Nitto Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Nitto Koygo Co., Ltd.

Goki Inukai

Masao Takagi

A fixing belt for fixing the toner image on a recording medium includes an electroformed nickel endless belt body. The belt body exhibits hardness higher at the rear surface than at the front surface after heated at 350&#xb0; C.

Fixing belt having higher hardness at a rear surface than at a front surface

A metal belt of the present invention is formed to be endless by electroforming, has a crystal orientation in which a crystal orientation ratio I/Iis not less than 80 and not more than 250, mainly contains nickel, and has an excellent durability.

Metal belt and coated belt

The present invention provides a fixing belt adapted to move circularly and cooperate with a pressing member to form a nip region for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, capable of achieving a desirably enhanced durability even under high-temperature atmosphere. The fixing belt comprises a substrate formed of an endless-shaped electroformed sheet consisting essentially of a nickel-carbon alloy containing 0.05 to 0.12 mass % of carbon. The carbon content may be adjusted in proportion to the amount of a secondary brightening agent to be added to an electrolytic bath or to a cathode current density to be sent to the electrolytic bath. The secondary brightening agent may be 2-butyne-1,4-diol. In the fixing belt of the present invention, the substrate may have a surface provided with a releasing layer which may be formed as a single layer or multilayer made of a material having heat resistance and non-adhesive, such as silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluororesin, or their mixture.

Fixing belt and fixing apparatus equipped with same

The present invention provides a fixing belt adapted to move circularly and cooperate with a pressing member to form a nip region for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, capable of achieving a desirably enhanced durability even under high-temperature atmosphere. The fixing belt comprises a substrate formed of an endless-shaped electroformed sheet consisting of a nickel-carbon alloy containing 0.05 to 0.12 mass % of carbon. The carbon content may be adjusted in proportion to the amount of a secondary brightening agent to be added to an electrolytic bath or to a cathode current density to be sent to the electrolytic bath. The secondary brightening agent may be 2-butyne-1,4-diol. In the fixing belt of the present invention, the substrate may have a surface provided with a releasing layer which may be formed as a single layer or multilayer made of a material having heat resistance and non-adhesive, such as silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluororesin, or their mixture.

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Tokyo, Japan

Goki Inukai