JP2004252228A - Device and method for smoothing release layer of heat fixing roller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve smoothness and durability of a resin release layer by making its crystallinity uniformly low by uniformly quenching the entire surface of a heat fixing roller through a device and a method for the heat fixing roller that smooth a resin release layer formed on the thin surface of a mandrel by quenching the resin release layer after heating it up to fusion temperature. <P>SOLUTION: The smoothing device 0 for the resin release layer of the heat fixing roller 100 having the resin release layer 103 on the surface of the hollow cylindrical mandrel is equipped with a carrying-in means 1 of carrying a heat fixing roller having an unsmoothed resin release layer in to a processing position A, a gripping means 10 of gripping both axial ends of the heat fixing roller carried in to the processing position, a heating means 20 of heating the gripped heat fixing roller above the fusion temperature of the resin release layer, a quenching means 35 of quenching the heat fixing roller heated above the fusion temperature, and a carrying-out means 50 of receiving the quenched heat fixing roller from the gripping means and carrying it out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for smoothing a fluororesin film on the surface of a metal core constituting a heat fixing roller used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser printer, and a facsimile, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor is developed with toner supplied from a developing device, and the toner image is formed on transfer paper. After the image is transferred to the fixing device, the image is fixed by applying pressure while heating with a fixing device. The fixing device usually includes a heat-fixing roller having a heater inside, and a pressure roller pressed against the heat-fixing roller, and the transfer paper holding the unfixed toner image passes through the nip of both rollers. At this time, the toner image is fixed.
The heat fixing roller has a configuration in which at least one resin release layer made of a thermoplastic resin is provided on the surface of a hollow cylindrical cored bar, and the release layer is smoothed. That is, the conventional heat fixing roller has a configuration in which a primer layer and a resin release layer are sequentially laminated on a cored bar. The resin release layer is formed by coating the surface of a core metal on which a primer layer has been formed in advance with a thermoplastic resin. As such a thermoplastic resin, a release resin such as a fluororesin is used in order to meet requirements such as releasability from a toner and continuous durability at a toner fixing temperature (usually 180 to 200 ° C.). ing.
As this fluororesin, polytetrafluoroethylene copolymer (PTFE) is generally used, but recently, tetrafluoroethylene-polyethylene fluorovinyl ether copolymer (PFA) has better processability, so PFA Is mainly used as a material of a resin release layer for a heat fixing roller.
[0003]
By the way, since the surface of a resin release layer made of a fluororesin or the like needs to ensure sufficient releasability with respect to toner melted by heat, ten-point average roughness (Rz): 1 to 3 μm, and undulation: Smoothness of about 2 to 4 μm is required.
Conventionally, when a resin release layer formed on the surface of a cored bar is smoothed, a pressing roller that is movable in the axial direction of the heat-fixing roller and that is rotatably supported is used to release the resin from the surface of the heat-fixing roller. A method of improving the smoothness of the surface of the resin release layer by moving the shaft in the axial direction while rotating while rotating while pressing against the mold layer (vanish method) has been adopted. .
Conventionally, in order to manufacture a smooth heat-fixing roller by applying such a burnishing method, it is necessary to set the pressure applied to the pressing roller to 20 to 60 kgf. If the thickness of the core metal of the heat fixing roller is 1 to 2 mm or more, even if the above-mentioned pressing force of about 20 to 60 kgf is applied to the fixing roller, the amount of deformation of the heat fixing roller due to the pressure is limited by the elasticity of the core metal. It was possible to stop within the range of deformation.
However, if the thickness of the cored bar is reduced to less than 1 mm for the purpose of reducing the power consumption of the heat fixing roller, there is a problem that the cored bar is plastically deformed by the pressing force of the pressing roller, resulting in a defective product. is there.
In such a case, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the heat-fixing roller by reducing the pressing force of the pressing roller, but when the pressing force of the pressing roller is reduced, the smoothness of the resin release layer is reduced. However, there arises a problem that sufficient is not obtained.
[0004]
By the way, by rapidly cooling after heating the resin release layer on the core metal surface to the melting temperature or higher, the crystallinity of the resin release layer is reduced, and as a result of increasing the strength of the resin release layer, It is known that durability and smoothness can be improved.
However, when the quenching step is not performed uniformly on the entire surface, there is a problem that the toner may be fixed or an offset may be generated starting from a portion where the crystallinity is not uniform.
By the way, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-51373, Japanese Patent No. 2646263 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-82257 all disclose a method in which a heating and fixing roller is heated with water to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of a resin release layer. A method of immersion is shown. However, when immersed in water, not only does the cooling speed not become uniform throughout the roller, but also a subsequent drying step is required, which increases the number of steps, lowers productivity, and also reduces quality. Various troubles are likely to occur.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-51373
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent No. 2646263
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-82257
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is intended to smooth a resin release layer in a heat-fixing roller in which a resin release layer is formed on a thin metal core having a thickness of less than 1 mm, and to apply a melting temperature to the resin release layer. In the apparatus and method carried out by heating to quenching and then quenching, the quenching process can be performed uniformly on the entire surface of the heat fixing roller, so that the crystallinity of the resin release layer is uniform. It is an object of the present invention to provide a smoothing device and a smoothing method for a resin release layer of a heat fixing roller, which are capable of improving the smoothness and the durability of the heat fixing roller.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is a smoothing device for a resin release layer in a heat fixing roller having a resin release layer on the surface of a hollow cylindrical cored bar, wherein the smoothing is performed. Carrying-in means for carrying a heat-fixing roller provided with no resin release layer to a processing position; gripping means for grasping both ends in the axial direction of the heat-fixing roller carried into the processing position by the carrying-in means; A heating unit that heats the heat-fixing roller gripped by the melting temperature of the resin release layer or higher, a quenching unit that rapidly cools the heat-fixing roller heated to a melting temperature or higher by the heating unit, and the quenching unit. And a carry-out means for receiving the quenched heated fixing roller from the holding means and carrying it out.
According to the present invention, the crystallinity of the surface of the resin release layer is reduced when smoothing is performed by heating and quenching after forming the resin release layer on the cored bar, and high durability heating is achieved. The fixing roller can be manufactured continuously.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the rapid cooling means rapidly cools the heat fixing roller by injecting compressed air to a surface of the heat fixing roller.
According to the present invention, effective rapid cooling can be performed using a simple device that only injects compressed air.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the quenching means for injecting the compressed air includes a slit-shaped injection nozzle capable of obtaining uniform injection over the entire axial length of the heat fixing roller. I do.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly durable heat fixing roller having low crystallinity uniformly over the entire length of the heat fixing roller.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the quenching means for injecting the compressed air includes a plurality of injection nozzles.
According to the present invention, since a plurality of injection nozzles are respectively arranged at appropriate locations to perform overall cooling on the heating and fixing roller, it is possible to increase the cooling speed, and to a deeper part of the release layer surface. Crystallinity can be reduced.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first, second, third, and fourth aspects, the apparatus further comprises a static eliminator for eliminating static electricity charged on the surface of the heat fixing roller gripped by the gripper.
According to the present invention, when the release layer is in a molten state due to the influence of static electricity charged on the surface of the heat fixing roller, dust in the air is prevented from adhering to the heat fixing roller and becoming defective. can do.
[0007]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to sixth aspects, the gripping means includes chuck portions for gripping both ends of the heat-fixing roller, and rotatably supports the chuck portions and is capable of axially moving back and forth. Bearing unit, a motor for rotating and driving at least one of the chuck units, and a drive source for moving at least one of the bearing units in the axial direction, wherein the heating means is supported by each of the chuck units. A heating source is detachably inserted into the heat fixing roller from an axial end opening thereof.
According to the present invention, it is possible to melt the release layer of the heat fixing roller while rotating at a constant speed, so that rapid cooling can be started in a state where the surface temperature of the roller is uniform, and uniform crystallization can be achieved. It is possible to gain the degree.
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in claim 6, the heating source is an infrared heater having a light distribution in an axial direction of the heat fixing roller.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an efficient heating source in which the heating and heating time until the release layer is in a molten state is short.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the heating means includes a heating source for heating the outer peripheral surface of the heat fixing roller.
According to the present invention, the heating and heating time until the release layer is brought into a molten state can be further shortened, and a manufacturing apparatus with high productivity can be provided.
The invention according to claim 9 is a method for smoothing a resin release layer in a heat fixing roller having a resin release layer on the surface of a hollow cylindrical core metal, the method comprising a non-smoothed resin release layer. A heating step of transporting the heated fixing roller to the processing position, a heating step of heating the resin release layer to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting temperature of the resin releasing layer while holding the heating fixing roller transported to the processing position, and the heating step. And a quenching step of rapidly cooling the heat fixing roller heated to a melting temperature or higher, and an unloading step of unloading the heat fixing roller quenched in the quenching step from a processing position.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method capable of continuously manufacturing a highly durable heat fixing roller having low surface crystallinity.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1A and 1B are a side view of a heat fixing roller smoothing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration diagram of the heat fixing roller. FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. (A), (b) and (c) are a partial enlarged cross-sectional view, a main part cross-sectional view, and a main part enlarged view around a heating unit.
The smoothing device 0 according to the present embodiment automatically carries the heating / fixing roller 100 to the processing position A, performs heating in a state where the heating fixing roller 100 is gripped, rapidly cools after heating, and then carries out the processing from the processing position. This makes it possible to automatically and continuously execute each step. As shown in FIG. 1B, the smoothing device 0 has a configuration in which a primer layer 102 and a resin release layer 103 are sequentially laminated on the surface of a hollow cylindrical thin cored bar 101. As the resin release layer 103, for example, tetrafluoroethylene-polyethylene fluorovinyl ether copolymer (PFA) is used.
The heat-fixing roller 100 before processing by the smoothing device 0 of the present invention, since the resin release layer 103 on the surface of the metal core is in an unsmooth state, is heated to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the resin release layer 103 and then rapidly. By cooling, the degree of crystallinity of the resin release layer is reduced uniformly and smoothed, and the durability is increased.
The smoothing device 0 transports the plurality of heat-fixing rollers 100 continuously at a predetermined pitch to the processing position A and moves the heating fixing roller 100 to a position where it can be gripped by the gripping unit. Gripping means 10 for supporting the heat-fixing rollers 100 carried one by one, a heating means 20 for heating the heat-fixing roller 100 gripped by the gripping means 10 to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting temperature of the release layer 103, and a heating means 20. Quenching means 35 for rapidly cooling the heat-fixing roller heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting temperature; discharging means 50 for receiving the heat-fixing roller quenched by the rapid cooling means 35 from the gripping means 10 and discharging the same; And a control section (not shown) for controlling these means.
[0009]
The carry-in means 1 includes, for example, a conveyor 3 stretched endlessly between the transport rollers 2 and driven in the direction of the arrow, a roller receiving table 4 fixedly arranged on the conveyor 3 at a predetermined pitch, And. The conveyor 3 is intermittently driven by rotating one of the transport rollers 2 by a motor (not shown). The conveyor 3 is made up of two narrow belts, and a space is secured between the two belts for a vertically moving means 5 to be described later to move in the horizontal direction and to move up and down.
On the concave seat of each cradle 4, a non-smoothed heat fixing roller 100 is placed, and the cradle 4 supporting the heat fixing roller has reached the reversing position of the conveyor 3 (before the processing position A). At that time, the elevating / lowering transfer means 5 is standing by at the position immediately below, and at the timing when the receiving table 4 stops, the work receiver 9 is raised to support both ends of the heat fixing roller 100 on the receiving table 4, After being lifted by a predetermined height from the cradle 4 and completely removed, the linear motion actuator 7 described later is operated to move to the processing position shown by the solid line.
The operation of mounting the heat fixing roller 100 on the empty receiving table 4 is performed manually or by a mounting device at the mounting position B.
The lifting / lowering transfer means 5 includes linear motion actuators 7 and 8 arranged on a base 6 and a work receiver 9. The linear actuator 7 in the horizontal direction (radial direction of the fixing heating roller) moves the linear actuator 8 in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction under the control of the control unit. The linear motion actuator 8 moves the workpiece receiver 9 up and down under the control of the control unit. The movable range of the work receiver 9 by the linear actuator 7 is set from a position below the right end of the conveyer 3 to a position below the left end of the conveyer 52. Thereby, the transfer of the work between the carrying-in means 1 and the carrying-out means 50 becomes possible.
[0010]
The gripping means 10 includes two linear motion guide members 11 arranged on the base 6 in the left and right directions in the horizontal direction, chuck portions 12 for detachably holding both ends of the heat fixing roller 100, and each of the chuck portions 12. A bearing unit 13 having a bearing (not shown) rotatably supported and supported by each linear motion guide member 11 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction of the heating / fixing roller indicated by an arrow; A motor 14 that drives the rotation of the motor 12 and a linear motion actuator (drive source) 15 that moves each bearing unit 13 in the axial direction are provided.
With the heat-fixing roller 100 delivered from the carrying-in means 1 supported on the work receiver 9, the linear motion actuator 8 is operated to move up to the height position of each chuck portion 12, and each linear motion actuator 15 is moved. By moving each of the bearing units 13 that have been retracted to the outside to the machining position A side, the tapered tips of the chuck portions 12 are fitted into the openings at both ends of the heat fixing roller 100. And hold it. Thereafter, the linear motion actuator 8 is lowered and retracted. By synchronously driving the motors 14 arranged in the bearing units 13, the chuck portions 12 are driven to rotate, and the heated fixing roller 100 held is rotated. The motor for rotating the chuck unit 12 may be provided only on one of the bearing units 13, and the other chuck unit may be driven to rotate.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the heating unit 20 includes a heating source 21 that is inserted and inserted from one opening end into the inside of the heating and fixing roller 100 whose both ends are gripped by the chuck unit 12. ing. As the heating source 21, for example, an elongated infrared heater is used as illustrated. An arm of a linear motion actuator 22 is fixed via a holding member 23a to one end of a heating source 21 for heating the release layer on the surface of the heat fixing roller 100 to a temperature equal to or higher than its melting point. The source 21 is configured to be able to advance and retreat from the open end of the heat fixing roller 100 to the inside and outside thereof. A lead wire 21a extending from the right terminal of the heating source 21 is connected to a power source (not shown) via a holding member 23a and an arm of a linear motion actuator 22.
A holding member 23b is arranged at the other end of the heating source 21, and the two holding members 23a and 23b are integrated by a tubular reinforcing member 24 for increasing rigidity against bending. An infrared heater 25 is arranged inside the reinforcing member 24. Both ends of the infrared heater 25 are held by both holding members 23a and 23b.
[0011]
At the other end of the reinforcing member 24, a substantially conical guide member 26 made of an insulating material is provided. The guide member 26 has a tapered shape of another insulating guide member 27 disposed in the left chuck portion 12. Removably fits into the fitting recess. A lead wire 21b extending from the other terminal of the infrared heater 25 is located inside the hollow of the guide member 26, and is electrically connected to a power supply electrode 26a fixed to the distal end opening of the guide member 26. I have. Inside the guide member 27, a telescopic movable electrode 27a that can contact and separate from the electrode 26a is arranged. The telescopic movable electrode 27a is supported by the fixed base 27b so as to be able to protrude in the axial direction, and is elastically urged in the protruding direction by a spring in the fixed base. The telescopic movable electrode 27a is connected to a power supply by a wiring 28. The guide member 27 is fixed by a fixing portion 29 provided on the right bearing unit 13.
Accordingly, the heating source 21 fixed to the arm by the operation of the linear motion actuator 22 is inserted into the heating fixing roller 100 from inside the right chuck portion 12, and the guide member 26 at the left end of the heating source 21 is used as the other guide. When fitted in the recess of the member 27, the electrode 26a is electrically connected to the telescopic movable electrode 27a and can receive power from a power source (not shown). Therefore, the heat fixing roller 100 can be heated from the inside, and the resin release layer 103 can be heated to the melting point or higher. The guide members 26 and 27 are also means for positioning the heating source 21 at a predetermined position.
Conversely, when the heating source 21 is retracted into the right bearing unit 13 via the right chuck unit 12 by the operation of the linear actuator 22, the connection between the electrode 26a and the telescopic movable electrode 27a is smooth. And the internal heating of the heat fixing roller is interrupted.
[0012]
The quenching unit 35 is a unit that performs quenching by injecting compressed air to the outer peripheral surface of the heat fixing roller 100 that has completed the heating process. The quenching unit 35 includes a compressed air source 36 and a compressed air source 36. And an air nozzle (injection means) 37 for ejecting compressed air from the apparatus. In addition, a non-contact thermometer 38 that measures the surface temperature of the heated fixing roller during heating in a non-contact manner is disposed near the air nozzle 37. The non-contact thermometer 38 outputs the measured roller temperature to the control unit 110 as shown in FIG. 3A, and the control unit 110 controls the temperature (ON, OFF) of the heating source 21 based on the measured temperature. Control.
By using the quenching means 35, the cooling rate can be further increased, and the crystallinity can be lowered to a deeper position on the surface of the heat fixing roller.
By using, as the air nozzle 37, a slit-shaped nozzle capable of obtaining a uniform jet over the entire length of the roller in the axial direction, the crystallinity can be reduced uniformly over the entire length of the roller, and high durability can be achieved.
In addition, since the static elimination means 55 for eliminating static electricity charged on the surface of the heat fixing roller is disposed, dust in the air adheres to the surface of the heat fixing roller when the release layer is in a molten state due to the influence of static electricity, and the defective product is regarded as defective. Can be prevented from occurring.
The carrying-out means 50 includes a roller receiving base 53 fixedly arranged at a predetermined pitch on a conveyor 52 stretched endlessly between the rollers 51. The conveyor 52 is intermittently driven by rotating one of the transport rollers 51 by a motor (not shown). As in the case of the conveyor 3 on the loading side, this conveyor 52 is also composed of two belts arranged in parallel and separated from each other. The work on the work receiver 9 can be transferred onto the roller receiver 53 in the same manner as in the case of the carrying-in means 1. The heated fixing roller 100 subjected to smoothing is placed on the concave seat of each receiving stand 53 and is carried out.
When the heating and fixing roller 100 held by the holding means 10 is transferred to the receiving table 53, the linear motion actuator 8 is operated to raise the work receiver 9 and to move both ends of the heating and fixing roller 100. , And each bearing unit 13 is retracted outward. Next, the work receiver 9 is moved to the conveyor 52 side by using the linear movement actuator 7 for lateral movement, enters the space between the two belts, and is heated and fixed on the empty receiving table 53 in a stopped state. Is placed, and after the placement, only the work receiver 9 is retracted.
[0013]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a modification of the smoothing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As the quenching means 35, a plurality of quenching air nozzles 40 are provided along the radial direction of the roller, for example. This is an embodiment in which three are provided in parallel. In the present embodiment, the number of the quenched air nozzles 40 is three, but this is merely an example and may be larger than this. Further, in the present embodiment, three are arranged in parallel, but the angle formed by the roller 100 and the nozzle 40 can be appropriately adjusted as needed.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a heating unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. A quenching nozzle 40 and a heating unit 20 are arranged close to the outer peripheral surface of a heating and fixing roller 100. The heating means 20 includes a roller external heater (heating source) 21 and a reflection / anti-glare plate 45. A linear motion actuator 46 for moving the heating means 20 and the quenching nozzle 40 so as to be linearly movable is provided.
According to the configuration of this embodiment, the heating and heating time until the release layer 103 becomes a molten state can be further shortened, and a manufacturing apparatus with high productivity can be provided. Heating means from the outside of the roller and heating means from the inside of the roller may be used together, or heating may be performed only from outside the roller.
[0014]
Next, a smoothing procedure by the smoothing device 0 having the above configuration is as follows.
1. The heat fixing roller 100 is sequentially set on each receiving table 4 on the conveyor 3 at the mounting position B.
2. When the heating and fixing roller 100 is transported to the forward end of the conveyor 3, the static electricity charged on the roller surface is eliminated by the static eliminator 55. (Note that the charge removal may be performed in a state where the charge is held by a chuck unit described later.)
3. Using the linear actuators 7 and 8, the roller 100 from which the charge has been removed is transferred onto the work receiver 9 and raised to the chuck position (loading step).
4. The respective linear motion actuators 15 are operated to move the respective bearing units 13 in the approaching direction, and both ends of the roller 100 are chucked by the chuck portions 12 supported by the respective bearing units 13 (gripping step). Next, the motor 100 is operated to rotate the roller 100 at a constant speed. At this time, the linear motion actuator 22 is operated to insert the heating source 21 located in the right chuck portion 12 into the inside of the roller 100 from one end opening of the roller 100, and the leading electrode 26a is electrically connected to the telescopic movable electrode 27a. . That is, when the guide member 26 at the left end of the heat source 21 is fitted into the recess of the other guide member 27, the heat source 21 is positioned and the electrode 26a is electrically connected to the telescopic movable electrode 27a. It is possible to receive power from a power supply (not shown) (heating step).
5. By causing the heating source 21 to generate heat and raise the temperature to a predetermined temperature, the roller 100 is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the release layer 103 (heating step).
6. After the resin release layer 103 of the roller 100 is heated to a predetermined heating temperature and melted, the heating by the heating source is stopped, and at the same time, the air is blown out from the air nozzle 40 toward the roller peripheral surface to rapidly cool the roller. (Quenching step). The heating source 21 is retracted into the right bearing unit 13 after the heating is stopped (preferably before the start of cooling) by using the linear actuator 22.
7. After the rollers 100 have been cooled to a predetermined temperature, the rollers are transferred onto the receiving table 53 of the unloading conveyor 52 and unloaded (unloading step).
Repeat steps 8.1 to 7.
9. The heat-fixing roller 100 which has completed the processing for smoothing the resin release layer 103 is sequentially taken out at the take-out position C.
[0015]
(Implementation results)
FIG. 6 shows a temperature change when one air nozzle 40 is used and rapidly cooled from 350 ° C.
Under these conditions, a good resin release layer 103 having low crystallinity could be obtained. Even if the quenching start temperature was changed, no significant change occurred in the release layer. However, when quenching was performed from a temperature lower than 320 ° C., a change in crystallinity was observed. It is desirable to start rapid cooling from the above temperature.
The present invention is applicable not only to the heat fixing roller but also to the smoothing of the surface of a cylindrical object whose surface is coated with a thermoplastic resin.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the smoothing of the resin release layer formed on the surface of the thin metal core having a thickness of less than 1 mm is performed by heating the resin release layer to a melting temperature and then rapidly cooling the resin release layer. In the processing apparatus and method of the fixing roller, by uniformly quenching the entire surface of the roller, the crystallinity of the resin release layer can be uniformly reduced, and the smoothness and durability can be increased.
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when heated to a melting temperature and then rapidly cooled, the crystallinity of the release layer of the heat-fixing roller can be reduced, and the durability of the roller is improved. Can be done. Furthermore, since processing can be performed by batch processing using only the present apparatus alone, there is an effect that manufacturing can be performed without affecting existing manufacturing equipment at all.
According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to rapidly cool using a simple cooling means that only injects compressed air.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of air nozzles are used, there is an effect that the cooling speed is further increased.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since static elimination is performed before melting, there is an effect of preventing adhesion of dust floating in the air and preventing occurrence of defective products due to the attachment of dust.
According to the sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, since a heat source having a length along the roller axis direction is used, uniform heating can be performed over the entire length of the roller, and the temperature can be quickly raised. Become.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the heating temperature can be further increased by heating not only the inside of the roller but also the outside.
According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the crystallinity of the release layer of the heat fixing roller can be reduced, and the durability of the roller can be improved. Furthermore, since processing can be performed by batch processing using only the present apparatus alone, there is an effect that manufacturing can be performed without affecting existing manufacturing equipment at all.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are a side view of a heat fixing roller smoothing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration diagram of the heat fixing roller.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are a partially enlarged cross-sectional view, a main part cross-sectional view, and a main part enlarged view around a heating unit.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the smoothing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory view of a heating unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in temperature when rapid cooling is performed.
[Explanation of symbols]
A processing position, B mounting position, 0 smoothing device, 1 loading means, 2 rollers, 3 conveyors, 4 roller cradle, 5 lifting and lowering transfer means, 6 base, 7, 8 linear actuator, 9 work receiving, 10 gripping Means, 11 linear guide member, 12 chuck portion, 13 bearing unit, 15 linear actuator, 20 heating means, 21 heating source, 22 linear actuator, 23a, 23b holding member, 24 reinforcing member, 25 infrared heater, 26 guide Member, 26a electrode, 27 insulating guide member, 27 telescopic movable electrode, 27b fixed base, 28 wiring, 29 fixed part, 35 quenching means, 36 compressed air source, 37 air nozzle (injection means), 38 non-contact thermometer, REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 heat fixing roller, 101 cored bar, 102 primer layer, 103 resin release layer, 110 control unit, 50 discharge means.

Claims (9)

A flattening device for a resin release layer in a heat fixing roller having a resin release layer on the surface of a hollow cylindrical cored bar,
Carrying means for carrying a heat fixing roller having a non-smoothed resin release layer to a processing position,
Gripping means for gripping both axial ends of the heat-fixing roller which has been carried into the processing position by the carrying-in means;
A heating unit that heats the heat fixing roller gripped by the gripping unit to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting temperature of the resin release layer,
Quenching means for quenching the heat fixing roller heated to a melting temperature or higher by the heating means,
An unloading unit that receives the heated fixing roller quenched by the quenching unit from the gripping unit and unloads it,
An apparatus for smoothing a release layer of a heat fixing roller, comprising: 2. The smoothing device according to claim 1, wherein the quenching unit quenches the heat fixing roller by injecting compressed air onto a surface of the heat fixing roller. 3. 3. The separation device according to claim 2, wherein the quenching unit that injects the compressed air includes a slit-shaped ejection nozzle that provides uniform ejection over the entire length of the heating and fixing roller in the axial direction. Mold layer smoothing device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the quenching means for injecting the compressed air includes a plurality of ejection nozzles. 5. The smoothing device according to claim 1, further comprising a static eliminator configured to eliminate static electricity charged on a surface of the heat fixing roller gripped by the gripper. 6. . The gripping unit includes a chuck unit that grips both ends of the heat fixing roller, a bearing unit that rotatably supports the chuck units and is supported so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and at least one chuck unit. A motor that rotates and has a drive source that moves at least one bearing unit in the axial direction,
6. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit has a configuration in which a heating source is removably inserted into an axial end opening of the heating / fixing roller supported by the chucks. The release layer smoothing device for a heat fixing roller according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heat source is an infrared heater having a light distribution in an axial direction of the heat fixing roller. The release layer smoothing device for a heat fixing roller according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating unit includes a heat source that heats an outer peripheral surface of the heat fixing roller. A method for smoothing a resin release layer in a heat fixing roller having a resin release layer on the surface of a hollow cylindrical cored bar,
A carrying-in step of carrying a heat-fixing roller having a non-smoothed resin release layer to a processing position,
A heating step of heating the resin release layer to a temperature equal to or higher than its melting temperature while holding the heat fixing roller that has been carried into the processing position;
A quenching step of quenching the heated fixing roller heated to a melting temperature or higher in the heating step,
An unloading step of unloading the heat fixing roller quenched in the quenching step from the processing position,
A method for smoothing a release layer of a heat fixing roller, characterized by comprising:

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