CA1116549A - Heat fuser roll and method of manufacture - Google Patents
Heat fuser roll and method of manufactureInfo
- Publication number
- CA1116549A CA1116549A CA000314265A CA314265A CA1116549A CA 1116549 A CA1116549 A CA 1116549A CA 000314265 A CA000314265 A CA 000314265A CA 314265 A CA314265 A CA 314265A CA 1116549 A CA1116549 A CA 1116549A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- roll
- ultra
- silicone rubber
- violet radiation
- rubber material
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
- G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
- G03G15/2053—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
- G03G15/2057—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C13/00—Rolls, drums, discs, or the like; Bearings or mountings therefor
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
- Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Treatments Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)
Abstract
IMPROVED HEAT FUSER ROLL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
Abstract of the Disclosure A heat fuser roll and the method of manufacture thereof. The roll comprises a deformable layer on a base member and the deformable layer is produced by coating the base member with a silicone rubber material curing the silicone rubber material and treating the roll by irradiating its surface with a predetermined level of ultra violet radiation for a predeter-mined time to produce an improved silicone rubber deformable layer.
Abstract of the Disclosure A heat fuser roll and the method of manufacture thereof. The roll comprises a deformable layer on a base member and the deformable layer is produced by coating the base member with a silicone rubber material curing the silicone rubber material and treating the roll by irradiating its surface with a predetermined level of ultra violet radiation for a predeter-mined time to produce an improved silicone rubber deformable layer.
Description
~ g Background of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in heat fusing apparatus and 11 more particularly to heat fusing apparatus in which a heated roll is brought 12 into contact with an image formed of a resinous powder to heat the powder 13 and fix the powder image to a sheet of paper.
14 ~ Contact fusing apparatus is known in the prior art. ~lowever, contact fusing has the disadvan-tage that "offset" may occur., Offset is caused by 16 part of the image sticking to the surface of the contact fusing device so 17- that when the next sheet comes into contact ~ith the fusing device th~
18 image partially removed from the first sheet is transferred to the second 19 sheet. This offset problem has been overcome in commercial machines by 20 fabricating the outer surface of the heated roll with a resilient material 21 such as silicone rubber which, when operated with a deformable backup roll, 22 will produce offset-free operation without the use of any offsèt-preYenting 23 liquid such as silicone oil. This,fusing rol~l has had sufficient useful 24 life so that it is suitable for use in a system which utilizes high process speeds .in which the components of the system are required to have maintenance 26 free operation for a long period of time. Ilowever, in actual service, 27 there is a condition where the surface of the heated roll collects toner 28 and paper particles or du~t over a period of operating time which results 29 in thoroughly contaminating tne heated roll's silicone rubber surface with toner. This condition, which has been known as a "toner ring," causes SA977~55 A~
:L mach le mll~unctiorls in the forli o d loss 0, infGrmdtiorl on the pninted
14 ~ Contact fusing apparatus is known in the prior art. ~lowever, contact fusing has the disadvan-tage that "offset" may occur., Offset is caused by 16 part of the image sticking to the surface of the contact fusing device so 17- that when the next sheet comes into contact ~ith the fusing device th~
18 image partially removed from the first sheet is transferred to the second 19 sheet. This offset problem has been overcome in commercial machines by 20 fabricating the outer surface of the heated roll with a resilient material 21 such as silicone rubber which, when operated with a deformable backup roll, 22 will produce offset-free operation without the use of any offsèt-preYenting 23 liquid such as silicone oil. This,fusing rol~l has had sufficient useful 24 life so that it is suitable for use in a system which utilizes high process speeds .in which the components of the system are required to have maintenance 26 free operation for a long period of time. Ilowever, in actual service, 27 there is a condition where the surface of the heated roll collects toner 28 and paper particles or du~t over a period of operating time which results 29 in thoroughly contaminating tne heated roll's silicone rubber surface with toner. This condition, which has been known as a "toner ring," causes SA977~55 A~
:L mach le mll~unctiorls in the forli o d loss 0, infGrmdtiorl on the pninted
2 sheet causes pa;)er to stick to and wtap aroun(l the ilOt roll alld can cause
3 data insertiorl on the printed page.
1 Sul;ilila~y of tl~ vent on It is therefore the principle object of -this invention to produce a fuser appa atus which is capable o-f fusing images without offset at a high 7 process speed which produces maintenance free operation for long periods of 8 time and in which the production of toner rings is inhibited for long 9 periods of time.
It is a further object of -this invention to provide an irnproved method 11 for manufacturing a fuser roll having improved properties.
12 Briefly according to the invention apparatus and a method is provided 13 for manufacturing an improved fuser rol1. The roll is coated with a suitable 14 silicone rubber material and the coatiny is cured. The roll is then treated by rotating the roll about its axis while simultaneously irradiating its lG surface with a predetermined level of ultra-violet (UV) radiation for a 17 predetermined time. Although it was known in the art to use UV radiation to 18 fully cure polymèr materials it was unexpec-tedly observed that the post-cure 19 treatrnent ~ith UV according to the invention produced not only greatly im-20 proved resistance to toner ring formation but also resulted in much lower 21 wear rates.
22 Brief Description of the Drawinac .
23 FIGURE 1 shows a roll embodiment of the fusing apparatus embodying the 24 present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus for irradiating the roll 26 surface with ultra-violet radiation.
~7 FIGURE 3 is a plot of fuser roll tack vs. time of exposure to a low 28 pressure UV source; ..
29 FIGURE 4 is a plot-of fuser roll softness vs. time of exposure to a low pressure UV source;
S~977055 -2-1 FlGlJRE 5 is a plot of typical improvelllert in retardation oF fuser 2 ring gro~th vs. time of exposure to a lo~/ pressure UV source;
3 FIG~IRE 6 is d plot of fuser roll tach vs. time of exposure to a e~ium pressure UV source;
FIGURE 7 is d plot of fuser roll softness vs. time of exposure to a 6 nledil~nl pressure UV source;
7 FIGURE ~ is a plot of typical improvemellt in retardation of fuser 8 ring growth vs. -time of exposure to a medium pressure UV source.
g Description of the Preferred Embodilllent In the embodinlent shown in Figure l, the fusing apparatus comprises a 11 heated member lO in the shape of a roller which comprises a heat conducting 12 base member 12 having infra-red lamps 14 disposed therein and having a 13 deformable layer 16 of an insulating high temperature material such as one comprising silicone rubber on its outer surface. The power to the lamps l4 will vary depending upon the speed of the paper web 24 through the fusing 16 station and the desired temperature for the hot roll surface temperature.
17 The base melllber comprises a tube l2 made from a suitable material such as 18 copper or aluminum which is a good heat conductor. However, since high 19 temperature materials such as silicone rubber are heat insulating materials, the thickness of the deformable layer 16 must be kept thin and, in a prac-21 tical embodiment, this thickness would norrnally be ten mils or less. The 22 backup element l8 is also in the r1ape of a roller, and the roller is 23 pushed against the heated roll with a meshing force supplied in the illus-2~ trated embodiment by cam means 20. The backup element is also formed of a 25 high temperature elastomer 22 such as one comprising silicone rubber.
26 Heated roll lO is driven by a suitable rnotor and when backup roll l3 27 is meshed with the heated roll, the pressure causes paper web 24 to be 2~ driven through the hot roll fuser and to l~use and permanently fix the toner 29 image to sheet 24. Paper web 24 rmay comprise roll paper, separate sheets of paper or fan-fold paper sheets. The fan-fold paper sheets produce ~A977055 ~3~
.. . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. .
I yreater wear on the deformable layer due to the presence of the tractor ~
2 holes in the fan-Fold paper.
3 Accordillg to the present invention, an improved method for manufacturing ~1 a fuser roll comprising tube 12 and deformable layer 16 is disclosed which __~ 5 has a greatly increased useful life. The fuser roll should have the properties at temperatures suitable for -fusing toner, of release from the toner aFter 7 fusing, wear resistance to fan-fold paper especially at tractor holes, 8 acceptable heat transfer and ability to elastically deform under load to g give contact with toner during Fusing. The time during which the fuser roll retains these properties is its useful life.
11 These properties can be obtained according -to our invention by forming 12 de-Formable layer 16 with a suitable silicone rubber material. The silicone 13 rubber material is then cured by~any one of several suitable curing methods 1~ known in the art. One suitable curing method is described and claimed in U.S. patent 3,987,530 to Atkin et al which patent is assigned to the assignee 16 of the present invention. In this curing method, the base member is coated 17 with a silicone gum material containing no curing agent, and then treated 18 by heating in an inert abllosphere to a temperature at which substantial 19 cross-linking occurs for a predetermined time to produce a tough long-wearing silicone rubber deformable layer.
21 The cured silicone rubber deformable layer 16 on tube 12 is then 22 subjected to a treating step whic;l comprises exposing the roll to a predeter-23 mined level of ultra-violet radiation for a predetermined time. The level 2a~ of ultra-violet radiation and the time oF exposure is determined by consider-ing not only the effect of the radiation in the forma-tion of toner rings, 26 but also the efFec-t on other characteristics of the roll which define the 27 useful life of the roll. Figures 3, 4 and 5 relate to rolls treated with a 2~3 low-level ultra-violet radiation. Thin .ections of silicone rubber tend to 29 have a tacky surface even when Fully cured, by all the conventional tests, such as modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, elongation and cross-link SA977055 ~4~
I density. Figure 3 gives ~he relation of the measured tack of -the roll with 2 various treatment times with the low level UV. Tack is a measure of the 3 stickiness of the roll and is measured by placiny a standard size sheet ~ in contac-t with the roll and measuring the force in grallls required to peel the sheet off the roll. The tack goes to zero by about a six hour exposure 6 for the low level UV exposure.
7 The softness of a roll is defined as the ratio of the indentation of a 8 standard probe to the -total thickness of the silicone rubber coating. Figure 9 4 shows the relation of softness of the roll of Figure 3 to time of exposure.
It can be noted from Figure 4 that the softness decreases (i.e., roll becomes 11 harder) with increased exposure. It can be seen that the softness remains 12 above 50,' until about 9 hours of treatment. Figure 5 shows the improvement 13 in number o-f copies produced before onset of toner rlngs for different times ~ of exposure to the low level UV radiation. Figures 3, ~ and 5 show that a 15 treatment time of about 6 hours appears to be optimum.
16 Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the results of treatnlellt with a mediunl pressure 17 mercury arc lamp. The treatment times are much less than with the low pres-18 sure radiation as can be seen by the tack curve in Figure 6 in which the tack 19 goes substantially to zero after about 6 minutes treatment. However, the 2~ softness is decreased more rapidly with this treatment. It can be seen that 21 the optimum time for this level of UV radiation is a few minutes, although the 22 improvement in performance is not as great as was the case with the low level 23 eXpOSure.
24 The low level exposure is the preferred treatment due to the level of 25 improvement achieved. However, in some cases a lower level of improvement 26 may be adequate in view of the difference in processing time.
27 The apparatus for providing the -treating step is shown in Figure 2.
28 The roll lO is placed in a suitable fixture (not shown) so that the roll lO
29 can be continuously rotated about its axis as shown by the arrow in the 30 drawing to provide relative motion be-tween the radiation source and the 5~
1 peripheral surface of the roll. The rotation is preferably at a low speed 2 and.is not critical. In some cases it may be advantageous to provide the 3 relative motion by moving the radiation source. As the roll is rotating I its ou~er peripheral surface is irradiated with a low level ultra-violet radiation provided by a suitable source such as a mercury arc lamp 30. A
reflector 32 is preferably provided to direct the radiation toward the roll 7 lO. The surface of the roll lO is ~ept in an inert atmosphere during the 8 treating step under some conditions. The inert atmosphere is provided since 9 the UV radiation in the presence of oxygen may produce ozone which poisons the silicone rubber coating. In the examples previously discussed the low 11 level radiation treatment requires the inert atmosphere during treatment 12 but the mediunl pressure UV treatnlent does not require the inert atmosphere 13 during treatment. The reason that the inert atmosphere is not required for 14 the mediunl pressure treatment is either that the spectral output of the medium pressure lan~ps used does not generate ozone or that the heat generated 16 by the lamp breaks down the ozone as quickly as i~ is formed. A cylindrical 17 member 34 is mounted in a fixed position surrounding the roll to confine 18 the inert atmosphere. Cylindrical member 34 is macle from a suitable material 19 that is t~ansparent to the ultra-violet radiation. The preferred material is a quartz tube. The inert atmosphere is provided by filling the area 21 between roll lO and the inner pe~- nheral surface of cylindrical tube melllber 22 34 with a suitable inert atmosptle;e. The preferred inert atmosphere is 23 nitrogen and the nitrogen is present in sufficient quantity to provide a 2~ flow of about ten cubic feet per hour in the area between the heated roll and tile tube 34. The low level ultra-violet radiation is produced for a 2G predetermined time at a low level. For a specific roll and using a Pen Ray *
27 lalllp number 3SC-9 and a General Electric type 20~ quartz tube the preferred 28 exposure is four milliwat~s per centimeter squared when measured at the 254 29 nanometer line o~ tlle spectrum from the lamp 30 and this level of radiation is produced for an exposure time of six hours ~/itil the roll lO rotating 31 * Registered ~rade Mark ,~
~o 5~
1 about its ax-is at a speed of approxilllately 50 RPM. This level of exposure 2 and.timiny produces a -fuser roll which not only inhibits the formation of 3 toner rings for a substantial time as sho~Jn in Figure 5, but also produces
1 Sul;ilila~y of tl~ vent on It is therefore the principle object of -this invention to produce a fuser appa atus which is capable o-f fusing images without offset at a high 7 process speed which produces maintenance free operation for long periods of 8 time and in which the production of toner rings is inhibited for long 9 periods of time.
It is a further object of -this invention to provide an irnproved method 11 for manufacturing a fuser roll having improved properties.
12 Briefly according to the invention apparatus and a method is provided 13 for manufacturing an improved fuser rol1. The roll is coated with a suitable 14 silicone rubber material and the coatiny is cured. The roll is then treated by rotating the roll about its axis while simultaneously irradiating its lG surface with a predetermined level of ultra-violet (UV) radiation for a 17 predetermined time. Although it was known in the art to use UV radiation to 18 fully cure polymèr materials it was unexpec-tedly observed that the post-cure 19 treatrnent ~ith UV according to the invention produced not only greatly im-20 proved resistance to toner ring formation but also resulted in much lower 21 wear rates.
22 Brief Description of the Drawinac .
23 FIGURE 1 shows a roll embodiment of the fusing apparatus embodying the 24 present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus for irradiating the roll 26 surface with ultra-violet radiation.
~7 FIGURE 3 is a plot of fuser roll tack vs. time of exposure to a low 28 pressure UV source; ..
29 FIGURE 4 is a plot-of fuser roll softness vs. time of exposure to a low pressure UV source;
S~977055 -2-1 FlGlJRE 5 is a plot of typical improvelllert in retardation oF fuser 2 ring gro~th vs. time of exposure to a lo~/ pressure UV source;
3 FIG~IRE 6 is d plot of fuser roll tach vs. time of exposure to a e~ium pressure UV source;
FIGURE 7 is d plot of fuser roll softness vs. time of exposure to a 6 nledil~nl pressure UV source;
7 FIGURE ~ is a plot of typical improvemellt in retardation of fuser 8 ring growth vs. -time of exposure to a medium pressure UV source.
g Description of the Preferred Embodilllent In the embodinlent shown in Figure l, the fusing apparatus comprises a 11 heated member lO in the shape of a roller which comprises a heat conducting 12 base member 12 having infra-red lamps 14 disposed therein and having a 13 deformable layer 16 of an insulating high temperature material such as one comprising silicone rubber on its outer surface. The power to the lamps l4 will vary depending upon the speed of the paper web 24 through the fusing 16 station and the desired temperature for the hot roll surface temperature.
17 The base melllber comprises a tube l2 made from a suitable material such as 18 copper or aluminum which is a good heat conductor. However, since high 19 temperature materials such as silicone rubber are heat insulating materials, the thickness of the deformable layer 16 must be kept thin and, in a prac-21 tical embodiment, this thickness would norrnally be ten mils or less. The 22 backup element l8 is also in the r1ape of a roller, and the roller is 23 pushed against the heated roll with a meshing force supplied in the illus-2~ trated embodiment by cam means 20. The backup element is also formed of a 25 high temperature elastomer 22 such as one comprising silicone rubber.
26 Heated roll lO is driven by a suitable rnotor and when backup roll l3 27 is meshed with the heated roll, the pressure causes paper web 24 to be 2~ driven through the hot roll fuser and to l~use and permanently fix the toner 29 image to sheet 24. Paper web 24 rmay comprise roll paper, separate sheets of paper or fan-fold paper sheets. The fan-fold paper sheets produce ~A977055 ~3~
.. . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. .
I yreater wear on the deformable layer due to the presence of the tractor ~
2 holes in the fan-Fold paper.
3 Accordillg to the present invention, an improved method for manufacturing ~1 a fuser roll comprising tube 12 and deformable layer 16 is disclosed which __~ 5 has a greatly increased useful life. The fuser roll should have the properties at temperatures suitable for -fusing toner, of release from the toner aFter 7 fusing, wear resistance to fan-fold paper especially at tractor holes, 8 acceptable heat transfer and ability to elastically deform under load to g give contact with toner during Fusing. The time during which the fuser roll retains these properties is its useful life.
11 These properties can be obtained according -to our invention by forming 12 de-Formable layer 16 with a suitable silicone rubber material. The silicone 13 rubber material is then cured by~any one of several suitable curing methods 1~ known in the art. One suitable curing method is described and claimed in U.S. patent 3,987,530 to Atkin et al which patent is assigned to the assignee 16 of the present invention. In this curing method, the base member is coated 17 with a silicone gum material containing no curing agent, and then treated 18 by heating in an inert abllosphere to a temperature at which substantial 19 cross-linking occurs for a predetermined time to produce a tough long-wearing silicone rubber deformable layer.
21 The cured silicone rubber deformable layer 16 on tube 12 is then 22 subjected to a treating step whic;l comprises exposing the roll to a predeter-23 mined level of ultra-violet radiation for a predetermined time. The level 2a~ of ultra-violet radiation and the time oF exposure is determined by consider-ing not only the effect of the radiation in the forma-tion of toner rings, 26 but also the efFec-t on other characteristics of the roll which define the 27 useful life of the roll. Figures 3, 4 and 5 relate to rolls treated with a 2~3 low-level ultra-violet radiation. Thin .ections of silicone rubber tend to 29 have a tacky surface even when Fully cured, by all the conventional tests, such as modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, elongation and cross-link SA977055 ~4~
I density. Figure 3 gives ~he relation of the measured tack of -the roll with 2 various treatment times with the low level UV. Tack is a measure of the 3 stickiness of the roll and is measured by placiny a standard size sheet ~ in contac-t with the roll and measuring the force in grallls required to peel the sheet off the roll. The tack goes to zero by about a six hour exposure 6 for the low level UV exposure.
7 The softness of a roll is defined as the ratio of the indentation of a 8 standard probe to the -total thickness of the silicone rubber coating. Figure 9 4 shows the relation of softness of the roll of Figure 3 to time of exposure.
It can be noted from Figure 4 that the softness decreases (i.e., roll becomes 11 harder) with increased exposure. It can be seen that the softness remains 12 above 50,' until about 9 hours of treatment. Figure 5 shows the improvement 13 in number o-f copies produced before onset of toner rlngs for different times ~ of exposure to the low level UV radiation. Figures 3, ~ and 5 show that a 15 treatment time of about 6 hours appears to be optimum.
16 Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the results of treatnlellt with a mediunl pressure 17 mercury arc lamp. The treatment times are much less than with the low pres-18 sure radiation as can be seen by the tack curve in Figure 6 in which the tack 19 goes substantially to zero after about 6 minutes treatment. However, the 2~ softness is decreased more rapidly with this treatment. It can be seen that 21 the optimum time for this level of UV radiation is a few minutes, although the 22 improvement in performance is not as great as was the case with the low level 23 eXpOSure.
24 The low level exposure is the preferred treatment due to the level of 25 improvement achieved. However, in some cases a lower level of improvement 26 may be adequate in view of the difference in processing time.
27 The apparatus for providing the -treating step is shown in Figure 2.
28 The roll lO is placed in a suitable fixture (not shown) so that the roll lO
29 can be continuously rotated about its axis as shown by the arrow in the 30 drawing to provide relative motion be-tween the radiation source and the 5~
1 peripheral surface of the roll. The rotation is preferably at a low speed 2 and.is not critical. In some cases it may be advantageous to provide the 3 relative motion by moving the radiation source. As the roll is rotating I its ou~er peripheral surface is irradiated with a low level ultra-violet radiation provided by a suitable source such as a mercury arc lamp 30. A
reflector 32 is preferably provided to direct the radiation toward the roll 7 lO. The surface of the roll lO is ~ept in an inert atmosphere during the 8 treating step under some conditions. The inert atmosphere is provided since 9 the UV radiation in the presence of oxygen may produce ozone which poisons the silicone rubber coating. In the examples previously discussed the low 11 level radiation treatment requires the inert atmosphere during treatment 12 but the mediunl pressure UV treatnlent does not require the inert atmosphere 13 during treatment. The reason that the inert atmosphere is not required for 14 the mediunl pressure treatment is either that the spectral output of the medium pressure lan~ps used does not generate ozone or that the heat generated 16 by the lamp breaks down the ozone as quickly as i~ is formed. A cylindrical 17 member 34 is mounted in a fixed position surrounding the roll to confine 18 the inert atmosphere. Cylindrical member 34 is macle from a suitable material 19 that is t~ansparent to the ultra-violet radiation. The preferred material is a quartz tube. The inert atmosphere is provided by filling the area 21 between roll lO and the inner pe~- nheral surface of cylindrical tube melllber 22 34 with a suitable inert atmosptle;e. The preferred inert atmosphere is 23 nitrogen and the nitrogen is present in sufficient quantity to provide a 2~ flow of about ten cubic feet per hour in the area between the heated roll and tile tube 34. The low level ultra-violet radiation is produced for a 2G predetermined time at a low level. For a specific roll and using a Pen Ray *
27 lalllp number 3SC-9 and a General Electric type 20~ quartz tube the preferred 28 exposure is four milliwat~s per centimeter squared when measured at the 254 29 nanometer line o~ tlle spectrum from the lamp 30 and this level of radiation is produced for an exposure time of six hours ~/itil the roll lO rotating 31 * Registered ~rade Mark ,~
~o 5~
1 about its ax-is at a speed of approxilllately 50 RPM. This level of exposure 2 and.timiny produces a -fuser roll which not only inhibits the formation of 3 toner rings for a substantial time as sho~Jn in Figure 5, but also produces
4 about one-third lower wear rate.
The reasons for this improved performance due to the described treatment 6 is not fully understood, bu-t lowering the tack of the rolls appears to con-7 tribute to the results. One -theory for the improved performance is that 8 the prior art rolls were not Fully cured, and this is the reason that the 9 paper sizing material, the paper dust and the toner finally combined to procluce the toner rings. However, this does not appear to be the correc-t 11 theory since the silicone rubber coating of the prior art rolls was fully 2 cured by all the conventional tests, such as modulus of elasticity, tensile 13 strength, elongation and cross-link density. In-addition, the problem seems 14 to be present wi-th all curing me-thods.
Another theory is that -for some unknown reason the silicone rubber 6 coating on the prior art rolls was not cured well on the surface. However, 17 this also does not appear to be the proper explana-tion since the heated 18 roll starts out with a coating of silicone rubber about lO mils thick. This 19 thickness is reduced by abrasive wear during use and will a roll prepared according to the present invention, the beneficial effect is still apparent 21 with a few mils wear on the roll. This indicates that the explanation is 22 not a surface phenomena since no ~urface phenomena would be present a sub- -23 stantial depth into the coating. !
2a~ llhile the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be und-erstood by those 26 skilled in the art that various changes in the form and de-tails may be made 27 therein without departing from the spirit and scope o-f the inven-tion.
~A977055 ~7~
The reasons for this improved performance due to the described treatment 6 is not fully understood, bu-t lowering the tack of the rolls appears to con-7 tribute to the results. One -theory for the improved performance is that 8 the prior art rolls were not Fully cured, and this is the reason that the 9 paper sizing material, the paper dust and the toner finally combined to procluce the toner rings. However, this does not appear to be the correc-t 11 theory since the silicone rubber coating of the prior art rolls was fully 2 cured by all the conventional tests, such as modulus of elasticity, tensile 13 strength, elongation and cross-link density. In-addition, the problem seems 14 to be present wi-th all curing me-thods.
Another theory is that -for some unknown reason the silicone rubber 6 coating on the prior art rolls was not cured well on the surface. However, 17 this also does not appear to be the proper explana-tion since the heated 18 roll starts out with a coating of silicone rubber about lO mils thick. This 19 thickness is reduced by abrasive wear during use and will a roll prepared according to the present invention, the beneficial effect is still apparent 21 with a few mils wear on the roll. This indicates that the explanation is 22 not a surface phenomena since no ~urface phenomena would be present a sub- -23 stantial depth into the coating. !
2a~ llhile the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be und-erstood by those 26 skilled in the art that various changes in the form and de-tails may be made 27 therein without departing from the spirit and scope o-f the inven-tion.
~A977055 ~7~
Claims (11)
1. The method of manufacturing a contact heat fuser roll for Fixing a resinous powder image to a substrate comprising the steps of:
forming a thin film of a silicone rubber material on a non-deformable base member;
curing the silicone rubber material on said base member; and treating the cured roll by irradiating its surface with a uniform ultra-violet radiation for a predetermined time.
forming a thin film of a silicone rubber material on a non-deformable base member;
curing the silicone rubber material on said base member; and treating the cured roll by irradiating its surface with a uniform ultra-violet radiation for a predetermined time.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein said ultra-violet radiation is produced by a low pressure mercury arc lamp,
3. The method of Claim 2 wherein said treating step is carried out in an inert atmosphere.
4. The method of Claim 3 wherein said inert atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
5. The method as defined in Claims 1, 3 or 4 in which said ultra-violet radiation is produced at a level of about 4 milliwatts per centimeter squared and said predetermined time is about 6 hours.
6. The method of manufacturing a contact heat fuser roll for fixing a resinous powder image to a substrate comprising the steps of:
forming a thin film of a silicone rubber material on a non-deformable cylindrical member;
curing the silicone rubber material on said cylindrical members;
and producing relative motion between said cylindrical members and a uniform ultra-violet radiation source of a predetermined level while simultaneously irradiating the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical member with ultra-violet radiation from said source for a predetermined time.
forming a thin film of a silicone rubber material on a non-deformable cylindrical member;
curing the silicone rubber material on said cylindrical members;
and producing relative motion between said cylindrical members and a uniform ultra-violet radiation source of a predetermined level while simultaneously irradiating the outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical member with ultra-violet radiation from said source for a predetermined time.
7. The method of Claim 6 wherein said relative motion is produced by rotating said cylindrical member about its axis.
8. The method of Claim 6 wherein said ultra-violet radiation source comprises a low pressure mercury arc lamp.
9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the irradiation of the surface of said cylindrical member is carried out in an inert atmosphere.
10. The method of Claim 9 wherein said inert atmosphere comprises nitrogen.
11. The method as defined in Claims 6, 9 or 10 in which said predetermined level of ultra-violet radiation is about 4 milliwatts per centimeter squared and said predetermined time is about 6 hours.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US86107777A | 1977-12-15 | 1977-12-15 | |
| US861,077 | 1977-12-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1116549A true CA1116549A (en) | 1982-01-19 |
Family
ID=25334812
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000314265A Expired CA1116549A (en) | 1977-12-15 | 1978-10-25 | Heat fuser roll and method of manufacture |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5487230A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1116549A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2852900A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2010444B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH07108746B2 (en) * | 1988-01-19 | 1995-11-22 | 株式会社明治ゴム化成 | Roller surface modification method |
| JPH09250539A (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 1997-09-22 | Shin Etsu Polymer Co Ltd | Semiconductive roll, and manufacture of it |
-
1978
- 1978-10-19 JP JP12791178A patent/JPS5487230A/en active Granted
- 1978-10-25 CA CA000314265A patent/CA1116549A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-11-13 GB GB7844278A patent/GB2010444B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-12-07 DE DE19782852900 patent/DE2852900A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5739419B2 (en) | 1982-08-21 |
| GB2010444B (en) | 1982-05-19 |
| JPS5487230A (en) | 1979-07-11 |
| DE2852900A1 (en) | 1979-06-21 |
| GB2010444A (en) | 1979-06-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |