JP6988320B2 - Sliding member for image forming device, fixing device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sliding member for an image forming apparatus, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic method, an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium such as recording paper is fixed by the fixing apparatus.
The fixing device includes, for example, a configuration including a heating roll and a pressure belt arranged in contact with the heating roll, or a heating belt and a pressure roll arranged in contact with the heating belt. A fixing device called a belt nip method having a configuration is known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, "a rotatable rotating member, an endless belt that can move while in contact with the rotating member, and an endless belt that is arranged inside the endless belt and the rotating member is referred to the rotating member. A pressure member that is pressed into contact with the rotating member to form a nip portion through which the recording material passes between the rotating member and the endless belt, and a sliding member provided between the endless belt and the pressure member and sliding with the endless belt. A fixing device comprising a sliding member having irregularities formed on the rubbing surface, and a fixing device provided with the sliding member. "

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-07847

Conventionally, a sliding member has been used as a fixing device in an image forming apparatus. In a configuration in which the sliding member is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of a rotating body (for example, an endless belt) constituting the fixing device in the sandwiching region (nip portion) of the fixing device, abnormal noise may occur. In addition, image unevenness may occur on the recording medium after passing through the sandwiching region of the fixing device, for example, due to wrinkles.

In the present invention, in the sliding member used in the image forming apparatus, when the tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction is less than 0.05 or more than 0.20, or the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is It is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding member that suppresses the generation of abnormal noise and suppresses the occurrence of image unevenness as compared with the case of less than 2 or more than 15.

The above object is solved by the following means.

< 1 >
Sliding tanδ of dynamic viscoelasticity measurement direction is 0.05 to 0.20, an image forming apparatus for sliding member waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is 2 to 15.
< 2 >
Image forming apparatus for sliding member according to prior Symbol tanδ is 0.08 to 0.15 <1>.
< 3 >
Before SL waviness roughness Wa is 4 to 11 <1> or the image forming apparatus for sliding member according to <2>.
< 4 >
Before SL sliding member for an image forming apparatus, and a fabric substrate, said having a coating layer on at least one surface of the textile substrate <1> to the image forming apparatus according to any one of <3> Sliding member for.
< 5 >
Before Symbol textile substrate is a glass fiber fabric <4> The image forming apparatus for sliding member according to.
< 6 >
Before Symbol coating layer comprises fluorine resin <4> or <5> The image forming apparatus for sliding member according to.
< 7 >
Image forming apparatus for sliding member according to <6>, including pre-Symbol fluororesin polytetrafluoroethylene.

< 8 >
The first rotating body and
A second rotating body arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and
A pressing member arranged inside the second rotating body and pressing the second rotating body from the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body to the first rotating body.
Item 6. Described in any one of < 1 > to < 7 > , wherein the sliding surface is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body and the pressing member, and the sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body. Sliding member for image forming device and
A heating source for heating at least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body,
A fixing device equipped with.
< 9 >
Before Symbol inner peripheral surface of the second rotary member, a fixing device according to <8>, which is formed by the heat-resistant resin.
< 10 >
Before Stories heat resistant resin, the fixing device according to which one of a polyimide and polyamide-imide <9>.
< 11 >
Image holder and
A charging device that charges the surface of the image holder, and
A latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the surface of the charged image holder, and
A developing device that develops the latent image with toner to form a toner image,
A transfer device that transfers the toner image to a recording medium,
The fixing device according to any one of < 8 > to < 10 > for fixing the toner image to a recording medium, and the fixing device.
An image forming apparatus.

According to the inventions according to < 1 > , < 2 > , and < 3 > , in the sliding member used in the image forming apparatus, tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction is less than 0.05 or 0.20. Provided is a sliding member for an image forming apparatus that suppresses the generation of abnormal noise and suppresses the occurrence of image unevenness as compared with the case where it exceeds, or when the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is less than 2 or more than 15. ..
According to the inventions of < 4 > , < 5 > , < 6 > , and < 7 >, when tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction is less than 0.05 or more than 0.20, or sliding. Compared with the case where the waviness roughness Wa of the moving surface is less than 2 or more than 15, the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed and the occurrence of image unevenness is suppressed, and the sliding member is a woven fabric base material and the woven fabric base material. A sliding member for an image forming apparatus having a coating layer on at least one surface is provided.

According to the inventions of < 8 > , < 9 > , < 10 > , and < 11 > , in the sliding member used in the image forming apparatus, tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction is less than 0.05 or Compared to the case where a sliding member is applied when the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface exceeds 0.20, or when the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is less than 2 or more than 15, the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed and the occurrence of image unevenness is suppressed. A fixing device and an image forming device are provided.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the structure of the sliding member for an image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the structure of the fixing device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of the structure of the fixing device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the sliding member for an image forming apparatus, the fixing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

<Sliding member for image forming device>
The sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “sliding member”) is tan δ (hereinafter, simply “sliding direction” in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction. (Sometimes referred to as "tan δ") is 0.05 or more and 0.20 or less, and the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is 2 or more and 15 or less.

Conventionally, a sliding member for an image forming apparatus has been applied as, for example, a sliding member for a fixing device. The fixing device includes, for example, a pressurizing member as a first rotating body and an endless belt as a second rotating body, and a sandwiching region (nip portion) is formed by the pressurizing member and the endless belt. Further, in order to expand the width of the sandwiching region, a pressing member (for example, a pressing pad) for pressing the endless belt is provided inside the endless belt to improve the slidability between the pressing member and the endless belt. In order to obtain it, a sliding member is provided between the endless belt and the pressing member.

However, in the fixing device having the above structure, abnormal noise may be generated. The generation of abnormal noise is considered as follows. When manufacturing a fixing belt, protrusions that are presumed to be caused by foreign matter contamination may be irregularly generated inside the material (for example, heat-resistant resin) that forms the inner surface of the fixing belt. Then, when the endless belt rotates and the protruding portion irregularly generated on the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt rushes into the sandwiching region, the protruding portion existing on the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt becomes a sliding member. Contact with. At this time, it is considered that an abnormal noise is generated because the sliding member cannot completely absorb the impact received by the contact with the protruding portion.
On the other hand, if an attempt is made to improve the impact absorption characteristics of the sliding member in order to suppress the generation of abnormal noise, the sliding characteristics are deteriorated and image unevenness due to paper wrinkles occurs.

On the other hand, in the sliding member according to the present embodiment, the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed and the generation of image unevenness is suppressed by the above configuration.

tan δ is the ratio of the loss elastic modulus, which represents the viscous property, to the storage elastic modulus, which represents the elastic property when stress is applied to the object. The larger the tan δ in the sliding direction of the sliding member, the greater the impact absorption when it comes into contact with the protruding portion of the endless belt. Therefore, the sliding member is likely to suppress the generation of abnormal noise. On the other hand, if the tan δ in the sliding direction is too large, the sliding characteristics deteriorate. It is considered that this is because the rotational force in the sliding direction is applied by coming into contact with the rotating endless belt, and the sliding member is slid, so that the elongation is accumulated. As a result, it is considered that the unevenness of the surface of the sliding member is reduced by stretching the sliding surface of the sliding member while the sliding member is in contact with the rotating endless belt.

Further, if the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface of the sliding member is too small, the sliding characteristics are deteriorated, so that image unevenness is likely to occur. Further, since the impact absorption characteristic when the endless belt comes into contact with the protruding portion on the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt is deteriorated, abnormal noise is likely to occur. On the other hand, if the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface of the sliding member is too large, the vibration cannot be absorbed and tends to repel in the sliding direction, so that abnormal noise is more likely to occur.
From the above, by setting the range of tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction and the undulation roughness Wa of the sliding surface to the above range, the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed and the occurrence of image unevenness is generated. It is presumed to be suppressed.

Hereinafter, the sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a sliding member having a base material and coating layers provided on both sides of the base material will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the configuration of a sliding member according to the present embodiment. The sliding member 101 shown in FIG. 1 has a base material 120, a first coating layer 110A provided on one surface of the base material 120, and a second coating layer 110B provided on the other surface. .. When the first covering layer 110A is used so as to come into contact with the sliding member, the surface of the first covering layer 110A becomes the sliding surface 112A. Further, when the second covering layer 110B is used so as to come into contact with the sliding member, the surface of the first covering layer 110B becomes the sliding surface 112B.

Further, in the sliding member 101 shown in FIG. 1, the tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction is 0.05 or more and 0.20 or less, and the undulation of the sliding surface 112A (or the sliding surface 112B). Roughness Wa (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “waviness roughness Wa”) is 2 or more and 15 or less. The tan δ in the sliding direction is often 0.06 or more and 0.18 or less, and 0.08 or more and 0.15 or less in that the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed and the generation of image unevenness is suppressed. It is preferable to have. Further, in the same respect, the waviness roughness Wa is often 3 or more and 13 or less, and preferably 4 or more and 11 or less.

In FIG. 1, a sliding member having a base material 120 and a first coating layer 110A and a second coating layer 110B provided on both sides of the base material has been described as an example, but the present embodiment has been described. The sliding member 101 according to the above is not limited to this aspect. The coating layer may be provided on only one side of the base material 120 (for example, only the coating layer 110A), and the surface of the coating layer may be a sliding surface. Further, the base material 120 may be, for example, a woven fabric base material or a resin base material. Further, the sliding member may be in the form of a single layer of a resin base material. That is, the coating layer is a layer provided as needed, and the base material is not particularly limited. That is, as long as the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa satisfy the above ranges, the mode of the sliding member may be any mode.

The method for satisfying the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa within the above ranges is not particularly limited, but for example, in the case of the sliding member 101 shown in FIG. 1, a woven fabric base material is used as the base material 120. It can be applied. In particular, when the glass fiber woven fabric is applied to the base material 120 and the fluororesin is applied to the first coating layer 110A and the second coating layer 110B, the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa satisfy the above ranges. It will be easier. In this case, for example, by adjusting the structure of the glass fiber woven fabric (glass cloth) (the degree of focusing of the glass fiber, the fiber diameter of the glass fiber, the distance between the focused glass fibers, the weaving method of the glass fiber woven fabric, etc.), the sliding It becomes easier to control the tan δ in the moving direction and the waviness roughness Wa by the above range.

Here, in the present specification, the method for measuring tan δ is as follows.
First, a strip-shaped measurement sample extending in the sliding direction is cut out from the sliding member to be measured. Next, a sinusoidal vibration is applied to the prepared measurement sample, and in the tensile mode (the temperature rises from 30 ° C to 200 ° C at a temperature rise rate of 10 Hz and 3 ° C / min), the response load and phase angle are determined. From the measurement, the storage elastic modulus G'and the loss elastic modulus G'' are obtained, and the tan δ curve obtained by plotting tan δ (tan δ = loss elastic modulus / storage elastic modulus) with respect to temperature is obtained, and tan δ is maximized. Let the value be tan δ in the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in the sliding direction. The measuring device is RHEOVIBRON DDV-01FP manufactured by Orientec.

In the present specification, the waviness roughness Wa represents the calculated average waviness defined by JIS B 0601 (2001). The method for measuring the waviness roughness Wa is as follows.
First, a sliding member to be measured is prepared. Next, the sliding direction of the surface to be the sliding surface of the sliding member is measured according to JIS B 0601 (2001). Specifically, a surface roughness meter (Surfcom 575A, manufactured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.) is used (measurement type: roughness measurement, measurement length: 4.0 mm, cutoff wavelength: 0.8 mm, measurement range: ± 32. It is measured under the conditions of 0 μm, measurement speed: 0.5 mm / s, cutoff type: 2RC (phase uncompensated), inclination correction: minimum squared linear correction).

Hereinafter, the configuration of the sliding member according to the present embodiment will be specifically described. In the following description, the reference numerals will be omitted.

[Coating layer]
The coating layer (first coating layer and second coating layer) often contains, for example, a resin such as a fluororesin, a polyimide resin, a polyamide resin, or a polyamide-imide resin, and among these, a fluororesin may be contained. preferable.
Fluororesin includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), or these. Examples include modified products. Although the surface of the coating layer is a sliding surface, it is preferable to use PTFE or a modified product of PTFE among these fluororesins from the viewpoint of suppressing the friction coefficient on the sliding surface to a low level in terms of sliding characteristics. ..

In some cases, a lubricant or the like for assisting sliding property is used and interposed between the inner surface of the belt and the sliding member to reduce the sliding resistance. In this case, when the waviness roughness Wa of the sliding member according to the present embodiment is 2 or more and 15 or less, the lubricant (oil) is held and the lubricant (oil) is applied to the contact region with the sliding member. It will be easier to supply. In addition, the area of the contact area is reduced and the coefficient of friction is kept low. This point is also advantageous in terms of sliding characteristics.

In addition to the fluororesin, the coating layer may contain, if necessary, other additives such as conductive carbon. The content of other additives is preferably 5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the fluororesin.

The thickness of the coating layer is preferably 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less in terms of suppressing cracks and breakage of the coating layer and adjusting the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa within the above ranges. It is preferably 20 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

〔Base material〕
The base material may be a resin base material or a woven fabric base material, but the woven fabric base material is preferable in that the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa are adjusted to the above ranges, and the woven fabric base material is formed of a glass fiber woven fabric. It should be done.

When the base material is a resin, for example, a polyimide resin, a polyamide resin, a polyamide-imide resin, a polyether ester resin, a polyarylate resin, a polyester resin and the like can be mentioned. Among these, a polyimide resin is preferable from the viewpoint of excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength.

When the base material is a woven fabric, a woven fabric using a fiber having excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber can be mentioned. Among these, it is preferable to use a glass fiber woven fabric (glass cloth) in terms of adjusting the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa within the above ranges.

The glass fiber forming the glass fiber woven fabric is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include known glass fibers such as E glass, S glass, and C glass.
The fiber diameter (fiber width) of the single fiber of the glass fiber is preferably 3 μm or more and 10 μm or less (preferably 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less).
Further, as the glass fiber, it is preferable to use a glass fiber in which 150 or more and 500 or less (preferably 200 or more and 400 or less) single fibers of the glass fiber are bundled in a bundle.

Further, the weaving structure of the glass fiber woven fabric is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include weaving structures such as plain weave, satin weave, twill weave, entwined weave, and imitation weave. Among these, plain weave is preferable because it has excellent mechanical strength. Further, for example, in the case of a plain weave glass fiber woven fabric, the distance between the glass fiber bundle formed in the plain weave and the glass fiber bundle shall be in the range of 0.2 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less (preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less). It is good to do.

The thickness of the base material is preferably 70 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and preferably 100 μm or more and 150 μm or less in terms of adjusting the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa within the above ranges.

[Manufacturing method of sliding member]
The method for manufacturing the sliding member according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited as long as the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa satisfy the above ranges. Examples of the method for manufacturing the sliding member include the following methods.
First, the base material is prepared. For example, 150 glass fibers having a fiber diameter (fiber width) of 3 μm or more and 8 μm or less are used as the base material so that the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa are within the above ranges. A glass fiber woven fabric in which the number of fibers is focused to 500 or less and the distance between the focused glass fibers is 0.2 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less) is prepared.
Next, for example, the material to be the coating layer and the base material are bonded and crimped so that the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa are within the above ranges. For example, when a coating layer containing a fluororesin is formed on both sides of a base material of a glass fiber woven fabric, the glass fiber woven fabric is sandwiched between two fluororesin films, and the tan δ in the sliding direction and the waviness roughness Wa are within the above ranges. Crimping so that

<Fixing device>
The fixing device according to the present embodiment is arranged inside the first rotating body, the second rotating body arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and the second rotating body, and is inside the second rotating body. The pressing member that presses the second rotating body from the peripheral surface to the first rotating body is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body and the pressing member, and the sliding surface is the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body. A sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, which is in contact with the sliding member, and a heating source for heating at least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body are provided.
The inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body may be formed of, for example, a heat-resistant resin. Examples of the heat-resistant resin include either polyimide or polyamide-imide.

The fixing device according to the present embodiment has various configurations, and the following two embodiments will be specifically described.
As a first embodiment, a fixing device including a heating roll having a heating source and a pressure belt on which a pressing pad is pressed will be described.
As a second embodiment, a fixing device including a heating belt having a heating source and the pressing pad being pressed, and a pressing roll will be described.
As the sliding member in these fixing devices, the sliding member according to the present embodiment is applied.

[Fixing device according to the first embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment.

The fixing device 60 includes a heating roll 61 (an example of a first rotating body), a pressure belt 62 (an example of a second rotating body), a pressing pad 64 (an example of a pressing member), and a sliding member 101 (this implementation). An example of a sliding member according to a form) and a halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating source) are provided.

The heating roll 61 and the pressure belt 62 are in contact with each other on the outer peripheral surface and are applied to each other. The pressure belt 62 may be pressed against the heating roll 61, or the heating roll 61 may be pressed against the pressure belt 62. A sandwiching region N (nip portion) is formed in the region where the heating roll 61 and the pressure belt 62 are in contact with each other.

The heating roll 61 includes a halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating source) inside the heating roll 61. The heating source is not limited to the halogen lamp, and may be another heat generating member that generates heat.
A temperature sensitive element 69 is arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61. The lighting of the halogen lamp 66 is controlled based on the temperature measurement value by the temperature sensitive element 69, and the surface temperature of the heating roll 61 is maintained at a set temperature (for example, 150 ° C.).
The heating roll 61 is configured by laminating, for example, a heat-resistant elastic body layer 612 and a mold release layer 613 around a metal core (cylindrical core metal) 611 in this order.

The pressure belt 62 is arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61. The pressure belt 62 is formed in an endless manner by laminating, for example, a base material layer, an elastic layer, and a release layer. The base material layer to be the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 may be formed of, for example, a heat-resistant resin. Specific examples of the heat-resistant resin include polyimide and polyamide-imide.
The pressure belt 62 is rotatably supported by a pressing pad 64 and a belt traveling guide 63 arranged inside the pressure belt 62.

The pressing pad 64 is arranged inside the pressure belt 62 and applies to the heating roll 61 via the pressure belt 62.
The pressing pad 64 includes a front sandwiching member 64a on the inlet side of the sandwiching region N, and a peeling sandwiching member 64b on the outlet side of the sandwiching region N.
The front sandwiching member 64a is configured to have a concave shape along the outer peripheral shape of the heating roll 61, and secures the length (distance in the sliding direction) of the sandwiching region N.
The peeling sandwiching member 64b is configured to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61, causes local strain in the heating roll 61 in the outlet region of the sandwiching region N, and heats the recording medium after fixing. Facilitates peeling from the roll 61.

The sliding member 101 is arranged between the pressure belt 62 and the pressure pad 64 so that its sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 which is a sliding member.
The sliding member 101 is arranged so as to cover the front sandwiching member 64a and the peeling sandwiching member 64b in order to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 and the pressing pad 64.

The support member 65 supports the pressing pad 64 and the sliding member 101. The support member 65 is made of metal, for example.
A belt traveling guide 63 is attached to the support member 65. The pressure belt 62 rotates along the belt traveling guide 63.
The belt traveling guide 63 may be equipped with a lubricant supply device 67 which is a means for supplying a lubricant (oil) to the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62.

A peeling member 70 is provided on the downstream side of the sandwiching region N as an auxiliary means for peeling the recording medium. The peeling member 70 includes a peeling claw 71 and a holding member 72 for holding the peeling claw 71. The peeling claw 71 is arranged in a state of being close to the heating roll 61 in a direction facing the rotation direction (counter direction) of the heating roll 61.

The heating roll 61 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C by a driving device (not shown), and the pressure belt 62 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roll 61 in accordance with this rotation.

The paper K (recording medium) having the unfixed toner image is guided by the fixing inlet guide 56 and conveyed to the sandwiching region N. Then, when the paper K passes through the sandwiching region N, the toner image on the paper K is fixed by the pressure and heat acting on the sandwiching region N.

[Fixing device according to the second embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the fixing device 80 according to the second embodiment.

The fixing device 80 includes a pressure roll 88 (an example of a first rotating body), a heating belt 84 (an example of a second rotating body), a pressing pad 87 (an example of a pressing member), and a sliding member 101 (this implementation). It is an electromagnetic induction heat generation type fixing device provided with an electromagnetic induction device 90 (an example of a heating source) and an example of a sliding member according to a form).

The pressure roll 88 is arranged by pressing against the outer peripheral surface of the heating belt 84, and a sandwiching region N (nip portion) is formed in a region where the pressure roll 88 and the heating belt 84 come into contact with each other.
The pressure roll 88 has, for example, a base material layer 88A, an elastic layer 88B, and a release layer 88C.

The heating belt 84 is formed in an endless manner by laminating, for example, a base material layer, a heat generating layer that generates heat by electromagnetic induction, an elastic layer, and a release layer in order from the inner peripheral side.

Inside the heating belt 84, a pressing pad 87 is arranged at a position facing the pressure roll 88. The pressing pad 87 is supported by the support member 86, and the heating belt 84 is wound around the pressing pad 87 to press the heating belt 84 against the pressure roll 88. The pressing pad 87 is a member made of, for example, a metal, a heat-resistant resin, a heat-resistant rubber, or the like.
For example, a lubricant supply device (not shown) which is a means for supplying a lubricant (oil) to the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 may be attached to the upstream of the pressing pad 87.

The sliding member 101 is arranged between the heating belt 84 and the pressing pad 87 so that its sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 which is the sliding member.

The electromagnetic induction device 90 is arranged at a position facing the pressure roll 88 with the heating belt 84 interposed therebetween, and heats the heat generating layer of the heating belt 84 by electromagnetic induction.
The electromagnetic induction device 90 has a built-in electromagnetic induction coil (excited coil) 91. The electromagnetic induction device 90 applies an alternating current to the electromagnetic induction coil 91 to generate a magnetic field, changes this magnetic field with an exciting circuit, and generates an eddy current in the heat generating layer of the heating belt 84. This eddy current is converted into heat (Joule heat) by the electric resistance of the heating layer, and the surface of the heating belt 84 generates heat.

The heating belt 84 is rotated in the direction of arrow C by a drive device (not shown), and the pressure roll 88 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the heating belt 84 in accordance with this rotation.

The paper K (recording medium) having the unfixed toner image T is conveyed to the sandwiching region N of the fixing device 80. Then, when the paper K passes through the sandwiching region N, the toner image on the paper K is fixed by the pressure and heat acting on the sandwiching region N.

<Image forming device>
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image holder, a charging device that charges the surface of the image holder, a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the surface of the charged image holder, and the above. It includes a developing device that develops a latent image with toner to form a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image to a recording medium, and a fixing device according to the present embodiment that fixes the toner image on a recording medium. ..

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, but is a known image forming apparatus other than the electrophotographic method (for example, an inkjet recording apparatus provided with an endless belt for transporting paper). You can do it.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes the fixing apparatus 60 of the first embodiment described above. The image forming apparatus 100 may include the fixing apparatus 80 according to the second embodiment described above in place of the fixing apparatus 60.

The image forming apparatus 100 is an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus generally called a tandem type. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K in which a toner image of each color is formed by an electrophotographic method, and a primary transfer unit that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) the toner image of each color to an intermediate transfer belt 15. 10 and the secondary transfer unit 20 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the superimposed toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 15 to the paper K which is a recording medium, and the secondary transferred image is fixed on the paper K. It is provided with a fixing device 60 for making the toner and a control unit 40 for controlling the operation of each device (each unit).

The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are in the order of 1Y (yellow unit), 1M (magenta unit), 1C (cyan unit), and 1K (black unit) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15. , Arranged in a substantially straight line.
Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K includes a photoconductor 11 (an example of an image holder). The photoconductor 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A.

Around the photoconductor 11, a charger 12 (an example of a charging device), a laser exposure device 13 (an example of a latent image forming device), a developer 14 (an example of a developing device), and a primary transfer roll 16 are provided. The photoconductor cleaner 17 is sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 11.

The charger 12 charges the surface of the photoconductor 11.
The laser exposure device 13 emits an exposure beam Bm to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11.
The developer 14 contains toner of each color, and the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is visualized by the toner.
The primary transfer roll 16 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer unit 10.
The photoconductor cleaner 17 removes residual toner on the photoconductor 11.

The intermediate transfer belt 15 is a belt made of a material in which an antistatic agent such as carbon black is added to a resin such as polyimide or polyamide. The intermediate transfer belt 15 is less than the volume resistivity of, for example, 10 ⁶ [Omega] cm or more ^{10 14} [Omega] cm, a thickness of, for example, 0.1 mm.

The intermediate transfer belt 15 is supported by a drive roll 31, a support roll 32, a tension applying roll 33, a back roll 25, and a cleaning back roll 34, and is circulated (rotated) in the direction of arrow B according to the rotation of the drive roll 31. ..
The drive roll 31 is driven by a motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 15.
The support roll 32 supports the intermediate transfer belt 15 extending substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the four photoconductors 11 together with the drive roll 31.
The tension applying roll 33 applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and functions as a correction roll for suppressing the meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 15.
The back roll 25 is provided in the secondary transfer unit 20, and the cleaning back roll 34 is provided in the cleaning unit that scrapes off the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

The primary transfer roll 16 is pressure-welded to the photoconductor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween to form the primary transfer portion 10.
A voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to that of the toner charging polarity (minus polarity; the same applies hereinafter) is applied to the primary transfer roll 16. As a result, the toner image on each photoconductor 11 is sequentially electrostatically sucked onto the intermediate transfer belt 15, and the toner image superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is formed.
The primary transfer roll 16 is composed of a shaft (for example, a cylindrical rod of a metal such as iron or SUS) and an elastic layer (for example, a sponge layer of a blended rubber containing a conductive agent such as carbon black) fixed around the shaft. It is a cylindrical roll that has been made. The primary transfer roll 16 has a volume resistivity of, for example, ^107.5 Ωcm or more and ^108.5 Ωcm or less.

The secondary transfer roll 22 is pressure-welded to the back roll 25 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween to form the secondary transfer portion 20.
The secondary transfer roll 22 forms a secondary transfer bias with the back roll 25, and the toner image is secondarily transferred onto the paper K (recording medium) conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20.
The secondary transfer roll 22 is composed of a shaft (for example, a cylindrical rod made of a metal such as iron or SUS) and an elastic layer (for example, a sponge layer of a blended rubber containing a conductive agent such as carbon black) fixed around the shaft. It is a constructed cylindrical roll. The secondary transfer roll 22 has a volume resistivity of, for example, ^107.5 Ωcm or more and ^108.5 Ωcm or less.

The back surface roll 25 is arranged on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to form a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 22, and forms a transfer electric field with the secondary transfer roll 22.
The back roll 25 is configured by, for example, covering a rubber base material with a tube of a blended rubber in which carbon is dispersed. The back surface roll 25 has a surface resistivity of, for example, 10 ⁷ Ω / □ or more and 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ or less, and a hardness of, for example, 70 ° (Asker C: manufactured by Polymer Instruments Co., Ltd., the same applies hereinafter).
A metal feeding roll 26 is contact-arranged on the back roll 25. The feeding roll 26 applies a voltage (secondary transfer bias) having the same polarity as the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner to form a transfer electric field between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back surface roll 25.

An intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15 so as to be freely attachable to and detachable from the intermediate transfer belt 15. The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 removes residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer.

A reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 is arranged on the upstream side of the image forming unit 1Y. The reference sensor 42 generates a reference signal as a reference for taking the image formation timing in each image forming unit. The reference sensor 42 recognizes the mark provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and generates a reference signal, and the image forming unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K is instructed by the control unit 40 that recognizes the reference signal. Starts image formation.
An image density sensor 43 for adjusting the image quality is arranged on the downstream side of the image forming unit 1K.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper accommodating portion 50, a paper feed roll 51, a transport roll 52, a transport guide 53, a transport belt 55, and a fixing inlet guide 56 as transport means for transporting the paper K.
The paper accommodating unit 50 accommodates the paper K before image formation.
The paper feed roll 51 takes out the paper K stored in the paper storage unit 50.
The transport roll 52 transports the paper K taken out by the paper feed roll 51.
The transfer guide 53 feeds the paper K conveyed by the transfer roll 52 to the secondary transfer unit 20.
The transport belt 55 transports the paper K on which the image is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 20 to the fixing device 60.
The fixing inlet guide 56 guides the paper K to the fixing device 60.

Next, an image forming method by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.
In the image forming apparatus 100, image data output from an image reading device (not shown), a computer (not shown), or the like is image-processed by an image processing apparatus (not shown), and the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K perform image processing. Image drawing work is performed.

In the image processing device, image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color editing, and movement editing is performed on the input reflectance data. The image data that has undergone image processing is converted into color material gradation data of four colors Y, M, C, and K, and is output to the laser exposure device 13.

The laser exposure device 13 irradiates the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K with the exposure beam Bm according to the input color material gradation data.
The surface of each of the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is charged by the charging device 12, and then the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure device 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor 11 is developed as a toner image of each color by each image forming unit.

The toner image formed on the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer unit 10 in which each photoconductor 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 are in contact with each other. Will be done. In the primary transfer unit 10, the primary transfer roll 16 applies a voltage (primary transfer bias) opposite to the charge polarity (minus polarity) of the toner to the intermediate transfer belt 15, and the toner images are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 15. Transcribed.

The toner image primaryly transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20 by the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 15.
At the timing when the toner image reaches the secondary transfer unit 20, the paper K stored in the paper storage unit 50 is conveyed by the paper feed roll 51, the transfer roll 52, and the transfer guide 53, and is transferred to the secondary transfer unit 20. It is supplied and sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roll 22.
Then, in the secondary transfer unit 20 in which the transfer electric field is formed, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is electrostatically transferred (secondary transfer) onto the paper K.

The paper K on which the toner image is electrostatically transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roll 22, and is conveyed to the fixing device 60 by the transfer belt 55.
The paper K conveyed to the fixing device 60 is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 60, and the unfixed toner image is fixed.
Through the above steps, the image forming apparatus 100 suppresses the generation of paper wrinkles on the paper K as a recording medium, and an image is formed.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present embodiment is not limited to the examples shown below.

<Examples and comparative examples>
(Making a sliding sheet)
Prepare the base material of the glass fiber woven fabric. As the base material, glass fibers having a fiber diameter (fiber width) of 4 μm or more and 6 μm or less are bundled into 200 or more and 400 or less, and the interval between the focused glass fibers is 0.3 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less. Therefore, a glass fiber woven fabric (manufactured by Arisawa Seisakusho), which is a plain woven fabric having a thickness of 120 μm, was prepared. Specifically, the glass fiber woven fabric shown in Table 1 was prepared.
Next, a fluororesin film of modified polytetrafluoroethylene (modified PTFE) shown in Table 1 (manufactured by Daikin Corporation, Polyflon PTFE, 25 μm in thickness in the example) was laminated and sandwiched on both sides of the prepared glass fiber woven fabric, and Table 1 The sliding sheets of Examples and Comparative Examples were obtained by pressure-bonding so as to have tan δ and undulation roughness Wa in the sliding direction shown in 1. The tan δ and the waviness roughness Wa in the sliding direction were measured according to the method described above.

〔evaluation〕
-Evaluation of abnormal noise-
The obtained sliding sheet of each example is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt of the DocuCenter IV C5570 modified machine manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., which is equipped with a fixing device having an endless belt whose inner peripheral surface is made of polyimide. It was mounted, and 50,000 images with an image density of 1% were formed on J paper (color copy paper manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) A4, and the abnormal noise during paper passing was evaluated.
For the measurement of abnormal noise, FFT frequency analysis was performed using a sound collecting microphone (manufactured by Buffalo, microphone stand type).
As a result of measurement with a noise measuring instrument, it was determined that abnormal noise was generated when the frequency exceeded Δ10 dB (peak in the frequency range of 500 to 800 Hz with respect to the background).

-Evaluation of image unevenness-
In the evaluation of abnormal noise, the occurrence of image unevenness due to paper wrinkles was evaluated for the paper after the paper was passed.
In Table 1, those with no image unevenness are "not generated", those with slight image density unevenness due to the occurrence of paper wrinkles are "image unevenness", and those with a large degree of paper wrinkles are "paper". It is written as "wrinkles".

It was found that the sliding member of the example was superior to the sliding member of the comparative example in the evaluation of abnormal noise and the evaluation of image unevenness.

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Image forming unit 11 Photoreceptor (example of image holder)
12 Charger (an example of a charging device)
13 Laser exposure device (an example of latent image forming device)
14 Developer (an example of a developing device)
15 Intermediate transfer belt (part of transfer means)
22 Secondary transfer roll (part of transfer means)
25 Back roll (part of transfer means)
60 Fixing device 61 Heating roll (an example of the first rotating body)
62 Pressurized belt (an example of sliding member (second rotating body))
64 Pressing pad (example of pressing member)
65 Support member 66 Halogen lamp (example of heating source)
67 Lubricant supply device 80 Fixing device 84 Heating belt (an example of sliding member (second rotating body))
86 Support member 87 Pressing pad (example of pressing member)
88 Pressurized roll (an example of the first rotating body)
90 Electromagnetic induction device (example of heating source)
100 Image forming apparatus 101 Sliding member for image forming apparatus (example of sliding sheet)
110A Coating layer 110B Coating layer 112A Sliding surface 112B Sliding surface 120 Base material K Paper (recording medium)

Claims (9)

Tanδ of dynamic viscoelasticity measurement of the sliding direction is 0.05 to 0.20, waviness roughness Wa of the sliding surface is Ri der 2 to 15,
It has a woven fabric base material and a coating layer on at least one surface of the woven fabric base material.
The woven fabric base material is a glass fiber woven fabric, and the woven structure of the glass fiber woven fabric is a plain weave.
A sliding member for an image forming apparatus, wherein the distance between the focused glass fibers forming the plain weave is 0.2 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less. The sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tan δ is 0.08 or more and 0.15 or less. The sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the waviness roughness Wa is 4 or more and 11 or less. It said coating layer is an image forming apparatus for sliding member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 containing fluorine resin. The sliding member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the fluororesin contains polytetrafluoroethylene. The first rotating body and
A second rotating body arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and
A pressing member arranged inside the second rotating body and pressing the second rotating body from the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body to the first rotating body.
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the sliding surface is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body and the pressing member, and the sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body. Sliding member for image forming device and
A heating source that heats at least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body,
A fixing device equipped with. The fixing device according to claim 6 , wherein the inner peripheral surface of the second rotating body is made of a heat-resistant resin. The fixing device according to claim 7 , wherein the heat-resistant resin is either polyimide or polyamide-imide. Image holder and
A charging device that charges the surface of the image holder, and
A latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the surface of the charged image holder, and
A developing device that develops the latent image with toner to form a toner image,
A transfer device that transfers the toner image to a recording medium,
The fixing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein the toner image is fixed on a recording medium.
An image forming apparatus.

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