| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible member which is capable of reducing the occurrence of a stick slip by reducing frictional resistance to a heating body and can be improved in mechanical strength at its end part brought into contact with a regulating member. <P>SOLUTION: A cylindrical flexible member 30 for use in an image heating device is moved in contact with a heating body 32, and is regulated from being biased in a lengthwise direction by contact with a regulating member 36 of an end surface in the lengthwise direction of the flexible member. An inner surface of the flexible member brought into contact with the heating body has a roughened area CAr and a smoothed area SAr, and the smoothed area is provided on the inner surface of at least the end surface side in the lengthwise direction of the flexible member, which is brought into contact with the regulating member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT |
