JP2019060908A - Tubular body for infrared light fixing device, infrared light fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device that prevents a reduction in transmittance of infrared light.SOLUTION: A tubular body 110 for an infrared light fixing device is formed of a single-layer body of a resin layer that contains resin and particles having a higher Young's modulus than that of the resin and a volume average particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 100 nm or less, or a laminate having the resin layer as an inner peripheral surface layer 110A. The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device has transmittance for infrared light in at least partial wavelength region of the infrared region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device, an infrared light fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus (such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer) using an electrophotographic method, an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium is fixed by a fixing device to form an image.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that “a transmitting member comprising an internal space and made of a material capable of transmitting a laser beam is provided, and a rotating member which rotationally moves the transmitting member, and this rotating member And a recording medium between the rotating member while forming a contact pressure area with the rotating member and pressing an image by the thermoplastic imaging material on the recording medium in the contact pressing area The image forming apparatus is provided in an inner space of the rotating member and an opposing member for moving and conveying the image, and predetermines before an image by a thermoplastic image forming material on the recording medium in the conveyance path of the recording medium reaches the contact pressure area. Disclosed is a fixing device comprising: a laser beam irradiating means for irradiating a laser light onto the image formed by the thermoplastic imaging material on the recording medium at the laser light irradiating position through the transmitting portion of the rotating member There is.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, “a tubular base material, an elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base material, and a surface layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer and containing a fluorine-containing resin are provided. , A fixing member having transparency to infrared rays in a wavelength region at least a part of 760 nm to 900 nm is disclosed.

Also, although not a member used for a fixing device of an image forming apparatus, the following films are disclosed.
Patent Document 3 describes “a method for producing a high surface hardness film, comprising the steps of: (a) kneading the binder material with diamond particles having silicon and diamond particles having fluorine; and (b) the kneaded product A method of producing a high surface hardness film, comprising the steps of extruding to form a film is disclosed.

  Patent Document 4 also describes “Nano-diamond nanocomposites in which nano-diamond particles (A) are dispersed in dispersing medium (B) and coated with a material similar to the dispersing medium (B) A transparent light diffuser comprising a nanodiamond composite, wherein the maximum size of the composite (C) is 25 nm to 500 nm is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 5 describes “a hard coat film in which a hard coat layer is formed on a substrate, and the hard coat layer includes diamond particles having silicon and diamond particles having fluorine”. Is disclosed.

JP, 2011-128223, A JP, 2015-040897, A JP, 2012-035536, A JP, 2013-164569, A JP, 2012-022047, A

  By the way, in the tubular body for infrared light fixing device, while the image fixing operation in the infrared light fixing device is repeated, wear occurs on the inner peripheral surface, and as a result, the transmittance of infrared light may gradually decrease. The

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an infrared fixing device comprising a resin layer containing only particles having a Young's modulus lower than that of the resin, or a resin layer containing only particles having a volume average particle diameter of more than 100 nm as particles. An object of the present invention is to provide a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device which suppresses a decrease in the transmittance of infrared light as compared with a tubular body.

  The above-mentioned subject is solved by the following means. That is,

The invention according to claim 1 is
A single layer body of a resin layer containing a resin, particles having a Young's modulus higher than the resin and a volume average particle diameter of 5 nm to 100 nm, or a laminate having the resin layer as an inner peripheral surface layer Configured and
A tubular body for an infrared light fixing device, having transparency to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength region in the infrared region.

The invention according to claim 2 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the content of the particles with respect to the resin layer is more than 0% by volume and 30% by volume or less.

The invention according to claim 3 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a Young's modulus of the particles is 5 GPa or more and 500 GPa or less.

The invention according to claim 4 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a Young's modulus of the resin is 0.5 GPa or more and 4.5 GPa or less.

The invention according to claim 5 is
The infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio [Yp / Yr] of the Young's modulus Yp of the particles to the Young's modulus Yr of the resin is 10 times or more and 1000 times or less. Tubular body.

The invention according to claim 6 is
The resin according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyimide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a polyether sulfone resin, a polysulfone resin, and a polyphenyl sulfone resin. The tubular body for infrared light fixing devices described in 4.

The invention according to claim 7 is
The tubular body for an infrared fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles.

The invention according to claim 8 is
The tubular body according to claim 7, wherein the resin is a polyimide resin, and the particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles.

The invention according to claim 9 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the particles is 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less.

The invention according to claim 10 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which has transparency to infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.

The invention according to claim 11 is
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 10, wherein a transmittance to infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm is 90% or more.

The invention according to claim 12 is
The resin layer as an inner circumferential surface layer,
An elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the resin layer;
A surface layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer;
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the tubular body is formed of a laminate having:

The invention according to claim 13 is
A tubular body for infrared fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is a tubular body in contact with a toner image on a recording medium.
A rotating body provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body, forming a contact area with the tubular body, and rotating with the tubular body in the contact area to transport the recording medium;
An infrared light irradiation device provided on the outer peripheral surface side or the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular body, and emitting infrared light toward the contact area between the tubular body and the rotating body;
A pressure member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the tubular body, for pressing the tubular body together with the rotating body in the contact area;
An infrared light fixing device comprising:

The invention according to claim 14 is
The infrared light fixing device according to claim 13, wherein the infrared light irradiation device irradiates infrared light having a maximum peak wavelength in an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.

The invention according to claim 15 is
The ratio [Mv / λp] of the volume average particle diameter Mv of the particles to the maximum peak wavelength λp of the infrared light irradiated by the infrared light irradiation device is 1/200 or more and 1/20 or less. The infrared light fixing device according to claim 14.

The invention according to claim 16 is
Between the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body for infrared light fixing device and the pressing member, a lubricant having permeability to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength range in the infrared region is interposed. The infrared light fixing device according to any one of the above.

The invention according to claim 17 is
The infrared light fixing device according to claim 16, wherein the lubricant is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicone oil and fluorine oil.

The invention according to claim 18 is
A toner image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium;
An infrared light fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording medium by irradiation of infrared light, the infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 13 to 17;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to the invention according to claim 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, or 12, as the particles, a resin layer containing only particles having a Young's modulus lower than that of the resin, or a volume average particle diameter of more than 100 nm A tubular body for an infrared light fixing device is provided which suppresses a decrease in the transmittance of infrared light as compared with a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device provided with a resin layer containing only particles.
According to the invention as set forth in claim 3, the infrared light which suppresses the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light as compared with the tubular body for the infrared light fixing device provided with the resin layer containing only particles having a Young's modulus of less than 5 GPa An anchoring device tubular body is provided.
According to the invention as set forth in claim 5, an infrared light fixing comprising a resin layer containing a resin and particles, wherein the ratio [Yp / Yr] of the Young's modulus Yp of the particles to the Young's modulus Yr of the resin is less than 10 times. There is provided a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device which suppresses a decrease in the transmittance of infrared light as compared with the tubular body for a device.
According to the invention as set forth in claim 9, the infrared light transmittance is lowered compared to the tubular body for the infrared light fixing device provided with the resin layer containing only the particles having a volume average particle diameter of more than 50 nm as the particles. A tubular body for suppressing infrared light fixing device is provided.
According to the invention as set forth in claim 10 or 11, a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device is provided which realizes fixing of a toner image by infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm. Ru.

According to the invention according to claim 13, 16 or 17, a resin layer containing only particles having a Young's modulus lower than that of the resin, or a resin layer containing only particles having a volume average particle diameter of more than 100 nm as particles. There is provided an infrared light fixing device capable of obtaining an image with high fixing strength as compared with the case where the tubular body for infrared light fixing device provided is applied.
According to the invention of claim 14, there is provided an infrared light fixing device which realizes fixing of a toner image by infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.
According to the invention as set forth in claim 15, red, in which the ratio [Mv / λp] of the volume average particle diameter Mv of the particles to the maximum peak wavelength λp of the infrared light irradiated by the infrared light irradiation device exceeds 1/20. There is provided an infrared light fixing device capable of obtaining an image having a high fixing strength as compared with an external light fixing device.

  According to the invention of claim 18, the infrared light fixing includes a resin layer containing only particles having a Young's modulus lower than that of the resin, or a resin layer containing only particles having a volume average particle diameter of more than 100 nm. An image forming apparatus capable of obtaining an image with high fixing strength as compared with the case of applying a tubular body for a device is provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the tubular body for infrared light fixing devices which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing an example of an infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows another example of the infrared fixing device concerning this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows another example of the infrared fixing device concerning this embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment which is an example of the present invention will be described.
In addition, the same code | symbol may be provided to the member which has a substantially the same function through all the drawings, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted suitably.

[Tube for infrared fixing device]
The tubular body for infrared fixing device according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, also referred to as “transparent tubular body” for the sake of convenience) is a tubular body having transparency to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength range in the infrared range. .
And the transparent tubular body which concerns on this embodiment contains resin and particle (Hereafter, it is also called a unit "filler") whose Young's modulus is higher than the said resin, and volume average particle diameter is 5 nm-100 nm. It is comprised by the single layer body of the resin layer, or the laminated body which has the said resin layer as an inner peripheral surface layer.

According to the transparent tubular body of the present embodiment, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light is suppressed by having the above configuration.
The reason is presumed as follows.

In an image forming apparatus for forming an image using toner, using an infrared absorbing toner containing an infrared absorbing dye having absorption in the light energy of infrared light, and irradiating the toner image with infrared light The technology of an infrared light fixing method for fixing an image is being studied. For example, pressure is applied to the contact area between the transparent tubular body and the rotating body by passing the recording medium on which the unfixed toner image is formed by the infrared absorbing toner, and the toner image is added to the toner image through the transparent tubular body. There is known a technique of fixing an image by irradiating infrared light.
In such an infrared light fixing type fixing device, a load is applied to the transparent tubular body toward the contact area with the rotating body, for example, a pressing member having a function of pressing it to the inner peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body Is provided. Since a member harder than the transparent tubular body is usually used as such a pressurizing member, the contact and rubbing with the pressurizing member cause wear on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body, and the sliding scratch is generated. Could occur. And as a result, the transmittance | permeability of the infrared light in a transparent tubular body may fall gradually.

On the other hand, the transparent tubular body according to the present embodiment has at least the resin layer containing particles (fillers) having a Young's modulus higher than that of the resin on the inner peripheral surface. As a result, the mechanical strength of the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body is improved, and the occurrence of abrasion due to rubbing and the generation of flaws due to the abrasion are suppressed. As a result, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light in the transparent tubular body is suppressed.
Moreover, the volume average particle diameter of the said filler which the transparent tubular body which concerns on this embodiment contains in a resin layer is 100 nm or less. Therefore, when infrared light (for example, infrared light of at least a partial wavelength range of an infrared range of 700 nm to 900 nm) irradiated to the unfixed toner image passes through the transparent tubular body, the infrared light is transmitted. Interference with the filler is suppressed. As a result, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light due to interference is also suppressed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light is suppressed.

According to the transparent tubular body according to the present embodiment, the scattering of infrared light to be irradiated is suppressed by having the above configuration.
The reason is presumed as follows. A part of the filler contained in the resin layer separates from the surface of the resin layer while repeating the image fixing operation. Although a lubricant may be interposed between the transparent tubular body and the pressure member to improve lubricity, when this lubricant is present, the detached filler is retained in the lubricant. Ru. As a result, the separated filler plays a role of polishing the surface of the resin layer and the pressing member, and generation of unevenness on the surface of the resin layer is suppressed with repeated operation of image fixing. Generation of scattering is suppressed. And the fall of the condensing rate of the irradiated infrared light is suppressed, and the image which has high fixing strength can be formed.

Hereinafter, the transparent tubular body according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a fixing member according to the present embodiment.

  The transparent tubular body 110 according to the present embodiment is a transparent tubular body having transparency to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength range in the infrared range.

  The transparent tubular body 110 according to the present embodiment is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a base (resin layer) 110A as a layer constituting an inner peripheral surface, and elasticity provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base 110A. It has the layer 110B and the surface layer 110C as a layer which comprises the outer peripheral surface provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 110B.

  Here, although the transparent tubular body 110 according to the present embodiment has transparency to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength region of the infrared region, specifically, the infrared light provided in the infrared light fixing device It has the transparency to the infrared light of the irradiation wavelength which the light source (light source which irradiates infrared light) of an irradiation device irradiates. More specifically, for example, it is preferable to have transparency to infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of the infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.

  More specifically, for example, in the case of using a semiconductor laser that emits infrared light (infrared laser light) of 808 nm as a light source of the infrared light irradiation device, it has transparency to infrared light of 808 nm. It suffices to be transparent to infrared light in the wavelength range of 780 nm or more and 820 nm or less, and even to have infrared light in the wavelength range of 800 nm to 810 nm or less Good.

  And having transparency to infrared light means that the transmittance to infrared light is 70% or more (more preferably 80% or more, still more preferably 90% or more).

  The transmittance to infrared light in each layer constituting the transparent tubular body 110 may also have the same property as the transmittance to infrared light in the transparent tubular body 110. That is, the transmittance to infrared light in each layer constituting the transparent tubular body 110 is preferably 70% or more (more preferably 80% or more, further preferably 90% or more).

The transmittance to infrared light is measured by the following method.
The transmittance is measured using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (manufactured by JASCO Corporation, model number: JASCO-V560) as a measurement device under measurement conditions in the range of 350 nm to 950 nm, and a target wavelength range (for example, It evaluates by calculating | requiring the transmittance | permeability in the area | region of 700 nm or more and 900 nm or less).
In addition, when measuring the transmittance | permeability about each layer (for example, base material) in a transparent tubular body, the sample for a measurement peels an applicable layer from a transparent tubular body, and uses it as the sample for measurement. In addition, when peeling from the transparent tubular body is not easy, a measurement sample may be separately prepared using the same material as the material used to form the corresponding layer.

  Next, details of each configuration of the transparent tubular body 110 according to the present embodiment will be described. In addition, the code | symbol is abbreviate | omitted and demonstrated.

(Base material (resin layer))
The base material (resin layer) contains at least a resin and particles (filler). The particles contained in the resin layer have a Young's modulus higher than that of the resin and a volume average particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 100 nm or less.

-Young's modulus of resin and particles The particles contained in the resin layer have a higher Young's modulus than the resin. By containing particles (fillers) having a Young's modulus higher than that of the resin, the mechanical strength on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body is improved, and abrasion due to rubbing and generation of scratches due to the abrasion are suppressed. As a result, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light in the transparent tubular body is suppressed.

The Young's modulus of the particles contained in the resin layer is, for example, preferably 5 GPa or more and 500 GPa or less, more preferably 50 GPa or more and 500 GPa or less, and still more preferably 100 GPa or more and 500 GPa or less.
When the Young's modulus of the particles is 5 GPa or more, the mechanical strength of the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body can be easily improved, and the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light can be easily suppressed.
Furthermore, when the Young's modulus of the particles is 100 GPa or more, the mechanical strength of the transparent tubular body can be easily improved, and the flaw suppression effect can be easily obtained.

The Young's modulus of the particles is measured by the following method.
First, the particles (fillers) contained in the resin layer are separated. As a method of separating particles from the resin layer, for example, when the resin layer is made of a polyimide resin, it can be separated by dissolving the surface using an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide or the like and centrifuging the solution. When particles are headed (exposed) on the surface of the resin, the sample for measurement may be directly measured without separating the particles.
Next, the obtained particles are subjected to physical properties using a scanning probe microscope AFM (normal temperature (25 ° C.), normal humidity (30% RH) environment) to measure the Young's modulus of the particles.

The Young's modulus of the resin contained in the resin layer is, for example, preferably 0.5 GPa or more and 4.5 GPa or less, and more preferably 2 GPa or more and 4.5 GPa or less.
When the Young's modulus of the resin is 0.5 GPa or more, the strength as an annular body required for the transparent tubular body can be easily obtained.
On the other hand, when the Young's modulus of the resin is 4.5 GPa or less, it is easy to handle as a tubular body for an infrared light fixing device, and the polishing effect by the detached particles is appropriately obtained and the wear flaw reduction effect is easily obtained. .

The Young's modulus of the resin is a value measured by a tensile test based on JIS K7127 (1999). Specifically, a test piece (5 mm × 40 mm) consisting only of the resin contained in the resin layer is prepared. The measurement of the Young's modulus of the resin is carried out 10 times using this test piece, and the average value is taken as measurement data. A measuring machine uses a tensile tester MODEL-1605N manufactured by Iko Engineering Co., Ltd., and a measurement condition is a tensile speed of 20 mm / min under an environment of 22 ° C. and 55% RH.
When it is difficult to separate only the resin from the resin layer containing the particles to prepare the test piece, the same test piece as that used for the resin layer is used to separately prepare the above test piece. You may

In the resin layer, the Young's modulus of the particles is higher than the Young's modulus of the resin.
The ratio [Yp / Yr] of the Young's modulus Yp of the particles to the Young's modulus Yr of the resin is preferably, for example, 10 times or more and 1000 times or less, and 10 times or more and 500 times or less. Is more preferred.
When the ratio [Yp / Yr] is 10 times or more, the mechanical strength on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body can be easily improved, and the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light can be easily suppressed.
On the other hand, when the ratio [Yp / Yr] is 1000 times or less, the difference in physical property value between the resin and the particles is reduced, and the uniformity of the stress action at the time of deformation of the tubular body is enhanced. The effect of reducing detachment is obtained.

-Volume average particle diameter of particles The volume average particle diameter of the particles contained in the resin layer is 5 nm or more and 100 nm or less. Therefore, when infrared light (for example, infrared light of at least a partial wavelength range of an infrared range of 700 nm to 900 nm) irradiated to the unfixed toner image passes through the transparent tubular body, the infrared light is transmitted. Interference with the filler is suppressed, and a decrease in the transmittance of infrared light due to the interference is suppressed.
The volume average particle diameter of the particles is preferably 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and more preferably 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less. When the volume average particle diameter of the particles is 50 nm or less, the effect of suppressing interference with infrared light can be further obtained.

The volume average particle size of the particles is measured by the following method.
First, the transparent tubular body to be measured is cut by a microtome, a measurement sample with a thickness of 100 nm is collected, and this measurement sample is observed by a TEM (transmission electron microscope). The diameter of a circle equal to the projected area of each of the 50 particles is taken as the particle diameter (equivalent circle diameter), and the 50% diameter (D50v) in the cumulative frequency of the particle diameter (equivalent circle diameter) is the volume average particle diameter of the particles I assume.

The volume average particle diameter Mv of the particles contained in the resin layer is such that the ratio [Mv / λp] to the maximum peak wavelength λp of the infrared light irradiated by the infrared light irradiation device is 1/200 or more and 1/20 or less Is more preferably 1/200 or more and 1/50 or less, and still more preferably 1/200 or more and 1/100 or less.
When the ratio [Mv / λp] is 1/20 or less, it is easy to suppress the infrared light from causing interference with the particles, and it is easy to suppress the decrease of the infrared light transmittance due to the interference.

-Particles-
Examples of particles (fillers) contained in the resin layer include zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles.
Among these, zirconia particles or titanium oxide particles are preferable.

The content of particles in the resin layer is preferably more than 0% by volume and 30% by volume, more preferably 10% by volume and 30% by volume, and still more preferably 10% by volume and 20% by volume.
When the content of particles is more than 0% by volume, the mechanical strength on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body can be easily improved, and the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light can be easily suppressed.
On the other hand, when the content of particles is 30% by volume or less, the aggregation of particles (fillers) in the resin can be suppressed, and the transmission effect of infrared light can be easily obtained.

-Resin-
As resin contained in a resin layer, a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin are mentioned.
As a thermoplastic resin, polyether sulfone (PES) resin, polysulfone resin, polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU) resin, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin And polyarylate (PAR) resin, polyester (PES) resin, polycarbonate (PC) resin and the like.
Examples of the thermosetting resin include polyimide resins (for example, wholly aromatic polyimide resins, alicyclic polyimide resins, polyimide resins containing a fluorine group, etc.), polyamideimide resins, polyetherimide resins, and the like.
In addition, in the case of a polyimide resin or a polyamide imide resin, a precursor can also be used, that is, it can be obtained by reacting after being molded with a precursor.

  Among them, polyimide resin, polyamide imide resin, polyether sulfone resin, polysulfone resin, or polyphenyl sulfone resin is preferable as the resin.

  As a preferable combination of the resin and the particles, a combination in which the resin is a polyimide resin and the particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles is preferable.

-Additives-
The resin layer is a fiber or filler having transparency to infrared light (inorganic particles such as fluorine resin powder, polyester, polyamide, glass fiber, silica, etc.) as long as the transparency of the transparent tubular body to infrared light is not impaired. Etc.) may be included. In addition, it is generally used for transparent tubular bodies, such as an antioxidant to prevent thermal deterioration of resin, a surfactant to improve fluidity, an antistatic agent to remove static electricity generated at the time of use, etc. Any additive may be used.

-Formation of resin layer-
The formation of the resin layer is not particularly limited, and a known formation method is used. For example, a coating film of a composition containing the above components is formed, and the coating film is dried, if necessary, and heated. The method to do is mentioned.
As a coating method at the time of applying the composition for forming a resin layer, a blade coating method, a wire bar coating method, a spray coating method, a dip coating method, a bead coating method, an air knife coating method, a curtain coating method, etc. The method is mentioned.

Thickness The thickness of the substrate (resin layer) is, for example, preferably 20 μm to 1000 μm, more preferably 50 μm to 200 μm, and still more preferably 60 μm to 130 μm.

The thickness (average thickness) of each layer in the transparent tubular body is measured by an eddy current film thickness meter ISOSCOPE MP30 manufactured by Fisher Instruments.
In addition, four locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, 12 locations in total, at three locations in the central portion in the axial direction (width direction) of the transparent tubular body and 30 mm from each end toward the central portion side, respectively. Measure and make the average value the average thickness.

(Elastic layer)
The elastic layer is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer having transparency to infrared light (a layer having a transmittance of 70% or more of infrared light).
As an elastic layer, a silicone rubber layer, a urethane rubber layer, an olefin rubber layer etc. are mentioned, for example.

Examples of the silicone rubber layer include layers of addition polymerization type two-component polydimethylsiloxanes and derivatives thereof, and photocurable acrylic-modified silicone rubber.
As a polyurethane rubber layer, layers, such as polyether urethane rubber, polyester-type urethanes, and urethane rubber etc. of an acrylic modified light curing type, are mentioned, for example.
Examples of the olefin rubber include layers of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), polypropylene rubber, butyl rubber, cycloolefins, norbornene rubber and the like.

  The thickness of the elastic layer is, for example, preferably 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and more preferably 150 μm or more and 450 μm or less.

(Surface layer)
The surface layer is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer having transparency to infrared light (a layer having a transmittance of 70% or more of infrared light).
The surface layer is preferably a layer having releasability with respect to toner.
A fluorine-containing resin layer is mentioned as a surface layer. As the fluorine-containing resin layer, for example, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer (THV) and layers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

  Among these, as the surface layer, for example, layers such as PFA, polyvinylidene fluoride, and a fully fluorinated cyclic ether polymer are preferable.

The surface free energy of the outer peripheral surface of the surface layer is, for example, preferably 30 mN / m or less, more preferably 25 mN / m or less, from the viewpoint of the releasability of the fixed image.
Here, the measurement of the surface free energy is calculated, for example, by using a contact angle meter CAM-200 (manufactured by KSV) and calculating a program built in the device using the Zisman method.

  The refractive index of the surface layer is preferably lower than the refractive index of the toner image in that the reflection of infrared light at the interface between the surface layer and the toner image is suppressed.

  The thickness of the surface layer is, for example, preferably 10 μm to 50 μm, and more preferably 12 μm to 30 μm.

(Characteristics of transparent tubular body)
The thickness of the entire transparent tubular body is, for example, preferably 80 μm or more and 1550 μm or less, more preferably 100 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, and still more preferably 200 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

The transparent tubular body described above is not limited to the above layer configuration, and may be a laminate having the above resin layer as a base material. Moreover, the single layer body of the said resin layer may be sufficient.
As a laminate having the above resin layer as a substrate, for example, on the inner circumferential surface of the substrate comprising the above resin layer, a layer structure further having a functional layer such as a release layer, on the substrate comprising the above resin layer Layer configuration having only the elastic layer or only the release layer, layer configuration having the adhesive layer between the base and the elastic layer, layer configuration having the adhesive layer between the elastic layer and the release layer Be

<Infrared light fixing device>
The infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment is a tubular body in contact with the toner image on the recording medium, and is in contact with the transparent tubular body according to the present embodiment and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body. A rotating body for conveying the recording medium by rotating with the tubular body in the contact area, and provided on the outer peripheral surface side or the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular body, the tubular body and the rotation An infrared light irradiation device for irradiating infrared light toward the contact area with the body, and a pressure member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the tubular body for pressing the tubular body together with the rotary body in the contact area And.

  In the infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment, the infrared light irradiation device may be a device that emits infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength region of the infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.

  Here, in the case where the infrared light irradiated from the infrared light irradiation device reaches the contact area between the transparent tubular body and the rotating body through the pressure member, “the transmittance to infrared light in the pressure member is “Also has the same property as“ transparent to infrared light ”in the transparent tubular body. That is, the “transmittance to infrared light” in the pressure member is preferably 70% or more (preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more).

Hereinafter, the infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration view showing an example of the infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared light fixing device 60 (hereinafter also referred to as “fixing device 60”) according to this embodiment includes a transparent tubular body 62, a rotating body 64, an infrared light irradiation device 70, and A pressure member 80 and a lubricant supply member 66 are provided.

(Transparent tubular body)
The transparent tubular body 62 is rotatably supported at axially opposite ends by bearings (not shown). In addition, a drive transmission member (gear or the like) (not shown) is fitted to one end of the transparent tubular body 62 in the axial direction. The transparent tubular body 62 is configured to rotate in the direction of the arrow R as the drive transmission member is rotated about an axis by a drive source (such as a motor) not shown. Furthermore, the transparent tubular body 62 is in contact with the toner image T on the sheet K (an example of the recording medium) heated by the transmitted infrared light LB while being rotated.

(Rotating body)
The rotating body 64 is provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body.
The rotating body 64 is made of resin or metal, for example, and is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 64 is pressed against the pressing member 80 through a transparent tubular body 62 by a bearing member (not shown) by an elastic member (spring or the like). Thus, the rotary body 64 and the transparent tubular body 62 form a contact area N (so-called nip portion). That is, the rotating body 64 has a function of pressing the transparent tubular body 62 (that is, the sheet K and the toner image T) together with the pressure member 80 in the contact area N.

A not-shown fitting member (cap or the like) is fitted to both axial direction end portions of the rotary body 64, and the rigidity against the external force in the radial direction of the rotary body 64 is enhanced. The fitting member is rotatable about its axis by a bearing member (not shown). The rotating body 64 is configured to be driven to rotate as the transparent tubular body 62 is rotated. Thus, the sheet K is rotated in the contact area N together with the transparent tubular body 62.
The transparent tubular body 62 may be configured to be driven to rotate by rotational driving of the rotating body 64.

(Infrared light irradiation device)
The infrared light irradiation device 70 is provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 62. The infrared light irradiation device 70 may be provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 62.

  The infrared light irradiation device 70 includes, for example, a laser array 72 that emits infrared light LB (infrared laser light), and a collimator lens 74 that collimates the emitted infrared light LB. The infrared light irradiation device 70 irradiates the transparent tubular body 62 with the infrared light LB from the outside of the transparent tubular body 62 so that the toner image T is heated.

  A plurality of laser arrays 72 are provided side by side along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet K. Each laser array 72 has a plurality of laser light sources 72A arranged, a main body 72B supporting the laser light sources 72A, and a heat sink 72C in contact with the main body 72B.

  Here, the laser array 72 may include, for example, a plurality of laser light sources 72A that emit infrared light in at least a partial wavelength region of the infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.

  The collimator lens 74 is a plano-convex lens that collimates the infrared light LB emitted from the laser light source 72A. The position of the collimating lens 74 is adjusted so that the width in the circumferential direction of the transparent tubular body 62 of the infrared light LB incident on the outer peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body 62 becomes a preset width.

(Pressure member)
The pressure member 80 is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 62.
The pressing member 80 includes, as an example, a lens pad 82 (an example of a light collecting member), a support frame 84A, and a support frame 84B. The support frame 84A and the support frame 84B are members extending in the axial direction of the transparent tubular body 62, and sandwich and support the lens pad 82 from the radial direction of the transparent tubular body 62. The lens pad 82, the support frame 84A and the support frame 84B are cylindrical in their entirety in the assembled state.

  The pressure member 80 is, together with the rotating body 64, the transparent tubular body 62 (that is, the sheet K and the toner image) in the contact area N when the rotating body 64 is pressed against the pressing member 80 through the transparent tubular body 62. T) has a function to pressurize.

  In the pressing member 80, the infrared light LB irradiated from the infrared light irradiation device 70 to the transparent tubular body 62 is condensed by the lens pad 82, passes through the transparent tubular body 62 again, and is irradiated to the contact area N It is supposed to

  Note that the pressing member 80 may be pressed to the rotating body 64 by an elastic member (a spring or the like) via the transparent tubular body. That is, the pressing member 80 is a member that presses the transparent tubular body 62 by being pressed from another member (such as the rotating body 64), or presses itself against the other member (such as the rotating body 64) to form the transparent tubular body 62. It may be any member of a member that applies pressure.

  In addition, the pressing member 80 may be a pad member having a light collecting function of infrared light. Furthermore, the pressing member 80 may be a roll member that does not have a light collecting function of infrared light, or a pad member that does not have a light collecting function of infrared light.

(Lubricant giving member)
The lubricant supply member 66 is made of, for example, a felt material impregnated with a liquid lubricant (silicone oil or the like). The lubricant supply member 66 is fitted in a recess 86 formed in the support frame 84A of the pressure member 80, and is provided in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the transparent tubular body 62. Thus, the lubricant supply member 66 applies a lubricant to the inner circumferential surface of the transparent tubular body 62 and interposes the lubricant between the inner circumferential surface of the transparent tubular body 62 and the pressure member 80.

  The lubricant supply member 66 may be configured of a solid lubricant (fatty acid metal salt or the like) and a support member for supporting the solid lubricant.

  As the lubricant, silicone oil, fluorine oil and the like are preferable.

  Here, when the infrared light irradiated from the infrared light irradiation device reaches the contact area between the transparent tubular body and the rotating body through the pressure member, “transmittance to infrared light” in the lubricant Also, it is preferable that the transparent tubular body has the same property as "transparency to infrared light". That is, the “transmittance to infrared light” in the lubricant should be 70% or more (preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more).

(Operation of infrared light fixing device)
In the infrared light fixing device 60, the infrared light LB emitted from the infrared light irradiation device 70 enters the incident portion 62 </ b> A of the transparent tubular body 62. Then, the infrared light LB is condensed in the lens pad 82 of the transparent tubular body 62, is emitted from the contact area N which is the emission portion, and is applied to the toner image T on the sheet K being conveyed. The toner image T on the sheet K is heated and melted by absorbing the condensed infrared light LB, and is fixed on the sheet K by receiving pressure from the rotating body 64 and the pressing member 80. .

The infrared light fixing device 60 described above is not limited to the above configuration, and a known configuration may be employed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the infrared fixing device 60 is a sheet-like sliding member interposed between the pressing member 80 (its lens pad 82) and the transparent tubular body 62 in the contact area N. The aspect which has 68 may be sufficient.

In addition, the infrared fixing device may be an aspect in which the transparent tubular body is supported by applying a tension by a plurality of support rolls.
Here, an example of the infrared light fixing device in which the transparent tubular body is supported by a plurality of support rolls is shown. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration view showing another example of the infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an infrared light fixing device 160 (hereinafter also referred to as “fixing device 160”) according to another example of the present embodiment is supported while applying tension by a plurality of support rolls 126 and 128. A transparent tubular body 162, a rotating body 164, an infrared light irradiation device 170, and a lens pad 182 also having a function as a pressing member are provided.

The transparent tubular body 162 is supported while being tensioned by a plurality of support rolls 126 and 128, and at least one of the plurality of support rolls 126 and 128 is rotated about an axis by a drive source (such as a motor) not shown. Be done. Furthermore, the transparent tubular body 162 is in contact with the toner image T on the sheet K (an example of the recording medium) heated by the transmitted infrared light LB while being rotated.
The support roll 128 is disposed at a position where the sheet K (an example of a recording medium) holding the toner image T heated by the infrared light LB and the transparent tubular body 162 continue to be in contact after heating, that is, The sheet K and the transparent tubular body 162 are disposed at a position where a contact area (so-called nip portion) is formed. The support roll 128 may be a cooling roll having a function of cooling the toner image T and the transparent tubular body 162 (for example, a roll having a configuration in which cooling water circulates in the roll).

  The rotating body 164 is provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body, and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 164 is a bearing member (not shown) via a transparent tubular body 162 by an elastic member (spring etc.) It is pressed against the lens pad 182 side.

The infrared light irradiation device 170 is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 162. The infrared light irradiation device 170 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 162.
The infrared light irradiation device 170 includes, as an example, a laser array 172 that emits infrared light LB (infrared laser light), and a collimator lens 174 that collimates the emitted infrared light LB. The infrared light irradiation device 170 irradiates the transparent tubular body 162 with the infrared light LB from the inside of the transparent tubular body 162 so that the toner image T is heated.
Here, the laser array 172 may include, for example, a plurality of laser light sources that emit infrared light in at least a partial wavelength region of the infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.
The collimator lens 174 is a plano-convex lens that collimates the infrared light LB emitted from the laser light source.

The lens pad 182 (an example of a light collecting member) is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the transparent tubular body 162. The lens pad 182 is supported by the support frames 184A and 184B as an example, and a reflective film 122 as an example of a reflection means is provided between the lens frames 182 and the support frames 184A and 184B. The support frames 184A and 184B sandwich and support the lens pad 182 from the radial direction of the transparent tubular body 162.
The reflective film 122 is made of, for example, a white paint containing particles of titanium oxide, and is formed by being applied to the surface of the support frames 184A and 184B on the lens pad 182 side. The reflective film 122 is also applied to the lower surfaces of the support frames 184A and 184B. The lower surfaces of the support frames 184A and 184B are the surfaces facing the transparent tubular body 162.

  The infrared light LB irradiated to the transparent tubular body 162 from the infrared light irradiation device 170 is condensed by the lens pad 182, passes through the transparent tubular body 162, and is irradiated onto the paper K (an example of the recording medium) It is supposed to be.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, the fixing device 160 applies a lubricant to the inner circumferential surface of the transparent tubular body 162, and interposes the lubricant between the inner circumferential surface of the transparent tubular body 162 and the lens pad 182. A lubricant supply member may be provided for the purpose.

  In the infrared light fixing device 160, the infrared light LB emitted from the infrared light irradiation device 170 is incident on the incident surface 182 A of the lens pad 182. Then, the infrared light LB is condensed in the lens pad 182, emitted from the emission surface 182B, and applied to the toner image T on the sheet K being conveyed. The toner image T on the sheet K is heated and melted by absorbing the condensed infrared light LB, and is fixed on the sheet K by receiving pressure from the rotating body 164 and the lens pad 182.

  Further, in the infrared light fixing device 60 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the infrared light fixing device 160 shown in FIG. 5, the conveyance position of the infrared light LB irradiated from the laser light irradiation device It may have a variable mechanism that can be changed along the direction.

[Image forming apparatus]
Next, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a toner image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, and an infrared light fixing apparatus for fixing the toner image on the recording medium by irradiation of infrared light. . The infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment is applied as the infrared light fixing device.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the toner image forming apparatus includes, for example, an image carrier, a charging device for charging the surface of the image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier. An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an image carrier with a developer containing toner, and forming a toner image; And a transfer device for transferring to the surface.

  The toner image forming apparatus directly transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the recording medium directly; the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member An intermediate transfer type device for secondarily transferring the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member onto the surface of the recording medium; including a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the image carrier before charging after transferring the toner image A device comprising a charge removing device for removing the charge by irradiating the surface of the image carrier with charge light before charging after transferring the toner image; raising the temperature of the image carrier and holding the image for reducing the relative temperature Known toner imaging devices, such as devices comprising body heating members, are applied.

  In the case of an intermediate transfer type device, for example, an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image is transferred on the surface, and a primary transfer on which the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. A configuration including the device and a secondary transfer device for secondary transfer of the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member to the surface of the recording medium is applied.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may be either a dry developing type image forming apparatus or a wet developing type (developing type using a liquid developer) image forming apparatus.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the infrared light fixing device may be formed into a cartridge so as to be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. That is, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may include the infrared light fixing device according to the present embodiment as a component device of the process cartridge.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus generally called a tandem type, as shown in FIG. 4, and a plurality of toner images of respective color components are formed by electrophotography. And a primary transfer portion 10 for sequentially transferring (primary transfer) each color component toner image formed by each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K and each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 A secondary transfer unit 20 for collectively transferring (secondary transfer) the superimposed toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 onto a sheet K serving as a recording medium, and fixing the image transferred onto the sheet K onto the sheet K And a device 60. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a control unit 40 that controls the operation of each device (each unit).

  The fixing device 60 is the infrared light fixing device 60 according to the present embodiment described above.

  Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a photosensitive member 11 that rotates in the direction of arrow A as an example of an image carrier that holds a toner image formed on the surface.

  A charger 12 for charging the photosensitive member 11 is provided around the photosensitive member 11 as an example of a charging device, and a laser exposure device for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 11 as an example of a latent image forming apparatus 13 (the exposure beam is indicated by a symbol Bm in the figure) is provided.

  In addition, a developing device 14 is provided around the photosensitive member 11, as an example of a developing device, for storing each color component toner to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 11 with the toner. A primary transfer roll 16 is provided to transfer the color component toner images formed thereon onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the primary transfer portion 10.

  Furthermore, a photosensitive body cleaner 17 is provided around the photosensitive body 11, from which residual toner on the photosensitive body 11 is removed, and the charger 12, the laser exposure unit 13, the developing unit 14, the primary transfer roll 16 and the photosensitive body cleaner Seventeen electrophotographic devices are sequentially disposed along the rotational direction of the photosensitive member 11. The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged substantially linearly in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15. It is done.

The intermediate transfer belt 15, which is an intermediate transfer member, is a film-shaped pressure belt containing a resin such as polyimide or polyamide as a base layer and an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black. And, the volume resistivity is formed to be 10 ⁶ Ωcm or more and 10 ¹⁴ Ωcm or less, and the thickness thereof is configured to be, for example, about 0.1 mm.

  The intermediate transfer belt 15 is circularly driven (rotated) at a speed according to the purpose in the B direction shown in FIG. 4 by various rolls. As the various rolls, a drive roll 31 driven by a motor (not shown) excellent in constant speed to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 15, and an intermediate transfer belt 15 extending substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the respective photosensitive members 11 Support roller 32 for supporting the intermediate transfer belt 15, a tension application roll 33 functioning as a correction roll for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and preventing meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 15, a back surface roll 25 provided in the secondary transfer portion 20, And a cleaning back roll 34 provided in a cleaning unit that scrapes off the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

The primary transfer portion 10 is composed of a primary transfer roll 16 disposed opposite to the photosensitive member 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roll 16 is composed of a core and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core. The core is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a mixed rubber of NBR, SBR and EPDM mixed with a conductive agent such as carbon black, and is a sponge-like cylindrical roll having a volume resistivity of 10 ^7.5 Ωcm or more and 10 ^8.5 Ωcm or less.

  The primary transfer roll 16 is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the photosensitive member 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween, and the primary transfer roll 16 further has a voltage (primary) opposite to the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the toner. Transfer bias is applied. As a result, the toner images on the respective photosensitive members 11 are electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 sequentially, and a superimposed toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  The secondary transfer unit 20 is configured to include a back surface roll 25 and a secondary transfer roll 22 disposed on the toner image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15.

The back roll 25 is a tube of a mixed rubber of EPDM and NBR in which the surface has carbon dispersed, and the inside is made of EPDM rubber. The surface resistivity is formed to be 10 ⁷ Ω / sq or more and 10 ¹⁰ Ω / sq or less, and the hardness is set to, for example, 70 ° (Asker C: manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd., the same applies hereinafter). Ru. The back roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to constitute a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 22, and a metal feed roll 26 to which a secondary transfer bias is stably applied is disposed in contact. ing.

On the other hand, the secondary transfer roll 22 is composed of a core and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core. The core is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a mixed rubber of NBR, SBR and EPDM mixed with a conductive agent such as carbon black, and is a sponge-like cylindrical roll having a volume resistivity of 10 ^7.5 Ωcm or more and 10 ^8.5 Ωcm or less.

  The secondary transfer roll 22 is press-contacted to the back roll 25 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer roll 22 is grounded to form a secondary transfer bias with the back roll 25. The toner image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet K conveyed to the next transfer unit 20.

  Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15, an intermediate transfer belt for removing the residual toner and paper powder on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer and cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15. A cleaner 35 is provided so as to be able to be in contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  The intermediate transfer belt 15, the primary transfer portion 10 (primary transfer roll 16), and the secondary transfer portion 20 (secondary transfer roll 22) correspond to an example of a transfer device.

On the other hand, on the upstream side of the yellow image forming unit 1Y, a reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 that generates a reference signal serving as a reference for setting the image forming timing in each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. It is arranged. The reference sensor 42 recognizes a mark provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to generate a reference signal, and each image forming unit 1Y, 1 Y,... According to an instruction from the control unit 40 based on the recognition of the reference signal. 1M, 1C, 1K are configured to start image formation.
Further, an image density sensor 43 for adjusting the image quality is disposed downstream of the black image forming unit 1K.

  Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the sheet storage unit 50 for storing the sheet K and the sheet K stacked in the sheet storage unit 50 are taken out at a predetermined timing as a transport device for transporting the sheet K. Transport roller 52 for transporting the sheet K, the transport roll 52 for transporting the sheet K fed by the feed roll 51, the transport guide 53 for feeding the sheet K transported by the transport roll 52 to the secondary transfer unit 20, secondary transfer The conveyance belt 55 conveys the sheet K conveyed after being secondarily transferred by the roll 22 to the fixing device 60, and a fixing inlet guide 56 which guides the sheet K to the fixing device 60.

Next, a basic image forming process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, image data output from an image reading apparatus (not shown) or a personal computer (PC) (not shown) is subjected to image processing by an image processing apparatus (not shown), and then image forming unit 1Y. , 1M, 1C, and 1K perform an imaging operation.

  The image processing apparatus performs image processing such as shading correction, positional deviation correction, lightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, various types of image editing such as border deletion, color editing, movement editing etc. on the inputted reflectance data. Be done. The image data subjected to the image processing is converted into color material tone data of four colors of Y, M, C, and K, and is output to the laser exposure device 13.

  The laser exposure device 13 irradiates, for example, the exposure beams Bm emitted from the semiconductor laser to the respective photosensitive members 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K according to the input color material gradation data. . In each of the photosensitive members 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, the surface 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 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive members 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the primary transfer portion 10 where the respective photosensitive members 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 contact. Ru. More specifically, in the primary transfer portion 10, the primary transfer roller 16 applies a voltage (primary transfer bias) opposite to the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner to the base material of the intermediate transfer belt 15, thereby forming a toner image Are sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to perform primary transfer.

  After the toner image is sequentially primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is moved to convey the toner image to the secondary transfer portion 20. When the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20, in the conveyance device, the paper feed roll 51 is rotated at the timing when the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20, and the paper storage unit 50 A size sheet K is supplied. The sheet K supplied by the sheet supply roll 51 is conveyed by the conveyance roll 52, passes through the conveyance guide 53, and reaches the secondary transfer unit 20. Before reaching the secondary transfer portion 20, the sheet K is temporarily stopped, and the sheet K is rotated by rotation of a positioning roll (not shown) in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 holding the toner image. The position of the toner image and the position of the toner image are aligned.

  In the secondary transfer unit 20, the secondary transfer roll 22 is pressed against the back roll 25 via the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the sheet K conveyed at the same timing is nipped between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roll 22. At that time, when a voltage (secondary transfer bias) having the same polarity as the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner is applied from the feeding roll 26, a transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. Be done. Then, the unfixed toner images held on the intermediate transfer belt 15 are collectively electrostatically transferred onto the sheet K at the secondary transfer portion 20 pressurized by the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. Ru.

  Thereafter, the sheet K on which the toner image has been electrostatically transferred is conveyed as it is in a state of being separated from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roll 22 and conveyed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roll 22 in the sheet conveyance direction. It is conveyed to the belt 55. The conveyance belt 55 conveys the sheet K to the fixing device 60 in accordance with the optimum conveyance speed of the fixing device 60. The unfixed toner image on the sheet K conveyed to the fixing device 60 is pressed by the fixing device 60 and irradiated with infrared light to be fixed on the sheet K by receiving a fixing process. Then, the sheet K on which the fixed image has been formed is conveyed to a discharge storage unit (not shown) provided in the discharge unit of the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, after the transfer to paper K is completed, the residual toner remaining on intermediate transfer belt 15 is conveyed to the cleaning section as the intermediate transfer belt 15 rotates, and is cleaned by cleaning back roll 34 and intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35. The intermediate transfer belt 15 is removed.

  As mentioned above, although this embodiment was described, it can not be interpreted limitedly to the said embodiment, and various modification, change, improvement are possible.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail by way of examples, but the present embodiment is not limited to these examples.

Example 1
[Production of tubular body]
-Base material (resin layer)-
Precursor of polyamic acid (polyimide (PI) resin) consisting of 3,3 ', 4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BPDA) and p-phenylenediamine (PDA), weight average molecular weight 50,000, resin Young's modulus: 3.5 GPa) in 18% by mass solution of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and further “silica particles with primary particle diameter of 10 nm, Young's modulus of particles: 70 GPa”, content in resin layer The composition for forming a resin layer was prepared by adding (volume%) to 10 volume%.
The composition for forming a resin layer is applied to the outer peripheral surface of a 278 mm diameter SUS pipe (mold) by a flow coating method, dried at 120 ° C. for 20 minutes while rotating the mold, and then the mold is stopped. The mixture was calcined at 320 ° C. for 60 minutes for imido conversion. Thereafter, the film was extracted and cut to obtain a resin layer having a thickness of 100 μm.

-Elastic layer and surface layer-
After forming a film (350 μm thick) of silicone rubber (X-34-1972-3-A / B, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) as an elastic layer on the surface of the resin layer obtained in each example, adhesion treatment is carried out 20 μm of liquid silicone rubber (KE-1950-10A / B, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is applied, and a film of tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA) subjected to inner surface adhesion treatment from above 30 [mu] m thick) was formed to make a tubular body.

Example 2
In Example 1, the particles to be added to the composition for forming a resin layer used to form the base material (resin layer) are changed to “zirconia particles having a primary particle diameter of 10 nm (Young's modulus of particles: 200 GPa)” In the same manner as in Example 1, a tubular body was produced.

Comparative Example 1
A tubular body was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the silica particles were not added to the composition for forming a resin layer used in the formation of the base material (resin layer) in Example 1.

Comparative Example 2
In Example 1, the particles to be added to the composition for forming a resin layer used to form the substrate (resin layer) are changed to "acrylic particles having a primary particle diameter of 1 μm (Young's modulus of particles: 3 GPa)" In the same manner as in Example 1, a tubular body was produced.

Comparative Example 3
In Example 1, the particles to be added to the composition for forming a resin layer used to form the base material (resin layer) are changed to "silica particles having a primary particle diameter of 10 μm (Young's modulus of particles: 70 GPa)" In the same manner as in Example 1, a tubular body was produced.

[Evaluation method]
-Strength-
The strength was evaluated by the following method.
With the sandpaper (# 800) pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body obtained in each example with a load of 300 gf, the surface is polished 20 times in a fixed direction, and the surface roughness (Ra) in the direction perpendicular to the polishing direction Was measured.
The evaluation criteria are as follows.
A (◎): Ra <0.07 (μm)
B (○): 0.07 (μm) ≦ Ra ≦ 0.15 (μm)
C (×): 0.15 (μm) <Ra

-Infrared light transmittance-
The transmittance is measured under a measurement condition in the range of 350 nm to 950 nm using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (manufactured by JASCO Corporation, model number: JASCO-V560) as a measurement device, and in the range of 700 nm to 900 nm It evaluated by calculating | requiring the transmittance | permeability of.
In addition, the transmittance | permeability 70% or more was made into "A ((circle))" evaluation, and less than 70% of the transmittance | permeability was made into "B (x)" evaluation.

-Haze value increase amount-
The tubular body obtained in each example is incorporated as a transparent tubular body in an infrared light fixing device (a device having a light source for emitting an infrared laser beam with a peak wavelength of 800 nm) having the same configuration as the configuration shown in FIG. A modified machine was prepared in which the light fixing device was incorporated as a fixing device of DocuCentre-V C5575 (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.).
In the evaluation of the haze value increase, 20,000 sheets of A4 chart having an image density of 5% were continuously printed by the above-mentioned image forming apparatus.
The haze value measuring device (product name SH 7000, manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Kogyo Co., Ltd., measurement environment: normal temperature environment) for the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body in the paper passage range in the initial stage (before the start of printing) and after printing 20,000 sheets. The haze value was measured and evaluated by measuring the difference.
In addition, the haze value increase amount set 5 or less as "A ((double-circle))" evaluation, 5 and 10 or less were made into "B ((circle))" evaluation, and 10 excess was made "C (x)" evaluation.

  From the above results, it can be seen that in the transparent tubular body of the present example, the decrease in the transmittance of infrared light is suppressed as compared to the transparent tubular body of the comparative example.

60, 160 Infrared light fixing device 62, 162 Transparent tubular body 62A Incident portion 64, 164 Rotating body 66 Lubricant supply member 68 Sliding member 70, 170 Infrared light irradiation device 72, 172 Laser array 72A Laser light source 72B Main body 72C heat sink 74, 174 collimating lens 80 pressing member 82, 182 lens pad 84A, 184A support frame 84B, 184B support frame 86 concave portion 100 image forming apparatus 110 transparent tubular body 110A base 110B elastic layer 110C surface layer 122 reflective film 126, 128 support roll

Claims (18)

A single layer body of a resin layer containing a resin, particles having a Young's modulus higher than the resin and a volume average particle diameter of 5 nm to 100 nm, or a laminate having the resin layer as an inner peripheral surface layer Configured and
A tubular body for an infrared light fixing device, having transparency to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength region in the infrared region.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the content of the particles with respect to the resin layer is more than 0% by volume and 30% by volume or less.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a Young's modulus of the particles is 5 GPa or more and 500 GPa or less.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a Young's modulus of the resin is 0.5 GPa or more and 4.5 GPa or less.   The infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio [Yp / Yr] of the Young's modulus Yp of the particles to the Young's modulus Yr of the resin is 10 times or more and 1000 times or less. Tubular body.   The resin according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyimide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a polyether sulfone resin, a polysulfone resin, and a polyphenyl sulfone resin. The tubular body for infrared light fixing devices described in 4.   The tubular body for an infrared fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles.   The tubular body according to claim 7, wherein the resin is a polyimide resin, and the particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia particles, silica particles, and titanium oxide particles.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the particles is 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which has transparency to infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.   The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to claim 10, wherein a transmittance to infrared light of at least a partial wavelength region of an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm is 90% or more. The resin layer as an inner circumferential surface layer,
An elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the resin layer;
A surface layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer;
The tubular body for an infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the tubular body is formed of a laminate having: A tubular body for infrared fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is a tubular body in contact with a toner image on a recording medium.
A rotating body provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body, forming a contact area with the tubular body, and rotating with the tubular body in the contact area to transport the recording medium;
An infrared light irradiation device provided on the outer peripheral surface side or the inner peripheral surface side of the tubular body, and emitting infrared light toward the contact area between the tubular body and the rotating body;
A pressure member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the tubular body, for pressing the tubular body together with the rotating body in the contact area;
An infrared light fixing device comprising:   The infrared light fixing device according to claim 13, wherein the infrared light irradiation device irradiates infrared light having a maximum peak wavelength in an infrared region of 700 nm to 900 nm.   The ratio [Mv / λp] of the volume average particle diameter Mv of the particles to the maximum peak wavelength λp of the infrared light irradiated by the infrared light irradiation device is 1/200 or more and 1/20 or less. The infrared light fixing device according to claim 14.   Between the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body for infrared light fixing device and the pressing member, a lubricant having permeability to infrared light of at least a part of the wavelength range in the infrared region is interposed. The infrared light fixing device according to any one of the above.   The infrared light fixing device according to claim 16, wherein the lubricant is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicone oil and fluorine oil. A toner image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium;
An infrared light fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording medium by irradiation of infrared light, the infrared light fixing device according to any one of claims 13 to 17;
An image forming apparatus comprising: