Heating member including resistive heating layer, and fusing apparatus and image forming apparatus including the heating member

1. A heating member comprising:

a resistive heating layer disposed on an outermost layer of the heating member, wherein the resistive heating layer comprises a conductive filler distributed in a base material and wherein the resistive heating layer emits heat when supplied with an electric current from an electrode; and

a contacting unit contacts the electrodes, the contacting unit being formed by removing a portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer to expose the conductive filler of the resistive heating layer.

2. The heating member of claim 1 , wherein the contacting unit is formed by removing the portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer by using at least one of a mechanical polishing method, a chemical mechanical polishing method, a wet chemical etching method, an electrochemical etching method and a dry plasma etching method.

3. The heating member of claim 2 , wherein a thickness of a removed portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer is greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers.

4. The heating member of claim 2 , wherein a difference between a surface roughness of the resistive heating layer and a surface roughness of the contacting unit is greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers.

5. The heating member of claim 1 , wherein the contacting unit is disposed along an edge portion of the resistive heating layer in a longitudinal direction.

6. The heating member of claim 1 , wherein a length of the contacting unit is equal to or greater than a length of the electrode.

7. The heating member of claim 1 , further comprising:

a base which supports the resistive heating layer; and

an insulation layer disposed between the resistive heating layer and the base, and which insulates the resistive heating layer and the base.

8. A heating member comprising:

a resistive heating layer including a base material and a conductive filler disposed in the base material, wherein a surface of the resistive heating layer includes a cut-out portion; and

a contacting unit disposed within the cut-out portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer, wherein the contacting unit exposes the conductive filler and contacts an electrode which supplies a current to the resistive heating layer.

9. The heating member of claim 8 , wherein the contacting unit is formed by removing a portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer by using at least one of a mechanical polishing method, a chemical mechanical polishing method, a wet chemical etching method, an electrochemical etching method and a dry plasma etching method.

10. The heating member of claim 9 , wherein a difference between a surface roughness of the resistive heating layer and a surface roughness of the contacting unit is equal to or greater than about 10 nanometers.

11. The heating member of claim 8 , wherein a cut-out height of the contacting unit with respect to the resistive heating layer is equal to or greater than about 10 nanometers.

12. A fusing apparatus which fuses a toner image on a printing medium, the fusing apparatus comprising:

a heating member comprising:

a resistive heating layer disposed on an outermost layer of the heating member, wherein the resistive heating layer comprises a conductive filler distributed in a base material and wherein the resistive heating layer emits heat when supplied with an electric current from an electrode; and

a contacting unit contacts the electrodes, the contacting unit being formed by removing a portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer to expose the conductive filler of the resistive heating layer;

a nip forming member disposed opposite to the heating member and which forms a fusing nip; and

an electrode which contacts the contacting unit and supplies a current to the resistive heating layer.

13. The fusing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the contacting unit is formed by removing the portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer by using at least one of a mechanical polishing method, a chemical mechanical polishing method, a wet chemical etching method, an electrochemical etching method and a dry plasma etching method.

14. The fusing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a thickness of a removed portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer is greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers.

15. The fusing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a difference between a surface roughness of the resistive heating layer and a surface roughness of the contacting unit is greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers.

16. The fusing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

the contacting unit is formed at each of end portions of the surface of the resistive heating layer along a longitudinal direction of the end portions, and

the electrode is disposed substantially adjacent to the heating member and contacting the contacting unit.

17. The fusing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a length of the electrode corresponds to a width of the printing medium, and a length of the contacting unit is equal to or greater than the length of the electrode.

18. The fusing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electrode is disposed outside the heating member.

19. The fusing apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a base which supports the resistive heating layer; and

an insulation layer disposed between the resistive heating layer and the base, and which insulates the resistive heating layer and the base.

20. A fusing apparatus which fuses a toner image on a printing medium, the fusing apparatus comprising:

a heating member comprising:

a resistive heating layer including a base material and a conductive filler disposed in the base material, wherein a surface of the resistive heating layer includes a cut-out portion; and

a contacting unit disposed within the cut-out portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer, wherein the contacting unit exposes the conductive filler and contacts an electrode which supplies a current to the resistive heating layer;

a nip forming member disposed opposite to the heating member and which forms a fusing nip; and

an electrode which contacts the contacting unit and supplies a current to the resistive heating layer.

21. The fusing apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the contacting unit is formed by removing a portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer by using at least one of a mechanical polishing method, a chemical mechanical polishing method, a wet chemical etching method, an electrochemical etching method and a dry plasma etching method.

22. The fusing apparatus of claim 21 , wherein a difference between a surface roughness of the surface of the resistive heating layer and a surface roughness of the contacting unit is greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers.

23. The fusing apparatus of claim 20 , wherein a cut-out height of the contacting unit with respect to the resistive heating layer is greater than or equal to 10 nanometers.

24. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a printing unit which forms a toner image on a printing medium by using an electrophotographic process; and

a fusing apparatus which fuses the toner image on the printing medium by using heat and pressure, the fusing apparatus comprising:

a heating member comprising:

a resistive heating layer disposed on an outermost layer of the heating member, wherein the resistive heating layer comprises a conductive filler distributed in a base material and wherein the resistive heating layer emits heat when supplied with an electric current from an electrode; and

a contacting unit contacts the electrodes the contacting unit being formed by removing a portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer to expose the conductive filler of the resistive heating layer;

a nip forming member disposed opposite to the heating member and which forms a fusing nip; and

an electrode which contacts the contacting unit and supplies a current to the resistive heating layer.

25. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a printing unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a printing medium by using an electrophotographic process; and

a fusing apparatus which fuses the toner image on the printing medium by using heat and pressure, the fusing apparatus comprising:

a heating member which comprising:

a resistive heating layer including a base material and a conductive filler disposed in the base material, wherein a surface of the resistive heating layer includes a cut-out portion; and

a contacting unit disposed within the cut-out portion of the surface of the resistive heating layer, wherein the contacting unit exposes the conductive filler and contacts an electrode which supplies a current to the resistive heating layer;

a nip forming member disposed opposite to the heating member and which forms a fusing nip; and

an electrode which contacts the contacting unit and supplies a current to the resistive heating layer.