The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2000
Akihiko Nakazawa, Sunto-gun, JP;
Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Fuji, JP;
Minoru Shimojo, Kawasaki, JP;
Akira Shimada, Sunto-gun, JP;
Atsushi Tanaka, Susono, JP;
Tsunenori Ashibe, Yokohama, JP;
Takashi Kusaba, Sunto-gun, JP;
Hidekazu Matsuda, Numazi, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A process produces a belt-shaped member to be used in an image-forming apparatus is disclosed in which a toner image held on a latent-image-bearing member is electrostatically transferred under application of a voltage via the belt-shaped transfer member. The process includes the steps of melt-extruding a material containing a thermoplastic resin, from a circular die into a cylindrical film; forming the resultant cylindrical film by stretching in such a way that the cylindrical film comes to have a thickness smaller than the die gap of the circular die; and cutting the cylindrical film thus formed, into a seamless belt having a thickness of from 40 &mgr;m to 300 &mgr;m and a modulus in tension of 600 MPa or higher. The stretched cylindrical film is formed to have a thickness not larger than ⅓ of the die gap of the circular die. A belt-shaped transfer member may be produced by the above-described process. The so-produced belt-shaped transfer member is usable as a transfer belt in an image-forming apparatus in which a toner image held on a latent-image-bearing member is electrostatically transferred under application of a voltage via the belt-shaped transfer member.