JP2003077621A - Heater and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that does not generate slip of a fixing film and provides a high-grade image for a long time, using a film type heater, decreases rotation sliding torque of the fixing film, and does not raise the torque even in endurance. SOLUTION: A recessed part for polishing a glass coating part on a heater surface in the moving direction of the fixing film is provided, and thus contact area on the fixing film in the sliding direction is decreased, thereby decreasing the torque. Thanks to an effect of holding grease in the recessed part, torque increase is reduced even in endurance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention applies pressure to a material to be heated.
The present invention relates to a heating device for heating and an image forming device such as an electrophotographic device or an electrostatic recording device equipped with the heating device as an image heating device for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed and carried on a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For the sake of convenience, an image heating device (fixing device), which is provided in an image forming device such as a copying machine or a printer, for heating and fixing a toner image on a recording material will be described as an example.

In an image forming apparatus, a recording material (transfer material sheet, electrofax sheet, electrostatic recording paper, OHP sheet, etc.) is formed by an appropriate image forming process means such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording process.
A heat roller heating method is used as a fixing device that heats and fixes an unfixed image (toner image) of image information formed and carried on a printing paper or format paper by a transfer method or a direct method on a recording material surface as a permanently fixed image. Was widely used.

Recently, a film heating type device has been put into practical use from the viewpoint of quick start and energy saving. An electromagnetic induction heating type device has also been proposed.

A) Heat roller system This is basically composed of a pressure contact roller pair of a fixing roller (heating roller) and a pressure roller, and the roller pair is rotated.
The recording material on which the unfixed toner image to be image-fixed is formed and introduced into the fixing nip portion (heating nip portion), which is the mutual pressure contact portion of the roller pair, is nipped and conveyed, and the heat of the fixing roller and the fixing nip The unfixed toner image is thermally and pressure-fixed on the surface of the recording material by the pressing force of the part.

The fixing roller is generally an aluminum hollow metal roller (core metal), and a halogen lamp as a heat source is inserted and arranged in the inner space of the roller. The halogen roller is heated by the heat generated by the halogen lamp and the outer peripheral surface has a predetermined fixing temperature. The temperature of the halogen lamp is controlled by controlling the energization of the halogen lamp so that the temperature is maintained at. There is also a structure in which a heat source is also provided in the pressure roller so that the pressure roller can be heated and temperature controlled.

In the heat roller system, since the heat capacity of the fixing roller is large, a considerable waiting time (wait time) is required from turning on the power source until the fixing roller rises to a predetermined temperature. It is necessary to keep the fixing roller temperature constantly high by energizing the heat source (halogen lamp, etc.) of the fixing roller even when the apparatus is on standby so that the image can be output from the image forming apparatus immediately after the temperature rises. Therefore, there are problems such as large energy consumption.

B) Film heating system A film heating system fixing device is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-63-3.
13182, JP-A-2-157878, JP-A-4-44075, JP-A-4-204980.

That is, a heat resistant film (fixing film, fixing belt) is sandwiched between a ceramic heater as a heating body and a pressure roller as a pressure member to form a fixing nip portion. The recording material on which an unfixed toner image to be image-fixed is formed and introduced between the fixing film and the pressure roller and is nipped and conveyed together with the fixing film, so that the ceramic heater Heat is applied to the recording material via the fixing film, and the unfixed toner image is thermally and pressure-fixed on the surface of the recording material by the pressure applied in the fixing nip portion.

In this film heating type fixing device, an on-demand type device can be constructed by using a low heat capacity member as a ceramic heater and a fixing film, and from the power-on of the image forming device to the image forming executable state. The waiting time is short (quick start), so it is sufficient to energize the ceramic heater as a heat source to generate heat at a predetermined fixing temperature only during image formation of the image forming apparatus. Power off
Therefore, there is an advantage that power consumption during standby is significantly small (power saving).

C) Electromagnetic induction heating system Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-114276 proposes a heating device for generating an eddy current in the fixing film itself or a conductive member in the vicinity of the fixing film to generate heat by Joule heat. There is. In this electromagnetic induction type / film heating type, the heat generation region can be made closer to the object to be heated, so that the efficiency UP of energy consumption can be achieved.

In the film heating type heating device or the electromagnetic induction type / film heating type heating device, as a driving method of the cylindrical or endless film type fixing film as the rotating body, a film for guiding the inner peripheral surface of the fixing film is used. A method in which a fixing film pressed against a guide member (film support member) and a pressure roller is driven to rotate by the rotation of the pressure roller (pressure roller driving method).
On the other hand, on the contrary, there is one in which a pressure roller is driven to rotate by driving an endless film-shaped fixing film stretched by a driving roller and a tension roller.

In the film heating type apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-27619, fixing is performed by interposing a heat resistant lubricant (grease) between the fixing film and the film guide member. There is also a configuration that ensures slidability between the film and the film guide member.

[0014]

As described above, in the film heating type or electromagnetic induction type / film heating type heating device, since the inner surface of the fixing film and the film guide member slide at the fixing nip portion, sliding Heat resistant grease was applied to the surface, but when the fixing film rotates,
The lubricant is swept out from between the fixing film and the sliding part surface due to the pressure applied to form the fixing nip part, and when the durability progresses, the lubricant is applied to the sliding part surface corresponding to the fixing nip part. Almost nothing left.

Therefore, due to durability, when the driving roller (driving motor) starts to rotate, the contact force between the fixing film and the sliding portion surface increases, and the torque increases. When the recording material is conveyed, the fixing film and the recording material may slip, causing a problem such as a fixing film slip in which an image is disturbed or a fixing jam caused by the fixing film slip.

Further, in order to prevent the step-out of the drive motor, a drive motor capable of generating a larger torque is used, so that the size of the drive motor is increased and the size of the image forming apparatus is increased. As a result, the image forming apparatus becomes expensive and other problems occur.

In view of the above, the present invention solves the problem of increased adhesion between the film and the sliding surface (increased rotational sliding torque of the film) in a film heating type or electromagnetic induction / film heating type heating device. An object of the present invention is to obtain a clear fixed image with an inexpensive image forming apparatus while suppressing the torque at the time of rotation start.

[0018]

The above object can be achieved by a roller and a heat fixing device according to the present invention described below.
In summary, (1) a second member that slides with respect to the first member, and
And a third member that is in contact with the first member with the second member sandwiched therebetween, and the material to be heated is sandwiched and conveyed by a contact portion formed by the contact between the second member and the third member. In a heating device that pressurizes and heats a material to be heated, a second member sliding portion corresponding to a contact portion of the first member formed by abutting the second member and the third member, The heating device is characterized by being polished in the moving direction of the second member.

(2) A second member that slides and moves with respect to the first member, and a third member that abuts against the first member with the second member sandwiched between the second member and the second member. In a heating device that sandwiches and conveys a material to be heated at a contact portion formed by abutting with the third member, and pressurizes and heats the material to be heated,
The second member sliding portion of the first member, which corresponds to the contact portion formed by the contact between the second member and the third member, has a surface roughness in the second member moving direction that is equal to that of the first member. The heating device has a surface roughness smaller than that in the direction orthogonal to the two-member moving direction.

(3) The second member sliding portion of the first member is
In the moving direction of the second member, a width of 0.5 mm or less and a depth of 0.
The heating device according to (1) or (2) above, characterized in that a plurality of recesses having a size of 5 mm or less are provided.

(4) In the structure in which the lubricant is interposed between the second member sliding portion of the first member and the second member, the concave portion of the second member sliding portion of the first member is lubricated. The heating device according to (3) above, which holds an agent.

(5) The heating device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the second member is a rotating body.

(6) The heating device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the third member is a pressing member.

(7) The second member is an endless film having flexibility.
The heating device according to any one of (6).

(8) The heating device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the first member is a support member for the second member.

(9) The first member is a heating body, and the material to be heated is sandwiched and conveyed at a contact portion formed by abutting between the second member and the third member, and the material to be heated is transferred to the first member. Heating by heat from one member (1) to
The heating device according to any one of (7).

(10) The second member is composed of an electromagnetic induction heat-generating member, and has magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to the electromagnetic induction heat generating member to generate heat, and to bring the second member and the third member into contact with each other. The material to be heated is sandwiched and conveyed by a contact portion formed by contacting, and the material to be heated is heated by heat from the electromagnetic induction heat-generating member of the second member.
The heating device according to any one of (8).

(11) The heating apparatus according to (9), wherein the heating element is a heater having a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized.

(12) The heating device according to (9), characterized in that the heating body is made of an electromagnetic induction heating element, and has a magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to the heating body to generate heat.

(13) The above-mentioned (1) to (12), wherein the third member is a rotary pressurizing member which is rotationally driven.
The heating device according to any one of 1.

(14) The heating material is a recording material on which an unfixed image is formed and carried, and the apparatus is a heat fixing device for heating and fixing the unfixed image on the recording material. ) To (13).

(15) An image forming means for forming and carrying an unfixed image on a recording material and a fixing means for fixing the unfixed image formed and carried on the recording material are provided, and the fixing means comprises the above (1).
The image forming apparatus is the heating apparatus according to any one of to (14).

[0033]

That is, a plurality of recesses are provided in the second member moving direction in the second member sliding portion corresponding to the contact portion formed by the contact between the second member and the third member of the first member. As a result, the contact area in the sliding direction at the sliding portion between the first member and the second member is reduced, the sliding friction resistance is reduced, and the increase in the sliding friction resistance due to the paper passing durability can be suppressed. It is possible to extend the life of the.

Therefore, since the material to be heated can be prevented from slipping, stable transportation of the material to be heated can be ensured,
In the heating device of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to secure high-quality images and stable conveyance of the recording material.

Further, as the drive motor of the heating device, a drive motor having a smaller drive torque can be used, which leads to a reduction in product cost.

When a lubricant is interposed between the second member sliding portion of the first member and the second member, the lubricant is a recess provided in the second member sliding portion of the first member. It is prevented that a situation in which the lubricant is stably held inside and the lubricant is swept out from between the first member and the second member in the sliding portion and hardly remains is generated, and the lubricant is used as the first member. And the second
The effect of reducing the sliding friction resistance with the member can be maintained for a long period of time.

[0037]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The heating device in this embodiment is an example of a film heating type heating device using a ceramic heater as a heating body.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device 100 includes a heat-resistant and heat-insulating film guide member 16 and a groove portion formed along the length of the guide member at a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the film guide member 16. A ceramic heater 12 as a fixedly supported heating body, a sliding member 40 as a first member of the ceramic heater 12, and a film guide member 16 including the ceramic heater as a second member loosely outer ring. Cylindrical or endless heat-resistant fixing film 11 and film guide member 16
And the lower surface of the ceramic heater 12 on the side, the fixing film 11 is sandwiched to form the fixing nip portion N, and the pressure roller 30 is a pressing member as a third member.

The pressure roller 30 is an elastic roller having a cored bar 30a and an elastic layer 30b of silicone rubber, fluorine rubber or the like.
Is provided to reduce the hardness, and both ends of the cored bar 30a are rotatably supported by bearings between the chassis side plates on the front side and the back side (not shown) of the device. In order to improve the surface property and the releasability to the toner t, P
A fluororesin layer such as TFE, PFA or FEP may be provided.

A film guide member 16 having an outer ring of the fixing film 11 is arranged above the pressure roller 30 with the ceramic heater 12 side facing downward, and is inserted through the film guide member 16 to provide a rigid rigidity stay. The pressing rigid stay 2 is provided by compressing the pressing springs between both end portions of 22 and the spring receiving member on the apparatus chassis side (not shown).
2 is being pushed down. In this embodiment, a total pressure of 12 kg is applied to each side by 6 kgf by the spring (not shown).
The pressing force of f was applied. As a result, the lower surface of the ceramic heater 12 on the film guide member 16 side and the upper surface of the pressure roller 30 are pressed against each other with the fixing film 11 sandwiched therebetween to form a fixing nip portion N having a predetermined width. In this embodiment, the fixing nip portion N is about 5 to 7 mm.

The pressure roller 30 is rotationally driven by the driving means M in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow. The fixing film 11 is rotated by the pressure roller 30 so that the pressure roller 3 is rotated.
Rotational force acts on the fixing film 11 by the frictional force between 0 and the outer surface of the fixing film 11, and the inner peripheral surface of the fixing film 11 is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the ceramic heater 12 at the fixing nip portion N and slides. The outer circumference of the film guide member 16 is rotated at a peripheral speed substantially corresponding to the peripheral speed of the pressure roller 30 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow (pressure roller driving method).

The rotation of the pressure roller 30 is started based on the print start signal, and the ceramic heater 12
The heat up of is started. In the state where the rotation peripheral speed of the fixing film 11 is stabilized by the rotation of the pressure roller 30 and the temperature of the ceramic heater 12 rises to a predetermined temperature, between the fixing film 11 in the fixing nip portion N and the pressure roller 30, The recording material P carrying the toner image t as the material to be heated is introduced with the toner image carrying surface side facing the fixing film 11, so that the recording material P passes through the fixing film 11 in the fixing nip portion N. The ceramic heater 12 is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the ceramic heater 12 and moves through the fixing nip portion N together with the fixing film 11. In the course of the movement, the heat of the ceramic heater 12 is applied to the recording material P via the fixing film 11, and the toner image t is heated and fixed on the recording material P. The recording material P that has passed through the fixing nip portion N is separated from the surface of the fixing film 11 and conveyed.

In order to reduce the heat capacity of the fixing film 11 and improve the quick start property, the film thickness of the fixing film 11 is 150 μm or less, preferably 80 to 30 μm, which is a single layer of heat-resistant PTFE, PFA or FEP, or polyimide or polyimide. PTFE, PF of about 5 to 20 μm on the outer peripheral surface of the base layer such as amide, PEEK, PES, PPS
A composite layer film coated with a release layer such as A or FEP can be used. In this example, a fixing film having a diameter of 25 mm, a total thickness of 70 μm, and a longitudinal length of 230 mm (corresponding to A4 vertical paper) in which PTFE was coated as a release layer having a thickness of 10 μm on the outer peripheral surface of polyimide as a base layer having a thickness of 60 μm. Was used.

Ceramic heater 12 as heating element
Is a horizontally long linear heating element having a low heat capacity and having a longitudinal direction in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the fixing film 11 and the recording material P, and alumina (Al2O3) is generally known.
In this embodiment, a heater substrate 12a of aluminum nitride (AIN) having a heat capacity lower than that of alumina, having a thickness of 1 mm, a width of 9.0 mm, and a longitudinal length of 280 mm (corresponding to A4 vertical paper).
As the heating resistor 12b, for example, Ag / Pd on the surface of the
An electrical resistance material such as (silver palladium) having a thickness of 10 to 20 μm
m, width 3 mm, coated and baked by screen printing,
Sliding member 4 with the protective layer and the inner surface of the fixing film 11
0 is coated with glass or fluororesin by coating and firing.

In this embodiment, a glass coat is used as the protective layer / sliding member 40.

In the temperature control, an AC voltage applied to the heating resistor 12b is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) based on the output information of the temperature detecting element 50 such as a thermistor provided in the paper passing area of the recording material P. By controlling the electric power supplied to the heating resistor 21b by controlling the phase or the wave number, the temperature is controlled and controlled to a predetermined temperature.

In this embodiment, the ceramic heater 12 that is the sliding surface of the fixing film in the fixing nip portion N is used.
The glass coat 40 that is a sliding member of the fixing film 1
In order to reduce the sliding frictional resistance with the inner surface of 1, the polishing member 6 that rotates counterclockwise as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The glass coat 40 is polished in the moving direction of the fixing film 11 by pressing it to 0 and moving the ceramic heater 12 to the right by a moving means (not shown) as shown by an arrow. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing film 11
A plurality of minute recesses 41 are formed on the glass coat 40 by arranging the polishing eyes (recesses) 41 in the moving direction of. Due to the polishing eyes (recesses) 41, the contact area in the sliding direction between the glass coat 40 of the ceramic heater 12 and the inner surface of the fixing film 11, which is the sliding surface in the fixing nip portion N, is reduced, and the mutual sliding friction force is reduced. It has a structure to reduce the number.

In Comparative Example 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the ceramic heater 12 was pressed against a polishing member 60 rotating counterclockwise as shown by an arrow, and the ceramic heater 12 was moved by an unillustrated moving means as shown by an arrow. By moving to the right, the glass coat 40 is polished in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the fixing film 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing film 1
By disposing the polishing eyes 41 in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of 1, the plurality of minute concave portions 41 are formed on the glass coat 40.

As Comparative Example 2, glass coat 4 was used.
No. 0 was applied and baked, and was not polished.

In this embodiment, the polishing member 60 is 150
No. 0 polishing member was used.

Since the size of the glass-coated dent by polishing was very small, it was measured with a surface roughness meter.

The surface roughness is "Surforder S
E3400 Kosaka Lab ”surface roughness meter, speed: 0.5 mm / sec, Cutoff λ
Under the conditions of c: 0.8 mm and (measurement) Length: 6 mm, the moving direction of the fixing film 11 and the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the fixing film 11 were measured.

With respect to the rotational sliding torque of the fixing film, in the heating device 100, the peripheral speed of the pressure roller 30 is rotated by the driving means M at a speed of 100 mm / sec, and the peripheral speed of the fixing film 11 is also approximately 100 mm / sec. It is rotated at a speed (the pressure roller 30 and the fixing film 11 do not slip, the ceramic heater 12 is energized, and when the surface temperature of the pressure roller 30 is 145 ° C. (actual use temperature), the rotational load torque of the driving means M is increased. The elastic layer 30b of the pressure roller 30 has a length of 220 mm in the longitudinal direction, and both ends are inside the fixing film 11.

The measurement results of the surface roughness and torque of this example, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 are shown below.

[0056]   Surface roughness (unit: μm)           Direction of moving fixing film Direction perpendicular to moving direction of fixing film Example Ra = 0.1686 / Rz = 1.295 / Rmax = 2.400 Ra = 0.8046 / Rz = 4.570 / Rmax = 11.00 Comparative Example 1 Ra = 0.8046 / Rz = 4.570 / Rmax = 11.00 Ra = 0.1686 / Rz = 1.295 / Rmax = 2.400 Comparative product 2 Ra = 0.1004 / Rz = 1.010 / Rmax = 1.804 Ra = 0.1004 / Rz = 1.010 / Rmax = 1.804   Torque (gf · cm)   This embodiment (polishing in the moving direction of the fixing film): 1200   Comparative Example 1 (polishing in a direction orthogonal to the fixing film moving direction): 1650   Comparative Example 2 (without polishing): 1450

As described above, the rotational torque of the fixing film 11 is the largest in Comparative Example 1, followed by Comparative Example 2, and this example is the smallest. From the above results, as the sliding member 40 with the inner surface of the fixing film 11, the sliding member surface having a proper recess in the moving direction of the fixing film has a smaller contact area in the sliding direction with the fixing film. The torque is small and suitable. In particular, regarding the surface roughness of the sliding portion between the inner surface of the fixing film and the ceramic beater, it is important that the surface roughness in the moving direction of the fixing film is smaller than the surface roughness in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the fixing film.

Therefore, by polishing the glass coat 40 in the moving direction of the fixing film, the ceramic heater 1
The mutual sliding frictional force between the glass coat 40 of No. 2 and the inner surface of the fixing film 11 can be reduced, and the recording material P, which is the material to be heated, can be prevented from slipping, so that stable conveyance of the recording material is ensured. Therefore, a high-quality image can be obtained in the image forming apparatus.

Further, as the driving motor of the heating device, one having a smaller driving torque can be used, so that the product cost can be reduced.

Although the glass coat is polished in the above, small protrusions or the like are generated after firing the glass coat due to coating unevenness at the time of application of the glass coat, which damages the inner surface of the fixing film and further damages the fixing film. In some cases, the protrusions and the like can be uniformly polished by this polishing step, so that the fixing film is also prevented from being scraped or damaged.

In the present embodiment, the polishing direction (polishing eye 41) is the moving direction of the fixing film 11, but due to manufacturing tolerances,
If the angle between the polishing direction (grinding eye 41) and the moving direction of the fixing film is within a range of ± 30 °, the effect of the present invention can be obtained, but as the angle approaches 0 °, the torque reduction effect becomes greater. It is more preferable that the tolerance is within ± 10 °.

In the present embodiment, the configuration using glass as the sliding member between the inner surface of the fixing film and the ceramic heater has been described, but the same effect can be obtained by using other materials as the sliding member.

Further, the surface roughness in this embodiment is merely an example, and the number of the polishing member 60 is arbitrarily set according to the material of the sliding member, the material of the inner surface of the fixing film, and the like. hand,
Any surface roughness may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the entire surface of the glass coat, which is a sliding member between the inner surface of the fixing film and the ceramic heater, is polished. However, depending on the heating device configuration, only the portion corresponding to the fixing nip portion N or the portion to be covered is fixed. The same effect can be obtained by polishing even a part of the sliding portion area corresponding to the fixing nip portion N, such as only the portion where the recording material P passes.
However, it is more preferable to polish at least the sliding portion corresponding to the fixing nip portion N.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 6 to 8 and 20 to 21.
The second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, the structure in which the recess is provided in the moving direction of the fixing film by polishing has been described. However, in this embodiment, when the glass coat 40 in the first embodiment is coated, the recess is formed in the glass coat 40. A description will be given of the configuration in which the concave portions are provided by providing, coating and baking.

Generally, the glass coat 40 has about 20 layers per layer.
It is configured such that 2 to 5 layers of μm are applied plural times and fired. In this embodiment, in the five-layer coating, the first to third layers are coated on the entire surface of the ordinary ceramic heater 12, and the fourth to fifth layers are coated.
As shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion 42 is formed in the moving direction of the fixing film 11 by forming the coated portion and the uncoated portion on the mask of the glass coat of the second layer and baking the mask.
It is a structure provided on the surface.

In this embodiment, a width of 60 μ as shown in FIG.
Recesses 42 having a depth of m and a depth of 40 μm were arranged at a pitch of 60 μm.

The results of measuring the rotational sliding torque of the fixing film by the same measuring method as in Example 1 are shown below.

Torque (gf · cm) This embodiment (recesses 42): 1050 Embodiment 1 (polishing in the moving direction of the fixing film): 1200 Compared to Embodiment 1, the recesses are larger and the glass coat is formed regularly. By further reducing the contact area in the sliding direction between 40 and the inner surface of the fixing film 11,
The torque could be reduced as compared with the polishing method of Example 1.

It is possible to further reduce the torque by increasing the width and depth of the concave portion, but if it is too large, the fixing property may be different between the contact portion and the non-contact portion of the inner surface of the fixing film and the glass coat. As a result, uneven fixing occurs between the fixing portion of the toner t and the unfixed portion. In order to prevent this uneven fixing, a width of 0.5 mm or less and a depth of 0.
It is good to set it to 5 mm or less.

Further, in FIG. 7, the edge of the concave portion 42 has a right angle, but by adjusting the firing temperature and time of the glass coat 40, the edge portion becomes a curved surface as shown in FIG. Since the inner surface of the fixing film may be damaged by the edge of the recess, it is more preferable to adjust the baking conditions of the glass coat so that the edge of the recess 42 is curved as shown in FIG. It will be reduced.

In this embodiment, the concave portion 42 is set in the moving direction of the fixing film. However, due to manufacturing tolerances, if the angle between the concave portion 42 and the moving direction of the fixing film is within ± 30 °, the effect of the present invention is obtained. Although it can be obtained, the effect of torque reduction increases as the angle approaches 0 °, and it is more preferable that the tolerance is within ± 10 °.

The recess 42 provided on the surface of the sliding member 40 is shown in FIG.
A shape having an inclination of ± 5 ° as shown by 0, and a shape having an end on the downstream side in the fixing film advancing direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, the shape of the recess 42 is within the scope of the present invention.
You can set it arbitrarily.

Regarding the depth of the recess 42, the upstream side is made deeper than the downstream side in order to make it easier to retain the lubricant in the recess 42 on the upstream side and the downstream side in the fixing film advancing direction. You can also

In this embodiment, glass was described as the sliding member between the inner surface of the fixing film and the ceramic heater, but the same effect can be obtained by using other materials as the sliding member.

Further, the width, depth and pitch of the recesses 42 in this embodiment are merely examples, and may be set arbitrarily according to the material of the sliding member, the material of the inner surface of the fixing film and the like. good.

In the present embodiment, the mask shape was changed to form the concave portion 42 at the time of coating the glass coat. However, when a material other than glass is used as the sliding member, the mask shape at the time of coating is changed. Alternatively, a manufacturing method in which the recess 42 is formed by another method such as cutting or etching may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the concave portions are evenly provided on the entire surface of the glass coat which is the sliding member between the inner surface of the fixing film and the ceramic heater, but it corresponds to the fixing nip portion N depending on the configuration of the heating device. The effect can be obtained if the concave portion is provided even in a part of the sliding portion area corresponding to the fixing nip portion N, such as only the portion or only the portion through which the recording material P passes. However, it is preferable that a recess is provided at least in the sliding portion corresponding to the fixing nip portion N.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which no lubricant was provided between the inner surface of the fixing film and the glass coat as the sliding member was described, but in this embodiment, the inner surface of the fixing film and the glass coat are not formed. A configuration in which a lubricant such as heat resistant grease is provided in between will be described.

Conventionally, when there is a lubricant between the inner surface of the fixing film and the glass coat, the initial rotational sliding torque of the fixing film is smaller than that when there is no lubricant. However, due to paper passing durability, the fixing film rotates and the lubricant is swept out between the fixing film and the glass coating surface which is the sliding portion surface due to the pressure applied for forming the fixing nip portion N, and the fixing is performed. Almost no lubricant remained on the sliding portion surface corresponding to the nip portion N. Therefore, the rotational sliding torque of the fixing film increases due to the durability.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when there is a lubricant between the inner surface of the fixing film and the glass coat as the sliding member, the concave portion 42 is formed on the sliding surface of the fixing nip portion N as in the second embodiment. As a result of the disposition, as shown in FIG. 9, the lubricant (grease) G remains / holds in the recess 42 even after the durability, so that the rotational sliding torque of the fixing film is prevented from increasing.

In this embodiment, grease is applied to the structure of the second embodiment.

As a comparative example, Comparative Example 2 in Example 1 was used.
Using a configuration in which grease is applied to (no recess / no polishing) as Comparative Example 3, the same measurement method as in Example 1 was used to measure the rotation of the fixing film at the initial stage and after the endurance of 200,000 sheets (A4 longitudinal paper). The results of measuring the dynamic torque are shown below.

The heat-resistant grease (trade name: HP-) is applied to the entire surface of the sliding portion of the glass coat 40 with the fixing film 11.
300, manufactured by Dow Corning Asia) was applied substantially uniformly in a total amount of 500 mg.

Torque (gf · cm) Initial after endurance of 200,000 sheets This example (recess 42 + with grease): 750 950 Comparative example 3 (no recess & no polishing + with grease): 1150 1600 From the above results, this example When a lubricant (grease) is applied to the structure in which the concave portion 42 is formed by the mask in the glass coat 40 of the second embodiment, the initial torque is the smallest, and the concave portion is formed even after passing 200,000 sheets. As shown in FIG. 9, the grease G remains and is retained at 42, so the torque increase due to the durability is very small at 200 gf · cm.

On the other hand, in Comparative Example 3, the initial torque is smaller than that in Comparative Example 2 in Example 1 by applying grease, but after 200,000 sheets have been passed, the inner surface of the fixing film 11 and the glass coat 40. The grease G on the sliding surface of and is wiped out, and there is almost no grease. The inner surface of the fixing film is scraped due to durability, film scraps, etc. adhere to the fixing film and the sliding part of the glass coat, and the torque is To rise. The torque increase due to durability is extremely large at 450 gf · cm.

Therefore, in the structure in which the lubricant is applied between the inner surface of the fixing film 11 and the glass coat 40, when the concave portion 42 is provided as in the present embodiment, when the concave portion 42 is not provided as in the conventional case. In comparison, since the contact area of the sliding portion with the inner surface of the fixing film in the sliding direction is small, not only the initial torque is reduced, but also the grease holding effect of the recess 42 reduces the torque increase due to durability. I was able to. Although HP-300 is used as the lubricant in this embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by using other lubricants.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The heating device in this embodiment is an example of a pressure roller driving type electromagnetic induction heating type heating device using a cylindrical fixing film (fixing belt) having an electromagnetic induction heat generating property as a heating member.

(1) Schematic configuration of the entire apparatus As shown in FIG. 10, the heating apparatus 100 includes a cylindrical film guide member 16 and a lower surface of the film guide member 16 at a substantially central portion along the length of the guide member. A sliding member 4 as a first member, which is fixedly supported by the groove portion formed and provided.
0, the fixing film 10 having a cylindrical outer shape of the film guide member 16 and having a cylindrical electromagnetic induction heat generation property as the second member, and the film guide member 16 and the fixing film 10 interposed therebetween. Formed part N, third
A pressure roller 30 which is a pressure member as a member is arranged.

The cylindrical film guide member (film support member) 16 is formed by assembling a pair of left and right cross-section substantially semi-arc upper trough halves 16a and 16b with their opening sides facing each other. There is. Inside the right half 16a of the film guide member, magnetic cores 17a, 17b and 17c as magnetic field generating means, and an exciting coil 18 are provided.
Is arranged and held.

The pressure roller 30 is composed of a core metal 30a and a heat resistant elastic layer 30b of silicone rubber, fluororubber or the like, and both ends of the core metal 30a are placed between chassis side metal plates (not shown) of the apparatus. The bearings are rotatably held and arranged. In order to improve the surface property and the releasability from the toner t, a fluororesin layer such as PTFE, PFA, FEP may be further provided on the outer periphery.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the film guide member 16 having the fixing film 10 in the outer ring is disposed above the pressure roller 30, and the film guide member 1 is provided.
6, the pressurizing rigid stays 22 are inserted between the both ends of the pressurizing rigid stays 22 and the spring receiving members 29a, 29b on the apparatus chassis side. The pushing force is applied to. In the present embodiment, the pressing springs 25a and 25b exert a pressing force of a total pressure of 12 kgf on each side of 6 kgf. As a result, the lower surface of the film guide member 16 and the upper surface of the pressure roller 30 are pressed against each other with the fixing film 10 interposed therebetween, and the fixing nip portion N having a predetermined width is formed. In this embodiment, the width of the fixing nip portion N is about 5 to 7 mm.

The pressure roller 30 is driven by a driving means M (FIG. 10).
Is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by. By the rotational driving of the pressure roller 30, a rotational force acts on the fixing film 10 by a frictional force between the pressure roller 30 and the outer surface of the fixing film 10 in the fixing nip portion N, and the inner peripheral surface of the fixing film 10 is fixed to the fixing nip. In the portion N, the outer circumference of the film guide member 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow at a peripheral speed substantially corresponding to the peripheral speed of the pressure roller 30 while sliding in close contact with the lower surface of the film guide member 16 ( Pressure roller drive system).

In order to reduce the mutual sliding frictional force between the lower surface of the film guide member 16 and the inner surface of the fixing film 10 in the fixing nip portion N, the surface portion of the lower surface of the film guide member 16 corresponding to the fixing nip portion N is formed. Is heat resistant
A low friction sliding member 40 is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, convex rib portions 16c are formed on the peripheral surface of the right film guide member half body 16a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction thereof to form the film guide member half body 16a. The contact sliding resistance between the peripheral surface of the fixing film 10 and the inner surface of the fixing film 10 is reduced to reduce the rotational load of the fixing film 10. Such a convex rib portion 16c can be similarly formed and provided on the left film guide member half body 16b.

Denoted at 23a and 23b are flange members fitted and arranged at the front and rear end portions of the cylindrical film guide member 16, respectively, for receiving the end portions of the fixing film when the fixing film 10 is rotated. It serves to regulate the shift of the fixing film 10 along the length of the film guide member 16.
The flange members 23a and 23b may be configured to rotate following the rotation of the fixing film 10.

The pressure roller 30 is rotationally driven, the fixing film 10 is rotated accordingly, and the exciting circuit 27 (see FIG.
In the state where the fixing nip portion N rises to a predetermined temperature and is temperature-controlled by the electromagnetic induction heat generation of the fixing film 10 as a heating member by the action of the magnetic field generated by the power feeding from 3) to the excitation coil 18. The recording material P on which the unfixed image t is formed, which is conveyed from the image forming means, has an image surface facing upward between the fixing film 10 and the pressure roller 30 in the fixing nip portion N, that is, on the surface of the fixing film 10. The image surfaces are introduced opposite to each other, and the image surface is brought into close contact with the outer surface of the fixing film 10 in the fixing nip portion N, and the fixing nip portion N is nipped and conveyed together with the fixing film 10.

In the process in which the recording material P is nipped and conveyed together with the fixing nip portion N and the fixing film 10,
The unfixed toner image t on the recording material P is heated and fixed by being heated by electromagnetic induction heat generation of the fixing film 10.

(2) Magnetic field generating means The magnetic cores 17a, 17b and 17c are members of high magnetic permeability, and materials such as ferrite and permalloy used for the core of the transformer are good, and more preferably ferrite with less loss even at 100 kHz or more. It is better to use.

The exciting coil 18 uses a bundle of a plurality of thin copper wires, each of which is insulated and coated, as a conductor (electric wire) forming a coil (a coil).
This is wound multiple times to form an exciting coil. In this embodiment, the exciting coil 18 is formed by winding 10 turns.

As the insulating coating, it is preferable to use a coating having heat resistance in consideration of heat conduction due to heat generation of the fixing film 10. For example, a coating such as amide imide or polyimide may be used. In this embodiment, a polyimide coating is used and the heat resistant temperature is 220 ° C.

The exciting coil 18 may be applied with pressure from the outside to improve the density.

Magnetic field generating means 17a, 17b, 17c, 1
An insulating member 19 is disposed between the pressurizing rigid stay 22 and the pressurizing rigid stay 22. It is preferable that the insulating member 19 has excellent insulation and heat resistance. For example, phenol resin, fluororesin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, PFA resin,
It is preferable to select PTFE resin, FEP resin, LCP resin, or the like.

The exciting coil 18 is provided with power feeding portions 18a and 18b.
An exciting circuit 27 is connected to the. This excitation circuit 27 has 2
The switching power supply can generate a high frequency of 0 kHz to 500 kHz.

The exciting coil 18 generates an alternating magnetic flux by the alternating current (high frequency current) supplied from the exciting circuit 27.

FIG. 14 schematically shows how alternating magnetic flux is generated. The magnetic flux C indicates a part of the generated alternating magnetic flux. The alternating magnetic flux C guided to the magnetic cores 17a, 17b, and 17c causes the electromagnetic induction heating layer 1 of the fixing film 10 to be described later between the magnetic cores 17a and 17b and between the magnetic cores 17a and 17c. Generate an eddy current. This eddy current causes Joule heat (eddy current loss) in the electromagnetic induction heating layer 1 due to the specific resistance of the electromagnetic induction heating layer 1. The heat generation amount Q here is determined by the density of the magnetic flux passing through the electromagnetic induction heat generation layer, and has a distribution as shown in the graph of FIG.

In the graph of FIG. 14, the vertical axis represents the magnetic core 17a.
The position in the circumferential direction of the fixing film 10 is represented by an angle θ with the center of 0 as 0, and the horizontal axis represents the heat generation amount Q of the electromagnetic induction heating layer 1 of the fixing film 10. Here, the heat generation region H is defined as a region where the heat generation amount is Q / e or more, where Q is the maximum heat generation amount. This is an area where the amount of heat generated for fixing can be obtained.

The temperature of the fixing nip portion N is controlled so that a predetermined temperature is maintained by controlling the current supply to the exciting coil 18 by a temperature control system (not shown) including the temperature detecting means 26 (FIG. 10). Adjusted. The temperature detecting means 26 is a temperature sensor such as a thermistor that detects the temperature of the fixing film 10. In this embodiment, the temperature of the fixing nip portion N is controlled based on the temperature information of the fixing film 10 measured by the temperature sensor 26. I am trying to do it.

(3) Fixing Film 10 As shown in FIG. 15, the fixing film 10 having an electromagnetic induction heating property according to this embodiment includes a heating layer 1 made of a metal film or the like.
It has a composite structure of a base layer 2 laminated on the outer surface and a release layer 3 further laminated on the outer surface. A primer layer (not shown) for adhesion may be provided between the layers.

In the fixing film 10 having a substantially cylindrical shape, the heat generating layer 1 is the inner surface side and the release layer 3 is the outer peripheral side. As described above, when the alternating magnetic flux acts on the heat generating layer 1, an eddy current is generated in the heat generating layer 1 and the heat generating layer 1 generates heat. The heat generated by induction heat generation in this layer heats the entire fixing film 10 through the base layer 2 and the release layer 3, and the fixing nip portion N
The recording material P passed through the paper is heated to heat and fix the toner t image.

The heat generating layer 1 may be made of a non-magnetic metal, but more preferably nickel, iron, ferromagnetic SUS, nickel-.
It is preferable to use a ferromagnetic metal such as a cobalt alloy.
The thickness is thicker than the skin depth expressed by the following formula, and 2
It is preferable that the thickness is 00 μm or less.

Σ = 503 × (ρ / fμ) ^1/2 Skin depth: σ, [m], excitation circuit frequency: f [H
z], magnetic permeability: μ, specific resistance: ρ [Ωm] This indicates the depth of absorption of electromagnetic waves used in electromagnetic induction. At deeper points, the intensity of electromagnetic waves is 1 / e.
Indicates that: Conversely, most of the energy is absorbed up to this depth (Fig. 17).

The thickness of the heat generating layer 1 is preferably 1 to 100 μm.
m is good. If the thickness is less than 1 μm, most of the electromagnetic energy cannot be absorbed, resulting in poor efficiency. Also,
If the thickness exceeds 100 μ, the rigidity becomes too high and the bending property deteriorates, which is not practical for use as a rotating body.

The base layer 2 is made of heat resistant polyimide, polyimide amide, PEEK, P as described in the first embodiment.
Thickness of ES, PPS, etc. is 100μ or less, preferably 30
It is advisable to use a layer with a thickness of ˜80 μm. In this embodiment,
A 50 μm polyimide was used.

The release layer 3 is formed of PTF on the outer peripheral surface of the base layer 2.
The one coated with E, PFA, FEP or the like is used. In this example, a 10 μm thick PTFE layer was coated as a release layer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, in the constitution of the fixing film 10, the heat insulating layer 4 may be provided on the free surface side of the heat generating layer 1 (the side opposite to the base layer 2 side of the heat generating layer 1).

As the heat insulating layer 4, the heat resistant resin described in the base layer 2 is preferable. The thickness is preferably 10 to 1000 μm. When the thickness of the heat insulating layer 4 is smaller than 10 μm,
Insulation effect cannot be obtained and durability is insufficient. on the other hand,
If it exceeds 1000 μm, the magnetic core 17 and the exciting coil 1
The distance from 8 to the heat generating layer 1 increases, and the magnetic flux is not sufficiently absorbed by the heat generating layer 1. Since the heat insulating layer 4 can insulate heat generated in the heat generating layer 1 so as not to go to the inside of the fixing film 10, the heat supply efficiency to the recording material P side is higher than that in the case without the heat insulating layer 4. Since the power consumption can be suppressed, the energy saving effect is great. In this embodiment,
The same polyimide resin as the base layer 2 having a thickness of 100 μm was used.

(4) Sliding member 40 In order to reduce the mutual frictional force between the lower surface of the film guide member 16 and the inner surface of the fixing film 10 in the fixing nip portion N, the sliding member 40 is provided in the fixing nip portion N on the lower surface of the film guide member 16. A heat-resistant and low-friction sliding member 40 such as polyimide resin (PI), glass, alumina, or alumina coated with glass is provided on the corresponding fixing film sliding portion surface. The sliding member 40 is positioned and held by being fitted into a fitting groove provided along the length of the lower surface of the film guide member 16. Furthermore, it is good to fix with a heat resistant adhesive. In this embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the sliding member 40 used is one in which the free surface (sliding surface with the fixing film) of the alumina base material is glass-coated.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first to third embodiments, the surface of the glass coat 40, which is a sliding member, is polished in the moving direction of the fixing film 10 to provide the polishing eyes 41.
With the configuration in which the concave portion 42 is provided by the mask used for forming the glass coat, and grease, which is a lubricant, is applied to the sliding portion, an appropriate concave portion is provided on the sliding portion surface so that the fixing film can be rotated. The dynamic torque is reduced, and due to the effect of retaining the lubricant G in the recesses even during the durability, the torque does not increase so much, the problem such as the slip of the fixing film does not occur, and the stability of the heating device is maintained throughout the durability. The same effect as in Examples 1 to 3 that the recording material P can be conveyed was obtained.

In this embodiment, the sliding member 40 is separately provided on at least the surface portion of the film guide member 16 corresponding to the fixing nip portion N, and the sliding member 40 is polished in the moving direction of the fixing film 10. Although the concave portion is provided, the film guide member 16 itself is formed of a material having good heat resistance and slidability, and at the same time, at least the surface corresponding to the fixing nip portion is ground in the moving direction of the fixing film 10, or the concave portion is integrally formed. The fixing film can be formed to form a sliding surface of the fixing film, and the same effect was obtained in this case as well.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the fixing film is the electromagnetic induction heat-generating member has been described. For example, in the heating device of the first embodiment, the ceramic heater 12 as the heating member is replaced by an electromagnetic induction member such as an iron plate. An exothermic member,
The film surface side is changed to a glass-coated sliding member 40, and an exciting coil and a magnetic core as magnetic field generating means are arranged inside the film guide member 16 to form an electromagnetic induction heating member such as the iron plate. It is also possible to provide a device having a configuration in which the heat generation is applied to the recording material P via the fixing film 11 in the fixing nip portion N by causing electromagnetic induction heat generation as a heating body.

(Fifth Embodiment) A fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Although the pressure roller driving method is described in the first to fourth embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the pressure roller driving method.

The heating device according to the present embodiment is an example of a fixing film driving type electromagnetic induction heating system using a cylindrical fixing film (fixing belt) having electromagnetic induction heat generation as a heating member.

As shown in FIG. 18, an endless film type fixing film 10 having an electromagnetic induction heat generating property is suspended and stretched between the film guide member 16, the driving roller 31, and the tension roller 32 to form a film guide. The lower surface of the member 16 and the pressure roller 30 as a pressure member sandwich the fixing film 10 and press-contact each other to form the fixing nip portion N, and the fixing film 10 is rotationally driven by the drive roller 31. . In this case, the pressure roller 30 is driven to rotate.

Inside the film guide member 16, magnetic cores 17a, 17b and 17c as magnetic field generating means and an exciting coil 18 are provided.

A glass coat 40 is provided as a sliding member on the lower surface portion of the film guide member 16 corresponding to the fixing nip portion N in order to reduce the mutual sliding frictional force with the inner surface of the fixing film 10. .

Also in the present embodiment, as in the first to fourth embodiments, the surface of the glass coat 40 is polished in the moving direction of the fixing film 10 and the polishing eyes 41 are provided. No. 42 is provided and grease, which is a lubricant, is applied to the sliding portion, so that an appropriate concave portion is provided on the sliding portion surface to reduce the rotational sliding torque of the fixing film and further improve durability. In this case, the effect of holding the lubricant G in the concave portion causes a small increase in torque, and for example, problems such as slip between the driving roller 31 and the fixing film 10 do not occur, and the durability of the heating device is kept stable through durability. Examples 1 to 4 in which the recording material P can be conveyed
The same effect as was obtained. (Sixth Embodiment) A sixth embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

This embodiment is an example of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a laser printer using an electrophotographic process.

As shown in FIG. 19, 101 is a photosensitive drum made of an organic photosensitive member or an amorphous silicon photosensitive member as an image bearing member, which is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R1 at a predetermined process speed (peripheral speed). To be done. Photosensitive drum 1
Around 01, a charging roller (charging device) 102, an exposure device 103, a developing device 104, a transfer roller (transfer device) 105, and a cleaning device 106 are arranged in this order along the rotation direction.

Further, a sheet feeding cassette 107 accommodating a sheet-shaped recording material P such as paper is arranged.
Along the transport path of the sheet feeding roller 11 in order from the upstream side.
5, a conveyance roller 108, a top sensor 109, a conveyance guide 110, a fixing device (image heating device) 100, a conveyance roller 112, a paper discharge roller 113, and a paper discharge tray 114 are arranged. The fixing device 100 is, for example, the device shown in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

The photosensitive drum 101 rotatably driven in the direction of arrow R1 by the driving means (not shown) is the charging roller 10
2 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 101 after charging is subjected to image exposure L based on image information by the exposing means 103 such as a laser optical system, and the charge in the exposed portion is removed to form an electrostatic latent image. It

The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 104. The developing device 104 has a developing roller 104a, and by applying a developing bias to the developing roller 104a to attach the toner t to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101, development as a toner image ( Visualization).

The toner image t is transferred onto the recording material P such as paper by the transfer roller 105. The recording material P is stored in the paper feed cassette 107, and is fed and conveyed by the paper feed roller 115 and the conveyance roller 108, and the photosensitive drum 101 and the transfer roller 10 are passed through the top sensor 109.
The sheet is conveyed to the transfer nip portion between the sheet 5 and the sheet. At this time, the leading edge of the recording material P is detected by the top sensor 109, and the recording material P is synchronized with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 101.
A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 105, so that the toner image t on the photosensitive drum 101 is transferred to a predetermined position on the recording material P.

The recording material P carrying the unfixed toner image t on the surface by transfer is conveyed to the fixing device 100 along the conveyance guide 110, where the unfixed toner image t is heated and heated.
It is pressed and fixed on the recording material P.

The recording material P on which the toner image t has been fixed is conveyed and discharged by the conveying roller 112 and the discharging roller 113 onto the sheet discharge tray 114 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer of the toner image t
In No. 1, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface without being transferred to the recording material P is removed by the cleaning blade 106a of the cleaning device 106, and is prepared for the next image formation.

By repeating the above operation, image formation can be performed one after another.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described by taking a mono-color image forming apparatus such as a black and white image as an example. However, a multi-color toner, for example, four-color toner is used to record images. A color image forming apparatus may be used in which four color toners are laminated on a material to obtain a color image.

(Other Embodiments) (1) In the case of heat fixing of a color image or the like, the fixing films 10 and 11 have four toner t layers which are laminated and thick, so that the unevenness of the toner t causes heating surfaces. Is not followed, heating unevenness occurs, and uneven glossiness occurs in the image in a portion having a large amount of heat transfer and a portion having a small amount of heat transfer.
An elastic layer may be formed between the base layer and the release layer by using silicone rubber, fluororubber, fluorosilicone rubber or the like. Since the elastic layer can follow the irregularities of the toner t, it is possible to prevent uneven heating and uneven gloss.

Further, the heat generating layer 1 of the fixing film 10 may be formed by mixing a resin with a metal filler, or may be a member of a single heat generating layer.

(2) The fixing films 10 and 11 are not endless rotating members, but may be, for example, roll-wound long endless web members, and the device may be constructed so as to be fed and run. it can.

(3) The pressing member 30 is not limited to the roller body,
It is also possible to use other types of members such as a rotating belt type.

Further, in order to supply heat energy to the recording material from the pressure member 30 side as well, a heat generating means such as electromagnetic induction heating is also provided on the pressure member 30 side to heat and regulate the temperature to a predetermined temperature. It can also be configured as a device.

(4) The heating device of the present invention is not limited to the image heating and fixing device of the embodiment, but an image heating device for heating a recording material carrying an image to modify the surface properties such as gloss, is assumed. Image heating device, other means for heating and drying a wide range of materials to be heated, such as a heating and drying device for heating materials and a heating laminating device.
Can be used as a device.

[0151]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For example, like a heating device such as a film heating system or an electromagnetic induction / film heating system, a second member that slides and moves with respect to the first member and a first member that contacts the first member with the second member interposed therebetween. A heating device which has three members, and which presses and heats the material to be heated by sandwiching and transporting the material to be heated at a contact portion formed by abutting between the second member and the third member; In an image forming apparatus provided as an image heating and fixing device, a second member sliding portion corresponding to a contact portion formed by abutting of a second member and a third member of a first member,
A surface which is ground in the second member moving direction, is provided with a recess in the second member moving direction, or has a surface roughness in the second member moving direction that is orthogonal to the second member moving direction. By making it smaller than
The contact area in the sliding direction at the sliding part with the member is reduced to reduce the sliding friction resistance, and it is possible to suppress the increase of the sliding friction resistance due to the paper passing durability, and to prolong the life of the device. You can

Therefore, since the slip of the heated material can be prevented, the stable transportation of the heated material can be ensured,
In the image heating and fixing device, it is possible to secure high-quality images and stable conveyance of the recording material.

Further, as the drive motor of the heating device, one having a smaller drive torque can be used, so that the product cost can be reduced.

Further, a lubricant may be interposed between the first member and the second member in the fixing nip portion, and in this case, the lubricant slides on the second member in the fixing nip portion of the first member. Since the lubricant is retained in the concave portion provided on the surface of the fixing member, it is possible to prevent the lubricant from being swept from between the first member and the second member in the fixing nip portion, and to prevent a situation in which the lubricant hardly remains. The effect of reducing the sliding frictional resistance between the first member and the second member by the agent can be maintained for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of essential parts of a heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a polishing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a surface of a sliding member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a polishing method of a comparative example in the first embodiment example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a sliding member surface of a comparative example in the first embodiment example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a surface of a sliding member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a sliding member as seen from the direction of travel of a fixing film according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of a sliding member as seen from a fixing film advancing direction in an improved form of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of a sliding member as seen from a fixing film advancing direction according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a heating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a main part of a heating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of a main part of a heating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a film guide member half on the right side in which a magnetic field generating means is disposed and supported inside a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the magnetic field generating means and the heat generation amount Q according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the layer structure of a fixing film according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of a fixing film according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention (No. 2)

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the relationship between the heating layer depth and electromagnetic wave intensity.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a heating device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an image forming apparatus according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view (1) of the surface of the sliding member in the improved form of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view (2) of the surface of the sliding member in the improved form of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat generating layer 2 Base layer 3 Release layer 4 Thermal insulation layers 10 and 11 Fixing film 12 Ceramic heater 16 Film guide member 17 Magnetic core 18 Exciting coils 23a and 23b Flange members 26 and 50 for regulating / holding fixing film end portions Temperature detection Element (Thermistor) 30 Pressure Roller 31 Drive Roller 32 Tension Roller 40 Sliding Member 41 Polishing Eyes (Concave) 42 Concave 60 Polishing Member 100 Heating Device 101 Image Carrier (Photosensitive Drum) 102 Charging Device (Charging Roller) 103 Exposure Means 104 developing device 105 transfer device (transfer roller) 106 cleaning device t toner G lubricant (grease) N fixing nip

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A second member slidingly moving with respect to the first member.
A member and a third member that is in contact with the first member with the second member interposed therebetween, and the material to be heated is sandwiched by a contact portion formed by the contact between the second member and the third member. In a heating device that conveys and pressurizes and heats a material to be heated, a second member sliding corresponding to a contact portion formed by abutting of the second member and the third member of the first member. The heating device is characterized in that the part is polished in the moving direction of the second member. 2. A second member slidingly moving with respect to the first member.
A member and a third member that is in contact with the first member with the second member interposed therebetween, and the material to be heated is sandwiched by a contact portion formed by the contact between the second member and the third member. In a heating device that conveys and pressurizes and heats a material to be heated, a second member sliding corresponding to a contact portion formed by abutting of the second member and the third member of the first member. The heating unit is characterized in that the portion has a surface roughness in the moving direction of the second member smaller than a surface roughness in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the second member. 3. The second member sliding portion of the first member has a width of 0.5 mm or less and a depth of 0.5 m in the moving direction of the second member.
The heating device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of recesses having a size of m or less are provided. 4. The second member sliding portion of the first member,
The heating device according to claim 3, wherein in the configuration in which a lubricant is interposed between the second member and the second member, the recess of the second member sliding portion of the first member holds the lubricant. 5. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a rotating body. 6. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the third member is a pressing member. 7. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a flexible endless film. 8. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the first member is a support member for the second member. 9. The first member is a heating body, and the second member
The material to be heated is sandwiched and conveyed by a contact portion formed by contact between a member and the third member, and the material to be heated is heated by heat from the first member. The heating device according to any one of claims. 10. The second member is composed of an electromagnetic induction heating member, and has magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to the electromagnetic induction heating member to generate heat, and abutting the second member and the third member. The material to be heated is sandwiched and conveyed by the contact portion formed by the method, and the material to be heated is heated by heat from the electromagnetic induction heat-generating member of the second member. Heating device. 11. The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the heating element is a heater having a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized. 12. The heating device according to claim 9, wherein the heating body is made of an electromagnetic induction heat-generating member, and has a magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to the heating body to generate heat. 13. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the third member is a pressure rotating body that is rotationally driven. 14. The heating material is a recording material on which an unfixed image is formed and carried, and the apparatus is a heat fixing device for heating and fixing the unfixed image to the recording material.
The heating device according to any one of 13 above. 15. An image forming unit for forming and carrying an unfixed image on a recording material, and a fixing unit for fixing the unfixed image formed and carried on the recording material, wherein the fixing unit is one of claims 1 to 14.
An image forming apparatus comprising the heating device according to any one of 1.