JP2012168475A - Elastic roller, manufacturing method of elastic roller and rubber tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic roller keeping an outer shape or the like of a foamed elastic layer, and having a desired outer shape or the like, to provide a manufacturing method capable of manufacturing the elastic roller keeping the outer shape or the like of the foamed elastic layer, and having the desired outer shape or the like, and to provide a rubber tube.SOLUTION: The manufacturing method of the elastic roller comprises: a step of applying an adhesive on at least one of an outer peripheral surface of a roller raw body including a foamed elastic layer which is arranged on a shaft body and which has the outer peripheral surface whose external diameter changes along an axial direction, and an inner surface of a resin tube for covering the foamed elastic layer; a step of arranging the roller raw body in a rubber tube in a state where the resin tube is sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube and the roller raw body; and a step of heating the roller raw body arranged in the rubber tube and hardening the adhesive. There are also provided the elastic roller manufactured by the method, and the rubber tube used in the manufacturing method.

Description

  The present invention relates to an elastic roller, an elastic roller manufacturing method, and a rubber tube, and more specifically, an elastic roller having a desired outer shape and the like, and a desired outer shape and the like while holding the outer shape and the like of a foamed elastic layer. The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an elastic roller capable of manufacturing an elastic roller and a rubber tube.

  Various types of image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system are employed in laser printers, copiers, video printers, facsimiles, and complex machines of these. Various image forming apparatuses include an elastic roller. Examples of such an elastic roller include a charging roller, a developing roller, a transfer roller, a pressure roller, a fixing roller, a paper feed / conveying roller, and a developer supply roller. These rollers usually include a shaft, an elastic layer disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a surface layer disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer as desired.

  In particular, the fixing roller or the heating roller is provided with a resin tube formed of various resins such as a fluororesin as a surface layer in order to ensure developer releasability and the like. As a method of manufacturing a roller having such a resin tube, Patent Document 1 discloses that “a cylindrical mold having an inner wall rubber layer on an inner peripheral wall surface has a rubber layer on a metal core shaft and an outer diameter. Is fixed concentrically with a rubber roller that is not larger than the inner diameter of the inner wall rubber layer, and a fluororesin tube is disposed between the cylindrical mold and the rubber roller, and then heated to form a rubber layer of the rubber roller. The inner wall rubber layer is expanded so as to be in pressure contact with each other through the fluororesin tube, and the fluororesin tube and the rubber layer of the rubber roller are pressure bonded to each other by the expansion pressure. "Production method of rubber roller" is described.

  As described in Example 1 of Patent Document 1, the “method for producing a fluororesin tube-covered rubber roller” described in Patent Document 1 is a hollow region that is “silicone rubber having a hardness (JIS-A) of 50 °”. This is a method of manufacturing an elastic roller provided with a so-called “solid elastic layer”.

  By the way, in the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, in order to fix the developer to the recording body, the recording body passes through the pressure contact portion between the fixing roller and the heating roller, but at this time, the recording body does not shift in a predetermined direction, And it is important to pass through the pressure contact portion without causing wrinkles or the like. As one of means for the recording medium to pass through the press contact portion in this way, there is means for forming the outer shape of at least one of the fixing roller and the heating roller into a so-called “crown shape” or a so-called “reverse crown shape”.

Japanese Patent No. 2975080

  Using an elastic roller having an elastic layer having a so-called “crown shape” or a so-called “reverse crown shape” before coating the resin tube, the “method for producing a fluororesin tube-coated rubber roller” described in Patent Document 1 is used. When the elastic roller is manufactured, the manufactured elastic roller may not be able to retain the outer shape of the elastic layer before being covered with the resin tube.

  The fixing roller and the heating roller are pressurized with the fixing roller for the purpose of forming a high-quality image by fixing the developer to the recording medium in addition to the characteristics of passing the recording medium through the press contact portion as described above. There is a demand for a characteristic that a pressure contact portion with a roller is pressed with a predetermined pressure with a large nip width. In order to ensure a large nip width and a predetermined pressure at the pressure contact portion, it is effective to reduce the hardness of at least one of the elastic layer of the fixing roller and the heating roller. There is a means for forming a foamed elastic layer.

  When the foamed elastic layer reduced in hardness is employed as the elastic layer of the elastic roller in this way, in the “method for producing a fluororesin tube-covered rubber roller” described in Patent Document 1, “the outer shape of the elastic layer cannot be maintained”. The tendency becomes remarkable. That is, the “production of a fluororesin tube-covered rubber roller” described in Patent Document 1 using an elastic roller provided with a foamed elastic layer whose shape before coating the resin tube is a so-called “crown shape” or a so-called “reverse crown shape”. When the elastic roller is manufactured by the “method”, the outer shape of the foamed elastic layer is hardly held, and even if it is held, the outer diameter change amount becomes extremely small. It is sometimes impossible to produce a so-called “crown shape” or so-called “reverse crown shape” elastic roller.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an elastic roller manufacturing method capable of manufacturing an elastic roller having a desired outer shape and outer diameter difference while maintaining the outer shape and outer diameter difference of the foamed elastic layer, and a rubber tube. And

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an elastic roller having a desired outer shape and outer diameter difference.

  The inventor of the present invention is that the elastic layer which is thermally expanded when the adhesive is cured by heating is compressed in the opposite direction to the thermal expansion so as to suppress the thermal expansion, and the strain of the elastic layer remains even after the heating. Thus, it was speculated that the larger the diameter of the elastic layer, the more the outer shape was destroyed, the outer diameter difference of the elastic layer disappeared, and the outer shape and outer diameter difference of the elastic layer were not maintained.

  Based on this assumption, the inventor of the present invention uses a rubber-like tube body that is formed entirely of rubber as a mold used at the time of heat curing of the adhesive, and that also thermally expands itself in the direction of thermal expansion of the elastic layer. It has been found that even if a so-called “solid elastic layer” is used as the elastic layer, a foamed elastic layer with low hardness and distortion is likely to remain can maintain the difference in outer shape and outer diameter of the elastic layer before and after heat curing of the adhesive. It was.

As a first means for solving the above problems,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the roller base body in which the foamed elastic layer having the outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction is disposed on the shaft body, and the inner surface of the resin tube that covers the foamed elastic layer A step of applying an adhesive to at least one of the above, a step of disposing the roller base body in the rubber pipe body in a state where the resin tube is sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the rubber pipe body and the roller base body, A method for producing an elastic roller, comprising: heating a base roller disposed in the rubber tube and curing the adhesive;
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rubber tubular body has an inner peripheral surface whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer and changes in the axial direction opposite to a change in the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer. The method for producing an elastic roller according to claim 1,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the arranging step is a step of arranging the roller base body in which the foamed elastic layer is covered with a resin tube via the adhesive in the rubber pipe body. It is a manufacturing method of the described elastic roller,
A fourth aspect of the present invention includes the steps of foam molding the foam rubber composition on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body and adjusting the outer diameter of the foam molded body so as to change along the axial direction. It is a manufacturing method of the elastic roller given in any 1 paragraph,
The elastic roller according to claim 4, wherein the adjusting step is a step of adjusting an outer diameter of the foamed molded body so as to be substantially symmetric about a substantially central portion in the axial direction. Manufacturing method,
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the adjusting step is a step of increasing the outer diameter of the foam molded body toward both end portions in the axial direction, or a step of decreasing the outer diameter toward the both end portions. 5. The method for producing an elastic roller as described in 5.

As a second means for solving the above problems,
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the resin tube having the outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction is manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the first to sixth aspects. It is an elastic roller formed by coating via
The elastic tube according to claim 7, wherein the resin tube has an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter is substantially symmetric about a substantially central portion in the axial direction.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the resin tube has an inverted crown-shaped outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter increases toward both ends in the axial direction, or a crown-shaped outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter decreases toward the both ends. The elastic roller according to claim 8.

As a third means for solving the above problems,
A tenth aspect of the present invention is a rubber tube body that is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft body and that manufactures an elastic roller by bonding a resin tube to a foamed elastic layer having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction. The whole is formed into a tubular shape with rubber, and has an inner peripheral surface whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer and changes in the axial direction opposite to the outer diameter change of the foamed elastic layer. It is a rubber tube.

  The rubber tubular body according to the present invention is formed in a rubber-like tubular shape as a whole, has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer, and changes in the axial direction opposite to the outer diameter change of the foamed elastic layer. Since it has a peripheral surface, for example, when it is heated to the curing temperature of the adhesive, it can also thermally expand radially outward, and as a result, it thermally expands following the foamed elastic layer incorporated therein. The foamed elastic layer is not compressed with such a large compressive force that the strain remains in the foamed elastic layer.

  Since the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention uses the rubber pipe body according to the present invention without being trapped by the shape of the inner peripheral surface thereof and has at least the process using the rubber pipe body, The foamed elastic layer is not compressed with such a large compressive force that the strain remains in the foamed elastic layer during the heat curing of the adhesive, and the difference between the outer shape and the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer can be maintained before and after the heat curing of the adhesive.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, an elastic roller manufacturing method capable of manufacturing an elastic roller having a desired outer shape and outer diameter difference while maintaining the outer shape and outer diameter difference of the foamed elastic layer, and a rubber tube are provided. be able to.

  The elastic roller according to the present invention is manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention. Therefore, according to this invention, the elastic roller which has a desired external shape and an outer diameter difference can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an elastic roller manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an example of the elastic roller manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic end view showing a cut end surface when an example of an elastic roller manufactured by the method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention is cut along a plane perpendicular to its axis. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the elastic roller manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing another example of the elastic roller manufactured by the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a roller base used in the method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining an example of the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 (a) shows an example of the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention in which the covering is placed in a rubber tube. FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the covering is heated in an example of the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention.

  An elastic roller manufactured by the method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention (referred to as an elastic roller according to the present invention) has a resin tube having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction. The surface is covered. In other words, the elastic roller according to the present invention includes a foamed elastic layer and a resin tube disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer, that is, a resin tube covering the foamed elastic layer, and the outer diameter changes along the axial direction. It has an outer peripheral surface.

  The elastic roller according to the present invention, that is, the resin tube, has only to have an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter preferably changes continuously along the axial direction, and preferably the outer diameter from a substantially central portion in the axial direction. It has an outer peripheral surface that changes at a constant rate to each of the ends, and particularly preferably has an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter is substantially symmetrical about the substantially central portion in the axial direction. Here, “substantially symmetrical” means that it is sufficient to be symmetrical to such an extent that the function as an elastic roller such as a fixing roller or a heating roller is exhibited in addition to being geometrically accurately symmetrical. To do. Specifically, the elastic roller according to the present invention, i.e., the resin tube, has a so-called “reverse crown shape” outer peripheral surface in which the outer diameter preferably increases continuously from approximately the center in the axial direction toward both ends. Alternatively, it has a so-called “crown-shaped” outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter is preferably continuously reduced from the substantially center toward both ends.

  The outer diameter difference between the maximum outer diameter and the minimum outer diameter in the so-called “reverse crown shape” is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.02 to 1.0 mm.

  The outer diameter difference between the maximum outer diameter and the minimum outer diameter in the so-called “crown shape” is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.02 to 1.0 mm.

  The elastic roller according to the present invention preferably has an Asker C hardness (load 1.0 kg) of 20 to 70. When the elastic roller according to the present invention has the Asker C hardness in the above range, a large nip pressure and nip width can be secured when mounted on the fixing device. The Asker C hardness of the elastic roller according to the present invention is more preferably 25 to 70, and particularly preferably 30 to 70. Asker C hardness (1.0 kg load) can be measured according to JIS K6253. The Asker C hardness (1.0 kg load) of the elastic roller according to the present invention is selected, for example, by selecting the type of rubber, foaming agent and / or additive contained in the foamed rubber composition forming the foamed elastic layer, and It can be adjusted by changing the blending amount or the like thereof, or by the molding conditions of the foamed elastic layer.

  The foamed elastic layer in the elastic roller according to the present invention has basically the same shape as that of the elastic roller according to the present invention, and has cells inside and / or on the outer peripheral surface thereof (FIGS. 4 and FIG. 6, the cell opened in the end face of the foamed elastic layer 3A and the cell opened in the cross section in FIG. 3 are not shown. When the foamed elastic layer 3 has cells, the hardness of the foamed elastic layer 3 is lowered, and the function of the elastic roller according to the present invention is improved, which can contribute to forming a high-quality image. Here, the cell having the foamed elastic layer refers to a hollow region caused 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. . A plurality of cells included in the foamed elastic layer 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 (a communication cell state) Or the independent cell state and the communication cell state may coexist. For the foamed elastic layer, the size, abundance, etc. of the cells are determined according to various rollers used in the image forming apparatus.

For example, the cell formed in the foamed elastic layer has an average cell diameter of 200 to 400 μm, a standard deviation σ of a cell diameter of 150 to 250 μm, and / or a distance from other cells existing in the vicinity of 200 to 400 μm. (Hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an inter-cell distance). When the cell satisfies at least one of the average cell diameter, standard deviation σ, and inter-cell distance in the range, the foamed elastic layer is sufficiently provided so that the elastic roller according to the present invention has the Asker C hardness in the range. Low hardness can be achieved. The average cell diameter is obtained by observing an area of about 20 mm ² with an electron microscope or the like on the surface of the foamed elastic layer or the cut surface when the foamed elastic layer is cut on an arbitrary surface, It can be obtained as an average length obtained by measuring the maximum length of the opening in the cell and arithmetically averaging the measured maximum length (referred to as cell diameter). The standard deviation σ of the cell diameter can be obtained by the standard method by measuring the standard deviation σ of the cell diameter measured as described above. The inter-cell distance is the measured inter-center distance between a plurality of cells existing within the observation field of view of the foamed elastic layer, by measuring the center-to-center distance between a specific cell and the plurality of cells existing around the cell. Can be obtained as a value obtained by arithmetic averaging. Note that the center of the cell can be determined by a quadrant point based on the cell outline. The average cell diameter, the standard deviation σ, and the inter-cell distance can be adjusted by the blending amount of the foaming agent, curing conditions, and the like.

The foamed elastic layer is preferably adjusted in foaming ratio, density, and the like from the viewpoint of further enhancing the effects of the present invention. For example, the expansion ratio of the foamed elastic layer is preferably 180 to 420%, particularly preferably 200 to 350%. When the expansion ratio of the foamed elastic layer is within the above range, the effect of obtaining hardness and rebound resilience that enables a wide range of fixing temperatures can be obtained. The expansion ratio can be calculated from the volume and mass of the foamed elastic layer measured by a conventional method. The density of the foamed elastic layer is preferably a 0.395~0.7 (g / cm ^3), particularly preferably from 0.42~0.6 (g / cm ^3). When the density is within the above range, the effect of the present invention can be further enhanced. The density of the foamed elastic layer can be measured with an electron density meter (water displacement method, water temperature 23 ° C.).

  Although the thickness of a foaming elastic layer is not specifically limited, Usually, it is preferable to adjust to 2-20 mm, and it is especially preferable to adjust to 3-12 mm.

  The resin tube in the elastic roller according to the present invention is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer with the adhesive layer interposed therebetween. If the elastic roller according to the present invention includes a resin tube, the releasability of the developer can be improved. The resin tube is preferably thinned so that the elastic roller according to the present invention has an Asker C hardness in the above range and can maintain the shape of the foamed elastic layer. Thinned to a thickness of ˜60 μm, preferably 25 to 50 μm. Therefore, the resin tube can also be referred to as a thinned resin tube. This resin tube usually has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer in order to ensure adhesion to the foamed elastic layer, and the inner diameter is appropriately determined according to the hardness of the foamed elastic layer, etc. Is set.

  This resin tube may be insulative, or may be conductive containing a conductivity imparting agent such as carbon black, and whether it is insulative or conductive is appropriately selected depending on the use of the elastic roller according to the present invention. . Moreover, it is preferable that this resin tube has a large mechanical strength in that the high durability of the elastic roller according to the present invention can be ensured. For example, when the thickness is 20 to 60 μm, it preferably has a breaking strength of 30 to 70 MPa, and preferably has a breaking elongation of 150 to 500%. Breaking strength is in accordance with JIS K6891 dumbbell-shaped No. 3 test piece (JIS K6251) cut out from the resin tube. Is measured under the conditions of a tensile speed of 200 mm / min and a measurement temperature of 25 ± 2 ° C. based on JIS K6891, and the elongation at break is defined in JIS K6891 cut out from the resin tube. Based on JIS K6891 using a dumbbell-shaped No. 3 test piece (according to JIS K6251. However, the dumbbell-shaped No. 3 test piece is cut so that its longitudinal direction is along the axial direction of the resin tube, that is, the longitudinal direction). It is a value measured under the conditions of a tensile speed of 200 mm / min and a measurement temperature of 25 ± 2 ° C. Thus, the said breaking strength and the said breaking elongation are the breaking strength and breaking elongation in the axial direction of a resin tube, ie, a longitudinal direction.

  The material for forming the resin tube is not particularly limited, but the elastic roller according to the present invention 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 Resin, modified alkyd resin such as phenol modified / silicone modified, oil-free alkyd resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, fluororesin, phenol resin, polyamide resin, urethane resin, polyamideimide resin and mixtures thereof Can be mentioned. Among these, a fluororesin is preferable because it is excellent in releasability of the developer. For example, PFA (perfluoroalkoxy resin), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene resin), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) are preferable. Resin), PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride resin), and the like.

  The adhesive layer in the elastic roller according to the present invention is a layer formed by curing an adhesive capable of bonding the foamed elastic layer and the resin tube, and is formed between the foamed elastic layer and the resin tube. Although the thickness of an adhesive bond layer is not specifically limited, Usually, it is preferable that it is 10-300 micrometers, and it is especially preferable that it is 10-100 micrometers. As the adhesive forming the adhesive layer, a heat curable adhesive is preferably exemplified. The heat-curable adhesive preferably has a viscosity of 15 to 150 Pa · s measured at 25 ° C. according to JIS K 6249 (using a BH viscometer). Examples of such heat curable adhesives include silicone adhesives and acrylic adhesives. The flowable adhesive may be adjusted using a diluent such as toluene or xylene so that the viscosity falls within the above range.

  The elastic roller according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an elastic roller 1 </ b> A as an example of the elastic roller according to the present invention includes a shaft body 2, a foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2, and a foamed elastic layer. An adhesive layer 5 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of 3A and a resin tube 4 covering the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3A with the adhesive layer 5 interposed therebetween are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic roller 1 </ b> A has a resin tube 4 having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A is interposed through the adhesive layer 5. Specifically, it has a so-called “reverse crown shape”. In other words, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic roller 1A has a so-called “reverse crown shape”. In this so-called “reverse crown shape”, the outer diameter difference between the minimum outer diameter at the approximate center in the axial direction and the maximum outer diameter at the end in the axial direction is set to 0.02 to 1.0 mm. This elastic roller 1A has an Asker C hardness (load 1.0 kg) of 20 to 70.

  As the shaft body 2, a conventionally known shaft body is not particularly limited and can be adopted. As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft body 2 has a so-called “straight shape” in which the outer diameter is uniform in the axial direction, and has good conductive characteristics. The shaft body 2 is usually a so-called “core metal” composed of iron, aluminum, stainless steel, brass or the like. The shaft body 2 may be a shaft body made conductive by plating an insulating core such as a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin, and imparting conductivity to the thermoplastic resin or the thermosetting resin. The shaft body may be formed of a conductive resin containing carbon black or metal powder as an agent. The outer diameter of the shaft body 2 is adjusted to an appropriate outer diameter according to the use of the elastic roller 1A. The shaft body 2 may be coated with a primer layer on the outer peripheral surface as desired.

  The foamed elastic layer 3A is basically the same as the foamed elastic layer of the elastic roller according to the present invention, and is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2 with a rubber composition described later. Specifically, the foamed elastic layer 3A is formed in a so-called “reverse crown shape” having a thickness of 2 to 20 mm, and the average cell diameter, the standard deviation σ of the cell diameter, the inter-cell distance, the foaming ratio in the above range. And an independent cell having a density.

  The resin tube 4 is basically the same as the resin tube of the elastic roller according to the present invention, and is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the adhesive layer 5 with PFA having a thickness of 20 to 60 μm. Specifically, the resin tube 4 has a breaking strength and a breaking elongation within the above ranges.

  The adhesive layer 5 is basically the same as the adhesive layer of the elastic roller according to the present invention, and is formed of a thermosetting adhesive on the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3A to a thickness of 10 to 300 μm.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an elastic roller 1B as another example of the elastic roller according to the present invention includes a shaft body 2, a foamed elastic layer 3B disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2, and foaming. An adhesive layer 5 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 3B and a resin tube 4 covering the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3B with the adhesive layer 5 interposed therebetween are provided. In the elastic roller 1B, the resin tube 4 having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction covers the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3B with the adhesive layer 5, and specifically, Has a so-called “crown shape”. In this so-called “crown shape”, the difference in outer diameter between the maximum outer diameter at the substantially center in the axial direction and the minimum outer diameter at the end in the axial direction is set to 0.02 to 1.0 mm. This elastic roller 1B has an Asker C hardness (load 1.0 kg) of 20 to 70. This elastic roller 1B is basically the same as the elastic roller 1A except that the outer diameter and the outer diameter difference and the outer shape and outer diameter difference of the foamed elastic layer 3B are different.

  A rubber tubular body according to the present invention is a so-called mold used when a resin tube is bonded to a foamed elastic layer having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction, and is entirely tubular with rubber. It has an inner peripheral surface that is formed and has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer and changes in the axial direction opposite to a change in the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer. In other words, the rubber tubular body according to the present invention has an inner space having an inner peripheral surface whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer and changes in the axial direction opposite to the outer diameter change of the foamed elastic layer. It is formed by penetrating. The rubber tube according to the present invention has the inner peripheral surface and the inner space in a region facing the foamed elastic layer disposed therein.

  The rubber tube according to the present invention is entirely formed of rubber, and does not include a hard member formed of, for example, metal or resin on the outer peripheral surface thereof. As described above, the rubber tubular body according to the present invention, which is formed entirely of rubber, can thermally expand radially outward when heated, and follows the foamed elastic layer incorporated therein to thermally expand. Therefore, the elastic layer is not compressed with such a large compressive force that strain remains in the elastic layer. Therefore, the rubber tubular body according to the present invention can maintain the difference between the outer shape and the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer before and after the heat curing of the adhesive.

  The rubber forming the rubber tubular body according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably a heat-resistant rubber because it is heated when the adhesive is cured, and the foamed elastic layer follows the thermal expansion of the foamed elastic layer. More preferably, the rubber has a thermal expansion coefficient close to the thermal expansion coefficient of, for example, a rubber having a thermal expansion coefficient of (thermal expansion coefficient ± 5% of the foamed elastic layer), and the rubber forming the foamed elastic layer A rubber of the same kind is particularly preferred. Examples of such rubber include HTV silicone rubber, LTV silicone rubber, and fluororubber when the foamed elastic layer is formed of silicone rubber described later.

  The rubber tube according to the present invention is formed in a tubular shape. That is, the rubber tubular body according to the present invention has an internal space into which a roller base, which will be described later, is inserted as an axial hole penetrating in the axial direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the internal space has an inner diameter of the foamed elastic layer. It is larger than the outer diameter and changes opposite to the outer diameter change of the foamed elastic layer along the axial direction.

  Thus, the inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer, that is, the internal space can be inserted with the foamed elastic layer spaced from the inner peripheral surface. . The inner peripheral surface has an inner diameter that changes in the direction opposite to the outer diameter change of the foamed elastic layer along the axial direction, that is, the inner space has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the foamed elastic layer, preferably a similar or congruent shape. have. Specifically, when the foamed elastic layer has a so-called “reverse crown shape”, the inner peripheral surface has a so-called “crown shape” and the inner space has a so-called “reverse crown shape”, and the foamed elastic layer has a so-called “crown shape”. ", The inner peripheral surface has a so-called" reverse crown shape "and the inner space has a so-called" crown shape ". Furthermore, when the foamed elastic layer is inserted into the internal space of the inner surface of the rubber tubular body according to the present invention, the gap distance from the foamed elastic layer in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction is substantially constant along the axial direction. Is preferred. That is, the inner peripheral surface of the rubber tubular body according to the present invention preferably has the same inner diameter difference between the maximum inner diameter and the minimum inner diameter as the outer diameter difference of the foamed elastic layer. If formed in this way, the inner peripheral surface is almost uniformly pressed against the foamed elastic layer over the axial direction thereof, so that only a specific portion of the foamed elastic layer is not extremely compressed. The inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube according to the present invention is preferably flat because it presses against the resin tube when the foamed elastic layer is thermally expanded.

  The thickness of the tube wall in the rubber tube according to the present invention may be appropriately set according to the type of rubber, the thickness of the foamed elastic layer, etc., but if it is too thick, it follows the thermal expansion of the foamed elastic layer. For example, the thickness may be 2 to 6 mm, and preferably 3 to 5 mm. In the rubber tubular body according to the present invention, the foamed elastic layer has an axial length that can be disposed in the internal space over the entire axial direction, and may be longer than the axial length of the foamed elastic layer. .

  A rubber tube according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 7, a rubber tube 10 as an example of a rubber tube according to the present invention is entirely formed into a tube with HTV silicone rubber having a thermal expansion coefficient in the above range, and is inserted. It has a so-called “crown-shaped” internal space 11 (see FIG. 3A) corresponding to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3A, that is, the outer shape, and the gap distance is constant along the axial direction. ing. The inner peripheral surface 12 of this rubber tube is flat, the thickness of the tube wall is set in the above range, and the axial length is the same as that of the foamed elastic layer 3A.

  In the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention, the foamed elastic layer including the foamed elastic layer having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter varies along the axial direction is disposed on the shaft body, and the foamed elastic layer. A step of applying an adhesive to at least one of the inner surfaces of the resin tube to be coated; and the roller base body in a state where the resin tube is sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube body and the roller base body. The method includes a step of placing in the body and a step of curing the adhesive by heating a roller base disposed in the rubber tube. In other words, the elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention uses the rubber tube according to the present invention to cure the roller base and the resin tube disposed therein, and the adhesive applied between them is cured. Thus, it is characterized by heating.

  An example of a method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as one manufacturing method according to the present invention) will be specifically described. One manufacturing method according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a so-called “reverse crown-shaped” elastic roller 1A, a step of manufacturing a roller base, the outer peripheral surface of the roller base, and the foam elasticity. A step of applying an adhesive to at least one of the inner surfaces of the resin tube covering the layer, and the roller base body in a state where the resin tube is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube body and the roller base body. A step of arranging in the tube-making body, and a step of heating the base roller arranged in the rubber-made tube body to cure the adhesive.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, the shaft 2, the rubber composition for forming the foamed elastic layer 3A, the resin tube 4, the adhesive 9, and the rubber tube according to the present invention are prepared. The resin tube 4 and the adhesive 9 are as described above. In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, the rubber tubular body 10 is used as the rubber tubular body according to the present invention.

  The shaft body 2 is prepared into a desired shape by a known method using the material. 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.

  The rubber composition may be a composition containing rubber, a foaming agent, and various additives as required. For example, a foamed rubber composition is preferable. As this foamed silicone rubber composition, an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition is particularly preferred. Examples of the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition include an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-076751.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, a step of producing a roller base is performed. As shown in FIG. 6, the manufactured roller original body includes the shaft body 2 and the foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2, except that the resin tube 4 is not provided. This is basically the same as the elastic roller 1A. In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the step of producing the roller base body 7 includes a step of foam-molding the foam rubber composition on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2, and an outer diameter of the foam-molded body in the axial direction. And adjusting to change along.

  In the step of foam-molding the foamed rubber composition on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, first, the prepared rubber composition is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2. For the arrangement of the rubber composition, a known method, for example, continuous vulcanization by extrusion molding, pressing, mold molding by injection, or the like can be adopted, but the shaft body 2 and the rubber composition are integrally dispensed by an extruder. Extrusion is good. In the step of forming the foamed elastic layer, the rubber composition is then foam-cured to form the foamed elastic layer 3. 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 foam rubber composition, the type of foaming agent, and the like. For example, when the foamed rubber composition is the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition, the curing conditions are usually 100 to 400 ° C., particularly a heating temperature of 200 to 400 ° C., several minutes to 1 hour, particularly The heating time of 5 minutes or more and 30 minutes or less is preferable in that the foamed elastic layer 3 has independent cells such as the average cell diameter in the above range and has a foaming rate in the above range.

  In one production method according to the present invention, the foamed rubber composition thus cured can be secondarily cured, if desired, after the step of foam-molding the foamed rubber composition. The secondary curing conditions are not particularly limited. For example, the rubber composition cross-linked under the above-described conditions is further subjected to extrusion molding at 180 to 250 ° C, preferably 190 to 230 ° C. -24 hours, preferably 3-10 hours, or using a mold, for example, 130-200 ° C, preferably 150-180 ° C, 5 minutes to 24 hours, preferably 10 minutes to 10 hours This is done by heating again.

  In the step of producing the roller base in one manufacturing method according to the present invention, the outer diameter of the molded foam molded body is adjusted to change along the axial direction after the step of foam molding the foamed rubber composition. The process of carrying out is performed. This step is a step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam molded body so as to be substantially symmetric about the substantially central portion in the axial direction according to the outer shape of the elastic roller to be manufactured, specifically, the foam molded body. The step of increasing the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer toward both end portions in the axial direction or the step of decreasing the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer toward the both end portions is appropriately selected. In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, a step of increasing the outer diameter of the foam molded body toward both end portions in the axial direction is selected as the step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam molded body, as shown in FIG. The outer diameter of the foamed molded product is adjusted so as to have a so-called “reverse crown shape”. In the adjusting step, it is preferable to adjust the outer diameter of the foamed molded product so as to change from a substantially central portion in the axial direction to both ends. The step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam molded body is a step of adjusting the foam molded body to have a desired outer diameter by using a machining apparatus or a tool such as a polishing apparatus, a grinding apparatus, and a cutting apparatus. It is. In order to adjust the outer diameter, for example, polishing, grinding, cutting, or the like is employed.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, the foam forming step and the adjusting step are carried out in this way, and the roller raw material in which the so-called “reverse crown shape” foamed elastic layer 3A is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body 2. A body is made.

In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the step of applying the adhesive 9 is then performed. In the step of applying the adhesive 9, the adhesive 9 is preferably applied uniformly to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 and / or the inner peripheral surface of the resin tube 4 of the roller base body 7. The method for applying the adhesive 9 to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 and / or the inner peripheral surface of the resin tube 4 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 9 is applied, the adhesive 9 can be appropriately diluted with a diluent or the like. When the fluid adhesive is used as the adhesive 9, it can be uniformly and easily applied to the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 and / or the inner peripheral surface of the resin tube 4, and the fluid adhesive is applied. It is possible to effectively prevent bubbles or the like from being generated in the coating layer, or mixing of bubbles or the like. As a result, the foamed elastic layer 3 and the resin tube 4 can be firmly bonded. The application amount of the adhesive 9 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. It is adjusted to about ² .

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7A, the resin tube 4 is preferably separated from the inner peripheral surface 12 by the inner peripheral surface 12 of the rubber tube 10 and the roller base body 7. Then, a step of placing the roller base body 7 in the rubber tube 10 in a state of being sandwiched is performed. In this step, for example, the roller base body 7 and the resin tube 4 may be disposed independently in the internal space 11 of the rubber tube body 10, and the foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A is interposed between the resin tube 9 and the adhesive tube 9. The roller base body 7 covered with 4, that is, the cover body 8, may be disposed in the rubber tube 11. This arrangement step is a step of arranging the roller base body 7 in which the foamed elastic layer 3A is covered with the resin tube 4 through the adhesive 9 in the rubber tube 10 from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture. preferable.

  In this step, the roller base body 7 is inserted into the resin tube 4, and at least the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A is covered with the resin tube 4 via the adhesive 9 to form the covering body 8. At this time, since the prepared resin tube 4 has the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 or a slightly smaller inner diameter, when the roller base body 7 is inserted into the resin tube 4, the resin tube 4 Be careful not to damage it. In order to insert the roller base material 7 without damaging the resin tube 4, for example, a method of inserting the roller base material 7 into the resin tube 4 in a pressurized environment or a reduced pressure environment at room temperature or under heating, a resin A method of expanding the inner diameter of the tube 4 until it becomes larger than the outer diameter of the roller base body 7 and inserting the roller base body 7 into the resin tube 4 is exemplified.

  For example, a method of inserting the roller base body 7 into the resin tube 4 under a pressure environment (hereinafter referred to as a pressurization method) will be briefly described. A device capable of inserting the roller base body 7 into the resin tube 4 in a state where the diameter of the elastic layer 3 is reduced, such as “Pressurizing device 10” shown in FIG. 4 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-299185, etc. The foamed elastic layer 3 of the roller base body 7 is pressurized under a predetermined pressure environment, the diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced until the outer diameter becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the resin tube 4, and the resin is kept in this state. Insert into the tube 4 to release the pressurized state. In this way, the foamed elastic layer 3 of the roller base body 7 can be inserted into the resin tube 4.

  A method of inserting the roller base body 7 into the resin tube 4 under a reduced pressure environment (hereinafter referred to as a pressure reduction method) will be briefly described. The diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 of the roller base body 7 is reduced and the foamed elastic layer 3 is The roller base body 7 can be inserted into the resin tube 4 in a state where the diameter of the roller is reduced, for example, a “decompression device 30” shown in FIG. 4 of JP-A-2008-299187, etc. The foamed elastic layer 3 of the base body 7 is depressurized to a predetermined pressure, the diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 is reduced until the outer diameter becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the resin tube 4, and this state is inserted into the resin tube 4. To release the reduced pressure state. In this way, the foamed elastic layer 3 of the roller base body 7 can be inserted into the resin tube 4.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, the step of curing the adhesive 9 by heating the roller base body 7, i.e., the covering body 8, arranged in the rubber tube 10 in this way is performed. In this step, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the rubber tube 10 is heated by a heater 13 arranged away from the rubber tube 10 so as not to inhibit the thermal expansion of the rubber tube 10. The covering 8 may be heated from the outer surface to a temperature at which the adhesive 9 is cured, and a heater (not shown) is connected to the shaft 2 of the covering 8 disposed in the rubber tube 10 for bonding. The covering 8 may be heated to a temperature at which the agent 9 is cured. From the viewpoint of manufacturability, the curing step is performed from the outer surface of the rubber tube 10 with the heater 13 disposed away from the rubber tube so that the rubber tube 10 does not come into contact even when thermally expanded. The covering 8 is preferably heated to a temperature at which the adhesive 9 is cured.

  When the covering 8 is heated in this manner, the foamed elastic layer 3A itself is thermally expanded radially outward, that is, toward the inner peripheral surface 12 of the rubber tube 10, and the rubber tube 10 is also thermally expanded in the radial direction. To do. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the outer surface of the cover 8, that is, the resin tube 4 is pressed against the inner surface 12 of the rubber tube 10 by the thermally expanded foamed elastic layer 3A and the foamed elastic layer 3A. And the resin tube 4 are in close contact with the adhesive 9 interposed therebetween. Further, the rubber tube 10 is thermally expanded in the same direction as the foamed elastic layer 3A so as to follow the thermal expansion of the foamed elastic layer 3A, and the foamed elastic layer is compressed with a large compressive force so that strain remains in the foamed elastic layer 3A. The close contact state between the foamed elastic layer 3A and the resin tube 4 is maintained without compressing 3A. On the other hand, the rubber tube 10 does not contact the heater 13 even if it thermally expands in the radial direction. As a result, the adhesive 9 is cured in a state in which the difference between the outer shape and the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3 </ b> A is maintained before and after the heat curing of the adhesive 9.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, heating is stopped and the elastic roller 1A on which the adhesive layer 5 is formed is taken out from the rubber tube 10. In this way, the elastic roller 1A is manufactured. The manufactured elastic roller 1A retains the shape of the foamed elastic layer 3A of the roller base material 7, that is, the so-called "reverse crown shape" and the outer diameter, even after the foamed elastic layer 3A of the roller base material 7 is covered with the resin tube 4. is doing. As described above, the elastic roller 1A maintains the difference between the outer shape and the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3A, and has the desired outer shape and outer diameter difference even when the resin tube layer 4 is provided.

  In the method for producing an elastic roller according to the present invention, for example, a so-called “crown-shaped” elastic roller 1B shown in FIG. 4 is formed into a so-called “reverse crown shape” in the step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam-molded product. Using the adjusted roller base and the so-called “straight shape” or the so-called “reverse crown shape” internal space, that is, the rubber tubular body according to the present invention having the inner peripheral surface, the manufacturing method and the basic according to the present invention Can be produced in the same manner.

  In one manufacturing method according to the present invention, a rubber tube 10 having a so-called “crown-shaped” internal space 11 is used. In the present invention, the rubber tube 10 having an inner space with a constant inner diameter, that is, an inner peripheral surface is used. The same effect can be expected even if a tubular body is used.

  The elastic roller according to the present invention manufactured by the method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to the present invention has a desired elastic shape and outer diameter difference while the foamed elastic layer and the resin tube are bonded with high adhesive strength. Therefore, it is suitably used as an elastic roller for a fixing device that requires low hardness and high developer releasability, that is, a fixing roller and a pressure roller.

  The elastic roller, the elastic roller manufacturing method, and the rubber tube according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the elastic rollers 1A and 1B, the resin tube 4 is the outermost layer. In the present invention, other layers such as an elastic layer, a release layer, and a coat are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube as desired. A layer, a surface layer, and / or a protective layer may be formed. 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 generally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 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 rollers 1A and 1B are in contact with or pressed against the contacted body, and thus are not easily deformed permanently. For example, alkyd resin, modified alkyd resin such as phenol modified / silicone modified, oil-free alkyd resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, fluorine resin, phenol resin, polyamide resin, urethane resin, polyamideimide resin And mixtures thereof. In the present invention, it is preferable that an elastic layer formed of silicone rubber and a release layer formed of fluororesin are formed in this order on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 4.

Example 1
100 parts by mass of a mixture of a vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber and a silica filler (silicon rubber composition “KE-951U” manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and an organic peroxide crosslinking agent “C-8” (Shin-Etsu Chemical) Kogyo Co., Ltd. product name) 2 parts by mass were sufficiently kneaded with two rolls to prepare a silicone rubber composition. A cylindrical tube having an inner diameter of 40 mm and a wall thickness of 4 mm at both ends, and a shaft body disposed inside the cylindrical tube, having an outer diameter of 32.0 mm at both ends and an outer diameter of 31.8 mm at the center. This silicone rubber composition was press-molded at 180 ° C. for 30 minutes using a press mold having the following, followed by secondary heating at 200 ° C. for 4 hours to produce a rubber tube. The rubber tube has a JIS A hardness of 45 °, an axial length of 350 mm, a thickness of each end of 4 mm (inner diameter of 32.0 mm), and a central thickness of 4.1 mm (inner diameter of 31.8 mm). The wall thickness increased at a constant rate from each end to the center. This rubber tubular body has a so-called “reverse crown-shaped” internal space formed by a so-called “crown-shaped” inner peripheral surface, and an inner diameter difference A between the inner diameter of both ends and the inner diameter of the center is 0. It was 2 mm.

  A shaft body (diameter 22 mm × length 390 mm, SUM22) subjected to electroless nickel plating was washed with toluene, and a primer “No. 101A / B” (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: trade name) was applied. The primer-treated shaft was baked at 180 ° C. for 30 minutes using a gear oven, and then cooled at room temperature for 30 minutes or more to form a primer layer.

  Next, 100 parts by mass of a mixture of a vinyl group-containing silicone raw rubber and a silica-based filler (silicone rubber composition “KE-904FU” manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and an addition reaction crosslinking agent “C-153A” (Shin-Etsu Chemical) Manufactured by Kogyo Co., Ltd .: trade name) 5 parts by mass, 2.5 parts by mass of the blowing agent azobis-isobutyronitrile, an appropriate amount of platinum catalyst as an addition reaction catalyst, and a reaction control agent “R-153A” (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Product name: 0.5 parts by mass, organic peroxide crosslinking agent “C-3” (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: product name), and heat resistance improver “KEP-12” (Shin-Etsu) Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. product name) 1.0 part by mass was sufficiently kneaded with two rolls to prepare an addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition.

  Next, the shaft body 2 on which the primer layer is formed and the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition are integrally extracted by an extruder, and the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition is 250 by using an infrared heating furnace (IR furnace). It was heated at 0 ° C. for 10 minutes for foam crosslinking. Thereafter, the addition reaction type foamed silicone rubber composition after foaming and crosslinking is further heated at 200 ° C. for 7 hours using a gear oven, and left at room temperature for 1 hour or more. Each of the outer diameters is grounded to 31.0 mm and the outer diameter of the central part is grounded to 30.8 mm to produce an elastic roller base 7 having a so-called “reverse crown-shaped” foamed elastic layer 3A having an axial length of 350 mm. did. The roller base 7 had an outer diameter difference B of 0.2 mm between the outer diameters at both ends and the outer diameter at the center.

Next, an adhesive (trade name “KE1880”, viscosity (25 ° C.) 84 Pa · s, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is not diluted with a solvent on the entire outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 3A in the produced roller base body 7. Then, it was uniformly coated with a roll coater so that the coating amount was 0.010 g / cm ² . Roller base 7 and PFA tube (axial length 400 mm, outer diameter 29.5 mm, thickness 30 μm) coated with adhesive in “Pressurizing device 10” shown in FIG. 4 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-299185 4 and pressurizing the inside of the pressurizing apparatus 10 to reduce the diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3A until the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3A becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the PFA tube 4, and then insert the foamed elastic layer 3A into the PFA tube 4. The pressure state was released to obtain a covering 8.

  Next, the covering 8 is inserted into the produced rubber tube 10 so as to be coaxial, and is arranged in a state where the PFA tube 4 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the rubber tube 10 and the roller base body 7. did. While maintaining this state, the cover 8 was heated to 150 ° C. from the outside of the rubber tube 10 for 1 hour to cure the adhesive. Thus, the elastic roller of Example 1 was manufactured.

(Example 2)
The elastic roller of the second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment except that a rubber tube having a uniform inner diameter of 32.0 mm in the axial direction is used instead of the rubber tube 10. Manufactured. The inner diameter difference A of the produced rubber tube was 0.0 mm.

(Example 3)
Instead of the rubber tube 10, a rubber tube having an inner diameter of 32.0 mm at each end and an inner diameter of 31.6 mm at the center and a thickness increasing from each end to the center at a constant rate is produced. The elastic roller of Example 3 was manufactured basically in the same manner as in Example 1 except that it was used. The inner diameter difference A of the produced rubber tube was 0.4 mm.

(Comparative Example 1)
The elastic roller of Comparative Example 1 was basically the same as Example 1 except that a metal tube having an inner diameter of 32.0 mm (inner diameter difference A was 0.0 mm) was used instead of the rubber tube 10. Manufactured.

(Evaluation)
The outer diameter of each end part and the outer diameter of the center part of each of the elastic rollers of Examples and Comparative Examples manufactured in this way were measured with a laser length measuring device (trade name “LS-1610M”, manufactured by Mitutoyo Corporation). The outer diameter difference C between the outer diameter of the end portion and the outer diameter of the central portion was calculated. The evaluation is based on the case where the ratio of the outer diameter difference C of the elastic roller to the outer diameter difference B of the roller base body 7 (outer diameter difference C / outer diameter difference B) (%) is 75% or more and 125% or less. ”, A case where it was 50% or more and less than 75% or more than 125% and 150% or less was designated as“ ◯ ”, and a case where it was less than 50% or more than 150% was designated as“ X ”. The results are shown in Table 1. The elastic rollers in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1 all maintained the so-called “reverse crown shape” of the roller base body 7.

  As shown in Table 1, according to Examples 1 to 3, the ratio (outer diameter difference C / outer diameter difference B) is 50% or more and 150% or less, and the foamed elastic layer 3A of the roller base body 7 It was possible to maintain the difference in outer shape and outer diameter. In particular, in Example 1, the ratio (outer diameter difference C / outer diameter difference B) was 125%, and the outer diameter difference of the foamed elastic layer 3A of the roller base 7 was sufficiently maintained. As described above, according to the present invention, the difference between the outer shape and the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer 3A of the roller base body 7 is 50% or more and 150% or less (outer diameter difference C / outer) before and after the heat curing of the adhesive. It was found that the diameter difference B) can be maintained.

1A, 1B Elastic roller 2 Shaft 3A, 3B Foam elastic layer 4 Resin tube (PFA tube)
5 Adhesive layer 7 Roller base 8 Cover body 9 Adhesive 10 Rubber tube 11 Internal space 12 Inner peripheral surface 13 Heater

Claims (10)

A foamed elastic layer having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction is bonded to at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the roller base body disposed on the shaft body and the inner surface of the resin tube covering the foamed elastic layer. Applying the agent;
Arranging the roller base body in the rubber pipe body in a state where the resin tube is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the rubber pipe body and the roller base body;
A method of manufacturing an elastic roller, comprising: heating a base roller disposed in the rubber tube to cure the adhesive.   The rubber tube has an inner peripheral surface whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer and changes inversely with the change in the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer along the axial direction. The manufacturing method of the elastic roller of description.   3. The elastic roller according to claim 1, wherein the arranging step is a step of arranging the roller base body in which the foamed elastic layer is covered with a resin tube via the adhesive in the rubber tube. 4. Production method.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of foam-molding the foamed rubber composition on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body and a step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam-molded body so as to change along the axial direction. The manufacturing method of the elastic roller of description.   The elastic roller manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein the adjusting step is a step of adjusting the outer diameter of the foam molded body so as to be substantially symmetric about a substantially central portion in the axial direction.   6. The elasticity according to claim 5, wherein the adjusting step is a step of increasing the outer diameter of the foam molded body toward both end portions in the axial direction, or a step of decreasing the outer diameter toward the both end portions. Roller manufacturing method.   A resin tube manufactured by the method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to claim 1 and having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction covers the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer via an adhesive layer. An elastic roller consisting of   The elastic roller according to claim 7, wherein the resin tube has an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter is substantially symmetric about a substantially central portion in the axial direction.   The resin tube has an inverted crown-shaped outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter increases toward both ends in the axial direction, or a crown-shaped outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter decreases toward both ends. Item 9. The elastic roller according to Item 8. A rubber tubular body that is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body and that manufactures an elastic roller by bonding a resin tube to a foamed elastic layer having an outer peripheral surface whose outer diameter changes along the axial direction,
Rubber having an inner peripheral surface that is formed entirely in a tubular shape with rubber, has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer, and changes in the axial direction opposite to a change in the outer diameter of the foamed elastic layer. Tube-making body.

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