JP2005055500A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the back of a transfer medium from being soiled because a pressure heat member is soiled with toner, in an image forming apparatus of a simultaneous transfer fixing system, which transfers a toner image to a recording medium and fixes it under pressure and heat at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: In the heat pressure member that is brought into press-contact with a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer body, the angle at which the heat pressure contact member is in contact with toner is set larger than the angle at which the photoreceptor or the intermediate transfer body is in contact with the toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that transfers and fixes a toner image formed on an image carrier or an intermediate transfer body onto a transfer material, and is embodied in an electrophotographic facsimile, printer, copying machine, and the like. Can be
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique for transferring a toner image using an intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus, a technique as shown in FIG. 2 is known.
[0003]
The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member by the image forming unit is electrostatically transferred onto the transfer material conveyed at a predetermined timing, and is fixed by the fixing unit.
[0004]
At this time, electrostatic transfer is performed by applying a high voltage of about several kV as a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer inner roller or the secondary transfer outer roller. By applying a high voltage, the transfer electric field also extends around the secondary transfer nip where the transfer material is sandwiched between the pair of secondary transfer rollers, so that there is a risk of image deterioration before and after the secondary transfer nip.
[0005]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, some of the toner on the intermediate transfer member may be scattered on the transfer material as scattered toner before reaching the transfer nip.
[0006]
The secondary transfer bias applying unit applies a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the back surface of the transfer material, and electrostatically transfers the charged toner by attracting the charged toner onto the transfer material. However, since the secondary transfer bias has a magnitude of about several kV, the range covered by the transfer electric field is widened, and charges are given to a wide range upstream of the secondary transfer nip on the back surface of the transfer material. At this time, in the upstream area of the secondary transfer nip, the toner is attracted to the transfer material from the intermediate transfer member, and this is a phenomenon that occurs because the toner becomes scattered toner and disturbs the image.
[0007]
On the other hand, even after passing through the secondary transfer nip, scattered toner may be generated to disturb the image. This is because the intermediate transfer member holds a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the charged toner in order to carry the charged toner. In the secondary transfer nip, peeling discharge occurs when the charged toner is transferred to the transfer material and then separated from the charged toner. Due to the peeling discharge, the charge held by the intermediate transfer member or the transfer material loses the charge locally in the vicinity of the occurrence of the discharge, so that the transfer material may not carry the charged toner and may be scattered.
[0008]
As described above, in order to avoid the image deterioration before the toner image on the transfer material is fixed, a simultaneous transfer fixing unit has been proposed as disclosed in JP-A-2002-116597. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is heated to the melting point or higher and pressed against the transfer material without applying a high voltage to the secondary transfer, so that the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material and fixed at the same time. To do.
[0009]
By not using a high pressure, for example, no charge is applied to the back surface of the transfer material before the secondary transfer nip, so that the scattered toner before the nip can be eliminated. Further, the toner is heated and melted in the secondary transfer nip and pressed against the transfer material, so that when passing through the nip, the toner image on the transfer material penetrates and is fixed on the surface of the transfer material. It is also possible to prevent toner scattering due to discharge.
[0010]
By the transfer simultaneous fixing unit that performs the secondary transfer by the heating and pressurizing unit as described above, the problems caused by the electrostatic transfer before and after the secondary transfer nip can be avoided, the toner transfer efficiency is high, and the color There is a possibility that a high-quality image with excellent color balance can be obtained.
[0011]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-116597 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-107990 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-7-219359 [Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-237024 [0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are the following problems in the image forming apparatus based on the simultaneous transfer and fixing system that performs the secondary transfer by the heating and pressing means as described above.
[0013]
If a jam occurs when a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member and the transfer material is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit, the image forming apparatus is controlled to detect the jam and forcibly stop. However, on the other hand, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member has no removing means upstream of the secondary transfer portion, and therefore cannot be removed. When the image forming apparatus is restarted, the secondary image is not removed. Since the toner is reliably conveyed to the transfer unit, there is a possibility that the toner adheres to the heating and pressing unit.
[0014]
Similarly, fog toner is considered as a case where unintended unfixed toner is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion. Since the fog toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt regardless of the electrostatic latent image, the fog toner may be transferred to the heating and pressurizing means even during the original image forming operation.
[0015]
Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, cleaning using a contact cleaning member using a resin blade, or electrostatic cleaning system that collects adhered toner by applying a bias by pressing a roller or the like with a light pressure. Or a combination of them is known.
[0016]
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-107990 discloses a cleaning device that cleans unnecessary toner adhering to the surface of an image carrier with a blade and a conductive brush, that is, a pre-cleaning charging unit provided on the upstream side of the conductive brush. The toner having the same polarity as that of the toner is applied to the surface of the image carrier, and at least a bias having a polarity opposite to that of the pre-cleaning charging unit is applied to the conductive brush so that unnecessary toner adhered to the surface of the image carrier is removed. A cleaning device is disclosed in which unnecessary toner is removed with a blade provided downstream of the conductive brush. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-219359 discloses a cleaning device that cleans foreign matter such as toner adhering to the surface of a transfer device with a cleaning brush, and sucks and collects the foreign matter by vacuum. In addition, in JP-A-9-237024, in addition to a magnet brush type cleaning device, a sheet having an adhesive surface is pressed against an image carrier through a pressure roller and remains on the image carrier. A cleaning device that wipes off toner is disclosed.
[0017]
However, these methods are difficult to apply as cleaning means for the heating and pressurizing means. That is, the heating and pressurizing means must retain at least the glass transition point of the toner and the amount of heat corresponding to the heat capacity of the transfer material, and therefore has heat up to 100 to 200 ° C. at the surface temperature. Under such a high temperature, when the resin blade is pressure-contacted, chatter noise may be generated or the blade may turn over.
[0018]
This indicates that at a high temperature, the tan δ value is small, and the energy elasticity as an elastic body is small. The tan δ value is derived from the complex elastic modulus. Phase difference between real part (dynamic storage elastic modulus) and imaginary part (dynamic loss elastic modulus) of response when sinusoidal strain is applied to a linear viscoelastic body in stationary vibration (imaginary part is real part) Divided value).
[0019]
Since the entropy elasticity is lost at high temperatures, the viscoelasticity is reduced, and as a result, the plastic deformation of the blade cannot follow, eventually causing chattering or turning.
[0020]
Also, the electrostatic cleaning method is difficult to apply as a cleaning unit for the heating and pressurizing unit. This is because toner that has undergone glass transition at a high temperature has a high viscosity and cannot be completely removed from electrostatic cleaning means such as a conductive fur brush or a bias roller. There is a risk of adhesion, and providing a cleaning means for removing toner from the electrostatic cleaning means has disadvantages such as an increase in cost and a complicated structure.
[0021]
As described above, it is difficult to dispose a cleaning member in contact with the heating and pressurizing means exposed to a high temperature. In a state in which the toner adhering to the heating and pressurizing means cannot be removed, the toner adhering to the back surface of the transfer material may be transferred to the back surface of the transfer material at the time of transfer and fixing.
[0022]
In the present invention, when performing the simultaneous transfer and fixing by the heating and pressing unit as described above, the toner adhering to the heating and pressing unit does not cause back-staining due to transfer to the transfer material, and the image quality is high. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that maintains the above.
[0023]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A typical configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.
(1) An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each toner contact angle of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying a relationship of toner contact angle of the heating and pressing member> toner contact angle of the image carrier.
(2) A rotatable image carrier, an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image carrier to form a primary transfer unit, and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit And
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus that satisfies the relationship of toner contact angle of the heating and pressing member> toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member.
(3) an image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit;
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each surface energy of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus that satisfies the relationship of surface energy of heating and pressing member <surface energy of image carrier.
(4) A rotatable image carrier, an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image carrier to form a primary transfer unit, and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit And
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each surface energy of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying the relationship of surface energy of heating and pressing member <surface energy of intermediate transfer member.
(5) an image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit;
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Adhesive force between the image carrier and the heating and pressing member with each toner is
It is embodied by an image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying the relationship of the adhesion force of the heating and pressing member to the toner <the adhesion force of the image carrier to the toner.
(6) A rotatable image carrier, an intermediate transfer member which is in contact with the image carrier and forms a primary transfer unit, and a heating and pressing member which is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member and forms a transfer fixing unit And
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
The adhesion between the intermediate transfer member and the heating / pressurizing member with each toner is as follows:
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus that satisfies the relationship of the adhesion force of the heating and pressing member to the toner <the adhesion force of the intermediate transfer member to the toner.
(7) An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each surface tension of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying the relationship of the surface tension of the heating and pressing member <the surface tension of the image carrier.
(8) A rotatable image carrier, an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image carrier to form a primary transfer unit, and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit And
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each surface tension of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
The present invention is embodied by an image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying the relationship of surface tension of heating and pressing member <surface tension of intermediate transfer member.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
(Example 1)
FIG. 4 shows an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0026]
In the figure, a photosensitive drum is provided as an image carrier, and the photosensitive drum is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure at a predetermined driving speed (process speed). The surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by a charging roller. The charged surface of the photosensitive drum is subjected to scanning exposure with laser light from an exposure unit that is ON / OFF controlled according to image information, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
[0027]
Black toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed as described above by a developing device, and a black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum.
[0028]
The developed toner image is transferred by a transfer fixing drum onto a transfer material conveyed at a predetermined timing.
[0029]
The transfer fixing drum has a built-in heater, and the heater is ON / OFF controlled by a control device (not shown) and maintained at a predetermined temperature.
[0030]
The transfer material conveyed at a predetermined timing is pressed against the photosensitive drum by the transfer fixing drum, and the toner on the photosensitive drum and the transfer material are heated by receiving heat from the transfer fixing drum. At this time, the toner layer is heated to a temperature higher than the glass transition point, the toner is transferred onto the pressure-contacted transfer material, and the transfer material is discharged to form a permanent image on the transfer material.
[0031]
After the toner image is transferred, the photosensitive drum is cooled by the photosensitive drum cooling means, and is used for the next and subsequent image formation.
[0032]
In this embodiment, a photosensitive drum in which an amorphous silicon photosensitive member is coated on an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 60 mm is used.
[0033]
As a transfer and fixing drum, a core metal made of iron having an outer diameter of 15 mm is coated with an elastic layer made of silicone rubber having a thickness of 5 mm and a PFA tube having a thickness of 50 μm on the surface, and the surface layer has a 10-point average roughness Rz of 2 μm. Blast processing is performed.
[0034]
A halogen heater for heating is provided inside the transfer / fixing drum. In this embodiment, the halogen heater is controlled to ON / OFF so that the surface of the transfer / fixing drum becomes 150 ° C. Yes.
[0035]
In the above configuration, the toner contact angle of the photosensitive drum is configured to be smaller than the toner contact angle of the transfer fixing drum.
[0036]
The toner contact angle according to the first aspect of the present invention is an angle formed between the surface of the molten toner and the surface of the toner image carrier when the toner is melted on the toner image carrier as shown in FIG. In other words, the toner contact angle is, for example, the wettability between the toner in the molten state on the transfer fixing drum and the transfer fixing drum in contact with the toner. That is, the molten toner is more likely to adhere to the surface of the transfer fixing drum. On the other hand, when the toner contact angle is large, it is an index representing the property of being difficult to adhere to the transfer fixing drum.
[0037]
In other words, the toner contact angle of the melted toner is an index representing the ease of adhesion between the toner and the object, and a small toner contact angle is synonymous with a large adhesion force between the molten toner and the measurement object. This is synonymous with the value of the surface energy or surface tension of the measurement object being large.
[0038]
The toner contact angle was measured using a CA-S roll material contact angle meter manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd. The measurement method is as follows: 1.5 mg of toner is deposited on the photosensitive drum or transfer fixing drum, left in a 150 ° C. environment for 30 minutes, then cooled to room temperature to maintain that state, and solidified for measurement. It was.
[0039]
Specifically, in this embodiment, the toner contact angle of the photosensitive drum is 75 degrees, and the toner contact angle of the transfer fixing drum is 95 degrees.
[0040]
By setting the toner contact angle to a larger value on the transfer and fixing drum than on the photosensitive drum, the molten toner does not adhere to the transfer and fixing drum, but adheres to the photosensitive drum.
[0041]
In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, unintentional unfixed toner such as toner remaining on the photosensitive drum that has not been transferred or fog toner is generated in order to form an image. When the transfer / fixing drum is heated, it is all transferred to the photosensitive drum and does not remain on the transfer / fixing drum.
[0042]
On the photosensitive drum, the molten toner on the photosensitive drum is cooled by a cooling unit disposed downstream of the transfer fixing nip, and is collected by a drum cleaner.
[0043]
As is apparent from the above, in the image forming apparatus that performs image formation by simultaneous transfer and fixing as shown in FIG. 4, the toner contact angle of the photosensitive drum as the image carrier and the transfer fixing drum as the heating and pressing means About toner contact angle
By setting so that the toner contact angle of the photosensitive drum <the toner contact angle of the transfer / fixing drum, an image forming apparatus that avoids unintended transfer / fixing drum toner contamination and does not cause transfer material back contamination Can be provided.
[0044]
(Example 2)
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment according to the present invention.
[0045]
Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner images are formed on the photosensitive member, transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt one by one by the primary transfer unit, and transferred onto the transfer material by the transfer fixing unit. 1 is a schematic view of a full color image forming apparatus.
[0046]
In the figure, the photosensitive drum is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the figure at a predetermined process speed. The surface is uniformly charged by the charging unit, and the exposure unit receives exposure scanning of image information corresponding to the cyan color component to form an electrostatic latent image of the cyan color component.
[0047]
In the figure, the rotary developing device is provided with a developing device containing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners, and develops the electrostatic latent image of the corresponding color component. Rotation exchange is performed.
[0048]
When the cyan component toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum, the toner image on the drum is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt by the primary transfer unit. The photosensitive drum and the primary transfer roller are pressed against each other via the intermediate transfer belt, and a toner image is electrostatically transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt by applying a bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the primary transfer roller. Transcription.
[0049]
The above primary transfer operation is repeated for the remaining yellow, magenta, and black color components, and four color toner images are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt.
[0050]
Thereafter, the laminated toner images are simultaneously transferred and fixed onto a transfer material conveyed at a predetermined timing by a transfer fixing unit to form a permanent image.
[0051]
In this embodiment, a photosensitive drum in which an amorphous silicon photosensitive member is coated on an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 60 mm is used.
[0052]
As the intermediate transfer belt, a polyimide resin film having a thickness of 70 μm and a silicon rubber having a thickness of 100 μm bonded thereto is used. Carbon black is dispersed in the resin layer and the rubber layer, and the volume resistivity is 1 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω · It adjusted so that it might become about cm.
[0053]
As a transfer and fixing drum, a core metal made of iron having an outer diameter of 15 mm is coated with an elastic layer made of silicone rubber having a thickness of 5 mm and a PFA tube having a thickness of 50 μm on the surface, and the surface layer has a 10-point average roughness Rz of 2 μm. Blast processing is performed.
[0054]
A halogen heater for heating is provided inside the transfer fixing drum. In this embodiment, the halogen heater is kept at a constant temperature by performing ON / OFF control so that the surface of the transfer fixing drum becomes 185 ° C. Yes.
[0055]
In this embodiment, the toner contact angle on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and the toner contact angle on the surface of the transfer fixing drum are as follows:
The toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer belt was set to be less than the toner contact angle of the transfer fixing drum. Specifically, the toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer belt is 65 degrees, and the toner contact angle of the transfer fixing drum is 95 degrees.
[0056]
As described above, by setting the toner contact angle to be larger on the transfer fixing drum than on the intermediate transfer belt, unintended toner images such as unfixed toner images and fog toner on the intermediate transfer belt when a jam occurs are transferred. Even when the toner is conveyed to the fixing unit, the melted toner does not transfer to the transfer fixing drum. Accordingly, toner contamination on the transfer fixing drum can be avoided, and back contamination on the transfer material can be avoided.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above, in the image forming apparatus that performs simultaneous transfer and fixing using a heating and pressing unit, the toner contact angle of the heating and pressing member is set larger than the toner contact angle of the image carrier or intermediate transfer member. By doing so, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can maintain a high-quality image by eliminating toner contamination of the heating and pressurizing means and avoiding back contamination of the transfer material.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus that performs electrostatic transfer in secondary transfer.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a problem when electrostatic transfer is performed in secondary transfer of a conventional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example (Example 1) of the present case.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example (Example 2) of the present case.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a toner contact angle.
FIG. 7 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using a simultaneous transfer and fixing method.

Claims (44)

An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each toner contact angle of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of toner contact angle of a heating and pressing member> toner contact angle of an image carrier. The toner contact angle of the image carrier is relative to the toner contact angle of the transfer material.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a relationship of toner contact angle of image carrier> toner contact angle of transfer material is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a cooling unit that cools the surface of the image carrier. A rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image bearing member to form a primary transfer unit; and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit. ,
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of toner contact angle of a heating and pressing member> toner contact angle of an intermediate transfer member. The toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the toner contact angle of the image carrier.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a relationship of toner contact angle of the image bearing member> toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member is satisfied. The toner contact angle of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the toner contact angle of the transfer material.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a relationship of toner contact angle of intermediate transfer member> toner contact angle of transfer material is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a cooling unit that cools a surface of the image carrier. An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each surface energy of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relation of surface energy of heating and pressing member <surface energy of image carrier. The surface energy of the image carrier is relative to the surface energy of the transfer material.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a relationship of surface energy of image carrier <surface energy of transfer material is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a cooling unit that cools the surface of the image carrier. A rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image bearing member to form a primary transfer unit; and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit. ,
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each surface energy of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of surface energy of heating and pressing member <surface energy of intermediate transfer member. The surface energy of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the toner contact angle of the image carrier.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the relationship of surface energy of image carrier <surface energy of intermediate transfer member is satisfied. The surface energy of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the surface energy of the transfer material.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the relationship of surface energy of intermediate transfer member <surface energy of transfer material is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a cooling unit that cools a surface of the image carrier. An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Adhesive force between the image carrier and the heating and pressing member with each toner is
An image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying a relationship of an adhesion force between a heating and pressing member and a toner <an adhesion force between the image bearing member and the toner. The adhesion force of the image carrier to the toner is relative to the adhesion force of the transfer material to the toner.
24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the relationship between the adhesion force of the image carrier to the toner and the adhesion force of the transfer material to the toner is satisfied. 25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising cooling means for cooling the surface of the image carrier. A rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image bearing member to form a primary transfer unit; and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit. ,
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
The adhesion between the intermediate transfer member and the heating / pressurizing member with each toner is as follows:
An image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying a relationship of an adhesion force of the heating and pressing member to toner <an adhesion force of the intermediate transfer member to the toner. The adhesion force of the intermediate transfer member with the toner is relative to the toner contact angle of the image carrier.
29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the relationship between the adhesion force of the image carrier to the toner and the adhesion force of the intermediate transfer member to the toner is satisfied. The surface energy of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the adhesion of the transfer material to the toner.
30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the relationship of the adhesion force between the intermediate transfer member and the toner <the adhesion force between the transfer material and the toner is satisfied. 31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, 29, or 30, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, 29, or 30, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a cooling unit that cools the surface of the image carrier. An image carrier, and a heating and pressing member that is in contact with the image carrier and forms a transfer fixing unit,
In an image forming apparatus for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on an image carrier at the same time as being transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member,
Each surface tension of the image carrier and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of surface tension of a heating and pressing member <surface tension of an image carrier. The surface tension of the image carrier is relative to the surface tension of the transfer material.
35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the relationship of the surface tension of the image carrier <the surface tension of the transfer material is satisfied. 36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising cooling means for cooling the surface of the image carrier. A rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member that is in contact with the image bearing member to form a primary transfer unit; and a heating and pressing member that is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer fixing unit. ,
An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image carrier is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a transfer material by a heating and pressing member and simultaneously fixed. In
Each surface tension of the intermediate transfer member and the heating and pressing member is
An image forming apparatus characterized by satisfying a relationship of surface tension of a heating and pressing member <surface tension of an intermediate transfer member. The surface tension of the intermediate transfer member is relative to the surface tension of the image carrier.
40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the relationship of the surface tension of the image carrier <the surface tension of the intermediate transfer member is satisfied. The surface energy of the intermediate transfer body is relative to the surface tension of the transfer material.
41. The image forming apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the relationship of surface tension of intermediate transfer member <surface tension of transfer material is satisfied. 42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 39, 40, or 41, wherein a lubricant is applied to the heating and pressing member. 42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 39, 40, or 41, wherein the image carrier is an amorphous silicon photoconductor. 44. The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising cooling means for cooling the surface of the image carrier.

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