JP4298404B2 - Manufacturing method of fixing member - Google Patents

Description

【００６２】
上述したように、４００℃以上ではフッ素樹脂層の分解が生じる。したがって、表層２３,３３の形成を、第２工程において３８０℃で加熱して行うことが耐久性向上に適しているということがわかる。フッ素樹脂層の分解が生じない範囲かつ第１の組成物の融点及び第２の組成物の融点以上の範囲で、より高温で加熱するほど、第１の組成物の融点と第２の組成物との結着すなわち第１の相Ｘと第２の相Ｙとの結着が強固になるためと考えられる。これは、３２０℃以下では界面剥離が起こり、３４０℃以上では凝集剥離が起こっていることからも分かる。
【００６３】
なお、図５において、符号Ｚで示す太線部分は、第１の組成物が芯金２１，３１と結着し、強く接着されている部分を示している。第２の組成物たるフッ素樹脂は、芯金２１，３１に対する接着力が弱いが、表層２３,３３の全体では、芯金２１，３１に対する接着力が強く、剥がれにくい。これは、太線部分においては第１の組成物と芯金２１，３１とが強く接着されており、第１の相Ｘと第２の相Ｙとの境界部分すなわち第１の組成物と第２の組成物との接着部分では、第１の組成物と第２の組成物とが強く接着されていることから、第２の組成物が太線部分において芯金２１，３１に対し直接接着しようとする接着力よりも、第１の組成物を介して接着しようとする接着力のほうが、かかる太線部分とかかる境界部分との面積の差によって大きくなっているため、強い接着力を確保しているからである。
【００６４】
（実施例４）
本実施例は、実施例１とほぼ同様であるが、第１の組成物を、ＰＥＳのみならず、ＰＥＳにケッチェンブラック３ｗｔ％を分散して構成した点、またこの混合物を、芯金２１，３１に、芯金２１，３１の表面積に対して面積比５０％で表面を覆う状態につけたものの他、面積比３０％、４０％、６０％、７０％で表面を覆う状態につけたものも作成した点で異なる。その他の点は実施例と同様であるので説明を省略する。
【００６５】
上記の各面積比で作成した定着ローラ２、加圧ローラ３を、（株）リコー製 ＭＦ４５７０に組み込み、１０万枚の画像形成を行い、１０ｍｍ幅の９０度剥離力（Ｎ）と剥離モードとをまとめたものを表２に示す。表２においては、芯金２１，３１の表面積に対するかかる混合物の付着面積比を、ＰＥＳ初期付着面積として表している。表２には比較として、ＰＦＡにケッチェンブラック３ｗｔ％を加えて作成した組成物のみを芯金２１，３１に付着させたローラを用いた場合を示している。
【００６６】
【表２】

【００６７】
表２から、かかる面積比が５０％以下で作成した定着ローラ２、加圧ローラ３であれば、１０ｍｍ幅の９０度剥離力が比較的高く、安定して使用できると考えられる。なお、表２に示していないが、ＰＦＡのみで作成した組成物のみを芯金２１，３１に付着させたローラを用いた場合は、１０ｍｍ幅の９０度剥離力は１０（Ｎ）程度であった。
【００６８】
（実施例５）
本実施例では、実施例４における面積比４０％で作成した定着ローラ２、加圧ローラ３と、上述の比較例により作成した定着ローラ、加圧ローラとを、それぞれ、（株）リコー製 ＭＦ４５７０に組み込み、定着ローラ２に対する加圧ローラ３の加圧力、定着ローラに対する加圧ローラの加圧力を変えて、１０万枚の画像形成を行い、定着ローラ２、定着ローラへのトナーの付着を調べたものである。その結果を表３に示す。なお、表３において、定着ローラ２、加圧ローラ３を組み込んだ実施例５の結果は中欄に、比較例の定着ローラ、加圧ローラを組み込んだ場合を右欄に記入している。
【００６９】
【表３】

【００７０】
加圧力が２．０［ｋｇｆ／ｃｍ^２］より大きいと、トナーの付着が顕著となり、一方、加圧力が０．５［ｋｇｆ／ｃｍ^２］より小さいと、定着性が非常に悪なる。したがって、画像形成装置１００における定着装置１においては、定着ローラ３と加圧ローラ３との加圧力を、０．５［ｋｇｆ／ｃｍ^２］以上、２．０［ｋｇｆ／ｃｍ^２］以下の範囲とし、定着性が良好でかつトナーの付着を防止した画像形成を行うようにしている。比較例では、１．５［ｋｇｆ／ｃｍ^２］以上で、定着ローラへのトナー付着が見られた。したがって、比較例の構成では、線速が遅く、ニップ圧の小さいものでないと使用できないと考えられる。
【００７１】
以上本発明について説明したが、本発明は、上述の定着装置１すなわち熱ローラ対タイプの定着装置のみならず、ベルト定着装置にも適用することができる。ベルト定着装置は、たとえば、加熱手段としてのヒータにより加熱され、トナーを定着されるシート状の記録媒体を搬送するための回転する回転体たる無端の定着ベルト、定着ベルトを巻き掛けられた加熱ローラ及び定着ローラ、定着ベルトを介して定着ローラに対向して配置される回転体たる加圧部材としての加圧ローラ等を構成要素とし、定着ベルトと加圧ローラとによって形成される当接領域であるニップ部に、これらの回転により、トナーを定着される用紙を搬送して通過させ、加熱加圧してトナー像を定着するものである。
【００７２】
このようなベルト定着装置に本発明を適用する場合、かかる定着ベルト、加圧ローラ、加熱ローラ及び定着ローラ等を定着部材とし、この製造方法に上述の定着ローラ２、加圧ローラ３の製造方法を適用することができる。またこのような製造方法を適用して製造した定着ベルト、加圧ローラ、加熱ローラ及び定着ローラ等の定着部材、この定着部材を備えた定着装置、この定着装置を用いた定着方法、かかる定着装置を備えた画像形成装置、かかる定着方法により画像形成を行う画像形成装置、かかる定着方法を用いて画像形成を行う画像形成方法も本発明の適用の対象である。
【００７３】
【発明の効果】
本発明は、基材上に第１の組成物を複数付着させる第１の工程と、前記第１の工程により形成された組成物と基材とを覆うように第２の組成物を付着させる第２の工程とを有し、前記第１の組成物は少なくともフッ素樹脂以外の樹脂を含み、前記第２の組成物は少なくともフッ素樹脂を含む定着部材の製造方法にあるので、耐久性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【００７４】
第１の組成物に熱変形温度が２００℃以上のものを用いることとすれば、定着時の一般的温度である２００℃で変形せず、剥がれにくい、耐久性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【００７５】
第２の工程において、少なくとも第１の組成物と第２の組成物とを、第１の組成物の融点と第２の組成物の融点とのうち高い方の温度よりも高い温度に加熱することとすれば、第２の組成物の流動性が適度に上がり第２の組成物が第１の組成物に隙間なく密着すること等により、基材と第１の組成物と第２の組成物とを三次元的な界面で互いに強固に結着させ、耐久性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【００７６】
第１の組成物と第２の組成物の少なくとも何れか一方に、熱伝導性フィラーを含むものを用いることとすれば、熱伝導性が向上し全体として熱応答性に優れるとともに耐久性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができ、また、何れか一方のみに熱伝導性フィラーを含ませることにより、当該一方の組成物に熱伝導機能を担わせ、他の組成物に離型性等を担わせることができる定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【００７７】
第１の組成物と第２の組成物の少なくとも何れか一方に、導電性フィラーを含むものを用いることとすれば、導電性が向上し全体として導電性に優れるとともに耐久性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができ、また、何れか一方のみに導電性フィラーを含ませることにより、当該一方の組成物に導電機能を担わせ、他の組成物に離型性等を担わせることができる定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【００７８】
第２の組成物により構成される面の表面粗さＲｚを５μｍ以下とすることとすれば、表面が滑らかであるため、光沢度が向上し、ベタ画像に良好に対応した、高画質の定着に寄与できるとともに、耐久性及び離型性に優れた離型層を表面に有する定着部材の製造方法を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明を適用した画像形成装置の模式図である。
【図２】図１に示した画像形成装置に備えられた定着装置の模式図である。
【図３】図２に示した定着装置に備えられた定着部材の表層を示す平面図である。
【図４】図３に示した表層の側断面図である。
【図５】他の例の表層の側断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 定着装置
２，３ 定着部材
３ 加圧部材
１００ 画像形成装置[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention manufactures a fixing member such as a roller or a belt having a surface having a release layer having excellent durability, which constitutes a fixing device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer. About the method To do.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such an image forming apparatus generally supports an unfixed toner image on a sheet, which is a sheet-like recording medium, by an image forming process mechanism such as an electrophotographic system. Since the toner easily peels off, it is necessary to melt and deform the toner by applying heat or pressure to the toner, and then to cool and solidify the toner to permanently fix it on the paper surface. This process is called a fixing process, and the image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that performs this process.
[0003]
As a fixing device, a fixing roller called a heating roller heated by a heater as a heating unit, and a pressure that rotates in the same direction as the fixing roller in a nip portion that is in contact with the fixing roller and is in a contact area with the fixing roller. There is known a heat roller pair type fixing device having a roller or the like as a constituent element, and transporting and passing a sheet on which toner is fixed by rotation of both rollers, and fixing the toner image by heating and pressing. It has been.
[0004]
Further, as the fixing device, a rotating endless fixing belt for conveying a sheet-like recording medium heated by a heater as a heating unit and fixing toner, a heating roller and a fixing roller around which the fixing belt is wound, A pressure roller or the like as a pressure member disposed opposite to the fixing roller via the fixing belt is a constituent element, and these nip portions are contact areas formed by the fixing belt and the pressure roller. There is known a so-called belt fixing device of a type in which a sheet on which toner is fixed is conveyed and passed by rotation and is heated and pressed to fix a toner image.
[0005]
Such a fixing device employs a pressure heating method in which fixing is performed by holding an image carrier, which is a sheet onto which an unfixed toner image is transferred, with a rotating body such as a fixing roller, a fixing belt, and a pressure roller. ing. In this method, since the surface of the rotating body and the toner image on the fixing sheet as an image carrier are in contact with each other under pressure, the thermal efficiency at the time of fusing the toner image on the fixing sheet is extremely good and rapid. Can be fixed, and is very effective in a high-speed image forming apparatus.
[0006]
In any of the above-described types of fixing devices, in order to prevent toner and paper from adhering to a fixing member such as a fixing roller, a fixing belt, and a pressure roller during fixing, the fixing member generally includes a toner and a fixing roller. It has a surface layer mainly made of a material such as a fluororesin and having releasability from paper.
[0007]
However, such a surface layer is worn due to rubbing against the fixing sheet while receiving pressure. In addition, when a separation claw for preventing the fixing sheet from being wound is disposed in the vicinity of the fixing member and the separation claw hits the surface of the fixing member strongly, the surface layer may be peeled off. In particular, in a configuration in which the surface layer is formed of a fluororesin, since the fluororesin has releasability, adhesion to the lower layer tends to be low, so that peeling tends to occur. In order to cope with such problems, conventionally, a primer layer was inserted between the fluororesin layer and its lower layer, and the adhesion was improved by the primer layer. However, the fluororesin and the primer layer have a thin film shape. In a configuration in which the layers are stacked one above the other and bonded, peeling may still occur due to external force. In order to prevent such peeling of the surface layer, as disclosed in [Patent Document 1] and [Patent Document 2], a resin constituting the surface layer and a resin excellent in durability and adhesion are mixed. It has been performed to form a film using the above-described one.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-298411 A
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 3261166
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the film formed using the mixture as described above has a problem that the surface structure is likely to be uneven depending on the manufacturing conditions, the quality is not stable, and the life varies depending on the product. In the technique described in [Patent Document 1], the surface layer is formed of a fluororesin because the fluororesin floats on the surface by heating in the manufacturing process. However, the fluororesin layer contains a filler. Therefore, the wear resistance is poor, and the fluororesin layer is thin, so that it is lost when about 100,000 sheets of paper containing a lot of calcium carbonate are passed. As a result of the loss of the fluororesin layer, the poorly releasable polyimide layer that constitutes the inner layer is exposed, which becomes the core of toner adhesion, and further causes jamming due to wrapping of the fixing sheet around the fixing member, etc. There is a possibility.
[0010]
The present invention manufactures fixing members such as rollers and belts having a release layer with excellent durability on the surface. Proposal of method For the purpose of serving.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in claim 1 On substrate The first composition Multiple A first step of attaching; Covering the composition and substrate formed by the first step The second composition Attach With the second step The first composition contains at least a resin other than a fluororesin, and the second composition contains at least a fluororesin. The method is for manufacturing a fixing member.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing the fixing member according to the first aspect, The first composition is selected from polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). It is characterized by that.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing a fixing member according to the first or second aspect, The first composition having a heat distortion temperature of 200 ° C. or higher is used. It is characterized by that.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing a fixing member according to any one of the first to third aspects, In the second step, at least the first composition and the second composition are heated to a temperature higher than the higher one of the melting point of the first composition and the melting point of the second composition. It is characterized by that.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fixing member manufacturing method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein at least one of the first composition and the second composition is Thermal conductivity What contains a filler is used.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing a fixing member according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, A material containing a conductive filler is used as at least one of the first composition and the second composition. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a fixing member according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. The surface roughness Rz of the surface constituted by the second composition is 5 μm or less. .
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a laser printer. However, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied may be any apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine in addition to a laser printer. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 forms a single-color image, but may be capable of forming a color image such as a two-color image or a full-color image.
[0028]
The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper feeding unit 114, a registration roller pair 106, a photosensitive drum 108 as an image carrier, a transfer unit 110, a fixing device 1 and the like. The paper feed unit 114 has a paper feed tray 114a in which sheets 136 to be fixed as an image carrier, which is a sheet-like recording medium, are accommodated in a stacked state, and a paper 136 accommodated in the paper feed tray 114a as the uppermost sheet. A sheet feeding roller 116 and a separating member 117 that feed in order are provided.
[0029]
The sheet 136 sent out by the sheet feeding roller 116 is temporarily stopped by the registration roller pair 106, and after the oblique deviation is corrected, it is formed at the timing synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 108, that is, on the photosensitive drum 108. The toner image as an unfixed developer image is sent to the transfer portion N by the registration roller pair 106 at a timing when the leading end of the toner image coincides with a predetermined position at the leading end of the sheet 136 in the transport direction.
[0030]
Around the photosensitive drum 108, in the order of rotation indicated by arrows, a charging roller 118 as a charging unit, a mirror 120 constituting a part of an exposure unit (not shown), and toner as a developer are formed into an electrostatic latent image. A developing unit 122 including a developing roller 122a to be supplied, a transfer unit 110, and a cleaning unit 124 including a cleaning blade 124a are disposed. Between the charging roller 118 and the developing unit 122, the exposure unit 126 on the photosensitive drum 108 is irradiated with the exposure light 103 via the mirror 120 and scanned.
[0031]
The image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 100 is performed in the same manner as in the past. When the photosensitive drum 108 is rotated by a driving unit (not shown), the surface of the photosensitive drum 108 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 118, and the exposure light 103 is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 108 in the exposure unit 126 based on the image information. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be created is formed on the photosensitive drum 108 by being scanned. The electrostatic latent image is moved to the developing unit 122 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 108, and is supplied with toner by the developing roller 122a to be visualized to form an unfixed toner image.
[0032]
The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 108 is transferred onto the paper 136 that has entered the transfer portion N at a predetermined timing by applying a transfer bias by the transfer unit 110. The sheet 136 carrying the toner image is conveyed toward the fixing device 1, fixed by the fixing device 1, and then discharged and stacked on a discharge tray (not shown).
[0033]
Foreign matter such as residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 108 without being transferred at the transfer portion N reaches the cleaning means 124 as the photosensitive drum 108 rotates, and while passing through the cleaning means 124, the cleaning blade 124a. Is scraped off and cleaned. Thereafter, the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 108 is removed by a neutralizing unit (not shown), and is prepared for the next image forming process.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 1 includes a fixing roller 2 that is a fixing member as a rotating body, a pressure roller 3 that is a fixing member and a pressing member as a rotating body that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller 2, and In order to apply a release agent to the fixing roller 2 and temperature sensors 25 and 35 that are disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 and detect the surface temperature of each roller. And a release agent coating means (not shown).
[0035]
Each of the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 is made of metal, specifically, aluminum cores 21 and 31 as cylindrical base members, and cores 21 and 31 disposed in the center. Halogen heaters 24 and 34 are disposed as heat sources. The fixing roller 2 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 by driving means (not shown), and the pressure roller 3 is driven to rotate as the fixing roller 2 rotates.
[0036]
The fixing device 1 nips and conveys a sheet 136 carrying a toner image formed of a solid toner 5 of a single color at a pressure contact portion 40 between the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 in a direction indicated by an arrow 7. The toner image is fixed on the sheet 136 as indicated by reference numeral 6. The release agent application means includes a release agent application member that is in contact with the fixing roller 2 and a release agent supply unit that supplies silicon oil as a release agent to the release agent application member. The member applies silicone oil to the surface of the fixing roller 2 as the fixing roller 2 rotates.
[0037]
At the time of fixing, the temperature of the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 is measured by the temperature sensors 25 and 35, respectively. Based on the measured temperature, the temperature of the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 is 200 ° C. suitable for fixing. Feedback control is performed to turn on the halogen heaters 24 and 34 so that the temperature is maintained at a certain level. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 indicates solid wax as a release agent contained in the toner 5. With this wax and silicon oil, the releasability of the toner 5 and the paper 136 with respect to the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 is improved, and these are prevented from adhering to and wrapping around the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3. .
[0038]
The fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 are respectively provided with resin surface layers 23 and 33 which are polymer composition layers as release layers on the outer peripheral surfaces of the core bars 21 and 31. The surface layers 23 and 33 of this embodiment are composed of a first composition containing at least a resin (excluding a fluororesin) and a second composition containing at least a fluororesin, and the resin contained in the first composition It is comprised by 2 or more phases of the 1st phase comprised by (except a fluororesin) and the 2nd phase comprised at least by the fluororesin contained in the 2nd composition.
[0039]
In such a configuration, the first step of attaching the first composition to the cores 21 and 31 and the surface formed by the first step of the second composition, that is, the first composition or the cored bar. This is formed by the second step of attaching to the surface formed by 21 and 31, thereby improving the durability. Since the first composition uses a material having a high binding strength to the cores 21 and 31, and the second composition uses a material having a high binding strength to the first composition, the first phase is the core metal. The second phase strongly adheres to the first phase and adheres to the core bars 21 and 31.
[0040]
As the resin constituting the first composition (excluding the fluororesin), a resin having a heat distortion temperature (ASTM: D648, 1.82 KPa) of 200 ° C. or higher is selected, has heat resistance, and is a metal core. Those having adhesiveness on gold 21 and 31 are preferred, such as polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone ( PEEK) and the like. These heat-resistant resins are used by dissolving them in a precursor solution or as a powder of the resin itself, or by dissolving the resin itself in a solution in the first step of attaching it to the cores 21 and 31. .
[0041]
The first composition contains at least a resin (excluding a fluororesin), and may contain a fluororesin. When the fluororesin is included, the fluororesin powder is easily mixed and dispersed in such a solution. Therefore, it is possible to easily cover the core bars 21 and 31 with good surface smoothness by dipping or coating. If the resin for forming the first composition is thermoplastic, the solvent is simply evaporated, and if the resin is thermosetting, the solvent is evaporated and then the resin is thermally cured. The heat resistant resin layers 23 and 33 can be formed.
[0042]
Precursor solutions of polyimide (PI) and polyamideimide (PAI) are known, and polybenzimidazole (PBI) is dissolved in dimethylacetamide (DMA). Polyethersulfone (PES) is dimethylformamide, methylene chloride. , N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is known to be soluble, and these solutions can be used in the first step.
[0043]
In addition, as the fluororesin constituting the second composition and the fluororesin used as the fluororesin when the first composition contains a fluororesin, the melt film forming property by firing has a relatively high melting point. Those having a low melting point, preferably those having a melting point of 250 to 300 ° C. are preferable. Specifically, low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene -Fine powder of perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA).
[0044]
As low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powders, Lubron L-5, L-2 (Daikin Industries), MP1100, 1200, 1300 and TLP-10F-1 (Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical) are known. As a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP) powder, 532-8000 (DuPont) is known. As tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), MP-10, MP102, (Mitsui Dupont Fluorochemical) are known.
[0045]
At least one of the first composition and the second composition can contain a heat conductive filler, and can have a function as a heat conductive layer. As the heat conductive filler, 10 ^-3 A material having a heat transfer coefficient of cal / s · cm · ° C. or higher can be used. Specific examples include diamond, silver, copper, aluminum, marble, glass, and practical examples include silica, alumina, magnesium oxide, boron nitride, and beryllium oxide.
[0046]
In addition, as a factor that affects heat conduction in a composite material such as a polyimide resin and a PES resin, for example, there are a filler filling amount, shape, size, dispersion form, etc., but the filling amount is 100 parts by weight of the polyimide resin, 0.1-50 weight part is preferable. If it is less than 0.1 parts by weight, the heat conduction effect tends to be insufficient, and if it exceeds 50 parts by weight, the adhesive area with the binder resin such as a polyimide resin is reduced, and the strength is severely lowered. This is because there is a tendency.
[0047]
At least one of the first composition and the second composition can contain a conductive filler and can have a function as a conductive layer. As the conductive filler, 10 ¹⁰ A material having a volume resistivity of Ω · cm or less can be used. Specifically, conductive polymers such as polyacetylene, polypyrrole, and polythiophene, carbon such as ketjen black and acetylene black, metals such as graphite, silver, nickel, and copper, and alloys thereof, mica, carbon, glass, etc. Examples include metals, metal oxides such as tin oxide and indium oxide, anions, cations, nonions, and amphoteric surfactants. In general, materials with high electrical conductivity are considered to have high thermal conductivity, and it is also possible to use a thermally conductive filler as a conductive filler and a conductive filler as a thermally conductive filler. It is. These fillers may be contained from the viewpoint of improving wear resistance.
[0048]
In terms of obtaining the surface layers 23 and 33 in which the first composition and the second composition are firmly bonded to each other and the first phase and the second phase are firmly bound, in the second step, The heating is performed at a temperature higher than the higher one of the melting point of the first composition and the melting point of the second composition. In general, since the fluororesin starts to decompose when the temperature exceeds 400 ° C., it is heated so as not to exceed this temperature. In addition, the melting point of the resin is generally about 300 ° C., regardless of whether or not it is a fluororesin, including the example described above. Therefore, such heating is preferably performed in the range of about 300 ° C to 400 ° C. The surface roughness of the surface layers 23 and 33, that is, the surface constituted by the second composition is preferably 5 μm or less from the viewpoint of mold release and image quality improvement, and from the same viewpoint, in the examples described later. Thus, the thickness is preferably 2 μm or less.
[0049]
Example 1
As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, in this example, in the surface layers 23 and 33, the first phase X in which the first composition composed of PES is attached to the core bars 21 and 31, and the wear resistance From the viewpoint of improving the properties, the second composition composed of PFA in which 3% by weight of ketjen black is dispersed is composed of the first phase X or the second phase Y adhered to the core bars 21 and 31. .
[0050]
The first phase X uses PES powder manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., and this powder is mechanically pulverized to φ5 to 15 μm, and the thickness of the portion used for fixing is φ40 mm by electrostatic coating. The core metal 21, 31 having a thickness of 1.5 mm is covered with a surface ratio of 50% with respect to the surface area of the core metal 21, 31 and heated at 380 ° C. for about 10 minutes to adhere to the surface. The first step was formed.
[0051]
After the formation of the first phase X, the second phase Y was electrostatically coated with a ketjen black-containing PFA resin made by Mitsui DuPont, heated at 380 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then strongly blown outside the heating path It formed by the 2nd process of quenching. Thereafter, it is applied to a tape polishing apparatus and polished with corundum # 800 and # 1500, and the surface roughness of the surface of the second phase Y is set to 2 μm or less in Rz, and the fixing has surface layers 23 and 33 having a thickness of 20 μm. A roller 2 and a pressure roller 3 were obtained. Polishing was performed in the circumferential direction of the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 3, the first phase X composed of PES as the first composition is bonded to the cores 21 and 31 of the aluminum bullion, and the second composition is in contact with them. A second phase Y constituted by PFA covers. Due to this structure, the strength at the time of peeling is about 5 times that of the case of only PFA, and the durability is improved. The strength at the time of peeling was measured by peeling at 90 degrees.
[0053]
(Example 2)
In the present embodiment, the surface layers 23 and 33 are constituted by using a thermosetting resin as the resin constituting the first composition and using a fluororesin resin as the second composition. From the viewpoint of preparing an interface that is closely adhered to the resin, a poly-2,2 ′-(m-phenylene) -5,5′-bi-containing agent having a solid content of 20 parts by weight is used as an agent for constituting the first composition. A mixture of benzimidazole dissolved in 80 parts by weight of N, N-dimethylacetamide and fluororesin powder containing 3 wt% of Mitsui DuPont graphite was used.
[0054]
In the first phase, such a mixture is prepared, and this mixture is uniformly stirred with a homogenized mixer to obtain a coating solution. The liquid was applied by a spraying method, and then the coating film was formed by the first step of baking at 320 ° C., thereby obtaining a PBI film having a thickness of about 10 microns. In this example, since the first composition contains a fluororesin, not only the first phase but also a part of the second phase is formed by the first step.
[0055]
The second step of forming the remaining part of the second phase is the same as in Example 1, and after film formation by electrostatic coating, firing at 380 ° C., thereby forming the second phase forming the upper layer, The first phase and the second phase forming the lower layer formed in the first step were partially integrated. The configuration has the same cross-sectional shape as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, in this example, the first composition covers the entire surfaces of the core bars 21 and 31, and the resin that is not a fluororesin contained in the first composition occupies the position indicated by the symbol X in FIG. Even in this embodiment, the strength at the time of peeling is about five times that of the case of only PFA. The strength at the time of peeling was measured by peeling at 90 degrees.
[0056]
Normally, when the first composition is applied by applying a solvent with a solvent as in the first step of this example, bubbles are likely to be generated, but 3 wt% of ketjen black is dispersed in the second step. In order to form the PFA as an upper layer, the PFA layer may be thin, so that almost no bubbles were generated. As a comparative example, in the same manner as in the first step of this example, when a surface layer having a thickness of 20 μm was formed only by the first composition by dipping, the surface roughness of the comparative example was Rz. It was about 1.5 μm.
[0057]
(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 5, in this example, the surface layers 23 and 33, the first phase X in which the first composition composed of PEEK is attached to the cores 21 and 31, and Ketjen black 3 wt% are added. The second composition composed of the dispersed PFA is composed of the first phase X or the second phase Y adhered to the cores 21 and 31.
[0058]
In the first phase X, PEEK powder made by VICTREX was used, and this powder was mechanically pulverized to φ5 to 15 μm, and the thickness of the portion used for fixing was φ40 mm by electrostatic coating. First, a 1.5 mm cored bar 21, 31 is covered with a surface ratio of 50% with respect to the surface area of the cored bar 21, 31 and heated at 380 ° C. for about 10 minutes to adhere to the surface. Formed by process.
[0059]
In the second phase Y, after forming the first phase X, Ketjen Black-containing PFA resin made by Mitsui DuPont was electrostatically coated and heated at 300, 320, 340, 360, 380, and 400 ° C. for 30 minutes, respectively. The second step of quenching by strong air blowing outside the heating furnace was formed. Thereafter, it is applied to a tape polishing apparatus and polished with corundum # 800 and # 1500, the surface roughness of the surface of the second phase Y is Rz of 2 μm or less, the fixing roller 2 having the surface layers 23 and 33, A pressure roller 3 was obtained. Polishing was performed in the circumferential direction of the roller.
[0060]
Table 1 shows a summary of 90 mm peeling force (N) of 10 mm width and peeling mode for each of the surface layers 23 and 33 formed by heating the second step at each of the above temperatures. The exfoliation mode means how exfoliation is taking place. Interfacial partial peeling is generally referred to as interfacial peeling, and forms a pair with cohesive peeling. Release layer breakage is caused by cohesive peeling. From Table 1, the result that the peel strength is highest when heated at 380 ° C. is obtained.
[0061]
[Table 1]

[0062]
As described above, the fluororesin layer is decomposed at 400 ° C. or higher. Therefore, it can be seen that the formation of the surface layers 23 and 33 by heating at 380 ° C. in the second step is suitable for improving the durability. The higher the melting point of the first composition and the second composition, the higher the heating is performed within the range where the fluororesin layer does not decompose and within the range of the melting point of the first composition and the melting point of the second composition. This is because the binding between the first phase X and the second phase Y becomes strong. This can also be seen from the fact that interfacial debonding occurs at 320 ° C. or lower and cohesive delamination occurs at 340 ° C. or higher.
[0063]
In FIG. 5, a thick line portion indicated by a symbol Z indicates a portion where the first composition is bound to the core bars 21 and 31 and strongly bonded. The fluororesin as the second composition has a weak adhesive force to the core bars 21 and 31, but the entire surface layers 23 and 33 have a strong adhesive force to the core bars 21 and 31 and are difficult to peel off. In the thick line portion, the first composition and the core bars 21 and 31 are strongly bonded, and the boundary portion between the first phase X and the second phase Y, that is, the first composition and the second phase. Since the first composition and the second composition are strongly bonded to each other in the bonding portion with the composition of No. 2, the second composition tries to directly bond to the core bars 21 and 31 at the thick line portions. Since the adhesive force to be bonded through the first composition is larger than the adhesive force to be increased due to the difference in area between the thick line portion and the boundary portion, a strong adhesive force is secured. Because.
[0064]
(Example 4)
This example is substantially the same as Example 1, except that the first composition is composed of not only PES but also 3% by weight of Ketjen black dispersed in PES, and this mixture is made up of a core 21 , 31 in a state of covering the surface with an area ratio of 50% with respect to the surface area of the core bars 21, 31, and also in a state of covering the surface with an area ratio of 30%, 40%, 60%, 70% It differs in the point created. The other points are the same as in the embodiment and will not be described.
[0065]
The fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 created in the above-described area ratios are incorporated in MF4570 manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd., forming 100,000 images, 90 mm peeling force (N) of 10 mm width and peeling mode Table 2 summarizes the above. In Table 2, the ratio of the adhesion area of the mixture to the surface area of the core bars 21 and 31 is expressed as the PES initial adhesion area. For comparison, Table 2 shows a case where a roller in which only a composition prepared by adding 3 wt% of ketjen black to PFA is attached to the core bars 21 and 31 is shown.
[0066]
[Table 2]

[0067]
From Table 2, it can be considered that if the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 are produced with an area ratio of 50% or less, the 90-degree peeling force with a width of 10 mm is relatively high and can be used stably. Although not shown in Table 2, when a roller in which only a composition prepared only with PFA is attached to the core bars 21 and 31 is used, the 90-degree peeling force with a width of 10 mm is about 10 (N). It was.
[0068]
(Example 5)
In this embodiment, the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 created in Example 4 with an area ratio of 40% and the fixing roller and the pressure roller created according to the comparative example described above are MF4570 manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. The image is formed on 100,000 sheets by changing the pressure applied by the pressure roller 3 to the fixing roller 2 and the pressure applied by the pressure roller to the fixing roller, and the toner adhesion to the fixing roller 2 and the fixing roller is examined. It is a thing. The results are shown in Table 3. In Table 3, the result of Example 5 in which the fixing roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 are incorporated is entered in the middle column, and the case in which the fixing roller and the pressure roller of the comparative example are incorporated is entered in the right column.
[0069]
[Table 3]

[0070]
The applied pressure is 2.0 [kgf / cm ² ], The adhesion of toner becomes remarkable, while the applied pressure is 0.5 [kgf / cm. ² If it is smaller, the fixability is very poor. Therefore, in the fixing device 1 in the image forming apparatus 100, the pressing force between the fixing roller 3 and the pressure roller 3 is 0.5 [kgf / cm. ² ] 2.0 [kgf / cm] ² In the following range, image formation with good fixability and prevention of toner adhesion is performed. In the comparative example, 1.5 [kgf / cm ² In the above, toner adhesion to the fixing roller was observed. Therefore, it can be considered that the configuration of the comparative example cannot be used unless the linear velocity is low and the nip pressure is small.
[0071]
Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be applied not only to the above-described fixing device 1, that is, a heat roller pair type fixing device, but also to a belt fixing device. The belt fixing device is, for example, an endless fixing belt that is a rotating rotating body for conveying a sheet-like recording medium that is heated by a heater as a heating unit and fixes toner, and a heating roller around which a fixing belt is wound And a contact roller formed by the fixing belt and the pressure roller, and a pressure roller as a pressure member as a rotating member disposed opposite to the fixing roller via the fixing roller and the fixing belt. By these rotations, a sheet on which toner is fixed is conveyed and passed through a nip portion, and the toner image is fixed by heating and pressing.
[0072]
When the present invention is applied to such a belt fixing device, the fixing belt, the pressure roller, the heating roller, the fixing roller, and the like are used as fixing members, and the manufacturing method of the above-described fixing roller 2 and pressure roller 3 is used in this manufacturing method. Can be applied. Also, a fixing belt manufactured by applying such a manufacturing method, a fixing member such as a pressure roller, a heating roller, and a fixing roller, a fixing device including the fixing member, a fixing method using the fixing device, and the fixing device An image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus that forms an image using the fixing method, and an image forming method that forms an image using the fixing method are also objects of application of the present invention.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention On substrate The first composition Multiple Attach First 1 process, Covering the composition and substrate formed by the first step The second composition Attach With the second step The first composition contains at least a resin other than a fluororesin, and the second composition contains at least a fluororesin. The fixing member manufacturing method is And durable It is possible to provide a method for producing a fixing member having a release layer having excellent properties on the surface.
[0074]
First composition If a fixing member having a heat-deformation temperature of 200 ° C. or higher is used, a fixing member that does not deform at 200 ° C., which is a general temperature at the time of fixing, and does not easily peel off and has an excellent durability on the surface. A manufacturing method can be provided.
[0075]
In the second step, at least the first composition and the second composition are heated to a temperature higher than the higher one of the melting point of the first composition and the melting point of the second composition. If it is, Second composition Moderately increased fluidity Second composition But First composition By adhering to the substrate without any gap, First composition When Second composition Can be firmly bonded to each other at a three-dimensional interface, and a method for producing a fixing member having a release layer having excellent durability on the surface can be provided.
[0076]
If at least one of the first composition and the second composition contains a thermally conductive filler, the thermal conductivity is improved and the overall thermal response is excellent and the durability is excellent. In addition, a method for producing a fixing member having a release layer on the surface thereof can be provided, and by including a heat conductive filler in only one of them, the one composition has a heat conduction function, It is possible to provide a method for producing a fixing member capable of imparting releasability or the like to another composition.
[0077]
If at least one of the first composition and the second composition contains a conductive filler, the conductivity is improved, and the mold release is excellent as a whole while being excellent in conductivity. A method for producing a fixing member having a layer on the surface can be provided, and by including a conductive filler in only one of the layers, the one composition can have a conductive function, and the other composition can It is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a fixing member capable of taking mold releasability and the like.
[0078]
Surface roughness of the surface constituted by the second composition Rz Is 5 μm or less, since the surface is smooth, the glossiness is improved, it can contribute to the fixing of a high image quality that corresponds well to solid images, and has excellent durability and releasability. A method of manufacturing a fixing member having a mold layer on the surface can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a schematic diagram of a fixing device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a plan view showing a surface layer of a fixing member provided in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
4 is a side sectional view of the surface layer shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a surface layer of another example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Fixing device
2, 3 Fixing member
3 Pressure member
100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

A first step of depositing a plurality of first compositions on a substrate;
A second step of attaching a second composition so as to cover the composition formed by the first step and the substrate;
The method for manufacturing a fixing member, wherein the first composition includes at least a resin other than a fluororesin, and the second composition includes at least a fluororesin.   2. The fixing member manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the first composition includes polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), A method for producing a fixing member, wherein the fixing member is selected from polyetheretherketone (PEEK).   The method for manufacturing a fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the first composition has a heat distortion temperature of 200 ° C. or higher.   4. The method for manufacturing a fixing member according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, at least the first composition and the second composition are mixed with the melting point of the first composition and the first composition. 2. A method for producing a fixing member, comprising heating to a temperature higher than a higher one of the melting points of the composition of 2.   5. The method for manufacturing a fixing member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first composition and the second composition includes a thermally conductive filler. A method for manufacturing a fixing member.   6. The fixing member manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first composition and the second composition includes a conductive filler. A method for manufacturing a fixing member.   The method for manufacturing a fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness Rz of the surface constituted by the second composition is 5 μm or less. .

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