JP3470878B2 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing heat roller for fixing - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat roller for fixing toner in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer. More specifically, a heating resistor sheet is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing heat roller. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a fixing heat roller that enables safety and high-speed heating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as a toner fixing device in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a heat roller provided with a heat generating means and a pressure roller are arranged so as to face each other, and a toner image is formed between these rollers. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is passed through and the toner image is thermally fixed on the recording paper by applying pressure simultaneously with heating.

The heat roller which has been put into practical use has a light emitting heating tube such as a halogen lamp inside a metal pipe such as aluminum or stainless steel.
However, since this heat roller uses radiant heat,
The heat generation efficiency is poor, and the predetermined temperature required for heat fixing, for example, 1
It took a long time of several tens of seconds to several minutes to rise to 60 ° C. At the same time, the heat roller consumes a large amount of power and needs to be preheated for lighting even when it is not used. Especially in recent years
Copiers are being systematized with personal computers and other electronic devices, and the luminescent superheater system could not keep up with the increase in speed.

In order to remedy this drawback, an electric insulating layer made of a highly heat-resistant organic resin such as polyimide is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a fixing roller made of a metal pipe, and a heating resistor layer is further provided thereon. Teflon (fluorine resin) on the surface
A heat roller having a structure provided with a release layer such as the above has been proposed. (JP-A-55-72390, JP-A-62-200)
38, see JP-A-63-158582).

[0005]

However, such a heat roller is satisfactory in shortening the temperature rising time, but presents various difficulties because the heat generating portion is exposed to the outside. For example, the release layer and insulating polyimide layer on the surface have low hardness because of organic resin, and as a result, contact with the passing recording paper, peeling claw, and thermistor contacted with a predetermined pressing force for surface temperature measurement. It is easily scratched and abraded due to such factors. Therefore,
Such a heat roller has not been put into practical use due to a fall of ideas, and as a result, the conventional heat roller for fixing of the light emitting superheater tube is used.

[0006]

Therefore, the present invention proposes a fixing heat roller in which a heating resistor sheet is adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller, and a method of adhering to the inner peripheral surface is embodied. Is. Thus, the method for manufacturing the fixing heat roller according to the present invention comprises the first step of forming an adhesive layer on the back surface of the heating resistor sheet having the heating resistor layer on the front surface, and the adhesive layer outside. Second step of winding the heat generating resistor sheet around the auxiliary roller, a third step of inserting the auxiliary roller into the fixing roller, and an edge of the heat generating resistor sheet bonded to the inner surface of the fixing roller. As described above, the auxiliary roller is eccentrically pressed against the fixing roller, and the fourth step is performed, and both rollers are rotated in the pulling direction of the sheet edge with the both rollers kept in pressure contact with each other to fix the heat generating resistor sheet to the fixing roller. It is characterized in that it includes a fifth step of adhering the entire surface to the inner surface.

Further, in order to improve the adhesion of the heating resistor sheet, a large number of through holes are formed in the surface of the auxiliary roller,
In the third step and / or the fourth step, the heating resistor sheet is brought into close contact with the auxiliary roller by suction from the through hole, and after the entire surface is bonded in the fifth step, the heating resistor sheet is blown and pressurized from the through hole. We propose a method for manufacturing a fixing heat roller in which the toner is forcedly adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller.

When a thermosetting adhesive is used, after the fifth step, the fixing roller having the heating resistor sheet adhered to the inner surface is heated to cure the adhesive layer to produce a fixing heat roller. Suggest a method. A method of manufacturing a fixing heat roller is proposed in which the fixing roller is heated and cured while pressurizing the inside of the fixing roller during the heating to forcibly adhere the heating resistor sheet. Further, a method for manufacturing a fixing heat roller is proposed, in which the heating is performed while rotating the fixing roller.

Further, as a basic structure manufacturing apparatus, a roller mechanism for rotatably holding a fixing roller and an auxiliary roller wound with a heating resistor sheet are inserted into the fixing roller, and then both ends are pivotally supported. A bearing, a movement adjusting member that can be adjusted so that the auxiliary roller is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the fixing roller, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the auxiliary roller and / or the fixing roller in the same direction at the same circumferential speed in this pressure contact state. And a fixing heat roller manufacturing apparatus.

Further, as a concrete structure of the manufacturing apparatus, a moving adjusting member for moving and adjusting the movable plate forward and backward is provided on the fixed plate, and a pair of upper and lower end free rollers arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides of the movable plate and between them. The intermediate free roller arranged is fixed to the movable plate, and a sandwiching adjustment member is provided between these free rollers to support the fixing roller at three points so that the fixing roller can be freely rotated at a predetermined sandwiching pressure. A pair of bearings that support both ends of the auxiliary roller are arranged on a fixed plate protruding from the end, the auxiliary roller is inserted into the fixing roller, and both ends are axially supported by the bearings, and the auxiliary roller is fixed by the movement adjusting member. We propose a fixing heat roller manufacturing device that can be adjusted so as to be pressed against the inner surface of the fixing roller.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a result of earnest studies on the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional example, the present inventor has conceived that these drawbacks can be overcome by forming an insulating layer or a heating resistor layer on the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical body. Came to do. If it is formed on the inner surface, it does not come into contact with the peeling claw or the thermistor, so that there is no wear and long life and safety can be secured. Moreover, since the entire surface of the cylindrical body can be intimately current-heated by the sheet-shaped heating resistor layer, high-speed heating property can be imparted. In addition, in order to facilitate the formation of each layer on the inner surface of the cylinder, the layers are first laminated in a sheet to form a heat generating resistor sheet, and the heat generating resistor sheet is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the cylinder. It is possible to realize a heat roller for use. Regarding this point, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-254 has already been applied.
487, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-254488 and Japanese Patent Application 1
The patent application is 0-255936.

The heating resistor sheet used in the present invention is
It is selected according to the material of the fixing roller. When bonding to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller made of metal pipe,
In order to prevent leakage of electricity to the fixing roller, it is necessary to form an insulating layer on at least the contact side with the metal.
That is, a heat generating resistor sheet in which an insulating layer, a heat generating resistor layer, and an insulating layer are laminated in this order is used. The insulating layers are formed on both sides of the heating resistor layer so that either side may come into contact with the fixing roller.

Further, in the case of the fixing roller composed of an insulating pipe, since the fixing roller itself has an insulating property, a two-layer sheet of a heating resistor layer and an insulating layer is used as the heating resistor sheet. To use. Other than this, heat generating resistor sheets of various configurations can be used, but it is necessary to include at least a heat generating resistor layer which is a current heating layer.

The heating resistor layer is a sheet-shaped portion that generates heat when an electric current is applied, and the heating resistor layer is formed by coating a conductive paste made of metal powder, carbon powder, or the like.
It is formed by stretching a resistive film having a predetermined electric resistance value. By adjusting the thickness, the resistance value can be changed and the heat generation power can be adjusted freely.

The present invention relates to a specific method of how the above-mentioned heating resistor sheet is closely bonded to the inner peripheral surface of a narrow fixing roller. Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a fixing heat roller and a manufacturing apparatus thereof will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing heat roller manufacturing apparatus. A movable plate 6 is mounted on the fixed plate 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction by a movement adjusting member 4. Specifically, the movement adjusting member 4 is composed of an elongated hole 8 formed in the movable plate 6 and a screw 10. That is, the movable plate 6
After adjusting the position in the front-back direction of arrow a, the movable plate 6 is fixed to the fixed plate 2 with the screw 10.

A pair of upper and lower end free rollers 12 and 14 are disposed on the left and right of the movable plate 6 so as to face each other, and an intermediate free roller 16 is disposed at an appropriate position between them. End free rollers 12, 12 and 14, 14 are angle 12
It is fixed to the movable plate 6 by a and 14a. The intermediate free roller 16 is configured so that its position can be adjusted in the direction of arrow a by the holding adjustment member 18. In this example, the holding adjustment member 18 is a swingable arm, and is fixed to the movable plate 6 through the arm 18 at an angle 16a. That is, the intermediate free roller 16 can swing the arm 18 in the direction of the arrow b to adjust its position.

These free rollers 12, 14, 16
The fixing roller 20 is arranged at a position indicated by an imaginary line by the three-point support of. First, the fixing roller 20 is pressed between the end free rollers 12, 12 and 14, 14.
The intermediate free roller 16 is swung in the direction of arrow b to hold the fixing roller 20. The holding pressure can be adjusted by pressing the intermediate free roller. In this way, the fixing roller 20 is arranged at a desired position so as to be freely rotatable with a predetermined holding pressure by three-point support.

A pair of bearings 22, 24 are arranged on the fixed plate 2 protruding from the left and right ends of the movable plate 6. A base plate 26 protruding rightward is provided under the fixed plate 2, and a movable bearing 28 and a ridge 30 are arranged on the base plate 26. The movable bearing 28 is provided so that its groove 28a bites the ridge 30 and is movable in the direction of arrow c.

When both ends of the auxiliary roller 32 are placed on the bearing 24 and the movable bearing 28, the auxiliary roller 32 is arranged at the position indicated by the imaginary line. On the other hand, as described above, the fixing roller 20 is supported by the free rollers 12, 14 and 16 at three points rotatably at the positions indicated by imaginary lines.
When the movable bearing 28 is moved along the protrusion 30 in the direction of arrow c, the auxiliary roller 32 is inserted into the fixing roller 20 in a concentric manner. Moreover, the whole is arranged and configured so as to be such.

One end 32a of the auxiliary roller 32 is connected to the compressor C, and the other end 32b is sealed. After inserting the auxiliary roller 32 into the fixing roller 20, the other end 32b is connected to the motor M. Therefore, the auxiliary roller 32 is rotated by the motor M.
After that, the movable plate 6 is moved back and forth to move the auxiliary roller 32.
To The fixing roller 20 rotates in the same direction due to friction in association with the rotation.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the principal part taken along the line II of FIG.
End free rollers 12, 12 and intermediate free roller 1
6 shows a state in which the fixing roller 20 is supported so as to be freely rotatable.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the auxiliary roller 32.
A large number of through holes 34 are formed in the peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 32, and communicate with the air supply / exhaust from the compressor C. That is, when the air is supplied from the compressor C in the direction of arrow d, the air is blown out from the through hole 32 in the direction of arrow e. On the contrary, when exhausted in the direction of arrow f, air is sucked in through the through hole 32 in the direction of arrow g.

There are various methods for forming the heating resistor sheet. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an apparatus for forming a heating resistor sheet by screen printing. An insulating film 42 (hereinafter, also referred to as a lower insulating layer) is placed on the printing table 40, and a screen 44 is placed thereon. A print pattern 44a having a predetermined shape is formed on the screen 44 by punching holes. When the heat generating resistance material 46 on the screen 44 is pulled by the squeeze 48, the heat generating resistance material 46 exudes from the holes of the print pattern 44 a and is applied onto the insulating film 42. Thus, the heating resistor sheet 50 is formed by coating multiple layers while changing the substance to be coated.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an example of the heating resistor sheet 50. The heating resistor layer 5 is formed on the lower insulator layer 42.
2, the electrode layers 54a and 54b and the upper insulator layer 56 are laminated, and an adhesive layer 58 made of a thermosetting adhesive is formed on the back surface of the lower insulator layer 42. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the heating resistor sheet 50 of FIG. Lower insulator layer 42, electrode layer 5
The surfaces of 4a and 54b and the upper insulator layer 56 are exposed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view when the heat generating resistor sheet 50 is wound around the auxiliary roller 32. It is wound counterclockwise as viewed from the one end 32a with the adhesive layer 58 on the outside. Therefore, the sheet edge 50a is positioned on the front side in a state of being covered from above. When the compressor C exhausts air in the direction of arrow f in this state, the heat generating heat resistor sheet 50 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 32 in a close contact manner.

FIG. 8 is a process diagram for entirely adhering the heating resistor sheet 50 to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20. (A) is
6 is a state diagram in which the heat generating heat resistor sheet 50 is sucked in a direction of an arrow by a compressor C and wound tightly around the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 32. FIG. The outer peripheral surface of the heating resistor sheet 50 is an adhesive layer 58. (B) is a state diagram in which the auxiliary roller 32 of (A) is concentrically inserted into the fixing roller 20, and the suction state is continued. Also, the sheet edge 5
0a is arranged in a horizontal position.

(C) is a state diagram in which the auxiliary roller 32 is horizontally eccentric to the front side of the fixing roller 20, and the sheet edge 50a is pressed against and adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20. At this stage, the exhaust of the compressor C is stopped. (D) is a state diagram in which the auxiliary roller 32 is rotated in the arrow h direction by the motor M, and at the same time, the fixing roller 20 is also rotated in the same direction by the pressure contact friction force. Since the heating resistor sheet 50 is firmly adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20 at the pressure contact, the adhering area gradually increases with rotation.

(E) is a state diagram when the fixing roller 20 makes one rotation, and the heating resistor sheet is firmly adhered to the entire inner surface thereof. If the rotation is further continued, the adhesive strength is further increased because the pressure contact is pressed against the adhesive. (F) is the auxiliary roller 3 after the entire surface is bonded.
2 is a state diagram in which 2 is returned to the concentric position of the fixing roller 20. FIG. At this stage, the compressor C blows in the direction of the arrow to bring the internal pressure to a pressurized state and uniformly presses the entire surface of the heating resistor sheet 50 to complete the close contact of the heating resistor sheet 50.

FIG. 9 is a heating process diagram of the adhesive. Figure 8
The fixing roller 20 of (F) is arranged in the heating chamber 60 together with the auxiliary roller 32. When hot air is blown out from the hot air outlet 62 in the direction of arrow i, the adhesive layer is gradually hardened and the heat generating resistor sheet 50 is firmly fixed to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20. At this time, if it is blown out in the direction of the arrow by the compressor C, the adhesive layer is adhesively cured in the forcedly adhered state, so that the fixing strength can be increased. Of course, when it is not necessary to supply air, it is not necessary to insert the auxiliary roller 32.

In FIG. 9, it is possible to heat and cure the adhesive while rotating the fixing roller 20. In this case, the following effects are obtained. The rotation makes the temperature distribution of the entire fixing roller uniform, so that the entire adhesive layer is uniformly heated and cured. Further, the solvent gas and the fine air that has been trapped are uniformly expelled from the entire surface of each layer such as the adhesive layer and the heating resistor layer by heating, and the air flow due to the rotation of the fixing roller 20 causes The gas is easily expelled from the inside of the roller to the outside.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the completion of the fixing heat roller. The heat generating resistor sheet 50 is fixed to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20 in a state of being uniformly adhered thereto.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications, design changes and the like within the technical scope of the present invention are included in the technical scope thereof. Absent.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the heat generating resistor sheet can be adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller in a close contact manner, it is possible to achieve the short-time temperature rise property and safety of the fixing heat roller.
Moreover, since the heating resistor sheet is not worn or damaged, a fixing heat roller having a long life can be realized. In addition, the short-time temperature raising performance enables the speed of other electronic devices such as a copying machine and a printer to be followed, and the operating speed of the entire system can be improved.

According to the second aspect, since the heat generating resistor sheet can be forcibly adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller, the amount of heat generated is uniformly dissipated on the surface of the fixing roller when the heat generating resistor layer is energized, and local heat accumulation occurs. It is possible to prevent the heat generating resistor sheet from being burnt out. According to the third aspect, since the heat-generating resistor sheet can be fixed by using the thermosetting adhesive, the fixing performance of the heat-generating resistor sheet can be enhanced. According to claim 4, since the adhesion strength can be increased when the thermosetting adhesive is cured, both the fixing strength and the adhesion performance can be enhanced. According to the fifth aspect, there is an effect that the solvent gas and the like are uniformly ejected from the entire surface of the adhesive layer by the uniform heating, and the gas is easily released to the outside of the roller due to the air flow in the fixing roller due to the rotation.

According to the apparatus of claim 6, the heating resistor sheet can be adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller. According to the apparatus of claim 7, the above-mentioned adhesion can be specifically realized, the industrial mass production of the fixing heat roller which is the object of the present invention is possible, and the apparatus is extremely useful in industry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing heat roller manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part taken along the line II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary roller 32 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an apparatus for forming a heating resistor sheet by a screen printing method according to the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a heating resistor sheet formed in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the heating resistor sheet of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heating resistor sheet 50 wound around an auxiliary roller 32.

FIG. 8 is a process diagram of entirely adhering the heating resistor sheet 50 to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20.

FIG. 9 is a heating process diagram of an adhesive layer.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fixing heat roller in a completed state.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Fixing plate 4 ... Moving adjustment member 6 ... Movable plate 8 ... long hole 10 ... Screws 12 ... End free rollers 12a angle 14 ... End free rollers 14a angle 16 ... Intermediate free roller 18 ... Holding adjustment member (or arm) 20 ... Fusing roller 22 ... Bearing 24..Bearing 26 .. Substrate 28 ... Movable bearing 28a / groove 30 ... 32. Auxiliary roller 32a, one end 32b / other end 34 ... 40 ... Printing table 42 .. Insulator film (or lower insulator layer) 44 ... Screen 44a-printing pattern 46 .. Heating resistance material 48 ... Squeeze 50 .. Heating resistor sheet 50a / sheet edge 52 .. Heating resistor layer 54a / electrode 54b / electrode 56 .. Upper insulator layer 58..Adhesive layer 60 ... Heating room 62 ... Hot air outlet C: Compressor M: Motor

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Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first step of forming an adhesive layer 58 on the back surface of a heating resistor sheet 50 having a heating resistor layer 52 on the front surface, and the heating resistor sheet 50 with the adhesive layer 58 on the outside. The second step of winding around the auxiliary roller 32, the third step of inserting the auxiliary roller 32 into the fixing roller 20, and the end edge 50a of the heating resistor sheet 50 is adhered to the inner surface of the fixing roller 20. 4th step in which the auxiliary roller 32 is eccentrically pressed against the fixing roller 20 and the rollers 20, 32 are pressed in the sheet edge 50a while the rollers 20, 32 are pressed.
The heating resistor sheet 50 by rotating the fixing roller 2
A method of manufacturing a heat roller for fixing, comprising a fifth step of entirely adhering to the inner surface of No. 0. 2. A large number of through holes 3 are formed on the surface of the auxiliary roller 32.
4, the heating resistor sheet 50 is brought into close contact with the auxiliary roller 32 by suction from the through hole 32 in the third step and / or the fourth step, and after the entire surface is bonded in the fifth step, The method for manufacturing a fixing heat roller according to claim 1, wherein the heating resistor sheet 50 is forcibly brought into close contact with the inner surface of the fixing roller 20 by blowing pressure from the holes 34. 3. The heating resistor sheet 5 after the fifth step.
The method for producing a fixing heat roller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing roller 20 having 0 adhered to the inner surface is heated to cure the adhesive layer. 4. The method of manufacturing a fixing heat roller according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer 58 is heat-cured while the heating resistor sheet 50 is forcibly adhered by pressurizing the inside of the fixing roller 20 during the heating. 5. The method of manufacturing a fixing heat roller according to claim 3, wherein the heating is performed while rotating the fixing roller 20. 6. A roller mechanism for rotatably holding the fixing roller 20, and a bearing 22 for axially supporting both ends of the auxiliary roller 32 wound with a heating resistor sheet 50 after being inserted into the fixing roller 20. 24 and auxiliary roller 32
Of the movement adjusting member 4 that can be adjusted so as to be pressed against the inner surface of the fixing roller 20, and the auxiliary roller 32 in this pressed state.
And / or a fixing heat roller manufacturing apparatus comprising a rotating mechanism for rotating the fixing roller 20 in the same direction at an equal peripheral speed. 7. A movable adjusting member 4 capable of moving the movable plate 6 back and forth on the fixed plate 2 is provided, and a pair of upper and lower end free rollers 12 and 14 arranged opposite to each other on the right and left sides of the movable plate 6.
And the intermediate free roller 16 arranged between them are fixed to the movable plate 6, and a pinching adjusting member 18 that supports the fixing roller 20 between these free rollers at three points and can freely rotate at a predetermined pinching pressure. A pair of bearings 22 and 24 for supporting both ends of the auxiliary roller 32 are provided on the fixed plate 2 protruding from the left and right ends of the movable plate 6, and the heating resistor sheet 5 is provided.
The auxiliary roller 32 wound around 0 is inserted into the fixing roller 20, both ends of which are axially supported by the bearings 22 and 24, and the movement adjusting member 4 causes the auxiliary roller 32 to rotate.
An apparatus for manufacturing a fixing heat roller, characterized in that it can be adjusted so as to come into pressure contact with the inner surface of 0.