Patent ID: 6739051
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: F16C,G03G,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a pressure roller for a fixing device, comprising the steps of:forming a silicone rubber layer by extruding silicone rubber on a shaft, and curing the extruded silicone rubber to foam the silicone rubber, thereby providing the silicone rubber layer with a plurality of pores; and bonding a resin tube to the silicone rubber layer, said resin tube surrounding the silicone rubber layer, wherein the step of forming the silicone rubber layer further comprises polishing the foamed silicone rubber so that it has a given outer diameter, wherein the curing of the extruded silicone rubber is carried out in a chamber maintained at substantially 120Â° C., wherein the step of forming the silicone rubber layer further comprises the sub-steps of: subjecting the cured silicone rubber to a primary heat treatment in a chamber maintained at substantially 200Â° C. to form heat-treated silicone rubber; and subjecting the heat-treated silicone rubber to a secondary heat treatment in a chamber maintained at substantially 190Â° C. while forcibly circulating ambient air in the chamber, wherein the step of forming the silicone rubber layer further comprises cutting the heat-treated silicone rubber so that it has a length less than a length of the resin tube.