Patent ID: 6577836
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: F28D,G03G

Abstract:
An image-forming apparatus, comprising.an endless image bearing member that moves while carrying a toner image formed on the endless image bearing member; a heating unit disposed in a traveling route of the endless image bearing member; a first metal member that comes into contact with the endless image bearing member at a position downstream of the heating unit in the traveling direction of the endless image bearing member; a second metal member that comes into contact with the endless image bearing member at positions downstream of the first metal member and upstream of the heating unit in the traveling direction of the endless image bearing member; and plural heat-transporting members aligned in the traveling direction of the endless image bearing member and clamped between the first and second metal members, wherein the image forming apparatus satisfies the relationship: 0.73+0.00024Ã—tÃ—(W1âˆ’W2)&lE;(T2âˆ’T1)/(bTâˆ’T1) â€ƒwherein: t indicates the thickness of the individual first and second metal members, W1 indicates the width of the individual first and second metal members in the widthwise direction of the endless image bearing member, W2 indicates the width of the endless image bearing member, bT indicates the temperature of the second metal member at the downstream edge of the second metal member relative to the traveling direction of the endless image bearing member, T1 indicates the temperature of the endless image bearing member just before coming into contact with the second metal member, and T2 indicates the temperature of the endless image bearing member just after the image bearing member leaves the second metal member.