(19)
(11) EP 0 552 786 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.10.1993 Bulletin 1993/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.07.1993 Bulletin 1993/30

(21) Application number: 93100935.1

(22) Date of filing: 21.01.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5G03G 15/20
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE GB NL

(30) Priority: 23.01.1992 JP 34430/92
23.01.1992 JP 34431/92

(71) Applicants:
  • KAO CORPORATION
    Chuo-ku, Tokyo (JP)
  • HIRAOKA H.I. LABORATORY Co. Ltd.
    Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Yasuda, Shin-ichiro
    Sennan-gun, Osaka (JP)
  • Kawabe, Kuniyasu
    Wakayama-shi, Wakayama-ken (JP)
  • Hiraoka, Yuji
    Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken (JP)
  • Nakamura, Jun-ichi
    Iruma-shi, Saitama-ken (JP)
  • Yamaguchi, Chiseki
    Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER 
Postfach 86 07 67
81634 München
81634 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Fixing apparatus and fixing method using same


    (57) A fixing apparatus for forming fixed images has a heat roller (8) having a conductive elastomer layer (23) formed in a uniform thickness; a pressure roller (9); and a current supplying means. The heat roller (8) and the pressure roller (9) rotate in contact with each other to thermally fix a visible image onto the recording medium (7) at the contacted surfaces, and the electric current is passed into the conductive elastomer layer (23) by the current supplying means. Since the fixing is carried out at a fixing temperature of not more than 130°C, the fixing apparatus can be simplified, thereby making it possible to miniaturize and lower its overall cost.







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