JP2009086204A - Manufacturing apparatus for elastic roller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing apparatus for an elastic roller which can manufacture with good reproducibility the elastic roller with high runout accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The manufacturing apparatus 10 for the elastic roller with a sleeve on an outer circumferential surface of a foaming elastic layer is provided with a supporting member 20 which proceeds in the axial direction and has the foaming elastic layer 3 arranged on the upstream side of the axial direction of the sleeve 4. The supporting member 20 is arranged so as to go through the sleeve 4 in the axial direction of the same. When the foaming elastic layer 3 is arranged on the upstream side, a tapered part 35 with a diameter shrinking toward the sleeve 4 is provided in between the foaming elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, to an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing an elastic roller with high deflection accuracy with high reproducibility.

  Various image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system are employed in printers such as laser printers and video printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multi-function machines thereof. Various image forming apparatuses include a fixing device equipped with a fixing roller or the like in which a heating unit is incorporated in a foamed elastic layer in order to fix the developer image transferred to the recording medium. In this fixing device, since the fixing roller or the like incorporates a heating means inside the foamed elastic layer, the time for preheating the fixing roller or the like is usually relatively long, and the configuration thereof is complicated and incorporated. Problems such as difficulty in replacing only the heating means may occur.

  As a fixing device that can solve at least one of these problems, a fixing device including an external heating unit that supplies heat to a fixing roller or the like from the outside can be cited. Examples of such external heating means include radiant heating means such as a halogen heater, direct heating means by contact, induction heating means by AC magnetic field formation, and the like. In the fixing device including these external heating means, the fixing roller or the like is used as a heated part, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer so that the fixing roller or the like is efficiently heated by the heat from the external heating means. Has a metal sleeve or the like.

  As such a fixing roller, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a heating rotator that includes an elastic layer inside and a metal sleeve having a thickness of 10 to 150 μm provided outside (Patent). Refer to FIG. According to the column 0066 of Patent Document 1, the rotating body for heating is “the outer diameter of the iron core 11 is 9 mm, the thickness of the sponge elastic layer 12 formed by foaming silicon rubber is 8 mm, The metal sleeve 13 is manufactured by covering a SUS sleeve having a thickness of 5 to 200 μm ”.

  As an apparatus for manufacturing a fixing roller or the like having a sleeve or the like on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer, for example, a specific manufacturing apparatus 50 is described in FIG. This manufacturing apparatus 50 has a stand 56 for holding a metal thin sleeve 26 in an upright state in a pressurized container 52 and a sponge body X in which a sponge layer 22 is disposed on the outer periphery of a cored bar 16. A support mechanism 58 configured to support the metal thin-walled sleeve 26 held in a state of being coaxial with the metal thin-walled sleeve 26 and to move the metal sleeve 26 along the axial direction while maintaining the coaxial state. An adhesive application mechanism 60 for uniformly applying an adhesive is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sponge layer 22 of the sponge body X supported by the support mechanism 58 "(see column 0063 of Patent Document 2, etc.). .)

  However, since the sleeve is thin, when it is placed in an upright state in the manufacturing apparatus, the upright state cannot be maintained, and the axis of the sleeve or the like deviates from the vertical direction. There has been a problem that the sleeve is deformed, the sleeve is distorted, and the shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve is deformed to an ellipse, for example. When such a problem occurs in the sleeve or the like, not only the foamed elastic layer cannot be inserted into the sleeve or the like, but even if the foamed elastic layer can be inserted into the sleeve or the like, the roller runout accuracy may decrease. . In addition, when manufacturing a plurality of rollers, in addition to a decrease in the deflection accuracy, the deflection accuracy of the plurality of rollers may not be uniform.

  In particular, when the fixing roller is manufactured by expanding the foamed elastic layer after reducing the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer such as the sponge body X using the manufacturing apparatus 50 of Patent Document 2, the foamed elastic layer If the expansion speed in the radial direction is not constant, the deterioration of the shake accuracy and the uniformity of the shake accuracy caused by the above problem become remarkable.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-129313 JP 2004-53924 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing an elastic roller with high runout accuracy with high reproducibility.

As means for solving the problems,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus comprising a sleeve on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer, which advances in the axial direction and has the foamed elastic layer disposed upstream of the sleeve in the axial direction. The support member is provided so as to penetrate the sleeve in the axial direction, and when the foamed elastic layer is disposed on the upstream side, the support member is disposed between the foamed elastic layer and the sleeve. And an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus characterized by having a taper portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the sleeve,
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the support member is mounted with a first support shaft having a first mounting member at one end to which one end of the shaft is mounted, and the other end of the shaft. A second mounting member having the tapered portion at the end, and a second support shaft that penetrates the sleeve, so that the first mounting member and the second mounting member face each other. The elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus is arranged.

  Since the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes the support member having the tapered portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the sleeve disposed in the manufacturing apparatus, even if the elastic roller is in an upright state in the manufacturing apparatus. The problem is that the axis of the sleeve or the like is displaced from the vertical direction when it is disposed, the problem that the sleeve or the like is distorted and deformed in a bellows shape, and the problem that the shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve or the like is deformed. Even if it occurs, the taper portion guides the insertion of the foamed elastic layer into the sleeve while correcting the axial shift and shape deformation generated in the sleeve. As a result, the axis of the foamed elastic layer inserted into the sleeve and the sleeve coincide with each other, and even if the expansion rate in the radial direction of the foamed elastic layer is not constant, the axis of the expanded foamed elastic layer is also It also coincides with the sleeve axis. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an elastic roller manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing an elastic roller with high runout accuracy with high reproducibility.

  An elastic roller 1A as an embodiment of an elastic roller manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a foamed elastic layer 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft body 2 and foamed as shown in FIG. And a sleeve 4 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 3.

  The shaft body 2 only needs to have good conductive properties, and is also referred to as a so-called “core metal”.

  The foamed elastic layer 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 by a rubber composition described later. The foamed elastic layer 3 is a foamed elastic layer having cells on the inside and / or outer surface thereof (cells opened on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 3 in FIG. 1 are not shown). When the foamed elastic layer 3 has cells, the hardness of the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced, which can contribute to forming a high-quality image. Here, the cell having the foamed elastic layer 3 includes a hollow region generated by foaming or decomposition of a foaming agent contained in the rubber composition, and a hollow region derived from a hollow filler contained in the rubber composition. Say. The plurality of cells in the foamed elastic layer 3 are in a state where they do not contact or communicate with other cells (referred to as independent cell states), a state where they contact or communicate with other cells (communication cell state) Or the independent cell state and the communication cell state may coexist. In the foamed elastic layer 3, the cell size, the foaming rate, and the like are determined according to various rollers used in the image forming apparatus.

  For example, the average cell diameter of the cells in the foamed elastic layer 3 is preferably 60 to 800 μm, and particularly preferably 100 to 400 μm. When the average cell diameter of the cells is within the above range, even if the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced in diameter in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the foamed structure is effectively prevented from being damaged, cracked and broken. be able to. The cells in the foamed elastic layer 3 preferably have an average cell wall width of 0.01 to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably 0.05 to 0.4 mm. When the average width of the cell walls is within the above range, even if the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced in diameter in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the foamed structure is effectively prevented from being damaged, cracked and broken. be able to. Moreover, it is preferable that the foaming rate in the foaming elastic layer 3 is 150 to 480%, and it is especially preferable that it is 200 to 450%. When the foaming ratio is in the above range, even if the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced in diameter in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the foamed structure can be effectively prevented from being damaged, cracked and broken. . In the cell, the average cell diameter, the average width of the cell wall, and the foaming rate are the blending amount of the foaming agent or the hollow filler contained in the rubber composition to be described later forming the foamed elastic layer 3, the size of the hollow filler, It can be adjusted depending on the curing conditions of the rubber composition.

The average cell diameter of the cell is determined by observing an area of about 2 mm ² with an electron microscope or the like on the surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 or a cut surface obtained by cutting an arbitrary surface. Can be obtained as an average length obtained by arithmetically averaging the measured maximum length. As for the average width of the cell wall in the cell, an area of about 2 mm ² is observed with an electron microscope or the like on the surface of the elastic layer 3 or the cut surface when the elastic layer 3 is cut at an arbitrary surface, like the average cell diameter. Then, the distance between the cells existing in the observation visual field, that is, the width of the wall between the cells can be measured, and the measured value can be obtained by arithmetic averaging. The expansion ratio of the foamed elastic layer 3 can be calculated from the volume and mass of the foamed elastic layer 3 measured by a conventional method.

  The foamed elastic layer 3 preferably has an Asker C hardness of 20-60. When the Asker C hardness is within the above range, a desired contact state or pressure contact state with respect to the contacted body can be maintained, which contributes to forming a high-quality image. For example, when the elastic roller 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus as a fixing roller, a desired pressure contact state is maintained with respect to the pressure roller, and the nip width formed by the pressure roller and the fixing roller is increased. Therefore, the developer image transferred to the recording medium can be fixed as desired, and as a result, it can contribute to forming a high-quality image. The Asker C hardness can be a value obtained by measuring a plurality of locations of the foamed elastic layer 3 in accordance with JIS K6253 and arithmetically averaging the measured values. The Asker C hardness of the foamed elastic layer 3 is, for example, selecting the type of rubber and / or additive contained in the rubber composition forming the foamed elastic layer 3 and / or changing the blending amount thereof. In addition, it can be adjusted according to the molding conditions of the foamed elastic layer 3 and the like.

  The thickness of the foamed elastic layer 3 is not particularly limited, but is usually preferably adjusted to 2 to 20 mm, and particularly preferably adjusted to 3 to 12 mm.

  The sleeve 4 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3. The sleeve 4 is formed of a metal material having high thermal conductivity such as iron, stainless steel, nickel, etc., and may have a single layer structure or a laminated structure in which two or more layers are laminated. The sleeve 4 is formed in a thin layer. For example, the total thickness is preferably 20 to 150 μm, and particularly preferably 30 to 100 μm. The sleeve 4 may have a single layer structure or a laminated structure of two or more layers. Moreover, it is preferable that the sleeve 4 has a tensile strength of about 800 to 1300 MPa because it is difficult to be deformed by the pressure contact from the inner peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3. The measuring method of the tensile strength is based on JIS Z 2241.

  An elastic roller 1B as another example of the elastic roller manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a foamed elastic layer 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 as shown in FIG. And a sleeve 4 provided via an adhesive layer 5 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3. The shaft body 2, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 in the elastic roller 1B are basically the same as the shaft body 2, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 in the elastic roller 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic roller 1 </ b> B has an adhesive layer 5 between the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4. The adhesive forming the adhesive layer 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is an adhesive that can bond the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4. For example, a silicone-based adhesive (trade name “KE-44” and “KE-45”, all manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like. In the present invention, the adhesive is fluid at room temperature (25 ° C.), specifically, a fluid adhesive having a viscosity at 25 ° C. of 15 to 150 Pa · s in the adhesive coating layer. It is preferable in that bubbles can be prevented from being generated and mixed, and the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 can be firmly bonded. As for the fluidity in the fluid adhesive, the viscosity at 25 ° C. is preferably 15 to 150 Pa · s, more preferably 30 to 120 Pa · s, and particularly preferably 50 to 100 Pa · s. When the viscosity of the fluid adhesive is within the above range, bubbles and the like are generated in the adhesive coating layer, and bubbles and the like can be effectively prevented from being mixed. The viscosity of the fluid adhesive is measured according to JIS K 6249 (using a BH viscometer).

  Examples of the fluid adhesive include a silicone adhesive and an acrylic adhesive. More specifically, as a silicone-based adhesive, addition type silicone RTV (for example, trade name “KE1880” (viscosity (25 ° C.) 84 Pa · s, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), trade name “KE1830” (viscosity ( 25 Pa), 110 Pa · s, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), trade name “KE1833” (viscosity (25 ° C.) 150 Pa · s, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)), condensed silicone RTV (for example, trade name “KE441”). (Viscosity (25 ° C.) 15 Pa · s, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)) and the like. As the acrylic adhesive, acrylic modified silicone resin (for example, trade name “Super X 8008” (viscosity (25 ° C.) 90 Pa · s, manufactured by Cemedine Co., Ltd.), trade name “Super X 8008 LL Black” (viscosity (25 ° C. ) 14 Pa · s, manufactured by Cemedine Co., Ltd.), trade name “Super X 8008 Clear” (viscosity (25 ° C.) 65 Pa · s, manufactured by Cemedine Co., Ltd.)), and the like. The fluid adhesive may be one-component or two-component, and may be thermosetting or moisture curable. Furthermore, the fluid adhesive may be adjusted using a diluent such as toluene and xylene so that the viscosity is within the above range.

  Moreover, since the elastic roller 1 may be used under heating, the adhesive preferably has heat resistance, and specifically has heat resistance of about 150 to 250 ° C. Is preferred. The heat resistance is measured by a softening temperature measurement method defined in JIS K 6833.

  Other properties required for the adhesive include tensile shear bond strength in a cured product of the adhesive. In this invention, the tensile shear bond strength in the cured product of the adhesive is 0.5 to 4 MPa. Preferably there is. When the tensile shear adhesive strength of the cured adhesive is within the above range, the sleeve 4 and the foamed elastic layer 3 are firmly bonded with a sufficient adhesive force. The tensile shear bond strength is measured according to JIS K 6249 using a cured product obtained by curing an adhesive as a test sample.

  Although the thickness of the adhesive bond layer 5 is not specifically limited, Usually, it is preferable to adjust to 10-300 micrometers, and it is especially preferable to adjust to 10-100 micrometers.

  An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention will be described below. The elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a support member that moves forward in the axial direction and that disposes the foamed elastic layer 3 upstream of the sleeve 4 in the axial direction. When the foamed elastic layer 3 is disposed on the upstream side, the outer diameter gradually decreases toward the sleeve 4 between the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4. One of the features is to have a tapered portion. The apparatus for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention has this feature, so that the taper portion corrects the shift of the axial line and the deformation of the shape generated in the sleeve 4 while the foamed elastic layer 3 is applied to the sleeve 4. Since the insertion is guided, the foamed elastic layer 3 inserted into the sleeve 4 and the sleeve 4 have the same axis, and the expanded foamed elastic layer 3 also has the same axis as the sleeve 4. As a result, the object of the present invention can be achieved well.

  The elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to an example thereof (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a cylindrical casing 11 that can accommodate the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4, and an inside of the casing 11 near one opening. Installed and placed on the placement member 15, the placement member 15 for placing the sleeve 4, closed end portions 12 and 13 for closing the opening portions at both ends of the housing 11, and moving forward in the axial direction. A support member 20 that arranges the foamed elastic layer 3 on the upstream side in the axial direction with respect to the sleeve 4 (not shown), and a pressure adjusting device 14 that pressurizes or depressurizes the inside of the housing 11 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the casing 11 only needs to be able to accommodate the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4. In the manufacturing apparatus 10, the axial length of the foamed elastic layer 3 and the axial length of the sleeve 4 are determined. The hollow cylindrical body has a length longer than the sum and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4.

  The mounting member 15 only needs to be able to support the sleeve 4 in an upright state at a predetermined position. In the manufacturing apparatus 10, the mounting member 15 projects from the inner peripheral surface of the housing 11 toward the center, and supports the sleeve 4. It is a ring-shaped protrusion having a proper mounting surface 16. The inner diameter of the mounting member 15 is larger than the outer diameter of the second mounting member 24 described later, and smaller than the outer diameter of the sleeve. Further, the mounting member 15 is disposed in the vicinity of one opening in the housing 11, that is, between the closing member 13 and a mounting member described later when the closing end 13 described later is mounted on the housing 11. It is formed at a position where a sufficient space for the 24 is defined. The mounting member 15 mounts the sleeve 4 on the mounting surface 16 at a position where the axis of the sleeve 4 coincides with the axis of the foamed elastic layer 3, and preferably supports the mounting by mounting and fixing.

  In this manufacturing apparatus 10, it is desirable that the sleeve 4 (see, for example, FIG. 5) placed in an upright state on the placement surface 16 has an axis that coincides with the vertical direction and the sleeve 4 is not deformed. Since the tapered portion guides the insertion of the foamed elastic layer 3 into the sleeve 4, even if the axis of the sleeve 4 is shifted from the vertical direction and does not coincide with the axis of the support member 20, the sleeve 4 is distorted and bellows-like. The cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 4 may be deformed.

  The closed end portions 12 and 13 have a through hole that enables the support member 20 described later to move in the axial direction thereof, for example, and it is sufficient that the both end openings of the housing 11 can be airtightly closed. Is formed in a cylindrical body provided with a sealing member 17 in the through hole. The sealing member 17 hermetically seals the support member 20 and the closed end portions 12 and 13.

  The pressure adjusting device 14 may be any device that can pressurize or depressurize the inside of the casing 11 closed by the closed end portions 12 and 13, for example, a pressure adjusting device such as a compressor, a pressure reducing device such as a vacuum pump, etc. Machine. When pressurizing the inside of the housing 11 by the pressure adjusting device 14, the pressure is adjusted to, for example, 0.15 to 0.48 MPa. On the other hand, when the inside of the housing 11 is reduced by the pressure adjusting device 14, The pressure is adjusted to 3 to 100 hPa, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support member 20 moves back and forth in the axial direction, and foams an elastic layer on the upstream side in the axial direction with respect to the sleeve 4 placed on the placement surface 16. 3 is arranged. In other words, the support member 20 arranges the foamed elastic layer 3 accommodated in the housing 11 in series in the axial direction of the sleeve 4 so as to share the axis with the sleeve 4. Further, the support member 20 can be moved back and forth in the axial direction, and penetrates the sleeve 4 placed on the placement surface 16 (arranged in the manufacturing apparatus 10) in the axial direction. It is configured. The support member 20 has an outer diameter that gradually decreases toward the sleeve 4 between the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 when the foamed elastic layer 3 is disposed in the manufacturing apparatus 10 as described above. A tapered portion 35 is provided.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support member 20 is inserted into the through-hole of the closed end portion 12 so as to share the axis with each other, and the closing member 12 is moved in the axial direction thereof. A first support shaft 21 penetratingly disposed, and a second support shaft 22 inserted in the through hole of the closed end 13 and penetrating the closing member 13 and the sleeve 4 in the axial direction thereof, A first mounting member 23 (described later) mounted on the first support shaft 21 and a second mounting member 24 (described later) mounted on the second support shaft 22 are disposed so as to face each other.

  The first support shaft 21 is formed by fixing a first mounting member 23 for mounting one end of a shaft body on which the foamed elastic layer 3 is formed, to a free end positioned in the manufacturing apparatus 10. A movable mechanism (not shown) is capable of moving back and forth in the axial direction in synchronization with the second support shaft 22. Further, the second support shaft 22 is fixed to a free end portion located in the manufacturing apparatus 10 with a second mounting member 24 for mounting the other end portion of the shaft body 2 on which the foamed elastic layer 3 is formed. Thus, it can be moved back and forth in the axial direction in synchronization with the first support shaft 21 by a movable mechanism (not shown).

  The support member 20 is configured such that the first mounting member 23 and the second mounting member 24 cooperate to fix the shaft body 2 between the first support shaft 21 and the second support shaft 22. A roller base body 7 (see FIG. 4) having a foamed elastic layer 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the body 2 is supported. In the support member 20 that supports the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3), the first mounting member 23, the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3), and the second mounting member 24 have a common axis (see FIG. 3, and the common axis coincides with the axis of the sleeve 4 supported by the mounting member 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first mounting member 23 only needs to be able to fix one end portion of the shaft body 2, and the shaft body insertion having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the shaft body 2. A cylindrical body 32 having a hole 30 and a fixture 34 for fixing the cylindrical body 32 to the free end of the first support shaft 21 are provided. One end portion of the shaft body 2 is inserted into the shaft body insertion hole 30 of the cylindrical body 32, and the outer peripheral surface of the end portion is gripped from the circumferential direction to the center direction. One end of 2 is mounted. Since the cylindrical body 32 and the fixture 34 are housed in the casing 11 and the support member 20 moves back and forth in the axial direction, the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 32 and the maximum outer diameter of the fixture 34 are at least the inner diameter of the casing 11. Is set smaller. Note that one end portion of the shaft body may be mounted on the first mounting member 23 while sandwiching the outer peripheral surface of one end portion of the shaft body 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second mounting member 24 only needs to be able to fix the other end of the shaft body 2, and has a shaft having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the shaft body 2. A cylindrical body 33 having a body insertion hole 31 and a fixture 35 for fixing the cylindrical body 33 to the free end of the second support shaft 22 are provided. The other end portion of the shaft body 2 is inserted into the shaft body insertion hole 31 of the cylindrical body 33, and the outer peripheral surface of the end portion is gripped from the circumferential direction to the center direction. The other end of 2 is mounted. Since the cylindrical body 33 and the fixture 35 pass through the sleeve 4, the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 33 and the maximum outer diameter of the fixture 35 are set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. Note that one end portion of the shaft body 2 may be mounted on the second mounting member 24 while sandwiching the outer peripheral surface of the other end portion of the shaft body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixture 35 has an inverted frustoconical shape, and its side surface (outer peripheral surface) becomes a tapered portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases in a direction protruding from the second mounting member 24. Yes. That is, the fixture 35 is an inverted truncated cone member whose side surface is a tapered portion.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the support member 20 has the foamed elastic layer 3 (roller base body 7) on the upstream side in the axial direction of the support member 20 with respect to the sleeve 4 placed on the placement surface 16. , That is, when the foamed elastic layer 3 (roller base body 7) is disposed in the manufacturing apparatus 10 by the support member 20, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 placed on the placement surface 16 are arranged. In the meantime, a fixing tool 35 having a taper portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the sleeve 4 is provided.

  The angle formed by the central axis of the fixture 35 and the generatrix in the tapered portion of the fixture 35 is not particularly limited, but the foamed elastic layer 3 (roller) is corrected while correcting the axial deviation and the shape deformation generated in the sleeve 4. The angle of 10 to 80 ° is preferable and 30 to 60 ° is preferable in that the insertion of the original body 7) into the sleeve 4 is more easily guided.

  The maximum outer diameter of the tapered portion is such that the fixing tool 35 passes through the sleeve 4 and corrects the deviation of the axis and the deformation of the shape of the foamed elastic layer 3 (roller base body 7). Since the insertion into the sleeve 4 is guided, it is preferably set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. In this invention, if the main focus is on correcting the axial shift and shape deformation that has occurred in the sleeve 4, the maximum outer diameter of the tapered portion should be adjusted to the same diameter as the inner diameter of the sleeve 4, In this case, at least the maximum outer diameter portion of the tapered portion is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 4. In this case, a friction reducing agent such as a fluororesin can be applied to the maximum outer diameter portion of the tapered portion and / or the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 4. On the other hand, if the main purpose is to guide the insertion of the foamed elastic layer 3 (roller base body 7) into the sleeve 4 while preventing damage to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 4, the maximum outside of the tapered portion will be described. The diameter is preferably adjusted to be smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4, and in this case, the maximum outer diameter portion of the tapered portion is the sleeve except when correcting the axial deviation and the shape deformation generated in the sleeve 4. No sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of 4.

  The minimum outer diameter of the tapered portion is not particularly limited, but if it is too small, it is difficult to fix the second mounting member 24 to the second support shaft 22, and the tapered portion may not function effectively. In the present invention, the minimum outer diameter of the tapered portion is adjusted to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the second support shaft 22.

  The length in the axial direction of the tapered portion is adjusted so that the angle formed by the central axis of the fixture 35 and the generatrix is the above-mentioned angle in consideration of the maximum outer diameter and the minimum outer diameter of the tapered portion.

  The casing 11, the closed end portions 12 and 13, the mounting member 15, and the support member 20 are made of, for example, a metal such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, or an alloy thereof, a thermoplastic resin, or a thermosetting resin. Is formed into a desired shape and size by a known method. The sealing member 17 is, for example, silicone rubber or silicone-modified rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (including ethylene propylene diene rubber), styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber, acrylic rubber, chloroprene rubber, It is formed of butyl rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, urethane rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like.

  The manufacturing apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration is used to reduce the diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 in a pressurized environment or a reduced pressure environment and to insert the reduced-sized foamed elastic layer 3 into the sleeve 4. The foamed elastic layer 3 is particularly preferably used for inserting the foamed elastic layer 3 into the sleeve 4 in a pressurized environment in which the foamed elastic layer 3 rapidly expands and the uniformity of the deflection accuracy of the manufactured elastic roller varies greatly. The reason for this is that according to the manufacturing apparatus 10, even if the sleeve 4 is misaligned and / or deformed, or the expansion rate of the foamed elastic layer 3 in the radial direction is not constant, the sleeve The axis of the foamed elastic layer 3 inserted into the sleeve 4 and the sleeve 4 can be matched.

  A method of manufacturing the elastic rollers 1A and 1B shown in FIG. 1 using the manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described. 3 and 5 to 7, the support member 20, the roller base body 7, and the sleeve 4 are not hatched for easy understanding.

  In order to manufacture the elastic rollers 1A and 1B, first, as shown in FIG. 4, a roller base body 7 having a foamed elastic layer 3 on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 is prepared.

  The shaft body 2 is made of, for example, a metal such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, brass or an alloy thereof, a resin such as a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin, and carbon black or metal powder as a conductivity-imparting agent for the resin. It is prepared in a desired shape by a known method using a material such as a conductive resin blended with a body. When the shaft body 2 is required to have conductivity, in addition to the metal and the conductive resin, the surface of the insulating core body formed of the resin or the like is plated by a regular method to thereby form the shaft body 2. Can be formed. Among the materials, a metal is preferable because it can easily impart conductivity, and free cutting steel, aluminum, or stainless steel is particularly preferable.

  The shaft body 2 may be coated with a primer layer on its outer peripheral surface as desired. The primer for forming the primer layer is dissolved in a solvent or the like as desired, and is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 according to a conventional method such as a dipping method or a spray method, and is cured. The primer is not particularly limited. For example, alkyd resin, phenol-modified silicone modified alkyd resin, oil-free alkyd resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, fluororesin, phenol resin, polyamide resin, Examples thereof include urethane resins and mixtures thereof. If desired, a crosslinking agent for curing and / or crosslinking the resin can be used. Examples of such a crosslinking agent include isocyanate compounds, melamine compounds, epoxy compounds, peroxides, phenol compounds, and hydrogen siloxane compounds. Etc. The primer layer is formed with a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm, for example.

  Next, in the method for manufacturing a roller according to the present invention, the rubber composition described later disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 formed in this way is cured to form the foamed elastic layer 3. For example, the foamed elastic layer 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 by performing molding and heat curing simultaneously or continuously by a known molding method. The molding method of the rubber composition is not particularly limited as long as the rubber composition can be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2, and is particularly limited to, for example, continuous vulcanization by extrusion molding, press molding, and molding by injection. It is not something. For example, when the rubber composition is an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition described later, extrusion molding or the like can be selected as the molding method. The rubber composition forming the foamed elastic layer 3 will be described later.

  The curing conditions of the rubber composition are such that when the rubber composition disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 is cured and contains a foaming agent, the curing condition is sufficient for the foaming agent to decompose or foam. It is well adjusted depending on the composition of the rubber composition, the type of foaming agent, and the like. For example, when the rubber composition is an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition to be described later, the curing conditions are usually 100 to 400 ° C., particularly 200 to 400 ° C., several minutes to 1 hour, particularly A heating time of 5 minutes or more and 30 minutes or less is preferable in that the foamed elastic layer 3 can have independent cells having an average cell diameter in the above range and have a foaming rate in the above range.

  In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the foamed elastic layer 3 thus cured can be secondarily cured as necessary. Although the secondary curing conditions are not particularly limited, for example, when the rubber composition is an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition described later, the secondary curing conditions remain in the cured state, 180 to A heating temperature of 250 ° C., in particular 190 to 230 ° C., and a heating time of 1 to 24 hours, in particular 3 to 10 hours, are preferred.

  In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the foamed elastic layer 3 formed as described above can be subjected to an elastic layer adjusting process as necessary. In the elastic layer adjustment processing, the foamed elastic layer 3 is adjusted to a desired size by using a machining device such as a polishing device, a grinding device, and a cutting device, or an instrument, and / or the foamed elastic layer 3 This is a process for adjusting the surface state to a desired state or the like. Examples of the elastic layer adjustment processing include polishing, grinding, and cutting.

  The foamed elastic layer 3 formed in this way has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4 to be described later. For example, the foamed elastic layer 3 has an outer diameter of 100 to 105% with respect to the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. It is good that it has an outer diameter of 100 to 102%. When the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 is adjusted to the above range, the foamed elastic layer 3 rapidly shrinks in a pressure environment described later, and when the pressure environment is released, the foamed elastic layer 3 is quickly restored. .

  In this manner, the roller base body 7 shown in FIG. 4 in which the foamed elastic layer 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 can be manufactured.

  On the other hand, in the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the sleeve 4 is prepared. The sleeve 4 is formed of a cylindrical body having openings at both ends of the metal material. The sleeve 4 is adjusted to a thickness of 20 to 150 μm, for example, and the inner diameter thereof is smaller than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3. For example, the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. Thus, the adjustment is made so as to be in the range described later. The sleeve 4 is formed into a cylindrical body by, for example, a spinning method or an ironing method. The sleeve 4 is preferably adjusted so that at least the outer peripheral surface is smooth.

In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, an adhesive is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 in the roller base body 7 as desired. This adhesive is applied uniformly to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3, preferably to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3. Note that the adhesive may be applied to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve portion instead of or in addition to the foamed elastic layer 3. The method for applying the adhesive to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a spray method, a dipping method, a ring coater method, and a roll coater method. When the adhesive is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3, the adhesive can be appropriately diluted with a diluent or the like. The flowable adhesive can be uniformly and easily applied to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3, and bubbles or the like are generated in the coating layer to which the adhesive is applied, or bubbles or the like are mixed. This can be effectively prevented. As a result, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 can be firmly bonded. The applied amount of the adhesive may be adjusted so that the thickness of the adhesive layer 5 falls within the above range. For example, in the case of a silicone composition, 0.01 to 0.1 g / cm ^2. Adjusted to degree.

  Next, using the manufacturing apparatus 10, the roller base material 7 to which an adhesive is applied as desired is inserted into the sleeve 4 in a pressurized environment or a reduced pressure environment at room temperature or under heating.

  In order to insert the roller base body 7 into the sleeve 4, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the casing 11 and the closed end portions 12 and 13 are assembled, and the sleeve 4 manufactured as described above is mounted. The sleeve 4 is placed at a predetermined position by placing on the placement surface 16 of the placement member 15. Next, if desired, one end of the shaft body 2 in the roller base body 7 provided with the foamed elastic layer 3 coated with an adhesive on the outer peripheral surface is inserted into 30 and fixed to the first mounting member 23, Further, the other end of the shaft body 2 is inserted into 31 and fixed to the second mounting member 24. In this way, the base roller 7 is sandwiched between the support shafts 21 and 22, and the support shaft 22 is placed on the housing 11, the mounting member 15, the mounting surface 16 of the mounting member 15, and the sleeve 4. Passing through the closed end 13, the roller base body 7 is arranged in series at a predetermined interval on the upstream side in the axial direction of the support member 20 (upstream side of the sleeve 4) with respect to the sleeve 4, The casing 11 is closed with the closed end 12 to assemble the pressure device 10. When the roller base body 7 is arranged in this manner, as shown in FIG. 5, a tapered portion between the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) and the sleeve 4 whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the sleeve 4. A fixture 35 having a position is located.

  Next, the pressure adjusting device 14 is activated, and the inside of the manufacturing device 10 is pressurized or depressurized. When pressurizing the inside of the manufacturing apparatus 10, for example, the inside of the housing 11 is adjusted to 0.15 to 0.48 MPa. After the pressure in the manufacturing apparatus 10 reaches the pressure range, the pressure range is maintained for a certain period of time, preferably within 5 minutes, and more preferably for several seconds to 3 minutes. Then, since the foamed elastic layer 3 is pressurized with gas or the like in the cell and the cell itself is contracted and the foamed elastic layer 3 is also contracted, the outer diameter thereof is gradually reduced. For example, as shown in FIG. It becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. The ratio of reducing the foamed elastic layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4.

  When decompressing the inside of the manufacturing apparatus 10, it adjusts to 3-100 hPa, for example. After the pressure in the manufacturing apparatus 10 reaches the pressure range, the pressure range is maintained for a certain period of time, preferably several seconds to two hours, and particularly preferably several seconds to one hour. Then, although the foamed elastic layer 3 initially has a higher pressure in the cell than in the reduced pressure environment, if the foamed elastic layer 3 is left in the predetermined reduced pressure environment for a while, the gas in the cell is gradually released from the foamed elastic layer 3. Therefore, after the diameter is once expanded, the outer diameter gradually becomes smaller, for example, smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4 as shown in FIG. The ratio of reducing the foamed elastic layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4.

  In this way, the first support shaft 21 and the second support shaft 22 of the support member 20 are manually or automatically operated in a state where the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4. The roller base body 7 supported by the support member 20 is moved into the sleeve 4 as shown in FIG. 7 by being advanced to the side (the downstream side in the axial direction of the support member 20, specifically, the lower side in FIG. 6). Insert into. At this time, since the support member 20 penetrates through the inside of the housing 11 and two portions in the axial direction of the support member 20 are fixed by the sealing member 17, the support member 20 is supported by moving forward and backward in the axial direction of the support member 20. The axis of the member 20 moves forward and backward with a single straight line (indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6) as the axis without blurring. Then, when the support member 20 advances, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixture 35, that is, the tapered portion, first enters the sleeve 4 and moves in the sleeve 4, while the axial deviation and / or the sleeve 4 moves. Alternatively, when the shape is deformed, the shift and the shape deformation are corrected. Thus, the taper portion guides the insertion of the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) located behind the taper portion into the sleeve 4 while moving in the axial direction in the sleeve 4. That is, prior to insertion of the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) into the sleeve 4, the tapered portion enters the sleeve 4 to correct the displacement of the sleeve 4 and the deformation of the shape of the roller base body 7 ( The roller base material 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) is guided into the sleeve 4 while aligning the axes of the foamed elastic layer 3) and the sleeve 4.

  In this manner, the roller base material 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) can be easily inserted into the sleeve 4 so that the axes of the roller base material 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) and the sleeve 4 coincide. When the insertion of the roller base body 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) into the sleeve 4 is completed, the mounting member 24 of the support member 20 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4, and the mounting member 15 is a casing. 11, reaches the space defined between the mounting member 15 and the closed end 13 via the inside of the sleeve 4 and the mounting member 15 (FIG. 7). reference.).

  The roller base material 7 (foamed elastic layer 3) is inserted into the sleeve 4 at room temperature or under heating in a pressurized environment or a reduced pressure environment. In addition, when the adhesive agent is apply | coated to the outer peripheral surface of the foaming elastic layer 3, it is naturally heated below the hardening temperature of a fluid adhesive agent. In consideration of operability and the like, the roller base body 7 is preferably inserted into the sleeve 4 at room temperature.

  Next, while maintaining the state in which the roller base material 7 in which the foamed elastic layer 3 contracts is inserted into the sleeve 4, the pressurized state or the decompressed state in the pressure environment is released, and the roller base layer 7 is inserted into the sleeve 4 as desired. The roller base body 7 is taken out from the manufacturing apparatus 10 and left under atmospheric pressure. Then, the foamed elastic layer 3 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 4 gradually expands or expands, and its outer peripheral surface comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 4 (via the adhesive layer). Are in pressure contact. The time for allowing the roller base material 7 inserted into the sleeve 4 to stand still is appropriately selected depending on the pressure in the pressure environment and the time in which the roller base material 7 is placed in the pressure environment. It is.

  When an adhesive is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 and / or the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 4, the adhesive existing between the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 is cured. The conditions for curing the adhesive are selected according to the applied adhesive. When the adhesive is cured in this manner, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 can be firmly bonded. The apparatus for curing the adhesive only needs to be an apparatus that can realize the curing conditions, and examples thereof include various heaters such as an oven, a blow dryer, and an infrared heater, and various dryers.

  Using the manufacturing apparatus 10, the elastic roller 1A including the foamed elastic layer 3 and the sleeve 4 and the elastic roller 1B including the foamed elastic layer 3, the sleeve 4, and the adhesive layer 5 as desired are used. Can be manufactured.

  Since the elastic rollers 1A and 1B are manufactured by using the manufacturing apparatus 10, the axis of the sleeve 4 or the like is vertical when the sleeve 4 is placed upright on the placement surface 16, that is, in the manufacturing apparatus 10. Even if the sleeve is displaced from the direction, the sleeve or the like is distorted and deformed into a bellows shape, or even if the shape of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve 4 is deformed, The roller base body 7 (foaming elastic layer 3) is guided into the sleeve 4 while correcting the deformation of the shape, and as a result, the roller base body 7 (foaming elastic layer 3) and the sleeve inserted into the sleeve 4 are guided. 4 coincides with the axis. Thus, since the axis of the roller base 7 (foaming elastic layer 3) and the sleeve 4 coincide with each other, even if the foaming elastic layer 3 has a variation in cells or the like, the radial direction of the foaming elastic layer 3 is increased. Even if the expansion rate is not constant, the axis of the expanded foamed elastic layer 3 also coincides with the axis of the sleeve 4. Therefore, the manufactured elastic rollers 1A and 1B have high runout accuracy, and even when the plurality of elastic rollers 1A and 1B are manufactured, variation in runout accuracy is small. When the manufacturing apparatus 10 is used, elasticity with high runout accuracy is obtained. The roller can be manufactured with good reproducibility. For example, when an elastic roller is manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the deflection accuracy of the foamed elastic layer 3 is usually adjusted within a range of 0.15 mm or less.

The deflection accuracy of the elastic roller is the accuracy indicating the uniformity of the thickness of the foamed elastic layer 3 in the circumferential direction, that is, the thickness deflection (sometimes referred to as deflection). For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the roller 1C has the foamed elastic layer 3B formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 with the axis 2C of the shaft body 2 being shifted from the axis in the axial direction. FIG. 8B shows a cross section taken along the line AA of the roller 1C. Referring to FIG. 8, the deflection of the foamed elastic layer 3B, the difference between the maximum thickness of the foamed elastic layer 3B _{(t max)} and minimum thickness _{(t min) (t max -t} min), in other words, the shaft 2 is calculated as a difference (L ₂ −L ₁ ) between the longest distance L ₂ and the shortest distance L ₁ from the axis 2 C of the foam 2 to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 B.

That is, the deflection of the foamed elastic layer 3B is at least the maximum thickness (t _max ) and the minimum thickness (t _min ) of the foamed elastic layer 3B at the three points of the central part and the vicinity of both ends of the foamed elastic layer 3B. The difference (t _max −t _min ) is more specifically calculated, and more specifically, is calculated by the equation (t _max −t _min ) (mm) at each measurement point. Or, at least, the difference between the three points of the center portion and near both ends in the foamed elastic layer 3B, the longest distance L ₂ and the shortest distance L ₁ from the axis 2C of the shaft 2 to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3B ( L ₂ −L ₁ ), and more specifically, calculated by the formula (L ₂ −L ₁ ) (mm) at each measurement point. Here, the deflection of the foamed elastic layer 3B is determined by the thickness of the foamed elastic layer 3B at each measurement point or the shaft body by a laser length measuring machine while rotating the roller 1C about the axis 2C of the shaft body 2. 2 is measured from the axis 2C of 2 to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3B, and is calculated from the measured maximum thickness and minimum thickness or from the measured maximum distance and minimum distance by the above formula. it can.

The rubber composition forming the foamed elastic layer 3 may be a composition containing rubber, a foaming agent or a hollow filler, and various additives as required. For example, a cell in an independent cell state is formed. Preferred examples include foamed silicone rubber-based compositions and foamed urethane rubber-based compositions. In particular, the foamed silicone rubber-based composition capable of forming a cell in an independent cell state is excellent in heat resistance, durability, resistance to residual strain, etc., and is suitable for a high-speed operation of an image forming apparatus. It is. As such a foamed silicone rubber composition, an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition is particularly preferred. As a hollow filler, what is necessary is just a filler which can form a cell, for example after hardening | curing a rubber composition, For example, polyorganosiloxane type spherical powder is mentioned. The polyorganosiloxane spherical powder may be a spherical powder made of polyorganosiloxane, and examples thereof include silicone powder. More specifically, a silicone rubber powder having a structure in which linear dimethylpolysiloxane is crosslinked, and having a structure in which a siloxane bond is crosslinked in a three-dimensional network represented by (CH ₃ SiO _3/2 ) _n Examples thereof include a powder of silicone resin such as so-called polymethylsilsesquioxane, and a powder of coated silicone rubber in which the surface of the silicone rubber is coated with silicone resin or the like.

  The addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition contains a vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber, a silica-based filler, a foaming agent, an addition reaction crosslinking agent, an addition reaction catalyst, and a reaction control agent. An organic peroxide crosslinking agent, a heat resistance improver, and various additives may be contained.

  Examples of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber include millable silicone rubber and heat-crosslinked silicone rubber (HTV: High Temperature Vulcanizing). These vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubbers have the property that a foaming agent and an addition reaction cross-linking agent can be easily kneaded with a roll mill or the like in a later step, and are used alone or in combination of two or more. Can be used.

Examples of the silica-based filler include a fumed silica or a precipitated silica having a reinforcing property, and a surface having a high reinforcing effect that is surface-treated with a silane coupling agent represented by a general formula RSi (OR ′) _3. A treated silica-based filler is preferred. Here, R in the general formula is a glycidyl group, vinyl group, aminopropyl group, methacryloxy group, N-phenylaminopropyl group, mercapto group or the like, and R ′ in the general formula is a methyl group or an ethyl group. . The silane coupling agent represented by the general formula can be easily obtained, for example, as trade names “KBM1003” and “KBE402” manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Such a silica-based filler surface-treated with a silane coupling agent can be obtained by treating the surface of the silica-based filler according to a conventional method. The compounding amount of the silica-based filler is preferably 5 to 100 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. A silica type filler can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

  The foaming agent may be a foaming agent conventionally used for foamed rubber. Examples of the inorganic foaming agent include sodium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate. Examples of the organic foaming agent include diazoamino derivatives, azonitrile derivatives, azo And organic azo compounds such as dicarboxylic acid derivatives. Usually, an inorganic foaming agent is used when forming continuous cells in rubber, and an organic foaming agent is used when forming independent cells. In the elastic roller 1, the foaming agent is preferably an organic foaming agent in that it can form a cell in an independent cell state. Specifically, for example, azodicarboxylic acid amide, azobis-isobutyrate is used. An azo compound such as ronitrile is preferably used. In particular, dimethyl-1,1'-azobis (1-cyclohexanecarboxylate) can be preferably used. The blending amount of the foaming agent varies depending on the type of the foaming agent, but it is preferable to adjust the Asker C hardness of the foamed elastic layer 3 to 20 to 60. Specifically, for example, it may be 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, particularly 0.5 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. If the blending amount of the foaming agent is less than 0.1 parts by mass, sufficient cells may not be formed in the foamed elastic layer 3 to be formed. On the other hand, if it exceeds 10 parts by mass, the foamed silicone rubber As a result, the mechanical strength of the foamed elastic layer 3 may be lowered. When dimethyl-1,1′-azo-bis (1-cyclohexanecarboxylate) is selected as the foaming agent, the blending amount is 0.5-5 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. The mass part is particularly good. A foaming agent can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

  As the addition reaction crosslinking agent, for example, a known organohydrogenpolysiloxane can be used as an addition reaction type crosslinking agent having two or more SiH groups (SiH bonds) in one molecule. The organohydrogenpolysiloxane may be linear, cyclic or branched. The compounding amount of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane is preferably 0.01 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. An addition reaction crosslinking agent can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

  The addition reaction catalyst includes, for example, a simple substance of Group 9 or 10 of the periodic table and a compound thereof, and more specifically, particulate platinum adsorbed on a carrier such as silica, alumina, or silica gel. Metals, platinum chloride, chloroplatinic acid, chloroplatinic acid hexahydrate and olefin or divinyldimethylpolysiloxane complexes, platinum-based catalysts such as chloroplatinic acid hexahydrate alcohol solutions, palladium catalysts, rhodium catalysts, etc. Can be mentioned. The addition amount of these addition reaction catalysts is sufficient as the catalyst amount, and is usually 1 in terms of the total amount of addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition in terms of the metal amount of Group 9 or Group 10 of the Periodic Table. It is good that it is -1,000 ppm, and it is especially good that it is 10-500 ppm. If the amount of addition reaction catalyst is less than 1 ppm in terms of the metal content of Group 9 or Group 10 of the Periodic Table, the crosslinking reaction of vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber does not proceed sufficiently, and vinyl group-containing silicone Curing of the raw rubber may be insufficient. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1,000 ppm, the ability to accelerate the crosslinking reaction of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber is not improved, and the economic efficiency may be lowered. An addition reaction catalyst can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

  As the reaction control agent, known reaction control agents can be used without limitation, and examples thereof include methylvinylcyclotetrasiloxane, acetylene alcohols, siloxane-modified acetylene alcohol, and hydroperoxide. The compounding amount of the reaction control agent is preferably 0.1 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. The reaction control agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The organic peroxide cross-linking agent can be used alone to cross-link vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber, but if used in combination as an auxiliary cross-linking agent for an addition reaction cross-linking agent, the physical properties of the silicone rubber, such as strength and strain, can be improved. improves. Examples of the organic peroxide crosslinking agent include benzoyl peroxide, bis-2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis. (T-butylperoxy) hexane and the like. The compounding amount of the organic peroxide crosslinking agent is preferably 0.3 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. An organic peroxide crosslinking agent can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

  The heat resistance improver may be any compound that improves the heat resistance of the foamed elastic layer 3, and examples thereof include carbon black, iron oxide (also referred to as bengara), cerium oxide, and cerium hydroxide. These can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types.

The carbon black can be generally classified into furnace black, channel black, acetylene black, thermal black, etc. depending on the production method. However, if the content of sulfur, amine, etc. is large, the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition Since the addition reaction may be inhibited, carbon black having a low content of sulfur, amine, etc., for example, acetylene black is preferably used. Preferred examples of the iron oxide include black bengara (Fe ₃ O ₄ ) and red bengara (Fe ₂ O ₃ ). The cerium oxide and the cerium hydroxide may be used alone, but are used together with the carbon black and / or the iron oxide in that the change in hardness of the foamed elastic layer 3 can be suppressed. preferable.

  The total amount of the heat resistance improver is preferably 0.1 to 35 parts by mass, and particularly preferably 1 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. If the total blending amount of the heat resistance improver is within the above range, the blending amounts of carbon black, iron oxide, cerium oxide and cerium hydroxide are not particularly limited. For example, the compounding amount of the carbon black is preferably 0 to 15 parts by mass, more preferably 0.2 to 15 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. The mass part is particularly good. The blending amount of Bengala is preferably 0 to 30 parts by mass, more preferably 0.2 to 30 parts by mass, and 2 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. There is especially good. The blending amounts of cerium oxide and cerium hydroxide are preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, particularly 0.2 to 2 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber. Good.

  The various additives include, for example, fillers such as calcium carbonate, colorants, flame retardant improvers, thermal conductivity improvers, release agents, alkoxy silanes, diphenyl silane diols, carbon functional silanes, Examples thereof include dispersants such as both-end silanol-blocked low-molecular siloxanes, and non-reinforcing silica such as pulverized quartz and diatomaceous earth that can adjust the hardness of the resulting rubber. These various additives are blended in a desired blending amount.

  As the silicone rubber composition containing the vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber, the silica filler, and the various additives, for example, trade names “KE series” and “KEG series” manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. can be easily used. It can be obtained.

  The specific gravity of the rubber composition is not particularly limited, but since the specific gravity of the rubber composition also affects the density of the foamed elastic layer 3 to some extent, the specific gravity depends on the various rollers disposed in the image forming apparatus. Adjusted to The specific gravity of the rubber composition is usually preferably 1.00 to 2.00, more preferably 1.05 to 1.50.

  The rubber composition is, for example, several minutes to several hours, preferably 5 until it is uniformly mixed using a rubber kneader such as a two-roll, three-roll, roll mill, Banbury mixer, dough mixer (kneader) or the like. It is obtained by kneading at room temperature or under heating for 1 minute to 1 hour.

  The manufacturing method according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described manufacturing method, and various modifications can be made within a range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, the manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention is configured to store one roller base 7 and one sleeve 4, but the manufacturing apparatus used in the present invention includes a plurality of rollers. The base body and the plurality of sleeves may be accommodated, and a plurality of roller base bodies inserted into the sleeve may be formed at a time or continuously.

  Further, the manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes the fixture 35 having a tapered portion whose outer diameter is gradually reduced. However, in the present invention, the outer surface of the tapered portion in the fixture need not be flat. For example, it may be an uneven surface. Examples of the irregular surface include an irregular surface having a convex portion such as a hemisphere on the outer surface of the tapered portion, an irregular surface having a concave portion such as a groove, and an irregular surface having the convex portion and the concave portion. In addition, the shape of the said convex part and the said recessed part, the number, an arrangement pattern, etc. are not specifically limited. As an example of the uneven surface having a recess such as a groove, for example, a fixture having an uneven surface shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the fixing tool 36 has four grooves 37 that extend in the axial direction of the fixing tool 36 and have a predetermined width at equal intervals. As described above, when the groove 37 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixture 36, when the fixture 37 enters the sleeve 4, the air existing in the sleeve 4 is allowed to pass through the groove 37 through the fixture 37. 36 can flow out of the sleeve 4. As a result, the air resistance when the fixing tool 36 enters the sleeve 4 can be reduced, and the sleeve 4 can be effectively prevented from swinging due to the fixing tool 36 entering. The fixture 36 shown in FIG. 10 is formed with a groove 39 extending continuously from the groove 37 in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical body 38 to which the fixture 36 is mounted. If such a groove 39 is formed, the air in the sleeve 4 can flow out of the sleeve 4 more rapidly through the groove 37 and the groove 38. Needless to say, the shape, number, width, formation position, etc. of the grooves 37 and 38 are not limited to those of the grooves formed in the fixture 36 and the cylindrical body 38 shown in FIG.

  In the elastic roller 1, the sleeve 4 is the outermost layer. However, in the present invention, the sleeve does not have to be the outermost layer, and the sleeve may be formed at a position heated by the external heating means. Further, the elastic roller may include a heating body, for example, an electric heater, a heating coil, or the like, in the shaft body, in the elastic layer, or between the shaft body and the elastic layer, depending on the application.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, other layers such as an elastic layer, a release layer, a coat layer, a surface layer and / or a protective layer may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 4 as desired. The elastic layer is a layer for ensuring elasticity and may be formed of various rubbers, and examples of the rubber include silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and fluorine rubber. The thickness of the elastic layer is preferably 20 to 500 μm, particularly preferably 100 to 400 μm. Further, the release layer is a layer for ensuring the releasability of the developer, and may be formed of various resins, coupling agents, etc. Examples of the resin include fluorine resin, silicone resin, urethane resin, and the like. Examples of the coupling agent include silane coupling agents. The thickness of the release layer is preferably 15 to 200 μm, particularly preferably 20 to 50 μm. The coat layer, the surface layer, and the protective layer are usually formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 4 in a thickness of 1 to 100 μm according to a conventional method. The material for forming the coat layer, the surface layer, and the protective layer is not particularly limited, but the elastic roller 1 is preferably a material that is not easily permanently deformed because it is in contact with or pressed against the contacted body. For example, alkyd resins, phenol-modified / silicone-modified alkyd resin modified products, oil-free alkyd resins, acrylic resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, fluororesins, phenol resins, polyamide resins, urethane resins, polyamideimide resins, and the like And the like. In the present invention, the sleeve 4 is formed of silicone rubber on the outer surface of the single-layered cylindrical body formed of the metal material or the single-layered cylindrical body formed of the metal material. The laminate is preferably a laminate in which an elastic layer and a release layer formed of a fluororesin are laminated in this order.

  The elastic roller 1 is disposed, for example, as the fixing roller 61 built in the image forming apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 9, more specifically, the fixing device 60 of the image forming apparatus 40.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 40 includes a rotatable image carrier 41 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, for example, a photosensitive member, abutting or pressing against the image carrier 41, or a predetermined interval. A charging means 42 for charging the image carrier 41, such as a charging roller, an exposure unit 43 provided above the image carrier 41 to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 41, and an image carrier. A developing means 50 which is provided in contact with or pressed against 41 or at a predetermined interval, supplies developer 52 with a constant layer thickness to image carrier 41, and develops the electrostatic latent image; and image carrier A transfer means 44 for transferring the developed electrostatic latent image from the image carrier 41 to the recording body 46, for example, a transfer roller, and a downstream of the conveying direction of the recording body 46; Fix developer 52 (electrostatic latent image) transferred to recording medium 46 A fixing device 60 which comprises a cleaning means 45 for removing dust adhered to the developer 52 and / or the image carrier 41 remains on the image carrier 41 without being transferred onto the recording medium 46.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the developing unit 50 has an opening at a position facing the image carrier 41, and is provided in the developer storage unit 51 that stores the developer 52 and the developer storage unit 51. Further, the stirrer 53 that uniformly stirs the developer 52 and the opening of the developer container 51 are provided in contact with or in pressure contact with the image carrier 41 or at a predetermined interval. A rotatable developer carrier 54 for supplying the developer 52 with a constant layer thickness, for example, a developing roller and a developer carrier 54 is provided above the developer carrier 54, and comes into contact with the developer carrier 54 to reduce the layer thickness of the developer 52. A developer regulating member 55 that regulates and charges the developer 52 by frictional charging, such as an elastic blade, is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the fixing device 60 includes a fixing roller 61, a pressure roller 62 arranged to face the fixing roller 61, and a fixing roller in a housing 64 having an opening 65 through which the recording body 46 passes. An external heating means 63 for heating 61 from the outside is provided, and the fixing roller 61 and the pressure roller 62 are rotatably supported so as to contact or press against each other. The pressure roller 62 is in contact with or in pressure contact with the fixing roller 61 by an urging means (not shown) such as a spring. The fixing device 60 is equipped with a heating coil as the external heating means 63 and employs an induction heating method. The heating coil as the external heating means 63 is a member having a length substantially the same as the axial length of the fixing roller 61, and is disposed substantially parallel to the fixing roller 61 at a certain interval from the surface of the fixing roller 61. Has been. Although not shown, this heating coil is usually made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite and is formed into I-type, E-type, U-type, etc., which are typical shapes used for a switching power source, and a conducting wire is wound. It is made up of. When a high-frequency alternating current is applied to the conducting wire of the heating coil 63, an eddy current is generated in the sleeve 4 and the sleeve 4 is induction-heated by the Joule heat. As a result, the fixing roller 61 is heated.

  In the fixing device 60, the external heating means adopts, in addition to the induction heating method, a radiant heating method using a halogen heater and a reflector, a direct contact heating method in which heating is performed by directly contacting a heater or the like. The position where the external heating means is arranged is not particularly limited. The fixing device 60 may employ an internal heating unit instead of the external heating unit or in addition to the external heating unit.

  The image forming apparatus 40 operates as follows. First, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 9, the image carrier 41 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the developer 52 and / or dust on the surface thereof are removed by the cleaning unit 45, and then the charging unit 42 removes it. Then, the image is exposed by the exposure means 43, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 41.

  On the other hand, in the developing means 50, the developer carrier 54 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 9, whereby the developer 52 is supplied to the developer carrier 54, and the supplied developer 52 is supplied to the developer carrier. Passing between 54 and the developer regulating member 55, it is regulated to a desired layer thickness and charged as desired.

  Next, a developer 52 having a desired layer thickness and charge amount is supplied to the image carrier 41 via the developer carrier 54, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 41 is developed by the developer 52. This electrostatic latent image is visualized as a developer image. Next, the developer image developed on the image carrier 41 is transferred by the transfer unit 44 onto the recording body 46 conveyed between the image carrier 41 and the transfer unit 44. The recording body 46 to which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 60 and heated when passing through a contact portion or a pressure contact portion between the pressure roller 62 and the fixing roller 61 heated by the heating coil 63. The developer image (electrostatic latent image) transferred by being pressed and / or pressed is fixed on the recording body 46 as a permanent image. In this way, an image can be formed on the recording body 46.

  Since the image forming apparatus 40 includes the elastic roller 1 having the smooth sleeve 4 on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 as the fixing roller 61, a high-quality image can be formed over a long period of time. .

  The image forming apparatus 40 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus in which the elastic roller 1 is disposed is not limited to the electrophotographic system, and for example, an electrostatic image forming apparatus. It may be. Further, the image forming apparatus 40 is a monochrome image forming apparatus in which only a single color developer is accommodated in the developing unit, but the image forming apparatus in which the elastic roller 1 is disposed is not limited to the monochrome image forming apparatus. A color image forming apparatus may be used. Examples of the color image forming apparatus include a four-cycle color image forming apparatus that sequentially repeats primary transfer of a developer image carried on an image carrier to an intermediate transfer body, and a plurality of image carriers provided with developing means for each color. Examples thereof include a tandem type color image forming apparatus in which a body is arranged in series on an intermediate transfer body or a transfer conveyance belt. The image forming apparatus 40 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an elastic roller manufactured using the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the elastic roller manufactured by using the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the roller original. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a state in which the roller body and the metal sleeve are accommodated in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a state in the middle of inserting the tapered portion into the metal sleeve prior to the roller original in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a state in which the roller original is inserted into a metal sleeve in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. 8A and 8B are explanatory views for explaining the deflection accuracy of the foamed elastic layer, FIG. 8A is a front view of the elastic roller, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view for explaining another embodiment of the fixture in the elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 (a) is a schematic side view showing the side of the fixture. 10 (b) is a schematic front view showing the front of the fixture when the fixture is viewed from the first support shaft 22 side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B, 1C Elastic roller 2 Shaft body 2C Center axis of shaft body 3, 3B Foaming elastic layer 3C Center point of foaming elastic layer 4 Sleeve 5 Adhesive layer 7 Roller base 10 Manufacturing apparatus 11 Housing 12, 13 Closed end Part 14 Pressure adjusting device 15 Mounting member 16 Mounting surface 17 Sealing member 20 Support member 21, 22 Support shaft 23 First mounting member 24 Second mounting member 30, 31 Shaft body insertion holes 32, 33, 38 Cylinder Body 34, 35, 36 Fixture 37, 39 Groove

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Image forming apparatus 41 Image carrier 42 Charging means 43 Exposure means 44 Transfer means 45 Cleaning means 46 Recording body 50 Developing means 51 Developer storage part 52 Developer 53 Stirrer 54 Developer carrier 55 Developer regulating member 60 Fixing device 61 Fixing roller 62 Pressure roller 63 External heating means 64 Housing 65 Opening

Claims (2)

An apparatus for producing an elastic roller comprising a sleeve on the outer peripheral surface of a foamed elastic layer,
Advancing in the axial direction, and comprising a support member for disposing a foamed elastic layer on the upstream side in the axial direction with respect to the sleeve,
The support member is installed so as to penetrate the sleeve in the axial direction thereof, and when the foamed elastic layer is disposed on the upstream side, the support member faces the sleeve between the foamed elastic layer and the sleeve. An apparatus for producing an elastic roller, comprising a tapered portion having an outer diameter that gradually decreases. The support member is
A first support shaft having at its end a first mounting member to which one end of the shaft is mounted;
The other end of the shaft body is mounted, the second mounting member having the tapered portion is provided at the end, and a second support shaft that penetrates the sleeve,
The elastic roller manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting member and the second mounting member are arranged so as to face each other.

Images