JP2005208095A - Fixing member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the grazing resistance and abrasion resistance of a fixing member by a relatively simple configuration and to thereby improved the durability of the fixing member. <P>SOLUTION: The fixing member 22 for fixing a toner onto a recording medium 18 has a substrate 24 and an elastic layer 25 held on the substrate and a solid lubricating film 26 is added onto the elastic layer 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing belt or a fixing roller for fixing an unfixed toner image on a transfer paper to the transfer paper by heating and pressurization in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer. And a fixing device including the fixing member, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, when the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged in the charging process, a charge pattern corresponding to the exposure is formed on the photosensitive drum as an electrostatic latent image in the subsequent exposure process. Further, in the development process, the latent image is visualized by toner adhesion using electrostatic force. The image visualized by the adhesion of the toner is copied onto the paper in the transfer process, and the toner copied onto the paper is fixed on the paper as an image by receiving heat and pressure in the fixing process.

  A fixing member such as a fixing belt or a fixing roller incorporated in a fixing device for the fixing process employs a structure in which an annular belt base or a cylindrical base and an elastic layer is deposited on the base, or the elastic body. A structure in which a release layer is further deposited thereon is employed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, a separation claw for separating the transfer paper, a thermistor for controlling the temperature of the fixing member, and the like are in contact with the surface of the fixing member composed of an elastic layer or a release layer. Therefore, there is a problem that wear on the surface of the fixing member which is a rotating body is promoted.

  In order to suppress wear of the rotating body due to the contact of the separation claw, it has been proposed to cover the separation claw with a diamond-like carbon film (for example, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, in a fixing member that does not have a release layer, that is, the surface is composed of an elastic layer, a silicone oil is applied to the surface in order to improve toner release properties and to improve scratch resistance and wear resistance. ing.

  Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, a release agent supply device provided with a rotating roll for supplying a release agent to a fixing member which is a fixing rotating body of the fixing device provided in the image forming apparatus is incorporated, In order to allow an appropriate amount of the release agent to be supplied to the fixing rotator by this release agent supply device, the release agent is not applied to the surface of the fixing rotator itself, but to the fixing rotator, that is, the fixing member. It has been proposed to cover the surface of the fixing rotating roll to be supplied with a solid lubricating coating layer made of, for example, a diamond-like carbon film (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

In addition, a method of forming DLC (diamond-like carbon) exhibiting a low friction coefficient on rubber or a polymer material has been proposed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-014557 A JP 2000-335804 A JP 2000-147934 A Middle East, Miyake, Murakami, “DLC for Rubber and Polymer Materials (Flexible DLC)” Journal of Precision Engineering, Japan Society for Precision Engineering, 2002, Vol. 68, No. 12, 2002, p.

  As described above, in the fixing member in which the elastic layer or the release layer on the elastic layer is exposed, the exposed surface in contact with the separation claw, the thermistor, or the like is likely to be accelerated or damaged by wear. Further, even if the separation claw is simply covered with a diamond-like carbon film, damage to the fixing member due to the thermistor or the like cannot be prevented.

  Further, in order to increase the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member using the silicone oil, it is necessary to supply an appropriate amount of silicone oil to the fixing member, and the configuration for that purpose is complicated.

  Further, even if the surface of the rotary roll of the release agent supply device is covered with a coating layer, it is not possible to prevent the wear from being accelerated by the separation claws of the fixing member itself.

  For this reason, it has been impossible to increase the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member with a relatively simple configuration according to the above-described prior art.

    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member with a relatively simple configuration, thereby improving the durability of the fixing member.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a fixing member for fixing toner on a recording medium, comprising a base and an elastic layer held on the base, and a solid lubricating film is added on the elastic layer. It is characterized by being.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fixing member according to the first aspect, the solid lubricant film is a DLC film.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the fixing member according to claim 2, wherein the elastic layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in order to increase the adhesive force between the elastic layer and the DLC film. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member for fixing toner on a recording medium, comprising a base, an elastic layer held on the base, and a release layer formed on the elastic layer. A solid lubricating film is added on the mold layer.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing member according to the fourth aspect, the solid lubricant film is a DLC film.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing member according to the fifth aspect, the release layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in order to increase the adhesive force between the release layer and the DLC film. Features.

  The invention described in claim 7 is a fixing device on which the fixing member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is mounted.

  The invention described in claim 8 is an image forming apparatus on which the fixing device according to claim 7 is mounted.

  According to the fixing member of the first aspect, since the solid lubricating film is added on the elastic layer, the lubricity and non-adhesiveness of the fixing member are improved by a relatively simple configuration without using silicon oil. This can improve the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member.

  According to the fixing member of the second aspect, since the DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is added on the elastic layer as the solid lubricating film on the elastic layer, the solid lubricating film can be formed relatively easily. As a result, the fretting resistance and the wear resistance of the fixing member can be improved relatively easily. A DLC film used as a solid lubricant film exhibits flexibility and improves the problems of wear resistance and scratch resistance. Furthermore, since the DLC film is chemically stable, has excellent releasability from toner and the like, and is smooth and has a low wear coefficient, it is optimal as a surface layer of a fixing member.

  According to the fixing member according to claim 3, since the elastic layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric plasma treatment, a DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is added on the elastic layer. As a result, the durability of the fixing member can be further improved.

  According to the fixing member of the fourth aspect, since the solid lubricating film is added on the release layer, the lubricating property and the non-adhesiveness of the fixing member can be obtained by a relatively simple configuration without using silicon oil. As a result, the fretting resistance of the fixing member and its wear resistance can be improved.

  According to the fixing member of the fifth aspect, since the DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is added on the release layer as the solid lubricant film on the release layer, the solid lubricant film can be formed relatively easily. As a result, the fretting resistance and the wear resistance of the fixing member can be improved relatively easily. As described above, this DLC film is optimal as a surface layer of a fixing member because it is chemically stable, excellent in releasability from toner, etc., smooth and has a low wear coefficient.

  According to the fixing member of the sixth aspect, since the release layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric plasma treatment, a DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is added on the release layer. The coupling force can be increased, and thereby the durability of the fixing member can be further improved.

  According to the fixing device of the seventh aspect, durability can be improved by using a fixing member having excellent scratch resistance and abrasion resistance.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, durability can be improved by using a fixing device having excellent durability.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member with a relatively simple configuration, thereby improving the durability of the fixing member.

  The features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the illustrated embodiment.

<Specific example 1>
FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus 10 equipped with a fixing member according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 is an image forming apparatus such as a plain paper copier (PPC), a facsimile, or a laser beam printer (LBP) that employs an electrophotographic system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. A charging device 12, an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a cleaning device 16, which are conventionally well-known, for example, a charging roller are sequentially arranged on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier along the rotation direction. Has been placed.

  When a uniform charge is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the charging action of the charging device 12 that receives a voltage applied from the DC power source 17, the exposure device 13 irradiates laser light modulated by image data, for example. Receive. By this exposure, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 with a charge pattern corresponding to the image, as is well known. Toner is supplied from the developing device 14 onto the photosensitive drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. This toner selectively adheres on the photosensitive drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, according to the polarity applied thereto and the polarity of the electrostatic latent image. Due to the adhesion of the toner, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed and visualized.

  The toner image formed by development on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred by the transfer device 15 onto the recording paper 18 supplied through a paper feed roller (not shown) as is well known. The unfixed toner image transferred onto the recording paper 18 is fixed, for example, as an image on the recording paper 18 by receiving heat or pressure from the fixing device 19 as is well known. Further, the region of the photosensitive drum 11 that has passed through the transfer device 15 is sequentially subjected to a cleaning process by the cleaning device 16, and the region from which the residual toner has been removed by this cleaning process is newly subjected to a charging process by the charging device 12 again.

  Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 10, the cleaning process by the cleaning apparatus 16, the charging process by the charging apparatus 12, the exposure process by the exposure apparatus 13, the development process by the developing apparatus 14, the transfer process by the transfer apparatus 15, and the fixing apparatus 19. Characters and images are sequentially copied on the recording paper 18 by repeating the fixing process.

  A fixing device 19 shown in FIG. 1 is a well-known fixing belt type fixing device. In this fixing device 19, a fixing belt 22 is stretched between both rollers 20 and 21 so as to go around a heating roller 20 incorporating a heat source (not shown) such as a halogen lamp and a fixing roller 21 as a support roller. ing. Further, the pressure roller 23 is pressed against the fixing belt 22 so as to sandwich the fixing belt 22 with the fixing roller 21.

  The recording paper 18 having an image formed with unfixed toner on the front surface passes between the fixing belt 22 and the pressure roller 23 so that the front surface is in contact with the fixing belt 22 and the back surface is in contact with the pressure roller 23. At this time, as described above, the unfixed toner is fixed on the recording paper 18 as a toner image by pressure bonding with heating.

  2 and 3, the fixing belt 22 of the fixing device 19 includes an endless belt-like base 24, an elastic layer 25 formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the base, and a surface of the elastic layer. And a solid lubricant film 26 formed so as to cover it.

  The base 24 is made of a resin material such as polyimide, polyamideimide, or fluororesin that satisfies heat resistance and mechanical strength, and is formed in a film shape having a thickness of 90 μm, for example. Instead of such a resin material, for example, a heat-resistant metal material such as Ni or SUS can be used.

  When the base 24 is formed of a metal material, the thickness of the base 24 is preferably 100 μm or less in consideration of the ease of bending of the fixing belt 22. Further, when the base 24 is formed of the heat-resistant resin material described above, the thickness of the base 24 is preferably a heat capacity (the thinner is advantageous in terms of shortening the rise time) and the strength (the thicker is advantageous. It is desirable to select appropriately from 30 to 200 μm.

  The elastic layer 25 is formed to a thickness of, for example, 100 to 300 μm by applying silicone rubber to the outer peripheral surface of the base 24. A lubricant or a release agent can be added to the silicone rubber. Further, a rubber material such as fluorosilicone rubber can be used in place of the silicone rubber.

  The solid lubricant film 26 is formed of a solid lubricant. The solid lubricant is characterized by anisotropy like a layered structure, a relatively weak bonding force between crystal planes or molecules, and a self-lubricating property. Compared to lubricating oil, it is excellent in thermal stability and oxidation stability and is not volatile. This solid lubricant is classified as follows.

1. Inorganic compound system
1-1. Layered structure compounds Molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, graphite, fluorinated graphite, boron nitride
1-2. Non-layered structure compound PbO, CaF ₂ , SiO ₂ , DLC film Organic compound system
2-1. Polymer PTFE, Polyimide
2-2. Extensive substances such as phthalocyanine.

  When a DLC (diamond-like carbon) film is used as the solid lubricant film 26, prior to forming the DLC film on the elastic layer 25 in order to increase the bonding force between the elastic layer 25 and the DLC (26) on the elastic layer. The elastic layer 25 is preferably subjected to a pretreatment such as the following UV ozone treatment or atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.

1. About UV ozone treatment
The low-pressure mercury lamp ultraviolet ray applied to the elastic layer 25 in the present invention refers to an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays.

  In general, a high pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or a low pressure mercury lamp is used to irradiate ultraviolet rays. High-pressure mercury lamps and metal halide lamps emit near-ultraviolet light in the near-ultraviolet region typified by a wavelength of 365 nm. The low-pressure mercury lamp emits short-wavelength ultraviolet rays typified by wavelengths of 184.9 nm and 253.7 nm, which are shorter than the near-ultraviolet rays.

  Ultraviolet rays have a variety of effects on the material when irradiated. For example, when the near-ultraviolet ray is irradiated to the polymer, the polymer is cured. Irradiation of this near-ultraviolet light to the fluororesin or silicone rubber layer only causes the deterioration of the release layer and the change in hardness, and it breaks into the release layer of the fixing elastic rotor having the release layer. ) Or peeling.

  On the other hand, the short wavelength ultraviolet rays used in the present invention are known to sterilize and clean the surface of the object irradiated with the short wavelength ultraviolet rays, and in some cases to prevent adhesion. In the following, regarding the influence of irradiating the elastic layer 25 with the short wavelength ultraviolet rays, the short wavelength ultraviolet rays having typical wavelengths of 184.9 nm and 253.7 nm obtained with a low-pressure mercury lamp among the short wavelength ultraviolet rays are particularly elastic. The effect of irradiating the layer 25 will be described. Here, the elastic layer 25 made of silicone rubber is considered.

  When the elastic layer is irradiated with short-wavelength ultraviolet rays, a part of the ultraviolet rays is absorbed by oxygen present in a general working environment. Ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 184.9 nm give oxygen energy higher than the binding energy of oxygen molecules, and decompose oxygen into active oxygen by the following reaction.

O ₂ +184.9 nm → O + O (decomposition)
This active oxygen is further combined with oxygen to generate ozone by the following reaction.

O + O ₂ → O ₃ (Ozone generation)
However, ozone generated in the above reaction is naturally decomposed into oxygen and active oxygen as it is, and contributes to the reaction again.

  Further, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 253.7 nm are well absorbed by ozone, and decomposes ozone into oxygen and active oxygen O by the following reaction.

O ₃ → O ₂ + O (decomposition of ozone)
That is, by irradiating with short wavelength ultraviolet rays having typical wavelengths of 184.9 nm and 253.7 nm, which are generally obtained with a commercially available low-pressure mercury lamp, active oxygen having an oxidizing action is generated in the irradiation environment. However, with 253.7 nm alone, generation of active oxygen having an oxidizing action is not considered unless ozone is present.

  By the action of this active oxygen, the wettability of the surface of the elastic layer 25 is enhanced. As a simple effect confirmation method of this ultraviolet irradiation, the effect can be confirmed by dropping water droplets on the untreated / treated surface and visually observing the wettability of water. It can be seen that the untreated surface hardly wets water and repels water, but the treated surface wets well with water and has been surface-modified.

  By improving the wettability of the surface of the elastic layer 25, the bonding force between the elastic layer 25 and the solid lubricating film 26 formed on the surface is increased, so that the elastic layer 25 and the solid lubricating film 26 are bonded. Improved.

<Specific example 2>
The above description can also be applied to UV irradiation to the fluororesin constituting the release layer 27 described below. That is, in the fixing belt 22 ′ shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the release layer 27 is formed between the elastic layer 25 and the solid lubricating film 26 so as to cover the elastic layer 25.

  The release layer 27 is composed of tetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin (PFA), and tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer resin (FEP). Or a mixture of these resins or a heat resistant resin in which these fluorine resins are dispersed. When the elastic layer 25 is covered with the release layer 27, toner release properties and paper powder adhesion prevention can be achieved without using silicone oil (oilless). However, since these resins having releasability generally do not have elasticity like a rubber material, gloss unevenness occurs when the release layer 27 is formed thick on the elastic layer 25. In other words, in order to achieve both prevention of uneven gloss and securing the releasability of toner and paper powder, it is necessary to form a release layer 27 that does not impair the flexibility of the elastic layer 25. For this purpose, it is necessary that the release layer material is as flexible as possible and the film thickness is thin.

  Prior to forming the solid lubricant film 26 on the release layer 27, the surface of the release layer 27 is subjected to the same UV treatment as in the fixing belt 22 shown in FIGS. The adhesion between the release layer 27 and the solid lubricant film 26 can be improved by forming the solid lubricant film 26 after the increase.

  As described above, the adhesive property between the elastic layer 25 and the DLC film (26) on the elastic layer 25 by irradiating the elastic layer 25 or the release layer 27 with a short wavelength ultraviolet ray including a wavelength of at least 184.9 nm. Alternatively, the adhesion between the release layer 27 and the DLC film (26) on the release layer can be improved.

2. Atmospheric plasma treatment Instead of irradiating the low-pressure mercury lamp ultraviolet ray to the elastic layer 25 or the release layer 27 by UV ozone treatment, for example, using the plasma irradiation device ST-7000 manufactured by Keyence Corporation, the elastic layer 25 or The release layer 27 can be subjected to atmospheric plasma treatment. This atmospheric plasma treatment can improve the wettability of the surface of the elastic layer 25 or the release layer 27 on which the DLC film (26) is formed, as in the UV ozone treatment. The adhesion between the DLC film (26) on the elastic layer or the adhesion between the release layer 27 and the DLC film (26) on the release layer can be improved.

<Example 1>
After applying a silicone primer resin <made by Toray Dow Corning: DY39-051> on a polyimide substrate 24 having a film thickness of 90 μm and φ60 mm and drying it to form a first primer layer, this first primer layer 200 μm of a heat-resistant silicone resin <Toray Dow Corning: DX35-2083> was applied to the surface of this, and vulcanized to form an elastic layer 25. Next, UV ozone treatment was performed.

In this UV ozone treatment, a high-purity synthetic quartz low-pressure mercury lamp EUV200NS-7 (output 200 W) manufactured by Sen Special Light Source Co., Ltd., which emits light of 184.9 nm, was irradiated with a predetermined integrated light amount. Irradiation was performed with an integrated light amount of 1200 mJ / cm ² .

Next, a plasma CVD apparatus was used for forming the DLC film (26). As the plasma generating power source, a modulated high frequency power source capable of generating modulated plasma was used. By using a modulation process, particles can be reduced. The temperature of the base material increases rapidly when exposed to plasma, but the heat resistance of the polymer is very low. When it is necessary to lower the processing temperature, it is possible to suppress an increase in the substrate temperature by repeatedly turning on / off the high-frequency power. The heat resistant silicone resin has a heat resistance of 200 degrees Celsius or higher, but was controlled to 180 degrees Celsius or lower. The DLC film (26) is formed by applying a base vacuum, cleaning the surface of the elastic layer 25 that has been subjected to the UV ozone treatment with O ₂ plasma cleaning, and then forming CH ₄ on the elastic layer 25. A DLC film (26) was formed to a thickness of 0.5 to 1 μm by plasma.

The surface cleaning process in the O ₂ plasma cleaning can be omitted due to the effect of the UV ozone treatment.

<Example 2>
A silicone primer resin <Toray Dow Corning: DY39-051> was applied to the surface of a polyimide substrate 24 having a film thickness of 90 μm and φ60 mm, and this was dried to form a first primer layer. A heat-resistant silicone resin <manufactured by Toray Dow Corning: DX35-2083> was applied to the surface and vulcanized to form an elastic layer 25. The surface of the elastic layer 25 is coated with a PFA primer resin <Mitsui / DuPont Fluorochemicals: Silicone liquid primer> and dried to form a second primer, and then the PFA ( Made by Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd .: PFA940Hp-plus (bending life: about 100,000 cycles, melting point 285 degrees Celsius to 300 degrees Celsius) powder coated to a film thickness of 20 ± 2 μm, and consisting of a fluororesin coating layer A release layer 27 was formed, and this release layer 27 was then subjected to UV ozone treatment.

A predetermined integrated light amount was irradiated using a high-purity synthetic quartz low-pressure mercury lamp EUV200NS-7 (output 200 W) manufactured by Sen Special Light Source Co., Ltd. that emits light of 184.9 nm. Irradiation was performed with an integrated light amount of 1200 mJ / cm ² .

A plasma CVD apparatus was used for forming the DLC film (26) on the release layer 27 subjected to the UV ozone treatment. As the power source for plasma generation, a modulated high frequency power source capable of generating modulated plasma was used. By using a modulation process, particles can be reduced. The temperature of the base material increases rapidly when exposed to plasma, but the heat resistance of the polymer is very low. When it is necessary to lower the processing temperature, it is possible to suppress the rise in the substrate temperature by repeatedly turning on / off the high-frequency power. The heat resistant silicone resin has a heat resistance of 200 degrees Celsius or higher, but was controlled to 180 degrees Celsius or lower. The DLC film (26) is formed by applying a base vacuum, cleaning the surface of the release layer 27 that has been subjected to the UV ozone treatment with O ₂ plasma cleaning, and then on the release layer 27. A DLC film (26) was formed to a thickness of 0.5 to 1 μm by CH ₄ plasma.

The surface cleaning process in the O ₂ plasma cleaning can be omitted due to the effect of the UV ozone treatment.

<Comparative example 1>
A silicone primer resin <Toray Dow Corning: DY39-051> is applied to the surface of a polyimide substrate having a thickness of 90 μm and φ60 mm, dried to form a first primer layer, and then the surface of the first primer layer A heat resistant silicone resin <Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd .: DX35-2083> was applied to the resulting product and vulcanized to form an elastic layer. The surface of this elastic layer was coated with PFA primer resin <Mitsui / DuPont Fluorochemicals: Liquid primer for silicone> and dried to form a second primer, and then PFA (Mitsui) was applied to the surface of this second primer layer. DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd .: PFA940Hp-plus (bending life: about 100,000 cycles, melting point 285 degrees Celsius to 300 degrees Celsius) is powder-coated to a film thickness of 20 ± 2 μm to form a fluororesin coating layer A release layer was formed from this fluororesin coating layer.

The fretting resistance of each fixing belt surface was evaluated for Examples 1 and 2 in which the solid lubricating film 26 was formed and Comparative Example in which the release layer was exposed without forming the solid lubricating film 26.
<Abrasion resistance evaluation method>
Using a Ricoh Co., Ltd. IPSiO8200 machine, after passing through 100,000 sheets of A4 paper, the degree of damage of each fixing belt and the fixing rank were visually evaluated. As shown in the following table, the judgment results were two types of pass / fail.

〈具体例３〉
前記したところでは、ベルト式定着装置１９の定着ベルト２２、２２′について説明したが、本発明を図６に示すように、ローラ式定着装置１１９に適用することができる。

<Specific example 3>
In the above description, the fixing belts 22 and 22 'of the belt-type fixing device 19 have been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a roller-type fixing device 119 as shown in FIG.

  The roller type fixing device 119 passes through a fixing roller 122 having a built-in heat source (not shown) such as a halogen lamp, and a recording paper 18 that is pressed against the fixing roller and on which an image is formed with unfixed toner. And a pressure roller 123 to permit. The fixing roller 122 is in contact with the surface of the recording paper 18 to which the unfixed toner is attached, and the pressure roller 123 is in contact with the back surface of the recording paper 18 to which the unfixed toner is not attached.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fixing roller 122 includes a cylindrical base 24 constituting a metal core, an elastic layer 25 formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the base, and a surface of the elastic layer. And a solid lubricant film 26 formed so as to cover it.

  The base 24 constituting the core metal can be formed of a metal material such as Ni or SUS, for example, and instead of this metal material, as long as the heat resistance and the mechanical strength are satisfied, polyimide, polyamideimide, fluororesin Such a resin material can be used.

  The elastic layer 25 is formed by applying silicone rubber to a thickness of 100 to 300 μm, for example. A lubricant or a release agent can be added to the silicone rubber. Further, a rubber material such as fluorosilicone rubber can be used in place of the silicone rubber.

  The solid lubricating film 26 is formed of the material described in connection with the above-described specific example 1, and the elastic layer 25 is subjected to the UV ozone treatment or the atmospheric plasma treatment as described above in order to enhance the bonding with the elastic layer 25. Thereafter, it is desirable to form the solid lubricating film 26.

  A release layer as shown in the specific example 2 can be formed between the elastic layer 25 of the fixing roller 122 and the solid lubricating film 26 of the roller type fixing device 119.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the surface of a fixing member such as the fixing belt 22 or the fixing roller 122 is covered with the solid lubricating film 26 such as a DLC film. As a result, it is possible to improve the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the fixing members 22 and 122.

  As a result, it is possible to increase the abrasion resistance and wear resistance of the fixing member with a relatively simple structure without applying silicone oil, and thus without adopting a complicated structure for applying this silicone oil. As a result, the durability of the fixing member can be improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the coefficient of friction of the fixing member due to the lubricity, chemical stability, and releasability of the fixing member, and the fixing device or the image forming apparatus equipped with the fixing device can be reduced. Power consumption and noise during operation can be reduced. In addition, downsizing of the power supply apparatus by reducing power consumption enables downsizing of the entire apparatus. Further, the contact resistance of the sliding surface of the fixing member can be reduced by improving the wear resistance of the fixing member.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, the non-adhesiveness and low friction coefficient of the fixing member can prevent unnecessary toner from being transferred, fixed, and soiled to the fixing member. It is possible to prevent the image from being stained.

1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlargement of the fixing belt of the fixing device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fixing belt obtained along line III-III shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another fixing belt according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a fixing belt obtained along the line VV shown in FIG. 4. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically the other fixing device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlargement of a fixing roller of the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 6 in a no-load state. FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the fixing roller obtained along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 18 Recording paper (recording medium)
19, 119 Fixing device 22, 22 'Fixing belt (fixing member)
25 Elastic layer 26 Solid lubricating film (DLC film)
27 Release layer 122 Fixing roller (fixing member)

Claims (8)

  A fixing member for fixing toner on a recording medium, comprising a base and an elastic layer held on the base, and a solid lubricating film added to the elastic layer.   The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant film is a DLC film.   The fixing member according to claim 2, wherein the elastic layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in order to increase an adhesive force between the elastic layer and the DLC film.   A fixing member for fixing toner on a recording medium, comprising a base, an elastic layer held on the base, and a release layer formed on the elastic layer, and a solid lubricating film is added on the release layer A fixing member which is characterized by being made.   The fixing member according to claim 4, wherein the solid lubricant film is a DLC film.   The fixing member according to claim 5, wherein the release layer is subjected to UV ozone treatment or atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in order to increase the adhesive force between the release layer and the DLC film.   A fixing device comprising the fixing member according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 7.

Images