JP2006133429A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device capable of increasing the durability of a peeling member and improving the image quality of a fixed image, and to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with the fixing device. <P>SOLUTION: The fixing device is equipped with a fixing roller 21 having a heat source, a pressure roller 22 to be brought into press-contact with the fixing roller, and the peeling member 31 disposed close to the fixing roller in the shaft direction of the fixing roller and on the downstream side of a fixing nip part in a recording medium conveying direction. The peeling member has base material on the surface, of which fine ruggedness is provided and a coating film provided on the surface side of the base material, and is set so that its surface roughness Ra is 0.04 to 1.3 μm and its surface roughness Rz is 0.7 to 14 μm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, as a fixing device for fixing a toner image transferred on a recording medium such as paper, a toner image is formed at a nip portion of a pair of rollers including a fixing roller and a pressure roller. 2. Description of the Related Art A fixing device that passes a transferred sheet and fuses a toner image to the sheet by heating by a fixing roller and pressurization by two rollers is widely used.
In general, in this fixing device, a toner image fused to a recording medium comes into contact with the fixing roller. Therefore, a roller having a fluorine resin having a good releasability on the surface is used as the fixing roller. However, even when such a fixing roller is used, the melted toner is soft and has a high viscosity, so that it easily adheres to the surface of the fixing roller and the paper (recording medium) may be wound around the fixing roller.

For the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, a release member formed by coating or pasting a fluororesin layer on the base material surface and the edge in contact with the fixing roller using a resin sheet or a metal sheet as a base material, A proposal has been made to dispose the fixing roller in contact with the fixing roller at the downstream side in the rotation direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, the fixing device as described above has a problem that the fixing roller is damaged by the hard fluororesin layer because the peeling member is in contact with the fixing roller.

  In addition, since the fluororesin is inferior in abrasion resistance, the fluororesin layer is worn out in a relatively short period of time, the base material is exposed, and the toner is fixed or image streaks occur. have. In particular, when the fluororesin layer is formed by coating, there is a problem in that bubbles and foreign substances are easily contained in the fluororesin layer, thereby causing poor printing.

  Conventionally, the fixing roller and the pressure roller are generally arranged vertically and vertically, and the recording medium ejected from the nip portion of the both is forced away from the fixing roller by gravity. Therefore, the degree to which the recording medium is peeled off by the peeling member is small. However, when the fixing roller and the pressure roller are arranged in a substantially horizontal state, the recording medium is easily wound around the fixing roller, and the recording medium is always brought into contact with the peeling member. Since it increases, it becomes a subject how to improve the durability of a peeling member.

  In particular, in fixing a full-color image, a toner image to which a large amount of toner is transferred in a superimposed manner must be fixed compared to fixing a black-and-white image. Has become an issue. In addition, in the case of a glossy color image, it is required to provide smoothness on the surface of the toner image after fixing, and for this purpose, the toner is sufficiently heated and melted to reduce the viscosity, and then the image surface is flattened. Therefore, it is necessary to make the peeling member have the function of flattening the image surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-184300

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of increasing the durability of a peeling member and improving the image quality of a fixed image, and to provide an image forming apparatus including the fixing device. .

Such an object is achieved by the present invention described below.
The fixing device according to the present invention includes a fixing roller having a heat source, a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller, an axial direction of the fixing roller and a downstream side of the fixing nip portion in the recording medium conveyance direction and close to the fixing roller. And a peeling member disposed as
The peeling member has a surface roughness Ra of 0.04 to 1.3 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 to 14 μm.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide a fixing device capable of increasing the durability of the peeling member and improving the image quality of the fixed image.

The fixing device according to the present invention preferably includes a peeling member disposed in the vicinity of the pressure roller.
This effectively prevents the recording medium from being wound around the pressure roller or the like.
In the fixing device of the present invention, it is preferable that the tip of the release member on the pressure roller side is disposed downstream of the tip of the release member on the fixing roller side in the recording medium conveyance direction.
Thereby, the gap between the tip of the peeling member on the pressure roller side and the surface of the pressure roller can be made constant more reliably.

In the fixing device of the present invention, the pressure roller side peeling member has a surface roughness Ra of 0.04 to 1.3 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 to 14 μm. preferable.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the melted toner from adhering to the pressure roller, and effectively prevent the recording medium such as paper from being wound around the pressure roller, and the printing unit formed on the recording medium. Can be effectively prevented from being adversely affected. Further, the durability of the peeling member can be improved.

In the fixing device of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixing roller and the pressure roller are disposed in a substantially horizontal state.
As a result, the conveyance path of the recording medium such as paper can be shortened, and the space can be saved.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the fixing device of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with excellent image quality over a long period of time.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a fixing device and an image forming apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Image forming apparatus]
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention provided with a fixing device of the present invention.
In the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, an image carrier 3 composed of a photosensitive drum is disposed. The image carrier 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow shown by a driving unit (not shown). Around the image carrier 3, a charging device 4 for uniformly charging the image carrier 3 along its rotation direction, and an exposure device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 3 5, a rotary developing device 6 for developing an electrostatic latent image, and an intermediate transfer device 7 for primary transfer of a monochromatic toner image formed on the image carrier 3.

  In the rotary developing device 6, a yellow developing device 6Y, a magenta developing device 6M, a cyan developing device 6C, and a black developing device 6K are mounted on a support frame 8, and the support frame 8 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown). It is configured. The plurality of developing devices 6Y, 6C, 6M, and 6K are selectively rotated so that the developing roller 6a of one developing device faces the image carrier 3 every rotation of the image carrier 3. Has been. Each of the developing devices 6Y, 6C, 6M, and 6K has a toner storage portion that stores toner of each color.

The intermediate transfer device 7 is disposed so as to face the image carrier 3 on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11, the driving roller 9 and the driven roller 10, the intermediate transfer belt 11 driven in the direction of the arrow by the two rollers. A primary transfer roller 12, a transfer belt cleaner 13 for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 11, and a drive roller 9 are arranged to face the four-color full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 as a recording medium ( And a secondary transfer roller 14 for transferring onto paper or the like.
A paper feeding cassette 15 is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus main body 2, and a recording medium in the paper feeding cassette 15 passes through a pickup roller 16, a recording medium conveyance path 17, a secondary transfer roller 14, and a fixing device 19. It is comprised so that it may be conveyed to 20.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described.
When an image forming signal is input from a computer (not shown), the image carrier 3, the developing roller 6 a of the developing device 6 and the intermediate transfer belt 11 are rotationally driven. First, the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 3 is charged by the charging device 4. The exposure device 5 selectively exposes the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged image carrier 3 according to the image information of the first color (for example, yellow) so that the electrostatic latent image of yellow An image is formed.

At the position of the latent image formed on the image carrier 3, the yellow developing device 6 </ b> Y rotates and the developing roller 6 a comes into contact therewith, whereby the yellow electrostatic latent image toner image is formed on the image carrier 3. Next, the toner image formed on the image carrier 3 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 by the primary transfer roller 12. At this time, the secondary transfer roller 14 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11.
In accordance with the second color, the third color, and the fourth color of the image formation signal, the above processing is repeated to form a latent image, develop, and transfer by one rotation of the image carrier 3 and the intermediate transfer belt 11, thereby forming an image. Four color toner images corresponding to the contents of the signals are superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 11. Then, at the timing when this full-color image reaches the secondary transfer roller 14, the recording medium is supplied from the conveyance path 17 to the secondary transfer roller 14, and at this time, the secondary transfer roller 14 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 11. A secondary transfer voltage is applied, and the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is transferred onto the recording medium. The toner image transferred onto the recording medium is fixed by being heated and pressed by the fixing device 19. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is removed by the transfer belt cleaner 13.

In the case of double-sided printing, the recording medium exiting the fixing device 19 is switched back so that the trailing edge is the leading edge, and is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 14 via the double-sided printing conveyance path 23, and the intermediate medium. The full color toner image on the transfer belt 11 is transferred onto the recording medium, and is again heated and pressed by the fixing device 19 to be fixed.
The fixing device 19 includes a fixing roller 21 having a heat source and a pressure roller 22 pressed against the fixing roller 21, and a line connecting the axes of the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 has an angle θ from a horizontal line. Has been. Note that 0 ° ≦ θ ≦ 30 °.

[Fixing device]
Hereinafter, the fixing device of the present invention will be described in detail.
2 to 7 show details of the fixing device 19 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partially broken section of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the peeling member shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mounting state of the peeling member, and FIG. 6 is a top view of the fixing device of FIG. It is a front view and FIG. 7 is sectional drawing of a peeling member.

  2 and 6, the fixing roller 21 is rotatably mounted in the housing 24, and a driving gear 28 is connected to one end of the fixing roller 21. A pressure roller 22 is rotatably mounted facing the fixing roller 21. The axial length of the pressure roller 22 is shorter than that of the fixing roller 21, and a bearing 25 is provided in the empty space, and both ends of the pressure roller 22 are supported by the bearing 25. A pressure lever 26 is rotatably provided on the bearing 25, and a pressure spring 27 is disposed between one end of the pressure lever 26 and the housing 24, whereby the pressure roller 22 and the fixing roller 21 are pressurized. It is configured to be.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing roller 21 includes a metal cylinder 21b having a heat source 21a such as a halogen lamp therein, and an elastic layer 21c made of silicon rubber or the like provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder 21b. A surface layer (not shown) made of a material such as fluoro rubber or fluoro resin (for example, pertetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) coated on the surface of the elastic layer 21c, and a rotating shaft 21d fixed to the cylindrical body 21b. And have.
The pressure roller 22 is made of a metal cylinder 22b, a rotating shaft 22d fixed to the cylinder 22b, a bearing 25 for supporting the rotating shaft 22d, silicon rubber provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder 22b, and the like. The elastic layer 22c is configured, and a surface layer (not shown) made of a material such as fluororubber or fluororesin (eg, pertetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) coated on the surface of the elastic layer 22c. Yes. The thickness of the elastic layer 21 c of the fixing roller 21 is extremely smaller than the thickness of the elastic layer 22 c of the pressure roller 22, thereby forming a nip portion N where the pressure roller 22 side is recessed in a concave shape.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, support shafts 29 and 30 are provided on both side surfaces of the housing 24. The support shafts 29 and 30 are respectively provided with a peeling member 31 and a pressure roller 22 on the fixing roller 21 side. The side peeling member 32 is rotatably mounted. Accordingly, the peeling members 31 and 32 are disposed on the downstream side of the nip portion in the recording medium conveyance direction in the axial direction of the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the peeling member 31 on the fixing roller 21 side includes a plate-like peeling portion 31a and a bent portion that is bent in an L shape on the fixing roller 21 side behind the peeling portion 31a. 31b, a support piece 31c bent downward at both side ends of the peeling portion 31a, a fitting hole 31d formed in the support piece 31c, and a guide portion 31e extending in front of both side ends of the peeling portion 31a And have.

  The peeling portion 31 a is disposed so as to incline toward the exit of the nip portion N, and the tip of the peeling portion 31 a is in non-contact with and close to the fixing roller 21. The support shaft 29 described in FIG. 3 is fitted in the fitting hole 31d of the support piece 31c. The guide portion 31e is urged against the housing 24 by the spring 33, whereby the tip of the guide portion 31e is in contact with the fixing roller 21, and as a result, between the tip of the peeling portion 31a and the surface of the fixing roller 21. The gap is always constant.

The peeling member 32 on the pressure roller 22 side has the same shape as the peeling member on the fixing roller 21 side, but as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tip of the peeling portion 32a is recorded more than the tip of the peeling portion 31a. It is arranged on the downstream side in the medium conveyance direction. The tip of the guide portion 32e is in contact with the peripheral surface of the bearing 25 of the pressure roller 22 at the point P, so that the gap between the tip of the peeling portion 32a and the surface of the pressure roller 22 is always constant. To be.
By the way, the conventional arrangement of the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 is generally such that the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 are vertically arranged in the vertical direction. Since the force acts on the medium in a direction away from the fixing roller 21 due to gravity, the degree to which the recording medium is peeled off by the peeling member is small. However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 are arranged in a substantially horizontal state, the recording medium is easily wound around the fixing roller 21 side, and the recording medium discharged from the nip portion N is always peeled off. The member 31 is brought into contact with the member 31 and has a feature that its use frequency is extremely high as compared with the conventional method. Therefore, how to improve the durability of the peeling member is a problem. In particular, in fixing a full-color image, it is necessary to fix a toner image onto which a large amount of toner is superimposed and transferred compared to fixing a black-and-white image, and a large peeling force is required at the time of peeling. The smoothness of the toner image surface is required, and for that purpose, it is necessary to heat and melt the toner sufficiently to lower the viscosity, and then to flatten the image surface, and an even greater peeling force is required. In addition, the peeling member is required to have a function of flattening the image surface, and the durability of the peeling member is a very big problem.

Therefore, as a result of intensive studies for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has a predetermined surface roughness as the peeling member, more specifically, the surface roughness Ra is 0.04 to 0.04. It has been found that excellent results can be obtained by using a material having a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 to 14 μm and a thickness of 1.3 μm.
More specifically, such a peeling member can prevent the molten toner from adhering to the fixing roller, and can effectively prevent a recording medium such as paper from being wound around the fixing roller. It also has excellent wear resistance and can exhibit stable characteristics over a long period of time (excellent durability). Further, since the peeling member as described above has excellent lubricity (slidability), it is formed on the recording medium even when it comes into contact with the toner fixed on the recording medium (toner in a high temperature state). An adverse effect on the printed portion is effectively prevented. Further, even if the peeling member comes into contact with a peripheral surface such as the peripheral surface of the fixing roller, the fixing roller or the like is effectively prevented from being damaged. In addition, since the peeling member has a predetermined surface roughness as described above, even if the toner adheres, the toner can be easily removed by cleaning.

As described above, the surface roughness Ra of the peeling member is 0.04 to 1.3 μm, preferably 0.05 to 1.0 μm, and more preferably 0.08 to 0.6 μm. Preferably, it is 0.1-0.4 micrometer. When the surface roughness Ra is a value within the above range, the effects as described above are more remarkably exhibited.
Further, as described above, the surface roughness Rz of the peeling member is 0.7 to 14 μm, preferably 1 to 10 μm, more preferably 2.5 to 8.5 μm, and 4 to 4 μm. More preferably, it is 7 μm. When the surface roughness Ra is a value within the above range, the effects as described above are more remarkably exhibited.

In the present invention, the release member may be any member as long as it has the predetermined surface roughness as described above. However, the release member is provided on the substrate and the surface side of the substrate. It is preferable to have a coated film. By having such a configuration, the moldability (ease of manufacturing) of the peeling member is sufficiently excellent, and the mechanical stability (shape stability) of the peeling member is excellent. Can do. In the following description, the peeling member will be described as having a base material and a coating provided on the surface side of the base material. In the following description, the peeling member 31 on the fixing roller 21 side will be described as having the above-described configuration, that is, the peeling member 31 includes the base material 311 and the coating 313. The peeling member 32 may have a similar configuration. Thereby, the effect mentioned above is exhibited as a more remarkable thing.
When the peeling member has a base material and a coating provided on the surface side of the base material, the coating was composed of the materials shown in the following (1), (2), and (3). It is preferable.

(1) A material containing a hydrolytic condensate of a silicon-containing compound represented by the following formula (I).

（ただし、式（Ｉ）中、Ｚは、式：−（Ｃ_ｋＦ_２ｋ）Ｏ−（前記式中、ｋは１〜６の整数である）で表される単位を含み、分岐を有しない直鎖状のパーフルオロポリアルキレンエーテル構造を有する２価の基であり、Ｒ、Ｒ’は、それぞれ独立に炭素原子数１〜８の一価炭化水素基であり、Ｘ、Ｙは、それぞれ独立に加水分解性基またはハロゲン原子であり、ｌ、ｐは、ぞれぞれ独立に１〜５の整数であり、ｍ、ｎは、それぞれ独立に０〜２の整数であり、ａ、ｂは、それぞれ独立に２または３である。）

(In the formula (I), Z includes a unit represented by the formula: — (C _k F _2k ) O— (wherein k is an integer of 1 to 6) and has no branch. It is a divalent group having a linear perfluoropolyalkylene ether structure, R and R ′ are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and X and Y are each independently Are hydrolyzable groups or halogen atoms, l and p are each independently an integer of 1 to 5, m and n are each independently an integer of 0 to 2, and a and b are , Each independently 2 or 3.)

(2) A material containing a hydrolytic condensate of a silicon-containing compound represented by the following formula (II).

（ただし、式（II）中、Ｒは、パーフルオロアルキル基を表し、Ｒ’は、水素または１価の炭化水素基を表し、Ｘは、水酸基または加水分解可能な置換基を表し、Ｙは、水素、臭素またはヨウ素を表し、Ｚは、水素または炭素数１〜４のアルキル基を表し、Ｑは、フッ素またはトリフルオロメチル基を表し、ａ、ｂ、ｃ、ｄ、ｅは、それぞれ独立して、０または１以上の整数であり、ａ＋ｂ＋ｃ＋ｄ＋ｅは、少なくとも１以上の整数であり、ａ、ｂ、ｃ、ｄ、ｅでくくられた各繰り返し単位の存在順序は、式中において限定されず、ｌは、０、１または２を表し、ｍは、１、２または３を表し、ｎは、１以上の整数を表す。）

(In the formula (II), R represents a perfluoroalkyl group, R ′ represents hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable substituent, and Y represents , Hydrogen, bromine or iodine, Z represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Q represents fluorine or a trifluoromethyl group, and a, b, c, d and e are each independently In the formula, a + b + c + d + e is an integer of at least 1 and the order of presence of each repeating unit delimited by a, b, c, d, e is not limited in the formula , L represents 0, 1 or 2, m represents 1, 2 or 3, and n represents an integer of 1 or more.)

(3) Carbon-based hard materials such as diamond-like carbon (DLC), hydrogenated amorphous carbon, and diamond.
When the coating is composed of the material as described above, the above-described effects can be exerted more remarkably, and also the wear resistance of the coating and the adhesion (to the substrate) Excellent and stable characteristics can be exhibited over a longer period (excellent durability). In addition, since the coating film made of the material as described above has excellent lubricity (sliding property), even when it comes into contact with the toner (high temperature toner) fixed on the recording medium, It is possible to more effectively prevent an adverse effect on the printing unit formed on the recording medium. In addition, even if the peeling member comes into contact with the peripheral surface such as the peripheral surface of the fixing roller, the fixing roller or the like is more effectively prevented from being damaged.

  By the way, in general, a substance excellent in lubricity (slidability) has a small surface energy, and even when trying to form a film on a substrate (work), it is difficult to sufficiently improve the adhesion to the substrate. In the present invention, the base material is obtained by performing a hydrolysis-condensation reaction after providing the silicon-containing compound as described above (silicon-containing compound as a precursor of the hydrolysis-condensation product shown in (1), (2)). It is possible to improve the lubricity (slidability) while improving the adhesion of the resin. Further, the hydrolysis condensate produced by such a hydrolysis-condensation reaction is a hydrolysis and condensation reaction of X (especially in the case of the material shown in (2), where Y is bromine or iodine, It is a cured product having a three-dimensional structure generated by the radical reaction involving Y in addition to the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of X, and the silicon-containing compound represented by the formula (I) is hydrolyzable at both ends. Since the silicon-containing compound represented by the formula (II) has a hydrolyzable functional group or a hydroxyl group (further, bromine or iodine as Y), , (1), in the case where it is composed of the material shown in (2), the adhesion to the substrate (particularly, in this embodiment, the adhesion to the substrate via the intermediate layer) is particularly excellent. It will be a thing.

Hereinafter, the material (1) will be described in detail.
As described above, Z in formula (I) (Z group) of the formula _:-( C _{k F} 2k O) - in (where, k is 1 to 6, preferably an integer of 1 to 4) A divalent group having a linear perfluoropolyalkylene ether structure containing a unit and having no branch, but when m and n in the formula (I) are both 0, The terminal of Z group couple | bonded with O (oxygen atom) in (I) is not an oxygen atom.
Examples of the Z group include those represented by the following formulas (III) and (IV). In the case where the Z group is represented by these formulas, the effects as described above are more remarkable. However, the Z group is not limited to these.

（ただし、式（III）中、ｑは１以上、好ましくは１〜５０、より好ましくは１０〜４０の整数である。）

(However, in formula (III), q is 1 or more, preferably 1 to 50, more preferably an integer of 10 to 40.)

（式（IV）中、ｒ、ｓは、それぞれ独立に１以上、好ましくは１〜５０、より好ましくは１０〜４０の整数であり、かつｒ＋ｓは、１０〜１００、好ましくは２０〜９０、より好ましくは４０〜８０の整数であり、該式中の繰り返し単位（ＯＣ_２Ｆ_４）および（ＯＣＦ_２）の配列はランダムである）

(In the formula (IV), r and s are each independently 1 or more, preferably 1 to 50, more preferably an integer of 10 to 40, and r + s is 10 to 100, preferably 20 to 90. Preferably, it is an integer of 40 to 80, and the sequence of the repeating units (OC ₂ F ₄ ) and (OCF ₂ ) in the formula is random)

As described above, X and Y are each independently a hydrolyzable group or a halogen atom.
Examples of the hydrolyzable group include alkoxy groups such as methoxy group, ethoxy group, propoxy group, and butoxy group, alkoxyalkoxy groups such as methoxymethoxy group, methoxyethoxy group, and ethoxyethoxy group, and alkenyl groups such as allyloxy group and isopropenoxy group. Ketoximes such as oxy group, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, butylcarbonyloxy group, benzoyloxy group and other acyloxy groups, dimethyl ketoxime group, methyl ethyl ketoxime group, diethyl ketoxime group, cyclopentanoxime group and cyclohexanoxime group Groups, N-methylamino groups, N-ethylamino groups, N-propylamino groups, N-butylamino groups, N, N-dimethylamino groups, N, N-diethylamino groups, N-cyclohexylamino groups, and other amino groups N-methyla Toamido group, N- ethyl acetamide group, an amido group such as N- methylbenzamide group, N, N- dimethylamino group, N, can be mentioned an amino group, such as N- diethylamino group.

Moreover, as said halogen atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom etc. are mentioned, for example.
Among these, X and Y are preferably selected from the group consisting of a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, an isopropenoxy group, and a chlorine atom. As a result, the effects as described above are further prominent.

  R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Examples of R include methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group, octyl group and other alkyl groups, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group and other cycloalkyl groups, phenyl group, and tolyl. Group, aryl groups such as xylyl group, aralkyl groups such as benzyl group and phenethyl group, alkenyl groups such as vinyl group, allyl group, butenyl group, pentenyl group and hexenyl group. Among these, a methyl group is preferable. As a result, the effects as described above are further prominent.

Further, as described above, m and n are each independently an integer of 0 to 2, but preferably 1. The l and p are each independently an integer of 1 to 5, preferably 3.
The above a and b are each independently 2 or 3, but are preferably 3 from the viewpoints of hydrolysis and condensation reactivity and adhesion of the coating film (surface layer) 313.

The molecular weight of the silicon-containing compound (silicon-containing compound represented by the formula (I)) is not particularly limited, but is 500 to 20,000 in terms of weight average molecular weight from the viewpoints of stability and ease of handling. Is preferable, and it is more preferable that it is 1000-10,000.
In addition, the silicon-containing compound represented by the formula (I) may be used alone, or two or more types having different structures (two or more types having different structures (I)). Or a silicon-containing compound) may be used in combination.

Hereinafter, the material (2) will be described in detail.
As described above, R in the formula (II) is not particularly limited as long as it is a perfluoroalkyl group, and examples thereof include linear or branched ones having 1 to 16 carbon atoms. CF _3- , C ₂ F _5- , and C ₃ F ₇ -are preferred.
As described above, R ′ in the formula (II) represents hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group. Such a monovalent hydrocarbon group is not particularly limited, but is preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group or the like. Further, the hydrocarbon group represented by R ′ may be linear or branched.

  A, b, c, d and e in the formula (II) represent the number of repeating units of the perfluoropolyether chain constituting the main skeleton of the silicon-containing compound, and each independently represents 0 or 1 or more. Although it is an integer and is not particularly limited as long as a + b + c + d + e is 1 or more, a, b, c, d and e are each independently preferably 0 to 200, and preferably 0 to 50. More preferred. Moreover, it is preferable that a + b + c + d + e is 1-100. The order of existence of each repeating unit delimited by a, b, c, d, and e is described in the above order in the formula (I) for convenience, but the bonding order of these repeating units is The order is not limited.

In the formula (II), l represents the number of carbon atoms of an alkylene group present between the carbon constituting the perfluoropolyether chain and the silicon bonded thereto, and is 0, 1 or 2, Preferably, it is 0.
X in the formula (II) represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable substituent. The hydrolyzable substituent groups include, but are not limited to, ^{halogen, -OR 1, -OCOR 1, -OC} (R 1) = C (R 2) 2, -ON = C (R 1) 2, -ON = CR ³ (wherein, R ¹ represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, R ² represents hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R ³ represents Represents a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and the like, and chlorine, —OCH ₃ , and —OC ₂ H ₅ are more preferable.

M in the formula (II) represents the number of bonds of the substituent X bonded to silicon and is 1, 2 or 3. R ′ is bonded to the silicon at the portion where the substituent X is not bonded.
Y in the formula (II) represents hydrogen, bromine or iodine. In particular, when Y is bromine or iodine, the radical reactivity of the silicon-containing compound is increased, and the adhesion with the substrate (including adhesion through the intermediate layer) is particularly excellent. Can do.

Z in formula (II) represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of such an alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and a butyl group. Moreover, the alkyl group represented by Z may be linear or branched.
Further, Q in the formula (II) may be fluorine or a trifluoromethyl group.
Further, n in the formula (II) is an integer of 1 or more, preferably an integer of 1 to 10. Although n represents an integer in the formula (II), the silicon-containing compound in the present invention may be a mixture of a plurality of types of polymers represented by the general formula (II) having such an integer n. Good. In the case of using such a silicon-containing compound as a mixture, n can be expressed as an average value in the mixture, and the average value of n is preferably 1.3 to 3, preferably 1.5 to More preferably, it is 2.5.
The weight average molecular weight of the silicon-containing compound is not particularly limited, 5 × is preferably from ¹⁰ 2 ^~1 × ^{10 5,} and more preferably ^{1 × 10 3 ~1 × 10 4} .
As a preferable thing of the said silicon-containing compound, what is represented by the following general formula (V) etc. can be mentioned, for example.

However, in the formula (V), R ′, X, Y, Z, 1, m, and n are the same as described above, and p represents an integer of 1 or more. Although p in Formula (V) will not be specifically limited if it is an integer greater than or equal to 1, It is preferable that it is 1-200, and it is more preferable that it is 1-50.
When the silicon-containing compound is represented by the above formula (V), the weight average molecular weight is preferably 5 × 10 ² to 1 × 10 ⁵ , and is preferably 1 × 10 ³ to 1 × 10 ⁴ . Is more preferable.

Hereinafter, the material (3) will be described in detail.
As described above, examples of the carbon-based hard material include diamond-like carbon (DLC), hydrogenated amorphous carbon, diamond, and the like. These carbon-based hard materials have particularly excellent hardness and wear resistance among various materials. Accordingly, when the coating 313 is made of such a material, the durability of the peeling member 31 is particularly excellent.

Further, the coating 313 made of such a carbon-based hard material (particularly diamond-like carbon (DLC) or hydrogenated amorphous carbon) has excellent stability under normal use conditions, but has a predetermined value. By this method, the substrate 311 can be easily removed. For this reason, when necessary (for example, when a chip or the like is formed on a part of the coating 313), the coating 313 is removed once from the substrate 311, and the coating 313 is preferably formed again. it can. That is, the reuse (recycling) of the peeling member 31 can be suitably performed, which is preferable from the viewpoint of resource saving and friendly to the environment.
Note that the coating 313 is not limited to one made of the material as described above, and may be made of any material.

  The thickness of the coating 313 as described above (particularly, the coating 313 made of the materials shown in the above (1) to (3)) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 nm to 5 μm. More preferably, it is ˜100 nm. When the thickness of the coating 313 is a value within the above range, the above-described effect is exhibited more significantly. Further, when the thickness of the coating 313 is within the above range, the surface roughness of the coating 313, that is, the surface roughness (surface roughness Ra, surface roughness Rz) of the peeling member 31 is more reliably described above. Thus, the toner can be more reliably prevented from adhering to the peeling member. On the other hand, if the thickness of the coating 313 is less than the lower limit, the effect of providing the coating 313 may not be sufficiently exhibited. On the other hand, when the thickness of the coating 313 exceeds the upper limit, the adhesion of the coating 313 is lowered, and interface peeling or the like tends to occur.

The coating 313 as described above is provided on the surface side of the base material 311.
Although the constituent material of the base material 311 is not particularly limited, for example, a metal such as nickel, aluminum, iron, or copper, an alloy containing at least one of these (for example, stainless steel), a resin such as polyester or polyimide, or the like. Can be mentioned. Among these, when stainless steel is used, the mechanical stability (shape stability) of the peeling member can be made particularly excellent while ensuring sufficient formability.

  The surface roughness Ra of the base material 311 is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 μm, more preferably 0.11 to 1.5 μm, and preferably 0.12 to 1.4 μm. Further preferred. When the surface roughness Ra of the substrate 311 is a value within the above range, the surface roughness of the coating 313 (the surface roughness of the peeling member) can be more reliably set to a value within the above range. This can more reliably prevent toner from adhering to the peeling member. Further, when the surface roughness Ra of the substrate 311 is a value within the above range, for example, a cured product obtained by hydrolysis and condensation reaction of the silicon-containing compound described above can be efficiently formed as a three-dimensional structure. As a result, the adhesion between the substrate 311 and the coating 313 (adhesion via the intermediate layer 312) can be made particularly excellent.

  In addition, the surface roughness Rz of the base material 311 is preferably 1.0 to 17 μm, more preferably 1.2 to 16 μm, and further preferably 4.0 to 15 μm. When the surface roughness Rz of the substrate 311 is a value within the above range, the surface roughness of the coating 313 (the surface roughness of the peeling member) can be more reliably set to a value within the above range. This can more reliably prevent toner from adhering to the peeling member. Further, when the surface roughness Rz of the substrate 311 is a value within the above range, for example, a cured product obtained by hydrolysis and condensation reaction of the silicon-containing compound described above can be efficiently formed as a three-dimensional structure. As a result, the adhesion between the substrate 311 and the coating 313 (adhesion via the intermediate layer 312) can be made particularly excellent.

In particular, when the base material 311 satisfies both the conditions of the surface roughness Ra and the surface roughness Rz, the effects as described above are exhibited more significantly.
In the present embodiment, the coating 313 is provided on the base material 311 via the intermediate layer 312. That is, in the present embodiment, the intermediate layer 312 is provided between the base material 311 and the coating 313. By providing such an intermediate layer 312, for example, the adhesion of the coating 313 can be made particularly excellent.

The intermediate layer 312 may be made of any material, and the preferred material differs depending on the constituent materials of the base material 311 and the coating 313, but the coating 313 is shown in the above (1) and (2). In the case of being composed of such a material, it is preferably composed mainly of inorganic oxides such as SiO ₂ , ZrO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , Y ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , More preferably, it is composed of silicon. Thereby, especially adhesiveness with the base material 311 and the film 313 can be made excellent.

  Further, when the coating 313 is made of a material as shown in (3) above, the intermediate layer 312 is mainly made of Si, B, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, Cu, Cr, At least one selected from the group consisting of Au, Si, Ag, W, Ti, Al, Ni, Sn, and V (hereinafter, these elements are collectively represented by M), or the M oxide, It is preferably composed of one or more selected from carbide, nitride, carbonitride, carbonate, carbonitride, boronitride, and mainly Cu, Cr, Au, Ag, W , Ti, Al, Ni, Sn, and V, more preferably one or more selected from the group consisting of Thereby, especially adhesiveness with the base material 311 and the film 313 can be made excellent.

  Although the thickness of the intermediate | middle layer 312 is not specifically limited, It is preferable that it is 10-500 nm, and it is more preferable that it is 50-200 nm. If the thickness of the intermediate layer 312 is less than the lower limit, the effect of providing the intermediate layer 312 may not be sufficiently exhibited. Further, if the thickness of the intermediate layer 312 exceeds the upper limit, it may be difficult to sufficiently improve the adhesion with the coating film. If the thickness of the intermediate layer 312 exceeds the upper limit, it may be difficult to set the surface roughness of the peeling member 31 to a value within the above-described range.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, in this embodiment, the base material 311 has an edge (corner) E at the tip, and the intermediate layer 312 and the coating 313 are formed on the surface side. Are stacked. With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7B, even if the coating 313 is worn, the recording medium is only in line contact with the edge E, so that the toner can be fixed. The generation of image streaks can be prevented, and the durability of the peeling member 31 can be improved accordingly. Such an edge E can be easily and reliably formed by performing precision finishing such as mechanical polishing, electrolytic polishing, and etching.

[Method for Manufacturing Peeling Member]
Next, the manufacturing method of a peeling member is demonstrated.
First, a base material 311 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the peeling member is prepared.
Such a base material 311 may be obtained, for example, by subjecting a plate material to bending, punching, or the like. For example, in the case of a metal material, In the case of a resin material such as casting or forging, it may be molded directly into a desired shape by compression molding, injection molding or the like. Even in such a case, finishing such as polishing may be performed.

The prepared base material 311 has the surface roughness as described above.
The surface roughness as described above can be easily and reliably realized, for example, by performing blasting such as shot blasting, sand blasting, or liquid blasting on the base material 311 that has been subjected to processing such as polishing as necessary. can do.
Next, the intermediate layer 312 is formed on the surface of the substrate 311.

  The method for forming the intermediate layer 312 is not particularly limited, but for example, wet plating methods (wet process) such as electrolytic plating, immersion plating, and electroless plating, thermal CVD, plasma CVD (microwave plasma CVD method, direct current plasma CVD, (Including high frequency plasma CVD, magnetic field microwave plasma CVD, laser plasma CVD, hot filament CVD, etc.), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) such as laser CVD, vacuum deposition (including ion beam deposition, laser deposition, etc.), sputtering (Including ion beam sputtering, plasma sputtering, reactive plasma sputtering, etc.), ion plating, ion implantation, ion beam mixing, cluster ion beam, arc discharge, plasma jet (DC, RF), dry flames such as combustion flame method Can process (dry process), spraying, spin coating, curtain flow coating, roll coating, spray coating, flow coating, brush coating, dipping, electrostatic coating, electrodeposition coating of various application methods such as and the like. In particular, when the intermediate layer 312 is made of an inorganic oxide, vacuum deposition is preferable. Thus, the intermediate layer 312 having a relatively small thickness can be formed with a uniform thickness.

Prior to the formation of the intermediate layer 312, the base material 311 may be subjected to a cleaning process such as alkali cleaning, acid cleaning, water cleaning, or organic solvent cleaning, a bombarding process, an etching process, or the like. Thereby, for example, the adhesion between the base material 311 and the intermediate layer 312 can be improved.
Next, a coating 313 is formed.

A method for forming the film 313 is not particularly limited, but when the film 313 is formed of a material including the above-described (1) and (2), for example, a silicon-containing compound is formed on the intermediate layer 312. Examples thereof include a method (Method A) in which hydrolysis and condensation are performed after the coating agent is applied, and a method in which vacuum deposition using a silicon-containing compound is directly performed on the intermediate layer 312 (Method B). When Method A is employed, the coating 313 can be formed easily and reliably. Moreover, even the coating 313 having a relatively large thickness can be easily formed, and the durability of the peeling member can be made particularly high. Further, when the method B is employed, the coating 313 having a high film thickness uniformity can be easily and reliably formed. In Method B, a coating 313 having a relatively small thickness can be formed sufficiently uniformly. As a result, the effect of having the coating 313 can be obtained while exhibiting the characteristics of the substrate 311 more effectively. In the case of adopting method B, since the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of the silicon-containing compound can usually proceed during vacuum deposition, the hydrolysis reaction and the condensation reaction are separately performed after film formation. This process can be omitted or simplified.
In particular, in the method of applying a coating agent containing a silicon-containing compound (Method A), if the silicon-containing compound is a fluid, it may be used as it is, but an appropriate liquid medium (for example, solvent, dispersion medium, etc.) It may be used after diluting and dispersing. When using a liquid medium, 1 type may be individual, or 2 or more types of mixtures may be sufficient.

Examples of the liquid medium that can be used include perfluorohexane, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, HCFC225 (CF ₃ CF ₂ CHCl ₂ and CClF ₂ CF ₂ Fluorine-modified aliphatic hydrocarbon materials such as CHClF), fluorine-modified aromatic hydrocarbon materials such as 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene, trifluoromethylbenzene, methyl perfluorobutyl ether, perfluoro Fluorine-modified ether materials such as (2-butyltetrahydrofuran), fluorine-modified alkylamine materials such as perfluorotributylamine and perfluorotripentylamine, petroleum benzine, mineral spirits, hexane, cyclohexa , Hydrocarbons such as isooctane, benzene, toluene, xylene, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, ethers such as diethyl ether and diisopropyl ether, esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate Examples thereof include halogenated hydrocarbons such as compounds, dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, bromobenzene, and the like, and one or more selected from these can be used in combination. Among these, fluorine-modified substances are preferable in terms of the solubility of the silicon-containing compound and the wettability of the surface to be coated, and in particular, 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene, perfluoro (2-butyl Tetrahydrofuran) and perfluorotributylamine. In particular, as described above, when the substrate 311 is adjusted to a predetermined surface roughness, such a coating liquid can be suitably applied. More specifically, when the substrate 311 is adjusted to a predetermined surface roughness, the coating liquid can be applied (applied) more uniformly, and the coating 313 having a uniform thickness can be more reliably formed. it can. In addition, the adhesion between the base material 311 and the coating 313 can be made particularly excellent.

  As the coating method, for example, various coating methods such as brush coating, dipping, spin coating, curtain flow coating, roll coating, gravure coating, spray coating, flow coating, electrostatic coating, and electrodeposition coating can be employed. Although the optimum processing temperature differs depending on the processing method, for example, in the case of brush coating and dipping, it is preferably performed in the range of 20 to 120 ° C. As the treatment humidity conditions, it is preferable to perform the treatment under humidification in order to accelerate the hydrolysis and condensation reaction. However, the treatment conditions differ depending on the type of silicon-containing compound used, the use of additives, etc. It is preferable that In addition, for example, when the silicon-containing compound is vacuum-deposited as in Method B, a treatment for advancing the hydrolysis and condensation reaction may be performed in the same manner as described above, if necessary.

In addition, the coating film formed by the above application is hydrolyzed by moisture in the atmosphere (after evaporation of the liquid medium when a liquid medium is used) to form the coating film of the present invention. Accordingly, a catalyst may be added to the coating agent in order to accelerate the hydrolysis reaction of the hydrolyzable functional group or halogen atom. Examples of the catalyst include organic tin compounds such as dibutyltin dimethoxide and dibutyltin dilaurate, titanium-containing organic compounds such as tetra n-butyl titanate, organic acids such as acetic acid and methanesulfonic acid, and inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, acetic acid, tetra n-butyl titanate, and dibutyltin dilaurate are particularly preferable. When the catalyst is added, the amount added is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 1 part by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the silicon-containing compound. More preferred. By including the catalyst at such a ratio, a film having excellent characteristics can be formed more efficiently.
Moreover, in the coating agent, the partial hydrolysis-condensation product of the said silicon-containing compound may be contained, for example.

When the coating 313 is made of a material including the above (3), the coating 313 is formed by, for example, thermal CVD, plasma CVD (microwave plasma CVD, direct current plasma CVD, high frequency plasma CVD, (Including magnetic field microwave plasma CVD, laser plasma CVD, hot filament CVD method), chemical vapor deposition (CVD) such as laser CVD, vacuum deposition (including ion beam deposition, laser deposition, etc.), sputtering (ion beam, (Including sputtering, plasma / sputtering, reactive plasma / sputtering, etc.), ion plating, ion implantation, ion beam mixing, cluster ion beam, arc discharge, plasma jet (DC, RF) ), By dry plating methods such as the combustion flame method It can be formed to apply. In particular, when the coating 313 is composed of diamond-like carbon (DLC) or hydrogenated amorphous carbon, microwave plasma CVD, direct current plasma CVD, high frequency plasma CVD, magnetic field microwave plasma CVD, laser plasma CVD, etc. It can be suitably formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), reactive plasma sputtering, ion beam sputtering, ion beam vapor deposition, ion plating, ion implantation, or the like. Examples of the raw material gas used here include hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, ethylene, benzene, and acetylene, which are carbon-containing gases, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and trichloroethane, methyl alcohol , Alcohols such as ethyl alcohol, ketones such as (CH ₃ ) ₂ CO, (C ₆ H ₅ ) ₂ CO, gases such as CO and CO ₂ , and N ₂ , H ₂ , O ₂ and H ₂ What mixed gas, such as O and Ar, etc. are mentioned. Moreover, as a solid carbon source, high purity graphite, glassy carbon, etc. can be used, for example. When an assist ion beam is used, a gas such as He, N ₂ , H ₂ , O ₂ , H ₂ O, Ar, Ne, Kr, or Xe is usually used in addition to the above materials. When the coating 313 is made of diamond, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) such as microwave plasma CVD, direct current plasma CVD, high frequency plasma CVD, magnetic field microwave plasma CVD, laser plasma CVD, or reactive plasma. It can be suitably formed by sputtering, ion beam sputtering, ion beam evaporation, plasma jet (DC, RF), combustion flame method, or the like. As the raw material at this time, for example, the aforementioned gas or solid source can be used.

While the fixing device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention have been described based on the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these.
For example, each unit constituting the fixing device and the image forming apparatus can be replaced with an arbitrary configuration that can exhibit the same function.
In the above-described embodiment, the peeling member has been described as having a base material, an intermediate layer, and a coating, but such a coating or intermediate layer may not be provided. Two or more intermediate layers may be provided between the substrate and the coating.

  Further, a protective layer or the like may be provided on the surface of the peeling member. Thereby, for example, when the peeling member is stored, the constituent material of the peeling member can be effectively prevented from being deteriorated or damaged. In addition, a protective layer is not limited to what has such a function. Further, such a protective layer may or may not be removed when the fixing device is used (assembled).

  In addition, the configuration of the peeling member as described in the above-described embodiment (the configuration having a base material and a coating, and the configuration having an intermediate layer between the base material and the coating) can be applied to other members, for example. The present invention can also be suitably applied. For example, the configuration of the peeling member as described above can be suitably applied to a release layer that forms the surface of the fixing roller, a ring portion of the fixing roller, a shaft portion, a surface layer of the developing roller, and the like.

  In the present invention, at least one of the peeling members constituting the fixing device may have the above-described configuration, and only the pressure roller-side peeling member has the above-described configuration. Also good. As described above, when the fixing device includes a plurality of peeling members, at least one of the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the heating roller side has the configuration as described above (configuration including the base material and the coating film). However, at least the peeling member on the fixing roller side preferably has the above-described configuration. Thereby, the effect by this invention is exhibited more reliably.

Example 1
First, a stainless steel (SUS301) base material having a shape as shown in FIG. 4 was prepared.
Next, the surface of this base material was mirror-finished by electrolytic polishing. After that, minute irregularities were formed by liquid blasting on the mirror-finished surface. Liquid blasting was performed by injecting a slurry-like substance obtained by dispersing emery powder in water onto a substrate conveyed by a roller conveyor at high pressure. Then, by performing sufficient cleaning, the grinding powder was removed and further dried. The base material subjected to the above treatment had a surface roughness Ra of 1.4 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 15 μm.

Next, an intermediate layer made of silicon dioxide was formed on the surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer was formed by vacuum deposition. The thickness of the intermediate layer thus formed was 100 nm. The intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 0.7 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 8 μm.
Next, a vacuum release using a silicon-containing compound represented by the following formula (VI) is performed on the surface of the intermediate layer to form a film composed of a hydrolyzed condensate of the desired silicon compound. (Peeling member on the fixing roller side) was obtained. The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 3500.

（ただし、式（VI）中、ｑは１０〜４０の整数である。）

(However, q is an integer of 10-40 in Formula (VI).)

The film thus formed had a thickness of 10 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.4 μm, and a surface roughness Rz of 7 μm.
In addition, a peeling member on the pressure roller side is prepared in the same manner as described above, and a fixing device as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6 is manufactured using these members. Further, using this fixing device, An image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 was manufactured.

  The fixing roller has a diameter of 30 mm, a 1 mm thick elastic layer made of silicon rubber (hardness JIS A 5 °), and a 40 μm thick surface layer made of PFA. The roller had a diameter of 35 mm, and provided with a 6 mm thick elastic layer made of silicon rubber (hardness JISA 10 °) and a 40 μm thick surface layer made of PFA. The distance between the fixing nip outlet and the tip of the peeling portion 31a was set to 6.5 mm, the fixing nip width was set to 8 mm, the fixing temperature was set to 175 ° C., the paper conveyance speed was set to 215 mm / second, and the roller pressure contact load was set to 31 kgf.

(Example 2)
Except that the silicon-containing compound used for forming the coating is represented by the following formula (VII), and the silicon-containing compound is applied to the substrate by applying a coating agent containing the silicon-containing compound. In the same manner as in Example 1, peeling members (fixing roller side peeling member and pressure roller side peeling member) were produced.

（ただし、式（VII）中、ｒ、ｓは、それぞれ独立に２０〜３０の整数であり、かつｒ＋ｓは、４０〜６０の整数であり、該式中の繰り返し単位（ＯＣ_２Ｆ_４）および（ＯＣＦ_２）の配列はランダムである）

(In the formula (VII), r and s are each independently an integer of 20 to 30, and r + s is an integer of 40 to 60, and the repeating unit (OC ₂ F ₄ ) in the formula and The sequence of (OCF ₂ ) is random)

The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 5000.
As the coating agent, a mixture of silicon-containing compound: 100 parts by weight, acetic acid: 0.5 parts by weight, 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene: 500 parts by weight was used.
The coating agent was applied by dipping. Moreover, the temperature of the base material and the coating liquid at the time of dipping was 25 degreeC.

Thereafter, 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene is removed under a reduced pressure heating environment, and the mixture is allowed to stand in an atmosphere of 80% RH and 80 ° C. for 90 minutes, thereby hydrolyzing and condensing the silicon-containing compound. To form a film composed of the hydrolysis-condensation product of the silicon-containing compound. The film thus formed had a thickness of 10 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.35 m, and a surface roughness Rz of 6.5 μm.
In addition, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Example 3)
First, a stainless steel (SUS301) base material having a shape as shown in FIG. 4 was prepared.
Next, the surface of this base material was mirror-finished by electrolytic polishing. After that, minute irregularities were formed by liquid blasting on the mirror-finished surface. Liquid blasting was performed by injecting a slurry-like substance obtained by dispersing emery powder in water onto a substrate conveyed by a roller conveyor at high pressure. Then, by performing sufficient cleaning, the grinding powder was removed and further dried. The base material subjected to the above treatment had a surface roughness Ra of 1.4 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 15 μm.

Next, an intermediate layer made of silicon dioxide was formed on the surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer was formed by vacuum deposition. The thickness of the intermediate layer thus formed was 120 nm. The intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 0.65 m and a surface roughness Rz of 7.5 μm.
Next, a vacuum release using a silicon-containing compound represented by the following formula (VIII) is performed on the surface of the intermediate layer to form a film composed of a hydrolyzed condensate of the desired silicon compound, whereby a peeling member (Peeling member on the fixing roller side) was obtained. The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 22,000.

（ただし、式（VIII）中、ｐは、１００〜１５０の整数であり、ｎは、３〜７の整数である。）

(However, in Formula (VIII), p is an integer of 100-150, and n is an integer of 3-7.)

The film thus formed had a thickness of 10 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.45 m, and a surface roughness Rz of 7 μm.
Further, a peeling member on the pressure roller side was produced in the same manner as above.
Thereafter, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using these peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side).

Example 4
Except that the silicon-containing compound used for forming the coating is represented by the following formula (IX), and the silicon-containing compound is applied onto the substrate by applying a coating agent containing the silicon-containing compound. In the same manner as in Example 1, peeling members (fixing roller side peeling member and pressure roller side peeling member) were produced.

（ただし、式（IX）中、ｐは、１００〜１５０の整数であり、ｎは、３〜７の整数である。）

(However, in Formula (IX), p is an integer of 100-150, and n is an integer of 3-7.)

The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 23,000.
As the coating agent, a mixture of silicon-containing compound: 100 parts by weight, acetic acid: 0.5 parts by weight, 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene: 500 parts by weight was used.
The coating agent was applied by dipping. Moreover, the temperature of the base material and the coating liquid at the time of dipping was 25 degreeC.

Thereafter, 1,3-di (trifluoromethyl) benzene is removed under a reduced pressure heating environment, and the mixture is further left to stand in an atmosphere of 70% RH and 25 ° C. for 90 minutes to hydrolyze and condense the silicon-containing compound. Then, the radical reaction was advanced to form a film composed of the hydrolyzed condensate of the silicon-containing compound. The film thus formed had a thickness of 12 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.3 m, and a surface roughness Rz of 6 μm.
In addition, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Example 5)
A peeling member (a peeling member on the fixing roller side and a peeling member on the pressure roller side) is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the surface roughness of the base material is changed by changing the liquid blasting conditions. did. In addition, the base material to which the process by the liquid blast was performed had the surface roughness Ra of 0.1 micrometer, and the surface roughness Rz was 2.6 micrometers. Further, the intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 0.07 m and a surface roughness Rz of 2.0 μm. Moreover, the film had a surface roughness Ra of 0.05 m and a surface roughness Rz of 1.4 μm.
In addition, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Example 6)
A peeling member (a peeling member on the fixing roller side and a peeling member on the pressure roller side) is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the surface roughness of the substrate is changed by changing the liquid blasting conditions. did. In addition, the base material processed by liquid blasting had a surface roughness Ra of 2.4 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 21 μm. The intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 1.8 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 17 μm. Further, the film had a surface roughness Ra of 1.3 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 14 μm.
In addition, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 2 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Example 7)
A peeling member (peeling member on the fixing roller side) was produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the silicon-containing compound used for forming the coating was the one represented by the following formula (X).

（ただし、式（Ｘ）中、ｑは４０〜５０の整数である。）

(However, in Formula (X), q is an integer of 40-50.)

The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 8,000.
The formed film had a thickness of 20 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.5 μm, and a surface roughness Rz of 7 μm.
Moreover, as the peeling member on the pressure roller side, a member made of stainless steel (SUS301) having a surface roughness Ra of 1.4 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 15 μm was prepared.
Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 by using the fixing roller side peeling member and the pressure roller side peeling member obtained as described above.

(Example 8)
Prior to the formation of the coating film, a peeling member (a peeling member on the fixing roller side) was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 7 except that the intermediate layer was not formed. Similarly, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured. The surface roughness Ra of the coating was 1.3 μm, and the surface roughness Rz was 14 μm.

Example 9
A peeling member (a peeling member on the fixing roller side and a peeling member on the pressure roller side) is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the surface roughness of the base material is changed by changing the liquid blasting conditions. did. In addition, the base material processed by liquid blasting had a surface roughness Ra of 0.1 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 1.1 μm. The intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 0.08 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 0.9 μm. Further, the film had a surface roughness Ra of 0.06 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 μm.
Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 3 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Example 10)
A peeling member (a peeling member on the fixing roller side and a peeling member on the pressure roller side) is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the surface roughness of the base material is changed by changing the liquid blasting conditions. did. In addition, the base material to which the process by the liquid blast was performed had a surface roughness Ra of 1.8 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 20 μm. The intermediate layer had a surface roughness Ra of 1.6 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 18 μm. Further, the film had a surface roughness Ra of 1.3 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 14 μm.
Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 4 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.
(Example 11)
A release member (peeling member on the fixing roller side) was produced in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the silicon-containing compound used for forming the coating was the one represented by the following formula (XI).

（ただし、式（XI）中、ｂは、３０〜４０の整数であり、ｃは、３０〜４０の整数であり、ｄは、３０〜４０の整数であり、ｅは、３０〜４０の整数であり、ｂ＋ｃ＋ｄ＋ｅは、１２０〜１６０の整数であり、ｎは、３〜７の整数である。）

(In the formula (XI), b is an integer of 30 to 40, c is an integer of 30 to 40, d is an integer of 30 to 40, and e is an integer of 30 to 40) And b + c + d + e is an integer of 120 to 160, and n is an integer of 3 to 7.)

The silicon-containing compound had a weight average molecular weight of 15000.
The formed film had a thickness of 8 nm, a surface roughness Ra of 0.6 μm, and a surface roughness Rz of 7 μm.
Moreover, as the peeling member on the pressure roller side, a member made of stainless steel (SUS301) having a surface roughness Ra of 1.4 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 15 μm was prepared.
Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 3 by using the fixing roller side peeling member and the pressure roller side peeling member obtained as described above.

(Example 12)
Prior to the formation of the coating film, a peeling member (fixing roller-side peeling member) was produced in the same manner as in Example 11 except that the intermediate layer was not formed. Similarly, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured. Note that the surface roughness Ra of the coating was 1.2 μm, and the surface roughness Rz was 12 μm.

(Comparative Example 1)
Except for not forming the intermediate layer and the coating film, a release member (a release member on the fixing roller side and a release member on the pressure roller side) was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.
In addition, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using the peeling members (the peeling member on the fixing roller side and the peeling member on the pressure roller side) obtained as described above.

(Comparative Example 2)
A release member was produced in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 except that a surface layer composed of a fluororesin (polytetrafluoroethylene) was formed on the surface of the substrate.
The surface layer is formed by applying a paint containing polytetrafluoroethylene (made by Daikin Industries, trade name “Polyflon”) with an air spray so that the film thickness is about 40 μm, and drying at 90 ° C. by infrared rays. This was performed by baking at 380 ° C. Further, the thickness of the formed surface layer was 30 μm. The surface roughness Ra of the surface layer was 0.02 μm, and the surface roughness Rz was 0.5 μm.
Further, using the release member obtained as described above, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

(Comparative Example 3)
A peeling member (peeling member on the fixing roller side) was produced in the same manner as in Example 12 except that a film was formed on the surface of the base material that had been mirror-finished by buffing. In addition, the base material on which the mirror finishing was performed had a surface roughness Ra of 0.08 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 1.0 μm. Further, the coating film (peeling member) had a surface roughness Ra of 0.03 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 μm.
Further, using the release member obtained as described above, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were produced in the same manner as in Example 12.

(Comparative Example 4)
A peeling member (peeling member on the fixing roller side) was produced in the same manner as in Example 12 except that the surface roughness of the substrate was changed by changing the liquid blasting conditions. In addition, the base material processed by liquid blasting had a surface roughness Ra of 1.9 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 21 μm. Further, the coating film (peeling member) had a surface roughness Ra of 1.7 μm and a surface roughness Rz of 19 μm.
Further, using the release member obtained as described above, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus were produced in the same manner as in Example 12.
Table 1 summarizes the configuration of the fixing member on the fixing roller side.

[Evaluation]
[1] Image streak (after initial and durable printing (80,000 prints))
Using the image forming apparatus of each of the examples and comparative examples, a solid image was printed on the entire surface, and “streaks”, which are rubbing marks at the peeled portion, were visually observed and evaluated according to the following four criteria. did.
A: No streak is observed at all.
○: Almost no streak is observed.
(Triangle | delta): Generation | occurrence | production of a stripe is recognized slightly.
X: Generation | occurrence | production of a streak is recognized notably.

[2] Abrasion Resistance, Peel Resistance For the image forming apparatuses of each of the above examples and comparative examples, the peeled portion after durable printing (printing 80,000 sheets) was observed with a microscope, and the coating (surface layer) was worn. The peeled state and the worn state of the substrate were evaluated according to the following four criteria.
(Double-circle): Wear and peeling of a film are not recognized at all.
○: Abrasion and peeling of the film are hardly observed.
Δ: Slight abrasion of the film is observed, but exposure of the intermediate layer and the substrate is not observed.
X: Wear or peeling of the film is clearly recognized, and exposure of the intermediate layer and the substrate is recognized.
Or abrasion of a base material is recognized.

[3] Toner fixing (after durable printing)
About the image forming apparatus of each said Example and each comparative example, the peeling member after durable printing (80,000 sheet printing) was observed visually, and the sticking state of the knurled was evaluated according to the following four steps criteria.
A: No toner sticking is observed.
○: The toner is hardly fixed.
Δ: Slight adhesion of toner is observed.
X: Toner sticking is remarkably recognized.
These results are summarized in Table 2.

As is apparent from Table 2, in the present invention, the abrasion resistance of the peeling member is excellent, and even after durable printing, toner sticking to the peeling member etc., streaks on the printed recording medium, etc. are not recognized. It was. From these results, it can be seen that excellent durability is obtained in the present invention.
On the other hand, in the comparative example, a satisfactory result was not obtained. That is, in each of the comparative examples, streaks occurred in the printed recording medium, and the toner adhered to the release member. Further, in Comparative Example 2 having a surface layer made of a fluororesin, the wear of the surface layer after durable printing was remarkable and inferior in durability.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention including a fixing device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partially broken section of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1. It is principal part sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view of the peeling member shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the attachment state of the peeling member shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the fixing device of FIG. 2 as viewed from above. It is an expanded sectional view of a peeling member.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Apparatus main body 3 ... Image carrier 4 ... Charging apparatus 5 ... Exposure apparatus 6 ... Rotary developing apparatus 6Y ... Yellow developing apparatus 6M ... Magenta developing apparatus 6C ... Cyan developing apparatus 6K ... Black developing Device 6a ... Developing roller 7 ... Intermediate transfer device 8 ... Support frame 9 ... Drive roller 10 ... Drive roller 11 ... Intermediate transfer belt 12 ... Primary transfer roller 13 ... Transfer belt cleaner 14 ... Secondary transfer roller 15 ... Feed cassette 16 ... Pickup roller 17 ... Recording medium conveyance path 19 ... Fixing device 20 ... Discharge tray 21 ... Fixing roller 21a ... Heat source 21b ... Cylinder 21c ... Elastic layer 21d ... Rotating shaft 22 ... Pressure roller 22b ... Cylinder 22c ... Elastic layer 22d ... Rotary shaft 23 ... Conveying path for double-sided printing 24 ... Housing 25 ... Bearing 26 ... Pressure level -27 ... Pressure spring 28 ... Drive gear 29, 30 ... Support shaft 31 ... Peeling member 31a ... Peeling part 31b ... Bending part 31c ... Supporting piece 31d ... Fitting hole 31e ... Guide part 311 ... Base material 312 ... Intermediate layer 313 ... Coating (surface layer) 32 ... Peeling member 32a ... Peeling part 3 32e ... Guide part 33 ... Spring N ... Nip part (fixing nip part) E ... Edge

Claims (6)

A fixing roller having a heat source, a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller, and a peeling disposed in the vicinity of the fixing roller in the axial direction of the fixing roller and downstream of the fixing nip portion in the recording medium conveyance direction. With members,
The peeling member has a surface roughness Ra of 0.04 to 1.3 [mu] m and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 to 14 [mu] m.   The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a peeling member disposed in proximity to the pressure roller.   The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein a leading end of the peeling member on the pressure roller side is disposed downstream of a leading end of the peeling member on the fixing roller side in the recording medium conveyance direction.   4. The fixing according to claim 2, wherein the pressure roller side peeling member has a surface roughness Ra of 0.04 to 1.3 [mu] m and a surface roughness Rz of 0.7 to 14 [mu] m. apparatus.   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing roller and the pressure roller are arranged in a substantially horizontal state.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.

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