JP6201713B2 - Resin tubular body, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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

  As the resin tubular body provided in the image forming apparatus, the following are known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a film in which glass, ceramic, or carbon is sandwiched between sheet-like films made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a cylindrical member, and a tubular mold member is fitted on the outside of the wound film, and at least the film The tubular body by the tubular film obtained by heating this, joining the overlapping part of the said film, and shape | molding the said sheet-like film in a tubular shape is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a sheet-like composite material that contains a filler and an organic resin, and in which the filler aggregates in a dendritic shape in the organic resin matrix and is oriented in the thickness direction.

JP 2000-296552 A JP 2007-332224 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a resin tubular body having both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
The invention according to claim 1
A tubular fiber assembly having a structure in which a resin including a resin A and a filler having higher thermal conductivity than the resin A has a three-dimensionally entangled structure;
A resin B different from the resin A contained in the voids of the tubular fiber assembly;
It is the resin tubular body which has.

The invention according to claim 2
2. The resin tubular body according to claim 1, wherein the filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, boron nitride, and carbide.

The invention according to claim 3
3. The resin tubular body according to claim 1, wherein the resin A is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamideimide, and polyphenylene sulfide.

The invention according to claim 4
A fixing device comprising a fixing member including the resin tubular body according to claim 1.

The invention according to claim 5
An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image with toner to form a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium;
A fixing unit that is a fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the toner image is fixed on a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus including at least

According to the first aspect of the present invention, both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity are achieved compared to a resin tubular body in which the resin layer is formed into a tubular shape and contains a filler in the resin. A resin tubular body is provided.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the case where a filler is other than the said thing, the resin tubular body which made high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity compatible is provided.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, compared with the case where resin A is other than the above, the resin tubular body which made high mechanical strength and high heat conductivity compatible is provided.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, it has a tubular fiber assembly which has the structure where the fiber containing resin A and the filler with higher heat conductivity than said resin A has a three-dimensional entanglement, and this tubular A fixing device provided with a resin tubular body that has both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity compared to the case where a resin tubular body having a resin B different from the resin A is not included in the gap of the fiber assembly is provided. Is done.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, it has a tubular fiber assembly which has the structure where the fiber containing resin A and the filler with higher heat conductivity than said resin A has the structure intertwined three-dimensionally, and this tubular Compared to a case where a resin tubular body having a resin B different from the resin A is not provided in the gap of the fiber assembly, an image forming apparatus provided with a resin tubular body having both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity is provided. Provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing device according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the fixing device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the resin tubular body, the fixing device, and the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail.
In addition, when it demonstrates using drawing, the same code | symbol is provided to the member which has substantially the same function, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted suitably.

≪Resin tubular body≫
The resin tubular body according to the present embodiment includes a tubular fiber assembly having a structure in which fibers including a resin A and a filler having higher thermal conductivity than the resin A are intertwined in three dimensions, and the tubular fibers. A resin B different from the resin A contained in the voids of the aggregate.
That is, the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment has a three-dimensional network structure in which fibers made of the resin A containing a filler are three-dimensionally entangled, and an aggregate of the fibers entangled with the three-dimensional network structure. Furthermore, it is formed into a tubular shape. As the filler, those having higher thermal conductivity than the resin A are used. In addition, this fiber assembly has a gap between the fibers, and this tubular fiber assembly serves as a base material, and the resin B is contained in the gap of the fiber assembly.

  Since the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity can be achieved.

  In a resin tubular body obtained by simply molding a resin into a tubular shape and a resin tubular body in which a filler having thermal conductivity is dispersed in the resin, in order to achieve high thermal conductivity, The amount needs to be increased. However, on the other hand, the mechanical strength decreases as the amount of filler increases.

On the other hand, it is estimated that the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment can solve the above problem from the following actions.
That is, the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment has a structure in which a resin B different from the resin A is included in the voids of the tubular fiber assembly including the resin A and the filler, so that heat conduction is performed in the fiber. It is considered that a path for conducting heat is formed along the fiber due to the inclusion of the filler having the property, and as a result, high thermal conductivity in the thickness direction of the resin tubular body is achieved.
Moreover, compared with the aspect which the filler disperse | distributed in the matrix by resin A, in the resin tubular body which concerns on this embodiment, the filling rate of the filler for obtaining comparable thermal conductivity can be decreased. As a result, the decrease in mechanical strength can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the tubular fiber assembly including the resin A constituting the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment has the fibers entangled three-dimensionally and the contact points of the fibers are joined. According to this aspect, even when compared with a single layer made of resin A, the decrease in mechanical strength in the surface direction (direction along the surface) can be reduced.
From these points, the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment can obtain high thermal conductivity while maintaining high mechanical strength, and can achieve both high mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity. It is considered a thing.

  Hereinafter, in the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment, the resin A and the filler constituting the tubular fiber assembly, and the resin B contained in the voids of the fiber assembly will be described.

[Resin A]
In this embodiment, the tubular fiber assembly is an assembly in which fibers are entangled and gathered irregularly in a three-dimensional manner, and the fibers include resin A.
In addition, it is preferable that each fiber which comprises a fiber assembly is mutually joined (for example, fusion | fusion) in the contact with another fiber. The fibers are bonded (fused) at the contact points, so that the stretchability is low and excellent shape retention is obtained.

Examples of the resin A constituting the fiber assembly include polyimide, polyamideimide, polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, and polybenzimidazole because they are excellent in mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and the like.
Among these, polyimide, polyamideimide, and polyphenylene sulfide are preferable from the viewpoint of heat resistance and solubility in an organic solvent including a precursor.

〔filler〕
As the filler contained in the fibers in the present embodiment, known fillers called organic fillers and inorganic fillers are used as long as they have higher thermal conductivity than the resin A.

  The thermal conductivity of the filler is preferably 0.3 W / mK or more, more preferably 50 W / mK or more, and 100 W / mK from the viewpoint of obtaining higher thermal conductivity in the resin tubular body according to this embodiment. mK or more is more preferable. Moreover, the upper limit of the said heat conductivity is not specifically limited.

Filler materials include carbide (eg, carbon black, carbon fiber, carbon nanotube, etc.), titanium oxide, silicon carbide, talc, mica, kaolin, iron oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, magnesium oxide, graphite, nitriding Well-known inorganic fillers such as silicon, boron nitride, iron oxide, cerium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium carbonate, metallic silicon and the like can be mentioned.
Among these, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, boron nitride, and carbide are preferable from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity and reactivity during heating and cooling.

  The shape of the filler is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a spherical shape, a plate shape, a needle shape, a fiber shape, and a tube shape. Among these, from the viewpoint that it is easy to orient in the longitudinal direction in the fiber, a plate-like, needle-like, fiber-like, or tube-like shape is more preferable. In the fiber, the filler is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the fiber, so that the heat conduction path along the fiber is formed by a smaller amount of filler, and as a result of the filler to obtain the same degree of thermal conductivity. The filling rate can be reduced.

The particle diameter (number average particle diameter) of the filler is preferably smaller than the fiber diameter of the fiber from the viewpoint of production.
Specifically, the particle size of the filler is preferably in the range of 0.01 μm or more and 10 μm or less, preferably 0.05 μm or more and 5 μm or less from the viewpoint of manufacturing significance and the efficiency of imparting thermal conductivity. More desirably, the thickness is 0.2 μm or more and 1 μm or less.
The particle size of the filler can be measured by direct observation using a scanning electron microscope.

The filler content may be determined by the balance between thermal conductivity and mechanical strength and the thermal conductivity and mechanical strength required according to the application.
For example, if the use of the resin tubular body according to this embodiment is a fixing belt in an image forming apparatus, the amount of filler is set so that the tensile strength measured as described later satisfies 230 MPa or more (preferably 250 MPa or more). Adjust it. Specifically, the amount of the filler in the resin tubular body is preferably in the range of 1% by volume to 50% by volume, preferably 3% by volume to 30% by volume, more preferably 5% by volume fraction. % To 10% by volume.

-Physical property of a fiber assembly As a fiber which comprises a fiber assembly, the following are preferable.
That is, the fiber diameter is preferably in the range of 0.1 μm to 5 μm, desirably 0.5 μm to 4 μm, and more desirably 1 μm to 3 μm.

The porosity of the fiber assembly is preferably in the range of 30% to 70%, preferably 40% to 65%, and more preferably 45% to 60% in terms of volume fraction.
The void ratio of this fiber assembly is obtained by SEM observation (XY axis plane, YZ plane) of the cross section of the resin tubular body, calculating the volume of the void from the measured area of the void, and the volume fraction of the void Can be measured.

  Since the length (circumferential length) and thickness of the tubular fiber assembly correspond to the length (circumferential length) and thickness of the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment, the length (circumferential length) required for the use of the resin tubular body. Length) and thickness may be determined.

[Resin B]
Resin B in the present embodiment is contained in the voids of the fiber assembly and is a resin different from resin A.
Examples of the resin B include polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetheretherketone, and the like.
As the resin B, it is desirable to select a resin B that can be dissolved or dispersed in a solvent that does not dissolve the resin A constituting the fiber assembly, and more preferably a resin B that can be dissolved.

In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the resin B is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide and polysulfone.
Since undesired curing is unlikely to occur with the above resin, the resin B can be satisfactorily filled into the voids of the fiber assembly, and uneven distribution of the resin B in the fiber assembly can be suppressed. As a result, a resin tubular body excellent in mechanical strength and in-plane uniformity of thermal conductivity can be obtained.

  The content of the resin B is preferably in the range of 10% or more and 40% or less, preferably 20% or more and 35% or less, more preferably 25 in terms of the volume fraction in the resin tubular body from the viewpoint of the expression of thermal conductivity. % To 30%.

[Other ingredients]
The resin tubular body according to the present embodiment may contain other components as necessary in addition to the fiber containing the resin A and the filler and the resin B.
Examples of other components include leveling agents and ionic conductive agents.
The content of these other components is desirably 5% by mass or less, more desirably 3% by mass or less, in the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment.

[Method for producing resin tubular body]
-Fabrication of fiber assembly First, fabrication of a tubular fiber assembly will be described.
The method for producing the fiber aggregate is not particularly limited as long as it is a method capable of producing an aggregate in which fibers including the resin A and the filler are three-dimensionally irregularly entangled and assembled. Can be applied. In addition, it is more preferable that it is a method which can produce the fiber assembly of the form mutually joined (fused) in the contact of fibers.
As the production method as described above, for example, an electrospinning method, a spunlace method (a hydroentanglement method), a melt blow method, a thermal bond method, a chemical bond method, a needle punch method, a stitch bond method, a steam jet method, and the like are applied. .

  Here, as a specific example, a method for producing a tubular fiber assembly including a polyimide as the resin A and a carbon nanotube filler as a filler will be described. Furthermore, taking the case where polyetherimide is used as the resin B as an example, a method for producing a resin tubular body according to this embodiment will be described. In addition, the manufacturing method of the resin tubular body which concerns on this embodiment is not necessarily restricted to this aspect.

First, production of a tubular fiber assembly including polyimide and boron nitride filler will be described.
For example, a carbon nanotube filler is mixed and dispersed in a polyamic acid solution that is a polyimide (PI) precursor to prepare a filler-dispersed PI solution. This filler-dispersed PI solution is applied to the metal column by an electrospinning method to form a tubular fiber assembly.
Here, the electrospinning method is a method in which a high voltage is applied to the polymer compound solution to inject the polymer compound solution onto a conductive material such as a metal column and form a fiber made of the polymer compound. It is.
As the electrospinning apparatus to which the electrospinning method is applied, a known apparatus can be used. As an example, there is “Imoto Electrospinning apparatus (standard machine) 1369”.

In addition, when performing the electrospinning method, the fiber diameter can be appropriately changed by adjusting the applied voltage, the concentration of the polymer compound solution, the scattering distance of the jet, the discharge speed of the polymer solution, and the like. The porosity can also be adjusted by adjusting the fiber diameter.
Moreover, the film thickness of a fiber assembly can also be changed suitably by adjusting the injection time of a polymer compound solution.
In the present embodiment, the following conditions are desirable.
That is, the applied voltage is 5 kV or more and 20 kV or less, the spray scattering distance (distance between nozzle dies) is 10 cm or more and 30 cm or less, and the discharge speed of the polymer solution is 1 ml / hr or more and 5 ml / hr or less.

As described above, the fiber aggregate containing the polyimide precursor and the carbon nanotube filler formed by the electrospinning method is imidized (baked) to obtain a fiber aggregate containing the polyimide resin. .
As imidation treatment (firing) conditions, for example, it is preferable to heat at 250 ° C. or higher and 450 ° C. or lower (desirably 300 ° C. or higher and 400 ° C. or lower) for 20 minutes or longer and 60 minutes or shorter.
In the heating reaction, before reaching the final temperature of heating, it is preferable to heat by gradually increasing the temperature stepwise or at a constant rate.

-Filling of resin B Next, a method of filling resin B into a tubular fiber assembly will be described.
For example, an N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solution of polyetherimide (PEI) is impregnated under pressure into the fiber assembly obtained by the above-described method, and then held in an outer mold and dried.
The pressure impregnation is preferably performed by the following method.
That is, a sample is put into a vacuum pressure impregnation apparatus (VPG-4250S manufactured by Kyoshin Engineering Co., Ltd.), and left still for 30 minutes in an environment with a vacuum degree of 6 Pa or more and 10 Pa or less. In this method, after the impregnating liquid adjusted to a liquid temperature of 40 ° C. or higher and 50 ° C. or lower is introduced, the pressure is increased at a pressure of 0.1 MPa or higher and 0.5 MPa or lower and the state is maintained for 1 hour.

Further, as the holding and drying conditions by the outer mold, the following are desirable.
The sample is transferred to an outer mold and step-dried at 80 ° C. for 6 hours → 100 ° C. for 6 hours → 200 ° C. for 1 hour while rotating using a rotary drying oven.
In addition, holding | maintenance by an outer type | mold points out that it is a metal cylinder formed by adjusting a cylindrical body sample (fiber assembly) to the size which can be supported from the outside about 0 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

As described above, the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment in which polyetherimide is contained in the voids of the fiber assembly including the polyimide and the carbon nanotube filler is obtained.
In addition, although the space | gap of a fiber assembly is filled with resin B, the space | gap may remain | survive in the range which does not reduce heat conductivity and mechanical strength remarkably. In the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment, specifically, the filling rate of the fiber assembly with the resin B may be 20% or more in terms of volume fraction, and is preferably 25% or more.

[Use]
Since the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment is excellent in both thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, it can be applied to various uses where these physical properties are required.
In particular, the resin tubular body according to this embodiment is suitable as a fixing member in an image forming apparatus, and specifically, applied to both a heating belt and a pressure belt at the time of image fixing. The heating belt may be either a heating belt that is heated by an electromagnetic induction method or a heating belt that is heated from an external heat source.

  As described above, when the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment is applied to a fixing member in an image forming apparatus, the resin tubular body functions as a base material layer, and the elastic layer shown below is formed on the base material layer. It is more desirable that the surface layer is laminated.

For example, if the use of the resin tubular body according to this embodiment is a fixing belt, the thickness of the base material layer made of the resin tubular body is preferably in the range of 20 μm to 200 μm, desirably 30 μm to 150 μm, and more desirably. Is 40 μm or more and 130 μm or less.
For example, if the use of the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment is a fixing belt, the length (peripheral length) of the base material layer made of the resin tubular body is preferably in the range of 250 mm to 500 mm, and desirably 300 mm. It is 450 mm or less, more preferably 350 mm or more and 400 mm or less.

(Elastic layer)
The elastic layer includes a heat resistant elastic material.
Examples of the heat resistant elastic material include silicone rubber and fluoro rubber.
Examples of the silicone rubber include RTV silicone rubber, HTV silicone rubber, and liquid silicone rubber. Specifically, polydimethyl silicone rubber (MQ), methyl vinyl silicone rubber (VMQ), methyl phenyl silicone rubber (PMQ). ), Fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ) and the like.
Examples of the fluororubber include vinylidene fluoride rubber, tetrafluoroethylene / propylene rubber, tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoromethyl vinyl ether rubber, phosphazene rubber, and fluoropolyether.
Note that “heat resistance” means a characteristic that does not melt or decompose even when the temperature rises (for example, the fixing temperature) of the fixing device. The same applies hereinafter.

  Various additives may be blended in the elastic layer. Examples of additives include softeners (paraffins, etc.), processing aids (stearic acid, etc.), anti-aging agents (amines, etc.), vulcanizing agents (sulfur, metal oxides, peroxides, etc.), functions, etc. Include fillers (such as alumina).

  For example, when the fixing member has a belt shape, the thickness of the elastic layer is preferably 30 μm or more and 600 μm or less, and preferably 100 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

(Surface layer)
The surface layer includes, for example, a heat resistant release material.
Examples of the heat-resistant release material include fluororubber, fluororesin, silicone resin, and polyimide resin.
Among these, a fluororesin is preferable as the heat-resistant release material. Specific examples of the fluororesin include, for example, tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyethylene / tetra Examples include fluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polychloroethylene trifluoride (PCTFE), and vinyl fluoride (PVF).

  For example, when the fixing member is belt-shaped, the thickness of the surface layer is preferably 5 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and more preferably 10 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

[Other layers]
An adhesive layer may be provided between the base material that is the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment and the elastic layer, and between the elastic layer and the surface layer.
The adhesive layer should just be formed with the adhesive which has heat resistance, and a well-known thing is applied.
In addition, a metal layer (heat generation layer) that generates heat by electromagnetic induction may be provided between the base material layer that is the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment and the elastic layer.

≪Fixing device≫
The fixing device according to the present embodiment includes a fixing member including the resin tubular body according to the present embodiment described above.
The fixing device according to the present embodiment has various configurations, for example, a configuration including a first rotating body and a second rotating body arranged in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body. And the resin tubular body which concerns on this embodiment is applied as an element which comprises at least one of a 1st rotary body and a 2nd rotary body.

Hereinafter, a fixing device including a heating belt and a pressure roll will be described as first and second embodiments. In the first and second embodiments, the resin tubular body according to this embodiment can be applied to both a heating belt and a pressure roll.
The fixing device according to this embodiment is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and may be a fixing device including a heating roll or a heating belt and a pressure belt. The resin tubular body according to the present embodiment can be applied to any of a heating roll, a heating belt, and a pressure belt.
The fixing device according to the present embodiment is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and may be an electromagnetic induction heating type fixing device.

[First Embodiment of Fixing Device]
The fixing device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fixing device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment includes, for example, a heating roll 61 (an example of a first rotating body) that is rotationally driven, a pressure belt 62 (an example of a second rotating body), A pressing pad 64 (an example of a pressing member) that presses the heating roll 61 via the pressure belt 62 is provided.
In addition, the press pad 64 should just pressurize the pressurization belt 62 and the heating roll 61 relatively, for example. Therefore, the pressure belt 62 side may be pressurized by the heating roll 61, and the heating roll 61 side may be pressurized by the pressure belt 62.

  Inside the heating roll 61, a halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating means) is disposed. The heating means is not limited to the halogen lamp, and other heat generating members that generate heat may be used.

  On the other hand, for example, a temperature sensitive element 69 is disposed on the surface of the heating roll 61 in contact therewith. The lighting of the halogen lamp 66 is controlled based on the temperature measurement value by the temperature sensing element 69, and the surface temperature of the heating roll 61 is maintained at a target set temperature (for example, 150 ° C.).

  The pressure belt 62 is rotatably supported by, for example, a pressing pad 64 and a belt traveling guide 63 disposed inside. And it is pressed against the heating roll 61 by the pressing pad 64 in the sandwiching area N (nip part).

For example, the pressing pad 64 is disposed inside the pressure belt 62 in a state of being pressed against the heating roll 61 via the pressure belt 62, and forms a sandwiching region N with the heating roll 61. Yes.
For example, the pressing pad 64 is provided with a front clamping member 64a for securing a wide clamping area N on the entrance side of the clamping area N, and a peeling clamping member 64b for distorting the heating roll 61. Is arranged on the exit side of the sandwiching region N.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 and the pressing pad 64, for example, a sheet-like sliding on the surface of the front sandwiching member 64a and the peeling sandwiching member 64b in contact with the pressure belt 62 A member 68 is provided. The pressing pad 64 and the sliding member 68 are held by a metal holding member 65.
The sliding member 68 is provided, for example, so that its sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62, and is involved in holding and supplying oil existing between the sliding member 68 and the pressure belt 62. .

  For example, a belt traveling guide 63 is attached to the holding member 65 so that the pressure belt 62 rotates. The belt running guide 63 may be provided with a lubricant supply device 67 that is a means for supplying a lubricant (oil) to the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62.

  For example, the heating roll 61 is rotated in the arrow S direction by a drive motor (not shown), and the pressure belt 62 is rotated in the arrow R direction opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roll 61 following the rotation. That is, for example, while the heating roll 61 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, the pressure belt 62 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

  Then, the sheet K (an example of a recording medium) having an unfixed toner image is guided by, for example, the fixing inlet guide 56 and conveyed to the sandwiching area N. When the paper K passes through the sandwiching area N, the toner image on the paper K is fixed by pressure and heat acting on the sandwiching area N.

  In the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment, for example, the concave sandwiched front sandwiching member 64a that follows the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61 has a wider sandwiched region N as compared to the configuration without the front sandwiching member 64a. Secured.

  Further, in the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment, for example, by disposing the peeling sandwiching member 64 b so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61, the heating roll 61 is distorted in the exit region of the sandwiching region N. Is configured to be locally large.

  If the peeling and clamping member 64b is arranged in this way, for example, the sheet K after being fixed passes through the locally formed distortion when passing through the peeling and clamping area. Is easy to peel from the heating roll 61.

  As an auxiliary means for peeling, for example, a peeling member 70 is disposed on the downstream side of the sandwiching area N of the heating roll 61. For example, the peeling member 70 is held by the holding member 72 in a state in which the peeling claw 71 is close to the heating roll 61 in a direction (counter direction) opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roll 61.

[Second Embodiment of Fixing Device]
A fixing device according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fixing device according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 80 according to the first embodiment, for example, presses the fixing belt module 86 including the heating belt 84 (an example of the first rotating body) and the heating belt 84 (the fixing belt module 86). And a pressurizing roll 88 (an example of a second rotating body) arranged. For example, a sandwiching region N (nip portion) where the heating belt 84 (fixing belt module 86) and the pressure roll 88 come into contact is formed. In the sandwiching area N, the sheet K (an example of a recording medium) is pressurized and heated to fix the toner image.

The fixing belt module 86 includes, for example, an endless heating belt 84 and a heating belt 84 wound around the pressure roll 88. The fixing belt module 86 is driven to rotate by a rotational force of a motor (not shown) and the heating belt 84 has an inner circumference. A heating and pressing roll 89 that is pressed from the surface toward the pressing roll 88 and a support roll 90 that supports the heating belt 84 from the inside at a position different from the heating and pressing roll 89 are provided.
The fixing belt module 86 is, for example, a support roll 92 that is disposed outside the heating belt 84 and defines a circulation path thereof, and a posture correction roll 94 that corrects the posture of the heating belt 84 from the heating pressure roll 89 to the support roll 90. And a support roll 98 for applying tension to the heating belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface on the downstream side of the sandwiching area N, which is an area where the heating belt 84 (fixing belt module 86) and the pressure roll 88 are in contact with each other. ing.

The fixing belt module 86 is provided, for example, such that a sheet-like sliding member 82 is interposed between the heating belt 84 and the heating press roll 89.
The sliding member 82 is provided, for example, so that its sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 84, and is involved in holding and supplying oil existing between the sliding member 82 and the heating belt 84.
Here, the sliding member 82 is provided, for example, in a state in which both ends thereof are supported by the support member 96.

  Inside the heating and pressing roll 89, for example, a halogen heater 89A (an example of heating means) is provided.

The support roll 90 is, for example, a cylindrical roll formed of aluminum, and a halogen heater 90A (an example of a heating unit) is disposed therein so that the heating belt 84 is heated from the inner peripheral surface side. It has become.
For example, spring members (not shown) that press the heating belt 84 outward are disposed at both ends of the support roll 90.

The support roll 92 is, for example, a cylindrical roll made of aluminum, and a release layer made of a fluororesin having a thickness of 20 μm is formed on the surface of the support roll 92.
The release layer of the support roll 92 is formed, for example, to prevent toner and paper powder from the outer peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 from accumulating on the support roll 92.
For example, a halogen heater 92A (an example of a heating source) is disposed inside the support roll 92, and the heating belt 84 is heated from the outer peripheral surface side.

  That is, for example, the heating belt 84 is heated by the heating and pressing roll 89, the support roll 90, and the support roll 92.

The posture correction roll 94 is, for example, a cylindrical roll formed of aluminum, and an end position measuring mechanism (not shown) that measures the end position of the heating belt 84 is disposed in the vicinity of the posture correction roll 94. ing.
For example, the posture correcting roll 94 is provided with an axial displacement mechanism (not shown) that displaces the contact position in the axial direction of the heating belt 84 in accordance with the measurement result of the end position measuring mechanism. Configured to control.

  On the other hand, for example, the pressure roll 88 is rotatably supported, and is provided by being pressed against a portion where the heating belt 84 is wound around the heating press roll 89 by an urging means such as a spring (not shown). Thus, as the heating belt 84 (heating press roll 89) of the fixing belt module 86 rotates in the direction of arrow S, the pressing roll 88 is moved by the arrow R following the heating belt 84 (heating press roll 89). It is designed to rotate in the direction.

  Then, the sheet K having the unfixed toner image (not shown) is conveyed in the direction of the arrow P, and when guided to the sandwiching area N of the fixing device 80, it is fixed by the pressure and heat acting on the sandwiching area N. The

  In the fixing device 80 according to the second embodiment, the embodiment in which the halogen heater (halogen lamp) is applied as an example of the heating source has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Etc.), resistance heating elements (heating elements that generate Joule heat by passing a current through the resistance: for example, a film having a thick film resistance formed on a ceramic substrate and fired) May be.

≪Image forming device≫
Next, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier, and the latent image as a toner. Developing means for forming a toner image by developing, a transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium, and a fixing means for fixing the toner image to the recording medium. The fixing device according to this embodiment is applied as the fixing unit.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus generally called a tandem type, and a plurality of toner images of each color component are formed by an electrophotographic system. Image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and a primary transfer unit 10 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) the color component toner images formed by the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K to the intermediate transfer belt 15. The secondary transfer unit 20 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the superimposed toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 onto the paper K that is a recording medium, and the fixing that fixes the secondary transferred image onto the paper K. Device 60. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 40 that controls the operation of each device (each unit).

  This fixing device 60 is the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment described above. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may include the fixing device 80 according to the second embodiment described above.

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

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

  Further, around the photosensitive member 11, as an example of a developing unit, a developing device 14 that accommodates each color component toner and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 11 with the toner is provided. A primary transfer roll 16 for transferring the color component toner images formed thereon onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer unit 10 is provided.

  Further, a photoconductor cleaner 17 for removing residual toner on the photoconductor 11 is provided around the photoconductor 11, and a charger 12, a laser exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a primary transfer roll 16, and a photoconductor cleaner. Seventeen electrophotographic devices are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 11. These image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged substantially linearly in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15. Has been.

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

  The intermediate transfer belt 15 is circulated (rotated) by various rolls at a speed determined in the B direction shown in FIG. As these various rolls, a drive roll 31 that is driven by a motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 15, and an intermediate transfer belt that extends substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the photoreceptors 11. 15, a support roll 32 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 15, a tension applying roll 33 that functions as a correction roll that applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and prevents the intermediate transfer belt 15 from meandering, and a back roll provided in the secondary transfer unit 20. 25. A cleaning back roll 34 is provided in a cleaning unit that scrapes off residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

The primary transfer unit 10 includes a primary transfer roll 16 that is disposed to face the photoconductor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roll 16 includes a shaft and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the shaft. The shaft is a cylindrical bar made of metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is a sponge-like cylindrical roll formed of a blend rubber of NBR, SBR, and EPDM containing a conductive agent such as carbon black and having a volume resistivity of 10 ^7.5 Ωcm or more and 10 ^8.5 Ωcm or less.

  The primary transfer roll 16 is placed in pressure contact with the photoreceptor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 in between. Further, the primary transfer roll 16 has a voltage (primary polarity) opposite to the toner charging polarity (negative polarity; the same applies hereinafter). Transfer bias) is applied. As a result, the toner images on the respective photoconductors 11 are sequentially electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 so that the superimposed toner images are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

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

The back roll 25 is made of a tube of EPDM and NBR blend rubber with carbon dispersed on the surface, and the inside is made of EPDM rubber. And it is formed so that the surface resistivity may be 10 ⁷ Ω / □ or more and 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ or less, and the hardness is set to, for example, 70 ° (Asker C: manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd., the same shall apply hereinafter). The The back roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to constitute a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 22, and a metal power supply roll 26 to which a secondary transfer bias is stably applied is disposed in contact. ing.

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

  The secondary transfer roll 22 is placed in pressure contact with the back roll 25 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. Further, the secondary transfer roll 22 is grounded and a secondary transfer bias is formed between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25, and the secondary transfer roll 22 is grounded. The toner image is secondarily transferred onto the paper K conveyed to the transfer unit 20.

  Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15, an intermediate transfer belt that removes residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer and cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15. A cleaner 35 is provided so as to be able to contact and separate.

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

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

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, as a transport unit that transports the paper K, the paper storage unit 50 that stores the paper K, and the paper K accumulated in the paper storage unit 50 is taken out at a predetermined timing. A paper feed roll 51 that transports the paper K, a transport roll 52 that transports the paper K fed by the paper feed roll 51, a transport guide 53 that feeds the paper K transported by the transport roll 52 to the secondary transfer unit 20, and a secondary transfer A conveyance belt 55 that conveys the sheet K conveyed after the secondary transfer by the roll 22 to the fixing device 60 and a fixing entrance guide 56 that guides the sheet K to the fixing device 60 are provided.

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

  In the image processing apparatus, input reflectance data is subjected to image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color editing, and moving editing. Is done. The image data that has undergone image processing is converted into color material gradation data of four colors, Y, M, C, and K, and is output to the laser exposure unit 13.

  The laser exposure unit 13 irradiates each of the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K with, for example, an exposure beam Bm emitted from a semiconductor laser in accordance with the input color material gradation data. . In each of the photoreceptors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, the surface is charged by the charger 12, and then the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure unit 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent images are developed as toner images of respective colors Y, M, C, and K by the respective image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K.

  The toner images formed on the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer unit 10 where the photoconductors 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 are in contact with each other. The More specifically, in the primary transfer portion 10, a voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (minus polarity) is applied to the base material of the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer roll 16, and the toner image. Are sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to perform primary transfer.

  After the toner images are sequentially primary transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15, the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves and the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20. When the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20, the conveyance unit rotates the paper feed roll 51 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20. A size paper K is supplied. The paper K supplied by the paper feed roll 51 is transported by the transport roll 52, and reaches the secondary transfer unit 20 through the transport guide 53. Before reaching the secondary transfer unit 20, the sheet K is temporarily stopped, and the registration roll (not shown) rotates in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 on which the toner image is held. And the position of the toner image are aligned.

  In the secondary transfer unit 20, the secondary transfer roll 22 is pressed against the back roll 25 via the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the sheet K conveyed at the same timing is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roll 22. At this time, when a voltage (secondary transfer bias) having the same polarity as the toner charging polarity (negative polarity) is applied from the power supply roll 26, a transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. Is done. The unfixed toner image held on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is collectively electrostatically transferred onto the paper K in the secondary transfer unit 20 pressed by the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. The

  Thereafter, the sheet K on which the toner image has been electrostatically transferred is conveyed as it is while being peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roll 22, and is conveyed downstream of the secondary transfer roll 22 in the sheet conveyance direction. It is conveyed to the belt 55. The transport belt 55 transports the paper K to the fixing device 60 in accordance with the optimal transport speed in the fixing device 60. The unfixed toner image on the paper K conveyed to the fixing device 60 is fixed on the paper K by being subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 60. Then, the sheet K on which the fixed image is formed is conveyed to a paper discharge container (not shown) provided in the discharge unit of the image forming apparatus.

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

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made, and the requirements of the present embodiment are satisfied. It goes without saying that it can be realized within the range.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
A seamless structure in which a carbon nanotube (CNT) filler as a filler is further filled with a polyetherimide (PEI) resin in the gap of a fiber laminate (fiber assembly) dispersed in polyimide as a resin A A resin tubular body was produced by the following procedure.

First, CNT (carbon nanotube) filler (“VGCF-H” manufactured by Showa Denko KK) so that the volume fraction of the polyimide precursor solution (polyimide varnish “U-varnish S” (manufactured by Ube Industries) is 5% by volume). And mixed with a bead mill to obtain a filler-dispersed polyimide precursor solution.
The filler-dispersed polyimide precursor solution was electrospun with respect to a φ30 mm metal column to form a seamless tubular fiber laminate (fiber assembly). Thereafter, the temperature was increased to 380 ° C. (25 ° C. → 120 ° C. 1 hr → 250 ° C. 1 hr → 380 ° C. 1 hr → 25 ° C.) and fired.

For electrospinning, an apparatus having the following configuration was used.
A polymer solution application nozzle is disposed opposite the rotating cylindrical mold, and the nozzle is connected to a syringe pump (Azwan Micro Syringe Pump IC-3100) via a solvent-resistant tube, The apparatus of the structure formed by arrange | positioning the high voltage power supply which can apply arbitrary voltages between nozzles was used. The conditions were a voltage of 15 kV, a distance between nozzle dies of 17 cm, and a coating speed of the polymer solution of 3 ml / hr.
As a result, a fiber assembly containing a CNT filler in a polyimide resin having an inner diameter of 30 mm and a film thickness of 60 μm was obtained.
In the obtained fiber assembly, the fiber diameter was 2 μm and the porosity was 41%. The thermal conductivity of the CNT filler was 1200 W / m · K, which was higher than that of polyimide as the resin A.

Next, after the fiber laminate (fiber assembly) is pressure-impregnated with a polyetherimide (PEI, “Ultem” manufactured by GE Plastics Japan) NMP solution having a volume fraction of 18% by volume. The sample was held in a mold (outer mold) that can be supported on the outside and dried.
For pressure impregnation, the fiber assembly was placed in a vacuum pressure impregnation apparatus (VPG-4250S manufactured by Kyoshin Engineering Co., Ltd.) and allowed to stand for 30 min in an environment with a vacuum degree of 8 Pa. An impregnation liquid (PEI solution) adjusted to a liquid temperature of 43 ° C. was introduced thereto, and then pressurized at a pressure of 0.5 MPa, and the state was maintained for 1 hr to perform pressure impregnation.
The drying was performed with a profile of 80 ° C. 6 hr → 100 ° C. 6 hr → 200 ° C. 1 hr.

  The seamless resin tubular body thus obtained was a seamless resin tubular body having an inner diameter of 30 mm and a film thickness of 60 μm. Moreover, the filling amount of the CNT filler was 5% by volume with respect to the fiber aggregate as described above.

[Example 2]
In Example 1, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the filling amount of the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was 2% by volume with respect to the fiber assembly.

Example 3
In Example 1, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the filling amount of the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was 10% by volume with respect to the fiber assembly.

Example 4
In Example 1, the same method as in Example 1 except that the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was changed to acetylene black (“DENKA BLACK” manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd./having higher thermal conductivity than polyimide as Resin A). Thus, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained.

Example 5
In Example 1, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the polyimide resin type of Resin A was changed to a high elongation polyimide (“U-Varnish A” manufactured by Ube Industries).

Example 6
A seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the resin B was polysulfone (PSF) in Example 1.

[Comparative Example 1]
In Example 1, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained by the same method as in Example 1 except that the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was not filled (fibers of the fiber assembly contained only polyimide).

[Comparative Example 2]
A seamless resin tubular body formed only of a polyimide resin was prepared by the following procedure.
The NMP solution of the polyimide precursor was applied on a φ30 mm mold by flow coating, and stepped up to 380 ° C. (25 ° C. → 120 ° C. 1 hr → 250 ° C. 1 hr → 380 ° C. 1 hr → 25 ° C.) and fired. .
As a result, a seamless resin tubular body made only of polyimide (resin single layer) having an inner diameter of 30 mm and a film thickness of 60 μm was obtained.

[Comparative Example 3]
A seamless resin tubular body made of polyimide in which a CNT (carbon nanotube) filler having a volume fraction of 10% by volume was dispersed was produced by the following method.
That is, a CNT (carbon nanotube) filler (“VGCF-H” manufactured by Showa Denko KK) having a volume fraction of 10 volume% with respect to the resin tubular body and an NMP solution of a polyimide precursor were dispersed by a bead mill. To prepare the paint.
The paint was applied by flow coating onto a φ30 mm mold and baked by step-heating up to 380 ° C. (25 ° C. → 120 ° C. 1 hr → 250 ° C. 1 hr → 380 ° C. 1 hr → 25 ° C.).
As a result, a seamless resin tubular body in which a CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was dispersed in a polyimide (resin single layer) having an inner diameter of 30 mm and a film thickness of 60 μm was obtained.

[Comparative Example 4]
In Comparative Example 3, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Comparative Example 3 except that the volume fraction of the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was changed to 202% by volume.

[Comparative Example 5]
In Comparative Example 3, a seamless resin tubular body was obtained in the same manner as in Comparative Example 3 except that the volume fraction of the CNT (carbon nanotube) filler was changed to 30 10% by volume.

<Evaluation>
(Measurement of thermal conductivity)
The thermal conductivity (W / m · K) of the seamless resin tubular body obtained by the above-described method was measured by the following method.
That is, the seamless resin tubular body was cut into a 30 mm square, and measured using a thermal conductivity measuring machine (ai-Phase Mobile manufactured by SII Nanotechnology Co., Ltd.). The results are shown in Table 1.
In addition, the evaluation index of thermal conductivity is as follows.
1: Thermal conductivity is 0.80 W / m · K or more 2: Thermal conductivity is 0.60 W / m · K or more and less than 0.80 W / m · K 3: Thermal conductivity is 0.40 W / m · K or more and less than 0.60 W / m · K 4: Thermal conductivity is 0.20 W / m · K or more and less than 0.40 W / m · K 5: Thermal conductivity is 0.20 W / m · K Less than K

(Measurement of tensile strength)
The tensile strength (MPa) of the seamless resin tubular body obtained as described above was measured as follows.
That is, a seamless resin tubular body is cut into a strip shape having a width of 5 mm, and this is installed in a tensile tester Model 1605N (manufactured by Aiko Engineering Co., Ltd.) to obtain a tensile breaking strength (Mpa) when pulled at a constant speed of 10 mm / sec. Measured. The results are shown in Table 1.
The evaluation index of tensile strength is as follows.
1: Tensile strength is 350 MPa or more 2: Tensile strength is 300 MPa or more and less than 350 MPa 3: Tensile strength is 250 MPa or more and less than 300 MPa 4: Tensile strength is 200 MPa or more and less than 250 MPa 5: Tensile strength is less than 200 MPa is there

  From the above results, it can be seen that the resin tubular body in the present example shows high thermal conductivity without lowering the tensile strength as compared with the resin tubular body in the comparative example.

Example 7
Using the resin tubular bodies of Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 obtained as described above, a fixing belt was produced as follows.
That is, a PFA paint was flow-coated on a resin tubular body to a thickness of 10 μm and baked at 250 ° C. to prepare a fixing belt.

As a heating belt, the fixing belt obtained as described above was mounted on a fixed surface silicon rubber pump fixing test apparatus. In this fixing test, the heating roll is heated at 180 ° C., and the fixing process is started after 10 seconds. The fixing conditions were a process speed of 140 mm / sec and a nip surface pressure of 3 kg / cm ² .
The fixing test apparatus is a testing machine in which a heating press roll and a support roll are opposed to each other through a heating belt.
Then, when this black and white unfixed toner image was fixed on P paper (paper) using this fixing tester, the fixing belt using the resin tubular body of Example 1 was more resin tubular of Comparative Example 2. The toner growth was lower than that of the fixing belt using the body, and the toner's melting and fixing effect was good.

11 Photoconductor (image carrier)
12 Charger (charging means)
13 Laser exposure device (latent image forming means)
14 Developer (Developing means)
16 Primary transfer roll (transfer means)
22 Secondary transfer roll (transfer means)
60 fixing device 62 heating belt 64 pressure roller 66 pressing pad 68 support member 70 electromagnetic induction coil 72 coil support member 80 fixing device 82 sliding member 84 heating belt 86 fixing belt module 88 pressure roll 89A halogen heater 89 heating pressure roll 90A Halogen heater 90 support roll 92A halogen heater 92 support roll 94 posture correction roll 96 support member 98 support roll 100 image forming apparatus

Claims (5)

A tubular fiber assembly having a structure in which a resin including a resin A and a filler having higher thermal conductivity than the resin A has a three-dimensionally entangled structure;
A resin B different from the resin A contained in the voids of the tubular fiber assembly;
A resin tubular body having:   The resin tubular body according to claim 1, wherein the filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, boron nitride, and carbide.   The resin tubular body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resin A is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamideimide, and polyphenylene sulfide.   A fixing device including a fixing member including the resin tubular body according to claim 1. An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image with toner to form a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium;
A fixing unit that is a fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the toner image is fixed on a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising at least