JP2000112271A - Fixing member, its production and fixing device using that - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a fixing device which does not cause an offset and hardly causes wear due to separation paws even when the fixing device is oilless, can obtain stable images over a long time and can be easily produced by incorporating a hardening modified silicone resin into the surface layer of a fixing member. SOLUTION: A hardening modified silicone resin in incorporated into the structural material of a surface layer 5 to be formed on this fixing member 1. Moreover, it is preferable to incorporate a reactive silance compd. and modified silicone oil together with the hardening silicone resin into the surface layer 5 from the view point where the surface energy is decreased and the offset preventing effect is improved. The surface layer 5 may contain fine particles. These fine particles are fixed in the surface layer 5 when the surface layer is formed and the fine particles are partly exposed to form a finely rugged surface. By the rugged surface, the contact area with other members or a recording body 7 is decreased to improve lubricating property. Moreover, by incorporating hard fine particles into the surface layer 5, the surface hardness is further increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
The present invention relates to a fixing member in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a printer and a facsimile, a method of manufacturing the fixing member, and a fixing device using the member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been widely used that an image is formed on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method, and a sheet having a toner image or a transparent film having a toner image is supplied to an overhead projector (OHP) and used as a projected image. Have been done. In a fixing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an unfixed toner image transferred onto a recording medium is
When sandwiched between the fixing roller and the pressing roller or between the fixing belt and the pressing roller, the fixing member receives heat energy and pressure and is fixed on the recording medium. At that time, the adhesive force of the toner melted by the heat sharply increases, and a so-called offset phenomenon occurs in which the image is transferred not only to the recording medium but also to the surface of the fixing roller. At present, to prevent this, an oil such as silicone oil is applied to the roll surface to prevent the offset phenomenon. When an image on a transparent film is fixed and used as a projected image, it is necessary to reduce the unevenness of the toner image and prevent light scattering in order to prevent the saturation of the projected image from decreasing. It requires more heat and pressure than image formation. This tendency is particularly remarkable when a plurality of color toners are melted and mixed. Not only in the case of such a projected image and a color image, but also in a single-color image, if sufficient heat is supplied to smooth portions having a low image density, portions such as dots and lines, the portions having a high image density will have the same characteristics as those described above. An offset occurs for the same reason. Therefore, there is a situation where oil application for preventing offset is inevitable on the fixing member. The oil for preventing this offset phenomenon adheres to the recording medium after fixing, and the recording medium is sticky, and the writing property to the recording medium and the adhesion to other members by the tape are deteriorated. Causes problems such as a decrease in permeability.

If the application of oil becomes unnecessary, not only the above problem is solved, but also the apparatus main body can omit an extra oil supply device (oil application device, oil storage container) and the like, so that the size of the device can be reduced. If the use of consumable oil is not required, cost reduction can be realized, and therefore development of an oil-free (oil-less) device is desired. However, simply removing the oil in a general-purpose fixing device, for example, a separation claw that is grounded so that the recording medium does not wind around a roll or a belt damages the surface of the recording medium and wears the recording medium, and the fixing of that portion is not possible. Insufficiently causes problems such as streak-like fixing unevenness in the image, and in order to realize oil-less fixing, it is necessary to use a strong layer with lubricity without applying oil to the roller or belt surface. Formation is required. An oilless fixing roll is disclosed in JP-A-61-1.
JP-A-86975 and JP-A-61-284784 disclose the use of siloxane-based raw rubber, but have poor maintainability, and the above-mentioned problems cannot be solved at all with the color toners used recently. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
In Japanese Patent No. 210019, an endless belt cooling device is provided in a part of a fixing device using an endless belt, and after toner is cooled, the toner is separated from a recording medium to prevent offset.
This method requires an extra cooling device and an accompanying volume, and requires a cooling time, so that it is not suitable for speeding up. JP-A-7-31508 and JP-A-7-31509
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-139,086 discloses a fixing roll and a fixing device having a layer made of silicone rubber containing an inorganic filler and other additives in order to improve the strength and heat resistance of the elastic layer. Although this fixing roll uses a silicone rubber, even if it has sufficient strength, it cannot be expected to have an offset preventing effect from the viewpoint of its surface energy, and is not suitable for oilless fixing.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances in the prior art, and has been made to solve the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing member such as a fixing roll or a fixing belt corresponding to an oil-less fixing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic fixing member capable of obtaining a stable image over a long period of time and a simple manufacturing method of the fixing member and a fixing device using the same.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies on a fixing member usable for an oilless fixing device in order to achieve the above object, and as a result, it has been found that the above problems can be greatly improved. And completed the present invention. In the present invention, the surface layer of the fixing member contains at least a curable modified silicone resin. Here, the surface layer is located on the surface of the layer formed at the most distant part from the substrate among the single or plural layers formed on the surface of the substrate of the fixing member, that is, the outermost layer. In the case of a configuration having no elastic layer or the like on the base, for example, the surface layer may be formed directly on the base. In this case, the surface layer is naturally the outermost layer.

The surface layer according to the present invention preferably has a minute surface unevenness structure from the viewpoint of the releasability from the recording medium. Further, it is preferable to have an elastic layer between the substrate and the surface layer, and this elastic layer desirably contains a releasable rubber material such as heat-resistant silicone rubber and fluoro rubber. The surface layer according to the fixing member of the present invention contains high-strength, lubricating, releasable, and spherical particles or a conductive material.
This is a preferable mode from the viewpoint that control of electric charge and the like can be performed.

[0007] The surface layer of the fixing member of the present invention is prepared by applying a surface layer coating solution containing a curable modified silicone resin and a solvent directly on the substrate or on the surface of the layer formed on the substrate which is furthest away from the substrate. It is preferably formed by coating, and the fine surface unevenness structure is formed by adding an additive comprising a solvent-soluble resin, an acid-soluble resin, an alkali-soluble resin, a sublimable substance, and the like in the surface layer coating solution. Is formed to form a layer, and then the layer is formed by removing only the additive.

A fixing device according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described fixing members according to the present invention.

[0009]

Next, a fixing member, a method of manufacturing the fixing member, and a fixing device using the member will be described in more detail. The constituent material of the surface layer formed on the fixing member of the present invention contains at least a curable modified silicone resin. As the curable modified silicone resin, for example, polyester-modified silicone resin, urethane-modified silicone resin, acryl-modified silicone resin, polyimide-modified silicone resin, olefin-modified silicone resin, ether-modified silicone resin, alcohol-modified silicone resin, fluorine-modified silicone resin, amino-modified silicone resin Modified silicone resins, mercapto-modified silicone resins, carboxy-modified silicone resins, and the like are included. The curable modified silicone resin used in the present invention refers to a silicone resin which can be cured by forming a crosslinked structure in a molecule by moisture, heat, light, electron beam or the like to form a strong resin layer. They may be self-crosslinking and hardened by the application of the external energy, or may be used in combination with a suitable crosslinking agent. In order to form a surface layer having strength sufficient for practical use, it is preferable to use a curing agent compatible with the modified silicone resin together with the modified silicone resin. That is, when forming the surface layer, the curing agent is used in combination with the modified silicone resin, and a surface layer coating solution containing a solvent is further prepared, applied to the substrate or the surface of the layer farthest from the substrate, and dried. After that, it is preferable to form a surface layer containing a curable modified silicone resin by performing a curing reaction with a curing agent.

[0010] The surface layer of the fixing member of the present invention may have a hard layer.
Along with the reactive silicone resin,
Contains silicone oil to reduce surface energy
From the viewpoint of lowering the offset prevention effect.
Good. The above reactive silicon compound used in the present invention
Materials include fluorine-containing silicon compounds, isocyanate
Silane compounds, alkoxysilane compounds, silane
A fluorine-containing silicon compound.
As, for example, CF_Three(CH_Two)_TwoSi (OC
H_Three)_Three, C₆F₁₃C_TwoH_FourSi (OCH_Three)_Three, C₇
F _FifteenCONH (CH_Two)_ThreeSi (OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, C₈
F₁₇C_TwoH_FourSi (OCH _Three)_Three, C₈F₁₇C_TwoH_FourS
iCH_Three(OCH_Three)_Two, C₈F₁₇C_TwoH_FourSi (ON
= C (CH_Three) (C_TwoH_Five))_Three, C₉F₁₉C_TwoH_FourS
i (OCH_Three)_Three, C₉F₁₉C_TwoH_FourSi (NC
O)_Three, (NCO)_ThreeSiC_TwoH_FourC₆F₁₂C_TwoH _FourS
i (NCO)_Three, C₉F₁₉C_TwoH_FourSi (C_TwoH_Five)
(OCH_Three)_Two, (CH_ThreeO)_ThreeSiC_TwoH_FourC₈F₁₆
C_TwoH_FourSi (OCH_Three)_Three, (CH_ThreeO)_Two(C
H_Three) SiC₉F₁₈C_TwoH_FourSi (CH_Three) (CH
_ThreeO)_Two, Etc. and the hydrolysis of these compounds
Products or partial condensates.

As the isocyanate silane compounds,
(CH_Three)_ThreeSiNCO, (CH_Three) _TwoSi (NCO)
_Two, CH_ThreeSi (NCO)_Three, Vinyl silyl triisos
Aneto, C₆H_FiveSi (NCO)_Three, Si (NCO)
_Four, C_TwoH_FiveOSi (NCO) _Three, C₈H₁₇Si (NC
O)_Three, C₁₈H₃₇Si (NCO)_Three, (NCO)_ThreeSi
C_TwoH_FourSi (NCO)_ThreeAnd silane compounds such as
These hydrolysates or partial condensates can be exemplified. A
As the alkoxysilane compound, a sila having some SiH groups
Compounds, but Si (OCH_Three)_Four, CH_ThreeS
i (OCH_Three)_Three, HSi (OCH_Three)_Three, (CH_Three)
_TwoSi (OCH_Three)_Two, CH_ThreeSiH (OCH_Three)_Two,
C₆H_FiveSi (OCH_Three)_Three, Si (OC_TwoH_Five)_Four,
CH_ThreeSi (OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, (CH_Three)_TwoSi (OC
_TwoH_Five)_Two, H_TwoSi (OC_TwoH_Five)_Two, C₆H_FiveSi
(OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, (CH_Three)_TwoCHCH_TwoSi (OC
H_Three)_Three, CH_Three(CH_Two) _FiveSi (OCH_Three)_Three, C
H_Three(CH_Two)₇Si (OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, CH_Three(CH
_Two)₁₁Si (OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, CH_Three(CH_Two)_FifteenSi
(OC_TwoH_Five)_Three, CH_Three(CH_Two)₁₇Si (OC_TwoH
_Five)_Three, Etc. and their hydrolysates or moieties
Examples include condensates.

Examples of the silane coupling agent include vinyl silanes such as vinyl tris (β-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyl triethoxy silane and vinyl trimethoxy silane, acrylic silanes such as γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane, β- (3 Epoxysilanes such as 4 epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, N-β
Aminosilanes such as (aminoethyl) γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-β (aminoethyl) γ-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane And the like. The addition ratio of the reactive silane compound and the curable silicon compound can be arbitrarily changed according to the purpose. However, it is preferable that the addition ratio of the reactive silicone compound to the curable silicone compound be 0.1 to 50% by weight. If the amount of the reactive silicone compound is too small, the releasability becomes insufficient, while if it is excessive, the surface hardness becomes too high and the rubber elasticity may be impaired.

The modified silicone oil in the present invention includes amino-modified silicone oil, alkoxy-modified silicone oil, polyether-modified silicone oil,
Examples thereof include an epoxy-modified silicone oil, a polyether-modified silicone oil, and a carboxyl group-modified silicone oil. A silicone oil having a plurality of these can also be used. In addition, other modified silicone oils can be used sufficiently as long as they have no problem of coloring or discoloration. The addition ratio of the modified silicone oil and the curable silicone compound can be arbitrarily changed according to the purpose. However, it is preferable that the addition ratio of the silicone oil to the curable silicone compound be 10 to 200% by weight.
If the amount of the silicone oil is too small, the releasability will be insufficient. If the amount is too large, the substrate surface will have a sticky feeling.

The surface layer may contain fine particles. These fine particles are fixed to the surface layer when the surface layer is formed, and a part thereof is exposed to form minute surface irregularities. Due to this unevenness, the contact area with other members or the recording medium is reduced, and the lubricity can be improved. Furthermore, by including hard fine particles in the surface layer, an increase in surface hardness is achieved, which is preferable from the viewpoint of durability.

Since the main component of the fixing member is composed of an insulating material, electric charges generated and accumulated due to peeling or friction with paper as a recording medium or an OHP film cause toner particles immediately before fixing to the fixing member surface. Electrostatic adhesion may cause image disturbance. Therefore, it is preferable to control the surface resistance by adding conductive fine particles or the like to the surface layer.

The fine particles that can be contained in the surface layer include, for example, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, aluminum sulfate, zirconium oxide, barium titanate, silica, silicone resin, acrylic resin, styrene resin, styrene-acryl resin, melamine resin, There are benzoguanamine resin, melamine-benzoguanamine resin and the like, and spherical fine particles are more preferable for improving lubricity and hardness. As fine particles added for the purpose of improving lubricity, as solid lubricants, boron nitride, graphite, tungsten disulfide, fluorinated graphite, polytetrafluoroethylene, polytrifluoroethylene, polyamide, polyacetal, polyethylene are preferable, particularly Graphite, fluorinated graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene are preferred. Further, these may be combined.

As the conductive fine particles, ZnO, TiO,
TiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , In ₂ O ₃ , Si
Examples thereof include metal oxides such as O, SiO ₂ , MgO, BaO, and MoO ₃ , and carbon black. These may be used alone or a composite oxide of these may be used. Further, it is preferable that the metal oxide further contains a different element, for example, Al, In with respect to ZnO.
Nb, Ta, etc. for TiO, S for SnO ₂
Those containing (doping) b, Nb, a halogen element and the like are preferable. Among these, S doped with Sb
nO ₂ is particularly preferred because it has little change in conductivity over time and high stability.

The thickness of the surface layer is 0.1 to 200 μm
Is more preferable, more preferably 0.1 to 100 μm
, More preferably in the range of 0.5 to 50 μm. If the thickness is less than 0.1 μm, the strength is insufficient and the durability is insufficient. If it exceeds 200 μm, the rigidity increases and partial transfer failure occurs,
The specific heat of the fixing member increases and the amount of heat transfer decreases, leading to a decrease in fixing speed and cycle time.

The fixing member of the present invention has a function of fixing the image forming material to the recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium having the image forming material, and has at least one layer formed on the base material. Having a structure. In order to form the surface layer as described above on the outermost layer of the fixing member, as described above, a curable modified silicone resin and a solvent, and if desired, a surface layer coating solution containing a curing agent for the resin are coated on a substrate. Directly or on the surface of the outermost layer, which is the most distant from the substrate, of the elastic layer formed on the substrate, and after forming a film, the curing reaction is caused by humidity, heat, light, electron beam, etc. What is necessary is just to make it harden the film which consists of this surface layer coating liquid.

At this time, it is preferable to add an additive which can be removed after the film is formed or after the film is cured into the coating solution for the surface layer. Specifically, it can be used for a surface layer coating solution,
As the additive that can be removed after the film is formed, one or more additives selected from a solvent-soluble resin, an acid-soluble resin, an alkali-soluble resin, a sublimable compound, and the like are preferable, and these are added to the surface layer coating solution. Is preferred. this is,
A layer is formed by a surface layer coating solution to which these additives have been added, and thereafter, these additives are removed by a material capable of dissolving these additives, such as a solvent, an acid, and an alkali. This is because minute surface irregularities resulting from the removal of these additives can be formed.

Examples of the solvent-soluble resin that can be used as an additive include general resins such as polyester resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, polyamide resins such as nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl chloride. The acid-soluble resin can be used without particular limitation as long as it has solubility in an acidic solution. More specifically, for example, butadiene,
Polysulfone, polyethylene and the like can be mentioned,
Butadiene is particularly preferred. The compounding amount of the acid-soluble resin is
1 to 5 relative to the curable modified silicone resin as the base material
It is preferably in the range of 0% by weight. Further, the acid-soluble resin can be removed by, for example, immersing in an acidic solvent such as acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, or an aqueous solution thereof for about 2 to 10 hours after the surface layer is cured.

Examples of the alkali-soluble resin include phenol novolak, cresol novolak, phenol-cresol novolak, polyhydroxystyrene, polycarboxystyrene, a copolymer of hydroxystyrene and a monomer containing a carbon-carbon double bond, carboxystyrene and carbon -A copolymer with a monomer containing a carbon double bond, a copolymer of hydroxystyrene and carboxystyrene,
Acetylated silphenylene siloxane polymer,
Examples include acetylated siloxane polymer, silphenylene siloxane polymer having a silanol group, siloxane polymer having a silanol group, silphenylene siloxane polymer having a carboxyl group or an acidic hydroxyl group, and siloxane polymer having a carboxyl group or an acidic hydroxyl group. . The compounding amount of the alkali-soluble resin is preferably in the range of 1 to 50% by weight based on the curable modified silicone resin as the base material. Further, the alkali-soluble resin can be removed by means of immersion in an alkaline solvent such as an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution for about 2 to 10 hours after the surface layer is cured.

Examples of the sublimable compound include conventionally known sublimable dyes, for example, IR-165 near-infrared dye, and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane 1,4-dichlorobenzene, camphor, naphthalene, Borneol, 1,8-cyclotetradecadiyne, maleic anhydride, benzofurazan, fumaronitrile, chromium hexacarbonyl, 1-bromo-4-chlorobenzene, 1,4
-Diazobicyclo [2.2.2] octane, carbon tetrabromide, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, octafluoronaphthalene, molybdenum hexacarbonyl, gallium (III) chloride, 4-methylpyrrolidine trimethylboron complex , 4-chloroaniline, hexachloroethane, 2,5-dimethylphenol, 1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3-dimethylphenol, niobium (V) fluoride, 1,4-dibromobenzene, 1,3,5-tri Chlorobenzene, tungsten hexacarbonyl, adamantane, m-carborane, 4,4'-difluorobiphenyl, azulene, trans-cis-trans-tetradecahydroanthracene, N- (trifluoroacetyl) glycine, succinic anhydride, tellurium fluoride ( IV) and the like. The compounding amount of the sublimable compound is preferably in the range of 1 to 30% by weight based on the curable modified silicone resin as the base material. Further, the sublimable compound can be removed by means such as heating after the surface layer is cured.

The shape, structure, size and the like of the substrate of the fixing member of the present invention are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected from those known per se according to the purpose. Among them, a roll-shaped or belt-shaped one is preferable from the viewpoint of operating efficiency, occupied volume and the like. These materials are not particularly limited as long as they have excellent heat resistance, mechanical strength, and good heat conductivity. For example, aluminum, SUS, iron, copper,
Examples include metals such as nickel, alloys, and ceramics. As the material of the base material suitable for the belt-shaped member, in addition to the above materials, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutadiene naphthalate, polyester, thermosetting polyimide, thermoplastic polyimide, polyamide, polyamide imide, polyacetal, resin such as polyphenylene sulfide Materials. Further, it is preferable that the resin is added and dispersed with a conductive powder or the like to control the volume resistivity, and among them, a polyimide film in which carbon black is added and dispersed to control the volume resistivity is preferable. In particular, with regard to these belt-like substrates, if there is a seam, the pressure applied to that portion changes at the time of fixing, which affects image quality. Therefore, an endless belt is more preferable.

The thickness of the belt-like base material is 30 to 200.
μm is preferable, and more preferably 40 to 150 μm.
The range of m, more preferably the range of 50 to 130 μm is suitable. If the thickness of the substrate is less than 30 μm, the dimensional stability during heating and cooling and the strength are insufficient. If it exceeds 200 μm, the specific heat of the intermediate transfer member increases, and the amount of heat transfer decreases, leading to a decrease in transfer speed and cycle time. The thickness of the roll-shaped substrate is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 mm, more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm, and still more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm. If the thickness of the substrate is too small or too large, the same problem as that of the belt-shaped substrate occurs.

The fixing member of the present invention has at least one elastic layer on the substrate. The material of the elastic layer may be any of those known as elastic layers used in general fixing rolls and the like. You can choose from among them,
In consideration of heat resistance and the like, it is preferable to contain, for example, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like as a main component. Furthermore, silicone rubber is particularly preferable in consideration of the adhesiveness to the surface layer. As silicone rubber, for example,
One-component condensation polymerization type, two-component addition polymerization type, LTV type, RT
There is no particular limitation on V-type silicone rubber, and known methyl silicone rubber, methylphenyl silicone rubber, methyl vinyl silicone rubber, and fluorine-containing silicone rubber are used. When the elastic layer is required, its thickness is usually 5 mm or less, preferably about 0.01 to 2 mm. If it exceeds 5 mm, the specific heat of the fixing member increases and the heat transfer decreases, leading to a decrease in fixing speed and cycle time.

An adhesive layer may be provided between the substrate and the elastic layer. As the adhesive layer, primers or the like usually used for bonding silicone rubber can be applied. Examples of the primers include aminosilane-based coupling agents, chlorosilane-based coupling agents, chloromethylsilane-based coupling agents, cyanosilane-based coupling agents,
Examples include titanate-based coupling agents, but are not limited thereto. Among these,
Aminosilane-based coupling agents and titanate-based coupling agents are preferably used.

The method for forming the surface layer and the method for forming the elastic layer on the surface of the substrate are not particularly limited.
A known coating method or the like can be employed. Examples of the coating method include kneader coating, bar coating, curtain coating, spin coating, dip coating, spray coating, blade coating, and the like. In the present invention, among these, dip coating in which uniformity of the film thickness is easy to control is preferable.

When it is not necessary to form a release layer of the curable silicone compound as the surface layer material on the back side of the belt-shaped base material, a drum-shaped core base material corresponding to the inner circumferential length of the belt is used. It is effective to apply dip coating after mounting.

The fixing member of the present invention can be applied to any fixing device. For example, the present invention can be applied to a conventional general fixing device as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a heat-fixing roll as a fixing member of the present invention, in which a rubber elastic layer 4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a hollow roll (roll-shaped base material) 3 and a curable modified silicone resin is further formed thereon. Is formed. A heater 6 is disposed inside the hollow roll 3, and heats the surface of the heat fixing roll 1 to a predetermined temperature. An oil supply device 9 for supplying silicone oil or the like to the surface of the surface layer 5 and a peeling claw 12 are arranged around the heat fixing roll 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a pressure fixing roll, which has a heat-resistant elastic body 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface of a cored roll 10, and forms a nip portion in contact with the heat fixing roll 1.

The heat fixing roll 1 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by power means (not shown), and the pressure fixing roll 2 is also driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A. The recording body 7 on which the unfixed toner image 8 is formed by the developing means (not shown) moves in the direction of arrow B, is inserted into the nip portion, and the unfixed toner image is fixed on the recording body 7 by heat and pressure. The recording medium 7 after the fixing is separated from the heat fixing roll 1 by the separating claw 12. As described above, by having the surface layer 5 containing the curable modified silicone resin of the present invention as the surface layer of the heat fixing roll 1, the releasability is good and the deterioration of the image quality due to the abrasion of the heat fixing roll 1 is caused. The fixing device does not have any.

The use of the heat-fixing roll 1 as a fixing member having such a structure provides good releasability even when oil is not supplied to the surface layer 5, that is, so-called oil-less. It does not cause a decrease. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing such an oilless fixing device. The fixing device of FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1 except that it does not have the oil supply device 9. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same members, configurations and functions as those described in FIG.

The fixing member of the present invention can be applied to the fixing device shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same members, configurations, and functions as those described in FIG. 1. That is, the heat fixing roll 1
The surface layer 5 containing the curable modified silicone resin of the present invention is formed as the surface layer. Reference numeral 15 denotes an endless belt stretched by the support rolls 13 and 14, which is in contact with the heat fixing roll 1 to form a nip portion. In the fixing device shown in FIG. 3, the unfixed toner image 8 on the recording medium 7 is fixed in the nip formed by the heat fixing roll 1 and the endless belt 15.
In this case, by applying the fixing member of the present invention, an image forming method capable of fixing without depending on pressure in particular is provided, and it is possible to contribute to reduction in size and weight of the apparatus.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a fixing device of a belt nip type, and the fixing belt as a fixing member of the present invention can be applied to the endless belt 15 as well. The endless belt 15 is based on a film of polyimide, polyamide, polyamide imide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, or the like,
A surface layer containing the above-mentioned siloxane-modified polyimide of the present invention is provided on the surface of the substrate. In FIG. 4, the endless belt 15 is stretched by a driving roll 19, a driven roll 20, and a heating body 16. The endless belt 15
Heating is performed from the inside by a heating element 18 arranged on the surface of a heater substrate 17 in the heating element 16. A pressure fixing roll 21 is positioned at a position facing the heating body 16 via an endless belt 15.
Are provided, and a nip portion is formed between the endless belt 15 and the pressure fixing roll 21. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same members, configurations and functions as those described in FIG. In the fixing device shown in FIG. 4, the unfixed toner image 8 on the recording medium 7 is fixed in a nip formed by the endless belt 15 and the pressure fixing roll 21. By using the belt, the size and weight can be reduced, and the apparatus can be operated instantly on because the belt is directly heated by the heating element.

The fixing device shown in FIG.
4, except that a mechanism for supplying oil to the inner surface of the endless belt 15 is provided. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 have the same members, configurations, and functions as those described in FIG. The fixing device of FIG. 6 includes a method of stretching the endless belt 15 and a separation roll 25,
26 is provided to further improve the separation (peeling) of the recording medium 7 after fixing. The endless belt 15 is stretched by transport rolls 29 and 29 ′, a heating body 16, and a separation roll 25, and a heating roll 16 is attached to the heating body 16, and a separation roll 26 is attached to the separation roll 25 via the endless belt 15. They are arranged facing each other. The pressure roll 27 and the separation roll 26 also play a role of stretching the transport belt 28. In addition, it has the same members, configurations, and functions as those described in FIGS. 4 and 5. The recording body 7 on which the unfixed toner image 8 is formed is inserted into a nip portion formed by the endless belt 15 and the conveyor belt 28 at the portion of the heating body 16 and the unfixed toner image 8 is formed on the recording body 7 by heat and pressure. Is established. Thereafter, the recording body 7 is conveyed as it is in the direction of arrow C, and is gradually cooled during
Separated (peeled) from endless belt 15 by pressure of 5 and 26
Is done.

The fixing member of the present invention can be applied to the fixing device shown in FIG. 7, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote members having the same members, configurations, and functions as those described in FIG. That is, the surface layer 5 containing the curable modified silicone resin of the present invention is formed as the surface layer of the heat fixing roll 1. Further, the nip portion is formed by the heat fixing roll 1 and the endless belt 15 in the same manner as the fixing device of FIG. 3, but in FIG. 7, the method of holding and drawing the endless belt 15 is different. I have. That is, the endless belt 15 is pressed against the heat-fixing roll 1 by the pressing pad 30 including the support 31 and the elastic body 32 disposed inside the belt 15 to form a nip portion, and is stretched by a stretching roll or the like. Without tension.

The heat fixing roll 1 rotates in the direction of arrow D,
At this time, the endless belt 15 is also driven to rotate in the direction of arrow E, and the rotation trajectory of the endless belt 15 is kept constant by the belt traveling guide 34. Then, the heat fixing roll 1
An unfixed toner image on a recording medium (not shown) is fixed in a nip formed by the endless belt 15 and the endless belt 15. In FIG. 7, the endless belt 15 also has a configuration of a fixing belt as a fixing member of the present invention. That is, the endless belt 15 is provided with the surface layer 5 containing the above-described curable modified silicone resin of the present invention on the surface of the base 33. As described above, when the fixing member of the present invention includes both the heat fixing roll 1 and the endless belt 15, no oil is supplied to the surface layer 5. And endless belt 1
5 does not cause a decrease in image quality due to wear. Of course, it is possible to supply oil to the surface layer 5 of the heat fixing roll 1. FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 except that it has an oil supply pad 22. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 have the same members, configurations and functions as those described in FIG.

Next, an image forming method using the fixing device provided with the fixing member of the present invention will be described. A general image forming method, that is, a toner image is formed on a recording material using a toner containing a colorant and a binder resin, and the recording material on which the toner image is formed is formed using a fixing member. The fixing device using the fixing member of the present invention can be suitably applied to an image forming method for obtaining an image by applying heat and pressure to fix a toner image on a recording medium. By such a method, for example, when a color image is obtained, it is necessary to supply sufficient heat and pressure to melt and mix the toners of a plurality of colors, but the dots and lines in the low image density portion are colored. When the amount of heat to be applied is given, there is a problem that high image density is offset because the releasability of the conventional fixing member is low. By applying the fixing member of the present invention, even if oil is not applied to the member surface, or even if the amount of oil applied is as small as possible, the fixing member has lubricity and a strong surface layer. Therefore, there is an effect that the image can be fixed without offset. The colorant and the binder resin used in the toner are not particularly limited, and the effect of applying the fixing member of the present invention can be expected even when any conventionally known colorant and binder resin are used. Of course, the toner may contain other conventionally known components such as an external additive, a release agent, a magnetic substance, and a charge control agent.

[0039]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, but it should not be construed that the invention is limited thereto. In Examples and Comparative Examples, “parts” means “parts by weight”. (Example 1) A dimethylpolysiloxane having a vinyldimethylsiloxy group at both ends blocked (polymerization degree: 500, vinyl value:
100 parts of 0.053 mol / 100 g), 35 parts of crystalline silica (average particle size: 5 μm), organohydrogenpolysiloxane (polymerization degree: 17, Si—H equivalent: 0.1 part).
3.1 parts of platinum catalyst (Pt concentration 1)
%) And 0.1 part of 1-ethynyl-cyclohexanol as a reaction control agent were mixed to prepare a silicone rubber composition for an elastic layer. A roll core metal coated with an alkoxysilane-based primer is inserted into a cylindrical mold having an inner mirror surface finish, and the silicone rubber composition is vacuum-degassed and then injected using an injection molding machine, and then injected at 150 ° C. for 10 minutes. After heating and curing, secondary heating was performed at 200 ° C. for 4 hours to obtain a silicone rubber roll.

Next, 180 parts by weight of a photocurable acrylic-modified silicone resin solution (curable modified silicone resin, trade name: UVHC1105 / manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) and a solvent-soluble polyester resin (FX-10) were applied to the surface of the obtained silicone rubber roll. : Kao Corporation) 20 parts were mixed and diluted with ethyl acetate to prepare a surface coating solution, immersed to form a coating film, and then dried in a dryer at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes with hot air, and then light Irradiation distance about 20cm, 120
A photo-curing reaction was performed for 5 minutes at W / cm ² to form a cured layer of the surface layer coating liquid. Thereafter, the entire rubber roll was immersed in ethyl acetate, and only the polyester was extracted and removed from the cured layer to obtain a fixing roll (roll-shaped fixing member) having a surface layer of a curable silicone-modified resin having a layer thickness of 20 μm. As a result of surface observation by SEM, fine irregularities of about 0.1 to 0.3 μm were observed on the surface layer formed on the fixing roll surface.

The obtained fixing roll was replaced with a fixing roll of an electrophotographic copying machine 'Vivace 450' (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.), and the system for supplying oil onto the heated fixing roll was removed. It was modified to such an oilless fixing specification and a fixing test was performed. In the fixing test, the toner offset property of the heat fixing roll 1 and image quality defects due to scratches and abrasion of the peeling claw contacting the roll were evaluated. The evaluation of the toner offset property and the image quality defect is as follows.
The image fixing process was continuously performed using A4 size paper, and the number of sheets until the occurrence of an offset and the number of sheets until the occurrence of an image quality defect were checked. As a result, no problem occurred up to 250,000 sheets in oilless fixing.

(Comparative Example 1) The silicone rubber roll without the photocurable acrylic-modified silicone resin surface layer of Example 1 was replaced with the fixing roll of a copying machine modified to the oilless fixing specification used in Example 1. Then, the same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed, but the toner offset occurred from the first sheet, and the toner was fixed on the offset fixing roll surface. For this reason, it was not possible to evaluate image quality defects.

(Example 2) Thickness 75 microns, diameter 40
A solution obtained by dissolving the photo-curable acrylic-modified silicone resin and the release agent (tetraisocyanate silane and amino-modified silicone oil) used in Example 1 in ethyl acetate as a solvent, with the endless belt 15 of polyimide having a thickness of 15 mm. And a similar curing treatment was performed to form a surface layer of about 20 μm on the surface of the endless belt. Further, a curable silicone film having a thickness of 0.2 μm was formed on the back surface of the belt using the coating solution containing only the release agent of Example 1. This is mounted on the fixing device shown in FIG. 4, and the recording paper on which the toner image is placed is passed at a speed of 100 mm / sec.
The image was heat-fixed at a temperature of ° C. As a result of evaluation of the offset property and the image quality defect as in Example 1, no problem occurred up to 100,000 sheets in oilless fixing.

(Comparative Example 2) The same evaluation as in Example 2 was performed using a polyimide endless belt which was not subjected to surface treatment in the fixing device of Example 2, but the toner offset was 1
The toner was adhered to the belt surface from the first sheet. Since the image quality could not be evaluated, the fixing device was idled and the belt operation status was observed.The lubrication of the back surface of the belt was low, or the belt was sliding with the ceramic heater, belt holding roll, and other members. Then, a fluctuation in torque from about 250 rotations of the belt (corresponding to about 100 sheets) to belt driving was observed, and a belt slip phenomenon occurred.

Example 3 Thermosetting silicone resin (P
HC587 / manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd., 190 parts by weight, a curable silicone compound as a release agent (trade name: SI-40)
0 / Matsumoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 5 parts by weight, amino-modified silicone oil (trade name: TSF4702 / Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.)
5 parts by weight, Tospearl 1
45 (manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd., particle size: 4.5 μm) and 3 parts of conductive titanium oxide fine particles ECT-62 (manufactured by Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.) were added to a mixed solution of 300 parts by weight of toluene, and the mixture was stirred. Was prepared. On the other hand, as a fixing roll, the same silicone rubber as in Example 1 was vulcanized and bonded via a primer onto a hollow SUS core having an outer diameter of 44 mm, and then the outer diameter was polished with a cylindrical grinder. On the roll on which the elastic layer having a thickness of 4 mm was formed, the prepared surface layer coating solution was applied by dip coating to form a coating film.
Touch drying at 40 ° C./30 minutes in a dryer, followed by heat curing at 180 ° C./120 minutes in a dryer to obtain a layer thickness 2 of the thermosetting silicone resin containing fine particles.
A fixing roll (roll fixing member) having a surface layer of 3 μm was obtained. As a result of surface observation by SEM, a fine uneven structure was observed on the surface of the fixing roll.

The obtained heat-fixing roll was replaced with a heat-fixing roll of a digital color copier Acolor 935 (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.). Further, the system for supplying oil onto the heat-fixing roll was removed, and the system was replaced as shown in FIG. It was modified to an oilless fixing specification and a fixing test was performed. The toner used at this time was the digital color copier Acolo.
r935 toners for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. In the fixing test, the toner offset property of the heat fixing roll 1 and image quality defects due to scratches and abrasion of the peeling claw contacting the roll were evaluated. The evaluation of the toner offset property and the image quality defect was performed by continuously performing image fixing processing using A4 size paper and examining the number of sheets until the occurrence of the offset and the number of sheets until the occurrence of the image quality defect. . As a result, no problem occurred up to 500,000 sheets even in the oilless fixing of a color image.

Further, in the same manner as the heat fixing roll, the fine particle-containing siloxane-modified polyimide resin surface layer is formed on the surface of the pressure fixing roll, and is replaced with the pressure fixing roll of the color copying machine. The same evaluation was performed when both the pressure rolls were replaced with the rolls having the surface layer. However, there was no problem in fixing 500,000 sheets or more. Further, after the above experiment, the conventional oil supply system was returned to the heat fixing roll having the surface layer, and dimethyl silicone oil or the like was slightly supplied (1 to 5 μl).
/ A4, the standard amount of the apparatus was 30 μl / A4), and the durability was evaluated. As a result, no problem occurred in fixing 700,000 sheets or more (total 1,050,000 sheets or more).

Comparative Example 3 The same evaluation as in Example 3 was carried out by wiping off the oil on the conventional heat and pressure fixing roll and attaching it to a modified digital color copying machine in which the oil supply system used above was removed. However, toner offset occurred from the first sheet, and the sheet was wound around the roll so that the sheet could not be peeled off by the separation claw, causing a jam.
In addition, since the image quality defect could not be evaluated for the above reason, a blank A3 sheet was passed through to examine the roll for scratches by the separation claw. As a result, about 250 sheets showed deep scratches due to wear. In addition, an oil supply system is attached and dimethyl silicone oil is supplied slightly from the outside (1-2 μl /
Even in the case of A4), the toner offset occurred on about 10 sheets, the roll was flawed by the separation claw on about 800 sheets, and an image defect occurred due to the flaw.

Example 4 Photocurable silicone resin (F
X-3 / Natco Paint prototype) 200 parts by weight, styrene-acrylic resin (PSB2733 / manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 5
0 parts: Tospearl 130, a spherical fine particle of silicone resin
8 parts (Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd .: particle size 3 μm) and 8 parts carbon black (Ketjen Black EC, Lion Corporation)
5 parts) and 300 parts by weight of toluene were added to a liquid which had been sufficiently mixed in advance with stirring, and mixed well to prepare a coating liquid. On the other hand, outer diameter 47mm, inner diameter 42mm, length 350
4 mm rubber cylinder as an elastic layer
5 ° (JIS-A) HTV silicone rubber has a thickness of 1.
On a fixing roll provided with 5 mm, the coating solution prepared above was applied by dip coating to form a coating film, and then dried in a drier.
Drying by touch at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes was performed, and then a photo-curing reaction was performed with a light irradiation device at an irradiation distance of about 20 cm and 120 W / cm ² for 5 minutes. Thereafter, the entire rubber roll was immersed in toluene, and only the styrene-acrylic resin was extracted and removed to obtain a fixing roll having a surface layer of a curable silicone-modified resin having a thickness of 25 μm. As a result of surface observation by SEM, the surface of the fixing roll was 0.2 to 0.5 μm.
m minute unevenness was observed. In addition, a thickness of 75 μm,
The surface of the endless polyimide film having a width of 300 mm and a perimeter of 188 mm was dip-coated with the above coating solution on the surface of the base material to form a coating film, and then subjected to touch drying at 40 ° C./30 minutes in a dryer. Then, the irradiation distance is about 20 cm with a light irradiation device,
The photocuring reaction was performed at 20 W / cm ² for 5 minutes. Thereafter, the entire rubber roll was immersed in toluene, and styrene-
Only the acrylic resin was extracted and removed to obtain a fixing belt having a 25 μm-thick surface layer made of a photocurable silicone resin. Further, a curable silicone film having a thickness of 0.2 μm was formed on the back surface of the belt using the coating solution containing only the release agent of Example 1.

These were mounted as rotatable heating fixing rolls in FIG. 7 on a fixing device using an endless belt movably disposed while being in contact with the heating rolls. A sheet carrying a color toner image formed from color toner was passed through the apparatus at a speed of 100 mm / sec, and the surface temperature of the heat fixing roll was set to 155 ° C. to fix the image. In the evaluation, the offset property and the image quality defect were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result, no problem occurred up to 500,000 sheets in oilless fixing.

As described above, the fixing members according to the embodiments of the present invention have good releasability between paper and the fixing member and cause jam even when used in a fixing device of an oilless or trace oil specification. It was found that the image quality did not deteriorate due to wear caused by the peeling nails or the like. Also,
When the fixing member of the present invention was applied to the fixing belt, it was found that stable running could be ensured, and high-quality images could be stably obtained.

[0052]

The fixing member of the present invention can be applied to a fixing roll or a fixing belt corresponding to an oilless fixing device. There is an advantage that an image stable with a long period of time, in particular, a color image can be obtained with little wear by a nail. A fixing device using the fixing member also has the same excellent effect. The fixing member having the excellent characteristics of the present invention can be easily manufactured by forming a layer using a predetermined surface layer coating solution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an oilless fixing device to which the fixing member of the present invention can be applied, in which an oil supply device is removed from the fixing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of an oilless fixing device to which the fixing member of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an oilless fixing device to which the fixing member of the present invention can be applied, in which an oil supply device is removed from a conventional belt nip type fixing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a conventional belt nip type fixing device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of a conventional belt nip type fixing device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of an oilless fixing device used in a fourth embodiment.

8 is a schematic sectional view showing a fixing device provided with an oil supply pad in the oilless fixing device of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat fixing roll (fixing member) 2 Pressure fixing roll 3 Hollow roll (roll-shaped substrate) 4 Rubber elastic layer 5 Surface layer 6 Heater 7 Recorded body 8 Unfixed toner 9 Oil supply device 10 Core roll 11 Heat resistant elastic body 12 Release Claw 13, 14 Support Roll 15 Endless Belt 16 Heating Element 17 Heater Substrate 18 Heating Element 19 Drive Roll 20 Follower Roll 21 Press Fixing Roll 22 Oil Supply Pad 25, 26 Separation Roll 27 Pressure Roll 28 Transport Belt 29, 29 ' Conveyance roll 30 Press pad 31 Support 32 Elastic body 33 Base material 34 Belt running guide

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A fixing member comprising at least one layer formed on a substrate, wherein a surface layer containing a curable modified silicone resin is provided on the outermost surface farthest from the substrate. Fixing member to be used. 2. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer has a minute surface unevenness structure. 3. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer contains a reactive silane compound and a modified silicone oil. 4. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein at least one elastic layer is provided between the surface layer and the base. 5. The fixing member according to claim 4, wherein the elastic layer contains silicone rubber or fluorine rubber. 6. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a cylindrical shape or a belt shape, and a release layer made of a curable silicone compound is provided on the back surface thereof. 3. The fixing member according to item 1. 7. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer contains fine particles. 8. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer contains a conductive material. 9. A surface layer coating solution containing a curable modified silicone resin and a solvent is applied to the surface of a substrate or a layer formed on the substrate and separated most from the substrate, and cured to form a surface layer. A method for producing a fixing member, comprising a layer forming step of forming. 10. After adding at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a solvent-soluble resin, an acid-soluble resin, an alkali-soluble resin, and a sublimable substance to the surface layer coating solution. A layer forming step of forming a surface layer by coating and curing on a surface of a substrate or a layer furthest away from the substrate formed on the substrate, and an additive removal for removing only additives from the surface layer The method for producing a fixing member according to claim 9, wherein a fine surface uneven structure is formed on the surface layer by performing the additive removing step. 11. A fixing device comprising the fixing member according to claim 1. Description: