1. An endless belt for heating an image on a sheet, comprising:
a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
a first ring member provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
a second ring member, wherein one of said first and second ring members is fitted around the other with said resistance layer sandwiched therebetween; and
a fixing member configured to fix said first and second ring member to each other so that said first and second ring members are rotated integrally with said resistance layer.
2. An endless belt according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member includes a screw penetrating said resistance layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second ring members.
3. An endless belt according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member includes a ring member holding member for holding and fixing said first and second ring members.
4. An endless belt according to claim 3, wherein said ring member holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second ring members.
5. An endless belt according to claim 1, further comprising an electroconductive layer electrically connected with said resistance layer,
wherein said first ring member is disposed in contact with said electroconductive layer.
6. An endless belt according to claim 1, wherein said first ring member is formed of metal.
7. An endless belt according to claim 6, wherein said first ring member is formed of copper.
8. An endless belt according to claim 1, wherein said second ring member is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction.
9. An endless belt according to claim 1, wherein said first ring member is disposed in an outer surface side of said endless belt, and said second ring member is disposed in an inner surface side of said endless belt.
10. An endless belt according to claim 1, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, capable of contacting the sheet.
11. An endless belt according to claim 10, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer.
12. An endless belt for heating an image on a sheet, comprising:
a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
a ring member provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which a widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer; and
a fixing member configured to fix said ring member so that said ring member is rotated integrally with said resistance layer.
13. An endless belt for heating an image on a sheet, comprising:
a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
a first ring member provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
a second ring member, wherein one of said first and second ring members is fitted around the other with said resistance layer sandwiched therebetween;
a first fixing member configured to fix said first and second ring member to each other so that said first and second ring members are rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
a third ring member provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
a fourth ring member, wherein one of said third and fourth ring members is fitted around the other with said resistance layer sandwiched therebetween; and
a second fixing member configured to fix said third and fourth ring member to each other so that said third and fourth ring members are rotated integrally with said resistance layer.
14. An endless belt according to claim 13, wherein said first fixing member includes a screw penetrating said resistance layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second ring members, and said second fixing member includes a second screw penetrating said resistance layer in a sandwiched state between said third and fourth ring members.
15. An endless belt according to claim 13, wherein said fixing member includes a ring member holding member for holding and fixing said first and second ring members, and said second fixing member includes a second ring member holding member for holding and fixing said third and fourth ring members.
16. An endless belt according to claim 15, wherein said ring member holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second ring members, and said third ring member holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said third and fourth ring members.
17. An endless belt according to claim 13, further comprising a first electroconductive layer which is provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt and which is electrically connected with said resistance layer, and an second electroconductive layer which is provided in another widthwise end side of said endless belt and which is electrically connected with said resistance layer,
wherein said first ring member is disposed in contact with said first electroconductive layer, and said second ring member is disposed in contact with said second electroconductive layer.
18. An endless belt according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and third ring members is formed of metal.
19. An endless belt according to claim 18, wherein each of said first and third ring members is formed of copper.
20. An endless belt according to claim 13, wherein each of said second and fourth ring members is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction.
21. An endless belt according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and third ring members is disposed in an outer surface side of said endless belt, and each of said second and fourth ring members is disposed in an inner surface side of said endless belt.
22. An endless belt according to claim 13, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, capable of contacting the sheet.
23. An endless belt according to claim 22, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer.
24. An endless belt for heating an image on a sheet, comprising:
a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
a first ring member provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which a widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer; and
a first fixing member configured to fix said first ring member so that said first ring member is rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
a second ring member provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which another widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer; and
a second fixing member configured to fix said second ring member so that said first ring member is rotated integrally with said resistance layer.
25. An image heating apparatus comprising:
(i) an endless belt for heating an image on a sheet at a nip said endless belt including:
(i-i) a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
(i-ii) a first ring member provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
(i-iii) a second ring member, wherein one of said first and second ring members is fitted around the other with said resistance layer sandwiched therebetween;
(i-iv) a first fixing member configured to fix said first and second ring member to each other so that said first and second ring members are rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
(i-v) a third ring member provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
(i-vi) a fourth ring member, wherein one of said third and fourth ring members is fitted around the other with said resistance layer sandwiched therebetween;
(i-vii) a second fixing member configured to fix said third and fourth ring member to each other so that said third and fourth ring members are rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
(ii) a first slidable member, provided slidably with said first ring member, configured to effect electric power supply to said resistance layer via said first ring member;
(iii) a second slidable member, provided slidably with said third ring member, configured to form an electric power supply path, via said resistance layer, between said first and second slidable members; and
(iv) a rotatable driving member configured to form the nip in cooperation with said endless belt and configured to rotationally drive said endless belt.
26. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first fixing member includes a screw penetrating said resistance layer in a sandwiched state between said first and second ring members, and said second fixing member includes a second screw penetrating said resistance layer in a sandwiched state between said third and fourth ring members.
27. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said fixing member includes a ring member holding member for holding and fixing said first and second ring members, and said second fixing member includes a second ring member holding member for holding and fixing said third and fourth ring members.
28. An image heating apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said ring member holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said first and second ring members, and said third ring member holding member is provided with a tapered portion configured to fix said third and fourth ring members.
29. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a first electroconductive layer which is provided in a widthwise end side of said endless belt and which is electrically connected with said resistance layer, and an second electroconductive layer which is provided in another widthwise end side of said endless belt and which is electrically connected with said resistance layer,
wherein said first ring member is disposed in contact with said first electroconductive layer, and said second ring member is disposed in contact with said second electroconductive layer.
30. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said first and third ring members is formed of metal.
31. An image heating apparatus according to claim 30, wherein each of said first and third ring members is formed of copper.
32. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said second and fourth ring members is provided with a slit at a part thereof with respect to a circumferential direction.
33. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said first and third ring members is disposed in an outer surface side of said endless belt, and each of said second and fourth ring members is disposed in an inner surface side of said endless belt.
34. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:
a first limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to a widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward said widthwise end side; and
a second limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to another widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward said another widthwise end side,
wherein said first limiting member is capable of abutting against said first ring member, and said second limiting member is capable of abutting against said third ring member.
35. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:
a first limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to a widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward said widthwise end side; and
a second limiting member, provided opposed to said endless belt with respect to another widthwise end side of said endless belt, configured to limit movement of said endless belt toward said another widthwise end side,
wherein said first limiting member is capable of abutting against said second ring member, and said second limiting member is capable of abutting against said fourth ring member.
36. An image heating apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a parting layer, provided on said resistance layer, capable of contacting the sheet.
37. An image heating apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising an elastic layer provided between said resistance layer and said parting layer.
38. An image heating apparatus comprising:
(i) an endless belt for heating an image on a sheet at a nip said endless belt including:
(i-i) a resistance layer for generating heat by supply of electric power;
(i-ii) a first ring member provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which a widthwise end of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
(i-iii) a first fixing member configured to fix said first and second ring member so that said first ring member is rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
(i-iv) a second ring member provided with a bottom and a hollow portion into which another widthwise end side of said endless belt is inserted so as to be electrically connected with said resistance layer;
(i-v) a second fixing member configured to fix said second ring member so that said second ring member is rotated integrally with said resistance layer;
(ii) a first slidable member, provided slidably with said first ring member, configured to effect electric power supply to said resistance layer via said first ring member;
(iii) a second slidable member, provided slidably with said second ring member, configured to form an electric power supply path, via said resistance layer, between said first and second slidable members; and
(iv) a rotatable driving member configured to form the nip in cooperation with said endless belt and configured to rotationally drive said endless belt.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of depositing material onto a microfeature workpiece in a reaction chamber, the method comprising:
flowing a first pulse of a first gas through a first gas conduit, a first valve, and a second gas conduit and into the reaction chamber, wherein the second gas conduit is downstream from the first valve;
flowing a second pulse of the first gas through the first gas conduit, a second valve, and the second gas conduit and into the reaction chamber without flowing the second pulse of the first gas through the first valve; and
flowing a third pulse of the first gas through the first gas conduit and a third valve into the reaction chamber.
2. A method for depositing material onto a microfeature workpiece in a reaction chamber, the method comprising:
flowing a first pulse of a first gas through a first gas passageway in a valve assembly and into a first portion of a gas distributor at the reaction chamber; and
flowing a second pulse of the first gas through a second gas passageway in the valve assembly and into a second portion of the gas distributor, wherein the first and second portions of the gas distributor are in fluid communication with each other, wherein the first and second gas passageways are configured in a parallel arrangement and are in fluid communication with a first gas conduit;
flowing a third pulse of the first gas through a third gas passageway in the valve assembly; and
flowing a fourth pulse of the first gas through a fourth gas passageway in the valve assembly, wherein the third and fourth gas passageways are configured in a parallel arrangement with the first and second gas passageways and are in fluid communication with the first gas conduit.
3. A method for depositing material onto a microfeature workpiece in a reaction chamber, the method comprising:
opening a first valve to dispense a first pulse of a first gas into the reaction chamber through a first downstream main line;
closing the first valve;
opening a second valve to dispense a second pulse of the first gas into the reaction chamber through the first downstream main line; and
closing the second valve, wherein the first pulse of the first gas does not pass through the second valve and the second pulse of the first gas does not pass through the first valve.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
opening a third valve to dispense a first pulse of a second gas into the reaction chamber through a second downstream main line;
closing the third valve;
opening a fourth valve to dispense a second pulse of the second gas into the reaction chamber through the second downstream main line; and
closing the fourth valve, wherein the first pulse of the second gas does not pass through the fourth valve and the second pulse of the second gas does not pass through the third valve.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein closing the first valve occurs before opening the second valve.
6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
opening a third valve to dispense a third pulse of the first gas into the reaction chamber through the first downstream main line after closing the second valve; and
closing the third valve.