Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat an image on a recording material at a nip therebetween; an endless belt configured to heat the first rotatable member in contact with an outer surface of the first rotatable member; and first and second rollers configured to rotatably support the endless belt from an inside of the endless belt. A heating portion by the endless belt is formed from a position where the endless belt is contacted to the first rotatable member by the first roller to a position where the endless belt is contacted to the first rotatable member by the second roller along a rotational direction of the first rotatable member. A pressure between the second roller and the first rotatable member is larger than a pressure between the first roller and the first rotatable member.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for enzymatic polymerization to produce polyester resins suitable for use in manufacturing toners. In embodiments, crystalline copolymers, which are polyesters, may be synthesized from lactones, cyclic anhydrides, cyclic carbonates, and combinations thereof. These crystalline copolymers, in turn, may be utilized in the synthesis of toner particles.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a hollow image heating roller having a through hole at one axial end portion side thereof; a bearing fitted around the roller; a heat insulating bush fitted around the roller between the roller and the bearing; a retaining ring for preventing the heat insulating bush from moving relative to the roller; an annular spacer provided between the heat insulating bush and the retaining ring, the annular spacer being provided with an inwardly protruded key portion engageable with the through hole.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; a heat transfer device in contact with the backup roll such that rotation of the backup roll rotates the heat transfer device, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location to another location on the backup roll; and a positioning mechanism for moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with and contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member and a second position in which the heat transfer device is disengaged and spaced apart therefrom, the positioning mechanism to pivots the heat transfer device about a pivot axis when moving between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith, wherein rotation of the backup roll causes the heating member to rotate; and a first roll in contact with one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the first roll, the first roll including a heat pipe disposed therein.

Abstract: An inner heating member is disposed in contact with an inner circumferential surface of a heating belt and an outer heating member is disposed in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the heating belt to heat the heating belt. A restricting member configured to restrict an orbit of the heating belt is disposed between the inner and outer heating members. Then, at least either one of an area of contact between the inner circumferential surface of the heating belt and the inner heating member and an area of contact between the outer circumferential surface of the heating belt and the outer heating member is changed to quickly change a quantity of heat applied to the outer circumferential surface or inner circumferential surface of the heating belt.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided that can limit a temperature rise in paper non-contact edge portions with a relatively simple configuration and can make uniform a temperature distribution across a paper feed region. A heating roller includes lamps that respectively heat a center region and a large edge region and a small edge region, a temperature sensor for a heat generating region of the center lamp, a temperature sensor for a heat generating region of the edge-side lamps, and a temperature sensor for a paper non-contact edge portion. The heating roller selects any one of the edge-side lamps based on a detection result from the temperature sensor for the paper non-contact edge portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a backup member, first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to integrally support the heater and the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat roller and a heater. The heat roller extends in an axial direction and includes a cylindrical-shaped roller section and a coil, the roller section having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space therewithin and the coil being wound along the inner peripheral surface, the heat roller being configured of a plurality of zones in the axial direction, the plurality of zones including a low zone whose heat capacity is less than a predetermined value and a high zone whose heat capacity is not less than the predetermined value. The heater is disposed within the internal space of the roller section and has a heating wire configured to generate heat, the heating wire having at least a first portion which is in confrontation with the high zone and a second portion which is in confrontation with the low zone, and the heating wire being configured such that the first portion has an amount of heat generation greater than an amount of heat generation at the second portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device including an image holding member; an intermediate transfer belt to whose outer surface a developer image formed on the image holding member of the image forming device is transferred, and that holds the developer image; a cleaning device that includes a plate member, and that performs a cleaning operation; and a collecting member that is disposed in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and that removes and holds a resin particle existing at the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt as a result of causing a speed of the intermediate transfer belt and a speed of the collecting member to differ from each other.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing drum having a heating heater internally equipped therein, the fixing drum positioned spaced part and downstream from a sheet delivery site at a downstream-most side of printing units and is adapted to rotate at a peripheral speed identical to a speed of travel of the sheet of paper. A first sprocket is positioned adjoining the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side of the printing units, and a second sprocket is positioned coaxially with the fixing drum and being adapted to rotate integrally with the fixing drum. A conveyer chain having a gripper is wound around and engaging with the first and second sprockets to wind and convey a sheet of paper on a peripheral surface of the fixing drum upon gripping in turn with the gripper the sheet of paper traveling from the sheet delivery site at the downstream-most side.

Abstract: An image heating device includes an endless belt including a base layer and an elastic layer formed around the base layer, a contact member contacting an inner surface of the endless belt, a pressure rotating member forming a nip portion configured to convey a recording material while nipping the recording material along with the contact member via the endless belt, wherein an image formed on the recording material is heated at the nip portion using heat from the endless belt, and wherein one end of the endless belt is coated with the elastic layer and the other end of the endless belt is not coated with the elastic layer, and a belt lateral shifting direction regulating mechanism configured to regulate a direction in which the endless belt shifts when the endless belt is rotated, toward the end coated with the elastic layer.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a housing, and heating-side and pressing-side heat conservation plates. The fixing member includes a heating member and a pressing member that is in pressure contact with the heating member. The housing includes the fixing member and has openings on upstream and downstream sides in a recording medium transportation direction. The heating-side heat conservation plate opposes the heating member so as to be spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of the heating member. The pressing-side heat conservation plate opposes the pressing member so as to be spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of the pressing member. A distance between the pressing member and the pressing-side heat conservation plate is greater than a distance between the heating member and the heating-side heat conservation plate.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes first and heat generation member, a connection state switching section switching the first and second heat generation members between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, the connection state switching section having a first make-or-break-contact relay and a second transfer-contact relay, a drive element provided used for controlling power supplied to the first and second heat generation members, and a capacitor between a power supply path closer to the side of the first and second heat generation members rather than the first relay and a power supply path closer to the commercial power supply side rather than the drive element. The image heating apparatus can suppress an increase in noise level of a noise terminal voltage by performing power control on the heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heat source, a heating member, a pressure member, a heat absorption unit, a holding member, and an end part supporting member. The heat source generates infrared rays. The heat absorption unit is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the heating member, absorbs radiation heat of the heat source, and opposes an outer circumferential part of the holding member with a gap. The holding member has a hollow and cylindrical shape, and arranged between the heat source and the inner circumferential surface of the heat member, permits transmission of infrared rays therethrough, and has heat resistance. The end part supporting member supports the holding member at both axial end parts of the heating member. The outer circumferential part of the holding member, the inner circumferential surface of the heating member, and the end part supporting member form a sealing space sealing the heat absorption unit.

Abstract: A toner fixing system has a heating member rotatable around an axis. The heating member includes a liquid-blocking barrier and a backing layer that define a liquid cavity not including the axis. The liquid cavity contains a heating liquid warmed above a glass transition temperature of the toner. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path in which the receiver medium contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking barrier. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the warmed heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.

Abstract: An image heater a hollow heating roller having a hole at an axial end portion thereof; a bearing supporting the heating roller; a heat insulating bush fitted between an outer surface of the heating roller and the bearing; a retaining ring for retaining the heat insulating bush in an axial direction of the heating roller, the retaining ring including a projection engaging with the hole; an annular spacer provided between the retaining ring and the heat insulating bush, wherein the spacer includes a connecting portion having a connecting hole, the retaining ring includes a hooking portion engaging with the connecting hole.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fixing apparatus capable of correcting inclined movement of an external heating belt 105 which heats a fixing roller 101 from the outside, in an axial direction of support rollers 103 and 104. A rotary shaft 209 is disposed as a rotation center, and the external heating belt 105 is configured to intersect a generating line of the fixing roller 101. Moreover, the turning shaft 209 is disposed at a position which is offset on an upstream side in a rotating direction of the fixing roller 101. Furthermore, the support roller 104 is positioned on a downstream side in the rotating direction of the fixing roller 101, and both ends of the support roller 104 in the axial direction are movably held, respectively, so that a distance between the centers of the rollers can be variable with respect to the support roller 103.

Abstract: In an image heating device (F) employing an induction heating system, which includes a heating rotary member (15, 15A) and a magnetic flux generating unit including a coil and a magnetic core (12), when an area of a surface of a leading end portion of the core (12) on a side opposed to the heating rotary member (15) is large, the time change of the magnetic flux to act on the heating rotary member does not increase. As a result, the heat generation efficiency of the heating rotary member may be suppressed. To resolve this problem, the core (12) includes a second core portion (12a) protruding toward the heating rotary member and including, on a leading end side of a convex-shaped part, a leading end protruding portion (12d) which has a width smaller than a width of a root portion (12b) of the convex-shaped part in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular flexible metallic fusing member, a heater, a nip member, and a backup member. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space for receiving radiant heat from the heater and has a contact surface in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface. At least the contact surface is provided with a protection layer having a hardness higher than that of the inner peripheral surface. The backup member nips the fusing member in cooperation with the nip member.

Abstract: A thermally conductive silicone rubber sponge composition which is composed of 100 parts by weight of heat-curable organopolysiloxane composition, 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of organic resin hollow filler having an average particle diameter of up to 200 ?m and a true specific gravity of up to 0.3, and 20 to 300 parts by weight of thermally conductive filler having an average particle diameter of 1 to 30 ?m and a thermal conductivity of at least 15 W/m·K, with the highly thermally conductive silicone rubber sponge having voids accounting for 10 to 70% of the entire volume thereof. The silicone rubber sponge composition of the present invention gives a silicone rubber sponge having high thermal conductivity, small heat capacity, low hardness, light weight, and low permanent compression set.

Abstract: In a fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable in such a manner that permits the fusing member to slide along the nip plate, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion between the fusing member and the backup member. The nip plate is bent to form a recessed portion which opens on the inner surface of the fusing member and holds a lubricant.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller configured to be heated by a heat source, and a pressure roller configured to be in pressure-contact with the fixing roller. The fixing roller includes a cylindrical tubular core having an inner circumferential surface and one or more ribs protruded from the inner circumferential surface and extending spirally along the inner circumferential surface. The total number of times that the one or more spiral ribs cross through a region of contact between the fixing roller and the pressure roller is more than one, regardless of a rotation angle of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a fixing rotatable body that is located at a side of a recording medium, the side carrying a not-fixed image, a pressing rotatable body that is located at another side of the recording medium and that is disposed so as to abut on the fixing rotatable body, a fixing heating unit that heats the fixing rotatable body, a first pressing heating unit that heats the pressing rotatable body from inside thereof, and a second pressing heating unit that is disposed opposite to a surface of the pressing rotatable body and that heats the pressing rotatable body from outside thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sheet heating element includes preparing a sheet member containing a metal or alloy, and performing anodic oxidizing treatment on the sheet member until only a surface layer of the sheet member is oxidized while a center portion thereof is not oxidized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a fixing liquid applicator applying a fixing liquid including a plasticizer swelling and softening a toner forming a toner image to fix on a recording medium thereto before bearing the toner image; a transferer transferring the toner image on a toner image bearer onto the recording medium while contacting the toner image to the fixing liquid thereon; and a fixing device heating the toner image and the fixing liquid to fix the toner image thereon, wherein the fixing liquid applicator comprises an application member bearing the fixing liquid on its surface and apply the liquid on a surface of the recording medium the toner image is transferred onto; a feeder feeding the fixing liquid to the application member; and an inducement mechanism inducing the fixing liquid pooling at a delivery point where the feeder feeds the fixing liquid to the application member out of the point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-producing fixing belt of a cylindrical shape which is composed of a heat-producing layer, an elastic layer, and a releasing layer in this sequential order from the inner side, and the heat-producing layer contains a polyimide resin and fabric containing carbon fiber and a pair of electrodes to supply power to the heat-producing layer making contact with the fabric containing carbon fiber are provided on both ends of the cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a first roller; a second roller that forms a nip between the second roller and the first roller and presses a sheet passing through the nip against the first roller; a heater that heats at least one of the first roller and the second roller, a heating range of the heater being greater than a maximum printing width of a predetermined maximum sheet width, and a heat-uniformizing member that distributes heat of the heater along a longitudinal direction thereof, an effective length of the heat-uniformizing member in the longitudinal direction being the same as, or greater than, the predetermined maximum sheet width.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that includes a conductive layer and fixes toner on a recording material with heat generated in the conductive layer by electromagnetic induction; a magnetic-field-producing member that produces an alternating-current magnetic field when an alternating current is supplied to the magnetic-field-producing member, the alternating-current magnetic field intersecting the conductive layer; a first support member that faces the magnetic-field-producing member and has a first projection which projects toward the magnetic-field-producing member, the first support member supporting the magnetic-field-producing member at the first projection; and a second support member that faces the first support member with the magnetic-field-producing member interposed therebetween, the second support member supporting the magnetic-field-producing member by pressing the magnetic-field-producing member against the first support member.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a heating rotatable member; and a pressing pad contacted to said heating rotatable member and forming a nip with said heating rotatable member to nip and feed a recording material, said pressing member being provided with an electroconductive material dispersed resin material layer contacting said heating rotatable member.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heating rotary belt, a pressing member that abuts with an inner surface of the heating rotary belt, a pressing rotor that forms a fixing nip with the heating rotary belt, a induction coil separated by a predetermined distance from the external surface of the heating rotary belt and generating a magnetic flux to generate heat in the heating rotary belt, a magnetic core portion that forms a magnetic path for the magnetic flux generated by the induction coil, and a regulating portion that regulates the deformation of the heating rotary belt by abutment with the external surface of the heating rotary belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat pipe, a fuser belt, a heater, a fuser pad, a pressure member, and a coupling mechanism. The heat pipe is formed of a sheet of metal bent into a generally cylindrical configuration with a pair of opposed longitudinal edges thereof spaced apart from each other to define a longitudinal slot therebetween. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the heat pipe. The heater is disposed within the heat pipe to heat the heat pipe to conduct heat to the fuser belt. The fuser pad is accommodated in the longitudinal slot of the heat pipe inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member is disposed parallel to the heat pipe with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The coupling mechanism includes a pair of first coupling portion and a pair of second coupling portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a heating roller having an electrode to receive power disposed at an outer circumference thereof and a connection unit to supply the power to the heating roller via the electrode. The connection unit includes a connection member connected to the electrode, the connection member being rotated along with the heating roller, an annular friction bush disposed at the connection member, and at least one wire having one fixed end and the other end contacting an outer circumference of the friction bush. The connection member is rotated along with the heating roller, and therefore, no friction occurs between the electrode and the connection member, thereby preventing damage to the electrode.

Abstract: An induction heating type fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device. The fusing device includes a magnetic flux generator and a compressing roller outside a fusing belt, first and second fusing rollers and a nip guide inside the fusing belt. The compressing roller compresses against the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide to form nips, while the fusing belt is disposed between the compressing roller and the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating member, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The fixing member fixes a toner image onto a recording material. The pressing member is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a fixing pressure part between the pressing member and the fixing member. The heating member heats the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member. The movement mechanism moves the heating member to contact with and be apart from the fixing member. The control unit controls the movement mechanism to move the heating member relatively apart from the fixing member after a predetermined time elapses after a trailing end of a recording material in a transport direction thereof passes through the fixing pressure part each time when a recording material passes through the fixing pressure part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body that heats toner while rotating and fixes the toner on a recording medium, a pressurizing rotary body that sandwiches and pressurizes the toner and the recording medium by the fixing rotary body, and a supporting part that supports the fixing rotary body from the inside so that a peak pressure on an outlet side of the recording medium becomes equal to or lower than a peak pressure on an inlet side, in a contact part where the fixing rotary body and the pressurizing rotary body come into contact with each other.

Abstract: A belt-roll fuser system includes a belt-roll fuser module that is movable to engage and disengage to a main frame of the belt-roll fuser system. The belt-roll fuser has an internal pressure member that defines a fusing nip with an external pressure member of the main frame when the belt-roll fuser module is engaged. The belt-roll fuser module is movable by a latch, and when engaged, a nip load path crosses through a point at which the latch attaches to the belt-roll fuser module.

Abstract: A heater is inserted into a roller through-hole of a heating roller body. An attached portion of a terminal plate is attached to a power supply terminal provided on one end of the heater. An engaging portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a first radial direction of the heating roller body and arranged in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the heater. The engaging portion is engaged with the fixing frame. An engaging terminal portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a second radial direction of the heating roller body and intersects with the longitudinal direction of the heater. The second radial direction is a direction the same as the first radial direction.

Abstract: A surface heating type heating unit for a fixing device, and a fixing device and an image forming apparatus including the same. The surface heating type heating unit includes a planar heating element on an outer circumferential surface of a supporter having cylindrical shape, a power feeding terminal at each end of the supporter, and a connector disposed between the planar heating element and the power feeding terminal. The connector is formed on a first region on the power feeding terminal, and includes an adhesive material for adhering the planar heating element and the power feeding terminal, and a conductive material formed on a second region of the power feeding terminal excluding the first region.

Abstract: A heating device including a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure unit that applies pressure to the heating member; and a rotation member that is mounted to the heating member. The rotation member is rotated upon receiving an external force and the heating member is rotated along with a rotation of the rotation member by a frictional force between the heating member and the rotation member.

Abstract: A gloss-watermark pattern is produced on a rotatable fixing member including a thermoplastic layer having a surface and a selected thickness. Particles having a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa are applied in a selected deposition pattern to a selected area of a pressure member. The pressure member and the fixing member are pressed together so that the applied particles indent the surface of the fixing member to form the gloss-watermark pattern. The pressure member and the fixing member can then be mechanically separated and a printed image on a receiver can be fixed using the fixing member having the gloss-watermark pattern. A gloss watermark corresponding to the gloss-watermark pattern is thus formed on the printed image.

Abstract: A print engine is disclosed. The print engine includes a fusing system having a heat pipe to recover heat generated by the fusing system and transfer the recovered heat back into the fusing system.

Abstract: While a recording sheet is passing through a fixing nip formed between a heating roller 41 having a heating layer and a pressing roller 42 pressed against the roller 41, a coil 43 is exited by high-frequency power from a power source and causes the layer to generate heat. An unfixed image on the recording sheet is fixed by the heat. The power source detects a zero cross timing of a rectified alternating current, detects an instantaneous value at a point a predetermined period after the zero cross timing, calculates an effective power of the alternating current based on the instantaneous value, and controls the output power to be a desired value determined based on the effective power and the surface temperature of the roller 41. Thus power input to the power source can be quickly detected and power output to the coil can be quickly and stably controlled.

Abstract: A fusing device for an image forming apparatus that heats an infused image on a printing medium by an electromagnetic induction heating method includes a heated member having a metallic layer; a plurality of main cores disposed to be spaced apart a predetermined distance from a surface of the heated member, the plurality of main cores arranged to be spaced apart a predetermined interval from each other in a length direction of the heated member; and a main coil wound to surround the plurality of main cores.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member including an elastic layer and a surface layer in which a filler is dispersed; and a fixed pressing member which is contacted to a surface of the rotatable image heating member and forms a nip, between itself and the rotatable image heating member, in which a recording material for carrying an image is to be nip-conveyed. The surface of the rotatable image heating member has a shape such that projections are distributed by the filler so that a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(hot) relative to said fixed pressing member when a surface temperature of the rotatable image heating member is a temperature during image heating and a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(cold) relative to the fixed pressing member when the surface temperature is a normal temperature satisfy, ?(hot)<1.2×?(cold).

Abstract: A fusion device includes a heating member that includes a heating part and a heat transmission member that faces the heating member. The heat transmission member includes a first member that is configured to transmit heat from the heating part by facing the heating part and a second member that is configured to regulate a position of the heating member. And the second member includes an opening part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular belt holder, a rotatable flexible fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, and a heater. The belt holder extends in an axial direction thereof. The fuser belt is looped around the belt holder extending in the axial direction. The contact member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, accommodated in the belt holder. The pressure member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, disposed opposite the belt holder with the fuser belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member presses against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat a circumferential portion of the fuser belt. The belt holder includes a generally semi-cylindrical section to face the heated circumferential portion of the fuser belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of detecting occurrence of an abnormality that a fixing member which is actually in an unpressurized state is detected to be in a pressurized state, and supply of electric power to a heating member is continued. A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller. The fixing belt and the pressure roller are pressed against each other such that a nip is formed therebetween, for nipping and conveying a transfer material through the nip while heating and pressing the same. A pressurizing unit selectively switches between a pressurizing state and an unpressurizing state. When the pressurizing unit is in the pressurized state, a heater heats the fixing belt. The heating of the fixing belt is stopped based on a temperature detected by a thermistor after a lapse of a predetermined time period from start of the heating.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, and a driving unit. The fixing member and the pressing member define a nip portion where a toner image is fixed on a recording material. The driving unit is provided to the fixing member and the pressing member to individually control linear velocities of outer circumferential surfaces of the fixing member and the pressing member. In feed mode in which the outer circumferential surfaces sandwich the recording material to fix the image on the recording material, the driving unit drives the fixing member and the pressing member such that the outer circumferential surfaces move at individual linear velocities to reduce a feed speed difference between front and rear surfaces of the recording material. In non-feed mode, the driving unit drives either one of the fixing member and the pressing member such that another member is driven by the one member.

Abstract: There is described a method for producing a fuser member. The method includes obtaining a substrate and positioning a fluoroplastic sleeve around the substrate. The outer surface of the fluoroplastic sleeve is roughened to a surface roughness of between about 0.03 ?m Ra and about 3 ?m Ra. The outer surface is coated with a functional silicone oil.