Patent Application
20230229099
The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, and particularly relates to the fixing device for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer.
As the fixing device used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, conventionally, a fixing device of a film heating type has been known. The fixing device of the film heating type includes a heater including a ceramic substrate and a heat generating resistor formed on the ceramic substrate, a fixing film rotating while being heated in contact with the heater, a pressing roller forming a nip in cooperation with the heater through the fixing film, and the like. A recording material on which an unfixed toner image is carried is heated in the nip while being nipped and fed, whereby the unfixed toner image on the recording material is fixed on the recording material.
In the fixing device of the film heating type, a lubricant is interposed between the heater and an inner surface of the fixing film, so that a sliding friction resistance is decreased. This lubricant is applied onto, for example, the heater in an initial stage of assembling, and is interposed between the heater and the inner surface of the fixing film. Then, the pressing roller is pressed against the fixing film toward the heater, and the fixing film is rotationally driven, so that the lubricant moves around entirety of an inner surface of the fixing film. However, when the fixing film is further continuously driven rotationally, an excessive lubricant leaks out of an end portion of the fixing film and moves around another surface of the fixing film, so that the lubricant enters the nip in some cases. When such a state is formed, there is a liability that the lubricant adheres to the recording material and thus a problem such as an image defect is caused to arise.
For example, a constitution in which grooves for storing the lubricant are provided on a side downstream, with respect to a recording material feeding direction, of a heater of a heater supporting member for supporting the heater and in positions corresponding to opposite end portions of the heater supporting member with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the recording material feeding direction or in an entire region including the opposite end portions of the heater supporting member with respect to the longitudinal direction has been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2008-076589).
However, in the constitution disclosed in JP-A 2008-076589, when the fixing film rotates, the fixing film steadily contacts and slides on the groove portions at portions of the grooves close to the fixing film. As the lubricant applied to the heater, grease comprising base oil and a thickener which constitute a main component is used in many instances, but particularly at a high temperature, the base oil is liable to separate from the thickener. In such a case, the base oil detected from the grease stored in the grooves at the portions close to the fixing film successively leaks out of a minute gap between the inner surface of the fixing film and the heater supporting portion by a capillary phenomenon. In the case where the base oil is supplied to between the fixing film and the heater, the base oil is pressed in the nip, and thus is extended in the longitudinal direction. Further, by the capacity phenomenon, the base oil is moved from the minute gap between the inner surface of the fixing film and the heater in an end portion direction of the fixing film with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that a risk such that the base oil, i.e., the lubricant leaks out of the fixing film increases.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described circumstances. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus which are capable of reducing a degree of leakage of a lubricant from an end portion of a fixing film with an inexpensive and simple structure while ensuring a sliding property of the fixing film.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device comprising: a fixing film; a heater configured to heat the fixing film; a heater holder including a heater holding portion holding the heater; and a pressing roller forming a nip, between itself and the fixing film to be heated by the heater, in which a toner image carried on a recording material is fixed, wherein the heater holder comprises: an opposing surface which is provided on a side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction and which opposes the pressing roller; a lubricant holding portion provided on the opposing surface and configured to supply a lubricant to between the fixing film and the heater; and a projected portion provided on the side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to the recording material feeding direction and projecting toward the pressing roller from the opposing surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; developing means configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image; transfer means configured to transfer the toner image onto a recording material; the above-described fixing device.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Parts (a) and (b) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
Part (a) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
In the following, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
An embodiment 1 will be described below. First, a structure of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus 50 of the embodiment 1, and then, a fixing device according to the present invention will be described in detail.
When a recording material P is fed by a sheet deeding roller 4, the recording material P is fed to a transfer nip Ntr by a deeding roller 6. To a transfer roller 10, a transfer voltage of a positive polarity opposite to a charge polarity of toner is applied from a voltage source (not shown), so that a toner image on a photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the recording material P in the transfer nip Nst. From the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by a photosensitive drum cleaner 16 provided with an elastic blade. The recording material P carrying thereon the toner image is fed to a fixing device 100, in which the toner image is heated and fixed on the surface of the recording material P. Incidentally, the image forming apparatus to which the fixing device 100 is applied is not limited to the image forming apparatus 50 shown in
The fixing device 100 of the embodiment 1 will be described below. The fixing device 100 of the embodiment 1 is a fixing device of a film heating type for the purposes of reducing a rise time and electric power consumption.
A heater 113 is held by a heater holder 130 and is provided with a fixing film 112, which is a cylindrical belt, at a periphery thereof. The heater holder 130 includes a heater holding portion 135 holding a heater 113. The heater 113 slides on an inner surface of the fixing film 112 and heats the fixing film 112 from an inside of the fixing film 112. A pressing roller 110 presses the fixing film 112 toward the heater 113 from an outside of the fixing film 112. A region in which the pressing roller 110 and the fixing film 112 contact each other by the pressing of the pressing roller 110 is a fixing nip N. When the pressing roller 110 is driven in an arrow R1 direction in
The fixing film 112 in the embodiment 1 has an outer diameter of 18 mm in a cylindrical state in which the fixing film 112 is not deformed and has a multi-layer structure with respect to a thickness direction. The multi-layer structure of the fixing film 112 includes a base layer for holding strength of the film and a parting layer for reducing a degree of deposition of a contaminant on the surface of the film. The base layer needs a heat-resistant property for receiving heat of the heater 113 and also needs strength for sliding on the heater 113. For this reason, as a material of the base layer, metal such as stainless steel or nickel or a heat-resistant resin such as polyimide may preferably be used. In the embodiment 1, as the material of the base layer of the fixing film 112, a polyimide resin material is used, and for improving thermal conductivity and strength, a carbon-based filler was added. As regards a thickness of the base layer, the heat of the heater 113 is move easily conducted to the surface of the pressing roller 110 with a thinner (smaller) thickness, but when the thickness of the base layer is excessively thin, the strength lowers, and therefore, the thickness may preferably be about 15 μm to 100 μm, and in the embodiment 1, the thickness was 60 μm.
As a material of the parting layer of the fixing film 112, fluorine-containing resin material such as perfluoro-alkoxy (PFA) resin, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin or tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene (FEP) resin may preferably be used. In the embodiment 1, the PFA which is excellent in parting property and heat-resistant property in the fluorine-containing resin was used. The parting layer may be pressed by coating the base layer with a tube but may also be prepared by coating a surface of the base layer with point. In the embodiment 1, the parting layer was molded by the paint coating excellent in thin layer molding property. As regards a thickness of the parting layer, the heat of the heater 113 is move easily conducted to the surface of the fixing film 112 with a thinner (smaller) thickness, but when the thickness of the base layer is excessively thin, durability lowers, and therefore, the thickness may preferably be about 5 μm to 30 μm, and in the embodiment 1, the thickness was 10 μm. Further, an elastic layer is not used in the embodiment 1, but may also be provided between the base layer and the parting layer. In that case, as a material of the elastic layer, a silicone rubber or a fluorine-containing rubber is used.
On an inner peripheral surface side of the fixing film 112, the heater holder 130 is provided. The heater holder 130 is formed of a liquid crystal polymer resin material high in heat-resistant property in order to satisfy the heat-resistant property and rigidity. Incidentally, in the embodiment 1, as the liquid crystal polymer resin material, “SUMIKASUPER” (registered trademark) manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Company is used. Further, the heater holder 130 includes a recess-shaped portion (heater holding portion 135) in cross-section where the heater 113 is held. The fixing film 112 is loosely fitted around the heater holder 130, whereby the heater holder 130 also performs a function of guiding a rotation of the fixing film 112. The heater holder 130 relates to a feature of the embodiment 1, and therefore will be described later in detail.
A pressing stay 119 is provided along the longitudinal direction B of the heater holder 130. The pressing stay 119 is constituted by subjecting a metal plate high in rigidity, such as stainless steel to bending in order to uniformly press the heater holder 130 with respect to the longitudinal direction B. The pressing roller 110 in this embodiment is 20 mm in outer diameter and includes an iron core (metal) 117 of 13 mm in outer diameter and a 3.5 mm-thick elastic layer 116. As a material of the elastic layer, a solid rubber or a foam rubber is used. The foam rubber is low in thermal capacity and thermal conductivity and thus heat of the surface of the pressing roller 110 is not readily absorbed therein, and therefore a surface temperature easily increases, so that there is an advantage such that a rise time of the fixing device can be shortened. In the embodiment 1, a foam rubber obtained by foaming a silicone rubber was used.
A small outer diameter of the pressing roller 110 is effective in suppressing the thermal capacity, but when the outer diameter is excessively small, a width of the fixing nip N becomes narrow, so that a proper diameter is needed. Therefore, in the embodiment 1, the outer diameter of the pressing roller 110 was 20 mm. Also as regards the thickness of the elastic layer 116, a proper thickness is needed since heat is dissipated into the core metal. Therefore, in the embodiment 1, the thickness of the elastic layer 116 was 3.5 mm. On the elastic layer, as a toner parting layer, a parting layer 118 made of the PFA resin material is formed. The parting layer 118 may be prepared by coating the elastic layer 116 with a tube or by coating the surface of the elastic layer 116 with paint similarly as in the case of the parting layer of the fixing film 112, but in the embodiment 1, the tube excellent in durability was used. As the material of the parting layer 118 other than the PFA, the fluorine-containing resin material such as the PTFE or the FEP or a rubber material such as the fluorine-containing rubber or the silicone rubber may also be used. As regards surface hardness of the pressing roller 110, with lower surface hardness, the width of the fixing nip N can be obtained at lower pressure. In the embodiment 1, the pressing roller 110 of 50° in Asker-C hardness (load: 4.9 N) was used. The pressing roller 110 is pressed against the fixing film 112 toward the heater 113 by pressing means (not shown). A pressing force (pressure) was 14 kgf in total. The width of the fixing nip N with respect to the feeding direction A in the embodiment 1 is about 6.0 mm over the longitudinal direction B. The pressing roller 110 is rotated in the arrow R1 direction at a surface movement speed of 200 mm/sec by a rotating means (not shown).
The heater 113 in the embodiment 1 is general-purpose heater used in the fixing device of the film heating type, and a heater prepared by proving a heat generating resistor on a ceramic substrate is used. As the heater 113, an about 10 μm-thick heat generating resistor of Ag/Pd (silver/palladium) is applied onto a surface of a 1 mm-thick alumina substrate by screen printing, and thereon, a 50 μm-thick glass layer is coated for protecting the heat generating resistor and for ensuring sliding property. The thus-prepared heater 113 was used. Further, depending on a signal of a temperature detecting element (not shown) for detecting a temperature of the ceramic substrate or the fixing film 112, a current passed through the heat generating resistor is appropriately controlled, so that a temperature of the heater 113 is adjusted. The heater 113 is fixedly supported by being engaged in the heater holding portion 135 which is a groove provided on the heater holder 130. In the embodiment 1, in order to efficiently conduct the heat to the recording material, with respect to the feeding direction A, a center of the heater 113 and a center of the pressing roller 110 are aligned with each other.
Onto the heater 113, a lubricant for being interposed between the heater 113 and the fixing film 112 is applied. As the lubricant applied onto the heater 113, fluorine-containing grease was used in the embodiment 1. Specifically, grease in which perfluoropolyether (PFPE) oil is used as base oil and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder is used as a thickener in mixture with the base oil was used.
An effect of the embodiment 1 is particularly effective in the case where a ratio of the base oil to a total amount of the grease used is relatively large, and is particularly effective in the case where grease of 80 wt. % or more in ratio of the base oil was used. The grease high in ratio of the base oil is relatively small in amount of the thickener and viscosity becomes low, and therefore, a sliding property is good, but a function of holding the base oil by the thickener is weak. For that reason, there is a need to make up for a function of holding the grease and the base oil by the constitution of the embodiment 1. In the embodiment 1, grease of 85 wt. % in ratio of the base oil was used. The grease was applied in an amount of 200 mg by spray application (coating) onto a sliding surface S, which is a contact surface between the fixing film 112 and the heater 113, over a region width of 210 mm which is somewhat shorter than a pressing region width of 220 mm with respect to the longitudinal direction B of the pressing roller 110. A projected portion 131 and a lubricant holding portion 132 will be described later.
A shape of the heater holder 130, particularly the lubricant holding portion 132 provided on the heater holder 130, which is a feature of the embodiment 1 will be described while making reference to
The heater holder 130 includes the projected portion 131 projecting toward the pressing roller 110 side than the heater 113 is, on a side upstream of the fixing nip N with respect to the feeding direction A. A degree of projection of the projected portion 131 from the sliding surface S (hereinafter, this degree is referred to as a projection height H1) is required to be a certain height in order to regulate a locus of the fixing film 112. However, when the projection height H1 is excessively high, it causes prevention of entrance of the recording material P into the fixing nip N, and therefore the projection height H1 may desirably be about 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. In the embodiment 1, the projection height H1 of a top point V of the projected portion 131 from the sliding surface S is 0.4 mm.
Between the fixing nip N and the projected portion 131, the lubricant holding portion 132 for holding the grease is provided. A height H2 of the lubricant holding portion 132 from the sliding surface S is needed to be set at a value lower than the projection height H1 of the projected portion 131 (H2<H1). Further, the lubricant holding portion 131 is made higher than the sliding surface S. This is because when the fixing film 112 rotates in the arrow R2 direction, an edge portion 113e of the heater 113 on an upstream side of the heater 113 with respect to the feeding direction A and on the pressing roller 110 side of the heater 113 (hereinafter, this edge portion is referred to as an upstream edge portion) is protected from rubbing against the inner surface of the fixing film 112. In the embodiment 1, the height H2 of the lubricant holding portion 132 from the sliding surface S was 0.2 mm. Therefore, a height of the projected portion 131 from the lubricant holding portion 132 is H1−H2=0.2 mm. Further, a width W1 of the projected portion 131 with respect to the feeding direction A is 0.5 mm. Further, a width W2 of the lubricant holding portion 132 with respect to the feeding direction A is larger (wider) than the width W1 of the projected portion 131 with respect to the feeding direction A (W>W1). In the embodiment 1, the projected portion 131 was provided by changing the shape of the heater holder 130, but the projected portion 131 may also be provided as a member separate from the heater holder 130 and may also be formed of a material of the heater holder 130.
The lubricant holding portion 132 includes a flat surface portion 132b as the opposing surface opposing the pressing roller 110, and the flat surface portion 132b includes a plurality of recessed portions 132a each recessed in a direction in which the recessed portion 132a is distant from the pressing roller 110. Incidentally, the opposing surface is the flat surface portion 132b, but is not limited to the flat surface. The lubricant holding portion 132 is provided with the plurality of recessed portions 132a for holding the grease over the longitudinal direction B. The recessed portions 132a may desirably be disposed independently with respect to the longitudinal direction B from the viewpoint such that the held grease is not intended to spread in the longitudinal direction B to the extent possible. Further, from the viewpoint such that the grease is held and is prevented from excessively flowing onto the sliding surface S, with respect to the feeding direction A, it is desirable that each recessed portion 132a does not penetrate through the heater holding portion (groove portion) 135 holding the heater 113. It is further desirable that as regards a shape of each recessed portion 132a, a length with respect to the feeding direction A is made longer than a length with respect to the longitudinal direction B from the viewpoint such that the grease is moved in a diameter toward the fixing nip N, i.e., in the feeding direction A. That is, when the length of each recessed portion 132a of the lubricant holding portion 132 with respect to the feeding direction A is La and the length of each recessed portion 132a is Lb, La>Lb may desirably be satisfied.
In the embodiment 1, each recessed portion 132a has an elliptical shape in cross-section on the flat surface portion 132b, as shown in part (b) of
A pitch Pt of adjacent recessed portions 132a (i.e., a distance between centers of adjacent parts of the lubricant holding portion 132 with respect to the longitudinal direction B) and an interval Sp (predetermined interval) between the adjacent recessed portions 132a determined as follows. When an expansion amount of the base oil in the case where the grease (lubricant) is added dropwise to the flat surface portion 132b of the heater holder 130 in amount per (one) pitch of the base oil contained in the grease applied is a diameter D (mm), the interval Sp between the adjacent recessed portions 132a may desirably be set a value which is D or less (Sp<D). By setting so, even in the case where the base oil is separated from the grease adhering to between the recessed portions 132a, the base oil can be caught and held by the recessed portions 132a. Thus, the interval between the recessed portions 132a is smaller than the diameter in which the base oil expands in the case where the base oil is added dropwise to the flat surface portion 132b in an amount per (one) recessed portion 132a. In the embodiment 1, the pitch Pt and the interval Sp are set so that the base oil is added dropwise to the flat surface portion 132b in the amount per recessed portion 132a is smaller than the diameter in which the base oil expands.
In the embodiment 1, the recessed portions 132a are disposed with the certain pitch of 2 mm (Pt=2 mm), and therefore, the amount per pitch of the base oil of 200×0.85/210×2=1.6 mg. The base oil expansion amount when the base oil is added dropwise to the flat surface portion 132b of the heater holder 130 in this amount was about 2.2 mm in the embodiment 1 from a result of study by the present inventor. For that reason, in the embodiment 1, the interval between the recessed portions 132a was set at 1.0 mm. Further, from the viewpoint of ease of holding of the base oil by the recessed portion 132a, a contact angle of the base oil to the heater holder 130 by a liquid droplet method may desirably be 90° or less, and is about 20° to 40° in the embodiment 1. In the embodiment 1, many recessed portions 132a are disposed independently over the pressing region width of the pressing roller 110 with respect to the longitudinal direction B as described above.
The fixing film 112 is backed up by the fixing nip N, the heater holder 130 and the projected portion 131. The fixing film 112 originally has a cylindrical shape, and therefore, in the neighborhood of the projected portion 131 positioned upstream of the fixing nip N, the fixing film 112 rotates while contacting the projected portion 131 by a restoring force by which the shape of the fixing film 112 is returned to the cylindrical shape. The projected portion 131 projects toward the pressing roller 110 direction than the sliding surface S of the heater 113 is, and therefore, a locus of the fixing film 112 is regulated by the projected portion 131. For this reason, as shown in part (a) of
Immediately after the fixing device 100 is assembled, the grease is applied onto the sliding surface S, but the fixing film 112 is rotated by performing a fixing operation, so that the grease adheres to the inner surface of the fixing film 112 and the fixing film 112 rotates. A part of the grease reaches the lubricant holding portion 132 with rotation of the fixing film 112 and is held in the recessed portions 132a of the lubricant holding portion 132. The grease once held in the recessed portions 132a is not readily contacted directly and steadily to the inner surface of the fixing film 112 because the fixing film 112 is regulated by the projected portion 131.
Next, action on the grease G by the constitution of the embodiment 1 will be described while making comparison with a comparison example with reference to
In the comparison example shown in
In comparison with this comparison example, in the embodiment 1, the locus of the fixing film 112 is regulated by the projected portion 131 as shown in part (a) of
At that time, as shown in part (b) of
As described above, in the constitution of the embodiment 1, the grease G is supplied periodically in a proper amount to the sliding surface S while being held by the lubricant holding portion 132. By this, it is possible to reduce a degree of leakage of the grease G out of the end portion of the fixing film 112 with respect to the longitudinal direction B while maintaining a sliding property.
Incidentally, in the embodiment 1, the elliptical recessed portions 132a were used, but even when recessed portions 132a formed in other shapes are used, an effect of the embodiment 1 is achieved. Parts (a) and (b) of
As described above, according to the embodiment 1, with expansive and simple structure, it is possible to reduce a degree of leakage of the lubricant out of the end portion of the fixing film while ensuring the sliding property of the fixing film.
An embodiment 2 will be described below. In the embodiment 2, only a portion relating to the shape of the recessed portions 132a is different from that in the embodiment 1. Other constitutions are similar to those in the embodiment 1, and therefore, detailed structures of the image forming apparatus 50 and the fixing device 100 will be omitted from description. Each of the recessed portions 132a in the second embodiment is such that for the cross-sectional shape thereof on the flat surface portion 132b, with respect to the longitudinal direction B, a length of a portion near to the sliding surface S, in other words, the fixing nip N is shorter than a portion far from the sliding surface S.
A shape of the recessed portions 132a which is a feature of the embodiment 2 will be described using part (a) of
A further effect in the embodiment 2 will be described using parts (b) and (c) of
As described above, according to the embodiment 2, with expansive and simple structure, it is possible to reduce a degree of leakage of the lubricant out of the end portion of the fixing film while ensuring the sliding property of the fixing film.
An embodiment 3 will be described below. In the embodiment 3, only a portion relating to the arrangement of the recessed portions 132a is different from that in the embodiment 2. Other constitutions are similar to those in the embodiment 2, and therefore, detailed structures of the image forming apparatus 50 and the fixing device 100 will be omitted from description.
An arrangement of the recessed portions 132a which is a feature of the embodiment 3 will be described using part (a) of
A further effect in the embodiment 3 will be described using part (b) of
By this action, an effect of collecting the base oil, which is expanded in the longitudinal direction B being pressed in the fixing nip N, toward the phantom line M on which the center of the recording material P which will pass through the deeding passage passes is created. For that reason, in the embodiment 3, the degree of the leakage of the grease G out of the end portion of the fixing film 112 with respect to the longitudinal direction B can be further reduced. Incidentally, the constitution of the embodiment 3 in which the recessed portions 132a are inclined with respect to the phantom line M may also be applied to the recessed portions 132a having the shapes shown in part (b) of
As described above, according to the embodiment 3, with expansive and simple structure, it is possible to reduce a degree of leakage of the lubricant out of the end portion of the fixing film while ensuring the sliding property of the fixing film.
An embodiment 4 will be described below. In the embodiment 4, only a portion where the shape and the arrangement of the recessed portions 132a are changed depending on positions of the recessed portions 132 with respect to the longitudinal direction B is different from that in the embodiment 3. Other constitutions are similar to those in the embodiment 2, and therefore, detailed structures of the image forming apparatus 50 and the fixing device 100 will be omitted from description. In the embodiment 4, with respect to a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the feeding direction A and the longitudinal direction B of the heater holder 130 perpendicular to the feeding direction A, when the flat surface portion 132 is seen from the pressing roller 110 side, the areas of the plurality of recessed portions 132a change depending on the positions of the recessed portions 132a with respect to the longitudinal direction. Specifically, as regards the areas of the recessed portions 132a, compared with the recessed portions 132a positioned at a central portion with respect to the longitudinal direction, the recessed portions 132a positioned at end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction have larger areas. Further, compared with an interval between adjacent recessed portions 132a positioned at the central portion with respect to the longitudinal direction, an interval between adjacent recessed portions 132a positioned at each of the end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction is narrower. In the following, this will be described using the drawing.
The arrangement of the recessed portions 132a which is a feature of the embodiment 4 will be described using
In the embodiment 4, between the central portion and the end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction B, the area and the pitch of the recessed portions 132a are made different, and therefore, retention power of the grease G by the lubricant holding portion 132 can be made different with respect to the longitudinal direction B. As regards the fixing device 100 of the film heating type as in the embodiment 4, when the recording material P narrow in length (paper width) with respect to the longitudinal direction B is fed, thermal capacity is small, and therefore, the member constituting the fixing device 100 is liable to increase in temperature at end portions with respect to the longitudinal direction B. That is, a phenomenon which is called end portion temperature rise occurs.
In such a situation, compared with the central portion, separation of the base oil from the grease G at each end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction B is accelerated, so that there is a possibility that the base oil separated from the grease G at each end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction B leaks out of the end portion of the fixing film 112 and that the base oil component of the grease G at the end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction B is used up. In such a case, by employing the constitution as in the embodiment 4, the grease G retention power at each end portion with respect to the longitudinal direction B is enhanced, so that even when the recording material P with a narrow paper width is fed, the grease G in a proper amount can be supplied to the sliding surface S while holding the grease G. Incidentally, the constitution of the embodiment 4 in which the recessed portions 132a are changed in area and/or pitch depending on the positions thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction B may also be applied to the recessed portions 132a having the shapes shown in part (b) of
As described above, according to the embodiment 4, with expansive and simple structure, it is possible to reduce a degree of leakage of the lubricant out of the end portion of the fixing film while ensuring the sliding property of the fixing film.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-211823 filed on Nov. 22, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-211823 | Nov 2019 | JP | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17850897 | Jun 2022 | US |
| Child | 18186675 | US | |
| Parent | 17458140 | Aug 2021 | US |
| Child | 17850897 | US | |
| Parent | 16953958 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Child | 17458140 | US |
