Patent ID: 6370352
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A fixing apparatus, comprising:a fixing member configured to transfer a recording sheet having a toner image thereon and to apply heat to a front surface of said recording sheet; a pair of pressure applying members mounted opposite to said fixing member relative to said recording sheet and configured to apply pressure to said recording sheet from a back side thereof; wherein said fixing member applies heat to said toner so that said toner becomes in a state higher than one of softening and melting points; when said toner is melted, said fixing member stops applying heat to said toner so that the melted toner is cooled down; when a temperature of said toner is reduced below one of said softening and melting points, said recording sheet is removed from said fixing member; and said fixing member has a thickness of S &mgr;m within a range of from approximately 1.0 &mgr;m to approximately 300 &mgr;m and a tension within a range of one of from approximately ((S+99)/50000Ã—9.8 100 N/m to approximately ((29S+371)Ã—3/50000)Ã—9.8Ã—100 N/m and from approximately ((S+99/40000)Ã—9.8Ã—100 N/m to approximately ((29S+371)Ã—3/40000)Ã—9.8Ã—100 N/m.