JP2010122338A - Beltlike member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beltlike member which reduces the occurrence of a frictional sound which is generated by the friction between the beltlike member itself and a position-of-widthwise-direction regulating member. <P>SOLUTION: A fixing belt 51 includes: an endless-beltlike metallic base material layer 513; and an end part 51a which is a movement-of-widthwise-direction regulating part which is provided at least at one end in the widthwise direction of the metallic base material layer 513 and formed by bending the metallic base material layer 513 toward the outside in the radial direction. Movement in widthwise direction is regulated by a flange part 81 which is a regulating member and contacts the end part 51a from the outside in the widthwise direction of the fixing belt 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a belt-shaped member, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

In a fixing device that heats and presses a toner image on a recording paper with a heated metal belt and fixes the toner image, a configuration in which both ends in the width direction of the metal belt are regulated by flange-shaped position regulating members has conventionally existed (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and 2).
JP 2002-246151 A JP-A-6-314043

  The present invention provides a belt-like member in which the generation of frictional noise with the width direction position regulating member is reduced.

  The band-shaped member according to claim 1 is provided at an endless, seamless band-shaped metal base layer and at least one end in the width direction of the metal base layer, and the metal base layer is radially outward. A width-direction movement restriction portion that is bent, and movement in the width direction is restricted by a restriction member that contacts the width-direction movement restriction portion from the outside in the width direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the belt-shaped member slides with less frictional resistance than the metal base material layer on the outer side in the width direction of the metal base material layer of the width direction movement restricting portion. A layer is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the belt-like member according to the second aspect, wherein the sliding layer is made of a fluororesin.

  The band-shaped member according to claim 4 is provided at an endless, seamless band-shaped metal base layer and at least one end in the width direction of the metal base layer, and the metal base layer is radially inward. A width-direction movement restriction portion that is bent, and movement in the width direction is restricted by a restriction member that contacts the width-direction movement restriction portion from the outside in the width direction.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourth aspect, the strip-shaped member is a release layer having a higher peelability than the metal base material layer on the outer side in the width direction of the metal base material layer of the width direction movement restriction portion. Is provided.

  A strip-shaped member according to a sixth aspect is characterized in that, in the configuration according to the fifth aspect, the release layer is made of a fluororesin.

  A fixing device according to a seventh aspect includes a belt-like member according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a pressing member that pushes an inner peripheral surface of the belt-like member radially outward, and the pressing member. A driving roller that pushes the outer peripheral surface of the supported belt-shaped member to rotationally drive the belt-shaped member; and a regulating member that is in contact with the width-direction movement regulating portion from the outside in the width direction and regulates the movement of the belt-shaped member in the width direction. It is characterized by having.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, an image holding member, a latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding member, and toner developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. A developing unit, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image to a transfer medium, and the fixing device according to claim 7, wherein the fixing device fixes the toner image on the transfer medium. .

  According to the configuration of the belt-shaped member according to claim 1, it is possible to suppress the frictional noise generated by the contact between the cross section of the metal base material layer and the regulating member, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the configuration of the belt-shaped member according to claim 2, it is possible to further suppress the frictional noise generated by the contact with the regulating member as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the configuration of the belt-shaped member according to the third aspect, it is possible to reliably suppress the frictional noise as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the configuration of the belt-shaped member according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to suppress the friction noise generated by the contact between the cross-section of the metal base material layer and the regulating member, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the configuration of the belt-shaped member according to the fifth aspect, it is possible to further suppress the frictional noise generated by the contact with the regulating member as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the structure of the strip | belt-shaped member of Claim 6, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, a friction sound can be suppressed reliably.

  According to the configuration of the fixing device according to claim 7, as compared with a case where a band-shaped member that does not have this configuration is used, frictional noise generated by contact between the cross-section of the metal base layer of the band-shaped member and the regulating member. Can be suppressed.

  According to the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, the image forming apparatus is caused by contact between the cross-section of the metal base material layer of the belt-shaped member and the regulating member as compared with a case where a fixing device not having this configuration is used. The friction noise can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Fixing belt>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a cross section of a fixing belt 51 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing belt 51 forms an outermost layer and has a release layer 511 whose surface is in contact with the pressure roll 52, an elastic layer 512 laminated on the inner side of the release layer 511, and an inner side of the elastic layer 512. And a metal base layer 513 to be laminated. An inner surface low friction layer 514 that is laminated on the inner side of the metal base layer 513 and the inner surface is in contact with the low friction sheet 55 may be provided, and the elastic layer 512 may be omitted.

  As a material for the release layer 511, for example, PFA, PTFE, FEP, a fluororesin containing these composite materials, a silicone resin, or the like can be used. You may use what mix | blended fillers, such as carbon, an alumina, barium sulfate, with the said resin. As a method for forming the release layer 511, for example, an electrostatic powder coating method, a spray coating method, a dip coating method, a centrifugal film forming method, a method of covering a fluororesin tube, or the like can be used.

  As a material of the elastic layer 512, for example, silicone rubber, fluororubber, or the like is used. As a forming method, for example, a ring coating method, a flow coating method, a dip coating method, an injection molding method, or the like can be used.

  The material of the inner low friction layer 514 is not particularly limited, and any of inorganic materials, organic materials, and composite materials thereof can be used. Examples of materials that can ensure low friction performance under heat-resistant conditions include, for example, fluororesins such as PFA, PTFE, and FEP, and synthetic resins such as thermosetting polyimide, thermoplastic polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide, and polyetherketone. You can also.

  As a material for the metal base layer 513, nickel alloy, SUS, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, or the like can be used. As a manufacturing method of the metal base layer 513, for example, an electroforming method or a method of forming a specified film thickness and diameter by performing plastic processing such as deep drawing processing and spinning processing, and by cutting to a predetermined size, it is seamless. A processing method for forming the seamless metal base layer 513 can be used.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a contact portion between the end portion of the fixing belt according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the end portion-side regulating guide.

  The fixing belt 51 including the metal base material layer 513 having a seamless structure is subjected to plastic working so that the end in the width direction is narrowed inward in the radial direction, and is narrowed by about 90 degrees (as in the end 51a). ) It is bent inward in the radial direction.

  The end 51a is formed by expanding, drawing, or rounding the end of the metal base layer 513 shown in FIG. 1 in the outer diameter direction by plastic working. As a plastic working method, a known working method such as a flange working method, a swaging working method, or a curling working method may be used.

  With respect to the flange portion 81a of the end portion regulating guide 81, the fixing belt 51 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt 51 that is bent radially outward, that is, radially inward, at the radially narrowed portion (end portion 51a). In contact. As a result, when the fixing belt 51 rotates in the direction of the arrow R in the figure and a displacement force (arrow W) in the axial direction of the fixing belt 51 is applied, the edge of the end face having an area corresponding to the thickness of the fixing belt 51 only. The portion contacts the flange portion 81a on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51a without rubbing against the flange portion 81a.

  With the above-described configuration, the pressure generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 51 by the shifting force in the arrow W direction is received on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51a.

  The outer side surface of the end portion 51a in the width direction has a larger area than the edge portion (= cross section) of the end surface of the fixing belt 51, and compared with the configuration in the case where this configuration is not provided as shown in FIG. The hit pressure is reduced, and the rubbing noise generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 51 is reduced.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing belt end portion having a seamless structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the contact portion of the end portion side regulating guide.

  The fixing belt 151 having a seamless structure is subjected to plastic working in a direction in which the widthwise end portion is expanded radially outward, and is expanded approximately 90 degrees (like the end portion 51b) and is bent radially outward. ing.

  The end 51b is formed by expanding, drawing, or rounding the end of the metal base layer 513 shown in FIG. 1 in the outer diameter direction by plastic working. As a plastic working method, a known working method such as a flange working method, a swaging working method, or a curling working method may be used.

  With respect to the flange portion 81a of the end portion regulation guide 81, the fixing belt 151 has an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 151 bent outward in the width direction of the portion (end portion 51b) bent outward in the radial direction, that is, radially outward. In contact. As a result, when the fixing belt 151 rotates in the direction of arrow R in the figure and a displacement force (arrow W) in the axial direction of the fixing belt 151 is applied, the edge of the end face having only an area corresponding to the thickness of the fixing belt 151. The portion contacts the flange portion 81a on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51b without rubbing against the flange portion 81a.

  With the above-described configuration, the pressure generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 151 by the shifting force in the arrow W direction is received on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51b.

  The outer side surface of the end portion 51b in the width direction has a larger area than the edge portion (= cross section) of the end surface of the fixing belt 151, and compared with the configuration in the case where the present configuration is not provided as shown in FIG. The hit pressure is reduced, and the rubbing noise generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 151 is reduced.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing belt end portion having a seamless structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention and the contact portion of the end portion side regulating guide.

  The fixing belt 251 having a seamless structure is subjected to plastic working in a direction in which the end portion in the width direction is expanded outward in the radial direction, and plastic processing called curling processing is performed so that the end portion is expanded in the radial direction and then rounded. Is applied to form a shape like the end 51c.

  With respect to the flange portion 81a of the end portion side regulating guide 81, the fixing belt 251 is radially outer of the portion (end portion 51c) that is rounded radially outward, that is, the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 251 that is rounded radially outward. In contact. As a result, when the fixing belt 251 rotates in the direction of the arrow R in the drawing and a displacement force (arrow W) in the axial direction of the fixing belt 251 is applied, the edge of the end face having only the area corresponding to the thickness of the fixing belt 251. The portion contacts the flange portion 81a on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51c without rubbing against the flange portion 81a.

  With the above-described configuration, the pressure generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 251 by the shifting force in the arrow W direction is received on the outer side surface in the width direction of the end portion 51c.

  The outer side surface of the end portion 51c in the width direction has a larger area than the edge portion (= cross section) of the end surface of the fixing belt 251, and compared with the configuration in the case where the present configuration is not provided as shown in FIG. The hit pressure is reduced, and the rubbing sound generated between the flange portion 81a and the fixing belt 251 is reduced.

  Further, by processing the end portion in the width direction of the fixing belt 251 like the end portion 51c, there is no edge portion in the end portion 51c as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. As shown, the elastic layer 512 and the release layer 511 are formed on the fixing belt 251 when the fixing belt 251 is incorporated into the fixing device 50, as compared with a configuration that does not have this configuration and has an edge at the end. This reduces the possibility of injury to the operator.

  Further, since the end portion 51c has a greater strength in the circumferential direction as compared with the configuration without the present configuration as shown in FIG. 5, cracks and cracks occur at the belt end as shown in FIG. Reduce the possibility.

<Fixing device>
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fixing device 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the main part of the fixing device 50 includes, for example, the fixing belt 51, the fixing belt 151, or the fixing belt 251 according to the first to third embodiments as an example of a heating member, and is applied from the outside facing the fixing belt 51. A pressure roll 52 that presses, a pressure pad 53 that is provided inside the fixing belt 51 and receives pressure from the pressure roll 52 via the fixing belts 51 to 251, and a magnetic field generation unit 60 that generates heat from the fixing belts 51 to 251. It is configured. The magnetic field generating unit 60 is provided with an exciting coil 61 that is disposed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belts 51 to 251 and generates an alternating magnetic field. The pressure roller 52 and the fixing belts 51 to 251 face each other, and a contact portion N is formed at a place where the pressure roller 52 and the fixing belt 51 to 251 contact and press each other.

  On the downstream side of the contact portion N, a peeling baffle 71 and a peeling baffle 71 are held in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the fixing belts 51 to 251 (counter direction) and disposed close to the fixing belts 51 to 251. A peeling member 70 including a holder 72 is provided. The peeling member 70 peels the paper P from the fixing belts 51 to 251 and guides the paper P to the paper discharge path toward the discharge unit of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The pressure roll 52 is rotated in the direction of arrow C at a process speed of, for example, 140 mm / s by a drive motor (not shown). The fixing belts 51 to 251 are also driven and rotated in the direction of the arrow C ′ by the frictional force derived from the rotation. In the secondary transfer device 30 of the image forming apparatus 1, the paper P on which the toner image has been electrostatically transferred is guided to the contact portion N by the fixing device transport unit 44, and when the paper P passes through the contact portion N, The toner image on the paper P is fixed on the paper P by the pressure acting on the contact portion N from both sides and the heat supplied from the fixing belt 51 that has generated heat.

  The fixing belts 51 to 251 include a pressure pad 53 disposed on the inner peripheral side, a belt guide member 54, and guide members 81 that restrict the belt end portions disposed on both side end portions of the fixing belts 51 to 251. It is supported so that it can circulate freely. A low friction sheet 55 is provided at a location where the pressure pad 53 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the fixing belts 51 to 251.

  A lubricant application member 56 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belts 51 to 251. The lubricant application member 56 is disposed so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the fixing belts 51 to 251, and supplies an appropriate amount of lubricant to the inner peripheral surfaces of the fixing belts 51 to 251.

  The pressure pad 53 is configured using, for example, an elastic body such as silicone rubber or fluorine rubber, a leaf spring, or the like. The surface of the pressure pad 53 facing the pressure roll 52 is formed in a substantially flat planar shape. The belt inner surface guide member 54 is formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the metal base material layer 513. For example, a heat resistant resin such as PFA or PPS may be used.

  The low-friction sheet 55 is, for example, a sintered PTFE resin sheet, a glass fiber sheet impregnated with Teflon (registered trademark), a laminated sheet in which a glass fiber sheet made of a fluororesin is heated and fused, and the like. It may be formed using. The low friction sheet 55 may be configured as a separate part from the pressure pad 53 or may be configured integrally. Further, the low friction sheet 55 may be formed of a material having irregularities on the surface and having no wettability and permeability to the lubricant.

  The lubricant supplied by the lubricant application member 56 is a liquid oil such as a silicone oil such as dimethyl silicone oil, amino-modified silicone oil, carboxy-modified silicone oil, silanol-modified silicone oil, or sulfonic acid-modified silicone oil, or fluorine oil. Further, a grease obtained by mixing a solid substance and a liquid, or a combination of these may be used.

  The pressure roll 52 is configured by laminating a heat-resistant elastic body layer 522 and a release layer 523 around a core (solid or cylindrical core metal) 521 made of iron, aluminum, SUS, or the like. For example, silicone sponge, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like can be used as the material of the heat resistant elastic layer 522.

  The release layer 523 is made of heat-resistant rubber, silicone resin, PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer). Alternatively, a heat resistant resin such as a fluororesin that is a composite material thereof can be used. You may use what blended fillers, such as carbon, an alumina, and barium sulfate, to the above-mentioned fluororesin.

  The magnetic field generation unit 60 includes an excitation coil 61 that generates a magnetic field, a coil support member 62 that holds the excitation coil 61, and an excitation circuit 63 that supplies current to the excitation coil 61. The magnetic field generating unit 60 has a cross-sectional shape that is curved along the shape of the fixing belts 51 to 251, and is installed with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belts 51 to 251. The magnetic field generation unit 60 is formed in a rectangular shape that covers the entire width of the fixing belts 51 to 251 with the direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the fixing belts 51 to 251 as the longitudinal direction.

  As the exciting coil 61, for example, a litz wire obtained by bundling mutually insulated copper wire rods wound in a closed loop shape such as an oval shape, an elliptical shape, or a rectangular shape can be used. The exciting coil 61 is hardened by an adhesive, for example, and maintains its shape. An alternating current having a predetermined frequency is applied to the exciting coil 61 by the exciting circuit 63, and an alternating magnetic field is generated around the exciting coil 61.

  For the coil support member 62, for example, heat resistant glass, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), or a heat resistant non-magnetic material such as a heat resistant resin in which glass fibers are mixed with the resin. Materials can be used. Further, a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite may be disposed at the center of the coil support member 62.

<Image forming apparatus>
FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 8 is a so-called tandem type and intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of image forming units 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) in which each color component toner image is formed by an electrophotographic method, and each image forming unit 10. And an intermediate transfer belt 20 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) the formed color component toner images and holds them on the surface. Further, a secondary transfer device 30 for secondary transfer (collective transfer) of the image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto a paper P as a recording material, and a paper for storing the paper P supplied to the secondary transfer device 30 The storage unit 40 and a fixing device 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention that fixes an image transferred onto the paper P by the secondary transfer device 30 onto the paper P are provided.

  Each image forming unit 10 includes a charger 12 for charging the photosensitive drum 11 and a laser exposure unit 13 (an exposure beam is indicated by Bm in the drawing) for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11. . Each image forming unit 10 accommodates each color component toner and develops a developing device 14 that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 as a toner image (toner development), and each color on the photosensitive drum 11. A primary transfer roll 15 that transfers the component toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 20.

  Each image forming unit 10 further includes a drum cleaner 16 as a cleaner that removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 and a static eliminator 17 that neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 from which the residual toner has been removed. Each image forming unit 10 has an image holding device in which an electrophotographic device such as a charger 12, a laser exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a primary transfer roll 15, a drum cleaner 16, and a static eliminator 17 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Around the photosensitive drum 11 as a body, it is sequentially arranged along the arrow A direction.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by forming an organic photosensitive layer on the surface of a thin metal cylindrical drum. The charger 12 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by discharging the photosensitive drum 11. The laser exposure unit 13 emits an exposure beam Bm according to an image signal, exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and drops the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 11 charged by the charger 12, thereby image information. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the above is formed. The developing device 14 incorporates a two-component developer including yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners and a carrier formed by coating a magnetic material with a semiconductive material, for example. The developing device 14 agitates the carrier and the toner and causes them to rub against each other, thereby charging the toner negatively. The charged toner is then conveyed on the developing sleeve and reversely develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by a developing bias applied to the developing sleeve. The primary transfer roll 15 is made of foamed urethane rubber, for example, and is adjusted to a predetermined resistance value. The drum cleaner 16 has a drum cleaning blade 16a as a blade member disposed so as to protrude in a direction (so-called doctor direction) opposite to the rotation direction (A direction) of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The intermediate transfer belt 20 is stretched over a plurality of (three in FIG. 11) support rolls 21 to 23 and circulates in the direction of arrow B. Here, the support roll 21 is a drive roll for the intermediate transfer belt 20. The support roll 22 is a tension roll that adjusts the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and the support roll 23 is a backup roll of the secondary transfer device 30.

  The intermediate transfer belt 20 is a single-layer belt made of, for example, polyimide or polyamide, and is set to have a thickness of 0.1 mm, for example. A primary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer roll 15, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 is electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 20. Each toner image formed in each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K and electrostatically attracted sequentially to the intermediate transfer belt 20 forms a superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20.

  The secondary transfer device 30 includes a secondary transfer roll 31 disposed in pressure contact with the toner holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and a backup serving as a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 31 disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 20. A roll 23. A metal power supply roll 32 that applies a secondary transfer bias is disposed in contact with the backup roll 23. A roll cleaner 33 is disposed adjacent to the secondary transfer roll 31 to remove deposits such as toner adhering to the secondary transfer roll 31 during the secondary transfer. The roll cleaner 33 includes a roll cleaning blade 33 a made of polyurethane, and squeezes the surface of the secondary transfer roll 31.

  A belt cleaner 34 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the secondary transfer is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer device 30 in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 20. The belt cleaner 34 includes a belt cleaning blade 34 a that is disposed so as to protrude in a direction (doctor direction) opposite to the circulation direction (B direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 20.

  On the upstream side of the secondary transfer device 30 in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 20, a reference for generating a reference signal that serves as a reference for taking image forming timings in the image forming units 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K). A sensor (home position sensor) 35 is arranged. The reference sensor 35 recognizes a predetermined mark 20a provided on the non-image portion of the intermediate transfer belt 20 and generates a reference signal. An instruction from a control unit (not shown) based on the recognition of the reference signal. Thus, each image forming unit 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) is configured to start image formation.

  The paper P stored in the paper storage unit 40 is fed out at a predetermined timing by the paper feed roll 41 and is transported to the secondary transfer device 30 via the transport roll 42 and the secondary transfer device transport unit 43. The sheet P after the secondary transfer is conveyed to the fixing device 50 via the fixing device conveyance unit 44.

  Next, an image forming process of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  When a start switch (not shown) is turned on by the user, a predetermined image forming process is executed. For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a digital color copying machine, a color image is first read as a signal from a document set on a document table (not shown) by a color image reading device (not shown). Next, the read signal is converted into image data for each color by image signal processing, and is output to the laser exposure device 13 of the corresponding image forming unit.

  The laser exposure unit 13 modulates, for example, the exposure beam Bm emitted from the semiconductor laser element in accordance with the input image data, and irradiates each photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. . The surface of each of the photoconductive drums 11 of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K is charged by the charger 12, and then the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure unit 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image of each color of Y, M, C, and K by each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. When the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a color printer, a toner image of each color is generated based on an image signal input from the outside instead of the read signal.

  The toner image formed on each photoconductive drum 11 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 at a primary transfer position where each photoconductive drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 are in contact with each other. That is, at the primary transfer position, the toner image is transferred from the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 by the primary transfer bias applied from the primary transfer roll 15. The toner image primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 20 and conveyed to a secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer belt 20 circulates. The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer is neutralized by a static eliminator 17 after residual toner is removed by a drum cleaner 16.

  The paper P is conveyed to the secondary transfer device 30 at a predetermined timing, and the secondary transfer roll 31 presses and urges the paper P against the intermediate transfer belt 20 (backup roll 23). The toner image held on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 by the secondary transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roll 31 and the backup roll 23 is secondarily transferred to the paper P. The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 50 and the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet P.

<Others>
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said Example at all, and can implement in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the fixing belt as the heating member has been described as an example. However, the fixing belt is not limited thereto. If the configuration is adopted, the present invention can be applied to a fixing member other than the fixing belt (for example, a pressure side belt).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of a fixing belt according to the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a fixing belt according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a fixing belt according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a fixing belt according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a conventional fixing belt. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a conventional fixing belt. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fixing device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Image forming unit 11 Photosensitive drum (Image holding body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Charging device 13 Laser exposure device 14 Developing device 15 Primary transfer roll 20 Intermediate transfer belt 30 Secondary transfer device 50 Fixing device 51 Fixing belt (band member)
51a end (width direction movement restriction part)
51b End (width direction movement restriction part)
51c end (width direction movement restriction part)
52 Pressure roll (drive roller)
53 Pressure pad (pressing member)
60 Magnetic field generation unit 81 Restriction guide 81a Flange (regulation member)
151 Fixing Belt 251 Fixing Belt 511 Release Layer 512 Elastic Layer 513 Metal Base Layer 514 Inner Surface Low Friction Layer (Sliding Layer)
522 Heat-resistant elastic layer 523 Release layer

Claims (8)

An endless, seamless belt-like metal substrate layer;
Provided at least at one end in the width direction of the metal base material layer, and including a width direction movement restricting portion that bends the metal base material layer radially outward,
A belt-like member whose movement in the width direction is restricted by a restriction member that contacts the width direction movement restriction portion from the outside in the width direction.   The strip-shaped member according to claim 1, wherein a sliding layer having a frictional resistance smaller than that of the metal base material layer is provided outside the metal base material layer in the width direction of the width direction movement restricting portion.   The belt-like member according to claim 2, wherein the sliding layer is made of a fluororesin. An endless, seamless belt-like metal substrate layer;
Provided at least at one end in the width direction of the metal base material layer, and including a width direction movement restriction portion that is bent radially inward of the metal base material layer,
A belt-like member whose movement in the width direction is restricted by a restriction member that contacts the width direction movement restriction portion from the outside in the width direction.   The strip | belt-shaped member of Claim 4 with which the peeling layer with higher peelability than the said metal base material layer was provided in the width direction outer side of the said metal base material layer of the said width direction movement control part.   The strip member according to claim 5, wherein the release layer is made of a fluororesin. A strip-shaped member according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A pressing member that pushes the inner peripheral surface of the belt-shaped member radially outward;
A driving roller for driving the belt-like member to rotate by pushing the outer peripheral surface of the belt-like member supported by the pressing member;
A fixing member that is in contact with the width direction movement restricting portion from the outside in the width direction and restricts movement of the belt-shaped member in the width direction. An image carrier,
Latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a transfer medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the fixing device according to claim 7, wherein the toner image on the transfer medium is fixed by the fixing device.

Images