JP2000296552A - Tubular film, method of manufacturing the same, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a tubular film capable of manufacturing a tubular film having improved properties such as strength and thermal conductivity at low cost. A sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is provided.
a, a film 4 having glass, ceramic or carbon 4b interposed therebetween is wound around the cylindrical member 1, the tubular mold member 2 is fitted to the outside of the wound film 4, and at least the film 4 is heated to form a laminated portion of the film 4. To form a sheet-like film into a tubular shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer belt used for transferring a precision part to a predetermined position with a high degree of positional accuracy, and a closed package for storing and storing articles. Regarding a tubular, tubular, ring-shaped or belt-shaped film and a method for producing the film, the main application of the present invention is to use as a functional part of an image forming apparatus.

In particular, the present invention relates to a belt for carrying and transferring an image of a toner carrier, an intermediate transfer belt, and a film for carrying and fixing an image.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for producing a tubular film, as previously proposed by the applicants, a thermoplastic resin sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member so that the winding start and the winding end are overlapped. There is known a method in which a tubular mold member is fitted to the outside of a wound film, and then the whole is heated to join the overlapping portions of the film to form a tubular film. At that time, by making the thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular mold member, the gap between the two is narrowed during heating, the step in the overlapped portion can be eliminated, and the film thickness becomes uniform over the entire circumference. It is possible to arbitrarily control the overall film thickness by controlling the gap.

[0004]

The tubular film manufactured by the above-described conventional manufacturing method is made of a thermoplastic resin, so that the strength and strength of the film itself are lower than that of a sheet-like film made of a thermosetting resin. In addition, it has low thermal conductivity and the like, and has a large thermal expansion coefficient, so that it has a characteristic lacking dimensional stability.

[0005] Conventionally, in order to improve the strength, thermal conductivity and dimensional stability of a thermoplastic resin sheet-like film, the film is stretch-formed, an inorganic filler having excellent thermal conductivity is compounded in the film, and In order to suppress the coefficient of thermal expansion, a method of improving the properties of a thermoplastic resin sheet-like film by adding glass fibers or the like has been used. However, these methods have limitations in the following points. (1) Even if a stretched thermoplastic resin sheet-like film is used as the material of the tubular film, the stretching effect is lost due to the heat at the time of the main molding, the film becomes close to a non-stretched film, and the film strength is not improved. (2) When a large amount of an inorganic filler is added to the resin, the resin itself becomes hard and loses the inherent properties of the film.

[0006] Conventionally, as a method for producing a tubular film, (a) an extrusion hot melt molding method typified by an inflation method, and (b) a resin or a precursor thereof is made into a molten state, and the resin or its precursor is melted on an inner surface or an outer surface of a tubular mold. There is known a casting method or the like in which a predetermined amount is applied, and after removing a solvent (if necessary, a heat treatment), the coating is peeled off.

Further, (c) a method of winding a sheet-like film around a core, welding both ends of the sheet, and lining the inside of the hollow tubular body is disclosed in JP-A-63-34120 and JP-A-63-34121. It has been proposed in gazettes and the like.

Further, (d) the above-described sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member so that the winding start and the winding end are overlapped, the tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film, and thereafter the whole is heated, There is a method in which a sheet-like film is formed into a tubular shape by joining overlapping portions of the film.

Of the above methods, in the extrusion hot melt molding method (a), when a tubular film produced by an inflation method is used as a film for a fixing device of an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. There is a disadvantage that the tubular film is crushed during winding.

[0010] In addition, the casting method (b) involves problems such as concentration control of the solution, adjustment of the drying atmosphere, and cost of solvent treatment in the drying step in order to obtain a film having a uniform thickness.

In the method (c) of lining the inside surface of a hollow tubular body, it is possible to obtain a lining layer having a uniform thickness, but in order to obtain a tubular film therefrom, The tight contact with the inner surface of the hollow tubular body is so strong that it is very difficult to remove.

(D) A sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member so that the winding start and the winding end are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside thereof, and the gap between the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member is narrowed by thermal expansion. Utilizing, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film by crushing the step of the overlapping portion, at the time of heating, both ends of the wound film will expand unevenly due to temperature, and such pressure, as a tubular film after molding When used, both ends had to be cut and shaped. Also, when both ends are formed in an arbitrary shape, post-processing (cutting) is required.

In the method (d), when a plastic member having a relatively large coefficient of thermal expansion such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin is used as the cylindrical member, a tubular member generated by heating is used. Due to the heat and pressure during this time, thermal deformation (change in shape beyond thermal expansion) occurs in the thrust direction, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical member gradually decreases. As a result, pressure between the columnar member and the tubular mold member as expected at the beginning is not generated, and the step at the overlapping portion may not be crushed.

Further, when the above-mentioned tubular film is driven while being stretched over at least two or more driven and driven rollers, parallel alignment deviation between the driven and driven rollers, minute unevenness in film thickness, and external The tubular film may be displaced in the axial direction of the roller on which the tubular film is stretched due to a small load from the roller.

As a method for suppressing this deviation, (A) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
Detecting the deviation of the tubular film with a position sensor or speed sensor, or detecting the tension or torque deviation at the left and right ends of the stretched roller, and controlling the parallelism of the stretched roller (B) A method for suppressing fluctuation by providing a flange portion at the end of the drive roller for restricting the movement of the tubular film. (C) As shown in JP-A-6-1084. In addition, a method using a crown roller as a driving roller for suppressing the deviation of the tubular film is known.

Further, there is a method (D) in which the ribs are provided at both ends of the tubular film to suppress the deviation of the tubular film.

However, in the above method (A), the configuration of the whole apparatus becomes extremely complicated, and the cost is increased, and it is difficult to reduce the size.

In the method (B), when the tubular film itself is deflected, the end of the tubular film hits the flange portion with a strong force. In particular, in the case of a thin tubular film, the tubular film may be deformed or broken. There is a possibility that.

In the method (C), when the tubular film is used as a transfer belt of an image forming apparatus, for example,
It is difficult to bring the tubular film into uniform contact with the photoreceptor in the transfer area. Therefore, further improvement is achieved by using a backup member or the like. However, the use of such a member complicates the configuration, further increases the rotational load of driving the tubular film, and increases the service life of the tubular film. Becomes much shorter.

Further, in the method (D), although the deflection of the tubular film can be suppressed with a simple structure, the number of manufacturing steps is increased, which leads to an increase in cost.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tubular film capable of manufacturing a tubular film having improved properties such as strength and thermal conductivity at low cost. It is to provide a manufacturing method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a tubular film capable of manufacturing a tubular film having good shape accuracy without cutting both end portions by post-processing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a tubular film which can form ribs on the tubular film without post-processing.

[0024]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, a method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention comprises: winding a film in which glass, ceramic or carbon is sandwiched between sheet-like films made of a thermoplastic resin around a cylindrical member; Fit the tubular mold member to, at least heat the film, to join the overlapping portion of the film,
The sheet-like film is formed into a tube.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the glass, ceramic or carbon sandwiched between the sheet-like films is in the form of particles.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the glass or carbon sandwiched between the sheet-like films is in the form of a thin film.

In the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the thin film sandwiched between the sheet-like films is a fibrous cloth sheet such as a glass fiber cloth sheet and a carbon fiber cloth sheet.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the fibrous cloth sheet and the sheet film are wound around a cylindrical member and molded to form the fibrous cloth sheet and the sheet film. It is characterized by being integrated.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the glass fiber cloth sheet is a prepreg impregnated with an epoxy resin or a phenol resin.

Further, a tubular film according to the present invention is produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

In the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, a sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a cylindrical member, and the winding start and the winding end of the sheet-like film are overlapped. A method in which a tubular mold member is fitted into the cylindrical member, and at least the film is heated, and the sheet-like film is formed into a tubular shape by joining the overlapping portions of the films, wherein the sheet-like film is formed in at least one position on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It features a ring attached.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a portion where the ring is mounted is a portion where the film is not mounted.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the ring to be mounted is made of metal.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the ring to be mounted is made of aluminum.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the tubular film is a fixing film or a transfer belt of an image forming apparatus.

Further, the tubular film according to the present invention is characterized by being produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

Further, the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention is characterized in that a thermoplastic resin sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is provided outside the wound film. And heating at least the film to join the overlapped portions of the films to form the tubular film, characterized in that thermal deformation in the thrust direction of the columnar member is regulated.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, it is preferable that the cylindrical member is hollow, and a rod member having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the cylindrical member is disposed in a hollow portion of the cylindrical member. Features.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the surface roughness of the circumferential surface of the rod member (center line average roughness = Ra) is 3 μm or more.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a disk-shaped member having a diameter larger than that of the rod member is disposed at both ends of the rod member.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the diameter of the disc-shaped member is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow portion of the tubular mold member.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the diameter of the disc-shaped member is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the columnar member.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member have the same length in the thrust direction at normal temperature, and lid members are attached to both ends of the tubular mold member. It is characterized by being.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular mold member.

Further, a tubular film according to the present invention is produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 14 to 21.

Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses the tubular film according to claim 22.

The method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention is characterized in that a resin layer made of a sheet-like film is provided on at least one surface of a metal tube.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the metal tube is covered with a cylindrical member,
Wrap the sheet-like film around the outside of the covered metal tube, cover the outside with a tubular member, heat and fuse the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film, and sheet-like film on the outer surface of the metal tube. And a resin layer is provided on the outer surface of the metal tube to form a tubular body.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member, the metal tube is placed on the outside of the wound sheet-like film, and the tubular member is placed on the outside.
By heating, the overlapping portion of the sheet-like film is fused, and the sheet-like film is joined to the inner surface of the metal tube, and a resin layer is provided on the inner surface of the metal tube to form a tubular body. And

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, a sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around the cylindrical member, a metal tube is put on the outside of the wound film, and a metal tube is put on the outside of the metal tube. A sheet-like film is wound, and then the tubular member is covered on the outside, heated, and the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film is fused, and the sheet-like film is joined to both sides of the metal tube, and both sides of the metal tube are joined. Is provided with a resin layer to form a tubular body.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the thermoplastic resin layer is formed by applying a resin paint.

In the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the resin coating is a solution in which the thermoplastic resin powder is dispersed.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the resin coating is a solution coating obtained by dissolving the thermoplastic resin in a solvent.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the resin paint is applied by a dip coating method (immersion method).

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the first layer on at least one surface of the resin layer of the metal tube is formed by winding a sheet-like film, and the second layer is further formed by dip coating. (Immersion method).

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, the first layer on at least one surface of the resin layer of the metal tube is formed by coating (immersion method), and the second layer is formed of a sheet-like film. It is characterized by being formed by winding.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the material of the metal tube is nickel.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the metal tube is manufactured by winding a metal sheet around a cylindrical member, covering the outside with a tubular member, heating and joining the metal sheet. It is characterized by using a metal tube.

The tubular film according to the present invention is produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 24 to 35.

Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the tubular film according to claim 36 is used.

Further, the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention is characterized in that a sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a cylindrical member, the start and end of the film are overlapped, and the tubular film is wound outside the wound film. In a method of fitting a mold member, heating at least the film, and joining the overlapped portions of the films to form the sheet-like film into a tube, a groove is formed in at least one portion of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member. It is characterized by being formed.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove is arranged to be in contact with the film during the heating.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the depth of the groove is at least 100% of the thickness of the manufactured tubular film.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove is formed linearly in a circumferential direction of the tubular mold member.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove is continuous and endless.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove is perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular mold member.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove has a polygonal cross section.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the groove is such that the length of an arbitrary parallel straight line inside is shorter than the length of a side in contact with the film. .

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a part of the cross-sectional shape of the groove is a curve.

Further, the tubular film according to the present invention is characterized by being produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 38 to 46.

Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the tubular film according to claim 47 is used.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, a thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, the beginning and the end of the winding of the film are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is placed outside the wound film. In the method of fitting, heating at least the film and joining the overlapping portions of the film to form the tubular film into a sheet, that at least a part of the diameter of the columnar member is continuously changing. Features.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, at least one end of the cylindrical member has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a central part in a cross-sectional diameter in an axial direction of the cylindrical member.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the cylindrical member is characterized in that the diameter in the thrust direction decreases from the center to the end in the longitudinal direction.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value of the diameter of the cross section in the thrust direction of the cylindrical member is 1.03> maximum value / minimum value> 1.0. It is characterized by being.

In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a sheet-like film may be wound around the cylindrical member, and a sheet-like film piece may be wound around the cylindrical member having a smaller diameter in the axial direction. It is characterized by.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the sheet-like film and a part of the sheet-like film piece may be wound around the cylindrical member having a varying diameter of the outer peripheral surface, and the winding of the film may be performed. In the method of overlapping the beginning and the end of the winding, fitting a tubular mold member to the outside of the wound film, heating at least the film, joining the overlapping portion of the film to form the tubular film into a sheet, At the end of the heating step, the diameter of the cylindrical member + the thickness of the film = the inner diameter of the tubular mold member.

Further, in the method for producing a tubular film according to the present invention, a thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is placed outside the wound film. In the method of fitting, heating at least the film and joining the overlapping portions of the film to form the tubular film into a tubular shape, at least a part of the inner diameter of the tubular mold member is continuously changed. It is characterized by.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, it is preferable that at least one end has a diameter larger than a diameter of a central part in a diameter of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in an axial direction. Features.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in the axial direction increases from the center to the end in the longitudinal direction. And

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, when a sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member, and when the cylindrical member is fitted into the tubular member, the inner periphery of the tubular member is A sheet-like film piece is partially wound around a portion of the columnar member corresponding to a portion where the diameter of the surface in the axial direction is increased.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, when a sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member, and when the cylindrical member is fitted into the tubular mold member, the inner peripheral portion of the tubular mold member is formed. The tubular mold member in which a sheet-like film piece is partially wound around a portion of the cylindrical member corresponding to a portion where the diameter of the surface in the axial direction increases, and an inner peripheral surface continuously changes to the outside of the wound film. In a method of heating at least the film and joining the overlapping portions of the films to form the sheet-like film into a tube, at the end of the heating step, the diameter of the columnar member + the thickness of the film = the The inner diameter of the tubular mold member.

Further, a tubular film according to the present invention is characterized by being produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 49 to 59.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the tubular film according to claim 60 is used.

Further, the tubular film according to the present invention is stretched around at least two or more driven and driven rollers and is driven to rotate, wherein the film thickness distribution in the thrust direction of the tubular film is Is characterized in that the film thickness increases continuously from the center to the end.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the tubular film according to claim 62 is used.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is placed outside the wound film. Fitting, at least heating the film, in the method of joining the overlapping portions of the film to form the sheet-like film into a tube, the tubular molded product, the cylindrical member,
It is characterized in that it is withdrawn from the tubular mold member and used in an inverted manner.

Further, the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention is characterized in that a closed loop groove is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in a circumferential direction to manufacture the tubular film.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the groove is formed in a continuous shape having irregularities.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, a thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, and the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, and the groove portion of the tubular mold member having the groove is formed. Resin, embedded in the outside of the wound film, and heated at least the film to join the overlapping portions of the film, thereby forming the sheet-like film into a tubular shape having ribs formed thereon.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the rib is made of the same material as the tubular film.

[0092] Further, in the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the height of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is set to be 3% or less of the diameter of the tubular film.

[0093] In the method of manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the height of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is 2% or less of the diameter of the tubular film.

In the method for manufacturing a tubular film according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is rectangular, and the surface of the rib facing the center of the tubular film is It is characterized by being inclined from the top surface of the rib to the surface of the tubular film.

A tubular film according to the present invention is characterized by being produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 64 to 71.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the tubular film according to claim 72 is used.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses the tubular film according to any one of claims 13, 22, 36, 47, 60, 62, and 72 as a transfer belt or a fixing film. Features.

[0098]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) In this embodiment, as a method for producing a tubular film, a thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, and the winding start and end are overlapped with each other. Is inserted into a tubular mold member, the film, the columnar member, and the tubular mold member are maintained in a heated state for a predetermined time, the film of the overlapped portion is welded, and both ends of the film are joined to form a film into a tubular shape. Proposes to use a composite film in which glass, ceramic, carbon, or the like is sandwiched between the films as a thermoplastic sheet-like film wound around a cylindrical member.

Further, glass, ceramic,
Alternatively, it is proposed that the carbon is in the form of particles.

It is also proposed that the glass or carbon to be sandwiched is in the form of a thin film sheet.

It is also proposed that the thin film sheet is a fiber cloth sheet such as a glass fiber cloth sheet and a carbon fiber cloth sheet.

It is also proposed that the fiber cloth sheet is a prepreg in which an epoxy resin or a phenol resin is impregnated.

According to these proposals, the obtained tubular film is composed of a composite material of an inorganic substance and an organic substance, so that the following excellent characteristics can be obtained. (1) The strength of the film itself is improved several times to several tens times. (2) The coefficient of thermal expansion is suppressed as compared with a single thermoplastic resin,
Dimensional stability and releasability are significantly improved. (3) The thermal conductivity is improved.

It is also proposed to use the tubular film obtained according to the present embodiment as a transport belt of an image forming apparatus.

Further, in the present embodiment, as a fixing device capable of obtaining high image quality, a fluororesin film having antistatic properties is formed on the outermost layer of the tubular film obtained by this embodiment, and the image is formed. There is proposed a fixing device for an image forming apparatus that fixes toner by pressing the toner on the carrier between the pressing member and the pressing member.

FIGS. 1 to 10 show a first embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical member as a mandrel for winding a film in which a glass fiber cloth sheet is sandwiched between thermoplastic resin films. In this example, a solid rod member is used. Reference numeral 2 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member, and a cylindrical member 1
.

In this example, aluminum is used for the columnar member 1 and stainless steel is used for the tubular mold member 2. The coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum is 2.4 × 1
0 ^-5 (/ ° C), the coefficient of thermal expansion of stainless steel is 1.2 × 1
0 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.).

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.

The dimensions of the sheet film 4a are selected according to the inner diameter of the tubular film to be manufactured, and the sizes of the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 are selected accordingly.

First, a thermoplastic resin film, here, a thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) film, which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 20 μm, is used as the sheet film 4a, and the length and width of the sheet are 158.0 mm × 300 mm. Prepare one cut in a shape.

Further, a glass fiber cloth sheet 4b prepared by cutting a glass cloth sheet having a thickness of 30 μm into a sheet of 75.36 mm × 300 mm in length and width is prepared.

The diameter of the columnar member 1 is 24.00.
mm, the length is 330 mm, and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 is 24.20 mm, the outer diameter is 30.0 mm, and the length is 330 mm.

The dimensions of the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 are such that the difference between the outside diameter of the cylindrical member 1 and the inside diameter of the tubular mold member 2 at the heating temperature of 400 ° C. in the heating step described later. Design in advance to be 70 μm.

First, the sheet-like film 4a is
Is wound around once, the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is placed on the sheet-like film 4a, and further wound so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG.

A film composed of the above sheet-like film 4a and the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is referred to as a composite film 4.

Further, since the size of the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is cut to the same size as the circumference of the cylindrical member to be wound, the overlapping both end portions A do not overlap two glass cloths. .

Next, the composite film 4 wound around the cylindrical member 1
Is inserted into the hollow part of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG.

Then, the columnar member 1, the composite film 4, and the tubular mold member 2 are inserted into the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows the detailed structure of the heating furnace 3.

In FIG. 7, a support 9 is fixed on a base (not shown) of the heating furnace, and a heater 8 is arranged on the support 9.
Inside the heater 8, an object to be heated (a cylindrical member 1, a film 4,
A space 7 in which the tubular mold member 2) is arranged is formed. The temperature of the heater 8 is controlled by temperature control means (not shown).

The heating conditions in the heating furnace 3 are as follows.
0 ± 5 ° C., heating time 30 ± 1 minute. The heating time is determined in consideration of the melting temperature of the film material and the thermal deterioration of the film.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 3, the columnar member 1, the tubular mold member 2, and the composite film 4 change as shown in FIGS.

First, the composite film 4 placed in the heating furnace 3 is wound around the gap between the mandrel cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 so that both ends form an overlapped portion (FIG. 4).

The dimensional gap between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 is 200 μm.

From this state, the cylindrical member 1, the composite film 4, and the tubular mold member 2 are heated, and the temperature of each member rises. The cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 begin to expand according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients (FIG. 5).

The composite film 4 starts to soften as the temperature rises. The cylindrical member 1 and the tubular member 2 begin to expand as the temperature rises. However, since the thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum material of the cylindrical member 1 is larger than that of the stainless steel of the tubular member 2, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 1 The dimensional gap of the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 becomes narrower than the initial low temperature state. Further, with the narrowing of the gap between the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2, the composite film 4 sandwiched therebetween further softens,
The overlapped portions at both ends of the film are welded to each other to form a joined state. The thickness of the joint is 70 μm (FIG. 6).

Incidentally, the gap between the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 finally becomes the same as the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference.

After the elapse of the above-described heating time of 30 minutes, the heating is stopped, and the process proceeds to the cooling step (FIG. 8).

In the cooling step, the cylindrical member 1, the composite film 4, and the tubular mold member 2 may be cooled in a natural cooling state after the heating in the heating step is stopped. Is also good.

In this example, after heating, the film is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank and cooled at a cooling rate of 400 ° C./min.

Here, the step of releasing the obtained tubular film will be described.

The first of the releasing steps is that the cylindrical member 1
And detaching the tubular mold member 2.

Further, as a second step in the releasing step, the composite film 4 attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical member 1 or the inner surface of the tubular member 2 is released. FIG. 9 shows an example of a step of fixing the composite film 4 from the columnar member 1 to the support 10 and releasing the composite film.

The film taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the superposed portion of the first sheet-like film was also clearly joined.

The usage of the tubular film 4 manufactured by the above method will be described.

After coating the outermost layer of the tubular film obtained by the present embodiment with a fluororesin, FIG.
1 shows an example of use as a fixing film 6 of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus (LBP, laser beam printer) shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 6 denotes a tubular film (fixing film) according to the present embodiment. 6A is a heater for heating the fixing film 6, and the heater 6A is held by a heater holder 6B.

Reference numeral 6C denotes a stay member, which is formed in a substantially U-shape.

The fixing film 6 is incorporated so as to be fitted on the outer peripheral surfaces of the stay member 6C and the heater holder 6B.

Reference numeral 6D denotes a pressure roller which is driven by driving means (not shown).

As shown in the figure, the fixing device transports and inserts a carrier 6E such as paper carrying toner for forming an image between the fixing film 6 and the pressure roller 6D, and fixes the fixing film received from the heater. The heat is transferred to the toner, and the toner is fixed on the paper by pressing and heating. The fixing film 6 according to the present embodiment has extremely high uniformity of the film thickness dimension. The film thickness of the superposed portion of the film 4 was the same as that of the other, and extremely high image quality could be obtained without causing uneven heat transfer from the film to the toner.

Next, the material of the sheet film 4a applicable to the composite film of this example will be described.

As the material of the sheet-like film 4a usable in this embodiment, any material can be used as long as it is a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer material.
Polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene
1. Polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide-based material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid Further, a film in which at least one of organic and inorganic fine powders are blended with the above resin material for the purpose of heat resistance reinforcement, conductivity and thermal conductivity, or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used.

Here, the organic fine powder is, for example, condensed polyimide powder, and the inorganic fine powder is carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder. Inorganic spherical fine particles such as aluminum nitride powder and titanium oxide powder, fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, and whisker-like powders such as potassium hexatitanate, potassium octa titanate, silicon carbide and silicon nitride. Pulverized fine powder is preferred.

It is preferable that the total amount of these fine powders is 5 to 70 wt% based on the base resin.

Further, in order to improve the thermal conductivity, in addition to the above-mentioned method, a method of sandwiching an inorganic substance between the sheet films 4a is also very effective. As the inorganic substance sandwiched between the sheet-like films, a fiber cloth sheet such as a glass fiber cloth and a carbon fiber cloth other than the inorganic fine powder particles is preferable. Further, a thin film sheet such as a glass thin film sheet or a carbon thin film sheet is more effective.

A method of sandwiching a sheet generally called a prepreg, in which the glass fiber cloth sheet is impregnated with an epoxy resin or a phenol resin, is more effective from the viewpoint of improving productivity.

<Comparative Example 1> A cylindrical member 1 and a tubular mold member 2 used in this comparative example are the same as those in the first embodiment.

However, a thermoplastic resin film, in this case, a thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) film, which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 35 μm, is used as the sheet-like film wound around the columnar member 1, and its vertical and horizontal dimensions are 158.0 mm. ×
A sheet cut into a 300 mm sheet was used.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet-like film is wound around the columnar member 1 two times, and then, as shown in FIG. Next, the sheet-shaped film wound around the cylindrical member 1 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG.

The subsequent process conditions are the same as in the first embodiment.

After the heating and cooling steps, the tubular (columnar) film taken out was subjected to the thermal conductivity measurement, the tensile test, and the thermal expansion coefficient measurement described in the first embodiment.

As a result, by forming a composite film as in the first embodiment, the thermal conductivity was further improved as compared with the tubular film of the thermoplastic resin film alone shown in Comparative Example 1. Therefore, when the tubular film is used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, which is one of the objects of the tubular film, heat conduction is higher and fixing performance is improved.

Further, from the results of the tensile test, the composite film has a larger maximum load of the film than the thermoplastic film alone. Therefore, a composite film is more suitable than a thermoplastic film alone for use in parts requiring strength.

Furthermore, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite film is considerably reduced as compared with the case of a single film, the composite film is excellent in dimensional stability, and it is useful to use it as a member particularly requiring dimensional accuracy. .

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a cylindrical member 1 around which a film is wound and a tubular mold member 2 to be inserted are the same as in the first embodiment, and 1 is a diameter dimension made of aluminum.
A cylindrical member having a length of 00 mm and a length of 330 mm is provided. Reference numeral 2 denotes a tubular member made of stainless steel. The thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member 1 is 2.4 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.), and the thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular member 2 is 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.). In addition, the dimension setting of the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 is such that when both are heated to 450 ° C., the gap is 50 μm.
m.

Next, as the sheet-like film 4a, a thermoplastic resin film, in this case, a thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) film which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 40 μm, is 158.0 mm × 300 mm in length and width. A sheet cut into a sheet is prepared.

As the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b, a glass cloth sheet having a thickness of 30 μm, which is cut into a sheet of 75.36 mm × 300 mm in length and width, is prepared.

Next, the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is wound around the columnar member 1, then the sheet film 4a is wound on the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b, and further, the both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG.

Next, the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b
2 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG. 2, and then placed in the heating furnace 3 and heated at 450 ° C. for 30 minutes. In this heating step, the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 are both heated, causing a dimensional expansion difference due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of the material, and the gap interval is reduced. And composite film 4
Begins to melt, and the resin is gradually pushed into the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b. Thereafter, the film enters the entire glass fiber cloth sheet 4b and is in a state of being impregnated. Further, the composite film 4 is formed into a tubular shape by a welding operation at both ends.

After the heating step, the cylindrical member 1, the composite film 4 and the tubular mold member 2 are taken out of the heating furnace 3 and cooled. After cooling, the composite film 4 was extracted from the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2, and was very finely finished as if the resin was impregnated in the glass fiber. A tubular film of 50 ± 5 μm was obtained.

<Comparative Example 2> A cylindrical member 1 and a tubular mold member 2 used in this comparative example are the same as those in the first embodiment.

However, a thermoplastic resin film, here, a TPI film having a thickness of 50 μm, is used as the sheet-like film wound around the columnar member 1.
A sheet cut into a sheet of mx 300 mm was used.

Here, after the sheet-like film is wound around the columnar member 1, it is further wound so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG. Next, the sheet-like film wound around the cylindrical member 1 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG.

The subsequent process conditions are the same as in the first embodiment.

After the heating and cooling steps, the tubular (columnar) film taken out was subjected to the thermal conductivity measurement, the tensile test, and the thermal expansion coefficient measurement described in the first embodiment.

As a result, by using the composite film shown in the second embodiment, the thermal conductivity becomes higher than that of the thermoplastic film alone shown in Comparative Example 2. Therefore, when the tubular film is used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, which is one of the objects of the tubular film, the composite film has an effect of increasing heat conduction and improving fixing performance.

Further, from the results of the tensile test, the maximum load of the composite film is several times as large as that of the thermoplastic film alone as to the maximum load of the film. Therefore, a composite film is more suitable than a thermoplastic film alone for use in parts requiring strength.

Further, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite film is considerably reduced as compared with the case of a single film, the composite film is excellent in dimensional stability, and it is quite useful to use it as a member particularly requiring dimensional accuracy. is there.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Similar to the first and second embodiments, 1 is a cylindrical member made of aluminum and having a diameter of 24.00 mm and a length of 330 mm, and 2 is a tubular member made of stainless steel. The thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member 1 is 2.4 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.), and the thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular member 2 is 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.). The dimensions of the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 are set so that the gap when both are heated to 300 ° C. becomes 100 μm.

First, a thermoplastic resin film, here, polyether sulfone (PES), which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 25 μm, is formed into a sheet having a length and width of 158.0 mm × 30 mm as the sheet film 4 a. Prepare the cut one.

As the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b, a glass fiber cloth sheet impregnated with epoxy resin having a thickness of 50 μm, which is generally called a prepreg, is cut into a sheet having a length and width of 75.36 mm × 300 mm. prepare.

Here, the sheet-like film 4 is
After a is wound one round, the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is placed on the sheet-like film 4a, and further wound so that both ends A overlap as shown in FIG.

A film comprising the above sheet-like film 4a and the glass fiber cloth sheet 4b is
And

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the composite film 4 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2, and then placed in the heating furnace 3 and heated at 310 ° C. for 30 minutes. In this heating step, the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 are both heated, and a dimensional expansion difference occurs due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient of the material,
The gap interval becomes smaller.

Next, as the gap between the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 becomes narrower, the composite film 4 sandwiched therebetween is further softened, and the overlapped portions at both ends of the film are welded to each other to be in a joined state. The thickness of the joint is 100 μm.

Note that the gap between the cylindrical member and the tubular member is
Finally, the film thickness becomes the same as the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference.

After the heating step, the cylindrical member 1, the composite film 4, and the tubular mold member 2 are taken out of the heating furnace 3 and cooled. After cooling, the composite film 4 was extracted from the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 and the surface of the film was very smooth, and the overall thickness of the composite film 4 was 1
A tubular film of 00 ± 5 μm was obtained.

<Comparative Example 3> The cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 used in this comparative example are the same as those in the first embodiment.

However, as the sheet-like film 4a to be wound around the columnar member 1, a thermoplastic resin film, here a PES film having a thickness of 50 μm, has a vertical and horizontal dimension of 1 mm.
A sheet cut into a sheet of 58.0 mm × 300 mm was used.

Here, the sheet-like film 4 is
After winding a, further winding is performed so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG. Next, the sheet-shaped film 4a wound around the cylindrical member 1 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG.

The process conditions are the same as in the first embodiment.

After the heating and cooling steps, the tubular (cylindrical) film taken out was subjected to the thermal conductivity measurement, the tensile test, and the thermal expansion coefficient measurement described in the first embodiment.

As a result, it is clear that the thermal conductivity is further increased by using the composite film shown in the third embodiment as compared with the thermoplastic film alone shown in Comparative Example 3. Therefore, when the tubular film is used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, which is one of the objects of the tubular film, the composite film has an effect of increasing heat conduction and improving fixing performance.

Further, from the results of the tensile test, the composite film is several times as large as the thermoplastic film alone in terms of the maximum load of the film. Therefore, a composite film is more suitable than a thermoplastic film alone for use in parts requiring strength.

Furthermore, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite film is considerably reduced as compared with the case of a single film, the composite film is excellent in dimensional stability, and it is useful to use it as a member particularly requiring dimensional accuracy. .

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Similar to the above embodiment, 1 is made of aluminum and has a diameter of 24.00 mm and a length of 33.
0 mm is a cylindrical member, and 2 is a tubular member made of stainless steel. The thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member 1 is 2.
4 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.), and the thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular mold member 2 is 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.). The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 2 are set to 300
It is set so that the gap when heated to 100 ° C. becomes 100 μm.

First, a thermoplastic resin film, here polyether sulfone (PES), which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 25 μm, is formed into a sheet having a length and width of 158.0 mm × 300 mm as the sheet-like film 4 a. Prepare the cut one.

The glass particles sandwiched between the sheet films 4a used had a particle size of 10 μm.

Here, the sheet-like film 4 is
After one round of a is wound, the glass particles 4b are evenly placed on the sheet-like film and further wound so that both ends A overlap as shown in FIG.

The film composed of the sheet film 4a and the glass particles 4b is referred to as a composite film 4.

Next, the composite film 4 of the glass particles 4b and the sheet-like film 4a is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2, and then placed in the heating furnace 3 and heated at 310 ° C. for 30 minutes. In this heating step, the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 are both heated, causing a dimensional expansion difference due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of the material, and the gap interval is reduced.

Next, as the gap between the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 becomes narrower, the composite film 4 sandwiched therebetween is further softened, and the overlapped portions at both ends of the film are welded to each other to be in a joined state. The thickness of the joint is 100 μm.

The gap between the columnar member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 finally becomes the same as the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference.

After the heating step, the cylindrical member 1, the composite film 4, and the tubular mold member 2 are taken out of the heating furnace and cooled. After cooling, the composite film 4 was extracted from the cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2, and the surface of the film was very smooth, and the overall thickness of the composite film 4 was 10%.
A tubular film of 0 ± 5 μm was obtained.

<Comparative Example 4> The cylindrical member 1 and the tubular mold member 2 used in this comparative example are the same as in the first embodiment.

However, as the sheet-like film 4a to be wound around the columnar member 1, a thermoplastic resin film, here a PES film having a thickness of 50 μm, has a vertical and horizontal dimension of 1 mm.
A sheet cut into a sheet of 58.0 mm × 300 mm was used.

Here, the sheet-like film 4 is
After winding a, further winding is performed so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG. Next, the sheet-like film wound around the cylindrical member 1 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 2 as shown in FIG.

The process conditions are the same as in the first embodiment.

After the heating and cooling steps, the tubular (columnar) film taken out was subjected to the thermal conductivity measurement, the tensile test, and the thermal expansion coefficient measurement described in the first embodiment.

As a result, it is clear that the composite film shown in the fourth embodiment has a higher thermal conductivity than the thermoplastic film alone shown in Comparative Example 4. Therefore, when the tubular film is used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, which is one of the objects of the tubular film, the composite film has an effect of increasing heat conduction and improving fixing performance.

Further, from the results of the tensile test, the composite film is several times as large as the thermoplastic film alone in terms of the maximum load of the film. Therefore, a composite film is more suitable than a thermoplastic film alone for use in parts requiring strength.

Furthermore, since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite film is considerably reduced as compared with the case of a single film, the composite film is excellent in dimensional stability, and it is useful to use the composite film as a member particularly requiring dimensional accuracy. .

As described above, according to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the composite material film composed of the thermoplastic sheet-like film, the fibrous cloth sheet, the prepreg, and the glass particles is placed outside the cylindrical member at both ends thereof. Is inserted into the tubular mold member in a state of being wound so as to overlap, and by heating it, the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the material of the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member causes the gap between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of both to be reduced. Regarding the method of manufacturing tubular and tubular sheet-like films by reducing and welding the overlapped parts by softening the film, the use of a composite film dramatically improves the thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, film strength, etc. did.

Further, according to the first to fourth embodiments, a fixing device having more excellent fixing performance can be obtained by using a film having a uniform thickness of the above film as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus. I was able to.

The tubular films obtained according to the first to fourth embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIGS. 11 to 17 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cylindrical member as a mandrel around which the film 14 is wound, and in this embodiment, a solid rod member is used. Reference numeral 12 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member having an inner diameter through which the columnar member 11 is inserted.

In this embodiment, aluminum is used for the columnar member 11 and stainless steel is used for the tubular mold member 12.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.

The dimensions of the sheet film are selected according to the inner diameter of the tubular film to be manufactured, and the sizes of the cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 are selected accordingly.

First, as the sheet-like film 14, a thermoplastic material, here, polyetheretherketone (PE)
EK) is prepared by cutting it into a sheet having a length and width of 79.0 mm × 300 mm. The thickness of the sheet film was 50 μm.

The coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 11 is 2.4 × 10
^-5 (/ ° C.) aluminum and stainless steel having a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ^-5 (/ ° C.) of the tubular mold member 12 were used.

The diameter of the cylindrical member 11 is 24.00.
mm and the length were 330 mm. The inner diameter of the tubular mold member 12 is 24.00 mm, and the outer diameter is 30.00 m.
m, length is 330 mm.

The dimensions of the columnar member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 are determined at the time of heating at a heating step described later at a temperature of 370 ° C.
It is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 11 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 12 is 100 μm.

First, as shown in FIG.
The sheet-like film 14 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 11a is wound so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG.

Next, a pipe-shaped ring 20 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 11 and on the outer portion (upper portion) C on one side of the wound sheet-like film 14. The ring 20 is made of aluminum and has a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter of 24.00 mm and a thickness of 0.1 mm as shown in the figure.

Further, the film 14 wound on the cylindrical member 11
Is inserted into the hollow part of the tubular mold member 12 as shown in FIG.

Then, the cylindrical member 11, the film 14, and the tubular mold member 12 are inserted into the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG. The detailed structure of the heating furnace 3 is as already described in FIG.

The heating conditions in the heating furnace 3 are as follows.
0 ± 5 ° C., heating time 30 ± 1 minute.

The heating time is determined in consideration of the melting temperature of the film material and the thermal deterioration of the film.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 3, the columnar member 11, the tubular mold member 12, and the film 14 change as shown in FIGS.

First, the film 14 placed in the heating furnace 3
Is wound around the gap between the mandrel cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12, and both ends 14a, 14b form an overlapped portion.

The dimensional gap between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 11 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 12 is 200 μm.

From this state, the columnar member 11, the film 1
4. The tubular mold member 12 is heated and the temperature of each member rises. The cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 begin to expand according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients (FIG. 15).

The film 14 starts to soften as the temperature rises. The cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 begin to expand as the temperature rises. However, since the thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum material of the cylindrical member 11 is larger than that of the stainless steel of the tubular mold member 12, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 11 Tubular member 1
The dimensional gap of the inner diameter of No. 2 becomes narrower than the initial low temperature state (FIG. 16).

With the narrowing of the gap between the cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12, the film 14 sandwiched between the members is further softened, and the overlapped portions of both ends 14a and 14b of the film are welded to each other and joined. The gap between the cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 finally becomes the same as the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference (FIG. 1).
7).

After the elapse of the above-described heating time of 30 minutes, the heating is stopped, and the process proceeds to the cooling step (FIG. 8).

In the cooling step, the cooling of the cylindrical member 11, the film 1
4. The tubular mold member 12 may be cooled, but may be cooled rapidly to shorten the cooling time.

In this example, after heating, the film 14 is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank and cooled at a cooling rate of 350 ° C./min.

The film taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the butting portions 14a and 14b of the first sheet-like film were also clearly joined.

Here, one end C of the obtained tubular film
The part is formed according to the shape of the end of the attached ring 20, and it is not necessary to cut the end to adjust the shape, and the productivity is improved.

Next, the usage of the tubular film 14 manufactured by the above method is the same as that of the first embodiment already described.

Next, the material of the sheet film 14 applicable to the present embodiment will be described.

The film material that can be used in this embodiment is as follows:
Any material is suitable for use as long as it is a thermoplastic resin material. In particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate,
Polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide-based material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid, and for the purpose of imparting heat-resistant reinforcement, conductivity, and thermal conductivity to the above resin materials A film containing at least one of organic and inorganic fine powders, a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification, and the like may be used.

Here, organic fine powders such as condensed polyimide powders, and inorganic fine powders such as carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder, Any shape, such as inorganic spherical fine particles such as aluminum nitride powder and titanium oxide powder, fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, whisker-like powders such as potassium hexatitanate, potassium octa titanate, silicon carbide and silicon nitride,
Fine powders of a size are preferred.

It is preferable that the total amount of these fine powders is 5 to 70% by weight based on the base resin.

The above-mentioned film material is wound and inserted between the cylindrical member 11 and the tubular mold member 12 to ensure uniformity of the wall thickness of the tubular film obtained by heating and softening and compressing, and for the tubular mold. Uniformity was assured by using a material whose molding shrinkage was in the range of 0.6 to 2.0% to facilitate release from the member.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIGS. 18 and 19 show a sixth embodiment.
An embodiment will be described.

The feature of this embodiment is that the rings shown in the fifth embodiment are mounted at two places, so that the post-cut of both end faces of the film is eliminated, and the productivity is further improved.

The materials and shapes of the cylindrical member 11, the tubular mold member 12, the film 14, and the rings 22, 23 used in the present embodiment, and the steps of forming the tubular film are all the same as those of the fifth embodiment.

However, the ring 2 attached to the cylindrical member 11
Reference numerals 2 and 23 are attached to two locations outside the upper end surface 24 and the lower end surface 25 of the film 14.

Both ends of the tubular film obtained at this time were
The shape of the ring was neat and did not require a cutting step at both ends.

<Comparative Example 1> FIGS. 20 and 21 show a comparative example of the sixth embodiment.

The materials and shapes of the cylindrical member 11, the tubular mold member 12, and the film 14 used in this comparative example, and the steps of forming the tubular film are all the same as in the second embodiment. The only difference from the sixth embodiment is that a ring is not mounted on the cylindrical member 11.

[0247] Both ends 26 and 27 of the obtained tubular film were extended from the initial state by heat, and when it was used as a product, it could not be used unless both ends were cut.

(Seventh Embodiment) FIGS. 22 and 23 show a seventh embodiment.
An embodiment will be described.

A feature of this embodiment is that a tubular film having a desired shape is obtained by arbitrarily designing the shape of the ring.

The materials and shapes of the cylindrical member 11, the tubular mold member 12, and the film 14 used in the present embodiment, and the steps of forming the tubular film are all the same as those of the fifth embodiment.

However, the shapes of the rings 28 and 29 to be mounted are as shown in FIG.
At two places outside the upper end surface 30 and the lower end surface 31 of the.

At this time, both ends of the tubular film obtained are
The shape of the ring was neat, the cutting process of both ends was not required, and the shape of the end of the tubular film could be arbitrarily manipulated.

As described above, according to the fifth to seventh embodiments, the thermoplastic sheet-like film is inserted into the tubular mold member while being wound around the outside of the cylindrical member so that both ends thereof are overlapped. By heating, the gap between the outer diameter and inner diameter of the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member is reduced due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the materials, and the sheet is formed by welding and joining the overlapped portions due to the softening of the film. Regarding the method of forming a tubular or tubular shape of a film, the shape of the end of the tubular film obtained by mounting a ring on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and at least one of the portions where the film is not wound Could be shaped.

Further, the shape of the both ends could be shaped by forming the ring to be attached at two places at both ends of the film.

The shape of the ring to be mounted is arbitrarily manipulated according to the end shape of the desired tubular film.
There is no need to cut both ends to adjust the shape, and a desired tubular film shape can be easily obtained.

Further, a post-process of cutting the end portion after forming the tubular film can be omitted, and the productivity is remarkably improved.

Further, by using a film having a high uniformity of the thickness of the above-mentioned film as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, a fixing device having more excellent fixing performance could be obtained.

The tubular films obtained according to the fifth to seventh embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Eighth Embodiment) FIGS. 24 to 30 show an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a hollow member serving as a mandrel around which the film 34 is wound, and reference numeral 32 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member having an inner diameter through which the cylindrical member 31 is inserted.

In the present embodiment, a polytetrafluoroethylene resin (hereinafter abbreviated as PTFE resin) is used as the cylindrical member 31, and stainless steel is used as the tubular mold member 32.

Further, a rod member 33 made of aluminum and having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 31 is disposed in the hollow of the cylindrical member 31. In addition, the surface of the circumferential surface of the rod member 33 is roughened to a center line average roughness Ra = 3.5 μm.

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.

The dimensions of the sheet film 34 are selected according to the inner diameter of the tubular film to be manufactured, and the sizes of the cylindrical member 31, the tubular mold member 32, and the rod member 33 are selected accordingly.

First, a thermoplastic material, in this case, polyether sulfone (PES) is used as the sheet film 34.
Is cut into a sheet having a length and width of 79.0 mm × 300 mm. The thickness of the sheet film was 50 μm.

The coefficient of thermal expansion of the columnar member 31 is 1.1 × 10
^-4 (/ ° C.) PTFE resin, and stainless steel having a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.) of the tubular mold member 32 were used.

The diameter of the cylindrical member is 24.00 m.
m and the length were 330 mm. The diameter (inner diameter) of the hollow portion of the cylindrical member 31 and the outer diameter of the rod member 33 were 10.00 mm, and the length was 330 mm. The inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 is 24.20 mm, the outer diameter is 30.0 mm, and the length is 3 mm.
30 mm.

The dimensions of the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 are determined by the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 31 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 at a temperature of 300 ° C. during heating in the heating step described later. Is designed in advance to be 100 μm.

First, as shown in FIG.
The sheet-shaped film 34 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 31a is wound so that both ends A are overlapped as shown in FIG.

Next, the film 34 wound on the cylindrical member 31
Is inserted into the hollow part of the tubular mold member 32 as shown in FIG.

Then, the cylindrical member 31, the rod member 33, the film 34 and the tubular mold member 32 are inserted into the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG. The detailed structure of the heating furnace 3 is as shown in FIG. .

The heating conditions in the heating furnace 3 are a heating temperature of 300 ± 5 ° C. and a heating time of 30 ± 1 minute.

This heating time is determined in consideration of the melting temperature of the film material and the thermal deterioration of the film.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 3, the columnar member 31, the tubular mold member 32, and the film 34 change as shown in FIGS.

First, the sheet-like film 4 placed in the heating furnace 3 is wound around the gap between the mandrel cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32, and both ends 34a and 34b form an overlapped portion.

The dimensional gap between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 31 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 is 200 μm.

In this state, the cylindrical member 31, the film 3
4. The tubular mold member 32 is heated and the temperature of each member rises. The cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 begin to expand according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients (FIG. 28).

The film 34 begins to soften as the temperature rises. The cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 begin to expand as the temperature rises. However, since the thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum material of the cylindrical member 31 is larger than that of the stainless steel of the tubular mold member 32, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 31 Tubular mold member 3
The dimensional gap of the inner diameter of No. 2 becomes narrower than the initial low temperature state (FIG. 29).

With the narrowing of the gap between the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32, the film 34 sandwiched therebetween is further softened, and the overlapped portions of both ends 34a and 34b of the film are welded to each other to form a joined state. Incidentally, the gap between the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 is finally equal to the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference (FIG. 3).
0).

After the elapse of the above-described heating time of 30 minutes, the heating is stopped, and the process proceeds to the cooling step (FIG. 8).

The cooling in the cooling step is performed after the heating in the heating step is stopped, and is set to a natural cooling state.
Although the film 34 and the tubular mold member 32 may be cooled,
Rapid cooling may be used to reduce the cooling time.

In the present embodiment, after heating, the film 34 is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank and cooled at a cooling rate of 280 ° C./min.

The film taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the butted portions 34a and 34b of the first sheet-like film 34 were also joined clearly.

Here, when the size of the used cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured, the initial size was 330 mm.
On the other hand, it was 330.5 mm after molding. After the above molding was repeated 100 times, the thrust direction dimension of the cylindrical member 1 was measured in the same manner.
It was thermally deformed to 1.2 mm.

In addition, the step at the overlapped portion of the tubular film 34 thus completed is initially 5 times (first time).
What was 0.50 μm, but after molding 100 times, 53.
It was 50 μm.

The form of use of the manufactured tubular film 34 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, film materials applicable to this example will be described.

The film material that can be used in this embodiment is as follows:
Any material is suitable for use as long as it is a thermoplastic resin material. In particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate,
All thermoplastic resin materials such as polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide-based material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid, etc. Plastic elastomers are also more suitable for use.

Also, a film in which at least one of organic and inorganic fine powders are blended with the above resin material for the purpose of heat resistance reinforcement, conductivity and thermal conductivity, or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used. .

Here, organic fine powder such as condensed polyimide powder and the like, and inorganic fine powder such as carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder, Any shape such as inorganic spherical fine particles such as aluminum nitride powder and titanium oxide powder, fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, whisker-like powder such as potassium hexatitanate, potassium octa titanate, silicon carbide and silicon nitride,
Fine powders of a size are preferred.

It is preferable that the total amount of the fine powder is 5 to 70 wt% based on the base resin.

<Comparative Example 1> FIGS. 31 and 32 show Comparative Example 1 of the eighth embodiment.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 31, the tubular mold member 32, the rod member 33, and the film 34 used in this comparative example
The steps of forming the tubular film are all the same as in the eighth embodiment.

However, the center line average roughness Ra of the circumferential surface of the rod member 33 was 2.7 μm.

After molding the same in the same manner as in the eighth embodiment, when the dimension of the cylindrical member 1 in the thrust direction was measured, the initial dimension was 330 mm, but after the molding, it was 331.0 mm. Had become. In addition, the above molding
After the measurement was repeated 00 times, the dimension of the cylindrical member 1 in the thrust direction was similarly measured. As a result, the cylindrical member 1 was thermally deformed to 332.0 mm, which was 0.8 mm longer than the eighth embodiment.

In addition, the step at the overlapped portion of the tubular film 34 thus completed is initially 5 times (first time).
What was 0.50 μm, 55.
It was 50 μm. This is because the surface roughness of the rod member 33 is smoother than the diameter of the eighth embodiment, so that the frictional force between the cylindrical member 31 and the rod member 33 is small, and the cylindrical member 11 easily moves by heat ( This is considered to be because thermal deformation can occur.

The thickness of this step is 50 μm in total thickness.
+ 10% or more.

When the thickness unevenness of ± 10% or more with respect to the entire thickness occurs, when the film is used as a fixing film 6 for a fixing device as shown in FIG. It has already been confirmed that fixing unevenness occurs.

<Comparative Example 2> A comparative example 2 of the eighth embodiment is shown.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 31, the tubular mold member 32, the bar member 33, and the film 34 used in this comparative example,
The steps of forming the tubular film are all the same as in the eighth embodiment.

However, in this comparative example, the rod member 33 was not used, and was used in a hollow cylindrical state.

After molding the same in the same manner as in the eighth embodiment, when the dimension of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured, the initial dimension was 330 mm. Had become. After the molding was repeated 100 times, the dimension of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured in the same manner. As a result, the cylindrical member 31 was thermally deformed to 334.0 mm, 2.8 mm from the first embodiment, and Comparative Example 1 2.0 mm longer.

[0303] Also, the step at the overlapping portion of the tubular film 34 thus completed is initially 5 times.
What was 1.50 μm, but after molding 100 times, 58.
00 μm. This is because the frictional force between the cylindrical member 31 and the rod member 33 is not generated at all by eliminating the rod member 33 as seen in the eighth embodiment and the comparative example 1, and the cylindrical member is extremely easily formed. 31 is heat transfer (thermal deformation)
It is considered possible.

(Ninth Embodiment) FIGS. 33 and 34 show a ninth embodiment.
Of the embodiment.

The feature of this embodiment is that the disk members 33a are attached to both ends of the rod member 33, thereby further restricting the thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction and preventing the thermal deformation generated during molding. It is in.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a hollow cylindrical member as a mandrel around which the film 34 is wound, and reference numeral 32 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member having an inner diameter through which the cylindrical member 31 is inserted.

In this example, the cylindrical member 31 is made of PT
FE resin is used, and stainless steel is used as the tubular mold member 32. Further, a rod member 33 made of aluminum and having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is disposed in the hollow of the columnar member 31. In addition, the surface of the circumferential surface of the rod member 33 is roughened to a center line average roughness Ra = 3.5 μm. A disk-shaped member such as 33a is formed at both ends of the rod member 33.

First, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (hereinafter abbreviated as TPE) whose deposition resistance was controlled to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm was used as the sheet film 34 in the form of a sheet having a length of 220.0 mm × 300 mm. Prepare the cut pieces. The thickness of the sheet-like film was 200 μm.

The coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 31 is 1.1 × 10
^-4 (/ ° C.) PTFE resin, and stainless steel having a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.) of the tubular mold member 32 were used.

The diameter of the cylindrical member 31 is 66.50.
mm and the length (thickness) were 330 mm. Column member 31
And the outer diameter of the rod member 33 is 45.00.
mm, the length was 330 mm, the diameter of the disc-shaped member 33a was 66.50 mm, and the length was 10 mm. The inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 is 68.00 mm, the outer diameter is 72.0 mm, and the length is 330 mm.

[0311] The dimensions of the columnar member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 are set at a temperature of 170 ° C during heating in a heating step described later.
It is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 31 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 is 400 μm.

[0312] A sheet-like film 34 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 31 in the same manner as in the eighth embodiment. Then, the tubular mold member 32 is put on the outside of the cylindrical member 31 and the film 34, and is set in the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG.

In the heating furnace, heating was performed at 170 ° C. for 90 minutes. The heating action in the heating furnace 3 causes the expansion of the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 and the softening action of the film 34, and the difference in expansion coefficient narrows the gap, thereby softening the film 34 and the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member. The bonding of the films and the uniformity of the film thickness are carried out in combination with the pressing action during 32.

After the elapse of the above-mentioned heating time, it was taken out of the heating furnace 3 and cooled at a cooling rate of 150 ° C./min. One minute after the start of the cooling, the tubular film 34 was taken out from the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 and the work was performed. As a result, the tubular film 34 could be separated neatly.

The taken-out tubular film was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the superposed portion of the first sheet-like film 34 and the close contact of each layer were clearly joined.

Here, when the size of the used cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured, the initial size was 330 mm.
On the other hand, the dimensions were not changed to 330.0 mm after molding. After the above molding was repeated 100 times,
Similarly, when the dimension of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured, it was 330.2 mm. In addition, the step at the overlapped portion of the tubular film 34 formed thereby was 201.50 μm at the beginning (first time), but was almost the same value as 201.0 μm after 100 times molding.

This is because the disk-shaped members 3a installed at both ends of the columnar member 33 regulate (restrict) the thermal expansion of the columnar member 31 in the thrust direction, so that the thermal deformation of the columnar member 31 is extremely reduced. This is probably because the diameter of the cylinder did not change.

Next, another mode of use of the tubular film 34 manufactured by the above method will be described. An example in which the tubular film obtained according to the present embodiment is used as a transfer belt ′ of a transfer device of an image forming apparatus (LBP, laser beam printer) shown in FIG.

In the drawing, reference numeral 47 denotes a photosensitive drum, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum by reflected light (copier) or laser light (LBP) from the original. The charged toner T is attached to the latent image on the photosensitive drum 47. The toner T attached on the photosensitive drum 47 is transferred to the paper P by the electric charge of the transfer belt 34 '.

[0320] The transfer belt 34 'according to this embodiment has a very high uniformity of the film thickness dimension and the film thickness dimension of the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film is the same as the others. The transfer characteristics of the toner T from 47 to the paper P were good, and very high image quality could be obtained.

(Tenth Embodiment) FIGS. 36 and 37 show a tenth embodiment.

The feature of this embodiment is that by attaching lid members 35 to both ends of the tubular mold member 32, the thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction is restricted, and the thermal deformation generated during molding is suppressed. is there.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a solid cylindrical member as a mandrel around which the film 34 is wound, and reference numeral 32 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member having an inner diameter through which the cylindrical member 31 is inserted.

In the present embodiment, the column member 31 is made of PTFE resin, and the tubular mold member 32 is made of stainless steel. A screw type lid member 35 is attached to both ends of the tubular mold member 32.

As in the ninth embodiment, as the sheet-like film 34, TPE resin is set to 220.0 m in length and width.
A sheet cut into a sheet of mx 300 mm is prepared.
The thickness of the sheet-like film was 200 μm.

The coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 31 is 1.1 × 10
^-4 (/ ° C.) PTFE resin, and stainless steel having a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.) of the tubular mold member 32 were used.

The diameter of the cylindrical member 31 is 66.50.
The length was 0 mm and the length was 330 mm. Also, the tubular mold member 32
Has an inner diameter of 68.00 mm and an outer diameter of 72.0 m
m, the length is 330 mm, and lids 35 can be screwed into both ends of the both ends before heating as shown in the figure.

The dimensions of the columnar member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 are determined at the temperature of 170 ° C. during the heating in the heating step described later.
It is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 31 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 32 is 400 μm.

The sheet-like film 34 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 31 in the same manner as in the eighth embodiment. Then, after covering the cylindrical member 31 and the outside of the film 34 with the tubular mold member 32 and installing the lids 35 at both ends of the tubular mold member 32, FIG.
In the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG. Heating was performed at 170 ° C. for 90 minutes in a heating furnace.

The cylindrical member 3 is heated by the heating action in the heating furnace 3.
1. The expansion of the tubular mold member 32 and the softening action of the film occur, the gap is narrowed by the difference in expansion coefficient, and the softening of the film and the pressing action between the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32 are combined with the film bonding and film formation. The thickness is made uniform.

After the elapse of the above heating time, it was taken out of the heating furnace 3 and cooled at a cooling rate of 150 ° C./min. One minute after the start of the cooling, the tubular film 34 was taken out of the cylindrical member 31 and the tubular mold member 32, and the work was performed. As a result, the tubular film could be clearly separated.

The tubular film taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the superposed portion of the first sheet-like film 34 and the close contact of each layer were clearly joined. Here, when the dimension of the used cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction was measured, the initial dimension was 330 mm, but after the molding, there was no change in the dimension to 330.0 mm.
After the molding was repeated 100 times, the thrust direction dimension of the cylindrical member 31 was measured in the same manner.
1 mm. In addition, the step at the overlapped portion of the tubular film 4 that is formed thereby is initially 2 (the first time).
It was 01.50 μm, but even after molding 100 times.
It was almost the same value as 0 μm.

This is because the lid members 35 provided at both ends of the tubular mold member 32 regulate (restrict) the thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 31 in the thrust direction, so that the thermal deformation of the cylindrical member 31 is extremely reduced. It seems to be due to that.

As described above, according to the eighth to tenth embodiments, the thermoplastic sheet-like film is inserted into the tubular mold member while being wound around the outside of the cylindrical member so that both ends thereof are overlapped. By heating, the gap between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member is reduced due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the materials, and the sheet is formed by welding and joining the overlapped portions due to the softening of the film. Regarding the method of forming a tubular or tubular film, it is possible to suppress (control) thermal deformation of the cylindrical member in the thrust direction.

In particular, (1) a rod member having a smaller thermal expansion than that of the cylindrical member is disposed in the hollow portion of the cylindrical member, and the surface roughness of the circumferential surface of the rod member is set to a center line average roughness Ra = 3 μm or more. (2) forming a disk-shaped member having a diameter larger than that of the rod member and smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular mold member at both end portions of the rod member; and (3) forming both end portions of the tubular mold member. By attaching the lid member to the cover, deformation of the cylindrical member in the thrust direction can be suppressed.

As a result, even if the cylindrical member used is a resin material, thermal deformation in the thrust direction can be suppressed, and the diameter reduction can be suppressed, thereby increasing the durability of the cylindrical member. In addition, the resulting tubular film was stable in molding and its productivity was remarkably improved.

Further, according to the eighth to tenth embodiments, a transfer film and a fixing performance can be further improved by using a tubular film having a uniform thickness and a high precision as a transfer belt and a fixing film of an image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus was obtained.

The tubular films obtained according to the eighth to tenth embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Eleventh Embodiment) FIGS. 38 to 43 show a first embodiment.
1 shows an embodiment.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a cylindrical member as a mandrel for covering the metal tube, and in this embodiment, a solid rod member is used.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a tubular or hollow mold member having an inner diameter through which the columnar member 51 is inserted.

In this example, aluminum is used for the columnar member 51, and stainless steel is used for the tubular member 52. The coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum is 2.
4 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.), the coefficient of thermal expansion of stainless steel is 1.
It is 2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.).

Next, a specific embodiment will be described.

The dimensions of the sheet film 54 and the metal tube 55 are selected according to the inner diameter of the tubular film to be manufactured, and the sizes of the columnar member 51 and the tubular mold member 52 are selected accordingly.

First, a metal tube 55 having a diameter of 2
A nickel tube having a thickness of 4.10 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 30 μm, in this case, nickel electroforming is prepared.

Next, as the sheet-like film 54 wound around the metal tube 55, a thermoplastic resin film, here, a thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) film, which is an amorphous resin having a thickness of 15 μm, has a vertical and horizontal dimension of 78. .0m
A sheet cut into a sheet of mx 300 mm is prepared.

The diameter of the columnar member 51 is 24.0.
0 mm, a length of 330 mm, and a tubular mold member 52
Has an inner diameter of 24.20 mm and an outer diameter of 30.0 m
m, length is 330 mm.

The dimensions of the columnar member 51 and the tubular mold member 52 are
At the time of heating at a heating temperature of 400 ° C. in a heating step to be described later, a design is made in advance so that the dimensional difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 51 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 52 becomes 45 μm.

Here, a metal tube 55 is inserted into the columnar member 51 as shown in FIG. 38, and the sheet-like film 54 is wound around the outer periphery thereof one round so that the beginning and end of the winding overlap as shown in FIG. The tubular film configuration is made up of two layers (metal tube / sheet film).

As described above, the composite film obtained by winding the sheet film 54 around the outer surface of the metal tube 55 using the columnar member 51 is referred to as a composite film 56.

Next, the composite film 56 wound around the cylindrical member 51 is inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 52 as shown in FIG.

Then, the cylindrical member 51, the composite film 5
6. The tubular mold member 52 is inserted into the heating furnace 3 shown in FIG. The detailed structure of the heating furnace 3 is as shown in FIG. .

The heating conditions in the heating furnace 3 are as follows.
0 ± 5 ° C., heating time 30 ± 1 minute.

The heating time is determined in consideration of the melting temperature of the film material and the thermal deterioration of the film.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 3, the columnar member 51, the tubular mold member 52, and the composite film 56 are shown in FIGS.
It changes as shown in FIG.

First, the composite film 56 placed in the heating furnace 3 is wound around the gap between the mandrel cylindrical member 51 and the tubular mold member 52 to form an overlapped portion at both ends.

The dimensional gap between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 51 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 52 is 200 μm. From this state, the cylindrical member 51, the composite film 56, and the tubular mold member 52 are heated, and the temperature of each member rises. Column member 51
The tubular mold member 52 starts to expand according to the respective thermal expansion coefficients (FIG. 41).

The composite film 56, particularly the sheet film 54, starts to soften as the temperature rises. Column member 51
And the tubular mold member 52 begins to expand as the temperature rises,
Since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the aluminum material of the cylindrical member 51 is larger than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the stainless steel of the tubular mold member 52,
The dimensional gap between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 51 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 52 becomes narrower than in the initial low temperature state (FIG. 42).

With the narrowing of the gap between the columnar member 51 and the tubular mold member 52, the sheet-like film 54 of the composite film 56 sandwiched therebetween is further softened, and the overlapped portions at both ends of the film are welded to each other and joined. become.

Incidentally, the gap between the columnar member 51 and the tubular mold member 52 finally becomes the same as the desired film thickness, and the film thickness is made uniform over the entire circumference (FIG. 43).

After the elapse of the above-described heating time of 30 minutes, the heating is stopped and the process proceeds to the cooling step (FIG. 8).

In the cooling step, the column member 51, the composite film 56, and the tubular mold member 52 may be cooled naturally by stopping the heating in the heating step and then cooled to a natural state. You may.

In this example, after heating, the film is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank and cooled at a cooling rate of 400 ° C./min.

Here, the step of releasing the obtained tubular film will be described.

[0365] The first step in the releasing step is as follows.
1 and detaching the tubular mold member 52.

Further, as a second part of the releasing step, the columnar member 51 is formed.
The composite film 56 attached to the outer surface of the composite film 56 is released (FIG. 44 shows an example of a step of fixing the columnar member 51 to the support base 59 and releasing the composite film 56).

The film taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the portion where the first sheet-like film 54 was superposed was also clearly joined.

Also, the adhesion between the sheet film 54 and the metal tube 55 (here, nickel electroformed) was good, and no peeling or swelling from the interface between nickel and the film was observed.

The tubular film 54 produced by the above method
Is used as described above and shown in FIG. 10, but the fixing film (tubular film 5) according to the present embodiment is used.
4) The film thickness dimension of the film is extremely high in accuracy of uniformity, and the film thickness dimension of the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film is the same as the others, resulting in non-uniform heat transfer from the film to the toner. And very high image quality could be obtained.

Next, the material of the sheet film of the composite film applicable to this example will be described.

As the material of the sheet film that can be used in the present embodiment, any material can be used as long as it is a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer material. In particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1,
Polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, various thermoplastic polyimide materials, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid, A film in which at least one of organic and inorganic fine powders are blended with the above resin material for the purpose of heat resistance reinforcement, conductivity and thermal conductivity, or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used.

Here, as the organic fine powder, for example, condensed polyimide powder and the like, and as the inorganic fine powder, carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder Inorganic spherical fine particles such as aluminum nitride powder and titanium oxide powder, fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, and whisker-like powders such as potassium hexatitanate, potassium octa titanate, silicon carbide and silicon nitride. Pulverized fine powder is preferred.

It is preferable that the compounding amount of these fine powders is 5 to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the base resin.

Next, in addition to nickel, aluminum, copper, iron, titanium, lead, silver, gold,
Platinum and alloys thereof are exemplified.

Next, the effect of the metal tube in which the resin layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface with the thermoplastic resin film as in the present embodiment will be described below. (1) The rigidity of the film itself is improved. (2) Since the thermal conductivity is improved, when used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, fixing can be performed with little energy. (3) The heat resistance is improved. (4) The resin layer improves impact resistance and durability as compared with a metal-only tube.

[0376] Similar results were obtained for the effect when only the inner surface of the metal tube was coated with resin.
Further, the following effects were also exhibited. (5) When used as a fixing film for an image forming apparatus, the slidability of the fixing film is improved, and the durability is also improved. (6) The metal tube does not come into direct contact with other members, and the other members are not scraped or damaged.

(Twelfth Embodiment) Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the cylindrical member and the tubular member used are the same as those in the eleventh embodiment. Further, the dimension setting of the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 51 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 52 is such that the gap when both are heated to 400 ° C.
It is set to be 0 μm.

Next, as the sheet-like film 54 to be wound around the columnar member 51, PEEK (polyether ether ketone) having a thickness of 15 μm is set to a length and width of 78.0.
Two pieces cut into a sheet of mm × 300 mm are prepared.

As the metal tube, an aluminum metal tube 55 having a diameter of 24.10 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 30 μm is prepared.

Here, the sheet-like film 54 is wound around the cylindrical member 51 once so that the beginning and the end of the winding overlap with each other, and then the metal tube 55 is placed over the wound sheet-like film. Furthermore, another sheet-like film 54 is wound around the metal tube 55 one round so that the winding start and the winding end are overlapped, and the entire tubular film configuration becomes three layers (sheet-like film / metal tube / sheet-like film). To do.

As described above, the composite film 56 in which the thermoplastic resin film is wound around the inner and outer surfaces of the metal tube 55 using the columnar member 51 is used.

Next, the composite film 56 wound around the cylindrical member 51 is inserted into the hollow part of the tubular member 52 as shown in FIG.
Then, heating is performed for a heating time of 30 ± 1 minute.

In this heating step, the columnar member 51 and the tubular mold member 52 are both heated, causing a dimensional expansion difference due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of the material, thereby narrowing the gap, and softening the sheet-like film 54 by heating and softening. Is formed into a tubular shape by the welding operation of both end portions of the metal.

After the heating step, the cylindrical member 51, the composite film 56 and the tubular mold member 52 are taken out of the heating furnace and cooled. After cooling, the film 56 was extracted from the cylindrical member 51 and the tubular mold member 52. As a result, a tubular film having a thickness of 60 ± 5 μm as a whole was obtained.

The film thus taken out was finished in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the portion where the first sheet-like film was superposed was clearly joined.

Further, the adhesion between the sheet-like film and the metal tube (here, nickel electroformed) was good, and no peeling or swelling from the interface between nickel and the film was observed.

Next, the effect of the metal tube having the resin layer formed on both sides by the thermoplastic resin films as described above will be described below. (1) The rigidity of the film itself is further improved as compared with the metal tube of the eleventh embodiment in which one surface is coated with a resin. (2) Since both surfaces are coated with a resin, the resin layer further improves impact resistance, durability, and the like, as compared with the metal tube of the eleventh embodiment in which one surface is resin-coated.

(Thirteenth Embodiment) Next, a thirteenth embodiment will be described.

First, a metal tube having a diameter of 24.1 was used.
A nickel tube (here, nickel electroformed) 55 having a thickness of 0 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 30 μm is prepared.

The cylindrical member 51 into which the metal tube 55 can be inserted is a diameter of 24.00 mm and a length of 3 mm.
A 00 mm aluminum solid bar is prepared.

Next, as a solution used for forming the resin layer by the dip coating method, here, PES (polyether sulfone) was dissolved in a solvent NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) at a concentration of 5 wt%. Prepare a mixed solution.

This mixed solution is put into a liquid tank of a dipping device.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the cylindrical member 51, and both ends of the metal tube 55 are sealed with a tape so that the coating solution does not enter from the end of the metal tube 55.
5 is immersed in the liquid tank. (FIG. 45) After immersion, the pulling speed is set to 10 mm per minute in order to form a resin layer of 10 μm. This numerical value is calculated from the viscosity of the mixed solution and the pulling speed to make the thickness of the film 10 μm.

Next, the metal tube 55 coated with the resin solution taken out of the dipping device is dried, and a resin layer is formed in the heating furnace 3 set at 300 ° C. in order to form a resin layer by heating. For 30 minutes to form a resin coating.

A PES resin layer having a thickness of 10 μm was formed on the surface of the metal tube taken out of the furnace.

[0397] When the resin layer of this embodiment is formed by the dip coating method, the resin coating may be a thermoplastic resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, or the like.
These resins such as polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, and polyether nitrile are used by dispersing or dissolving them in an organic solvent. The solution concentration is 5 to 10 wt%
Is optimal.

Next, the effect of the metal tube in which the resin layer is formed on one side by the dip coating method as described above will be described below. (1) The thickness of the resin layer can be formed to an arbitrary thickness by changing the pulling speed of the dip. (2) By dispersing the filler in the dip solution, a filler-containing coating film can be formed relatively easily.

(Fourteenth Embodiment) Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described.

First, a metal tube 55 having a diameter of 2
4. Prepare an aluminum layer tube having a length of 10 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 20 μm.

Next, a solution used for forming a resin layer by dipping, here, TPI (thermoplastic polyimide) was dissolved in a solvent NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone).
A mixed solution dissolved in wt% is prepared.

[0402] The mixed solution is put into a liquid tank of a dipping device.

After the setting, the entire metal tube 55 made of aluminum is immersed in the liquid tank as shown in FIG.

[0404] After completion of the immersion, the pulling speed is set to 10 mm per minute in order to form a resin layer of 10 µm. This numerical value is calculated from the viscosity of the mixed solution and the pulling speed to make the thickness of the film 10 μm.

Next, the aluminum metal tube 55 coated with the resin solution taken out of the dipping device was used.
Is dried and a resin layer is formed by heating.
Aluminium metal tube 55 coated on both sides is placed in heating furnace 3 set at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a resin coating film.

A TPI resin layer having a thickness of 10 was formed on both surfaces of the aluminum metal tube 55 taken out of the furnace.
It was formed finely in μm.

Next, the effect of the metal tube 55 in which the resin layers are formed on both surfaces by dip coating will be described below. (1) The durability is improved by forming the resin layers on both surfaces. (2) Since the resin is coated on both sides, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of internal stress as compared with a single-sided resin coat, and the durability is further improved.

As described above, by providing a resin layer on one side or both sides of a metal tube as in the eleventh to fourteenth embodiments, the performance of a tubular film made of a thermoplastic resin film alone can be compared with the following. This has the effects described below. (1) By combining the metal and the resin, the mechanical strength of the entire tubular film is increased, and the durability is improved. (2) Since the metal, which is a good conductive material, is interposed, the thermal conductivity of the entire tubular film is improved. Therefore, when used as a fixing film for an image forming apparatus, fixing can be performed with a smaller amount of heat. (3) The heat resistance is improved by compounding with a metal. (4) By providing a resin layer on one side or both sides of a metal tube, impact resistance is equivalent to that of a thermoplastic resin tubular film.

Further, since the resin layer of the metal tube can be formed by a thermoplastic resin film or a dipping method, the thickness of the resin layer can be arbitrarily changed.

Further, by using a film having a high uniformity of the film thickness as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus, a fixing device having more excellent fixing performance can be obtained.

The tubular films obtained according to the eleventh to fourteenth embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Fifteenth Embodiment) FIGS. 46 to 64 show a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A hollow cylindrical member 102 is used as a mandrel around which the film 101 is wound, and the film 101 and the cylindrical member 10 are used.
As the outer mold 2, a tubular or hollow mold member 121 was used. The tubular mold member 121 has an inner diameter through which the columnar member 102 is inserted.

[0414] In this example, a polytetrafluoroethylene resin (hereinafter abbreviated as PTFE resin) was used as the cylindrical member 102, and stainless steel was used as the tubular mold member 121. A rod-shaped member 104 made of stainless steel and having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is disposed in the hollow of the cylindrical member 102. Further, two linear grooves 122 are formed near both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121 along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121.

[0415] Used PTFE resin cylindrical member 102
Has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.1 × 10 ⁻⁴ (/ ° C.), and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the tubular member 121 made of stainless steel is 1.2 × 10 ^−5.
(/ ° C.).

[0416] The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 102 is 66.5.
mm, the inner diameter was 45.0 mm, and the length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped member 104 is 45.0 mm,
The length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 121 is 78.0 mm, the inner diameter is 68.0 mm, and the length is 350 mm. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the groove 122 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121 is 2 mm × 2 m
m, and the groove is formed at a position 7 mm inward from both ends of the tubular mold member 121.

[0417] In the present embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121 are determined during heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C.
2. The difference between the outer diameter of No. 2 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 121 is 400 μm.
m is designed in advance.

As the sheet-like film 101, a styrene-based thermoplastic resin elastomer (hereinafter abbreviated as TPE) having a volume resistance value controlled to 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹² Ω · cm has a length and width of 220.0 mm × 330 mm. A sheet cut into a sheet was prepared. The thickness of the sheet-like film 101 was 200 μm.

[0419] First, as shown in FIG.
2 sheet-like film 101 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 105
Was wound so that both end portions 103a and 103b overlap as shown in FIG. The circumferential length of the overlapping portion 111 at this time was 12 mm.

Next, the cylindrical member 102 around which the film 101 was wound was inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 121 as shown in FIG. Each member 101, 102, 121, 122
FIG. 50 shows a detailed view of the installation positional relationship of.

[0421] Then, the cylindrical member 102, the rod-shaped member 10
4. The film 101 and the tubular mold member 121 were inserted into a heating furnace 131 as shown in FIG. FIG. 52 shows a detailed internal structure of the heating furnace 131.

In FIG. 52, objects to be heated 101, 102, 104, and 121 are placed on a support 141 in a heating furnace 131. At this time, each member 101, 102, 104, 1
The columnar member 102 was lifted by a suitable support body 142 so that the cross-sectional centers of 21 corresponded. In the present embodiment, the object to be heated is laid down (parallel), but the installation method is not limited to this, and the object to be heated is erected (vertically) as shown in FIG.
There is no problem with installation.

The temperature in the heating furnace 131 is controlled by a temperature sensor and a temperature controller (not shown). In this embodiment, the temperature is 170 ± 5 ° C., and the heating time is 90 minutes.
And However, the heating conditions are not limited to the heating conditions shown in the present embodiment, and the heating conditions are as follows.
Any conditions may be used. Further, the heating conditions were determined in consideration of the thermal deterioration of the material used for the film 101.

[0424] In the heating step in the heating furnace 131, the columnar member 102, the tubular mold member 121, and the film 101 changed as shown in Figs.

[0425] The film 101 is located between the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121, and the gap 108 between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 102 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 121 is 7 mm when not heated.
It was 50 μm. The film 101 wound around the cylindrical member 102 has an overlapping portion 111 (FIG. 5).
4).

[0426] From this state, the columnar member 102, the tubular mold member 121, and the film 101 are heated in the furnace, and the temperature of each member rises. The columnar member 102 and the tubular mold member 121 start expanding according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients.
The film 101 starts to soften as the temperature rises.

Since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 102 is larger than that of the tubular mold member 121, the gap between the tubular mold member 121 and the cylindrical member 102 becomes narrower in the heating process than in the non-heated state (FIG. 55).

When each member reaches a predetermined temperature, the gap between the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121 becomes a desired size. The softened film 101 has a desired film thickness due to a stress 161 caused by a difference in the magnitude of thermal expansion between the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121. In particular, since the stress 161 is applied from the heating process to the overlapping portion 111 of the film, the film is welded and joined, and a uniform tubular film can be obtained over the entire circumference (FIG. 56).

Further, in the above heating step, the end of the film 101 changed as shown in FIGS. When not heated, the distance between the end 101a of the film 101 and the groove 122 is 2 mm (FIG. 57). Each member 1
When 01, 102 and 121 reach a predetermined temperature, the film 101 is compressed by pressure generated due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121. However, one end of the film end 101a is a space, and thus tends to flow sideways (FIG. 58).

The edge 101 of the film 101 which has flowed sideways
Since a is in contact with the groove 122 and flows into the groove, the film 101 hardly flows laterally, and the film stops flowing (FIG. 59). Thereby, even at the film edge,
A uniform tubular film with a very small change in film thickness can be obtained.

After heating the members 101, 102, 104 and 121 for 90 minutes, the process moves to the cooling step (FIG. 60).

In the cooling furnace, each member 101, 102, 104, 1 is set to a natural cooling state after the heating step is stopped.
21 may be cooled, but may be forcibly cooled to shorten the cooling time. In the present embodiment, after heating, it is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank and cooled at a cooling rate of 280 ° C./min, and when each of the members 101, 102, 104 and 121 reaches room temperature, The cylindrical member 102 and the film 101 were separated.

The film taken out was formed in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the portion of the film overlapping portion 111 was joined without any step.

Here, when the film thickness was measured in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film 171, it was as shown in FIG. 62, while the initial film thickness of the film 101 was 200 μm.

Finally, in order to form the tubular film 171 into a shape that can withstand actual specifications, both ends were cut to obtain an endless tubular film 172 having a longitudinal dimension of 320 mm. The change in the thickness of the endless tubular film 172 became very uniform as shown in FIG.

Next, the usage of the tubular film 172 manufactured by the above method will be described. An example in which the tubular film 172 manufactured by the above method is used as a transfer belt 201 for conveying and transferring an image of a toner carrier of an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer) will be described.

In FIG. 64, the photosensitive drum 202 is adapted to be driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow.
And an electrostatic latent image is formed by the optical writing device 204 using laser light. The reflected light may be used for the optical writing device 204.

[0438] A developing unit 205 is arranged beside the photosensitive drum. A toner 206 is stored in the developing unit 205, and the charged toner 20 is applied to the electrostatic latent image portion.
6 adheres and is visualized as a toner image.

The transfer belt 201 has four rollers 20
7, 208, 209 and 210 are stretched sideways. The transfer belt 201 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow. Transfer paper 2
11 is fed onto the transfer belt in the direction of the arrow, and is conveyed by suction to the transfer belt by the paper suction charger 212. At this time, the transfer paper 211 is conveyed at the same speed Vf as the transfer belt 201. When the transfer paper 211 reaches the transfer area, the toner visualized on the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the transfer charger 2.
13, the image is transferred to the transfer paper 211. After the transfer, the transfer paper 211 is further transported and guided to the fixing device 214.

The transfer belt 201 according to the present embodiment has extremely high uniformity of the film thickness dimension, and the film thickness dimension of the superposed portion of the sheet-like film is equivalent to the others. The transfer characteristics of the toner 206 from the photosensitive drum 202 to the transfer paper 211 were good, and very high image quality was obtained. Further, since the adsorbability of the transfer paper 211 to the transfer belt was also stable, the transfer paper 211 exhibited extremely high transportability.

Next, film materials applicable to this example will be described.

The film material that can be used in this embodiment is as follows:
Any material is suitable for use as long as it is a thermoplastic resin material. In particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide , All thermoplastic resin materials such as polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid and blended resins thereof, and thermoplastic elastomers formed by the above blends Are also more suitable for use.

Further, the above resin material is heat-resistant reinforced, conductive,
For the purpose of imparting thermal conductivity and the like, a film containing at least one kind of organic or inorganic fine powder or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used.

Here, the organic fine powder is, for example, a condensation type polyimide powder, and the inorganic fine powder is carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride. Inorganic spherical fine particles such as powder, aluminum nitride powder, and titanium oxide powder; fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and crow fiber; and whisker-like powders such as potassium titanate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride; Can be used.

Further, it is preferable that the compounding amount of these fine powders is 5 to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the base resin.

<Comparative Example 1> FIG. 65 shows Comparative Example 1 of the fifteenth embodiment.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 102, the rod-shaped member 104, the tubular mold member 121, and the film 101 used in this comparative example, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all of the fifteenth embodiment.
This is the same as the embodiment. However, no groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121.

After molding using the members 101, 102, 104 and 121 in the same manner as in the fifteenth embodiment,
When the length in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film 171 was measured, it was 360 mm, compared with 330 mm in the longitudinal direction of the initial film.

Further, when the film thickness of the manufactured tubular film 171 was measured in the longitudinal direction, the film
While the film thickness of No. 1 was 200 μm, the result was as shown in FIG. The tubular film 17 thus produced
It is considered that the reason why the film thickness at both end portions of the film 1 became extremely thin is that the end portion 101a of the film 101 flows toward the non-space side during the heat molding and is unevenly stretched.

In the case where the tubular mold member 121 having no groove is used, the produced tubular film 17
The portion having a uniform thickness of 1 is very small, and in order to obtain the same (320 mm) endless tubular film as in the fifteenth embodiment, it is necessary to produce a tubular film from a film having a longer dimension and cut it. There is a lot of waste.

(Sixteenth Embodiment) This embodiment is characterized in that the lateral flow of the film is reduced by the shape of the groove.

FIGS. 66 to 71 show Embodiment 16A of the present invention.
１６16E.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 102, the rod-shaped member 104, the tubular mold member 121, and the film 101 used in the present embodiment, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all the first steps.
This is similar to the fifth embodiment. However, the tubular mold member 121
Are formed with grooves of various shapes. The cross-sectional shape of the groove is as shown in FIG. 66 (Embodiments 16A-1)
6E).

After the members 101, 102, 104 and 121 are molded by the same method as in the fifteenth embodiment,
Both ends were cut to form an endless tubular film 172 having a longitudinal direction of 320 mm. When the film thickness of the tubular film 172 was measured, the results were as shown in FIGS. In the case of the groove shape (Embodiments 16A to 16E), a tubular film 172 having a uniform film thickness could be obtained. Furthermore, in Embodiments 16D and 16E, the tubular film 171 was able to be separated from the tubular mold member (401) in a particularly stable manner.

<Comparative Example> FIGS. 66 and 72 to 73 show the first comparative example.
15 shows Comparative Examples 16A to 16B of the sixth embodiment.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 102, the rod-shaped member 104, the tubular mold member 121, and the film 101 used in this comparative example, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all of the fifteenth embodiment.
This is the same as the embodiment. However, grooves of different shapes are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121. The cross-sectional shape of the groove is as shown in FIG. 66 (Comparative Examples 16A to 16C).

The members 101, 102, 104, and 121 were formed in the same manner as in the sixteenth embodiment. In Comparative Examples 16B and 16C, the tubular mold member 12
72, the tubular film 171 could not be separated stably, resulting in a tubular film 181 having a shape as shown in FIG. Tubular film 1 obtained in Comparative Example 16A
At 71, both ends were cut to form an endless tubular film 172 having a longitudinal direction of 320 mm.

When the thickness of the tubular film 172 was measured, it was as shown in FIG. 73, while the initial thickness of the film 101 was 200 μm. The reason why the film thickness at both ends of the tubular film 172 produced in this way is extremely small is that in the case of this groove shape (Comparative Example 16A), the volume of the groove 122, particularly the depth of the groove, causes the film flow. It turned out to be insufficient to suppress.

(Embodiment 17) This embodiment is characterized in that a rib is attached to an endless tubular film without post-processing by controlling the shape of a groove.

A hollow cylindrical member 102 is used as a mandrel around which the film 101 is wound, and the film 101 and the cylindrical member 10 are used.
As the outer mold 2, a tubular or hollow mold member 121 was used. Further, the tubular mold member 121 has an inner diameter through which the columnar member is inserted.

In this example, the columnar member 102 is P
TFE resin was used, and stainless steel was used as the tubular mold member 121. In the hollow of the cylindrical member 102,
A rod-shaped member 104 made of stainless steel having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is arranged. Further, two linear grooves 191 are formed near both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the stainless steel tubular mold member 121 along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121.

The thermal expansion coefficient of the PTFE resin cylindrical member used was 1.1 × 10 ⁻⁴ (/ ° C.), and the stainless steel tubular mold member 121 had a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.). /
° C).

The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 102 is 24.0.
mm, the inner diameter was 10.0 mm, and the length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped member 104 is 10.0 mm,
The length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 121 is 36.0 mm, the inner diameter is 24.2 mm, and the length is 350 mm. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the groove 191 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 121 is as shown in FIG. The positions where the grooves are formed are each 10 mm inside from both ends of the tubular mold member 121.

In the present embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 102 and the tubular mold member 121 are determined at the time of heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 300 ° C.
The difference between the outer diameter of No. 2 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 121 is 100 μm.
m is designed in advance.

As the sheet-like film 101, polyethersulfone (hereinafter abbreviated as PES) containing 10% by weight of boron nitride dispersed therein and having a vertical and horizontal dimension of 78.0 mm was used.
A sheet cut into a sheet of × 300 mm was prepared. The thickness of the sheet film 101 was 50 μm. As the rib 192, PES has the same cross-sectional shape as the groove 191,
Two pieces having a length of 75.8 mm were prepared.

[0466] First, as shown in FIG.
2 sheet-like film 101 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 105
Was wound so that both end portions 103a and 103b overlap as shown in FIG. At this time, the circumferential length of the overlapping portion 111 at both ends of the film was 2 mm.

Next, a rib 192 was fitted into the groove 191. The rib 192 is moved for a short time (2 mi
n), it remained attached in the groove 191.

Next, the cylindrical member 102 around which the film 101 was wound was inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 121 as shown in FIG. At this time, the film overlapping unit 111
Are arranged and inserted so as to coincide with the joint of the rib 192. FIG. 75 shows a detailed view of the positional relationship between the members 101, 102, 121, 191, and 192.

Next, heating and cooling were performed in the same procedure as in the fifteenth embodiment. However, heating conditions are 300 ° C., 9
0 min.

Each member 101, 102, 121, 191,
When the temperature of 192 reached room temperature, the cylindrical member 102 and the film 101 were separated from the tubular mold member 121.

The separated film 101 is finished in a tubular shape, and the overlapping portion 1 at both ends of the film 101 is formed.
11. Both the bonding portions of the film 101 and the rib 192 were cleanly bonded.

[0472] The produced tubular film 199 was set as a fixing film of a fixing device described later, and a heating idling test was carried out. As a result, no breakage of the overlapped portion or the rib joint portion was observed even after 1000 hours.

Next, the usage of the endless tubular film 199 produced by the above method will be described.

After coating the outermost layer of the endless tubular film 199 produced according to this embodiment with a fluororesin, the fixing film 305 of the fixing device of the image forming apparatus (copier, laser beam printer, etc.) shown in FIG. Here is an example of using

In FIG. 76, the pressure roller 303 and the fixing film 305 are in contact with each other. Inside the fixing film, a heater 307 for heating, a heater holder 308 for holding the heater, and a stay 301 for holding the fixing film 305 are provided.

The pressure roller 303 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown), and the fixing film 305 is in contact with the pressure roller 303 and has a heater. Holder 3
Since it is not fixed to 01 or the like, it is deformed by the pressure roller 303, and is further rotationally driven by a frictional force at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow.

[0477] The transfer paper 304 is conveyed to the fixing device at a constant speed of Vf from the direction of the arrow. At this time, the transfer paper 30
4 carries toner 302 for forming an image.
When the transfer paper 304 transported and inserted reaches the fixing area,
Heated by heater 307, and pressure roller 303
Is applied by the fixing film 305 to fix the toner.

As shown in FIG. 77, PTFE restraining stays 193 for restraining rotational deviation of the fixing film 305 are disposed at both ends of the fixing device. The fixing film 305 tends to fluctuate left and right in FIG. 77 during rotation following due to a deviation of the alignment balance in the fixing device, but the rib 192 is regulated by the restraining stay 193 and remains at a fixed position.

The fixing film 305 according to the present embodiment is
The accuracy of film thickness uniformity is extremely high,
The film thickness dimensional accuracy of the superposed portion of the sheet-like film was the same as the others, and non-uniform heat transfer of toner from the film did not occur, and a very high-quality image could be obtained. Further, the fixing film 305 is connected to the rib 192 and the deflection suppressing stay 1.
Because it is regulated by 93, there is no deviation to the left and right, and the displacement of the toner is very small.

As described above, according to the fifteenth to seventeenth embodiments, the thermoplastic sheet-like film is inserted into the tubular mold member while being wound around the outside of the cylindrical member so that both ends thereof are overlapped with each other. By reducing the gap between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the material of the cylindrical member and the tubular member due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of the material of the cylindrical member and the tubular member, the sheet-like film tubular by welding and joining the overlapping portions due to the softening of the film, Regarding the method of forming a tubular shape, the flow of the sheet-like film in the gap direction is suppressed. Alternatively, it is possible to actively use (both are controlled together).

In particular, the flow of the formed tubular film in the gap direction was controlled by forming a groove at the end of the tubular mold member and by contacting the film with the groove in a heated state.

[0482] Thus, the shape of the end of the formed endless tubular film can be controlled, and the end treatment by post-processing can be remarkably reduced, thereby improving the productivity. In addition, the uniformity of the thickness of the obtained tubular film was very excellent.

Further, it can be used as a transfer belt and a fixing film of an image forming apparatus which requires high-precision film thickness uniformity. In this case, it can be used as a part of an image forming apparatus having extremely excellent transfer performance and fixing performance. Was available.

The tubular films obtained according to the fifteenth to seventeenth embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Eighteenth Embodiment) FIGS. 78 to 93 show an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

The feature of the present embodiment is that when the tubular film is produced, the inclination of the film thickness is controlled by the cylindrical member and the shape of the film, and the produced tubular film is used as a transport belt. The purpose is to suppress deflection.

The hollow cylindrical member 401 is used as a mandrel around which the film 411 is wound, and the film 411 and the cylindrical member 40 are used.
As the outer diameter of 1, a tubular or hollow mold member 431 was used. The tubular member 431 has an inner diameter through which the columnar member 401 is inserted.

In the present embodiment, a polytetrafluoroethylene resin (hereinafter abbreviated as PTFE resin) is used as the cylindrical member 401, and stainless steel is used as the tubular mold member 431. In the hollow of the columnar member 401,
A rod-shaped member 414 made of stainless steel having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is provided.

The used PTFE resin cylindrical member 401
Has a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.1 × 10 ⁻⁴ (/ ° C.). The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 has a maximum value of 66.5 m at the center.
m, the minimum value at the end was 66.1 mm, the inner diameter was 45.0 mm, and the length was 340 mm. FIG. 78 shows the shape of the cylindrical member 401 used in this embodiment. The outer diameter of the rod member 414 is 45.0 mm and the length is 340.
mm. Also, a stainless steel tubular mold member 431 is provided.
Has a thermal expansion coefficient of 1.2 × 10 ⁻⁵ (/ ° C.). The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 78.0 mm, and the inner diameter is 6
8.0 mm, length is 350 mm. That is, in the present embodiment, the ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the outer diameter of the columnar member 401 is the maximum value / minimum value ≒ 1.006.

In this embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 are determined during heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C.
It is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of No. 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 400 μm at the minimum value and 800 μm at the maximum value.

As the sheet film 411, a flexural modulus of 40 with a volume resistivity controlled to 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹² Ω · cm.
A 0 kgf / cm ² styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (hereinafter abbreviated as TPE) has a vertical and horizontal dimension of 220.0 mm.
A sheet cut into a sheet of × 330 mm was prepared.
The film thickness of the sheet film 411 has a film thickness distribution shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG.
1 sheet-like film 411 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 412
Was wound so that both end portions 413a and 413b overlap as shown in FIG. At this time, the length of the overlapping portion 421 in the circumferential direction was 12 mm.

Next, the cylindrical member 401 around which the film 411 was wound was inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 431 as shown in FIG.

Then, the columnar member 401 and the rod-shaped member 41
4. The film 411 and the tubular mold member 431 were inserted into the heating furnace 441 as shown in FIG. FIG. 84 shows the detailed internal structure of the heating furnace 441. In FIG. 84, objects 401 and 41 to be heated are placed on a support 451 in a heating furnace.
1, 414 and 431 were installed. At this time, each member 40
The columnar member 401 was lifted by a suitable support 452 so that the cross-sectional centers of 1,411,414,431 coincided. In the present embodiment, the object to be heated is laid down (parallel), but the installation method is not limited to this, and there is no problem if it is installed upright (vertically) as shown in FIG.

The temperature inside the heating furnace 441 is controlled by a temperature sensor and a temperature controller (not shown). In this embodiment, the temperature is 170 ± 5 ° C., and the heating time is 90 minutes.
And However, the heating conditions are not limited to the heating conditions described in the present embodiment. If the heating conditions are the same as in the present embodiment, the softening property of the film 411 and the pressure applied to the film are the same.
Any conditions may be used. Further, the heating conditions were determined in consideration of the thermal deterioration of the material used for the film 411.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 441, the cylindrical member 401, the tubular mold member 431, and the film 41
1 changed as shown in FIGS.

The film 411 is located between the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431, and the gap 471 between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is set to 7 when not heated.
It was 50 μm. The film 411 wound around the cylindrical member 401 has an overlapping portion 421 (FIG. 8).
6).

[0498] From this state, the columnar member 401, the tubular mold member 431, and the film 411 are heated in the furnace, and the temperature of each member rises. The cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 begin to expand according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients.
The film 411 starts to soften as the temperature rises.

Since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 401 is larger than that of the tubular mold member 431, the gap between the tubular mold member and the cylindrical member becomes narrower in the heating process than in the non-heated state (FIG. 87).

When each member reaches a predetermined temperature, the gap between the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 becomes a desired size. The softened film 411 has a desired film thickness due to a stress 481 caused by a difference in thermal expansion between the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431. In particular, since the stress 481 is applied from the heating process to the overlapping portion 421 of the film, the film is welded and joined, and a uniform tubular film can be obtained over the entire circumference (FIG. 88).

After heating the members 401, 411, 414 and 431 for 90 minutes, the process moves to the cooling step (FIG. 89).

The cooling in the cooling step is performed after the heating step is stopped, and then the apparatus is set to a natural cooling state.
4, 431 may be cooled, but may be forcibly cooled to shorten the cooling time. In the present embodiment, after heating, it is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank, cooled at a cooling rate of 280 ° C./min, and when each of the members 401, 411, 414, and 431 has reached room temperature, from the tubular mold member 431, Column member 401
And the film 411 were separated.

The film taken out was formed into a tubular (cylindrical) shape, and the portion of the film overlapping portion 421 was joined without any step.

Here, the film thickness was measured in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film.
However, the result is as shown in FIG.

Finally, in order to make the tubular film into a shape that can withstand actual use, both ends were cut to obtain an endless tubular film having a longitudinal dimension of 320 mm.

Next, the usage of the tubular film produced by the above method will be described. An example in which the tubular film manufactured by the above method is used as a transfer belt 501 for conveying and transferring an image of a toner carrier of an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer) will be described.

In FIG. 91, the photosensitive drum 502 is adapted to be driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow.
And an electrostatic latent image is formed by the optical writing device 504 using laser light. The reflected light may be used for the optical writing device 504. A developing device 505 is arranged beside the photosensitive drum. Developing unit 50
The toner 506 is stored in the toner image 5, and the charged toner 506 adheres to the electrostatic latent image portion and is visualized as a toner image. The transfer belt 501 is stretched around four rollers 507, 508, 509, and 510 and arranged sideways. The transfer belt 501 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow. The transfer paper 511 is fed onto the transfer belt 501 in the direction of the arrow, and is suction-conveyed to the transfer belt by the paper suction charger 512. At this time, the transfer paper 511 is conveyed at the same speed Vf as the transfer belt 501. When the transfer paper 511 reaches the transfer area, the toner visualized on the photosensitive drum 502 is transferred to the transfer paper 511 by the transfer charger 513. After the transfer, the transfer paper 511 is further conveyed, and the fixing device 514
It is led to.

In the transfer belt 501 according to the present embodiment, the film thickness of the overlapped portion of the sheet film is the same as that of the other portions.
The transfer characteristics of the toner 506 to No. 11 were good, and very high image quality could be obtained. Further, since the adsorbability of the transfer paper 511 to the transfer belt is also stable, the transfer paper 511 exhibits extremely high transportability.

FIG. 92 shows the result of a paper passing rotation durability test using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The conditions of the durability test were such that A4 sheets were continuously fed at 20 sheets per minute. In addition, the amount of deviation of the transfer belt during driving was the amount of displacement of the center position in the longitudinal direction of the transfer belt. As shown in the results of FIG. 92, no deviation of the transfer belt due to rotational driving was observed until the endurance time reached about 273 h, and there was a very high deviation suppression force.

[0510] In the transfer belt manufactured in this embodiment, since the film thickness of both ends is thicker than other parts such as the central part, the tension applied to both ends of the stretched roller is greater than that of the central part. Is also large, and the extreme end tries to go around the side of the tension roller. Further, the end of the belt protruding from the roller is thicker, so that it functions as a rib. By these actions, the transfer belt keeps its position even during driving rotation. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus using the transfer belt manufactured in the present embodiment, without installing a special deviation suppression device, the axial movement and deviation of the transfer belt for a long time, Can be suppressed. FIG. 93 is a conceptual diagram showing the suppression of the transfer belt deviation in this embodiment.
Further, the discharged image was very high-definition, and no toner image deviation due to paper deviation during transfer was observed.

Next, film materials applicable to this example will be described.

[0512] The film material that can be used in this embodiment is:
Any material is suitable for use as long as it is a thermoplastic resin material. In particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide , All thermoplastic resin materials such as polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid and blended resins thereof, and thermoplastic elastomers formed by the above blends Are also more suitable for use.

[0513] The above resin material is heat-resistant reinforced, conductive,
For the purpose of imparting thermal conductivity and the like, a film containing at least one kind of organic or inorganic fine powder or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used.

Here, as the organic fine powder, for example, a condensation type polyimide powder and the like, and as the inorganic fine powder, carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder Inorganic spherical fine particles such as aluminum nitride powder and titanium oxide powder, fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and crow fiber, and whisker-like powders such as potassium titanate, silicon carbide and silicon nitride can be fine powders of any shape and size. Can be used.

[0515] The amount of the fine powder is preferably 5 to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the base resin.

<Comparative Example 1> FIGS. 94 to 98 show Comparative Example 1 of the eighteenth embodiment.

[0517] The cylindrical member 401, the rod-shaped member 414, the tubular mold member 431, the material of the film 411, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film used in this comparative example are all the same as those of the eighteenth embodiment. However, the size of each member is different from that of the eighteenth embodiment, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 is 6
6.5 mm, inner diameter 45.0 mm, length 3
It was 40 mm. FIG. 94 shows the cylindrical member 4 used in this comparative example.
No. 01 is shown. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped member 414 was 45.0 mm, and the length was 340 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 78.0 mm, and the inner diameter is 6 mm.
8.0 mm, length is 350 mm. As the sheet-like film 411, a TPE similar to that of the eighteenth embodiment cut into a sheet having a length and width of 220.0 mm × 330 mm was prepared. The thickness of the sheet-like film was about 200 μm as shown in FIG. Further, O-rings 495 made of PTFE are attached to both ends of the cylindrical member 401 around which the film 411 is wound as shown in FIG.
Was attached. The outer diameter of the O-ring 495 is 66.
5 mm, inner diameter dimension is 66.9 mm, and length is 1.5 mm.

[0518] In this comparative example, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 are determined during heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C.
The difference between the outer diameter of the pipe and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 400 μm.
Is designed in advance.

[0519] After molding using the members 401, 411, 414 and 431 in the same manner as in the eighteenth embodiment,
When the film thickness was measured in the longitudinal direction of the produced tubular film 411, the film thickness of the initial film 411 was 200 μm.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Although slightly reduced to 8 μm, a tubular film having a uniform thickness was obtained. Finally, in order to make the tubular film a shape that can withstand actual use, both ends were cut to obtain an endless tubular film having a longitudinal dimension of 320 mm.

FIG. 98 shows the results of a paper passing rotation durability test using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 91, in which the tubular film produced in this comparative example was used as the transfer belt 501 in the same manner as in the eighteenth embodiment. Is shown. As the result of FIG. 98 shows,
The deviation of the transfer belt due to the rotation drive is rapidly observed when the endurance time reaches about 7 h, and when the endurance time is about 8 h, the transfer belt 501 is completely deviated in the axial direction, and the end of the transfer belt 501 is destroyed. I can no longer demonstrate it.

(Nineteenth Embodiment) In this embodiment, by increasing the ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value of the outer diameter of the cylindrical member, the produced tubular film can be rotated between a plurality of rollers. This is an embodiment characterized in that the generated deviation is suppressed more effectively.

FIGS. 99 to 103 show Embodiments 19A to 19C.

The material and dimensions of the cylindrical member 401, the rod-shaped member 414, the tubular mold member 431, and the film 411 used in the present embodiment, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all the first steps.
This is the same as the eighth embodiment.

However, the dimensions of the cylindrical member and the film are different from those in the eighteenth embodiment, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 is 66.5 mm, which is the maximum value at the center, and 65.7 mm, the minimum value at the end. ６４64.9 mm. FIG. 99 shows the shape of the cylindrical member used in the embodiments 19A to 19C.
Each cylindrical member 40 used in the present embodiments 19A to 19C
The ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value of the outer diameter of 1 is the maximum value / minimum value ≒
1.012, 1.018 and 1.024.

[0525] Further, as the sheet-like film 411, the same TPE as in the eighteenth embodiment was used, and the vertical and horizontal dimensions were set to 22.
A sheet cut into a sheet of 0.0 mm × 330 mm was prepared. Note that the film thickness of the sheet film has a film thickness distribution shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 are determined by the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular shape at the time of heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C. The difference in the inner diameter of the mold member 431 is 400 μm at the minimum value and 1200 to 2000 μm at the maximum value.
m is designed in advance.

[0527] After the members 401, 411, 414 and 431 are molded by the same method as in the eighteenth embodiment,
To make the tubular film a shape that can withstand actual use,
Both ends were cut to obtain an endless tubular film having a longitudinal dimension of 320 mm. FIGS. 101 to 103 show the results of a paper passing rotation durability test using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 91 using the produced tubular film as a transfer belt as in the eighteenth embodiment. As shown in the results of FIGS. 101 to 103, it can be seen that the deviation of the transfer belt 501 due to the rotation drive is suppressed as the difference in the film thickness between the central portion and the end portion of the tubular film increases. this is,
This is because the effect of increasing the tension at the end of the tubular film and the effect of forming a rib increases as the thickness of the end increases. Furthermore, the image discharged immediately before the tubular film is deviated,
The image was as fine as the image discharged in the initial stage.

<Comparative Example 2> FIGS. 104 and 105 show the nineteenth embodiment.
2 shows a comparative example 2 of the embodiment.

The materials and dimensions of the cylindrical member 401, the rod-shaped member 414, the tubular mold member 431, and the film 411 used in this comparative example, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all described in the nineteenth embodiment.
This is the same as the embodiment.

However, the cylindrical member 401 and the film 4
11 is different from the nineteenth embodiment, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 is a maximum value of 66.5 mm at the center portion and a minimum value of 64.5 mm at the end portion. FIG. 104 shows the shape of the cylindrical member used in this comparative example. That is, in this comparative example, the ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the outer diameter of the columnar member 401 is maximum value / minimum value ≒ 1.031.

[0531] Further, as the sheet-like film 411, the same TPE as in the nineteenth embodiment was used to reduce the vertical and horizontal dimensions to 22.
A sheet cut into a sheet of 0.0 mm × 330 mm was prepared. Note that the thickness of the sheet-like film 411 is as shown in FIG.
There is a film thickness distribution shown in FIG.

In this comparative example, the cylindrical member 40
1 and the dimensions of the tubular mold member 431 are such that the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 and the inner diameter dimension of the tubular mold member 431 is 400 μm at the time of heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C. It is designed in advance to have a maximum value of 2400 μm.

[0537] After molding using the members 401, 411, 414 and 431 in the same manner as in the nineteenth embodiment,
The cylindrical member 401 and the film 411 were separated from the tubular mold member 431.
It could only be separated twice. Furthermore, the separated tubular film also has a sudden change in film thickness, and the portion where the film thickness is beginning to thicken concentrates stress during molding. It was damaged while being stretched on the device. That is, unless the ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the outer diameter of the columnar member 401 and the maximum value / minimum value is less than 1.03, it cannot be used in terms of productivity at the time of molding and the function of the conveyor belt. .

(Twentieth Embodiment) In this embodiment, by continuously changing the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431,
This embodiment is characterized in that the change in film thickness of the manufactured tubular film is used to suppress the deviation due to the rotational drive when used as a fixing film of an image forming apparatus.

The twentieth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 80, 82, and 106 to 109.

A hollow cylindrical member 401 was used as a mandrel around which the film 411 was wound, and a tubular or hollow mold member 431 was used as an outer mold of the film and the cylindrical member. The tubular member 431 has an inner diameter through which the columnar member 401 is inserted.

[0537] In this embodiment, PTFE resin is used for the columnar member 401, and stainless steel is used for the tubular mold member 431. Further, a rod-shaped member 414 made of stainless steel having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is arranged in the hollow of the columnar member 401.

The used PTFE resin cylindrical member 401
Has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.1 × 10 ⁻⁴ (/ ° C.), and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the tubular member 431 made of stainless steel is 1.2 × 10 ^−5.
(/ ° C.).

The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 is 24.0.
mm, the inner diameter was 10.0 mm, and the length was 340 mm. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped member 414 is 10.0 mm,
The length was 340 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 36.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 2 at the minimum value at the center.
4.2mm, maximum 24.6mm at end, length 3
50 mm. FIG. 106 shows the shape of the tubular mold member 431.

In the present embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 are determined at the time of heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 300 ° C.
1 is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of the tubular member 431 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 100 μm at the minimum part and 500 μm at the maximum part.

As the sheet-like film 411, a polyether sulfone (hereinafter abbreviated as PES) in which boron nitride is blended at 10% by weight has a vertical and horizontal dimension of 78.0 mm.
The film 411 cut into a sheet of 338 mm
One piece of each of the single films 521 cut into sheets of 78.0 mm × 13 mm and 78.0 mm × 4 mm was prepared. The thickness of the sheet film was 50 μm.

[0542] First, as shown in FIG.
1 sheet-like film 411 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 412
Was wound so that the both ends overlapped. next,
The cylindrical member 401 around which the film 411 is wound is shown in FIG.
And inserted into the hollow part of the tubular mold member 431 as shown in FIG. Next, the prepared sheet-shaped film 521 was inserted into the gap between the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 as shown in FIG. At this time, the gap at both ends was sufficiently large as compared with the film thickness of the sheet-like film 411, so that it was easily inserted.

Next, heating and cooling were performed in the same procedure as in the eighteenth embodiment. However, heating conditions are 300 ° C., 9
0 min.

Each member 401, 411, 414, 431,
When the temperature of 521 reached room temperature, the cylindrical member 401 and the film 411 were separated from the tubular mold member 431.

[0545] The separated film was finished in a tubular shape, and the overlapped portion at both ends of the film 411 and the joined portion between the film 411 and the film 521 were cleanly joined.

The produced tubular film was set as a fixing film of a fixing device described later, and subjected to a heating idle rotation test. As a result, no breakage of the overlapped portion or the rib joint portion was observed even after 1000 hours.

Next, the usage of the endless tubular film produced by the above method will be described.

After coating the outermost layer of the endless tubular film produced according to this embodiment with a fluororesin,
108 shows an example of use as a fixing film 605 of a fixing device of the image forming apparatus (copier, laser beam printer, etc.) shown in FIG.

In FIG. 108, the pressure roller 603 and the fixing film 605 are in contact with each other. Inside the fixing film 605, a heater 607 for heating is provided.
Heater holder 60 for holding heater 607
1 and a stay for holding the fixing film 605 are provided.

The pressure roller 603 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown), and the fixing film 605 is in contact with the pressure roller 603 and has a heater. Holder 60
Since it is not fixed at 1 or the like, it is deformed by the pressure roller 603, and is further rotationally driven by a frictional force at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow.

The transfer paper 604 is conveyed to the fixing device at a constant speed of Vf from the direction of the arrow. At this time, the transfer paper 60
4 carries toner 602 for forming an image.
When the transfer paper 604 transported and inserted reaches the fixing area,
Heated by heater 607, and pressure roller 603
Is applied by the fixing film 605 to fix the toner.

As shown in FIG. 109, PTFE restraining stays 621 for restraining rotational deviation of the fixing film 605 are disposed at both ends of the fixing device.
The fixing film 605 tends to shift to the left and right in FIG. 109 during rotation following the alignment balance in the fixing device, but the thickened end of the tubular film is restricted by the restraining stay 621. It remains in a fixed position.

The fixing film 605 according to the present embodiment is
The accuracy of the uniformity of the film thickness of the fixing unit is very high, and the accuracy of the film thickness of the overlapping part of the sheet film is the same as the other parts. An extremely high-quality image could be obtained without generation. Further, since the fixing film 605 is regulated by the end portion 531 and the deviation suppressing stay 621, the fixing film 605 does not deviate right and left, and the displacement of the toner is very small. This deviation suppression did not change at all even in the paper passing durability test of 1000 hours.

In this embodiment, the film 41 is inserted into the gap between the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 when not heated.
1 and the single film 521 are used to control the thickness of the formed tubular film. However, one side film 52
1 without heating, the film 40
Since 1 melts and flows, and selectively flows into a particularly large gap, a controlled tubular film can be produced.

(Twenty-First Embodiment) In the present embodiment, the restriction on the change in the film thickness of the film is released by continuously changing the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431. That is,
This is an embodiment characterized in that the situation where the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the film thickness of the produced tubular film is too large and the tubular film cannot be separated from the cylindrical member or the tubular mold member has been improved.

The twenty-first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 82, 91 and 110 to 114.

The material of the cylindrical member 401, the rod-shaped member 411, the tubular mold member 431, the film 411, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film used in this embodiment are all the same as those of the eighteenth embodiment. However, the dimensions of the following members are
8 is different from the eighth embodiment. The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 401 is 66.5 mm, the inner diameter is 45.0 mm, the length is 340 mm, and the outer diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 7 mm.
8.0 mm, minimum 68.0 m at center of inner diameter
m, the maximum value at the end is 70.0 mm, and the length is 350 mm
It is. FIG. 110 shows the shapes of the tubular member and the cylindrical member used in the present embodiment.

As the sheet-like film 411, a TPE having a thickness of 200 μm similar to that of the nineteenth embodiment was cut into a sheet having a length and width of 208 mm × 340 mm, and a sheet having a size of 220 mm × 30 mm. A piece film 541 was prepared. The single film 54
The film thickness of 1 has a film thickness distribution as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 401 and the tubular mold member 431 are determined during heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C.
It is designed in advance so that the difference between the outer diameter of No. 1 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 431 is 400 μm at the minimum value and 2200 μm at the maximum value.

Using the above members, the sheet-like film 4 is attached to the cylindrical member 401 in the same manner as in the eighteenth embodiment.
11 is wound so that the ends overlap, and the film 41
82 was inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 431 as shown in FIG. Next, the one-sided film 541 was inserted and installed as shown in FIG. After molding under the same molding conditions as the eighteenth embodiment, the tubular mold member 431 is formed.
, The columnar member 401 and the film 411 were separated. Next, the produced tubular film was turned upside down. The produced tubular film may be used as it is (without inversion) as the transfer belt of the image forming apparatus, but the deviation suppressing device 62 as shown in FIG. 109 may be used.
1 needs to be newly installed. After inverting the above tubular film, both ends are cut to make the tubular film a shape that can withstand actual use, and the length in the longitudinal direction is 335 m.
m endless tubular film was obtained. FIG. 113 shows the thickness distribution of the produced tubular film.

FIG. 114 shows that the produced tubular film was used as a transfer belt in the same manner as in the eighteenth embodiment.
2 shows the results of a paper passing rotation durability test using the image forming apparatus described in 1. The evaluation of the deviation in the axial direction in the rotation durability test is the same method as in the eighteenth embodiment. As shown in the results of FIG. 114, slight deviation was initially observed. It is considered that this was because the seat when the transfer belt 501 was stretched was bad. However, the rotation of the transfer belt was immediately and stably continued to rotate, and no deviation of the transfer belt due to the rotation was observed until the endurance time reached about 288 h, indicating a very high deviation suppression force. The transferred image was also very high definition.

As described above, according to the eighteenth to twenty-first embodiments, the thermoplastic sheet-like film is inserted into the tubular mold member while being wound around the outside of the cylindrical member so that both ends thereof are overlapped, and is heated. By doing so, the gap between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member is reduced due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the materials, and the sheet-like film is formed by welding and joining the overlapped portions due to the softening of the film. Tubular,
Regarding the method of forming a tubular shape, by continuously changing the film thickness of the sheet-like film, the tubular film is stretched between a plurality of rollers, and it is possible to suppress the deflection that occurs when the tubular film is driven to rotate.

In particular, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member is smaller at the end than at the center, the inner diameter of the tubular mold member is larger at the end than at the center, the sheet to be wound. The film thickness of the shape film is inclined, and is thicker toward the end, thereby controlling the change in film thickness of the formed tubular film, and from the center toward the end,
Can be thicker.

[0564] Thus, it is possible to suppress the displacement and the deviation in the roller axis direction that occur when the tubular film is stretched between a plurality of rollers and driven to rotate.

Further, the image forming apparatus can be used as a transfer belt and a fixing film of an image forming apparatus. In this case, the image forming apparatus can have extremely excellent transfer performance and fixing performance and can greatly simplify the deviation suppressing device. Was available as a part.

The tubular films obtained according to the eighteenth to twenty-first embodiments have a function as a conveying belt member.

(Twenty-second Embodiment) FIGS. 115 to 131 show a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention.

[0568] A hollow cylindrical member 702 is used as a mandrel around which the film 701 is wound.
As the outer mold 2, a tubular or hollow mold member 721 was used. The tubular mold member 721 has an inner diameter through which the cylindrical member 702 is inserted.

In this embodiment, a polytetrafluoroethylene resin (hereinafter abbreviated as PTFE resin) is used as the columnar member 702, and stainless steel is used as the tubular mold member 721. In the hollow of the columnar member 702,
A rod-shaped member 704 made of stainless steel having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter is arranged. Further, two linear grooves 722 are formed along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 721 near both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 721 made of stainless steel.

Used PTFE Resin Column Member 702
Has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.1 × 10 ⁻⁴ (/ ° C.), and the tubular mold member 721 made of stainless steel has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.2 × 10 ^−5.
(/ ° C.).

The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 702 is 66.5.
mm, the inner diameter was 45.0 mm, and the length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped member 704 is 45.0 mm,
The length was 334 mm. The outer diameter of the tubular mold member 721 is 78.0 mm, the inner diameter is 68.0 mm, and the length is 350 mm.

In the present embodiment, the dimensions of the cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721 are determined at the time of heating in a heating step described later, that is, at a heating temperature of 170 ° C.
The difference between the outer diameter of No. 2 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 721 is 400 μm.
m is designed in advance.

As the sheet-like film 701, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (hereinafter abbreviated as TPE) whose volume resistivity is controlled to 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹² Ω · cm is a sheet having a length and width of 220.0 mm × 330 mm. What was cut | disconnected in the shape was prepared. The thickness of the sheet-like film was 200 μm.
m.

[0574] First, as shown in FIG.
02 sheet-like film 701 prepared on the outer peripheral surface 705
Was wound so that both ends 703a and 703b were overlapped as shown in FIG. The overlapping portion 711 at this time
Was 12 mm in the circumferential direction.

Next, the cylindrical member 702 around which the film 701 was wound was inserted into the hollow portion of the tubular mold member 721 as shown in FIG. At this time, a rib material 731 which is the same resin as the film 701 is embedded in a groove 722 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 721. Each member 701,
FIG. 119 shows a detailed diagram of the installation positional relationship of 702, 721, 722, 731.

[0576] Then, the cylindrical member 702, the rod-shaped member 70
4. The film 701 and the tubular mold member 721 were inserted into a heating furnace 741 as shown in FIG. FIG. 121 shows the detailed internal structure of the heating furnace 741. Fig. 121
At this time, the heating target 70
1, 702, 704, 721 were installed. At this time, the columnar member 702 was lifted by an appropriate support 752 so that the cross-sectional centers of the members 701, 702, 704, 721 coincided. In the present embodiment, the object to be heated is laid down (parallel), but the installation method is not limited to this.
There is no problem if it is set up (vertically) as shown in Fig.

The temperature in the heating furnace 741 is controlled by a temperature sensor and a temperature controller (not shown). In this embodiment, the temperature is 170 ± 5 ° C., and the heating time is 90 minutes.
And However, the heating conditions are not limited to the heating conditions shown in the present embodiment. If the heating conditions are the same as in the present embodiment, the softening property of the film 701 and the pressure applied to the film are the same.
Any conditions may be used. Further, the heating conditions were determined in consideration of the thermal deterioration of the material used for the film 701.

In the heating step in the heating furnace 741, the columnar member 702, the tubular mold member 721, and the film 701 changed as shown in FIGS.

The film 701 is located between the cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721, and the gap 771 between the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 702 and the inner diameter of the tubular mold member 721 is 7 mm when not heated.
It was 50 μm. The film 701 wound around the cylindrical member 702 has an overlapping portion 711 (FIG. 12).
3).

[0580] From this state, the columnar member 702, the tubular mold member 721, and the film 701 are heated in the furnace, and the temperature of each member rises. The cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721 begin to expand according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients.
The film 701 starts to soften as the temperature rises.

Since the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cylindrical member 702 is larger than that of the tubular member 721, the gap between the tubular member and the cylindrical member becomes narrower in the heating process than in the non-heated state (FIG. 124).

When each member reaches a predetermined temperature, the gap between the cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721 becomes a desired size. The softened film 701 has a desired film thickness due to a stress 781 caused by a difference in the magnitude of thermal expansion between the cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721. In particular, since the stress 781 is applied from the heating process to the overlapping portion 711 of the film, the film is welded to be in a joined state, and a tubular film having a uniform film thickness over the entire circumference can be obtained (FIG. 125).

Further, in the heating step, the film 7
The end of 01 has changed as shown in FIGS. 126-127.

When not heated, the unbonded film 701 and the rib material 731 (FIG. 126)
When 1, 702, 721, 731 reach a predetermined temperature,
It is compressed by the pressure generated by the thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member 702 and the tubular mold member 721 reaching. Then, the film 701 and the rib material 731 are welded by their temperature and pressure to be in a joined state (FIG. 127), and the tubular film and the rib can be formed into a molded body.

After heating the members 701, 702, 704, 721 for 90 minutes, the process proceeds to the cooling step (FIG. 12).
8).

In the cooling step, after the heating step is stopped, a natural cooling state is set, and each of the members 701, 702,
Although 704 and 721 may be cooled, they may be forcibly cooled to shorten the cooling time. In the present embodiment, after heating, it is immersed in cooling water in a liquid tank, cooled at a cooling rate of 280 ° C./min, and when the members 701, 702, 704, 721 reach room temperature, the tubular mold member 721 , The cylindrical member 702 and the film 701 were separated.

The film taken out was formed in a tubular (cylindrical) shape, the portion of the film overlapping portion 711 was not stepped, and the rib 731 was completely joined to the film 701.

The tubular film 8 produced by the above method
In order to actually use 01 as a product, the tubular film 801 is first inverted to form a tubular film 802 in which the ribs 804 become the inner peripheral surface of the tubular film.

Further, the rib 804 of the tubular film 802
Are cut at both outer ends to form a tubular film 803 having a longitudinal dimension of 320 mm.

[0590] Next, the usage of the tubular film 803 manufactured by the above method will be described. An example in which the tubular film 803 manufactured by the above method is used as a transfer belt 901 for conveying and transferring an image of a toner carrier of an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer) will be described.

In FIG. 130, the photosensitive drum 902 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow.
And an electrostatic latent image is formed by the optical writing device 904 using laser light. The reflected light may be used for the optical writing device 904. A developing device 905 is arranged beside the photosensitive drum. Developing device 90
5, a toner 906 is stored, and the charged toner 906 adheres to the electrostatic latent image portion to be visualized as a toner image. The transfer belt 901 is stretched around four rollers 907, 908, 909, and 910, and is arranged horizontally. The transfer belt 901 is driven to rotate at a constant speed of Vf in the direction of the arrow. The transfer paper 911 is fed on the transfer belt in the direction of the arrow, and is suction-conveyed to the transfer belt by the paper suction charger 912. At this time, the transfer paper 911 is conveyed at the same speed Vf as the transfer belt 901. When the transfer paper 911 reaches the transfer area, the toner visualized on the photosensitive drum 902 is transferred to the transfer paper 911 by the transfer charger 913. After the transfer, the transfer paper 911 is further conveyed and guided to the fixing device 914.

In the transfer belt 901 according to the present embodiment, the accuracy of uniformity of the film thickness dimension is extremely high, and the film thickness and dimensions of the superposed portion of the sheet film are equal to those of the other portions. For example, the transfer characteristics of the toner 906 from the photosensitive drum 902 to the transfer paper 911 are good, and very high image quality can be obtained. Further, since the adsorbability of the transfer paper 911 to the transfer belt was stable, the transfer paper 911 exhibited extremely high transportability.

Next, film materials applicable to this example will be described.

The film material that can be used in this embodiment is as follows:
Any thermoplastic resin material is suitable for use, particularly polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide. , All thermoplastic resin materials such as polyether sulfone, polyether nitrile, thermoplastic polyimide material, polyether ether ketone, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, polyamic acid and blended resins thereof, and thermoplastic elastomers formed by the above blends Are also more suitable for use.

Further, the above resin material is heat-resistant reinforced, conductive,
For the purpose of imparting thermal conductivity and the like, a film containing at least one kind of organic or inorganic fine powder or a film stretch-strengthened at any magnification may be used.

Here, organic fine powders include, for example, condensed polyimide powders, and inorganic fine powders include carbon black powder, magnesium oxide powder, magnesium fluoride powder, silicon oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder, and boron nitride. Inorganic spherical fine particles such as powder, aluminum nitride powder, and titanium oxide powder; fibrous particles such as carbon fiber and crow fiber; and whisker-like powders such as potassium titanate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride; Can be used.

Further, it is preferable that the compounding amount of these fine powders is 5 to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the base resin.

(Twenty-third Embodiment) When the tubular film 801 described in the twenty-second embodiment is turned over and driven to rotate as a transfer belt, stress is generated due to the difference in diameter between the tubular film 801 and the ribs, and 132 may occur at the rib joint of the film 803. This embodiment is an embodiment characterized in that the durability of the joint between the tubular film and the rib is improved by the shape of the rib.

FIGS. 131 and 133 show Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
3A to 23G are shown.

The columnar member 702, the rod-shaped member 704, the tubular mold member 721, the material and dimensions of the film 701 used in the present embodiment, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all the second steps.
This is the same as the second embodiment. However, the tubular mold member 721
A groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface. The cross-sectional shape of this groove is as shown in FIG. 131 (Embodiments 23A to 23G).

[0601] After molding using the members 701, 702, 704, and 721 in the same manner as in the twenty-second embodiment,
The tube film 803 was turned over, and both ends were cut to form a tubular film 803 having a length of 320 mm. When the endurance time of the rib joint of the tubular film was measured by actually rotating the tubular film 803 at a constant speed of Vf as shown in FIG. 130, the endurance was sufficiently high as shown in FIG. I understand.

Note that Embodiment 23F is the same as Embodiment 23B,
Embodiment 23G is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 721 of Embodiment 23D. This is one in which the surface of the groove on the center side with respect to the tubular mold member 721 is inclined. However, Embodiment 23F and Embodiment 23 in which the groove of the tubular mold member is inclined.
FIG. 133 shows that the tubular film formed by the tubular mold member G has clearly higher durability at the joint between the film and the ribs than the cases of Embodiment 23B and Embodiment 23D.
Can be read from

<Comparative Example> FIGS. 131 and 133 show Comparative Examples 23A to 23C of the twenty-third embodiment.

The cylindrical member 702, the rod-shaped member 704, the tubular mold member 721, the material and dimensions of the film 701 used in this comparative example, and the manufacturing process of the tubular film are all the same as those in the 22nd embodiment.
This is the same as the embodiment. However, a groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member 721. Fig. 13
1 (Comparative Examples 23A to 23)
C).

After molding using the members 701, 702, 704, and 721 in the same manner as in the twenty-second embodiment,
The tube film 803 was turned over, and both ends were cut to form a tubular film 803 having a length of 320 mm. When the endurance time of the rib joint of the tubular film was measured by actually rotating the tubular film 803 at a constant speed Vf as shown in FIG. 130, the endurance was insufficient as shown in FIG. I found it.

(Twenty-fourth Embodiment) The time required for a shift to occur in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction when the tubular film 803 described in the twenty-second embodiment is driven and rotated as a transfer belt is equal to both ends of the tubular film. This is an embodiment characterized in that how it is changed by forming a rib in a portion.

FIG. 134 shows a twenty-fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0608] Tubular film 803 used in this embodiment
Are all the same as in the twenty-second embodiment. However, the shape of the rib formed on the tubular film is as shown in the twenty-third embodiment. Fig. 1
When the endurance time until the displacement of the tubular film in the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction was measured by rotating at a constant speed Vf as shown in FIG. 30,
As shown in FIG. 134, it was found that the durability time was extended as compared with the tubular film having no rib (Comparative Example 24).

As described above, according to the twenty-second to twenty-fourth embodiments, the thermoplastic sheet-like film is inserted into the tubular mold member while being wound around the cylindrical member so that both ends thereof are overlapped. By heating, the gap between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member is reduced due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the materials, and the sheet-like film is formed by welding and joining the overlapped portions due to the softening of the film. Regarding the method of forming a tubular, forming a groove in the end of the tubular mold member,
By embedding the resin in these grooves, the tubular film and the ribs can be made into an integrally molded product.

[0610] By inverting and using this, a rib can be attached to the end of the formed tubular film without any post-processing, and the production process can be shortened.

Also, by attaching the rib to the end of the tubular film, it is possible to prevent the displacement in the thrust direction that occurs when the transfer belt is driven to rotate, thereby improving the quality of the product.

[0612]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A tubular film having improved properties such as strength and thermal conductivity can be manufactured at low cost.

Also, a tubular film with good shape accuracy can be manufactured without cutting both ends by post-processing.

[0614] Also, ribs can be formed in the tubular film without post-processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overlapping state of a composite film wound around a cylindrical member.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state where a composite film wound around a cylindrical member is inserted into a tubular mold member.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a heating furnace in a heating step.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a sheet-like film in a state in which a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon, at a room temperature.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a temperature rising state of an overlapping portion of a sheet-like film in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a welded state of an overlapping portion of a sheet-like film in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 7 is a detailed explanatory view of a heating furnace.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a cooling step.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a release step.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of abutting of both end portions of a film wound around an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a tubular mold member.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a sheet-like film is wound.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a film between a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a heating state.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram in a cross-sectional direction in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of abutting of both end portions of a film wound around an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

FIG. 26 is a view of a tubular mold member.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a sheet-like film is wound.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a film between a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of a heating state.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory view showing a state where a metal tube is inserted into a cylindrical member.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of an overlapping state of a sheet-like film wound around the outer periphery of a metal tube.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory view showing a state where a composite film (metal tube / sheet-like film) is wound around a cylindrical member and inserted into a tubular member.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet-like film in a state of room temperature in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory view of a temperature rising state of an overlapping portion of a sheet-like film in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 43 is an explanatory view showing a welded state of an overlapping portion of the sheet-like film in a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram of release.

FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram of a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram of overlapping portions at both ends of a film wound around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram of a tubular mold member and a groove.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory view showing a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 50 is a detailed explanatory diagram of installation positions of a tubular mold member, a film, and a columnar member.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory diagram of a heating furnace.

FIG. 52 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member when not heated.

FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during heating.

FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member at a predetermined temperature.

FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram of an end state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member when not heated.

FIG. 58 is an explanatory diagram of an end state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during heating.

FIG. 59 is an explanatory diagram of an end state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during heating.

FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram of a cooling state.

FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram of a final finish of an endless tubular film.

FIG. 62 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 63 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in thickness of a tubular film according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 64 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film as a transfer belt according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in a comparative example of the fifteenth embodiment.

FIG. 66 is an explanatory diagram of a shape of a groove formed in a mold member used in the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention and a comparative example thereof.

FIG. 67 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in Embodiment 16A of the present invention.

FIG. 68 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film according to Embodiment 16B of the present invention.

FIG. 69 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in Embodiment 16C of the present invention.

FIG. 70 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film according to Embodiment 16D of the present invention.

FIG. 71 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in Embodiment 16E of the present invention.

FIG. 72 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a tubular film after being separated from a tubular mold member in Comparative Examples 16B and 16C of the present invention.

FIG. 73 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in Comparative Example 16A of the present invention.

FIG. 74 is an explanatory diagram of a tubular mold member, a sheet-like film, and a groove.

FIG. 75 is a detailed explanatory view of the arrangement of the tubular mold member, the sheet-like film, and the groove.

FIG. 76 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 77 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 78 is a detailed explanatory view of the shape of the cylindrical member according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 79 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a sheet-like film used in the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 80 is an explanatory view showing a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member;

FIG. 81 is an explanatory diagram of overlapping portions at both ends of a film wound around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

FIG. 82 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 83 is an explanatory diagram of a heating furnace.

FIG. 84 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 85 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 86 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member when not heated.

FIG. 87 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during heating.

FIG. 88 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member at a predetermined temperature.

FIG. 89 is an explanatory diagram of a cooling state.

FIG. 90 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 91 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film as a transfer belt.

FIG. 92 is an explanatory view of an endurance test of a tubular film in an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 93 is an explanatory view of the concept of suppressing the deviation of the tubular film in the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 94 is a detailed explanatory view of the shape of a cylindrical member in a comparative example of the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 95 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a sheet-like film in a comparative example of the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 96 is an explanatory view of a film winding method in a comparative example of the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 97 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in a comparative example of the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 98 is an explanatory view of a deflection endurance test of a tubular film in a comparative example of the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 99 is a detailed illustration of the shape of the cylindrical member in the embodiments 19A, 19B, and 19C of the present invention.

FIG. 100 shows Embodiments 19A, 19B, and 19C of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a change in the thickness of a sheet-like film in FIG.

FIG. 101 is an explanatory diagram of an endurance test on deflection of a tubular film in Embodiment 19A of the present invention.

FIG. 102 is an explanatory view of an endurance test on the tubular film in Embodiment 19B of the present invention.

FIG. 103 is an explanatory diagram of a deflection durability test of a tubular film in Embodiment 19C of the present invention.

FIG. 104 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the shape of the cylindrical member in the comparative example of the nineteenth embodiment.

FIG. 105 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a sheet-like film in a comparative example of the nineteenth embodiment.

FIG. 106 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the shape of the tubular mold member according to the twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 107 is an explanatory diagram of a film winding method in a twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 108 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 109 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film.

FIG. 110 shows a cylindrical member according to a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention,
It is a detailed explanatory view of the shape of a tubular mold member.

FIG. 111 is an explanatory diagram of a change in film thickness of a single film according to a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 112 is an explanatory diagram of a film winding method in a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 113 is an explanatory diagram of a change in thickness of a tubular film in a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 114 is an explanatory diagram of a deflection durability test of a tubular film in a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 115 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member;

FIG. 116 is an explanatory diagram of overlapping portions at both ends of a film wound around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

FIG. 117 is an explanatory diagram of a tubular mold member and a groove.

FIG. 118 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member and a tubular mold member is placed thereon.

FIG. 119 is a detailed explanatory diagram of installation positions of a tubular mold member, a film, and a columnar member.

FIG. 120 is an explanatory diagram of a ripening furnace.

FIG. 121 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 122 is an explanatory diagram of installation positions of a cylindrical member, a film, a tubular member, and the like in a heating furnace.

FIG. 123 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member when not heated.

FIG. 124 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during ripening.

FIG. 125 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member at a predetermined temperature.

FIG. 126 is an explanatory diagram of an end state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member when not heated.

FIG. 127 is an explanatory diagram of an end state of a cylindrical member, a film, and a tubular mold member during heating.

FIG. 128 is an explanatory diagram of a cooling state.

Fig. 129 is an explanatory diagram of a final finish of the endless tubular film.

FIG. 130 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus using a tubular film as a transfer belt according to a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 131 is an explanatory diagram of a shape of a groove formed in a mold member used in the twenty-third embodiment of the present invention and its comparative example.

FIG. 132 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a tubular film after being separated from a tubular mold member in Comparative Examples 23B and 23C of the present invention.

FIG. 133 is a diagram illustrating the durability of the rib joint when the tubular film according to Embodiment 23 of the present invention and the comparative example are driven to rotate.

FIG. 134 is a view showing a measurement result of a time required for the film to shift in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction when the tubular film according to the twenty-fourth embodiment of the present invention is driven and rotated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 cylindrical member 2 tubular mold member 3 heating furnace 4 composite film 6 fixing film 6A fixing film heating heater 6B heater holder 6C stay member 6D pressure roller 6E carrier 7 heating furnace space 8 heating furnace heater 9 heating furnace support base 10 support base

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shoichi Shimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Ichiro Maekawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kia Non-corporation F-term (reference) 2H032 BA09 BA18 DA13 2H033 BE03 4F205 AA34 AA40 AD03 AD04 AD16 AD19 AG03 AG08 AH12 AJ02 HA17 HA22 HA34 HA35 HB01 HB12 HC05 HC16 HC17 HE16 4F209 AA34 AA40 AD03 AD04 AD16 AD12 AG03 A08 NH16 NJ22 NK01 NK07 NL02

Claims (74)

[Claims] 1. A film in which glass, ceramic or carbon is sandwiched between sheet-like films made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a cylindrical member, and a tubular mold member is fitted outside the wound film, and at least the film is heated. And joining the superposed portions of the film to form the tubular film into a tubular shape. 2. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 1, wherein the glass, ceramic or carbon sandwiched between the sheet-like films is in the form of particles. 3. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 1, wherein the glass or carbon sandwiched between the sheet-like films is a thin film. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the thin film sandwiched between the sheet films is a fibrous cloth sheet such as a glass fiber cloth sheet and a carbon fiber cloth sheet. 5. The fibrous cloth sheet and the sheet-like film are integrated by winding and molding the fibrous cloth sheet and the sheet-like film around a cylindrical member. 3. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 1. 6. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 4, wherein the glass fiber cloth sheet is a prepreg impregnated with an epoxy resin or a phenol resin. 7. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. A sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a columnar member, the beginning and end of the sheet-like film are overlapped, and a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film. A method of heating, joining the overlapping portions of the films to form the sheet-like film into a tube, wherein a ring is attached to at least one portion of an outer peripheral surface of the columnar member. Manufacturing method. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the portion to which the ring is attached is a portion where the film is not attached. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the ring to be mounted is made of metal. 11. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 10, wherein the ring to be attached is made of aluminum. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tubular film is a fixing film of an image forming apparatus. 13. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 8 to 12. 14. Wrapping a thermoplastic resin sheet-like film around a cylindrical member, superimposing the winding start and winding end of the film, fitting a tubular mold member outside the wound film, heating at least the film,
A method of manufacturing a tubular film, comprising: joining a superposed portion of the films to form the sheet-like film into a tubular shape, wherein thermal deformation of the cylindrical member in a thrust direction is regulated. 15. The tubular film according to claim 14, wherein the cylindrical member is hollow, and a rod member having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the cylindrical member is disposed in a hollow portion of the cylindrical member. Manufacturing method. 16. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 15, wherein a surface roughness (center line average roughness = Ra) of a circumferential surface of the rod member is 3 μm or more. 17. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 15, wherein a disc-shaped member having a diameter larger than that of the bar member is disposed at both ends of the bar member. 18. The disk-shaped member according to claim 17, wherein a diameter of the disk-shaped member is smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow portion of the tubular mold member.
3. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 1. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the diameter of the disc-shaped member is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the columnar member. 20. The cylindrical member according to claim 14, wherein the cylindrical member has the same length in the thrust direction at room temperature, and lid members are attached to both ends of the tubular member. 3. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 1. 21. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 14, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the cylindrical member is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the tubular mold member. 22. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 14 to 21. 23. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 22. 24. A method for manufacturing a tubular film, comprising providing a resin layer made of a sheet film on at least one surface of a metal tube. 25. The metal tube is put on a cylindrical member,
Wrap the sheet-like film around the outside of the covered metal tube, cover the outside with a tubular member, heat and fuse the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film, and sheet-like film on the outer surface of the metal tube. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 24, wherein a resin layer is provided on an outer surface of the metal tube to form a tubular body. 26. The sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member, the metal tube is covered on the outside of the wound sheet-like film, and the tubular member is covered on the outside.
By heating, the overlapping portion of the sheet-like film is fused, and the sheet-like film is joined to the inner surface of the metal tube, and a resin layer is provided on the inner surface of the metal tube to form a tubular body. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 24. 27. A sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around the cylindrical member, a metal tube is put on the outside of the wound film, and a sheet-like film is wound around the outside of the metal tube. Covering the member, heating and fusing the overlapped portion of the sheet-like film, and bonding the sheet-like film to both sides of the metal tube, providing a resin layer on both sides of the metal tube to form a tubular body. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 24, wherein: 28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer is formed by applying a resin paint. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the resin coating material is a solution in which a powder of the thermoplastic resin is dispersed.
3. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 1. 30. The resin coating according to claim 2, wherein the resin coating is a solution coating obtained by dissolving the thermoplastic resin in a solvent.
9. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 8. 31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the resin paint is applied by a dip coating method (dipping method). 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first layer on at least one surface of the resin layer of the metal tube is formed by winding a sheet-like film, and the second layer is formed by a dip coating method (immersion method). The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 24. 33. A method according to claim 33, wherein the first layer on at least one surface of the resin layer of the metal tube is formed by coating (immersion method), and the second layer is formed by winding a sheet-like film. Item 25. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 24. 34. The method according to claim 24, wherein the material of the metal tube is nickel. 35. A metal tube manufactured by winding a metal sheet around a cylindrical member, covering a tubular member on the outside thereof, heating and joining the metal sheet, as the metal tube. 25. The method for producing a tubular film according to 24. 36. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 24 to 35. 37. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 36. 38. A sheet-like film made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, a tubular mold member is fitted outside the wound film, and at least the film is heated. A method of joining the overlapping portions of the films to form the tubular film into a tubular shape, wherein a groove is formed in at least one portion of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member. Method. 39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the groove is arranged so as to be in contact with the film during the heating. 40. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 38, wherein the depth of the groove is 100% or more of the thickness of the produced tubular film. 41. The groove according to claim 37, wherein the groove is formed linearly in a circumferential direction of the tubular mold member.
3. The method for producing a tubular film according to item 1. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the groove is continuous and endless. 43. The method according to claim 38, wherein the groove is perpendicular to an axial direction of the tubular mold member. 44. The method according to claim 38, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the groove is a polygon. 45. The method of manufacturing a tubular film according to claim 44, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the groove is such that the length of any parallel straight line inside is shorter than the length of a side on the side in contact with the film. . 46. The method according to claim 38, wherein a part of the cross-sectional shape of the groove is a curve. 47. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 38 to 46. 48. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 47. 49. A thermoplastic sheet-like film wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film, and at least the film is heated, A method of manufacturing a tubular film, comprising joining a superposed portion of a film to form the sheet-like film into a tube, wherein at least a part of a diameter of the columnar member is continuously changed. 50. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 49, wherein at least one end of the cylindrical member has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a central part in a cross-sectional diameter in the axial direction. 51. The method according to claim 49, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical member in the thrust direction decreases from the center to the end in the longitudinal direction. 52. The ratio between the maximum value and the minimum value of the diameter of the cross section of the cylindrical member in the thrust direction is 1.03> maximum value / minimum value> 1.0. 51
The method for producing a tubular film according to any one of the above. 53. The tubular member according to claim 49, wherein a sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member, and a sheet-like film piece is wound around a portion of the cylindrical member having a smaller diameter in the axial direction. Film production method. 54. The sheet-like film and a part of the sheet-like film piece are wound around the cylindrical member whose diameter of the outer peripheral surface is changed, and the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped and wound. In a method in which a tubular mold member is fitted to the outside of a film and at least the film is heated, and a superposed portion of the film is joined to form the sheet-like film into a tube, the diameter of the cylindrical member + The method for manufacturing a tubular film according to claim 53, wherein the thickness of the film = the inner diameter of the tubular mold member. 55. A thermoplastic sheet-like film wound around a columnar member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film, and at least the film is heated, A method for manufacturing a tubular film, comprising joining an overlapped portion of films to form the tubular film into a tubular shape, wherein at least a part of the inner diameter of the tubular mold member is continuously changed. 56. The tubular film according to claim 55, wherein at least one end has a diameter larger than a diameter of a central part in a diameter of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in an axial cross section. Manufacturing method. 57. The tubular film according to claim 55, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member has an axial diameter increasing in a longitudinal direction from a central portion to an end portion. Production method. 58. A portion in which the diameter in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member increases when the sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member and the cylindrical member is fitted into the tubular mold member. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 55, wherein a sheet-like film piece is partially wound around a corresponding portion of the cylindrical member. 59. A portion where the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in the axial direction increases when the sheet-like film is wound around the cylindrical member and the cylindrical member is fitted into the tubular mold member. Part of the corresponding cylindrical member, partially wound sheet-like film pieces, fitted with the tubular mold member whose inner peripheral surface continuously changes outside the wound film, heating at least the film, In the method of joining the overlapping portions of the films to form the sheet-like film into a tube, at the end of the heating step, the diameter of the cylindrical member + the thickness of the film = the inner diameter of the tubular mold member. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 55, wherein A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 49 to 59. 61. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 60. 62. In a tubular film that is stretched around at least two or more driven and driven rollers and is driven to rotate, the thickness distribution of the tubular film in the thrust direction is:
A tubular film characterized in that the thickness of the tubular film increases continuously from the center to the end. 63. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 62. 64. A thermoplastic sheet-like film is wound around a cylindrical member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film, and at least the film is heated, A method of joining a superposed portion of a film to form the tubular film into a tubular shape, wherein the tubular molded product is extracted from the cylindrical member and the tubular mold member, and is used after being inverted. Method. 65. The method of manufacturing a tubular film according to claim 64, wherein a closed loop groove is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the tubular mold member in a circumferential direction to manufacture the tubular film. 66. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 65, wherein the groove has a continuous shape with irregularities. 67. A thermoplastic sheet-like film wound around a columnar member, the winding start and the winding end of the film are overlapped, resin is embedded in a groove of the tubular mold member having the groove, and the outside of the wound film is The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 65, characterized in that the sheet-like film is formed into a tubular shape having ribs formed thereon by heating at least the film and joining the overlapping portions of the film. 68. The method according to claim 67, wherein the rib is made of the same material as the tubular film. 69. The method according to claim 67, wherein the height of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is 3% or less of the diameter of the tubular film. 70. The method according to claim 69, wherein the height of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is 2% or less of the diameter of the tubular film. 71. A cross-sectional shape of the rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film is quadrangular, and a surface of the rib facing the center side of the tubular film is inclined from a top surface of the rib to a surface of the tubular film. The method for producing a tubular film according to claim 67, wherein the method is performed. 72. A tubular film produced by the method for producing a tubular film according to any one of claims 64 to 71. 73. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to claim 72. 74. Claims 13, 22, 36, 47, 6
73. An image forming apparatus using the tubular film according to any one of 0, 62 and 72 as a transfer belt or a fixing film.