Abstract: [Object] To provide a ring-shaped sealing member having both the sealing property and slidability. [Solving Means] A sealing member is formed in a ring shape and has a sliding surface. The sealing member includes: 100 parts by weight of fluorine rubber; and 0.5 to 50 (inclusive) parts by weight of a particulate resin. The particulate resin includes a compatible portion and a lubrication portion, the compatible portion having compatibility with the fluorine rubber, the lubrication portion having lubricity with respect to the fluorine rubber. A Shore A hardness measured using the sliding surface as a pressing surface is not less than 80. In this sealing member, since rubber elasticity is achieved by the fluorine rubber, a favorable sealing property can be realized. Further, it is possible to impart high slidability to the sealing member by the action of the lubrication portion of the particulate resin. Therefore, this sealing member has both the sealing property and slidability.

Abstract: A fixing device for use in a copying machine for fixing a toner image on the surface of a recording sheet. The fixing device conveys the recording sheet between a pair of rollers consisting of a heating roller and a pressure roller to fix the toner image on the surface of the recording sheet by heating the toner image with the heating roller. After a number of recording sheets have been fixed as a batch, the pair of rollers separate from each other and stop rotating if the batch of recording sheets are smaller in number than a predetermined number, whereas the pair of rollers continue rotating in press contact with each other for a predetermined time interval after the batch of recording sheets have been fixed if the batch of recording sheets are larger in number than the predetermined number.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixing apparatus where a toner image is formed on a transfer medium by passing the transfer medium between a heat roller and a press roller, each of the rollers rotating while in pressure contact with each other. An oil application roller is disposed in pressure contact with and is driven by the heat roller. The oil application roller has a layer of heat-resistant fibers on its circumferential surface. An oil-impregnated member is pressed against the oil application roller through a pressure contact surface formed of a non-woven cloth for transferring oil having a dynamic viscosity of .nu.2 in the range of 1,000 cst to 10,000 cst, to the oil application roller. The oil application roller is continuously supplied with oil from the oil-impregnated fiber member and the cloth and supplies oil having a dynamic viscosity of .nu.1, to the circumferential surface of the heat roller during rotation. The ratio of dynamic viscosities of the oils being in the range of .nu.2:.nu.1=1:3 to 30.