EP0240834A1 - Heat-fixing installation for fixing thermoplastic toner images - Google Patents

Heat-fixing installation for fixing thermoplastic toner images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0240834A1
EP0240834A1 EP87104335A EP87104335A EP0240834A1 EP 0240834 A1 EP0240834 A1 EP 0240834A1 EP 87104335 A EP87104335 A EP 87104335A EP 87104335 A EP87104335 A EP 87104335A EP 0240834 A1 EP0240834 A1 EP 0240834A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fixing roller
fixing
pressure pad
silicone oil
end piece
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP87104335A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0240834B1 (en
Inventor
Gerhard Dipl.-Ing. Klapettek (Fh)
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Siemens AG
Siemens Corp
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Siemens AG
Siemens Corp
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Publication of EP0240834A1 publication Critical patent/EP0240834A1/en
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Publication of EP0240834B1 publication Critical patent/EP0240834B1/en
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    • 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
    • G03G15/2017—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means
    • G03G15/2025—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material applied to sheet-shaped recording media according to the preamble of the main claim.
  • the desired print image is first generated in the form of a microscopic distribution of toner particles on the recording medium using known methods, and this is then fixed in a fixing station on the recording medium in a document-correct manner.
  • a number of fixing methods are known for document-correct fixing of the toner image, which are used depending on the selected application.
  • the present invention relates to a device for the heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material which is softened by the application of heat when being fixed. Since the supply of heat is critical with respect to the material of the recording medium, efforts have long been made to reduce the amount of heat to be supplied in addition to improving the thermoplastic properties of the toner material. This can be achieved by simultaneously exerting pressure on the toner image to be fixed as the heat is applied.
  • a fusing station realizing this concept can be constructed from a pair of fusing rollers, each Weil are arranged on both sides of a transport path for the record carrier and roll in opposite directions to each other.
  • at least one of these two fixing rollers is provided with an elastic surface layer, which consists for example of silicone rubber. Due to the elastic properties of this material and the mutual mechanical arrangement of the pair of rollers there is a defined deformation of this elastic surface, so that the pair of rollers touch in a predetermined area of the circumference, which practically represents the fixing distance. It is in your hand to optimally adjust the operating parameters of pressure, heat and exposure time to the respective application, in particular the toner material used.
  • this roller facing the toner material acts on the recording medium in the area of the fixing section, then it must be achieved that the softening toner particles ideally connect completely to the surface of the recording medium and do not stick to the surface of the assigned fixing roller.
  • this roller is wetted with silicone oil in order to reduce the affinity of the roller surface for the toner particles, so that essentially no toner particles migrate from the recording medium onto the fixing roller.
  • This measure thus prevents the toner image on the recording medium from being split and a ghost image being transferred to the recording medium in the next cycle.
  • This wetting of the fixing roller facing the toner image also has the further advantage, in particular in the case of sheet-shaped recording media, that the recording media itself is also less easily adheres to the fixing roller and the stripping of the leading edge of the conveyed recording medium is simplified.
  • wetting the surface of the fuser roll with silicone oil is by no means not critical.
  • the oil layer on the surface of the fusing roller should be as even and sufficiently thick as possible to ensure the desired success, on the other hand, the amount of silicone oil on the surface of the fusing roller must not exceed a certain maximum value, otherwise visible residues of silicone oil remain on the Record carriers that mean unsightly or even defective printed products.
  • tubes have also been used which are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fixing roller and immediately adjacent to its surface.
  • Such tubes have a multiplicity of micro-nozzles, through which, using a predetermined pressure, a defined amount of silicone oil only when the Fi is circulating Xier roller emerges. The pressure is removed during breaks in order to avoid the escape of silicone oil.
  • This has the disadvantage that air enters the supply line for the silicone oil during these pauses and this air only has to be pumped out when the electrophotographic device is put into operation again. This solution is therefore structurally very complex.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an arrangement for supplying silicone oil in a device for heat-fixing thermoplastic material-applied toner images onto sheet-like recording media which, with little design effort in the operating state, always provides a sufficient amount of silicone oil evenly on the surface transmits the associated fixing roller and is essentially maintenance-free or allows simple maintenance work to be carried out.
  • the invention is based on the consideration that it is possible in the current state of the art to replace the above-mentioned tube with the micro-nozzles by line end pieces for the silicone oil line made of a porous material.
  • porous materials are also flexible. This has the advantage that such a porous tube can be placed directly on the surface of the fixing roller, but it can be seen that the constructive definition of a thin flexible tube end along a surface line of the Fi
  • the design of the fixing roller is particularly difficult if the surface of the fixing roller that is as uniform as possible is an unconditional requirement.
  • porous material is permanently subject to wear in the area of the contact line. It must therefore be assumed that such a line end piece must be rotated through a defined angle at least at maintenance intervals in order to achieve uniform wear. A defined angular rotation of such a porous line end piece over the entire length can, however, only be achieved with relatively complex structural supports or holders for the line end piece.
  • the pressure pad in combination with such a porous line end piece, is used, which is arranged between the line end piece and the surface of the associated fixing roller along a surface line.
  • the pressure pad acts as a transmitter element for the silicone oil emerging from the porous line end piece.
  • the pressure pad With a larger contact surface, the pressure pad can be structurally more easily held in such a way that it lies on the surface of the fixing roller with a defined contact pressure. This also makes the holder for the porous line end piece much easier, in particular also because it no longer has to be rotatably mounted, since in this case it is not subject to wear.
  • the holder for the pressure pad can also be designed so that it can be replaced.
  • the pressure pad is considered a real wear part, which is replaced at maintenance intervals.
  • the pressure pad can clearly take on the task of stripping off toner particles that have still been carried along by the fixing roller, despite the wetting with silicone oil that usual cleaning equipment, the z. B. consist of a doctor blade made of polyurethane, can be saved because the pressure pad takes over the function of a cleaning element for the fixing roller.
  • a pair of fixing rollers 1, 2 is shown schematically, which can be rotated in opposite directions and are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they roll on one another with partially elastic deformation of at least one of the two rollers, here the underlying fixing roller 2.
  • the contact surface of the two fixing rollers 1, 2 lies in the region of a transport path for sheet-shaped recording media 3, which are conveyed in the transport direction indicated by the arrow 4.
  • a toner image 5 is indicated schematically on the sheet-shaped recording medium 3, which is fixed on the recording medium 3 when it passes through the fixing station in the region of the fixing path which corresponds to the deformed surface region 21 of the second fixing roller 2.
  • the fixing roller 1 without being shown in detail here, can be heated in a conventional manner from the inside, so that the toner particles arriving in the region of the fixing section 21 melt under pressure and heat and on the surface of the Bake sheet-shaped recording medium 3.
  • An arrangement for supplying and evenly distributing the silicone oil on the surface of the fixing roller 1 initially consists of a reservoir 6 for the silicone oil and an oil line 7 connected to this container. This ends in a line end piece 71 which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fixing roller 1. The only requirement for this line end piece is initially that it consists of a porous material whose porosity is clearly defined. It is matched to the viscosity of the silicone oil in such a way that, taking into account the surface of the line end piece 71, a defined amount of silicone oil emerges per unit of time, which just just sufficiently wets the peripheral surface of the fixing roller 1.
  • a pressure pad 8 is arranged between the porous line end piece 71 and the opposite surface of the fixing roller 1, which is shown in section in the drawing. It forms a transmission and distribution element for the silicone oil emerging from the porous line end piece 71.
  • the pressure pad has, for example, a flat frame part 81, in which the actual transfer element 82 for the silicone oil is inserted.
  • the pressure pad 8 is inserted into a holder 9 fixed to the housing via this frame part.
  • the opposite end of the pressure pad 8 may be in a similar Be fixed bracket, which is not visible in the sectional view. At the same time, these brackets 9 can also have overhead crosspieces 91 which are designed as clamps for fixing the porous line end piece 71.
  • the pressure pad 8 is also made of a porous material, which, however, is not necessarily identical to the material for the line end piece 71. It would be conceivable, for example, that the line end piece 71 consists of a porous ceramic part and is therefore relatively stable. Because of the transfer function of the pressure pad, on the other hand, it is preferably made of a material that is not only porous but also elastic, so that on the one hand it clings well to the surface of the fixing roller 1, but on the other hand it is not subject to excessive wear or the surface the fixing roller is damaged. In addition, there is the requirement that the fixing roller 1 can be heated from the inside, which is why a certain heat resistance of the porous material for the pressure pad 8 is required.
  • a pressure pad which is made of foamed, open-pored polytetrafluoroethylene, has all of these properties.
  • This material is also sufficiently resistant to silicone oil. Because of all of these properties of the material mentioned, it may also be expedient to also produce the porous line end piece 71 from this material, but, as mentioned, different material combinations are also conceivable, provided only the porosity of the respective material is known and can be reproduced with an appropriate tolerance.
  • the holder shown for the pressure pad 8 illustrates a constructive solution that allows the pressure pad 8 to be removed from the fixing roller 1 in the direction of the arrow 10 and to be replaced by a new pressure pad.
  • Such a replacement could be carried out at maintenance intervals and thus offers the possibility of using the pressure pad 8 itself as a cleaning element for the fixing roller 1, which, despite the wetting with silicone oil, collects and retains toner particles that have been carried along by the fixing roller.
  • the fixing roller 1 is thus cleaned continuously and there are no toner residues left on the fixing roller 1, which could be transferred in the next fixing cycle as soiling to the recording medium 3 then passing through the fixing station.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided, arranged on either side of a transport path for the recording support (3), a pair of fixing rollers (1, 2) which roll off one another with a predetermined contact pressure. Of these, at least the fixing roller (1) facing the toner material (5) can be heated and moistened with a thin surface layer of silicone oil. This is conveyed via an arrangement (6, 7, 8, 9) to the oil supply. The latter has a pipe endpiece (71) made of porous material and, in contact therewith, a pressure cushion (8) which is also made of porous and additionally heat-resistant material. The pipe endpiece and the pressure cushion are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated fixing roller (1) in such a manner that the pressure cushion bears against the surface of the fixing roller over a large area. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Einrichtung zum Heiß­fixieren von auf blattförmige Aufzeichnungsträger aufge­brachten Tonerbildern aus thermoplastischem Tonermaterial gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruches.The invention relates to a device for heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material applied to sheet-shaped recording media according to the preamble of the main claim.

Bei elektrofotografischen Geräten, wie Kopiergeräten und nach dem elektrofotografischen Prinzip arbeitenden nicht­mechanischen Druckern, wird zunächst unter Verwendung be­kannter Verfahren das gewünsche Druckbild in Form einer mikroskopisch feinen Verteilung von Tonerteilchen auf dem Aufzeichnungsträger erzeugt und dieses anschließend in einer Fixierstation dokumentenecht auf dem Aufzeichnungs­träger fixiert. Für das dokumentenechte Fixieren des To­nerbildes sind eine Reihe von Fixierverfahren bekannt, die je nach dem gewählten Anwendungsfall eingesetzt wer­den. Die vorliegende Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Ein­richtung zum Heißfixieren von Tonerbildern aus thermopla­stischem Tonermaterial, das beim Fixieren durch Wärmezu­fuhr erweicht wird. Da die Zufuhr von Wärme in bezug auf das Material der Aufzeichnungsträger kritisch ist, werden seit langem Anstrengungen unternommen, neben der Verbes­serung der thermoplastischem Eigenschaften des Tonermate­rials auch die zuzuführende Wärmemenge zu reduzieren. Das läßt sich dadurch erreichen, daß gleichzeitig mit der Wärmezufuhr auch Druck auf das zu fixierende Tonerbild ausgeübt wird.In the case of electrophotographic devices, such as copiers and non-mechanical printers working on the electrophotographic principle, the desired print image is first generated in the form of a microscopic distribution of toner particles on the recording medium using known methods, and this is then fixed in a fixing station on the recording medium in a document-correct manner. A number of fixing methods are known for document-correct fixing of the toner image, which are used depending on the selected application. The present invention relates to a device for the heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material which is softened by the application of heat when being fixed. Since the supply of heat is critical with respect to the material of the recording medium, efforts have long been made to reduce the amount of heat to be supplied in addition to improving the thermoplastic properties of the toner material. This can be achieved by simultaneously exerting pressure on the toner image to be fixed as the heat is applied.

Eine dieses Konzept verwirklichende Fixierstation kann aus einem Paar von Fixierrollen aufgebaut werden, die je­ weils zu beiden Seiten einer Transportbahn für den Auf­zeichnungsträger angeordnet sind und aufeinander gegen­läufig abrollen. Üblicherweise wird dabei mindestens eine dieser beiden Fixierrollen mit einer elastischen Oberflä­chenschicht versehen, die beispielsweise aus Silikonkaut­schuk besteht. Aufgrund der elastischen Eigenschaften dieses Materials und der gegenseitigen mechanischen An­ordnung des Rollenpaares ergibt sich eine definierte Ver­formung dieser elastischen Oberfläche, so daß sich das Rollenpaar in einem vorbestimmten Bereich des Umfanges berührt, der praktisch die Fixierstrecke darstellt. Damit hat man es in der Hand, die Betriebsparameter Druck, Wär­me und Einwirkzeit auf den jeweiligen Anwendungsfall, insbesondere auch das verwendete Tonermaterial optimal einzustellen.A fusing station realizing this concept can be constructed from a pair of fusing rollers, each Weil are arranged on both sides of a transport path for the record carrier and roll in opposite directions to each other. Usually, at least one of these two fixing rollers is provided with an elastic surface layer, which consists for example of silicone rubber. Due to the elastic properties of this material and the mutual mechanical arrangement of the pair of rollers there is a defined deformation of this elastic surface, so that the pair of rollers touch in a predetermined area of the circumference, which practically represents the fixing distance. It is in your hand to optimally adjust the operating parameters of pressure, heat and exposure time to the respective application, in particular the toner material used.

Damit ist jedoch ein Problem noch nicht gelöst, das das Adhäsionsverhalten des Tonermaterials betrifft. Wenn im Bereich der Fixierstrecke die dem Tonermaterial zugekehr­te Fixierrolle auf den Aufzeichnungsträger einwirkt, dann muß erreicht werden, daß sich die erweichenden Tonerteil­chem im Idealfall vollständig mit der Oberfläche des Auf­zeichnungsträgers bleibend verbinden und nicht etwa an der Oberfläche der zugeordneten Fixierrolle haften blei­ben. Zu diesem Zweck wird diese Rolle bekanntlich mit Si­likonöl benetzt, um die Affinität der Rollenoberfläche für die Tonerteilchen herabzusetzen, so daß im wesentli­chen keine Tonerteilchen vom Aufzeichnungsträger auf die Fixierrolle wandern.However, this does not yet solve a problem relating to the adhesive behavior of the toner material. If the fixing roller facing the toner material acts on the recording medium in the area of the fixing section, then it must be achieved that the softening toner particles ideally connect completely to the surface of the recording medium and do not stick to the surface of the assigned fixing roller. For this purpose, as is known, this roller is wetted with silicone oil in order to reduce the affinity of the roller surface for the toner particles, so that essentially no toner particles migrate from the recording medium onto the fixing roller.

Durch diese Maßnahme wird also verhindert, daß das Toner­bild auf dem Aufzeichnungsträger gespalten wird und ein Geisterbild im nächsten Zyklus auf den Aufzeichnungsträ­ger übertragen wird. Diese Benetzung der dem Tonerbild zugewandten Fixierrolle hat darüber hinaus insbesondere bei blattförmigen Aufzeichnungsträgern den weiteren Vor­teil, daß auch der Aufzeichnungsträger selbst weniger leicht an der Fixierrolle haften bleibt und sich das Ab­streifen der Vorderkante des geförderten Aufzeichnungs­trägers vereinfacht.This measure thus prevents the toner image on the recording medium from being split and a ghost image being transferred to the recording medium in the next cycle. This wetting of the fixing roller facing the toner image also has the further advantage, in particular in the case of sheet-shaped recording media, that the recording media itself is also less easily adheres to the fixing roller and the stripping of the leading edge of the conveyed recording medium is simplified.

Allerdings ist das Benetzen der Oberfläche der Fixierrol­le mit Silikonöl durchaus nicht unkritisch. Einerseits sollte die Ölschicht auf der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle möglichst gleichmäßig und ausreichend dick sein, damit der gewünschte Erfolg in jedem Fall eintritt, anderer­seits darf die Menge an Silikonöl auf der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle einen gewissen Maximalwert nicht überschrei­ten, sonst bleiben sichtbare Rückstände von Silikonöl auf dem Aufzeichnungsträger, die unansehnliche oder sogar mangelhafte Druckerzeugnisse bedeuten.However, wetting the surface of the fuser roll with silicone oil is by no means not critical. On the one hand, the oil layer on the surface of the fusing roller should be as even and sufficiently thick as possible to ensure the desired success, on the other hand, the amount of silicone oil on the surface of the fusing roller must not exceed a certain maximum value, otherwise visible residues of silicone oil remain on the Record carriers that mean unsightly or even defective printed products.

Es hat daher nicht an Versuchen gefehlt, auch dieses Pro­blem beim Heißfixieren beherrschen zu lernen. Die bekann­ten Lösungen reichen von Versuchen die Oberfläche der Fi­xierrolle selbstschmierend zu gestalten, d. h. eine sepa­rate Zuführung von Silikonöl völlig zu vermeiden bis zu Versuchen durch die Art der Aufbringung des Silikonöls auf die Oberfläche der Fixierrolle die aufgebrachte Sil­ikonölmenge so einzustellen, daß den beiden gegenläufigen Forderungen genügt wird. So hat man beispielsweise Schmierfilze zur Übertragung von Silikonöl aus einem Vor­ratsbehälter auf die Oberfläche der Fixierrolle verwen­det, wobei die Kapillarwirkung im Schmierfilz ausgenutzt wird. Diese Lösung hat den Nachteil, daß sich Silikonöl auf der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle während Betriebspausen in unerwünschter Menge ansammeln kann und dann die ersten durch die Fixierstation laufenden Aufzeichnungsträger verschmutzt sind. Man hat aber auch Röhrchen verwendet, die in Richtung der Längsachse der Fixierrolle und unmit­telbar benachbart zu deren Oberfläche angeordnet sind. Solche Röhrchen weisen eine Vielzahl von Mikrodüsen auf, durch die unter Anwendung eines vorbestimmtem Druckes ei­ne definierte Menge von Silikonöl nur bei umlaufender Fi­ xierrolle austritt. In Betriebspausen wird der Überdruck weggenommen, um das Austreten von Silikonöl zu vermeiden. Dies hat den Nachteil, daß in diesen Pausen Luft in die Zuführleitung für das Silikonöl eintritt und diese Luft erst ausgepumpt werden muß, wenn das elektrofotografische Gerät wieder in Betrieb genommen wird. Diese Lösung ist also konstruktiv sehr aufwendig.There has been no shortage of attempts to master this problem in heat setting. The known solutions range from attempts to make the surface of the fixing roller self-lubricating, ie to completely avoid the separate supply of silicone oil, to attempts to adjust the amount of silicone oil applied to the surface of the fixing roller in such a way that the two opposite requirements are met becomes. For example, lubricating felts have been used to transfer silicone oil from a storage container to the surface of the fixing roller, the capillary action in the lubricating felt being exploited. This solution has the disadvantage that silicone oil can accumulate on the surface of the fixing roller in an undesirable amount during breaks in operation and then the first recording media passing through the fixing station are contaminated. However, tubes have also been used which are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fixing roller and immediately adjacent to its surface. Such tubes have a multiplicity of micro-nozzles, through which, using a predetermined pressure, a defined amount of silicone oil only when the Fi is circulating Xier roller emerges. The pressure is removed during breaks in order to avoid the escape of silicone oil. This has the disadvantage that air enters the supply line for the silicone oil during these pauses and this air only has to be pumped out when the electrophotographic device is put into operation again. This solution is therefore structurally very complex.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zu­grunde, in einer Einrichtung zum Heißfixieren von auf blattförmige Aufzeichnungsträger aufgebrachten Tonerbil­dern aus thermoplastischem Material eine Anordnung zum Zuführen von Silikonöl zu schaffen, die bei geringem kon­struktiven Aufwand im Betriebszustand stets eine noch ausreichende Menge von Silikonöl gleichmäßig auf die Oberfläche der zugeordneten Fixierrolle überträgt und da­bei im wesentlichen wartungsfrei ist bzw. eine einfache Durchführung von Wartungsarbeiten gestattet.The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an arrangement for supplying silicone oil in a device for heat-fixing thermoplastic material-applied toner images onto sheet-like recording media which, with little design effort in the operating state, always provides a sufficient amount of silicone oil evenly on the surface transmits the associated fixing roller and is essentially maintenance-free or allows simple maintenance work to be carried out.

Bei einer Einrichtung der eingangs genannten Art wird diese Aufgabe erfindungsgemäß durch die im Kennzeichen des Patentanspruches 1 beschriebenen Merkmale gelöst.In a device of the type mentioned, this object is achieved according to the invention by the features described in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

Dabei geht die Erfindung von der Überlegung aus, daß es bei dem heutigen Stande der Technik möglich ist, das oben erwähnte Röhrchen mit den Mikrodüsen durch Leitungsend­stücke für die Silikonölleitung aus einem porösen Mate­rial zu ersetzen. Hier kann man über die Porosität des Materials einerseits und die Viskosität des Silikonöls andererseits als Parameter die Austrittsmenge des Sili­konöls auch bei verringertem Überdruck definiert festle­gen. Allerdings sind derartige poröse Materialien in vie­len Fällen auch flexibel. Dies hat wohl den Vorteil, daß man einen solchen porösen Schlauch zwar unmittelbar auf die Oberfläche der Fixierrolle auflegen kann, jedoch ist einzusehen, daß die konstruktive Festlegung eines dünnen flexiblen Schlauchendes längs einer Mantellinie der Fi­ xierrolle konstruktiv insbesondere dann nicht ganz ein­fach ist, wenn die möglichst gleichmäßige Benetzung der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle eine unbedingte Voraussetzung ist. Dazu kommt weiterhin, daß das poröse Material im Be­reich der Berührungslinie auf Dauer einen Verschleiß un­terliegt. Man muß also davon ausgehen, daß ein derartiges Leitungsendstück zumindestens in Wartungsabständen um ei­nen definierten Winkel verdreht werden muß, um eine gleichmäßige Abnutzung zu erreichen. Eine definierte Win­keldrehung eines derartigen porösen Leitungsendstückes über die gesamte Länge ist aber nur mit relativ aufwendi­gen konstruktiven Lagerungen bzw. Halterungen für das Leitungsendstück zu erreichen.The invention is based on the consideration that it is possible in the current state of the art to replace the above-mentioned tube with the micro-nozzles by line end pieces for the silicone oil line made of a porous material. Here you can use the porosity of the material on the one hand and the viscosity of the silicone oil on the other hand to define the exit quantity of the silicone oil as a parameter, even at reduced excess pressure. However, in many cases such porous materials are also flexible. This has the advantage that such a porous tube can be placed directly on the surface of the fixing roller, but it can be seen that the constructive definition of a thin flexible tube end along a surface line of the Fi The design of the fixing roller is particularly difficult if the surface of the fixing roller that is as uniform as possible is an unconditional requirement. In addition, the porous material is permanently subject to wear in the area of the contact line. It must therefore be assumed that such a line end piece must be rotated through a defined angle at least at maintenance intervals in order to achieve uniform wear. A defined angular rotation of such a porous line end piece over the entire length can, however, only be achieved with relatively complex structural supports or holders for the line end piece.

Aus diesem Grund wird gemäß der Erfindung in Kombination mit einem derartigen porösen Leitungsendstück das An­druckkissen verwendet, das zwischen dem Leitungsendstück und der Oberfläche der zugeordneten Fixierrolle längs ei­ner Mantellinie angeordnet ist. Dabei übernimmt das An­druckkissen die Funktion eines Übertragerelementes für das aus dem porösen Leitungsendstück austretende Silikon­öl. Das Andruckkissen läßt sich bei größerer Anlagefläche konstruktiv leichter derartig haltern, daß es mit defi­niertem Anpreßdruck an der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle an­liegt. Damit wird auch die Halterung für das poröse Lei­tungsendstück wesentlich einfacher, insbesondere auch, weil es nicht mehr drehbar gelagert sein muß, da es in diesem Fall keinem Verschleiß unterliegt.For this reason, according to the invention, in combination with such a porous line end piece, the pressure pad is used, which is arranged between the line end piece and the surface of the associated fixing roller along a surface line. The pressure pad acts as a transmitter element for the silicone oil emerging from the porous line end piece. With a larger contact surface, the pressure pad can be structurally more easily held in such a way that it lies on the surface of the fixing roller with a defined contact pressure. This also makes the holder for the porous line end piece much easier, in particular also because it no longer has to be rotatably mounted, since in this case it is not subject to wear.

Wie Weiterbildungen der Erfindung zeigen, kann die Halte­rung für das Andruckkissen auch so ausgestaltet sein, daß dieses auswechselbar ist. In diesem Fall wird das An­druckkissen als ein echtes Verschleißteil betrachtet, das in Wartungsintervallen ausgewechselt wird. Das Andruck­kissen kann in diesem Fall eindeutig die Aufgabe mitüber­nehmen, von der Fixierrolle trotz der Benetzung mit Sili­konöl noch mitgenommene Tonerteilchen abzustreifen, so daß übliche Reinigungseinrichtungen, die z. B. aus einem Abstreifmesser aus Polyurethan bestehen, eingespart wer­den können, weil das Andruckkissen die Funktion eines Reinigungselementes für die Fixierrolle mit übernimmt.As further developments of the invention show, the holder for the pressure pad can also be designed so that it can be replaced. In this case, the pressure pad is considered a real wear part, which is replaced at maintenance intervals. In this case, the pressure pad can clearly take on the task of stripping off toner particles that have still been carried along by the fixing roller, despite the wetting with silicone oil that usual cleaning equipment, the z. B. consist of a doctor blade made of polyurethane, can be saved because the pressure pad takes over the function of a cleaning element for the fixing roller.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand der einzigen Figur näher beschrieben. Da davon ausgegangen werden kann, daß der prinzipielle Aufbau von elektrofotografischen Geräten, seien es Kopiergeräte oder nach dem elektrofotografischen Prinzip arbeitende nicht­mechanische Drucker, durchaus bekannt ist und dafür auch eine Vielzahl von Lösungen für Fixierstationen dem Fach­mann geläufig sind, erscheint es hier nicht erforderlich, eine derartige Station zum Heißfixieren von auf blattför­migen Aufzeichnungsträgern aufgebrachten Tonerbildern aus thermoplastischem Tonermaterial in allen konstruktiven Einzelheiten darzustellen und zu erläutern. Zur Vereinfa­chung der Darstellung beschränkt sich diese deshalb auf die im vorliegenden Fall wesentlichen Elemente und gibt die konventionellen Teile für eine Heißfixiereinrichtung nur schematisch wieder.An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the single figure. Since it can be assumed that the basic structure of electrophotographic devices, be it copying machines or non-mechanical printers working according to the electrophotographic principle, is well known and that a large number of solutions for fixing stations are known to the person skilled in the art, it does not appear necessary here, one to present and explain such a station for the heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material on sheet-like recording media in all constructive details. To simplify the illustration, it is therefore limited to the elements that are essential in the present case and only shows the conventional parts for a heat-fixing device schematically.

So ist schematisch ein Paar von Fixierrollen 1, 2 darge­stellt, die gegenläufig drehbar und zueinander so ange­ordnet sind, daß sie unter teilweise elastischer Verfor­mung mindestens einer der beiden Rollen, hier der unten liegenden Fixierrolle 2, aufeinander abrollen. Die Berüh­rungsfläche der beiden Fixierrollen 1, 2 liegt im Bereich einer Transportbahn für blattförmige Aufzeichnungsträger 3, die in der durch den Pfeil 4 angedeuteten Transport­richtung gefördert werden. Auf dem blattförmigen Auf­zeichnungsträger 3 ist schematisch ein Tonerbild 5 ange­deutet, das beim Durchlauf durch die Fixierstation im Be­reich der Fixierstrecke, die mit dem verformten Oberflä­chenbereich 21 der zweiten Fixierrolle 2 übereinstimmt, auf dem Aufzeichnungsträger 3 fixiert wird.Thus, a pair of fixing rollers 1, 2 is shown schematically, which can be rotated in opposite directions and are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they roll on one another with partially elastic deformation of at least one of the two rollers, here the underlying fixing roller 2. The contact surface of the two fixing rollers 1, 2 lies in the region of a transport path for sheet-shaped recording media 3, which are conveyed in the transport direction indicated by the arrow 4. A toner image 5 is indicated schematically on the sheet-shaped recording medium 3, which is fixed on the recording medium 3 when it passes through the fixing station in the region of the fixing path which corresponds to the deformed surface region 21 of the second fixing roller 2.

In diesem Beispiel ist angenommen, daß die Fixierrolle 1, ohne daß dies hier im einzelnen dargestellt ist, in kon­ventioneller Weise von innen beheizbar ist, so daß die in dem Bereich der Fixierstrecke 21 gelangenden Tonerteil­chen unter Druck- und Wärmezufuhr schmelzen und auf der Oberfläche des blattförmigen Aufzeichnungsträgers 3 fest­backen.In this example, it is assumed that the fixing roller 1, without being shown in detail here, can be heated in a conventional manner from the inside, so that the toner particles arriving in the region of the fixing section 21 melt under pressure and heat and on the surface of the Bake sheet-shaped recording medium 3.

Um die Affinität der Fixierrolle 1 gegenüber den auf­schmelzenden Tonerteilchen im Bereich der Fixierstrecke 21 möglichst gering zu halten, wird die Oberfläche der Fixierrolle 1 mit Silikonöl benetzt. Eine Anordnung zum Zuführen und gleichmäßigen Verteilen des Silikonöles auf der Oberfläche der Fixierrolle 1 besteht zunächst aus ei­nem Vorratsbehälter 6 für das Silikonöl und einer an die­sen Behälter angeschlossenen Ölleitung 7. Diese endet in einem Leitungsendstück 71, das parallel zur Längsachse der Fixierrolle 1 angeordnet ist. Die einzige Forderung für dieses Leitungsendstück ist zunächst nur, daß es aus einem porösen Material besteht, dessen Porosität eindeu­tig festgelegt ist. Sie ist auf die Viskosität des Sil­ikonöls derart abgestimmt, daß unter Berücksichtigung der Oberfläche des Leitungsendstückes 71 pro Zeiteinheit eine definierte Menge von Silikonöl austritt, die die Umfangs­fläche der Fixierrolle 1 gerade noch ausreichend benetzt.In order to keep the affinity of the fixing roller 1 for the melting toner particles in the area of the fixing section 21 as low as possible, the surface of the fixing roller 1 is wetted with silicone oil. An arrangement for supplying and evenly distributing the silicone oil on the surface of the fixing roller 1 initially consists of a reservoir 6 for the silicone oil and an oil line 7 connected to this container. This ends in a line end piece 71 which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fixing roller 1. The only requirement for this line end piece is initially that it consists of a porous material whose porosity is clearly defined. It is matched to the viscosity of the silicone oil in such a way that, taking into account the surface of the line end piece 71, a defined amount of silicone oil emerges per unit of time, which just just sufficiently wets the peripheral surface of the fixing roller 1.

Zwischen dem porösen Leitungsendstück 71 und der gegen­überliegenden Oberfläche der Fixierrolle 1 ist ein An­druckkissen 8 angeordnet, das in der Zeichnung im Schnitt dargestellt ist. Es bildet ein Übertragungs- und Vertei­lerelement für das aus dem porösen Leitungsendstück 71 austretende Silikonöl. Das Andruckkissen weist beispiels­weise ein flaches Rahmenteil 81 auf, in das das eigentli­che Übertragerelement 82 für das Silikonöl eingelegt ist. Über dieses Rahmenteil ist das Andruckkissen 8 in eine gehäusefeste Halterung 9 eingeschoben. Das gegenüberlie­gende Ende des Andruckkissens 8 möge in einer ähnlichen Halterung festgelegt sein, die in der Schnittdarstellung jedoch nicht sichtbar ist. Zugleich können diese Halte­rungen 9 auch obenliegende Querstege 91 aufweisen, die als Klemmen zum Festlegen des porösen Leitungsendstückes 71 ausgebildet sind.A pressure pad 8 is arranged between the porous line end piece 71 and the opposite surface of the fixing roller 1, which is shown in section in the drawing. It forms a transmission and distribution element for the silicone oil emerging from the porous line end piece 71. The pressure pad has, for example, a flat frame part 81, in which the actual transfer element 82 for the silicone oil is inserted. The pressure pad 8 is inserted into a holder 9 fixed to the housing via this frame part. The opposite end of the pressure pad 8 may be in a similar Be fixed bracket, which is not visible in the sectional view. At the same time, these brackets 9 can also have overhead crosspieces 91 which are designed as clamps for fixing the porous line end piece 71.

Auch das Andruckkissen 8 ist aus einem porösen Material hergestellt, das jedoch nicht notwendigerweise identisch mit dem Material für das Leitungsendstück 71 ist. So wäre es beispielsweise denkbar, daß das Leitungsendstück 71 aus einem porösen Keramikteil besteht und damit relativ stabil ist. Wegen der Übertragerfunktion des Andruckkis­sens ist dieses dagegen vorzugsweise aus einem Material hergestellt, das nicht nur porös, sondern auch elastisch ist, damit es sich einerseits gut an die Oberfläche der Fixierrolle 1 anschmiegt, andererseits aber auch nicht einem zu starken Verschleiß unterliegt bzw. die Oberflä­che der Fixierrolle beschädigt. Dazu kommt weiterhin, daß voraussetzungsgemäß die Fixierrolle 1 von innen beheizbar ist, deshalb wird auch eine gewisse Wärmebeständigkeit des porösen Materials für das Andruckkissen 8 gefordert.The pressure pad 8 is also made of a porous material, which, however, is not necessarily identical to the material for the line end piece 71. It would be conceivable, for example, that the line end piece 71 consists of a porous ceramic part and is therefore relatively stable. Because of the transfer function of the pressure pad, on the other hand, it is preferably made of a material that is not only porous but also elastic, so that on the one hand it clings well to the surface of the fixing roller 1, but on the other hand it is not subject to excessive wear or the surface the fixing roller is damaged. In addition, there is the requirement that the fixing roller 1 can be heated from the inside, which is why a certain heat resistance of the porous material for the pressure pad 8 is required.

Alle diese Eigenschaften weist ein Andruckkissen auf, das aus geschäumtem, offen porigem Polytetrafluoräthylen her­gestellt ist. Dieser Werkstoff ist zudem auch gegenüber Silikonöl ausreichend beständig. Wegen all dieser Eigen­schaften des genannten Werkstoffes kann es auch zweckmä­ßig sein, ebenfalls das poröse Leitungsendstück 71 aus diesem Material herzustellen, jedoch sind, wie erwähnt, auch unterschiedliche Materialkombinationen denkbar, so­fern nur jeweils die Porosität des jeweiligen Werkstoffes bekannt und mit angemessener Toleranz reproduzierbar ist.A pressure pad, which is made of foamed, open-pored polytetrafluoroethylene, has all of these properties. This material is also sufficiently resistant to silicone oil. Because of all of these properties of the material mentioned, it may also be expedient to also produce the porous line end piece 71 from this material, but, as mentioned, different material combinations are also conceivable, provided only the porosity of the respective material is known and can be reproduced with an appropriate tolerance.

Außerdem ist darauf hinzuweisen, daß die dargestellte Halterung für das Andruckkissen 8 eine konstruktive Lö­sung illustriert, die es erlaubt, das Andruckkissen 8 in Pfeilrichtung 10 von der Fixierrolle 1 abzuziehen und durch ein neues Andruckkissen zu ersetzen. Ein derartiger Ersatz könnte in Wartungsintervallen vorgenommen werden und bietet somit die Möglichkeit, das Andruckkissen 8 selbst als Reinigungselement für die Fixierrolle 1 zu verwenden, das von der Fixierrolle trotz der Benetzung mit Silikonöl noch mitgenommene Tonerteilchen sammelt und zurückhält. Damit wird die Fixierrolle 1 kontinuierlich gereinigt und es bleiben keine Tonerreste auf der Fixier­rolle 1 zurück, die im nächsten Fixierzyklus als Ver­schmutzungen auf den dann die Fixierstation durchlaufen­den Aufzeichnungsträger 3 übertragen werden könnten.It should also be noted that the holder shown for the pressure pad 8 illustrates a constructive solution that allows the pressure pad 8 to be removed from the fixing roller 1 in the direction of the arrow 10 and to be replaced by a new pressure pad. Such a replacement could be carried out at maintenance intervals and thus offers the possibility of using the pressure pad 8 itself as a cleaning element for the fixing roller 1, which, despite the wetting with silicone oil, collects and retains toner particles that have been carried along by the fixing roller. The fixing roller 1 is thus cleaned continuously and there are no toner residues left on the fixing roller 1, which could be transferred in the next fixing cycle as soiling to the recording medium 3 then passing through the fixing station.

Claims (5)

1. Einrichtung zum Heißfixieren von auf blattförmige Auf­zeichnungsträger aufgebrachten Tonerbildern aus thermo­plastischem Tonermaterial, wobei diese Einrichtung ein Paar von zu beiden Seiten einer Transportbahn für die Aufzeichnungsträger angeordneten und mit vorbestimmten Anpreßdruck aufeinander abrollenden Fixierrollen aufweist, von denen mindestens die dem Tonermaterial zugewandte Fi­xierrolle erwärmbar und mit einer dünnen Oberflächen­schicht aus Silikonöl benetzt ist, das dieser über eine Anordnung zur Ölzuführung zugeleitet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß diese Anordnung zur Ölzuführung (6, 7, 8, 9) in Kombination ein Leitungsend­stück (71) aus porösem Material und ein damit in Kontakt stehendes Andruckkissen (8) ebenfalls aus porösem und zusätzlich wärmebeständigem Material aufweist und daß so­wohl das Leitungsendstück als auch das Andruckkissen par­allel zur Längsachse der zugeordneten Fixierrolle (1) derart angeordnet sind, daß das Andruckkissen auf der Oberfläche dieser Fixierrolle großflächig anliegt.1. A device for heat fixing of toner images made of thermoplastic toner material applied to sheet-like recording media, this device having a pair of fixing rollers arranged on both sides of a transport path for the recording media and rolling against one another with predetermined contact pressure, of which at least the fixing roller facing the toner material can be heated and with a thin surface layer of silicone oil is wetted, which is fed to it via an arrangement for oil supply, characterized in that this arrangement for oil supply (6, 7, 8, 9) in combination a line end piece (71) made of porous material and a in contact with it standing pressure pad (8) also made of porous and additionally heat-resistant material and that both the line end piece and the pressure pad are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated fixing roller (1) such that the pressure pad on the surface of this fixing roller le is applied over a large area. 2. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch ge­kennzeichnet, daß die Querschnittsfläche und die Porosität des Leitungsendstückes (71) derart auf die Viskosität des verwendeten Silikonöles abgestimmt sind, daß im Zusammenwirken mit dem Andruckkissen (8) aufgrund der Kapillarwirkung eine gerade noch ausreichen­de Menge von Silikonöl auf der Fixierrolle (1) verteilt wird.2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional area and the porosity of the line end piece (71) are so matched to the viscosity of the silicone oil used that in cooperation with the pressure pad (8) due to the capillary action, a just sufficient amount of silicone oil is distributed on the fixing roller (1). 3. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, da­durch gekennzeichnet, daß das An­druckkissen (8) aus Polytetrafluoräthylen hergestellt ist.3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure pad (8) is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. 4. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch ge­ kennzeichnet, daß sowohl das Andruckkissen (8) als auch das Leitungsendstück (71) aus Polytetra­fluoräthylen hergestellt sind.4. Device according to claim 3, characterized ge indicates that both the pressure pad (8) and the line end piece (71) are made of polytetrafluoroethylene. 5. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, da­durch gekennzeichnet, daß eine ge­häusefeste Halterung (9) vorgesehen ist, in der das An­druckkissen (8) auswechselbar angeordnet ist.5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a housing-fixed holder (9) is provided, in which the pressure pad (8) is interchangeably arranged.
EP87104335A 1986-04-11 1987-03-24 Heat-fixing installation for fixing thermoplastic toner images Expired - Lifetime EP0240834B1 (en)

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DE3612304 1986-04-11
DE3612304 1986-04-11

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WO1993008512A1 (en) * 1991-10-26 1993-04-29 W.L. Gore & Associates (Uk) Limited Oil transfer component
US5478423A (en) * 1993-09-28 1995-12-26 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Method for making a printer release agent supply wick

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GB2128108A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-04-26 Xerox Corp Applying release oil to fuser roll
EP0174474A1 (en) * 1984-08-31 1986-03-19 Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited Release agent applicator

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US4429990A (en) * 1982-03-26 1984-02-07 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus for controlling the application of fuser release material in roller fusers
GB2128108A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-04-26 Xerox Corp Applying release oil to fuser roll
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WO1993008512A1 (en) * 1991-10-26 1993-04-29 W.L. Gore & Associates (Uk) Limited Oil transfer component
US5478423A (en) * 1993-09-28 1995-12-26 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Method for making a printer release agent supply wick
US5690739A (en) * 1993-09-28 1997-11-25 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Release agent supply wick for printer apparatus and method for making and using same
US5709748A (en) * 1993-09-28 1998-01-20 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Release agent supply wick for printer apparatus

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