JP2003025442A - Method for manufacturing belt - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a belt by which a thin layer of a synthetic resin can be formed on the outer periphery of a flexible belt in a satisfactory state without creases and trapped air. SOLUTION: This method for manufacturing a belt comprises the steps to cover the outer peripheral surface of a thin-walled and flexible belt substrate 10, with a synthetic resin tube 14 and thereby manufacture the belt having a mold release layer. In this method, a first step to apply an adhesive 12 to the outer peripheral face of the belt substrate 10, a second step to cover the outer periphery of the belt substrate 10 with the applied adhesive 12, with the tube 14 in such a way that both ends of the tube 14 project outwardly from both end parts of the belt substrate 10, a third step to replicate both projecting end parts of the tube 14 inwardly at the end part corresponding to the belt substrate 10, a fourth step to fasten each of the replicated end parts of the tube 14 and a fifth step to cure the adhesive 12 by heat while keeping both replicated end parts of the tube 14 fastened respectively, are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for manufacturing a fluororesin tube-covered belt by coating a fluororesin tube on the outer circumference of a thin belt base body,
For example, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fixing belt used in a fixing device for an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a fixing device for an electrophotographic apparatus, a fixing belt in which an elastic layer such as rubber is provided around a belt base and a fluororesin coating is applied to the outer periphery of the elastic layer is used. Belt type fixing devices are known.
As a method of coating the outer peripheral surface of a belt having such a rubber elastic layer with a fluororesin, for example, Japanese Patent No. 30510
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 85 (JP-A No. 11-15303) is known.

In this patent, a casting mold having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the belt base body by the thickness of the silicone rubber layer to be formed is prepared, and the inner peripheral surface of this casting mold is prepared. Fluorine resin film is coated on this, the belt base is set concentrically in this casting mold, and both ends of the casting mold are sealed with mold lids, respectively, and the space between the casting mold and the belt base is sealed. In the technique of injecting silicone rubber into the gap formed in, curing and cooling, and then removing the casting mold, a silicone rubber layer coated with a fluororesin film is formed on the outer periphery of the belt base. It is disclosed.

[0004]

However, in this conventional method, first of all, a silicone rubber layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a core metal having a relatively high rigidity, and the outer periphery of this silicone rubber layer is formed. It seems that it is possible to easily coat with a fluororesin film via a thermosetting adhesive, but the member for forming this silicone rubber or the fluororesin film is not the core bar. In the case of a flexible belt or the like, there is a problem that the outer diameter cannot be held when the silicone rubber is injected, and molding cannot be performed, and improvement is demanded.

Further, when the above conventional method is applied to a flexible belt or the like, even if the outer diameter can be maintained by some method, the formed belt is bonded to the adhesive. When the film is placed in a heating furnace and heated to exert its properties, the fluororesin film may be wrinkled or air may be trapped between the fluororesin film and the adhesive. Such wrinkles and air traps cause defective products, and there is a strong demand for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the main object of the present invention is to provide a thin synthetic resin layer on the outer periphery of a flexible belt without wrinkling and air trapping. It is to provide a method of manufacturing a belt that can be formed in a simple state.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, the belt manufacturing method according to the present invention is, according to the description of claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface of a flexible thin belt base is covered with a synthetic resin tube to form a release layer. In the belt manufacturing method for manufacturing a belt having: a first step of applying an adhesive to the outer peripheral surface of the belt base, and a synthetic resin tube on the outer circumference of the belt base coated with the adhesive. A second step of covering both ends of the belt base so as to project outward from both ends of the belt base, and a third step of folding both protruding ends of the tube inward at corresponding ends of the belt base. And the fourth step of locking both folded ends of the tube.
And the fifth step of heating and curing the adhesive while keeping the both folded ends of the tube locked.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the belt manufacturing method is carried out between the second and third steps, and the handle ring is coated on the outer periphery of the belt base body. The adhesive ring is fitted to one end of the outer circumference of the synthetic resin tube, the handling ring is moved toward the other end along the axial direction of the belt base, and the adhesive is applied to the belt base and the synthetic resin tube. It is characterized by further comprising a handling process for handling between.

According to the third aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the synthetic resin contains a fluororesin.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the belt manufacturing method, the belt base has a thin base material and a rubber elastic layer disposed at least at the outermost periphery of the base material. It is characterized by having.

According to a fifth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the thickness of the base material is set to 300 μm or less.

According to a sixth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the synthetic resin tube has elasticity along at least the radial direction, and is provided at a stage before coating the belt base body. The outer diameter of the belt base is smaller than the outer diameter of the belt base.

According to the seventh aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the base material is a metal belt.

According to the eighth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the metal base material is a nickel electroformed belt.

According to a ninth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the base material is a synthetic resin belt.

According to a tenth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the base material made of synthetic resin is a belt made of polyimide.

According to the eleventh aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, in the fourth step, truncated cone-shaped fitting bodies are respectively provided on the inner circumferences of the two folded end portions of the tube. It is characterized in that it is fitted and the corresponding inner diameter portion of the folded end is locked.

According to the twelfth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the diameter of the great circle of the fitting body is larger than the inner diameter of the belt base body, and
The diameter of the small circle is smaller than the inner diameter of the belt base,
The feature is that each is set.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, the fitting body is formed in a solid shape.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the belt manufacturing method according to the fourteenth aspect, in the fourth step, the outer circumferences of the two folded end portions of the tube are hollow and frustoconical. It is characterized in that a fitting body is fitted and the corresponding outer diameter portion of the folded-back end portion is locked. Also,
According to the fifteenth aspect of the belt manufacturing method of the present invention, in the fitting body, the inner diameter of the large circle is larger than the outer diameter of the belt base, and the diameter of the small circle is It is characterized in that the diameter is set smaller than the outer diameter of the belt base body.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The structure of an embodiment of a belt manufacturing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, as shown in FIG. 1 (in an enlarged state in FIG. 2), nickel electroforming is performed as a thin cylindrical belt base 10 having flexibility (that is, the outside diameter cannot be held by itself). Made endless belt (hereinafter referred to as "base material") 10
An endless belt having A and a silicone rubber layer 10B having a thickness of 200 μm coated on the outer peripheral surface thereof is prepared. Here, although the description of the base material 10A is omitted here as it is well known, for example, an inner diameter of 40 mm when the base material 10A has a cylindrical shape (that is, a substantially circular cross section). Axial length 360
It is formed in advance so as to have a thickness of 50 mm and a thickness of 50 mm. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a fluorine resin such as P
The following procedure is performed as a manufacturing method for manufacturing the fixing belt X by covering the FA tube 14 in a state where there are no wrinkles or air pockets.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, a metal core 16, a handle ring 18 used for a handle operation described later, and a push-up member 20 for holding the handle ring 18 are prepared in advance. Here, the handling ring 18 is composed of an O-ring, and J is used for handling operation described later.
The one formed in conformity with the identification number “P40” defined in IS B 2401 is used.

Here, the core 16 integrally includes a solid cylindrical core body 16A and a flange portion 16B coaxially connected to the lower portion of the core body 16A in the figure. The outer diameter of the core body 16A is set so that it can be inserted into the belt base body 10 with a sufficient gap (for example, several mm), in other words, the outer diameter is sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the belt base body 10. Is set. The outer diameter of the flange portion 16B is set larger than the outer diameter of the core body 16A by the thickness of the belt base body 10 described above.

Further, the upper surface 16C of the flange portion 16B, that is, the flat surface which directly connects to the outer peripheral surface of the core body 16A, is connected to the belt base 1 on the outer periphery of the core body 16A.
It is set so as to function as a contact end surface with which the lower end of the belt base 0 abuts when 0 is loosely inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, when the lower end of the belt base body 10 contacts the upper surface 16C, the belt The outer peripheral surface of the base body 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 16B are set to be flush with each other.

On the other hand, sealing members 22 and 24 for hermetically sealing the space between the core body 16A and the belt base 10 loosely inserted around the outer circumference of the core body 16A are attached to the upper and lower parts of the figure. In this embodiment, each sealing member 22, 24
Consists of an air picker (trade name: made by Bridgestone), each of which has a rubber surface that is set flush with the outer peripheral surface of the core body 16A. Each rubber surface is formed by introducing working compressed air. It is configured so as to elastically bulge outward in the radial direction so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt base body 10 and to hermetically seal the space therebetween. Since this air picker has a well-known configuration, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

A plurality of pressure holes 26 are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the core body 16A, which is located between the upper and lower sealing members 22 and 24. 26
(Not shown) communicates with the pressurizing introduction passage formed so as to penetrate through the core 16.

Next, the belt base body 10 is loosely inserted around the outer periphery of the core 16 constructed as described above, and as shown in FIG.
The lower end of the belt base body 10 is attached to the flange portion 16B of the core 16.
The upper surface 16C. As a result, the belt base 1
The setting operation of 0 is completed.

After the setting operation of the belt base body 10 is completed in this way, although not shown, at least the outer peripheral surface of the belt base body 10 has an adhesive 12 made of a silicone rubber.
Apply. By applying the adhesive agent 12 in this manner, a covered object on which a PFA tube 14 described later is covered is constructed.

As the liquid silicone rubber adhesive, it is preferable to use a silicone rubber having self-adhesiveness. As the silicone rubber adhesive having self-adhesiveness, deacetone type, deoxime type, dealcohol type, deacetic acid type, addition type (addition reaction curing type) can be used. The mold, dealcohol type, and deacetic acid type have problems that they are difficult to handle in terms of work because they generate by-products during curing and react with moisture in the air to cure. Therefore, a silicone rubber adhesive having an addition-type self-adhesive property which does not generate a by-product and is cured by heating at 100 ° C. or higher is preferable.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a PFA tube 14 is covered and set on the outer peripheral surface of the object to be covered with an adhesive 12 in close contact therewith.

Next, the coated object coated with the PFA tube 14 is lifted up to make the adhesive 12 thin,
In addition, the handling operation for uniformizing will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, pressurized working air is introduced into both the upper and lower sealing members 22 and 24 to bulge them outward in the radial direction and to make close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt base body 10. Then, the two sealing members 22 and 24 are hermetically sealed. After that, by activating a pressure source (not shown) connected to the pressure introducing path (or connecting with a pressure pump that is activated), as shown in FIG. Will be pressurized with compressed air.

As a result, the inner space of the belt base body 10 is hermetically sealed at the upper and lower ends, so that the apparent rigidity of the outer periphery of the belt base body 10 is increased. That is,
Although the inside of the belt base 10 is not directly supported by a solid material, the above-described pressurizing operation enhances the apparent rigidity of the outer periphery of the belt base 10 so that the interior of the belt base 10 is as if it were solid. The state is substantially the same as when it is directly supported, and the outside diameter can be maintained by itself.

In the state where the apparent rigidity of the outer periphery of the belt base body 10 is increased in this way, as shown in FIG. 9, the handle ring 18 is not shown in detail, but the push-up member 2 of the moving mechanism is shown.
0 toward the side opposite to the side where the flange portion 16B is provided, along the axial direction of the object to be coated, for example, 15
It is pushed up at a speed of cm / min. With such movement of the handle ring 18, the adhesive 12 previously applied to the outer peripheral surface of the belt base 10 is not adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the object to be coated P.
The space between the FA tube 14 and the inner peripheral surface is handled, and the entire area between both surfaces is uniformly extruded. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, by moving the handle ring 18 to the upper end position of the belt base body 10, uniform adhesion is achieved between the outer peripheral surface of the object to be coated and the inner peripheral surface of the PFA fat tube 14. A layer of agent 12 will be formed.

That is, as described above, when the outer peripheral surface of the coated body including the belt base body 10 is handled through the handling ring 18, an excessive force acts on the outer peripheral surface of the coated body. Become. Here, if the inner peripheral surface of the object to be coated is not directly supported by the solid material, the rigidity of the outer periphery is insufficient,
Due to the stress applied by the handle ring 18, the outer periphery of the object to be coated is deformed in shape such as being recessed.

When the outer shape of the belt substrate 10 is deformed in this way, a uniform layer of the adhesive 12 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the object to be coated and the inner peripheral surface of the PFA resin tube 14. As a result, inconveniences such as wrinkles and residual air pools will occur. However, in this embodiment, as described above, since the inside of the belt base body 10 is pressurized with air, the apparent rigidity of the outer periphery of the belt base body 10 is increased, and such inconvenience does not occur at all. In addition, a uniform layer of the adhesive 12 is formed in a very good state, no wrinkles are generated, and no inconvenience such as air pool remains.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the activation of the pressure pump is stopped (or the connection with the activated pressure pump is released), and the pressure pump is opened to the atmosphere. The pressurized state is released, and the increase in the apparent rigidity of the outer periphery of the pressurized state is restored.

After releasing the pressurizing state, as shown in FIG. 12, the sealing state by the both sealing members 22 and 24 is released,
The handle ring 18 is pulled out from the object to be coated, and then, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 3, the belt substrate 10 covered with the PFA tube 14 is taken out. In this way, the target belt X including the belt base body 10 and the PFA tube 14 adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the belt base body 10 with the adhesive 12 is formed. In other words,
As shown in FIG. 14, the outer peripheral surface of the belt base body 10 is covered with a PFA tube 14 made of a fluororesin via an adhesive agent 12 without wrinkles or air traps. In this state, by curing the adhesive 12,
The desired fixing belt X is manufactured.

Next, the curing step, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 14, the PFA tube 14 is coated on the outer peripheral surface of the belt substrate 10 via the adhesive 12, but since the adhesive 12 is not heated, it is still cured. In other words, it is in a state where it has not yet exhibited adhesive strength. Therefore, in order to cure the adhesive 12 and exert the adhesive force, it is necessary to put it in a heating furnace (not shown) and heat it at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.

In this curing step, as shown in FIG. 14, both ends of the PFA tube 14 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the belt substrate 10 with the adhesive 12 are provided at both ends of the corresponding belt substrate 10, respectively. Is brought into a state in which it projects along the axially outward direction.

In this curing step, as shown in FIG. 15, the portions protruding from both ends of the belt substrate 10 are
It is folded back inward and pushed inward in the axial direction along the inner peripheral surface of the belt base body 10. Then, as shown in FIG.
Locking members (fitting bodies) 28 are fitted into both folded-back end portions of the A-made tube 14, respectively, and the folded-back end portions of the PFA-made tube 14 are locked respectively. Here, each locking member 28 is
It is shaped like a solid truncated cone.

Specifically, the locking members 2 having a truncated cone shape are respectively provided on the inner circumferences of the two folded ends of the PFA tube 14.
8 is inserted and the corresponding inner diameter portion of the folded end is locked. Here, each locking member 28 is set such that the diameter of the large circle is larger than the inner diameter of the belt base body 10 and the diameter of the small circle is smaller than the inner diameter of the belt base body 10. Has been done. Then, this fitting state is the same as the locking member 28 and P.
Due to the frictional engagement with the FA tube 14, it is well maintained.

In this way, the end faces of the PFA tube 14 coated on the outer periphery of the belt base 10 are attached to the locking member 28.
In the state of being locked by each of the above, one of the locking members 28 is set in a downwardly oriented heating furnace, and first, as primary heating, heating is performed at 150 ° C. for 20 minutes, and then secondary heating. As the above, it is heated at 200 ° C. for 4 hours.

Here, in the primary heating, since heating is performed from room temperature to 150 ° C., a large temperature difference occurs, which causes thermal contraction of the PFA tube and thermal expansion of the belt substrate 10. Then, in the conventional case, there was a problem that wrinkles are generated and air is trapped, but in this embodiment, as described above, both end surfaces of the PFA tube 14 are locked by the locking members 28, respectively. Since the heating is performed in the state, the heat shrinkage is regulated, the wrinkles and the air are not generated, and the heating is performed in an extremely good state. As a result, the outer circumference of the belt X after heating is formed. PF
A very good condition in which the A-made tube 14 is free of wrinkles and air pockets is achieved.

When the curing step by heating in the heating furnace is completed in this way, the adhesive 12 is cured and the belt substrate 10 and the PFA tube 14 are firmly adhered to each other. After that, it is taken out from the heating furnace, both locking members 28 are removed, and both ends are cut off so as to have a predetermined length, so that an object to be manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Belt X is completed.

As described above in detail, in this embodiment, the adhesive 12 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the belt substrate 10 constituted by the base material (electroformed belt) 10A whose outer periphery is covered with the rubber elastic layer 10B. Then, the outer peripheral surface of this is tightly covered with the fluororesin tube 14, and then the fluororesin tube 14 is handled over the entire length in the axial direction through the handling ring 18, whereby the adhesive applied in advance is applied. The agent 12 can be extruded thinly between the belt substrate 10 and the fluororesin tube 14, and then the adhesive 12 is cured so that the belt substrate 10 and the fluororesin tube 14 are bonded via the adhesive 12. Since they are bonded together, there is no need for high temperature treatment that would cause deterioration of rubber,
A fluororesin-coated belt with high dimensional accuracy can be easily and inexpensively manufactured without using a highly accurate and expensive mold, and the surface of the fluororesin tube 14 is smoothed to make the belt base 10 It is possible to perform molding with the outer diameter dimension kept uniform.

In the heating step, the belt base 10
Since the PFA tube 14 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the above is heated in a state where both end surfaces are locked by the locking members 28, wrinkles and air pockets are effectively suppressed from occurring, and the PFA tube 14 is kept in a good condition. The heating process can be achieved.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned procedure and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the belt base body 10 has a thin-walled base material 10A and the base material 1
0A is provided with at least the outermost peripheral surface rubber layer 10B, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, that is, a configuration without the rubber layer 10B, that is, a belt base body. It goes without saying that 10 may be made of the thin base material 10A itself.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the nickel electroforming belt is used as the thin-walled base material 10A, but the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and a metal is used. It goes without saying that it can also be applied to a belt made of SUS, for example, a belt made of SUS.

It is needless to say that the thin-walled base material 10A is not limited to metal and can be applied to a synthetic resin belt, for example, a polyetherimide belt.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the handling operation is explained to be performed once, but the present invention is not limited to such a number of times, and the handling operation may be performed a plurality of times. However, it goes without saying that it is good.
In particular, when the thickness of the adhesive layer is set to be large and therefore the amount of the adhesive 14 is large, it is possible to spread the adhesive more uniformly by dividing the handling operation a plurality of times. It is possible and advantageous.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the explanation has been made such that the belt base body 10 is the base material (electroformed belt) 10A having the outer periphery coated with the rubber elastic layer 10B.
The present invention is not limited to such an application, and, for example, it is possible to use not the electroformed belt but different kinds of metals such as SUS, and it is also possible to use synthetic resins such as polyimide. Needless to say.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the belt base body 10 is explained as being composed of the base material (electroformed belt) 10A having the outer periphery covered with the rubber elastic layer 10B, but the present invention is not limited to this. Without being limited to such a configuration, the belt base body 10 is configured to be configured by the electroformed belt itself, in other words, directly configured from the electrocast belt 10A itself in which the rubber elastic layer is not coated on the outer periphery. It goes without saying that it may be done.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the core 1
Although 6 has been described as being formed of a metal, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such a configuration and, for example, a synthetic resin core can be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pressing operation of the belt base body 10 is explained to be carried out immediately before the handling operation, but the present invention is limited to being carried out immediately before the handling operation. It suffices if it is carried out at least immediately before the handling operation, without doing so. However, it goes without saying that the condition is that the sealing operation inside the belt base body 10 is completed.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the belt manufactured by this manufacturing method is described as being used as a fixing belt, but the present invention is not limited to such an application, and for example, it may be conveyed. It goes without saying that it can also be used as a belt or the like.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in the heating step, the PFA coated on the outer peripheral surface of the belt substrate 10 is used.
At both end surfaces of the tube 14 made of plastic, a locking member 28 having a shape of a truncated cone having a solid shape is fitted into the belt base body 10 to form a PFA.
Although it has been described that the inner peripheral edge of the folded piece of the manufactured tube 14 is locked, the present invention is not limited to such a process, and for example, as shown as a deformability in FIG. 17,
The PF coated on the outer peripheral surface of the belt substrate in the heating step
The both ends of the tube 14 made of A are fitted with hollow frustoconical locking members 30 on the outer periphery of the belt base body 10, and PF
It goes without saying that it may be configured to lock the corresponding outer peripheral edge of the folded piece of the A-made tube 14.

In this case, in the locking member 30 for locking the outer peripheral edge, the inner diameter of the large circle is larger than the outer diameter of the belt base body 10, and the diameter of the small circle is larger. The outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter.

[0061]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a belt manufacturing method capable of reliably forming a thin layer made of synthetic resin on the outer periphery of a flexible belt. Become.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a belt manufacturing method capable of surely forming a thin synthetic resin layer on the outer circumference of a flexible belt having a rubber layer formed on the outer circumference. It will be.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a belt manufacturing method capable of surely forming a thin synthetic resin layer on the outer periphery of a flexible belt having a thin rubber layer formed on the outer periphery thereof. Will be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a belt base member which constitutes a fluororesin tube-covered belt according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged structure of the belt base body shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration as an object to be manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, in which the outer peripheral surface of the belt base is covered with a tube made of a fluororesin via an adhesive.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a core and a handle ring are taken out.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a belt base material is loosely inserted around the core.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a fluororesin tube is tightly covered and attached to the outer peripheral surface of a body to be coated.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inside of the belt base is sealed by a pair of upper and lower sealing members.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inside of the belt base body is pressurized with compressed air.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an adhesive is handled through a handling ring while pressurizing the inside of the belt base.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which handling is completed via the handling ring.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pressurized state inside the belt base body is released.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sealed state by the sealing member is released.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the core is being removed.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a state after the core is removed.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which both ends of a PFA tube are folded back inside the belt base body.

16 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a locking member is fitted in the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the step shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

X fixing belt 10 Belt base 10A base material (electroformed belt) 10B rubber elastic layer 12 Adhesive 14 PFA tube (fluorine resin tube) 16 core 16A core body 16B flange 16C Top surface (contact end surface) 18 handle ring 20 Push-up member 22 Upper sealing member 24 Lower sealing member 26 Pressure hole 28 Locking member 30 Locking member (modified example)

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H033 AA31 BA12                 4F211 AA16 AA40 AA45 AD03 AD05                       AD12 AG03 AG16 AH12 SA17                       SC01 SD04 SH06 SJ01 SJ21                       SJ29 SN03 SW26

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A belt manufacturing method for manufacturing a belt having a release layer by coating a synthetic resin tube on an outer peripheral surface of a flexible thin-walled belt base, which is adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the belt base. First step of applying the agent, and covering the outer circumference of the belt base body coated with the adhesive with a synthetic resin tube so that both ends of the tube project outward from both end parts of the belt base body, respectively. A second step, a third step in which both protruding ends of the tube are folded back inward at corresponding ends of the belt base body, and a fourth step in which both folded back ends of the tube are locked, respectively. And a fifth step of heating the adhesive to cure the adhesive while keeping both folded ends of the tube locked. 2. Performed between said second and third steps,
The handling ring is fitted to one end of the outer circumference of the synthetic resin tube coated on the outer circumference of the belt base, and the handling ring is moved toward the other end along the axial direction of the belt base, The belt manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising a handling step of handling an adhesive between the belt substrate and the synthetic resin tube. 3. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic resin contains a fluororesin. 4. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt base has a thin-walled base material and a rubber elastic layer disposed at least at the outermost periphery of the base material. Method. 5. The method for manufacturing a belt according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the base material is set to 300 μm or less. 6. The synthetic resin tube has elasticity along at least a radial direction, and has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the belt base before the coating of the belt base. It is formed, The belt manufacturing method of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein the base material is a metal belt. 8. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein the metal base material is a nickel electroformed belt. 9. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the base material is a belt made of synthetic resin. 10. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein the synthetic resin substrate is a polyimide belt. 11. In the fourth step, frustoconical fitting bodies are respectively fitted on the inner circumferences of both folded-back end portions of the tube, and the inner diameter portions of the corresponding folded-back end portions are locked. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 1. 12. The fitting body is set such that a diameter of a large circle is larger than an inner diameter of the belt base body and a diameter of a small circle is smaller than an inner diameter of the belt base body. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the belt manufacturing method is performed. 13. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the fitting body is formed in a solid shape. 14. In the fourth step, a hollow frustoconical fitting body is fitted on the outer periphery of each of the folded end portions of the tube, and an outer diameter portion of the corresponding folded end portion is locked. The belt manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein 15. The fitting body has an inner diameter of a great circle larger than an outer diameter of the belt base body, and a diameter of a small circle,
The belt manufacturing method according to claim 14, wherein the diameter is set smaller than the outer diameter of the belt base.