Apparatus including belt and sliding sheet
A fuser may include a rotatable member, a belt, a pressure member, and a sliding member. The belt and rotatable member may form a nip portion. The sliding member may be sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the belt and the pressure member. The sliding member may include a front surface, which faces the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The front surface may include a plurality of dimples designed to catch lubricant that moves along ridges between the dimples.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a rotatable member;
a belt comprising:
an inner peripheral surface; and
an outer peripheral surface facing the rotatable member;
a pressure member configured to, with the rotatable member, sandwich the belt to form a nip portion; and
a sliding member comprising a front surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the belt and a back surface facing the pressure member, the front surface comprising, at a position corresponding to the nip portion, a portion sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the belt and the pressure member,
wherein the portion of the front surface comprises a plurality of dimples, and ridges defined between adjacent dimples, the ridges being in contact with a portion of the inner peripheral surface at the position corresponding to the nip portion, and
wherein a total area of the ridges is equal to or less than 50% of a total area of the portion of the front surface.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the total area of the ridges is equal to or less than 22% of the total area of the portion of the front surface.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples comprises a dimple having a polygonal shape opening.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples comprises a dimple having a rectangular shape opening.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples is arranged in a regular pattern.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member is softer than the sliding member.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding member is made of resin including polyimide.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member comprises an elastic pad.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a heater,
wherein the rotatable member comprises a roller, and
wherein the heater is disposed in an interior space of the roller.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inner peripheral surface has lubricant applied thereon.