied to the fixing member, and a press member which press-contact the surface of a releasing layer of the fixing member. Furthermore, an image forming device having this fixing device is provided.

Claims (25)

1. A fixing member comprising a heat-resistant resin layer, two or more metal layers, and a releasing layer, in this order from an inner peripheral side, wherein a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest an outer peripheral side is larger than a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side in the two or more metal layers, and a modulus of an internal stress of the metal layer nearest the outer peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less.

2. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein a concentration of impure metal contained in the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side is 0.1% by weight or less.

3. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side contains copper as a main component and the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side contains nickel as a main component.

4. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side and the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side are formed by electroplating.

5. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side contains nickel as a main component, and the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side is formed by electroplating, by use use of a Watt bath into which a sulfur-containing organic compound is added.

6. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-resistant resin has a polyimide as a main component.

7. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the releasing layer has a fluorine resin as a main component.

8. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member has an elastic layer between the metal layers and the releasing layer.

9. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member is an endless belt.

10. A fixing member according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layers are heated by an electromagnetic induction device.

11. A fixing member comprising a heat resistant resin layer, two or more metal layers, and a releasing layer, in this order from an inner peripheral side, wherein a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest an outer peripheral side is larger than a specific resistance of metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side in the two or more metal layers, and a modulus of an internal stress of the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less.

12. A fixing member according to claim 11 , wherein the modulus of the internal stress of the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less.

13. A fixing member according to claim 11 , wherein the modulus of the internal stress of a totality of the two or more metal layers laminated on the heat resistant resin layer is 5 kg/mm 2 or less.

14. A fixing member according to claim 11 , wherein a concentration of impure metal contained in the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side is 0.1% by weight or less.

15. A fixing member according to claim 11 , wherein the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side contains at least any one of gold, silver or copper as the main component(s).

16. A fixing device comprising:

a fixing member having a heat resistant resin layer, two or more metal layers, and a releasing layer, in this order from an inner peripheral side, wherein a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest an outer peripheral side is larger than a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side in the two or more metal layers, and a modulus of an internal stress of the metal layer disposed nearest the outer peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less;

an electromagnetic induction heating device for applying a magnetic field to the fixing member;

and a press member which comes into contact with a surface of the releasing layer of the fixing member.

17. An image forming device comprising an image carrier, a charging unit for charging a surface of the image carrier, a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing unit for developing the latent image with a developing agent to form a toner image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image to an image receiving body and a fixing unit for heating and fixing the toner image onto a recording medium, wherein the fixing unit is the fixing device of claim 16 .

18. A fixing device comprising:

a fixing member comprising a heat resistant resin layer, two or more metal layers, and a releasing layer, in this order from an inner peripheral side, wherein a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest an outer peripheral side is larger than a specific resistance of the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side in the two or more metal layers, and a modulus of an internal stress of the metal layer disposed nearest the inner peripheral side is 5 kg/mm 2 or less;

an electromagnetic induction heating device for applying a magnetic field to the fixing member; and

a press member which comes into contact with a surface of the releasing layer of the fixing member.

19. An image forming device comprising an image carrier, a charging unit for charging a surface of the image carrier, a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing unit for developing the latent image with a developing agent to form a toner image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image to an image receiving body and a fixing unit for heating and fixing the toner image onto a recording medium, wherein the fixing unit is the fixing device of claim 17 .

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2021
From: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
To: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 058287/0056 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2006
From: HIGASHI, TAKETOSHI; OHTA, SHIGEO; OMATA, MAKOTO; SAITOU, MASATO
To: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017372/0394 →