JP5576805B2 - Fixing roller, fixing device, and image forming apparatus including the fixing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing roller, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.

  In a fixing device using a fixing roller, when heating is started by a heater and the fixing roller reaches a fixing temperature and can perform a fixing operation, the surface temperature of the fixing roller reaches a high temperature of 180 degrees or more.

  Due to the high temperature, when the toner is heated and melted and fixed on the recording medium by the fixing roller, volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene are volatilized from the toner. These volatile organic compounds are components that remain slightly in the manufactured toner. As described above, when the volatile organic compound is volatilized, a configuration in which the volatile organic compound is not discharged out of the image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device by being adsorbed by a filter having activated carbon has been mainly employed. However, since the filter can adsorb only volatile organic compounds according to the surface area of the filter, it must be periodically replaced. Moreover, adsorption did not lead to the decomposition of volatile organic compounds.

  In order to deal with such a problem, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-347526 (Patent Document 1), as shown in FIG. 3, a layer in which a photocatalyst is added to the surface layer of the heating roller 100 or the pressure roller 101 is provided. A fixing device 103 is disclosed in which the toner deposited on the surface of the heating roller 100 or the pressure roller 101 is decomposed by a light source 102 that is formed and irradiates the surface of this layer with visible light or ultraviolet light.

  In the fixing device 103 of Patent Document 1, a combustion reaction is caused by the oxidizing action of active oxygen generated by irradiating a photocatalyst with visible light or ultraviolet light, and toner adhering to the surface of the heating roller 100 or the pressure roller 101 is in eyes. It breaks down into particles that are invisible.

JP 2000-347526 A

  However, Patent Document 1 uses an oxidizing action of active oxygen generated by irradiating visible light or ultraviolet light to a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide which is a metal oxide. There was a limit to decomposition.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and utilizes a strong oxidizing action of radical ions generated by using titanium oxide or the like, which is a metal oxide, as a thermal catalyst instead of a photocatalyst. It decomposes compounds.

  That is, when an unfixed toner image on the recording medium passing through the fixing nip is heated and melted by applying a heat absorbing layer having titanium oxide or the like as a metal oxide to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of decomposing a volatile organic compound volatilized from toner and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device.

The present invention relates to a fixing roller for fixing a toner image carried on a recording medium by heating and melting on the recording medium, the fixing roller having a hollow cylindrical base, A heat absorption layer having a metal oxide and a methyl silicone resin that decomposes a volatile organic compound that volatilizes when the toner image is heated and melted is disposed on the peripheral surface.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the metal oxide contained in the heat absorption layer is titanium oxide, chromium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, or iron oxide.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the heat absorption layer contains 5 to 30% by weight of the metal oxide.

  In the present invention, the heat absorption layer preferably has a thickness of 10 to 30 μm.

  Moreover, it is preferable that this invention is a fixing device provided with the said fixing roller.

  Further, the present invention provides a path and a fan for conveying radical ions generated by heating the metal oxide to a fixing nip portion formed by the fixing roller and a pressure roller that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller. The present invention is characterized in that a configured transfer device is provided.

  Further, the present invention is preferably an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.

  According to the present invention, radical ions are generated from moisture in the air near the metal oxide contained in the heat absorption layer on the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller without irradiating light. If the toner image is conveyed to the portion, the volatile organic compound that volatilizes from the toner when the unfixed toner image on the recording medium passing through the fixing nip portion is heated and melted can be decomposed.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a fixing device of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the mode of the conveying apparatus of this invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a fixing device as a conventional example of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a fixing device 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the fixing device 1 of the present invention will be described, but it goes without saying that a general technique of an image forming apparatus can be applied to other configurations.
<Example 1>
The fixing device 1 includes a fixing roller 10 that is a fixing member, a pressure roller 20 that is a pressure member, an external heating device 30, and a control unit 40.

  When the recording paper P, which is a recording medium, enters the fixing nip portion N formed by the fixing roller 10 and the pressure roller 20 in the fixing direction 1 at a predetermined fixing speed or copying speed, the fixing device 1 performs recording. In this apparatus, an unfixed toner image T carried on the paper P is fixed on the recording paper P by heating and pressing. In this embodiment, the length of the fixing nip N in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P is 7 mm, and the fixing speed is 225 mm / sec.

  The unfixed toner image T is a developer (such as a non-magnetic one-component developer (non-magnetic toner), a non-magnetic two-component developer (non-magnetic toner and carrier), or a magnetic developer (magnetic toner). Toner). The fixing speed is the process speed, and the copying speed is the number of copies per minute.

The fixing roller 10 is provided in pressure-contact with the pressure roller 20 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis. The fixing roller 10 rotates in the rotation direction Y1 following the rotation of the pressure roller 20.
(Fixing roller)
The fixing roller 10 has an axial length of 320 mm and a diameter of 40 mm. The fixing roller 10 has a four-layer structure in which a heat absorption layer 10 a, a core metal 11, an elastic layer 12, and a release layer 13 are formed in that order from the inside. For the core 11 that is a cylindrical base, for example, a metal such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof is used. Further, a rubber material having heat resistance such as silicone rubber and fluorine rubber is suitable for the elastic layer 12, and a synthetic resin material having excellent heat resistance and releasability such as PFA (for example, PFA ( A fluororesin such as a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is suitable.

  The heat absorbing layer 10a is formed by applying a heat absorbing paint to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 11 and drying the heat absorbing paint.

  The heat-absorbing coating material is mixed with an organic solvent as a volatile component such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, a metal oxide that decomposes a volatile organic compound, a resin as a non-volatile component, and a colorant such as carbon black, and then stirred. Obtained. Thereafter, the heat absorbing paint is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the cored bar 11 by spraying. After coating, preliminary drying at 100 ° C./10 minutes and main drying at 200 ° C./2 hours are performed to form the heat absorption layer 10a. Note that since the heat-absorbing paint has a metal oxide, it is not preferable to apply it to the release layer 13 because the recording paper P does not peel from the fixing roller 10.

  The metal oxide contained in the heat-absorbing paint forming the heat-absorbing layer 10a preferably has a content of 5 to 30% by weight. If it is less than 5% by weight, even if the surface temperature of the fixing roller 10 reaches a high temperature, the radical ions generated from the moisture in the air in the vicinity of the metal oxide are few, so the strong oxidizing action of the radical ions is fully utilized. Even if this radical ion is conveyed to the fixing nip N, the volatilization that volatilizes from the toner when the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P passing through the fixing nip N is heated and melted. Is not sufficient to decompose the organic compound. On the contrary, even if it exceeds 30 weight%, the quantity which decomposes | disassembles a volatile organic compound cannot be increased further, and the heat absorption layer 10a may deteriorate, and a crack and peeling may arise.

  In addition, it is preferable that the heat absorption layer 10a is 10-30 micrometers in thickness.

  When the thickness of the heat absorption layer 10a is less than 10 μm, heat from each heater lamp cannot be sufficiently absorbed, and a large amount of radical ions cannot be obtained from moisture in the air near the metal oxide. . Therefore, even if this radical ion is conveyed to the fixing nip portion N, a volatile organic compound that volatilizes from the toner when the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P passing through the fixing nip portion N is heated and melted. It became insufficient to decompose.

  Conversely, when the thickness of the heat absorption layer 10a is thicker than 30 μm, volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that volatilize from the toner could be easily decomposed, but the heat from each heater lamp. Thus, after starting the copying test, after 130,000 sheets, the heat absorption layer was cracked or peeled off.

  As the resin contained in the heat absorbing paint, a resin not containing a phenyl group is used. Examples of the resin not containing a phenyl group include methyl silicone resin, fluorine-based resin, urethane resin, and the like. However, in terms of dispersibility, film thickness stability, heat resistance stability, and benzene as a volatile organic compound are not generated. It is preferable to use a silicone resin.

  The blending ratio of each component in the heat-absorbing coating can be arbitrarily changed based on the fixing speed or copying speed of the image forming apparatus, the configuration of the fixing apparatus 1, the fixing temperature, and the like.

  The force when the fixing roller 10 is pressed against the pressure roller 20 is about 216 N, the core 11 is 18 mm in diameter, 2.0 mm thick stainless steel, and the elastic layer 12 is 2.5 mm thick silicone. The sponge rubber and release layer 13 used were 40 μm thick PFA tubes.

  The heat-absorbing coating is composed of 25% by weight of toluene as an organic solvent, 15% by weight of titanium oxide (ST500R, manufactured by Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.) having an average particle diameter of 40 nm as a metal oxide, and a formula ( It is obtained by mixing 30% by weight of methylsilicone resin shown in 1) and 30% by weight of carbon black (Eponic Degussa Japan Co., Ltd., Nippon 60) as a colorant, followed by stirring. Heat absorption paint A was designated.

  The heat absorbing paint A is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 11 of the fixing roller 10 by spraying. Thereafter, preliminary drying at 100 ° C./10 minutes and main drying at 200 ° C./2 hours were performed. As a result, the thickness of the heat absorbing layer 10a formed by the heat absorbing coating material A was 20 μm.

In addition, a heater lamp 14 for heating the fixing roller 10 is disposed inside the fixing roller 10. A thermistor 15 for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller 10 is provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 10. The thermistor 15 may be a contact type temperature sensor or a non-contact type temperature sensor.
(Fixing operation)
Next, the fixing operation of the fixing device 1 will be described.

  The fixing operation of the fixing device 1 is performed by the control unit 40 that controls the temperature control device 41, the rotation drive device 42, the cam drive device 43, and the power supply circuit 44.

  The control unit 40 controls the power supplied to the heater lamp 14 based on the surface temperature of the fixing roller 10 detected by the thermistor 15. The control unit 40 may be provided in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is a main control unit of the image forming apparatus. The control unit 40 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown) that temporarily stores various data, and can be read out as necessary.

  The temperature control device 41 controls the temperature of the fixing operation of the fixing device 1 based on an instruction from the control unit 40 and supplies power to the heater lamp 14 from the power supply circuit 44, whereby the heater lamp 14 emits light, Infrared rays are emitted from the heater lamp 14. As a result, the heat absorption layer 10a on the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller 10 absorbs infrared rays and is heated, and the entire fixing roller 10 is heated. In this embodiment, the heater lamp 14 having a rated power of 300 W was used.

  Thereafter, when the surface temperature of the fixing roller 10 reaches 140 to 220 ° C., the surface temperature of the heat absorption layer 10 a reaches 140 to 300 ° C. Since the heat absorption layer 10a is closest to the heater lamp 14, a large amount of radical ions are generated from moisture in the air near the metal oxide using the heater lamp 14 as a heat source. Thus, by using a metal oxide as a thermal catalyst, a large amount of radical ions can be obtained, and volatile organic compounds that volatilize from the toner can be efficiently decomposed. As the metal oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, or iron oxide can be used.

  The rotational drive device 42 is configured by a drive motor or the like, and rotationally drives the fixing roller 10 based on an instruction from the control unit 40.

The cam driving device 43 adjusts the distance between the central axes of the fixing roller 10 and the pressure roller 20. First, cam members (not shown) are brought into contact with both ends of the pressure roller 20. Next, the cam member is rotated by a cam driving device 43 including an arm member (not shown) that drives the cam member. As a result, the pressure roller 20 changes the distance between the center axis of the fixing roller 10 and the pressure roller 20 in the direction facing the fixing roller 10. The distance between the central axes of the fixing roller 10 and the pressure roller 20 is adjusted according to the type of the recording paper P that passes through the fixing nip N based on an instruction from the control unit 40.
(Pressure roller)
Similar to the fixing roller 10, the pressure roller 20 has a four-layer structure in which a heat absorption layer 20 a, a core metal 21, an elastic layer 22, and a release layer 23 are formed. In this embodiment, the pressure roller 20 is the same as the fixing roller 10. I used something.

  Further, when the heat absorbing paint A was applied to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 21 of the pressure roller 20 in the same manner as when sprayed to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 11 of the fixing roller 10, the heat absorbing paint A The thickness of the heat absorption layer 20a formed by the above became 20 μm.

  A heater lamp 24 for heating the pressure roller 20 is also arranged inside the pressure roller 20, and the same heater lamp 14 as that inside the fixing roller 10 is used.

The thermistor 25 for detecting the surface temperature of the pressure roller 20 is also provided inside the pressure roller 20 as in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 10. In this embodiment, the thermistor 15 is the same as the thermistor 15. It was used.
(External heating device)
The external heating device 30 includes external heating rollers 31 and 32, an external heating belt 33, heater lamps 34 and 35, thermistors 36 and 37, a thermostat 38, and heat absorption layers 39a and 39b.

  The external heating device 30 is provided on the upstream side of the fixing nip portion N with respect to the rotation direction of the fixing roller 10, and contacts the surface of the fixing roller 10 to heat the surface of the fixing roller 10.

  Each of the external heating rollers 31 and 32 includes a hollow cylindrical cored bar 31a and 32a made of aluminum or iron-based material, and heat absorbing layers 39a and 39b inside thereof. The external heating rollers 31 and 32 suspend the external heating belt 33 and simultaneously heat the external heating belt 33. When the fixing roller 10 rotates, the external heating belt 33 rotates following the fixing roller 10, and the external heating rollers 31 and 32 rotate following the rotation of the external heating belt 33. In order to reduce the force acting on the inner peripheral surface of the external heating belt 33, the surfaces of the core bars 31a and 32a may be covered with a fluororesin or the like. In the present embodiment, as the external heating rollers 31 and 32, core bars 31a and 32a having a thickness of 2.0 mm and rollers having an outer diameter of 16 mm were used, respectively.

  Further, when the heat absorbing paint A is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 21 of the external heating rollers 31 and 32 in the same manner as when sprayed to the inner peripheral surface of the core metal 11 of the fixing roller 10, heat absorption is performed. The thickness of the heat absorption layers 39a and 39b formed by the coating material A was 20 μm.

  In this embodiment, the external heating belt 33 is a surface of a polyimide base material having a thickness of 70 μm and a release layer coated with a fluororesin in which PTFE and PFA having a thickness of 30 μm are mixed. The configuration of the external heating belt 33 is not limited to this. For example, the surface of a base material made of a heat-resistant resin other than polyimide, or a metal material such as stainless steel or nickel is used as a release layer, and is excellent in heat resistance and release properties. Alternatively, a material coated with a fluororesin such as PTFE or PFA may be used. In order to reduce the force acting on the inner peripheral surface of the external heating belt 33, the inner surface of the base material of the external heating belt 33 may be covered with a fluororesin or the like.

  As a result, the sliding load with the external heating rollers 31 and 32 can be reduced, and wear of the external heating belt 33 is prevented, and the external heating belt 33 meanders when the external heating belt 33 slides. Thus, the durability of the external heating belt 33 can be maintained high.

The heater lamps 34 and 35 are heat sources arranged inside the external heating rollers 31 and 32 to heat the external heating belt 33 via the external heating rollers 31 and 32, respectively. The thermistors 36 and 37 are The surface temperatures of the contact surfaces of the external heating rollers 31 and 32 in the external heating belt 33 are detected. The thermostat 38 detects an abnormal temperature rise of the external heating belt 33 and shuts off the power supply circuit 44 that supplies power to the heater lamps 34 and 35 when the temperature rises above a predetermined temperature. The heater lamps 34 and 35 are the same as the heater lamp 14 inside the fixing roller 10. The thermistors 36 and 37 are the same as those of the thermistor 15 provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 10 in the pressure roller 20.
(Developer)
Next, the developer used in the image forming apparatus using the fixing device of this embodiment will be described.

  The developer is a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier.

  The toner can be obtained, for example, by heat-kneading a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent, a wax as an offset preventing agent, etc., solidifying by cooling, and then pulverizing and classifying. In addition, for the purpose of generally improving fluidity and charging stability, inorganic particles such as silica and aluminum oxide are added to the toner as external additives.

  In this example, as a binder resin, 100 parts by weight of a polyester resin having a glass transition temperature of 68 ° C. and a softening temperature of 129 ° C., as a colorant, 6 parts by weight of carbon black (Nexex-60 manufactured by Evonik Degussa Japan), charge control Henschel mixer which is an airflow mixer with 1.4 parts by weight of a boron complex (manufactured by Nippon Carlit Co., Ltd., LR-147) as an agent and 1 part by weight of carnauba wax (Towa Kasei Co., Ltd., Towax-171) as an anti-offset agent Mix evenly (Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd., FM mixer).

  The mixed resin mixture is a biaxial kneader (Ikegai Co., Ltd., PCM-37), which is a heating kneader. The supply amount of the resin mixture is 5 kg / hour, and the set temperature of the biaxial kneader is 140 ° C. A heated kneaded product was produced under the conditions described above.

  The obtained heat-kneaded product is solidified by cooling and then pulverized and classified to produce particulate toner. In the pulverization classification, first, coarse pulverization is performed with a cutter mill (manufactured by Orient, VM-16), and then finely pulverized by an air-type pulverizer such as a counter jet mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron, AFG). Classification is performed by a classifier (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation, TSP separator). Thus, a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 6.7 μm was obtained.

  Further, 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner was 1.5 parts by weight of silica having an average particle diameter of 8 nm (manufactured by Clariant, H3004) surface-treated with a silane coupling agent and dimethylsilicone oil, and the same surface-treated average. 1.5 parts by weight of silica having a particle diameter of 50 nm (Clariant, H05TM) and 0.75 parts by weight of titanium oxide having an average particle diameter of 40 nm (ST500R, manufactured by Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.) not subjected to a hydrophobization treatment are used as external additives. The toner was manufactured by adding and mixing with a Henschel mixer (FM mixer manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.).

A carrier was mixed with the obtained toner so that the toner concentration was 6% by weight to obtain a two-component developer. As the carrier, a ferrite carrier (manufactured by Powder Tech Co., Ltd.) having a volume average particle diameter of 50 μm and subjected to silicone coating was used.
(Transport device)
Next, how the radical ions generated from the moisture in the air near the metal oxide are conveyed to the fixing nip portion N by heating the metal oxide will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows the passages 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and the passages 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, which transport radical ions generated in the fixing roller 10, the pressure roller 20, and the external heating rollers 31, 32, respectively. 5 is a schematic view showing a state of a conveying device including a fan 51 for blowing air and a passage 50e for conveying radical ions collected from each roller to a fixing nip portion N. FIG. The passage 50 is made of aluminum and hollow cylindrical passages 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e, which are all connected.

As the fan 51, a sirocco fan (D12-12BL manufactured by Nidec Corporation) was used, and the air volume was 0.5 m ³ / min.

  First, radical ions generated in the fixing roller 10, the pressure roller 20, and the external heating rollers 31 and 32 pass through each roller in the axial direction by a fan 51 provided at one end in the axial direction of each roller. Are guided to the passages 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d, and conveyed to the other axial end of each roller.

  Since the passages 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are connected at the other end in the axial direction of each roller, all radical ions collected from each roller are connected to the fixing nip portion N further connected to these passages. It is transported to the transport path 50e.

  The passage 50e is arranged in parallel with these rollers so as to face the fixing nip portion N with a gap. The length of the passage 50e is substantially the same as the length of the fixing roller 10 and the pressure roller 20 in the axial direction.

  Innumerable opening holes (not shown) are provided on the surface of the passage 50e facing the fixing nip portion N with a gap. The outer diameter of the passage 50e was 15 mm, the wall thickness was 1 mm, and the diameter of the opening hole was 5 mm.

  Thus, all radical ions collected from each roller are sprayed from the countless opening holes toward the fixing nip portion N, and the undetermined state on the recording paper P passing through the fixing nip portion N in the traveling direction Y0. It was possible to decompose volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene, which volatilize from the toner when the toner image T is melted by heating.

Further, odor due to monomers, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal, and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner was not generated.
(Copy test)
Next, using the image forming apparatus in which the copying machine MX-2300 manufactured by Sharp Corporation (copying speed: 23 sheets / min) is modified using the fixing device 1 and the conveying device of the present embodiment, in a room temperature and normal humidity environment. Then, a plain paper (SF-4AM3, made by Sharp Corporation) was continuously fed as a recording paper P in an A4 original with an image area ratio of 5% for each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. And volatile organic compounds and odors were measured. The surface temperatures of the fixing roller 10, the pressure roller 20, and the external heating belt 33 were 190 ° C, 140 ° C, and 220 ° C.
(Volatile organic compounds)
First, before measurement, a nozzle is installed at a position 10 cm away from the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus. And the air discharged | emitted from an exhaust port was attracted | sucked with this nozzle, and the volatile organic compound contained in the air was measured with the portable VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) monitor (JMS Corporation make, JHV-1000).

  One minute after starting the copying test, suction was started with a nozzle, and volatile organic compounds contained in the air for one minute thereafter were measured. A value obtained by subtracting the measurement value before suction from the measurement value after suction was defined as a VOC value.

When a copy test is performed, if the VOC value is less than 100 μg / m ³ , the feeling of discomfort is not felt, so “◯” is judged, and if the VOC value is 100 or more and less than 200 μg / m ^3, it is judged as “Δ”, When it was 200 μg / m ³ or more, it was judged as “x” because it felt uncomfortable.
(Odor)
As with the measurement of volatile organic compounds, a nozzle is installed. And the air discharged | emitted from an exhaust port was attracted | sucked with this nozzle, and the odor contained in the air was measured with the portable odor sensor (New Cosmos Electric company make, XP-329III).

  One minute after starting the copying test, suction was started with a nozzle, and then the odor contained in the air for one minute was measured. The value obtained by subtracting the display value before suction from the display value after suction was defined as the odor value.

  When a copying test is performed, if the odor value is less than 50, no uncomfortable feeling is felt. Therefore, “◯” is determined, and when the odor value is 50 or more and less than 100, “△” is determined. In order to feel pleasure, it was determined as “×”.

In this example using 15% by weight of titanium oxide as the metal oxide, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value is “◯”, and volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that volatilize from the toner are present. It can be seen that it has been disassembled. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated.
<Example 2>
A heat absorbing paint B was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed to chromium oxide. When this heat absorbing paint B was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint B was 20 μm.

Even if the titanium oxide of the heat-absorbing coating A is changed to chromium oxide, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value becomes “◯”, and volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that are volatilized from the toner are decomposed. I understand that. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated.
<Example 3>
A heat absorbing paint C was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed from 15 wt% to 5 wt%. When the heat absorbing paint C was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint C was 20 μm.

In the case of this example in which the titanium oxide was changed to 5% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value was “◯”, and the volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, etc. that volatilize from the toner were decomposed. I understand that. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated.
<Example 4>
A heat absorbing paint D was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed from 15 wt% to 30 wt%. When this heat absorbing paint D was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint D was 20 μm.

In the case of the present example in which the titanium oxide was changed to 30% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value was “◯”, and the volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, etc. that volatilize from the toner were decomposed. I understand that. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated.
<Comparative Example 1>
A heat absorbing paint E was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed from 15% by weight to 0% by weight. When this heat absorbing paint E was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint E was 20 μm.

In the case of this comparative example in which the heat-absorbing paint does not contain titanium oxide, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value is “x”, and volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that are volatilized from the toner are decomposed. I understand that there is no. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal, etc. remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is not eliminated.
<Comparative example 2>
A heat absorbing paint F was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed from 15% by weight to 4% by weight. When the heat absorbing paint F was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint F was 20 μm.

In the case of this comparative example in which the titanium oxide was changed to 4% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value was “Δ”, and volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that are volatilized from the toner were decomposed. I understand that there is no. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal, etc. remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is not eliminated.
<Comparative Example 3>
A heat absorbing paint G was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the titanium oxide of the heat absorbing paint A was changed from 15 wt% to 32 wt%. When the heat absorbing paint G was applied to the inner peripheral surface of each roller by spraying, the thickness of each heat absorbing layer formed by the heat absorbing paint G was 20 μm.

  In the case of this comparative example in which the titanium oxide is changed to 32% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value is “◯”, and volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that are volatilized from the toner are decomposed. I understand that. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated. However, the heat absorption layer deteriorated and peeled off due to a large amount of radical ions generated from moisture in the air near the metal oxide.

  The results are shown in Table 1.

  As described above, in each of Examples 1 to 4, in which the metal oxide contained in the heat-absorbing coating forming the heat-absorbing layer is 5 to 30% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value is “◯”. Thus, it can be seen that volatile organic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene that are volatilized from the toner are decomposed. It can also be seen that the odor caused by the monomer, acid content, benzaldehyde, ethylhexanal and the like remaining slightly in the manufactured toner is also eliminated.

  On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, which were less than 5% by weight, the determination of the VOC value and the odor value was not “◯”. This is because even if the surface temperature of each roller reaches a high temperature, since there are few radical ions generated from moisture in the air near the metal oxide, the strong oxidizing action of radical ions cannot be fully utilized. Even if this radical ion is conveyed to the fixing nip N, the volatile organic compound that volatilizes from the toner is decomposed when the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P passing through the fixing nip N is heated and melted. This is because it is not enough.

  On the contrary, in Comparative Example 3, which is greater than 30% by weight, the VOC value and the odor value were judged as “◯”, but after the copy test was started, the heat absorption layer deteriorated and peeled after 130,000 sheets. have done. This is because a large amount of radical ions are generated from moisture in the air near the metal oxide due to heat from each heater lamp, and the accumulated radical ions deteriorate the heat absorption layer.

1 Fixing device 10 Fixing roller 10a Heat absorption layer (20a, 39a, 39b)
11 Core (21, 31a, 32a)
12 Elastic layer (22)
13 Release layer (23)
14 Heater lamp (24, 34, 35)
15 Thermistor (25, 36, 37)
20 Pressure roller 30 External heating device 31 External heating roller (32)
33 External Heating Belt 38 Thermostat 40 Control Unit 41 Temperature Control Device 42 Rotation Drive Device 43 Cam Drive Device 44 Power Supply Circuit 50 Path (50a to 50e)
51 Fan A Heat absorption paint (BG)
N fixing nip P recording paper T unfixed toner image Y0 traveling direction Y1 rotating direction

Claims (7)

A fixing roller that heats and melts and fixes a toner image carried on a recording medium on the recording medium, the fixing roller having a hollow cylindrical base, on the inner peripheral surface of the base, A fixing roller comprising a heat absorption layer containing a metal oxide and a methyl silicone resin .   The fixing roller according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is any one of titanium oxide, chromium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, and iron oxide.   The fixing roller according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorption layer contains 5 to 30% by weight of the metal oxide. The heat absorption layer has a thickness, the fixing roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a 10 to 30 [mu] m. A fixing device, characterized in that it comprises a fixing roller according to any one of claims 1-4. A conveying device including a path and a fan configured to convey radical ions generated by heating the metal oxide to a fixing nip portion formed by the fixing roller and a pressure roller that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller; The fixing device according to claim 5, wherein the fixing device is provided. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing device according to claim 5 or 6.