Image formation apparatus having high frequency wave fixing means

Claim 2

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member having an oposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for passing the recording medium, on which the unfixed image is formed, through said electric field concentration area in a close or slidable relationship relative to the second electrically conductive medium, wherein said high-frequency-wave-fixing means as a third electrically conductive member for increasing said electric field area.

Claim 3

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member having a concave conductor, and a second electrically conductive member having an opposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field concentration area so as to pass the recording medium with the unfixed image thereon through the electric field concentration area.

Claim 4

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member having a concave conductor, and a second electrically conductive member having an opposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field concentration area so as to pass the recording medium with the unfixed image thereon through the electric field concentration area.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second electrically conductive member is positioned between the opposite ends of said concave conductor.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said moving means moves said recording medium relative to the neighborhoods of the opposite ends of said conductor and said second electrically conductive member.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a member having a dielectric constant is interposed between said concave conductor and said second electrically conductive member.

Claim 8

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member having an opposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in said electric field area, the high-frequency-wave-fixing means having a dielectric member disposed between the first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field concentration area so as to pass the recording medium with the unfixed image thereon through the electric field concentration area.

Claim 9

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member having an opposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in said electric field area, the high-frequency-wave-fixing means having a dielectric member disposed between the first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field concentration area so as to pass the recording medium with the unfixed image thereon through the electric field concentration area.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first electrically conductive member is in intimate contact with one surface of said dielectric member.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first electrically conductive member is in intimate contact with the entire surface of said dielectric member.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second electrically conductive member is in intimate contact with another surface of said dielectric member.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said high-frequency-wave-fixing means has a high-frequency-wave-applying surface comprising at least a portion of said first and second electrically conductive members and one surface of sid dielectric member, and said moving means moves said recording medium relative to said applying surface.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said dielectric member has first and second dielectric materials having different dielectric constants, and said second electrically conductive member is positioned at the juncture of said first and second dielectric materials.

Claim 15

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member having an oposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for passing the recording medium, on which the unfixed image is formed, through said electric field concentration area in a close or slidable relationship relative to the second electrically conductive medium, wherein the apparatus formed comprises a dielectric member disposed in contact with said first and second electrically conductive members.

Claim 16

An image formation apparatus including: means for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member having an oposed width smaller than the width of said first electrically conductive member to form an electric field concentration area, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for passing the recording medium, on which the unfixed image is formed, through said electric field concentration area in a close or slidable relationship relative to the second electrically conductive medium, wherein the apparatus formed comprises a dielectric member disposed in contact with said first and second electrically conductive members.

Claim 17

An image formage apparatus comprising: means for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member, a second electrically conductive member disposed closely to the first electrically conductive member, and a dielectric member disposed in contact with said first and second electrically conductive members, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field area so as to pass the recording medium having the unfixed image thereon through the electric field area.

Claim 18

An image formage apparatus comprising: means for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium; fixing means including a first electrically conductive member, a second electrically conductive member disposed closely to the first electrically conductive member, and a dielectric member disposed in contact with said first and second electrically conductive members, wherein said means is for effecting high-frequency-wave-fixing of the unfixed image on the recording medium in an electric field area formed by said first and second electrically conductive members; and means for moving the recording medium relative to the electric field area so as to pass the recording medium having the unfixed image thereon through the electric field area.

Claim 19

An image formation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first and second electrically conductive members are patterned conductive members formed by photoetching the dielectric member.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said dielectric member is a solid member of ceramic or muscovite.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first electrically conductive member is used also for microwave leakage shielding.

Claim 24

An image formation apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 4, 5, 7 through 11 or 1, 2, 6, 12-15, wherein said second electrically conductive member is a conductor having an edge portion or convex portion where microwave concentrates.

Claim 25

An image formation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second electrically conductive member is a conductor having an edge portion or convex portion where microwave concentrates.

Claim 26

An image formation apparatus according to any one of claims 3 through 5, 7 through 11, or 1, 2, 6, 12-15, wherein said second electrically conductive member is included relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 27

An image formation apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second electrically conductive member is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 28

An image formation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second electrically conductive member is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 29

An image formation apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said second electrically conductive member is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 30

An image formation apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second electrically conductive member is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 31

An image formation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second electrically conductive member is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium.

Claim 32

An image formation appratus according to any one of claims 3 through 5, 7 to 11, or 1, 2, 6, 12-15, wherein said relation in cross-sectional sizes of said second electrically conductive member to said first electrically conductive member is satisfied at least in the region where the recording medium passes.