IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,913,938
Granted Patent B2
US 8,913,938 · App. 13/586,519 · Granted Dec 16, 2014

Fixing device and image formation apparatus

Inventor: Noboru Yonekawa (Toyohashi, JP)
Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
G03G15/2053
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,913,938
App. No.
13/586,519
Granted
Dec 16, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fixing device comprising: an endless fixing belt having a multilayer structure including a non-magnetic conductive layer and a first magnetic conductive layer, the non-magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof, the first magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof and being located farther from an outside surface of the fixing belt than the non-magnetic conductive layer; and a supporting member disposed inside the endless fixing belt and including a second magnetic conductive layer having a thickness larger than a skin depth of a material thereof. The first magnetic conductive layer and the second magnetic conductive layer have a higher specific resistance than the non-magnetic conductive layer, and the first magnetic conductive layer has been manufactured by plastic forming or plating.

Claims (36)

1. A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet after fusing the toner image by using a fixing belt heated due to electromagnetic induction caused by an excitation coil, comprising:

an endless fixing belt having a multilayer structure including a non-magnetic conductive layer and a first magnetic conductive layer, the non-magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof, the first magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof and being located farther from an outside surface of the endless fixing belt than the non-magnetic conductive layer; and

a supporting member disposed inside the endless fixing belt and including a second magnetic conductive layer having a thickness larger than a skin depth of a material thereof, wherein

the first magnetic conductive layer and the second magnetic conductive layer have a higher specific resistance than the non-magnetic conductive layer, and

the first magnetic conductive layer has been manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of plastic forming and plating.

2. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic conductive layer has a lower Curie temperature than the first magnetic conductive layer.

3. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein

the fixing belt further includes an elastic layer and a releasing layer,

the non-magnetic conductive layer is coated with an antioxidant layer, and

the elastic layer and the releasing layer are laminated on the antioxidant layer.

4. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic conductive layer is made of copper.

5. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic conductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nickel and SUS.

6. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic conductive layer is manufactured by plating.

7. The fixing device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member is in contact with the endless fixing belt to support the endless fixing belt.

8. An image formation apparatus, comprising:

a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet after fusing the toner image by using a fixing belt heated due to electromagnetic induction caused by an excitation coil,

the fixing device including:

an endless fixing belt having a multilayer structure including a non-magnetic conductive layer and a first magnetic conductive layer, the non-magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof, the first magnetic conductive, layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof and being located farther from an outside surface of the endless fixing belt than the non-magnetic conductive layer; and

a supporting member disposed inside the endless fixing belt and including a second magnetic conductive layer having a thickness larger than a skin depth of a material thereof, wherein

the first magnetic conductive layer and the second magnetic conductive layer have a higher specific resistance than the non-magnetic conductive layer, and

the first magnetic conductive layer has been manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of plastic forming and plating.

9. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second magnetic conductive layer has a lower Curie temperature than the first magnetic conductive layer.

10. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the fixing belt further includes an elastic layer and a releasing layer,

the non-magnetic conductive layer is coated with an antioxidant layer, and

the elastic layer and the releasing layer are laminated on the antioxidant layer.

11. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the non-magnetic conductive layer is made of copper.

12. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first magnetic conductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nickel and SUS.

13. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first magnetic conductive layer is manufactured by plating.

14. The image formation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the supporting member is in contact with the endless fixing belt to support the endless fixing belt.

15. A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet after fusing the toner image by using a fixing belt heated due to electromagnetic induction caused by an excitation coil, comprising:

an endless fixing belt having a multilayer structure including a non-magnetic conductive layer and a first magnetic conductive layer, the non-magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof, the first magnetic conductive layer having a thickness smaller than a skin depth of a material thereof and being located farther from an outside surface of the endless fixing belt than the non-magnetic conductive layer; and

a supporting member disposed inside the endless fixing belt and including a second magnetic conductive layer having a thickness larger than a skin depth of a material thereof, wherein

the first magnetic conductive layer and the second magnetic conductive layer have a higher specific resistance than the non-magnetic conductive layer, and

the first magnetic conductive layer has been manufactured by plastic forming or plating, without annealing.

16. An image formation apparatus, comprising the fixing device of claim 15 .

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032388/0987 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
To: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 032390/0651 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2012
From: YONEKAWA, NOBORU
To: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028796/0137 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-191362 · Sep 2, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130058691A1 · Mar 7, 2013