JP5158509B2 - Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and the like. The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing on a recording medium and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device.

At present, there are many image forming apparatuses that form an image on a transfer sheet as a recording medium, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine. Among them, a so-called electrophotographic image forming apparatus using toner is the mainstream. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is widely used in offices and the like because it can easily create color images at high speed and high density with plain paper. In this electrophotographic image forming apparatus, as a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on the transfer paper onto the transfer paper, a heat fixing type fixing device using heat is often used. This is because a heating element such as a halogen heater or a ceramic heater is used to heat a roller or a film, and a transfer paper on which unfixed toner is placed is sandwiched between heating and pressurizing elements to melt and deform the toner. Fix by anchoring inside. This method is widely used because of its excellent uniformity and stability, but on the other hand, it requires a large amount of energy to heat using a heating element and has a drawback that it is a fixing device that consumes a large amount of energy. .
The conventional heat fixing type fixing device consumes a lot of electric power for the heat treatment. Therefore, as a fixing method capable of realizing energy saving as compared with the conventional fixing method, a wet fixing method in which heating is not performed to fix the toner is known. (For example, a fixing method used in the fixing device described in Patent Document 1). The wet fixing method fixes a toner image by applying a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens the toner by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin component of the toner to the toner image on the transfer paper surface. Therefore, energy saving can be realized compared to the thermal fixing method.

  In the fixing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a fixing liquid is applied to unfixed toner by pressing an application roller carrying a liquid fixing solution on the surface against a transfer paper carrying unfixed toner. However, when the fixing liquid is supplied in a liquid state to the unfixed toner on the transfer paper as in Patent Document 1, the fixing roller remains on the surface of the application roller after passing through the application position where the application liquid is applied to the transfer paper. A part of the unfixed toner was transferred into the liquid, and the toner image on the transfer paper deteriorated. This is because the unfixed toner on the transfer paper is carried on the transfer paper by electrostatic force, so when the liquid touches, the force carried by the electrostatic force is significantly reduced, and the unfixed toner diffuses into the fixing liquid, This occurs because a part of the fixing liquid in which the unfixed toner is diffused in the liquid remains on the coating roller.

  Such a problem is not limited to the configuration in which the fixing liquid is supplied to the unfixed toner on the transfer paper, but the fixing liquid is supplied to the toner on the toner image carrier such as an intermediate transfer belt as in Patent Document 2. This is a problem that may also occur in a configuration in which a toner image in which the resin on the toner image carrier is softened is transferred to transfer paper and the fixing liquid is applied to the toner on the toner image carrier using an application roller.

As described above, as a fixing device that can suppress a problem that a part of unfixed toner adheres to the application roller, Patent Document 3 discloses a fixing solution in which bubbles are dispersed in a liquid. A configuration is described in which a foamy fixing solution is applied to unfixed toner on transfer paper by an application roller in the same manner as the fixing solution of Patent Document 1. By making the fixing solution foam like this, a large amount of air is present in the bubbles of the fixing solution, so that the force of diffusing unfixed toner into the fixing solution is difficult to work, and the toner on the transfer paper is used as the fixing solution. Even if it is applied, it is fixed on the spot by the action of the fixing solution without moving from the transfer paper. For this reason, the problem that a part of the unfixed toner adheres to the application roller can be suppressed, and a better image can be obtained as compared with the configuration in which the liquid fixing liquid is applied to the transfer paper.
JP 2006-78573 A JP 2004-109749 A JP 2007-219105 A

Also, in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-171480 (hereinafter referred to as a prior application), the present applicant uses a liquid fixing solution as a foam-like fixing solution, and this foam-like fixing solution is applied to unfixed toner on the transfer paper by an application roller. A fixing device configured to be applied is proposed. In the fixing device described in this prior application, the bubble generating portion is provided with a microporous sheet that is a porous member, and a liquid fixing solution is passed through the microporous sheet together with air to generate a foamy fixing solution. And the produced | generated foam-like fixing solution was conveyed toward the position supplied to the surface of an application roller through the tube for conveyance from a foam generation part.
However, in the fixing device described in the above-mentioned prior application, there is a problem that it is difficult to convey the foamy fixing solution from the bubble generating unit using the liquid fixing solution as the foamy fixing solution to the coating roller. Hereinafter, this problem will be described.
Generally, bubbles are less fluid than liquids, so if you try to transport the fixer using a tube toward the position where it is supplied from the bubble generator to the application roller, the foamy fixer will adhere to the inner wall of the tube. However, the movement of the fixing solution becomes slower than that of the liquid fixing solution. For this reason, it is difficult to convey the fixing solution using gravity, and if it is to be conveyed by suction of the pump, a pump having a large output is required as compared with the configuration for conveying the liquid fixing solution. When a pump with a large output is used, there arises a problem that the entire apparatus is enlarged due to an increase in the size of the pump, and that a large amount of electric power is required to realize a large output.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium or a resin fine particle carrier on which a foam fixing solution containing a softening agent for softening resin fine particles is carried by a coating member. A fixing device capable of fixing the resin fine particles applied and softened on the surface of the recording medium to a recording medium, and capable of applying a foamy fixing solution to an unfixed toner image without using a large output pump; and An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with this.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a foam fixing in which bubbles are dispersed in a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens resin fine particles by dissolving or swelling at least part of the resin. Fixing liquid foaming means as a liquid, and the recording medium or resin fine particle carrier carrying the resin fine particles on the surface is brought close to or in contact with the surface to move the foamy fixing liquid on the surface. A fixing device for fixing the fine resin particles softened by applying the foamy fixing solution to the recording medium, the fixing member having a medium or a coating member applied to the resin fine particles on the surface of the resin fine particle carrier; The liquid foaming means includes the porous member constituting at least a part of the surface of the coating member, and the fixing solution so that the fixing solution is impregnated into at least a part of the thickness direction orthogonal to the surface of the porous member. A fixing liquid supply means for supplying the porous member to the porous member, and a foaming gas supply means for supplying a foaming gas to at least a part of the porous member infiltrated with the fixing liquid. The foaming gas is supplied to the porous member, and the fixing solution is allowed to foam by passing at least a part of the porous member together with the foaming gas in the thickness direction of the porous member. The foamy fixing solution is generated on the surface, and the foamed fixing solution is applied to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device of the first aspect, the porous member is a sintered material having an open cell structure.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fixing device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the coating member includes the porous member at least in part and moves endlessly, and the endless moving member is disposed inside the endless moving member. A non-moving member that is fixed so as not to move along with the endless movement of the endless moving member, and the non-moving member supplies the fixing solution from the inside to the porous member of the endless moving member. A fixing liquid supply path as a supply means; and a foaming gas supply path as the foaming gas supply means for supplying the foaming gas to the porous member supplied with the fixing liquid. The outer porous member in which the fixing liquid supplied from the supply passage to the porous member passes through the porous member together with the foaming gas supplied from the foaming gas supply passage and moves endlessly. By being extruded on the surface of By fixing solution becomes foamy, foam fixer on the surface of the porous member is characterized in being carried.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device of the third aspect, the non-moving member includes a plurality of the foaming gas supply passages, and has a length in a direction perpendicular to the endless moving direction of the endless moving member. The length in the width direction differs depending on each of the plurality of foaming gas supply paths, and the porous member is selected by selecting the foaming gas supply path to be used from among the plurality of foaming gas supply paths. The length in the width direction of the foamy fixing solution formed on the surface of the film can be changed.
In the fixing device according to claim 3 or 4, the non-moving member is a gas suction path for sucking gas so that a negative pressure is applied to the porous member of the endless moving member. The residual fixing solution remaining on the surface of the coating member after the coating member has passed the coating position for applying the foamy fixing solution to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier is passed through the porous member. It is characterized by sucking in.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the fixing device of the fifth aspect further includes an application member toner cleaning member that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the application member having the residual fixer sucked by the gas suction path. It is characterized by this.
The invention according to claim 7 is the fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the coating member applies the foamy fixing solution to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier. The surface of the coating member is disposed upstream of the position of the coating member with respect to the position in the vicinity of the surface of the coating member, and the gap between the surface and the surface of the coating member is closer to the coating position. The foam-like fixing solution on the surface of the coating member is subjected to a shearing force by a gap between the coating member and the shearing force applying plate that narrows as the surface of the coating member moves. It is characterized in that it is applied to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier after the bubbles are formed and become smaller than the foamed one.
The invention according to claim 8 is a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording medium using a toner containing the resin fine particles containing a resin and a colorant, and the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. An image forming apparatus provided with a fixing unit for fixing, wherein the fixing unit according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 is used as the fixing unit.

  In the fixing device having the configuration according to claim 1, by passing the fixing liquid soaked into at least a part of the thickness direction of the porous member together with the foaming gas, at least a part of the thickness direction of the porous member is passed. A foamy fixing solution is generated on the surface of the porous member. Since the porous member constitutes at least a part of the surface of the coating member, bubbles are generated separately from the coating member as in the conventional fixing device by generating a foam-like fixing liquid on the surface of the porous member. The foam-like fixing solution can be carried on the surface of the coating member without providing a configuration for conveying the foam-like fixing solution from the section to the coating member.

  According to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, the foam-like fixing solution can be carried on the surface of the coating member without providing a configuration for conveying the foam-like fixing solution. A pump for conveying the toner is unnecessary, and there is an excellent effect that the foamy fixing solution can be applied to the unfixed toner image without using a pump with a large output.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer 100) which is an image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printer 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes an apparatus main body 1 that is fixed in position for storing each component as an image forming unit, and a pull-out paper feed cassette 2 that stores transfer paper P that is a recording medium. I have. The central portion of the apparatus main body 1 includes image stations 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K for forming toner images of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) colors. Yes. Hereinafter, the subscripts Y, C, M, and K of the respective symbols indicate members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of one of the image stations (Y image station 3Y). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image stations 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K include drum-shaped photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K that rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The photoreceptor 10 is composed of an aluminum cylindrical base and an OPC (organic photo semiconductor) photosensitive layer that covers the surface of the photoreceptor. Each image station 3 has charging devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K that charge the photoconductor 10 around the photoconductor 10, and developing devices 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K that develop a latent image formed on the photoconductor 10. And cleaning devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K for cleaning residual toner on the photoconductor 10. Below each image station 3, an optical unit 4 is provided as exposure means capable of irradiating the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K with the laser light L. Above each image station 3, an intermediate transfer unit 5 including a transfer belt 20 to which a toner image formed by each image station 3 is transferred is provided. Further, a fixing device 6 for fixing the toner image transferred to the transfer belt 20 to the transfer paper P is provided. In addition, toner bottles 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K that store toner of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) are loaded on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1. . The toner bottles 7 </ b> Y, 7 </ b> C, 7 </ b> M, and 7 </ b> K are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1 by opening a paper discharge tray 8 formed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1.

  The optical unit 4 scans sequentially while irradiating the photoconductors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K with laser light L emitted from a laser diode as a light source by using a polygon mirror or the like. The transfer belt 20 of the intermediate transfer unit 5 is wound around a drive roller 21, a tension roller 22, and a driven roller 23, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing at a predetermined timing. The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K that transfer the toner images formed on the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K to the transfer belt 20. The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes a secondary transfer roller 25 that transfers the toner image transferred onto the transfer belt 20 onto the transfer paper P, and a belt that cleans residual toner on the transfer belt 20 that has not been transferred onto the transfer paper P. A cleaning device 26 is provided.

  Next, the process of obtaining a color image in the printer 100 will be described. First, in the image stations 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K, the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K are uniformly charged by the charging devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K. Thereafter, the laser light L is scanned and exposed by the optical unit 4 based on the image information, and latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K. The latent images on the photoconductors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K are developed by the toners of the respective colors carried on the developing rollers 15Y, 15C, 15M, and 15K of the developing device 12, and are visualized as toner images. The toner images on the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the transfer belt 20 that is rotated counterclockwise by the action of the primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K. The image forming operation for each color at this time is executed while shifting the timing from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the transfer belt 20 so that the toner image is transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 20. The The surfaces of the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K after the completion of the primary transfer are cleaned by the cleaning blades 13a of the cleaning devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K, and are prepared for the next image formation. A predetermined amount of toner filled in the toner bottles 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K is supplied to the developing devices 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K of the image stations 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K through a conveyance path (not shown) as necessary. To be replenished.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P in the paper feed cassette 2 is conveyed into the apparatus main body 1 by a paper feed roller 27 disposed in the vicinity of the paper feed cassette 2 and is subjected to secondary transfer at a predetermined timing by a registration roller pair 28. Is transported to Then, the toner image formed on the transfer belt 20 is transferred to the transfer paper P in the secondary transfer portion. The transfer paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing device 6 to be fixed, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 8 by the discharge roller 29. Similar to the photoconductor 10, the untransferred toner remaining on the transfer belt 20 is cleaned by a belt cleaning device 26 that contacts the transfer belt 20.
The order of arrangement of the four image stations 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K and the toner bottles 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG.
Further, the image forming apparatus including the fixing device having the characteristic portion of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the printer 100 in FIG.

The fixing device 6 included in the printer 100 of the present embodiment is a wet fixing method using a fixing solution.
A fixing method using a fixing solution is conventionally known, and a configuration in which a liquid fixing solution is applied to a recording medium on which unfixed toner is placed, or a recording medium on which unfixed toner is placed in a solvent vapor that dissolves the toner is inserted. Certainly, this method consumes less energy than the heat method. However, there has been a concern that the fixing solution may have an odor or the fixing solution may vaporize and affect the installation environment of the apparatus. Recently, however, wet fixing systems have been reconsidered due to the development of fixing solutions that are odorless and difficult to vaporize, and that can swell and dissolve toner and can be fixed.
In addition, in a conventional fixing device that applies a liquid fixing solution, when applying a fixing solution to unfixed toner on a recording medium using an application roller, a so-called offset is easily generated in which the toner adheres to the application roller. To solve such problems, the fixing device described in the above-mentioned prior application makes the liquid fixing solution foamy, lowers the bulk density of the fixing solution, and suppresses the influence of the surface tension of the fixing solution on the toner image. The toner image can be fixed without disturbing the toner image.

However, the following problems (1) and (2) occur when the foamy fixing solution is applied as in the prior application.
(1) A large pressure is required to move the bubbles. This is because, for example, if a tube is used to transport the foam-like fixing solution from the bubble generation unit using the liquid fixing solution as the foam-like fixing solution to the coating roller, a considerably larger pressure is required than when the liquid fixing solution is transferred. Become. In addition, it is preferable to use a foam-type fixing solution containing small-diameter bubbles for uniform application, but the phenomenon that makes it difficult to transfer the foam-type fixing solution tends to become more prominent as bubbles having a small bubble size tend to be more pronounced. A capacity pump or the like is required.
(2) After transferring the fixing solution to the recording medium, it is necessary to recover the foam remaining on the roller and clean the application roller. However, the foam has a volume several tens of times larger than that of the liquid, so handling is difficult. It is necessary to reduce the volume back to liquid. However, since it takes several hours to return to the liquid naturally, there is a possibility that bubbles may overflow from the cleaning mechanism if fixing is performed continuously.
The fixing device 6 of the present embodiment is intended to improve the problems (1) and (2).

Next, the fixing device 6 having the features of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the fixing device 6. The resin fine particles in the present invention are toner particles.
The fixing device 6 causes the transfer paper P carrying the unfixed toner T to pass through the fixing nip formed by the coating roller 60 and the coating facing belt 75, and causes the foamy fixing liquid on the surface of the coating roller 60 to be unfixed toner. This is an apparatus for applying the toner onto T and fixing the toner onto the transfer paper P.
The application roller 60 has a roller rotating part 61 whose surface moves endlessly by rotating, and a fixing liquid supply shaft 62 that supplies fixing liquid to the roller rotating part 61 without rotating inside the roller rotating part 61. Consists of. In the application roller 60, the roller rotating unit 61 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
4A and 4B are explanatory views of the application roller 60, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62, and FIG. 4B shows the fixing liquid supply shaft 62 shown in FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the back side. FIG. 4C is a perspective explanatory view of the application roller 60 in which a roller rotating portion 61 is provided outside the fixing liquid supply shaft 62 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for supplying the fixing liquid to the application roller 60.
In each figure, the description “Air” and the arrows indicate the flow of air.

The roller rotating part 61 is formed by forming a porous member made of a sintered material having a continuous foam structure into a cylindrical shape, and a porous member having a pore diameter of about 40 to 80 [μm] is desirable. Inside the fixing liquid supply shaft 62 disposed inside the roller rotating portion 61, there are a fixing liquid supply path 65, three air supply paths 81 (a, b, c) which are foaming gas supply paths, and a gas. An air suction path 82 that is a suction path is provided. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the fixing liquid supply path 65, a liquid supply port 83 is opened on the surface of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62, and the fixing liquid is supplied from the liquid supply port 83 to the roller rotating portion 61. 66 is supplied. The three air supply paths 81 (a, b, c) have supply air ports 84 (a, b, c) opened on the surface of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62, respectively. Air is supplied to the rotating unit 61. As shown in FIG. 4B, the air suction path 82 has a suction air port 85 opened on the surface of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62, and a negative pressure is applied to the roller rotating unit 61 from the suction air port 85. Act.
In the fixing device 6 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the air supply path 81 and the air suction path 82 are connected to an air pump 86, and the air pump 86 is driven to drive the air supply path from the air pump 86. Air is sent to 81, and the air pump 86 sucks the air in the air suction path 82. When air is sent to the air supply path 81, air is supplied from the supply air port 84 to the roller rotating portion 61, and air in the air suction path 82 is sucked to rotate the roller from the suction air port 85. A negative pressure acts on the portion 61.

As mentioned above, the foam has a volume several tens of times that of the liquid, so it is difficult to handle, and when collecting the foam remaining on the roller, it is necessary to return it to the liquid and reduce the volume. It takes several hours to return to the liquid, and if the bubbles are naturally returned to the liquid, the bubbles may overflow from the cleaning mechanism if fixing is performed continuously. As a method for returning the foam to the liquid in a short time, it is conceivable to crush the foam or to apply heat to the foam. However, in order to crush the foam and return it to the liquid instantly, it must be crushed with a fairly large pressure. To apply heat to the foam and return it to the liquid instantly, a temperature of about 80 [° C] is required experimentally Met. Thus, in either case of applying pressure or applying heat, a considerable amount of energy is required to instantaneously return the bubbles to the liquid.
In contrast, as in the air suction path 82 and the suction air port 85 of the fixing device 6 of the present embodiment, air is sucked into the porous member by suction of air, so that the surface of the application roller 61 is instantaneously applied. Bubbles can be eliminated. With such a configuration, energy can be saved as compared with a configuration in which heat and pressure are applied to the foam on the surface of the coating roller to recover the liquid.

When applying the fixing solution using the application roller 60, first, the fixing solution 66 is supplied from the fixing solution tank 50 to the fixing solution supply path 65. The fixing solution 66 supplied into the fixing solution supply path 65 soaks into the roller rotating portion 61 made of a porous member by gravity. At this time, since the porous member forming the roller rotating portion 61 is fine, the fixing liquid 66 does not reach the surface of the application roller 60, and the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61 is indicated by 67 in FIG. Stops in the state of soaking.
When the roller rotating portion 61 further rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 from the position facing the fixing liquid supply path 65 (direction of arrow B), the portion of the porous member that has been infiltrated with the fixing liquid 66 is supplied to the air supply path 81. It comes to a position facing the air port 84. At this position, the fixing liquid 66 that has permeated into the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61 to which air is sent from the air supply path 81 becomes a foamy fixing liquid 68 and is generated on the surface of the application roller 60.
As described above, the fixing liquid 66 is soaked into the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61, and the air pump 86 is supplied to the fixing liquid of the roller rotating portion 61 via the air supply path 81 and the supply air port 84 of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62. By supplying air to the portion where 66 has soaked, a foamy fixing solution 68 is generated on the surface of the application roller 60.

The bubble diameter of the foam-like fixing liquid 68 generated here varies greatly from several millimeters to several centimeters as the pore diameter of the porous member described above. If the fixing liquid is applied in contact with the transfer paper P as it is, the variation in the bubble diameter becomes the variation in the application amount of the fixing liquid on the transfer paper P as it is, resulting in a variation in the degree of fixing of the toner.
In order to prevent such problems, it is necessary to repeat the division so as not to break the bubbles as much as possible by some method, and to make the bubbles as small as possible.
As a result of experiments conducted by the present inventors, it was confirmed that when a foam-like fixing solution having an average diameter of about 20 to 40 [μm] is used, uniform application can be achieved when transferred onto recording paper.
In the fixing device 6 of the present embodiment, a shearing force applying plate 69 is arranged by dividing the bubbles into small uniform bubbles by applying a shearing force to the foamy fixing solution 68 on the surface of the application roller 60. Yes. As the roller rotating portion 61 rotates, the foam-like fixing liquid 68 enters the gap between the shearing force applying plate 69 and the surface of the coating roller 60, and the foam-like fixing liquid 68 is forcibly rubbed by the volume change near the exit of this gap. Therefore, the foam-like fixing solution 68 repeats splitting, and becomes a uniform small-diameter foam-like fixing solution 70 having a large diameter and a large variation from a large-diameter state having a large variation.

Here, the transfer paper P carrying the unfixed toner T is conveyed from below in FIG. 1 and guided by the transfer inlet guide 71, and the first tension roller 72, the second tension roller 73, and the tension roller 74. Enters the fixing nip formed by the coating facing belt 75 and the coating roller 60 stretched by the belt.
The small-diameter fixing solution 70 is crushed by the coating facing belt 75 and broken to become liquid, and the fixing solution is uniformly applied to the transfer paper P and the unfixed toner T. To settle. A counter belt cleaning blade 76 for cleaning the surface of the coating counter belt 75 after passing through the fixing nip is provided at a position facing the second tension roller 73 with the coating counter belt 75 interposed therebetween.

  A separation claw 77 is disposed on the downstream side of the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 in the movement direction with respect to the fixing nip, and the transfer paper P that has passed through the fixing nip is peeled off from the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 by the separation claw 77 and applied. Separate from roller 60. The transfer paper P separated from the application roller 60 enters between the first pressure roller 78 and the second pressure roller 79, and the toner softened slightly by applying the fixing liquid at the fixing nip is pressurized. As a result, the toner is anchored to the transfer paper P, the fixing power is increased, and the grain boundary is eliminated. Therefore, in the case of a color toner, the color developability is improved. In order to promote the formation of a film of the toner layer due to the absence of toner grain boundaries, it is also an effective means to arrange a heater 80 inside the second pressure roller 79 and use some heat.

Further, about 5 [%] to 10 [%] of the coating amount of the fixing liquid that could not be transferred onto the transfer paper P remains in the roller rotating portion 61 after the transfer paper P is separated. Further, since the unfixed toner T on the transfer paper P is slightly removed (offset) when passing through the fixing nip and moves to the surface of the roller rotating portion 61, the fixing liquid and a small amount of toner (residual fixing liquid and residual toner) The toner is mixed on the surface of the roller rotating portion 61.
As shown in FIG. 12, the fixing liquid supply shaft 62 is located downstream of the separation claw 77 in the surface movement direction of the roller rotating portion 61 and upstream of the position facing the fixing liquid supply path 65. Further, an air suction path 82 which is a gas suction path provided with a suction air port 85 for applying a negative pressure to the roller rotating portion 61 is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the air suction path 82 is connected to the waste liquid collection bottle 90. When the air pump 86 is driven, the air suction path 82 applies a negative pressure to the roller rotation unit 61, and the residual fixing liquid and residual toner that have reached the position facing the air suction path 82 are transferred to the roller rotation unit 61. The air is sucked into the air suction path 82 through the porous member. The residual fixing liquid and residual toner sucked into the air suction path 82 are stored in the waste liquid collection bottle 90 as the waste liquid 92.
A full detection sensor 91 is disposed in the waste liquid collection bottle 90, detects that the waste liquid collection bottle 90 is filled with the waste liquid 92, and based on the detection result, a control unit (not shown) Can be limited or stopped.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 6 is made of rubber for scraping residual toner that has not been completely sucked by the air suction path 82 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the roller rotating portion 61 with respect to the suction air port 85. The application roller blade 97 is provided. When the rotating roller rotating portion 61 passes the position where the application roller blade 97 comes into contact, the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 is cleaned cleanly, and the preparation for the application operation by generating the next foamy fixing liquid 68 is completed.

Next, a configuration for generating a foamy fixing solution 68 having a width corresponding to the width of the transfer paper P on the surface of the application roller 60 will be described.
The fixing liquid supply shaft 62 includes three air supply paths 81, a first air supply path 81a, a second air supply path 81b, and a third air supply path 81c. In order to change the bubble width created on the surface 60, the supply air ports 84 provided on the surface of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62 are configured to have different widths.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the first air supply path 81a has a first supply air port 84a corresponding to the length of the A4 sheet in the longitudinal direction (297 [mm]) on the surface of the fixing liquid supply shaft 62. Since the air is supplied from the first supply air port 84a, a foamy fixing solution 68 corresponding to 297 [mm] is generated on the surface of the coating roller 60. Similarly, the second supply air port 84b of the second air supply path 81b corresponds to the length (210 [mm]) in the A4 lateral direction, and the third supply air port 84c of the third air supply path 81c is Corresponds to the length of postcard size. Thus, by switching the air supply path 81 for discharging air, the foamy fixing liquid 68 corresponding to the width of the transfer paper P can be generated.

FIG. 4C shows a state in which the foamy fixing solution 68 corresponding to the size of the transfer paper P is generated when the transfer paper P is a small size such as a postcard. Thus, if there is no mechanism for purifying the foam-like fixing solution 68 in accordance with the size of the transfer paper P, it is necessary to always generate the foam-like fixing solution 68 on the application roller 60 with the maximum width. In the case of such a configuration, when the small transfer paper P is transported, the portion where the transfer paper P contacts is bubbled in the transfer paper P, but the other portions remain as they are, and the application roller 60 is not touched. Since it remains on the surface of the roller rotating portion 61, it becomes necessary to collect a considerable amount by the above-described cleaning mechanism. As a result, the use efficiency of the fixing liquid is deteriorated, the printing cost is increased, and a large waste liquid collection bottle 90 is required.
In contrast, in the fixing device 6 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, air is sent to the air supply path 81 by the air pump 86, but the control box 88 provides three air supply paths 81 (ac). To which of the air is sent.
Since the widths of the supply air ports are different, the three air supply paths 81 (a to c) have different required amounts of air. Therefore, the control box 88 controls the amount of air to be sent out.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a fixing liquid supply pump 87 is connected to the fixing liquid tank 50, and the fixing liquid 66 in the fixing liquid tank 50 is pushed out by air. The air introduction pipe from the fixing liquid supply pump 87 is inserted into an air portion not in contact with the fixing liquid 66 in the fixing liquid tank 50, and the pipe connected to the fixing liquid supply path 65 is inserted into the fixing liquid 66. . With such a configuration, by driving the fixing liquid supply pump 87, the air can push the liquid surface of the fixing liquid 66 and supply the fixing liquid 66 to the fixing liquid supply path 65. Of course, the required amount of the fixing liquid 66 is controlled by adjusting the amount of air (Air) supplied by the fixing liquid supply control box 89 provided in the middle of the air introduction pipe from the fixing liquid supply pump 87. To send an appropriate amount.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, a conventional method for producing a foamy fixing solution described in the prior application will now be described.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for foaming a conventional fixing solution.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the liquid fixing solution 601 in the fixing solution container 600 is sucked out by the transport pump 602 and sent to the gas / liquid mixing unit 610 including the microporous sheet 611. Here, the liquid fixer 601 transported through the transport tube 603 by the transport force of the transport pump 602 enters the microporous sheet 611 and mixes with the air sucked from the air port 612 to become a foamy fixer. As described above, a foam-type fixing solution having a large bubble diameter has a problem in uniformity, so that small bubbles are formed. Therefore, the hole diameter of the microporous sheet 611 needs to be very small. Then, the necessary pressure of the transfer pump 602 is considerably large because the liquid is pushed into the small hole diameter. Further, a configuration for conveying the foamy fixing solution from the microporous sheet 611 to the coating roller (not shown) is required. Since the foam-like liquid has the property of staying in the tube (for example, the foam carrier pipe 613 that conveys the foam-like fixer to the micro-bubble generator 620 in the figure), a large pressure is further applied to the foam carrier. I need it. In this method, too much pressure was applied, and the generated bubbles sometimes burst and returned to the liquid.
62, the preparation of the fixing unit is completed in a state in which a foam-like fixing solution is generated and applied to the application roller, but the bubbles in the bubble transport pipe 613 are gradually broken over time, so that the recording paper is used. If it is not used for a while after application, the fixing performance will be reduced. Here, in order to reuse the foam-like fixing liquid in the foam conveyance pipe 613, the conveyance pump 602 is reversely fed so that the fixing liquid in the foam conveyance pipe 613 can be returned to the fixing liquid container 600. Since there is 611, it does not return as it is. For this reason, a new foam-like fixing solution is generated, and the old fixing solution that has been liquefied over time in the bubble transport pipe 613 after passing through the microporous sheet 611 must be discarded in another path. Then, the loss of the fixing solution is generated, which is very inefficient with respect to a method in which copying is intermittently performed.
On the other hand, in the fixing device 6 of the present embodiment, since there is no portion for conveying the inside of the tube after the fixing solution is foamed, it is possible to set the pressure of the pump (air pump 86) that imparts a conveying force to the fixing solution to a low value. it can. Further, since foaming occurs in the coating roller 60, there is no loss of the fixing solution. As described above, the fixing device 6 of the present embodiment can solve the problem of the configuration using the conventional foamy fixing solution.

[Modification]
Next, another configuration (hereinafter, referred to as a modified example) including the characteristic portion of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device 6 according to a modification.
The fixing device 6 according to the modified example has a configuration in which the surface-moving application member supports a belt-shaped member made of a porous member with two support rollers, and the outer peripheral portion of the roller-shaped application member. Is different from the fixing device 6 of the above-described embodiment in which is rotated.
Hereinafter, a modified fixing device 6 will be described, but the description of the configuration supplied with the fixing device 6 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be omitted, and differences will be described. In the fixing device 6 shown in FIG. 7, the configuration indicated by the reference numeral common to the fixing device 6 described with reference to FIG. 1 has the same function as the configuration of the same reference numeral in the above-described embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the fixing device 6 according to the modification includes an application belt 161 as an application member that is stretched between a first support roller 161 a and a second support roller 161 b. The coating belt 161 is a flexible and porous member, and is an endless moving member that moves endlessly when one of the first support roller 161a and the second support roller 161b rotates. Further, a fixing solution as a non-moving member that is disposed inside the coating belt 161 so as not to rotate around the coating belt 161 and supplies the fixing solution 66 in the fixing solution supply path 65 to the coating belt 161 made of a porous member. A supply member 162 is provided. The fixing device 6 of Modification 1 applies a fixing liquid uniformly and in a minute amount to the transfer paper P by rotating the application belt 161 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7 by driving a driving roller.

As shown in FIG. 7, the fixing liquid supply member 162 includes a fixing liquid supply path 65 that supplies the fixing liquid 66 to the porous member that constitutes the coating belt 161, and the porosity of the coating belt 161 that is supplied with the fixing liquid. Air suction for applying a negative pressure from the suction air port 85 to the three air supply passages 81 which are foaming gas supply passages for supplying foaming air to the material member and the coating belt 161 which has passed through the fixing nip. A road 82.
The configuration for supplying air to the air supply path 81 and applying a negative pressure to the application belt 161 via the air suction path 82 is the same as that of the air pump 86 provided in the fixing device 6 of the above-described embodiment. Can be applied.

In the fixing liquid supply path 65, a liquid supply port 83 is opened on the surface of the fixing liquid supply member 162, and the fixing liquid 66 is supplied from the liquid supply port 83 to the coating belt 161. Then, the fixing liquid 67 supplied from the fixing liquid supply path 65 and soaked into the coating belt 161 draws air (“Air” in FIG. 7) from any one of the three air supply paths 81 (ac). By being supplied, it passes through the inside of the coating belt 161 made of a porous member and is pushed out to the outer surface of the coating belt 161 that moves endlessly. As a result, the fixing solution 66 becomes foamed, and the foamed fixing solution 68 is carried on the surface of the coating belt 161 made of a porous member.
The foam-like fixing liquid 68 carried on the surface of the coating belt 161 enters the gap between the coating belt 161 and the shearing force applying plate 69 as the coating belt 161 moves endlessly, and receives a shearing force, thereby fixing the small-diameter foam-like fixing solution. The liquid 70 is applied to the transfer paper P at the fixing nip.

  Further, the residual fixing liquid and the residual toner that have adhered to the surface of the application belt 161 that has passed through the fixing nip pass through the porous member of the application belt 161 by the negative pressure acting on the application belt 161 from the suction air port 85. The air is sucked into the air suction path 82. The residual fixing liquid and residual toner sucked into the air suction path 82 are stored in a waste liquid collection bottle as in the above-described embodiment. Further, the fixing device 6 shown in FIG. 7 is made of rubber for scraping residual toner that could not be sucked by the air suction path 82 on the downstream side in the surface movement direction of the coating belt 161 with respect to the suction air port 85. An application belt blade 197 is provided. When the coating belt 161 moving on the surface passes the position where the coating belt blade 197 contacts, the surface of the coating belt 161 is cleaned cleanly, and the preparation of the coating operation is completed by generating the next foamy fixing solution 68.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, the application member (the application roller 60 or the application belt 61) applies the foamy fixing solution to the unfixed toner image on the transfer paper P that is a recording medium. As a fixing device that applies a liquid fixing solution to a non-fixed toner image as a foamy fixing solution by foaming a liquid fixing solution with a porous member constituting the surface of the coating member, which is a feature of the present invention, the coating member is a transfer paper P or the like. The fixing device is not limited to a fixing device that applies a fixing solution to a recording medium. For example, as in the fixing device described in Patent Document 2, unfixed toner on a toner image carrier such as an intermediate transfer belt that is a resin fine particle carrier. The present invention is also applicable to a fixing device that applies a fixing solution to an image.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the fixing liquid 66 containing the softening agent that softens the resin fine particles of the toner by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin contained in the toner is a foam-like shape in which bubbles are dispersed in the liquid. Fixing liquid foaming means as a fixing liquid 68 and the transfer sheet P that is a recording medium carrying the unfixed toner T containing resin fine particles are brought close to or in contact with the surface, and the surface is moved to fix the foam on the surface. In the fixing device 6 having an application roller 60 as an application member for applying the liquid 68 to the transfer paper P, and fixing the softened toner applied with the foam-like fixing liquid 68 to the transfer paper P, the fixing liquid foaming means includes: A porous member constituting at least a part of the roller rotating part 61 constituting the surface of the application roller 60, and a liquid fixing solution 66 infiltrated in the thickness direction of the roller rotating part 61 made of the porous member. Foam for supplying air (Air), which is a foaming gas, to the fixing liquid supply path 65 constituting the fixing liquid supply means for supplying the fixing liquid 66 to the roller rotating section 61 and the roller rotating section 61 soaked with the fixing liquid 66. An air supply path 81 that constitutes a gas supply means, supplies air to the roller rotating portion 61 infiltrated with the fixing liquid 66, and impregnates the fixing liquid 66 by passing through the thickness direction of the roller rotating portion 61 together with the air. The foamed fixing solution 67 is foamed to generate a foamy fixing solution 68 on the surface of the roller rotating portion 61, and the foamed fixing solution 68 generated on the surface of the application roller 60 is applied to the transfer paper P. Since the foamy fixing solution 68 is generated on the surface of the porous member constituting at least a part of the roller rotating portion 61 that is the surface portion of the coating roller 60 that is the coating member and applied to the transfer paper P, the liquid fixing is performed. Since it is not necessary to transport the liquid 66 after forming the foam 66 into the foam-like fixing liquid 68, the transport pressure can be reduced, and a pump for transporting the foam-like fixing liquid 68 to the surface of the application roller 60 is not necessary. The foamed fixing solution 68 can be applied without using an output pump. Further, the loss of the fixing solution can be reduced.

  In addition, since the porous member constituting the roller rotating portion 61 is a sintered material having a continuous foam structure, the wear resistance of the application roller 60 is improved.

  The application roller 60 that is an application member includes a roller rotation part 61 that is an endless movement member that is provided with a porous member at least in part and moves endlessly, and does not follow the endless movement of the roller rotation part 61 inside the roller rotation part 61. The fixing liquid supply shaft 62 is a non-moving member fixed as described above. The fixing liquid supply shaft 62 includes a fixing liquid supply path 65 that supplies the fixing liquid 66 to the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61. And an air supply path 81 which is a foaming gas supply path for supplying air (Air) as a foaming gas to the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61 supplied with the fixing liquid 66. Then, the fixing liquid 66 supplied from the fixing liquid supply path 65 to the roller rotating section 61 passes through the porous member of the roller rotating section 61 by supplying air from the air supply path 81 and moves endlessly. When the fixing liquid 66 is foamed by being pushed out to the outer surface of the roller rotating part 61, the foamy fixing liquid 68 is carried on the surface of the roller rotating part 61. With such a configuration, in order to generate the foam-like fixing liquid 68 on the surface of the application roller 60, a movable part such as a stirring fin is unnecessary, and a micropore filter is also unnecessary. There is no need to increase the pressure.

  The fixing liquid supply shaft 62 includes three air supply paths 81, and the length in the width direction, which is the length perpendicular to the endless movement direction of the roller rotating portion 61, has three air supply paths 81 (ac). ) Different for each. Then, by selecting the air supply path 81 to be used from among the three air supply paths 81 (a to c) by the control box 88, the foam-like fixing formed on the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 made of a porous member. The length of the liquid 68 in the width direction can be changed. As a result, it is possible to apply an amount of fixing liquid corresponding to the width of the transfer paper P, and to reduce the loss of the fixing liquid.

The fixing liquid supply shaft 62 includes an air suction path 82 that is a gas suction path for sucking gas so that a negative pressure is applied to the porous member of the roller rotating portion 61, and the application roller 60 is foamed on the transfer paper P. Residual fixing liquid remaining on the surface of the roller rotating unit 61 after passing through the fixing nip, which is an application position for applying the fixing solution 68 (small-diameter foamy fixing solution 70), is sucked through the roller rotating unit 61. Thereby, the application roller 60 can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, by performing the suction of the air suction path 82 and the supply of air to the air supply path 81 with the air pump 86, there is a possibility that the single pump can serve both as the supply and suction of air. Can be simplified.
Further, as described in (2) above, it is necessary to remove the fixing solution remaining on the application roller. However, since the foam has a large volume, handling is difficult, and it is necessary to return to the liquid and reduce the volume. It takes a long time for the bubbles to naturally return to the liquid, and if the bubbles are naturally returned to the liquid, the bubbles may overflow from the cleaning mechanism when fixing is performed continuously. However, like the fixing device 6, the bubbles are instantaneously eliminated from the surface of the application roller 61 by sucking the bubbles into the porous member by sucking air using the air suction path 82 and the suction air port 85. It is possible to prevent the bubbles from overflowing from the cleaning mechanism.

  In addition, an application roller blade 97, which is an application member toner cleaning member that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 of the application roller 60 that has been sucked in the residual fixing solution by the air suction path 82, is removed by suction. The residual fixing liquid and residual toner that could not be removed can be completely scraped off. As a result, it is possible to prevent the residual fixing liquid and residual toner from being mixed with the newly supplied fixing liquid, to prevent changes in the components of the fixing liquid to be applied, and to apply a fixing liquid of a desired quality. Can lead to improved image quality.

Further, the surface of the application roller 60 on the upstream side in the moving direction of the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 with respect to the fixing nip, which is the application position for applying the foam-like fixing solution 68 (small-diameter foam-like fixing solution 70) to the transfer paper P, is provided. There is a shearing force applying plate 69 disposed close to the surface of the coating roller 60 and disposed so that the gap between the surface of the coating roller 60 and the surface of the coating roller 60 becomes closer to the fixing nip. The foam-like fixing liquid 68 is subjected to shearing force by a gap between the coating roller 60 and the shearing force applying plate 69 that narrows as the surface of the roller rotating portion 61 moves, and bubbles in a small size. After the liquid 70 is formed, it is applied to the transfer paper P. As a result, the necessary small-diameter small-sized foam-like fixing solution 70 can be generated, and the fixing solution can be uniformly applied to the transfer paper P. As a result, the fixing quality can be improved.
Further, as described in (1) above, the smaller the bubble diameter of the foam fixing solution, the more difficult it is to transfer the foam fixing solution using a pump. However, it is assumed that the bubble diameter is reduced by generating the foam-like fixing solution 68 on the application roller 60 and applying the shearing force with the application roller 60 to generate the small-diameter foam-like fixing solution 70 as in this embodiment. However, it is not difficult to transfer the foam-like fixing solution.

  An image station 3 that is a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on the transfer paper P that is a recording medium using toner including a resin fine particle layer that contains a resin and a colorant, and the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P In the printer 100 as an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing means for fixing, since the fixing device 6 of this embodiment is used as the fixing means, it is possible to obtain a power-saving, small-sized and highly reliable image forming apparatus. Become.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a fixing device according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of one image station in the printer. (A) is a perspective view of the fixing liquid supply shaft, (b) is a perspective view of the fixing liquid supply shaft viewed from the back side of (a), and (c) is a perspective view of the application roller. Figure. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for supplying a fixing liquid to an application roller. Explanatory drawing of the structure which foams the conventional fixing liquid. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a fixing device according to a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper feed cassette 3 Image station 4 Optical unit 5 Intermediate transfer unit 6 Fixing device 7 Toner bottle 8 Discharge tray 10 Photoconductor 11 Charging device 12 Developing device 13 Cleaning device 13a Cleaning blade 15 Developing roller 20 Transfer belt 21 Drive Roller 22 Tension roller 23 Follower roller 24 Primary transfer roller 25 Secondary transfer roller 26 Belt cleaning device 27 Paper feed roller 28 Registration roller pair 29 Discharge roller 50 Fixing liquid tank 60 Application roller 61 Roller rotating part 62 Fixing liquid supply shaft 65 Fixing liquid Supply path 66 Fixing solution 67 Infiltrated fixing solution 68 Foamed fixing solution 69 Shear force applying plate 70 Small-diameter foamed fixing solution 71 Transfer inlet guide 72 First stretching roller 73 Second stretching roller 74 Tension roller 75 Application facing Belt 76 Cleaning blade 77 Separation claw 78 First pressure roller 79 Second pressure roller 80 Heater 81 Air supply path 81a First air supply path 81b Second air supply path 81c Third air supply path 82 Air suction path 83 Liquid supply port 84 Supply air port 84a First supply air port 84b Second supply air port 84c Third supply air port 85 Suction air port 86 Air pump 87 Fixing liquid supply pump 88 Control box 89 Fixing liquid supply control box 90 Waste liquid recovery bottle 91 Full detection sensor 92 Waste liquid 97 Application roller blade 100 Printer 161 Application belt 161a First support roller 161b Second support roller 162 Fixing liquid supply member 197 Application belt blade 600 Fixing liquid container 601 Liquid fixing liquid 602 Conveying pump 603 Conveying pipe 610 Gas / Liquid mixing unit 611 Sheet 612 micro-diameter bubbles generator air inlet 613 foam supplying pipe 620 P transfer sheet T unfixed toner

Claims (8)

A fixing liquid foaming means for forming a fixing liquid containing a softening agent that softens resin fine particles by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin into a foamy fixing liquid in which bubbles are dispersed in the liquid;
The foam-like fixing solution on the surface of the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier is moved on the surface of the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier by moving close to or in contact with the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier on the surface. An application member applied to the resin fine particles of
In the fixing device for fixing the fine resin particles softened by applying the foamy fixing solution to the recording medium,
The fixing solution foaming means comprises a porous member constituting at least a part of the surface of the coating member;
Fixing solution supply means for supplying the fixing solution to the porous member so that the fixing solution is soaked into at least part of the thickness direction orthogonal to the surface of the porous member;
A foaming gas supply means for supplying a foaming gas to at least a part of the porous member infiltrated with the fixing solution;
The foaming gas is supplied to the porous member infiltrated with the fixing solution, and the fixing solution is caused to foam by passing the fixing solution together with the foaming gas through at least a part of the thickness direction of the porous member. To produce the foamy fixing solution on the surface of the porous member,
A fixing device comprising: applying the foamy fixing solution to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier. The fixing device according to claim 1.
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the porous member is a sintered material having a continuous foam structure. The fixing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The coating member is provided with the porous member at least in part and moves endlessly; and
A non-moving member fixed inside the endless moving member so as not to rotate with the endless movement of the endless moving member;
The non-moving member includes a fixing solution supply path as the fixing solution supply means for supplying the fixing solution from the inside to the porous member of the endless moving member;
A foaming gas supply path as the foaming gas supply means for supplying the foaming gas to the porous member supplied with the fixing solution;
The fixing solution supplied from the fixing solution supply passage to the porous member passes through the porous member together with the foaming gas supplied from the foaming gas supply passage, and is moved outside the endlessly. A fixing device characterized in that a foamy fixing solution is carried on the surface of the porous member when the fixing solution becomes foamed by being extruded onto the surface of the porous member. The fixing device according to claim 3.
The non-moving member includes a plurality of the foaming gas supply paths, and a length in a width direction that is a length in a direction orthogonal to an endless moving direction of the endless moving member is a plurality of the foaming gas supply paths. It depends on each,
By selecting the foaming gas supply path to be used from among the plurality of foaming gas supply paths, the length in the width direction of the foam-like fixing liquid formed on the surface of the porous member can be changed. And a fixing device. The fixing device according to claim 3 or 4,
The non-moving member includes a gas suction path for sucking gas so that a negative pressure is applied to the porous member of the endless moving member,
The fixing member remaining on the surface of the coating member after the coating member has passed through the coating position where the foamy fixing solution is applied to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier is sucked through the porous member. A fixing device. The fixing device according to claim 5.
A fixing device comprising: an application member toner cleaning member that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the application member sucked by the residual fixing liquid by the gas suction path. The fixing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
The coating member is located upstream of the coating member in the surface movement direction with respect to the coating position at which the foaming fixer is applied to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier, and the surface is close to the surface of the coating member. A shearing force application plate disposed so that the gap between the surface of the coating member and the surface of the coating member is closer to the coating position;
The foam-like fixing solution on the surface of the coating member is subjected to a shearing force by a gap between the coating member and the shearing force applying plate which is narrowed as the surface of the coating member moves, and the foamed fixing solution becomes a foam smaller than that during foaming. A fixing device which is applied to the recording medium or the resin fine particle carrier. A toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording medium using a toner including the resin fine particles containing a resin and a colorant;
An image forming apparatus comprising fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording medium,
An image forming apparatus using the fixing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 as the fixing means.

Images