JP2009175370A - Heat roller, method of manufacturing heat roller, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat roller used in a fixing device, which is simply manufactured and has superior adhesion between a base body and a heater member. <P>SOLUTION: The heat roller 52 includes the base body 31 having a circular cross section contour, and a film-like heater 33 arranged around the base body 31 and composed in a cylindrical shape. In addition, the heat roller 52 includes a coupling reinforcement layer 44 arranged between the film-like heater 33 and the base body 31. The coupling reinforcement layer 44 is bonded on the film-like heater 33. In addition, the coupling reinforcement layer 44 has recesses and projections on a face facing the base body 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a heat roller used in a fixing device for fixing toner on a recording medium.

  In an image forming apparatus equipped with a heat roller fixing type fixing device, a heat roller and a press roller are pressed against each other to form a nip portion, and the paper passing through the nip portion is heated and pressed to apply toner to the paper. Conventionally, a configuration for fixing to the surface is known.

An example of the heat roller is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the heat roller of Patent Document 1, a heating element layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of an insulating base roller, and an electrode layer is connected to an end of the heating element layer. Further, fine irregularities are formed on a part of the base body, and the irregularities increase the adhesive strength between the base roller and the electrode layer, thereby improving the durability.
JP-A-9-6166

  However, when unevenness is formed on the surface of the base body as in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the processing operation becomes complicated. In particular, when the above unevenness is to be formed on the adhesion portion to the heating element layer (not the electrode layer), it is necessary to perform unevenness processing on almost the entire outer peripheral surface of the base roller, which increases the man-hour and cost of the processing work. Was the cause.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a heat roller that is easy to manufacture while improving the adhesion between the base body and the sheet-like heater member. .

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat roller used in a fixing device for fixing toner on a recording medium having the following configuration. That is, the heat roller includes a base body having a circular cross-sectional outline, and a sheet-like heater member that is disposed on the outer periphery of the base body and is configured in a cylindrical shape. In addition, the heat roller includes a bond reinforcing layer disposed between the heater member and the base body. The bond reinforcing layer is bonded to the heater member and has unevenness on the surface facing the base body.

  With this configuration, the adhesion between the base body and the heater member can be improved by the anchor effect due to the unevenness of the bond reinforcing layer. Further, since the unevenness can be formed in a state where the heater member is developed in a planar shape, it is possible to easily bond the bond reinforcing layer and the heater member uniformly and strongly.

  In the heat roller, it is preferable that the bonding reinforcing layer is made of a resin and the unevenness is formed by a mold.

  Thereby, an unevenness | corrugation can be easily formed in a bond reinforcement | strengthening layer by resin molding using a metal mold | die.

  In the heat roller, it is preferable that a difference in height of the unevenness is larger than a thickness of a heating element provided in the heater member.

  Thereby, even greater anchor effect can be expected compared to the case where the heating element portion is uneven.

  In the heat roller, it is preferable that the bond strengthening layer includes a heat resistant cloth and an adhesive layer that adheres the heat resistant cloth and the heater member.

  Thereby, the bond reinforcement | strengthening layer excellent in the anchor effect can be formed with a heat resistant cloth.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus including the heat roller is provided.

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a decrease in toner fixability due to peeling of the heater member or the like, and it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image stably over a long period of time.

  According to the 3rd viewpoint of this invention, the manufacturing method of the heat roller including the following processes is provided. That is, in the first step, the resin film is pressed against the sheet-like heater member by a mold having irregularities formed on the surface and heated to form irregularities on the resin film and the resin film is heated to the heater. Adhere to the member. In the second step, the heater member is formed into a cylindrical shape with the unevenness inside.

  By this method, when the base body is disposed inside the cylindrical heater member, the heater member and the base body can be coupled to each other by exerting a strong anchor effect due to the unevenness. As a result, it is possible to provide a heat roller with less peeling of the heater member. In addition, since the unevenness can be formed in a state where the heater member is flattened, the unevenness can be easily formed, and the process can be simplified. In addition, since the resin film can be pressurized and heated in a state where the heater member is flattened, the heater member and the resin film can be easily and uniformly bonded.

  According to the 4th viewpoint of this invention, the manufacturing method of the heat roller including the following processes is provided. That is, in the first step, the heat-resistant cloth and the resin film are pressed against the sheet-like heater member by a press body and heated to bond the heat-resistant cloth to the heater member via the resin film. In the second step, the heater member is formed into a cylindrical shape with the heat resistant cloth on the inside.

  By this method, when the base body is disposed inside the cylindrical heater member, the heater member and the base body can be coupled to each other by exerting a strong anchor effect by the heat-resistant cloth. As a result, it is possible to provide a heat roller with less peeling of the heater member. Moreover, since it is possible to pressurize and heat the heat resistant cloth and the resin film in a state where the heater member is spread in a flat shape, it is possible to easily bond the heater member and the heat resistant cloth uniformly and strongly.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the inside of the main body of the multifunction machine.

  A copy facsimile multifunction machine 75 as an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image reading unit 76, an operation panel 77, a main body 78, and a paper feed cassette 79.

  The image reading unit 76 is configured to function as a flatbed scanner and an auto document feed scanner. The operation panel 77 is used by the user to instruct the multifunction device 75 such as the number of copies and a facsimile transmission destination.

  The main body 78 incorporates an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet as a recording medium. The main body 78 includes an unillustrated transmission / reception unit for transmitting image data via a communication line. The paper feed cassette 79 is configured so that the paper can be sequentially supplied to the image forming unit.

  The inside of the copy facsimile multifunction machine 75 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a platen glass 82 on which a document to be read is placed is provided on the upper surface of the main body 78. A document table cover 83 is provided above the main body 78, and the document table cover 83 can press and fix the document on the platen glass 82.

  The document table cover 83 is provided with an automatic document feeder (auto document feeder, ADF) 84. The ADF 84 includes a document tray 85 provided above the document table cover 83, and a discharge tray 86 provided below the document tray.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a curved document transport path 87 that connects the document tray 85 and the discharge tray 86 is formed inside the document table cover 83. A separation roller 88 and a plurality of transport rollers 89 are arranged in the document transport path 87. With this configuration, the documents set on the document tray 85 are separated one by one and conveyed along the curved document conveyance path 87, and after passing through the document reading position, are discharged to the discharge tray 86. The

  As shown in FIG. 2, a scanner unit 90 is provided on the upper portion of the main body 78. The scanner unit 90 includes a light source 91, reflection mirrors 92, 93, 94, a condenser lens 95, and a charge coupled device (CCD) 96.

  The light source 91 irradiates the original reading position of the platen glass 82 or the ADF 84 with light. The reflected light from the original is further reflected by the reflecting mirrors 92, 93, 94, converged by the condenser lens 95, and forms an image on the CCD 96. The CCD 96 converts the convergent light into an electrical signal and outputs it.

  The light source 91, the reflection mirror 92, and the like of the scanner unit 90 are configured to be appropriately movable. Therefore, when the multi-function device 75 is used as a flatbed scanner, the original on the platen glass 82 can be scanned by moving the light source 91 and the reflecting mirror 92 at a constant speed. When the multifunction machine 75 is used as an ADF scanner, the light source 91, the reflection mirror 92, and the like are moved to the original reading position of the ADF 84, and the original conveyed on the original conveyance path 87 is scanned. it can.

  As described above, the reflected light from the original is guided to the CCD 96 to form an image, and the CCD 96 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the original. This signal is sent to an image forming unit 11 (described later) for printing after appropriate conversion processing, or transmitted to another facsimile apparatus via the communication line by the transmission / reception unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed cassette 79 for supplying paper 100 is provided at the lower part of the main body 78. The paper feed cassette 79 is configured to be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus (the front side of the paper in FIG. 2). An image forming unit 11, a fixing device 51, and a paper discharge tray 80 are provided above the paper feed cassette 79.

  Inside the main body 78, a transport path 24 for transporting the paper 100 from the paper feed cassette 79 to the paper discharge tray 80 is formed. The conveyance path 24 extends upward from one end side of the paper feed cassette 79, then curves in the horizontal direction to reach the image forming unit 11, further extends in the horizontal direction, passes through the fixing device 51, and then is discharged. It is configured to reach the paper tray 80.

  A paper feed roller 21 is disposed above the paper feed cassette 79, and is configured such that the paper feed roller 21 contacts the uppermost paper 100 stacked in the paper feed cassette 79. By driving the paper feed roller 21 in this state, the uppermost sheet 100 is separated and picked up and sent out toward the transport path 24.

  Conveying rollers 22 and 23 are arranged immediately downstream of the paper feed roller 21 in the conveying path 24. The transport rollers 22 and 23 are driven while the paper 100 is nipped between the transport rollers 22 and 23 so as to transport the paper 100 to the image forming unit 11 on the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 11 is configured by arranging a charger 13, an LED head 14, a developing unit 15, and a transfer roller 16 around the photosensitive drum 12.

  The photosensitive drum 12 is configured such that a photoconductive film made of an organic photoreceptor is formed on the surface and is rotated by an electric motor (not shown). The charger 13 is configured in a brush charging system, and the charger 13 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 12, for example, negatively.

  The LED head 14 as an exposure device is disposed downstream of the charger 13 (refers to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 12; hereinafter, the same applies to the description of the developing device 15 and the transfer roller 16). In this configuration, a large number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged in the paper width direction. The LED head 14 selectively emits light corresponding to the image data of the facsimile document received via the telephone line or the image data read by the image reading unit 76. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is selectively exposed, and the electrostatic energy is formed by losing the charge energy of the exposed portion.

  The developing device 15 is disposed on the downstream side of the LED head 14. The developing device 15 includes a toner container 26 that stores nonmagnetic one-component toner, and a stirring blade 27 that is rotationally driven inside the toner container 26 for stirring the toner. Further, the developing device 15 is disposed so as to be in contact with the supply roller 28 disposed in the toner container 26, the development roller 29 disposed in contact with the supply roller 28, and the outer peripheral surface of the development roller 29. And a regulating blade 30 to be operated.

  With this configuration, the supply roller 28 and the developing roller 29 are rotationally driven so as to rub the circumferential surfaces in opposite directions. Further, the tip of the regulating blade 30 rubs against the peripheral surface of the developing roller 29 that is driven to rotate. As a result, the toner in the toner container 26 is frictionally charged and adheres to the surface of the developing roller 29 due to a potential difference. The toner on the surface of the developing roller 29 is adjusted by the regulating blade 30 so that the adhesion thickness is uniform, and is sent to the photosensitive drum 12 side by the rotation of the developing roller 29. Thereafter, in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 12 and the developing roller 29, the toner on the surface of the developing roller 29 is selectively transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 only in the portion corresponding to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 12 by the LED head 14. Moving. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12.

  The transfer roller 16 is disposed on the downstream side of the developing unit 15 and is disposed on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 12 with the conveyance path 24 interposed therebetween. A predetermined voltage from a power source is applied to the transfer roller 16. Accordingly, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 moves so as to approach the transfer roller 16 side by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 12, and is transferred to the paper 100 by the electric field attraction force. The sheet 100 on which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing device 51 on the downstream side of the conveyance path 24 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 12.

  The fixing device 51 includes a heat roller 52 that is rotationally driven, and a press roller 53 that is disposed to face the heat roller 52. The press roller 53 is pressed against the heat roller 52 by an urging spring. The detailed configuration of the heat roller 52 and the press roller 53 will be described later.

  With this configuration, when the paper 100 passes between the heat roller 52 and the press roller 53, the toner of the toner image is melted and fixed to the paper 100 by the heat of the high-temperature heat roller 52 and the pressure by the press roller 53. To do. The fixing device 51 is provided with a separation claw 54 for preventing the paper 100 from being wrapped around the heat roller 52 while being stuck.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a paper discharge roller 25 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 51. With this configuration, the sheet 100 sent from the fixing device 51 is nipped between the sheet discharge roller 25 and a driven roller disposed opposite thereto, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 80.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the fixing device 51 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, which is an enlarged sectional view, the fixing device 51 includes a housing 55 that houses the heat roller 52 and the press roller 53. A heat roller 52 is rotatably supported on the housing 55 via a bearing 56, and a press roller 53 is rotatably supported via a bearing body 57.

  The bearing body 57 is slidably provided with respect to the housing 55, and an urging spring 58 is interposed between the bearing body 57 and the housing 55. The press roller 53 is pressed against the heat roller 52 by the spring force of the urging spring 58, and both are elastically contacted.

  Next, detailed configurations of the heat roller 52 and the press roller 53 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a region (nip portion) indicated by A in FIG.

  The heat roller 52 includes a base body (heat-resistant carrier) 31, a bonding reinforcing layer 44, a film heater (heater member) 33, and a release layer 37 as main components. The press roller 53 pressed against the heat roller 52 is arranged on a roller shaft 61 formed of a metal such as stainless steel, a sponge body 62 fixed around the roller shaft 61, and an outer peripheral surface of the sponge body 62. The release layer 63 is provided.

  The base body 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its cross-sectional outline is a circle having fine irregularities. A film heater 33 configured in a sheet shape is disposed outside the base body 31. The heat conductivity of the base body 31 is smaller than the heat conductivity of the film heater 33 (the heat conductivity of the heat transfer layer 36 described later), and the heat capacity of the base body 31 is the heat capacity of the film heater 33 (heat transfer). The heat capacity of the layer 36).

  A bond reinforcing layer 44 is disposed between the base body 31 and the film heater 33. The bond reinforcing layer 44 is composed of a layer made of a material having heat resistance. The bonding reinforcing layer 44 is bonded to the film heater 33, and unevenness is formed toward the base body 31 side (inside the heat roller 52).

  The film heater 33 is disposed outside the base body 31 and is bonded to the bonding reinforcing layer 44. The film heater 33 includes a heating element (heating layer) 35, a first adhesive layer 45, and a heat transfer layer (soaking layer) 36.

  The heating element 35 of the film heater 33 can be made of, for example, a nickel alloy such as nickel chrome, nickel, stainless steel, or the like. The heating element 35 has a pattern shape in which a plurality of thin lines are arranged in parallel at equal intervals (heater pattern). The thickness of the heating element 35 is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 100 μm or less, for example, and more preferably about 30 μm. Specifically, sputtering, vapor deposition, metal foil etching, pattern printing, blasting, or the like can be used as a method for creating the heater pattern.

  The first adhesive layer 45 is composed of a layer made of a heat-resistant adhesive having electrical insulation (for example, polyimide). The first adhesive layer 45 is preferably a composition having high thermal conductivity.

  The heat transfer layer 36 of the film heater 33 is configured to have a thickness of, for example, 1 μm to 50 μm, preferably 10 μm to 30 μm. The heat transfer layer 36 is preferably formed using a layer having a higher thermal conductivity than either of the base body 31 and the heating element 35. Moreover, it is preferable that the heat conductivity of the heat transfer layer 36 is, for example, 10 W / m · K or more. As a material for the heat transfer layer 36, it is conceivable to use a metal such as copper or aluminum. Further, ceramics such as aluminum nitride (AlN) or silicon carbide (SiC) can be used as the heat transfer layer 36.

  A release layer 37 is disposed on the outermost periphery of the heat roller 52. The release layer 37 is made of a material having a high releasability with respect to the toner (a material having a low surface energy and a low intermolecular cohesive force), for example, a fluororesin such as a tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer. be able to. As the thickness of the release layer 37, for example, about 30 μm can be considered.

  The film heater 33 can be formed by the following method, for example. That is, a heat-resistant resin adhesive layer having a predetermined thickness is formed on one side of the copper foil as the base material. This copper foil corresponds to the heat transfer layer 36, and the heat resistant resin adhesive layer corresponds to the first adhesive layer 45. Then, a stainless steel foil having a thickness of 25 μm is thermocompression bonded to the heat resistant resin adhesive layer. Next, the stainless steel foil is processed into a pattern shape having a plurality of lines by a known method such as wet etching. As a result, a heater pattern-shaped heating element (heating layer) 35 made of stainless steel foil is formed.

  In addition, as the formation method of the said heat generating body 35, after processing the said foil-shaped material into a predetermined heater pattern shape previously by methods, such as wet etching, dry etching, and blasting, it affixes on the 1st contact bonding layer 45. Also good. Further, a wire-shaped material previously processed into a heater pattern shape may be attached to the first adhesive layer 45.

  Next, a method for forming the bond reinforcing layer 44 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are explanatory views showing how the bond reinforcing layer 44 is formed of a resin film.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, the resin film 41 is arranged on the surface of the film heater 33 where the heating element 35 is formed. As the resin film, a resin having electrical insulation and heat resistance, for example, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), epoxy, semi-cured product (B stage) such as polyimide, and the like are used.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the resin film 41 is pressed against the film heater 33 by the mold 40 and heated. As a result, the resin film 41 is adhered to the film heater 33, and a bond reinforcing layer 44 is formed as shown in FIG. Further, since appropriate irregularities are formed on the surface of the mold 40, the irregularities of the mold 40 are transferred to the resin film 41 simultaneously with the adhesion of the resin film 41, thereby forming irregularities.

  An appropriate configuration can be adopted as the mold 40, but if the film heater 33 is flattened and pressed using a mold having a substantially flat surface, the resin It becomes easy to press the entire surface of the film 41 evenly with a strong pressing force, which is preferable. Thereby, the film heater 33 and the resin film 41 (bonding reinforcement layer 44) can be more uniformly and strongly bonded.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the film heater 33, unevenness is formed between the portion where the heating element 35 is disposed and the other portion. However, in the present embodiment, the height of the unevenness formed on the resin film 41 by the mold 40 is larger than the thickness of the heating element 35 (that is, the height of the unevenness based on the heater pattern of the heating element 35). It is comprised so that it may become. Thereby, a larger anchor effect can be exhibited than when the laminate is directly bonded to the heat roller 52.

  Next, the film heater 33 obtained by the above means is rounded so that the bonding reinforcing layer 44 faces inward to form a cylindrical tube. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical film heater 33 is disposed in a cavity formed between the fixed mold 98 and the movable mold 99 of the mold apparatus. After the film heater 33 is set in the mold apparatus in this way, a heat resistant resin such as PPS is injection molded inside the cylinder. When the resin is cured, a cylindrical base body 31 is obtained, and fine irregularities corresponding to the irregularities of the bonding reinforcing layer 44 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base body 31.

  Thus, by providing the bonding reinforcing layer 44 having irregularities between the base body 31 and the film heater 33, when the base body 31 is formed by injection molding, the resin of the base body 31 is bonded to the bonding reinforcing layer. It bites into the unevenness of 44 and exhibits a large anchor effect. Thereby, the base body 31 and the film-like heater 33 can be firmly joined, and the peeling of the film-like heater 33 from the base body 31 can be prevented, and a long-life heat roller can be provided.

  Further, a fluororesin layer such as a tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkylvinyl copolymer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the film heater 33 to form a release layer 37. The heat roller 52 can be manufactured by the above process.

  The heat roller 52 thus manufactured can transfer the heat of the heating element 35 to the outer peripheral surface side of the heat roller 52 through the first adhesive layer 45, the heat transfer layer 36 and the release layer 37. As described above, the surface temperature of the heat roller 52 can be quickly raised, and it is possible to contribute to shortening the warm-up time and power saving in the copy facsimile multifunction peripheral 75. Moreover, since the film-like heater 33 and the base body 31 are difficult to peel off by providing the bond reinforcing layer 44, stable image formation is possible over a long period of time.

  As described above, the copy facsimile multifunction machine 75 according to the present embodiment includes the fixing device 51 that fixes toner on the paper 100. The heat roller 52 used in the fixing device 51 includes a cylindrical base body 31 and a film heater 33 arranged on the outer periphery of the base body 31 and configured in a cylindrical shape. The heat roller 52 includes a bonding reinforcing layer 44 disposed between the film heater 33 and the base body 31. The bonding reinforcing layer 44 is bonded to the film heater 33 and has unevenness on the surface facing the base body 31.

  With this configuration, the adhesion between the base body 31 and the film heater 33 is improved by the anchor effect due to the unevenness of the bonding reinforcing layer 44. In addition, since the unevenness can be formed in a state where the film heater 33 is flattened, the film heater 33 and the bonding reinforcing layer 44 can be easily and uniformly bonded.

  In the heat roller 52 of the present embodiment, the bonding reinforcing layer 44 is made of the resin film 41, and the unevenness is formed by the mold 40.

  Thereby, irregularities can be easily formed in the bond reinforcing layer 44.

  Further, the heat roller 52 of the present embodiment is configured such that the height difference of the unevenness is larger than the thickness of the heating element 35 provided in the film heater 33.

  Thereby, even when the unevenness of the portion of the heating element 35 is directly bonded to the base body 31, a larger anchor effect can be expected.

  Further, the heat roller 52 of the present embodiment is manufactured by a method including the following steps. That is, in the first step, the resin film 41 is pressed against the film heater 33 by the mold 40 having irregularities formed on the surface and heated to form irregularities on the resin film 41 and the resin film 41. Is adhered to the film heater 33. Next, in the second step, the film heater 33 is formed into a cylindrical shape with the unevenness inside.

  By this method, the cylindrical film-like heater 33 and the base body 31 formed in the subsequent process can be coupled to each other while exhibiting a strong anchor effect due to unevenness, and a heat roller with less peeling. 52 can be provided. Moreover, since the unevenness can be formed in a state where the film-like heater 33 is developed in a flat shape, the unevenness can be easily formed, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. In addition, since the resin film 41 can be pressurized and heated in a state where the film heater 33 is flattened, it is easy to bond the resin film 41 and the film heater 33 uniformly and strongly. it can.

  The bond reinforcing layer 44 can be formed by the method shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 instead of the above method. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are explanatory views showing how the bond reinforcing layer 44 is formed of resin and heat resistant cloth.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9, the resin film 41 is disposed on the surface of the film heater 33 where the heating element 35 is formed. As the resin film 41, a resin having electrical insulation and heat resistance, for example, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), epoxy, semi-cured product such as polyimide (B stage), and the like can be used.

  Further, a heat resistant cloth 42 is disposed on the resin film 41. As the heat-resistant cloth 42, a cloth having heat resistance and electrical insulation, such as glass fiber or heat-resistant resin fiber, can be used. The thread thickness, the roughness of the eyes, and the like can be appropriately selected, but a relatively coarser one can exhibit a large anchor effect. Moreover, not only a woven fabric but a nonwoven fabric may be sufficient.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the heat resistant cloth 42 and the resin film 41 are pressurized and heated by the press body 43. Then, the resin film 41 is melted and impregnated in the heat-resistant cloth 42 and adhered to the film heater 33 to form an adhesive layer (second adhesive layer) 46. As a result, the second adhesive layer 46 and the heat-resistant cloth 42 are integrated, and a bond reinforcing layer 44 is formed as shown in FIG. The surface of the heat-resistant cloth 42 is exposed on one surface of the bonding reinforcing layer 44.

  The press body 43 may have an appropriate configuration, but as in the case described above, it is preferable that the press body 43 can be pressed in a state where the film-like heater 33 is developed in a flat shape. Thereby, the film-like heater 33 and the heat resistant cloth 42 (bonding reinforcing layer 44) can be bonded more uniformly and strongly.

  Thereafter, as in the case described above, resin is poured into the inside of the film heater 33 fixed in a cylindrical shape, and the base body 31 is injection-molded. Thereby, the film-like heater 33 and the base body 31 can be firmly bonded, and the film-like heater 33 can be effectively prevented from peeling off.

  As described above, in the heat roller 52 of the present embodiment, the bonding reinforcing layer 44 includes the heat resistant cloth 42 and the second adhesive layer 46 that adheres the heat resistant cloth 42 and the film heater 33. Yes.

  Thereby, the bond reinforcement layer 44 with a large anchor effect can be formed by the heat resistant cloth 42. Further, since it is not necessary to prepare a special mold, the bond reinforcing layer 44 can be formed more easily.

  Further, the heat roller 52 of the present embodiment is manufactured by a manufacturing method including the following steps. That is, in the first step, the press body 43 pressurizes and heats the resin film 41 together with the heat resistant cloth 42 against the film heater 33, thereby heating the heat resistant cloth 42 via the resin film 41. Adhere to. In the second step, the film heater 33 is formed into a cylindrical shape with the heat resistant cloth 42 inside.

  By this method, the film-like heater 33 can be attached and attached to the base body 31 formed in the subsequent process inside the cylindrical shape while exhibiting a strong anchor effect by the heat-resistant cloth 42, and the heat roller with less peeling 52 can be provided. Further, since a special mold or the like for forming irregularities on the surface is not necessary, the heat roller 52 can be configured inexpensively and easily. In addition, since the heat resistant cloth 42 and the resin film 41 can be pressed and heated in a state where the film heater 33 is flattened, the heat resistant cloth 42 and the film heater 33 are bonded uniformly and strongly. Can be easily done.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention and its modification have been described above, the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.

  As a method of disposing the base body 31 inside the film-like heater 33, the configuration is changed to a configuration in which the film-like heater 33 is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the base body 31 that has been molded in advance, instead of injection molding the base body 31. it can. FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fixing device including the heat roller 52 manufactured by this method.

  Specifically, for example, a base body 31 in which a PPS resin is formed into a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape is prepared, and a polyimide heat-resistant adhesive is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the base body to form an adhesive layer. This adhesive layer corresponds to the third adhesive layer 47 shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the film-like heater 33 provided with the bonding reinforcing layer 44 has a surface on the side of the bonding reinforcing layer 44 (a surface on which the unevenness is formed) of the outer peripheral surface of the base body 31 (the third adhesive layer 47) is placed so as to be opposed to each other, and is heat-pressed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the film-like heater 33 configured in a cylindrical shape is disposed outside the base body 31.

  Also in this configuration, by providing the bonding reinforcing layer 44 having irregularities between the base body 31 and the film heater 33, the adhesive constituting the third adhesive layer 47 bites into the irregularities, resulting in a large anchor. Demonstrate the effect. Thereby, it can prevent that the base body 31 and the film-like heater 33 peel.

  There is no particular limitation on the pattern and height of the concavities and convexities transferred to the resin film 41 by the mold 40 in FIG. However, in order to obtain a stronger anchor effect than in the case where the conventional bond reinforcing layer is not used, it is preferable to form irregularities higher than the thickness of the heating element 35 at least.

  The method of forming irregularities in the bond reinforcing layer 44 is not limited to the above method, and for example, it may be formed by performing appropriate surface treatment on the surface of the resin film that has been bonded to the film heater by pressurization and heating. good. However, from the viewpoint of ease of work, etc., it is preferable to form the irregularities by transferring irregularities using a mold or heat-resistant cloth.

  The first adhesive layer 45, the second adhesive layer 46, and the third adhesive layer 47 can be made of, for example, a silicon adhesive instead of the heat-resistant resin adhesive. Thereby, the film-like heater 33 provided with favorable flexibility is obtained.

  The material of the base body 31 is not limited to PPS, and a heat-resistant resin such as a liquid crystalline polymer or glass epoxy can be employed. In addition, an inorganic material such as alumina, mullite, zirconia, or glass ceramics can be used as the material of the base body 31.

  The heat roller of the present invention can be applied to various electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as a copy, a facsimile, a printer, etc., as well as a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral.

1 is an external perspective view of a copy facsimile multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing the inside of the main body of the multifunction machine. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state of the fixing device. The cross-sectional enlarged view which shows the part of A of FIG. 3 in detail. Explanatory drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the heat roller which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that an unevenness | corrugation is formed in the said resin film while adhering a resin film to a film-like heater. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the bond reinforcement | strengthening layer was formed in the part of a film-like heater. The schematic diagram which shows a mode that a base body is injection-molded inside a cylindrical film-shaped heater. Explanatory drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the heat roller which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a heat resistant cloth is adhere | attached on a film-like heater through a resin film. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the bond reinforcement | strengthening layer was formed in the part of a film-like heater. The cross-sectional enlarged view of the fixing device provided with the heat roller which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

31 Base body 33 Film heater (heater member)
35 Heating element (heating layer)
36 Heat Transfer Layer 37 Release Layer 40 Mold 41 Resin Film 42 Heat Resistant Cloth 43 Press Body 44 Bond Strengthening Layer 45 First Adhesive Layer 46 Second Adhesive Layer 47 Third Adhesive Layer 51 Fixing Device 52 Heat Roller 75 Copy Facsimile Multifunction Machine

Claims (7)

A base body having a circular cross-sectional profile;
A sheet-like heater member disposed on the outer periphery of the base body and configured in a cylindrical shape;
A bonding reinforcing layer disposed between the heater member and the base body and bonded to the heater member, and having irregularities on the surface facing the base body;
A heat roller for use in a fixing device for fixing toner on a recording medium. The heat roller according to claim 1,
The heat roller according to claim 1, wherein the bonding reinforcing layer is made of a resin, and the unevenness is formed by a mold. The heat roller according to claim 2,
The heat roller, wherein a difference in height of the unevenness is larger than a thickness of a heating element provided in the heater member. The heat roller according to claim 1,
The heat strengthening layer includes a heat resistant cloth and an adhesive layer that adheres the heat resistant cloth and the heater member.   An image forming apparatus comprising the heat roller according to claim 1. A first step of forming irregularities on the resin film and bonding the resin film to the heater member by pressurizing and heating the resin film to the sheet-like heater member with a mold having irregularities formed on the surface. When,
A second step in which the heater member is cylindrical with the irregularities inside,
A method of manufacturing a heat roller used in a fixing device for fixing toner onto a recording medium. A first step of bonding the heat-resistant cloth to the heater member via the resin film by pressurizing and heating the heat-resistant cloth and the resin film to the sheet-like heater member with a press body;
A second step of forming the heater member in a cylindrical shape with the heat-resistant cloth on the inside;
A method of manufacturing a heat roller used in a fixing device for fixing toner onto a recording medium.

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