JP6255996B2 - Endless belt, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is based on an endless belt, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, a fixing device including a heating belt made of an endless resin with a heating member and a pressure member pressed against the heating belt, the longitudinal direction of the heating belt is a cross-sectional direction. A fixing device is disclosed in which carbon nanotubes are dispersed and blended so as to be continuous along.

  Patent Document 2 discloses the film in a heating apparatus of a film heating system that applies thermal energy to a member to be heated through a heat-resistant film, and 40 particles of heat conductivity and reinforcing particles are added to the heat-resistant resin of the film. Disclosed is a film for a heating device, characterized by being dispersed by mass% or more.

  In Patent Document 3, in an endless belt having a fiber layer composed of warp yarns and weft yarns perpendicular to each other and having a gap as a base material, the fiber layer is configured to have better thermal conductivity in the width direction than in the endless direction. An endless belt featuring the above is disclosed.

JP 2008-180966 A JP-A-8-286536 JP 2004-325933 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the endless belt which implement | achieves an improvement in thermal conductivity, maintaining a mechanical characteristic.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a base material layer including a coated fiber in which a surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a resin and a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin, and a base material It possesses at least one or more layers disposed on the layer, wherein the fibers are fibers der Ru endless belt comprising a resin of the resin and the like.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the coating layer is a layer containing particles of the heat conductive material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base material layer comprising: a resin; and a coated fiber in which a surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the resin. comprising at least one or more layers provided on the timber layer, wherein the coating layer is an endless belt Ru plating layer der containing the heat-conducting material.

The invention according to claim 4 is the endless belt according to claim 3 , wherein the fiber is a fiber containing the same kind of resin as the resin.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the endless belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the coated fiber is included in the base material layer by forming a three-dimensional structure.

  The invention which concerns on Claim 6 is provided with the 1st rotary body and the 2nd rotary body arrange | positioned in contact with the outer surface of a 1st rotary body, and at least one of the said 1st rotary body and the said 2nd rotary body is A fixing device that is an endless belt according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

The invention according to claim 7 is an image carrier, and 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, and transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium And a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the recording medium, the fixing unit being the fixing device according to claim 6.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, compared with the endless belt which has a base material layer containing the particle | grains comprised from resin and a heat conductive material, the endless belt which implement | achieves an improvement in heat conductivity is maintained, maintaining a mechanical characteristic. Is obtained. Moreover, according to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, compared with the case where the fiber contained in a base material layer is a fiber containing resin different from the resin contained in a base material layer, an endless belt with a high mechanical characteristic is obtained. .
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the case where a coating layer contains the covering fiber which is a plating layer containing a heat conductive material, an endless belt with a high mechanical characteristic is obtained.
According to the invention of claim 3, an endless belt that realizes an improvement in thermal conductivity while maintaining mechanical characteristics as compared with an endless belt having a base material layer containing particles composed of a resin and a heat conductive material. Is obtained. Moreover, according to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, compared with the case where a coating layer contains the covering fiber which is a layer containing the particle | grains of a heat conductive material, an endless belt with high heat conductivity is obtained.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with the case where the fiber contained in a base material layer is a fiber containing resin different from the resin contained in a base material layer, an endless belt with a high mechanical characteristic is obtained.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where a covering fiber is contained in a base material layer, without forming a three-dimensional structure, it is endless which implement | achieves an improvement in heat conductivity, maintaining a mechanical characteristic. A belt is obtained.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, 7, the endless belt which has a base material layer containing the particle | grains comprised from resin and a heat conductive material, and the at least 1 layer or more layer provided on the base material layer. As compared with the case where it is provided, it is possible to obtain a fixing device and an image forming apparatus that realize image formation in which deterioration of fixing property due to a decrease in mechanical characteristics and thermal conductivity of an endless belt is suppressed during fixing.

It is a schematic cross section showing an example of an endless belt according to the present embodiment. 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.

Embodiments that are examples of the present invention will be described below.
In addition, the same code | symbol is provided to the member which has the substantially same function through all the drawings, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted.

[Endless belt]
The endless belt according to this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an endless belt according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endless belt 110 according to this embodiment includes a base material layer 110A, an elastic layer 110B provided on the base material layer 110A, a surface layer 110C provided on the elastic layer 110B, have.
And 110 A of base material layers contain resin and the covering fiber by which the surface of the fiber is coat | covered with the coating layer containing the heat conductive material which has high heat conductivity compared with resin.

  The endless belt 110 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described layer configuration. For example, the endless belt 110 may have a layer configuration in which the elastic layer 110B is not provided on the base material layer 110A and the surface layer 110C is provided. There may be. Further, for example, a layer configuration in which a metal layer or a protective layer thereof is interposed between the base material layer 110A and the elastic layer 110B may be employed.

Conventionally, as a method of realizing thermal conductivity in the endless belt 110, for example, a method of adding a filler to at least one layer is known.
For example, when the endless belt 110 is applied as a fixing member, a technique for increasing the thermal conductivity of the endless belt 110 by adding a filler to the base material layer 110A is known in order to realize energy saving and high fixing speed. ing.
Specifically, in the endless belt 110 to which the filler is added, as a technique for increasing the thermal conductivity, 1) a technique for increasing the filling ratio of the filler, 2) a technique using a filler having a high thermal conductivity, and 3) an aspect ratio. A technique using a high needle-like or fibrous filler is generally known.
However, in the technique 1), mechanical properties (for example, mechanical strength) such as the endless belt 110 becoming brittle may be impaired. In addition, in the technique 2), the effect of improving the thermal conductivity is small at present. In addition, in the technique 3), the effect of improving the thermal conductivity can be achieved by adding a small amount of filler, but the current situation is that it has not been improved significantly.
On the other hand, the heat conduction in the resin contained in the base material layer of the endless belt 110 has a large loss due to phonon scattering because phonon conduction is dominant. Therefore, in order to achieve higher thermal conductivity without impairing the mechanical properties of the base material layer 110A, it is important to form a heat conduction path with a small amount of filler.

Here, the endless belt 110 according to the present embodiment is a coating in which the surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a resin and a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin in the base layer 110A. By including this coated fiber as a filler, an improvement in thermal conductivity is realized while maintaining the mechanical properties of the endless belt.
This is because of the following reasons.
First, since the coated fiber includes a heat conductive material in a coating layer that covers the surface of the fiber, the coated fiber has the same volume as the coated fiber and is entirely composed of a heat conductive material. It can be considered that it functions as a heat conductor with a low content of heat conductive material.
On the other hand, since the coated fiber includes a heat conductive material in a coating layer that covers the surface of the fiber, the coated fiber is entirely composed of only the same amount of the heat conductive material as the coated fiber. Since it becomes large and the surface area becomes large, it is considered that the area including the heat conductive material becomes wide, and the probability that the heat conductive materials come into contact with each other or approach each other becomes high.
That is, the coated fiber is considered to suppress an increase in the content of the heat conductive material in the base layer 110A even when the amount added to the base layer 110A is increased conventionally. On the other hand, since it is considered that the probability that the heat conductive materials contact or approach each other in the base material layer 110A is increased, the thermal conductivity is improved.

  As described above, the endless belt 110 according to the present embodiment realizes improvement in thermal conductivity while maintaining mechanical characteristics.

  Even when the coated fiber is included in the elastic layer 110B, the thermal conductivity is maintained while maintaining the mechanical characteristics of the endless belt 110 according to the present embodiment, similarly to the case where the coated fiber is included in the base material layer 110A. Will improve the performance.

  Hereinafter, components of the endless belt 110 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. Note that the reference numerals are omitted.

<Base material layer>
The base material layer includes a resin and a coated fiber in which the surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin.

(Coated fiber)
The surface of the coated fiber is coated with a coating layer containing a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin contained in the base material layer, which will be described later.
Hereinafter, the fiber and the coating layer constituting the coated fiber will be described in detail.

-Fiber-
The fiber indicates a material having a shape such as a thread or string.
Examples of the fibers include naturally derived fibers such as plants, and artificially derived fibers such as resins.
However, when an endless belt is used as a fixing member, it is preferable that the fibers have heat resistance that can withstand the temperature rise (for example, fixing temperature) of the fixing device. Preferably there is.
Examples of the heat-resistant resin include polyimide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and polybenzimidazole. When an endless belt is used as a fixing member, it is particularly preferable to use polyimide among these. preferable.

Moreover, when using an endless belt as a fixing member, in order to suppress a decrease in mechanical properties of the base material layer due to a difference in characteristics of each component in the endless belt (for example, a coefficient of thermal expansion), the fiber is A fiber containing the same resin as that contained in the base material layer, which will be described later, is preferable.
That is, it is preferable that the resin contained in the fiber and the base material layer is, for example, a resin having the same resin repeating unit structure. Specifically, for example, when the fiber is a polyimide fiber, the base material layer When the resin contained in is a polyimide and the fiber is a polyamideimide, the resin contained in the base material layer is preferably a polyamideimide.

The average length of the fibers is preferably larger than the thickness of the base material layer. For example, the fibers are more preferably 100 μm or more, and particularly preferably 150 μm or more.
The average outer diameter (average fiber diameter) of the fiber cross section is preferably 1 μm or more and 20 μm or less, and more preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

As a fiber, a well-known thing is applied and you may use a commercial item, for example.
Further, in the case of a fiber assembly containing a resin (for example, a fiber assembly having a three-dimensional structure), it may be produced by a known method (for example, an electrospinning method).

Here, the electrospinning method refers to, for example, a spinning solution (for example, a polymer solution such as a polyimide precursor solution or a molten polymer) while applying a voltage to a nozzle tip (for example, an inner diameter of 20 mm to 40 mm). This is a method for producing a filamentous material by spraying from a negatively charged target plate to the fiber, and the spinning solution reduces the fiber diameter while repeating electrostatic repulsion after injection, so the average fiber diameter is nano-sized. This is a method for realizing the production of the fiber. The spun solution after jetting is formed as a fiber assembly on the negatively charged target plate side.
Thereafter, the fiber assembly is dried at, for example, 80 ° C. or more and 150 ° C. or less for 20 minutes or more, and then baked in a heating furnace at, for example, 350 ° C. or more and 400 ° C. or less for 60 minutes, thereby obtaining the above-described fibers.

-Coating layer-
A coating layer is a layer which coat | covers the surface of a fiber, and contains the heat conductive material which has high heat conductivity compared with resin contained in a base material layer.

The covering layer is preferably a layer containing particles of a heat conductive material, for example, from the viewpoint of improving mechanical properties.
The layer including the particles of the heat conductive material is, for example, a layer in which an aggregate of particles of the heat conductive material is attached to the surface of the fiber. For this reason, the layer containing the particle | grains of a heat conductive material has a softness | flexibility, and is preferable from a viewpoint of improving a mechanical characteristic.

Moreover, it is preferable that a coating layer is a plating layer containing a heat conductive material from a viewpoint of improving heat conductivity more, for example.
The plating layer containing a heat conductive material is a dense film containing a metal formed on the fiber surface. For this reason, the plating layer containing a heat conductive material is preferable from the viewpoint of increasing the coverage and further improving the heat conductivity.

The heat conductive material contained in the coating layer may be a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin contained in the base material layer. Specifically, for example, carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotube, boron nitride, Examples thereof include aluminum nitride, silver, aluminum, copper, metal silicon, zinc oxide, nickel, silica, gold, zinc, and the like.
Among these layers, carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotube, and copper particles are preferable, and copper and carbon nanotube particles are more preferable.
Moreover, when it is a plating layer containing a heat conductive material, the plating layer containing copper, gold | metal | money, silver, and zinc is preferable among these, and the plating layer containing copper is more preferable.

The number average particle diameter of the heat conductive material particles is preferably 20 nm or more and 10 μm or less, and more preferably 20 nm or more and 8 μm or less.
The number average particle diameter of the heat conductive material particles is measured as follows.
First, a section is cut out from the base material layer, 100 primary particles in the coating layer of the coated fiber are observed with a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) device, and the longest diameter and the shortest diameter of each particle are measured by image analysis of the primary particles. From this intermediate value, the equivalent sphere diameter is measured. The 50% diameter (D50p) in the number-based cumulative frequency of the obtained equivalent sphere diameter is defined as the average particle diameter (that is, the number average particle diameter) of the heat conductive material particles.

  In addition, the coating layer may contain components other than a heat conductive material in the range which does not impair the characteristic of the base material layer in this embodiment.

-Composition and properties of coated fiber-
The coated fiber is a composite in which the surface of the fiber is coated with the above-described coating layer and has a thread-like or string-like shape.
The coated fibers in the base material layer are preferably included by forming a three-dimensional structure. Since the coated fibers are included in the base material layer so as to form a three-dimensional structure, the heat conduction path in the base material layer is formed in both the thickness direction and the in-plane direction of the base material layer. Will be improved.
That is, it is preferable that the coated fiber is contained in the base material layer in a state where the surface of the fiber assembly having a three-dimensional structure is coated with the coating layer.

Note that the coated fibers in the base material layer include a three-dimensional structure so that the coated fibers spread in the three directions of “width”, “depth”, and “height” in the base material layer. It is included in the state.
Specific examples of the structure of the coated fiber in the base material layer include a three-dimensional network structure, a structure that is regularly or irregularly folded three-dimensionally, and a structure that draws a helix. .
That is, since it can be said that the coated fiber is contained in the base material layer without being unevenly distributed at a specific location in the base material layer, it can be said that the heat conductive material in the base material layer has improved dispersibility. .

  When the coated fiber contained in the base material layer forms a three-dimensional structure, the porosity (ratio other than the coated fiber) in the base material layer is preferably 20% by volume or more and 80% by volume or less, and 25% by volume or more. 70% by volume or less is more preferable, and 30% by volume or more and 60% by volume or less is particularly preferable.

The coated fiber preferably has no exposed fiber surface. The coverage by the coating layer of the coated fiber is preferably 70% to 100%, more preferably 80% to 100%.
The coverage is measured as follows.
The surface of the coated fiber was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the ratio of the fiber covered with the coating layer was measured, and the coverage was determined. However, the total length of the coated fibers observed for obtaining the coverage is 0.5 mm.

-Manufacturing method of coated fiber-
The method for producing the coated fiber may be selected from known methods according to the heat conducting material contained in the coating layer.
In the case of a layer containing particles of a heat conductive material, for example, the fiber surface by a liquid phase film forming method such as a vapor phase film forming method, a dip coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a coating using a sol-gel method, etc. The method of forming the coating layer which coat | covers is mentioned.
In the case of a plating layer containing a heat conductive material, for example, a method of forming a coating layer covering the fiber surface by an electroless plating method (immersion plating, chemical plating) or the like can be mentioned.

(resin)
Examples of the resin contained in the base material layer include resins such as polyimide, polyamideimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and polybenzimidazole.
As described above, when an endless belt is used as a fixing member, the deterioration of the mechanical properties of the base material layer due to the difference in the characteristics of each component in the endless belt (for example, the coefficient of thermal expansion) is suppressed. The resin contained in the substrate layer is preferably the same resin as the fiber.

  The thickness of the base material layer of the endless belt is, for example, preferably from 20 μm to 200 μm, desirably from 30 μm to 150 μm, and more desirably from 40 μm to 130 μm.

(Configuration of base material layer, etc.)
5 mass% or more and 70 mass% or less are preferable, as for content of the covering fiber in a base material layer, 8 mass% or more and 60 mass% or less are more preferable, and 10 mass% or more and 50 mass% or less are especially preferable.
By being 5 mass% or more, it is thought that the thermal conductivity in a base material layer is implement | achieved and mechanical characteristics are maintained by being 70 mass% or less.

The base material layer may be prepared by adding the coated fibers to the above-described resin solution for the base material layer (for example, a polyimide precursor solution), stirring, and firing.
Further, when the base material layer includes a coated fiber having a three-dimensional structure, first, a tubular fiber assembly is formed by, for example, the electrospinning method, and the surface of the fiber assembly is coated by the above-described method. A tubular fiber assembly having a layer is prepared. After that, the voids of the fiber assembly may be impregnated with the above-described resin solution for the base layer (for example, polyimide precursor solution), dried and fired.

<Elastic layer>
The endless belt according to the present embodiment may have an elastic layer depending on the purpose.
Similarly to the base material layer, the elastic layer may be used with thermal conductivity imparted by including the above-described coated fiber.

The endless belt according to the present embodiment preferably includes a heat-resistant elastic material when applied as a fixing member.
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 endless belt is belt-shaped, 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 endless belt according to the present embodiment preferably has a 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).

  The thickness of the surface layer is, for example, preferably from 5 μm to 50 μm, and desirably from 10 μm to 40 μm.

<Use of endless belt>
The endless belt according to the present embodiment is applied to both a heating belt and a pressure belt, for example. 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.
However, when the endless belt according to this embodiment is applied to a heating belt that is heated by an electromagnetic induction method, a metal layer (heat generation layer) that generates heat by electromagnetic induction may be provided between the base material and the elastic layer.

[Fixing device]
The fixing device according to the present embodiment has various configurations, and includes, for example, a first rotating body and a second rotating body disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body. And the endless belt which concerns on this embodiment is applied as 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 endless belt according to this embodiment can be applied to both the heating belt and the 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 endless belt according to this 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. 2 is a schematic schematic diagram illustrating an example of the fixing device according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, 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 pressed by the heating roll 61, and the heating roll 61 side may be pressed by the heating roll 61.

  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, the 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.

  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. 2, 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. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fixing device according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, 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 containing 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 press 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 measurement mechanism (not shown) that measures the end position of the heating belt 84 is disposed near 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 apparatus]
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. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, 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 formed of 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 and rotated (rotated) at various speeds in the direction B shown in FIG. 4 by various rolls. 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 15, a tension applying roll 33 that functions as a correction roll that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and prevents meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 15, a back roll 25 provided in the secondary transfer unit 20, 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 is composed of a core body and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core body. The core is a cylindrical bar made of a 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 is composed of a core body and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core body. The core is a cylindrical bar made of a 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 paper K is temporarily stopped, and an alignment roll (not shown) rotates in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 on which the toner image is held. The position of K 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 receiving a fixing process with 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 to 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 embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be applied and within the scope satisfying the requirements of the present invention. Needless to say, it will be realized.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. Unless otherwise specified, “part” means “part by mass”.

[Example 1]
<Preparation of fixing belt>
(Production of coated fiber)
Carbon black (trade name SB5, manufactured by Degussa) was blended in n-heptane and pre-stirred (60 rpm), and 5% by weight of carbon-dispersed N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solution was mixed with polyimide fiber (product). Name: P84, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) and air-dried at room temperature (25 ° C.) for 30 minutes to obtain coated fiber 1 in which the surface of the polyimide fiber was coated with a coating layer containing carbon black.

(Preparation of base material layer)
The coated fiber 1 is added to a polyimide varnish (trade name: TX-HMM, manufactured by Unitika Co., Ltd.) so that the coated fiber 1 becomes a 10% by mass solution, and the planetary mixer (manufactured by Inoue Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) is used at 90 rpm. Mixing and stirring were performed to obtain a substrate layer forming solution.
The obtained base layer forming solution was applied onto a φ80 (inner diameter 80 mm) aluminum mold by blade coating, dried at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes, and then at a maximum temperature of 380 ° C. (from 375 ° C. to 380 ° C.). After baking for 20 minutes, the mold was removed from the mold after cooling to obtain a polyimide base material (base material layer).

(Formation of elastic layer and surface layer)
Addition-cured liquid silicone rubber was applied onto a polyimide substrate by blade coating and subjected to primary firing at 120 ° C. for 20 minutes to form an elastic layer.
Further, a PFA tube that had been subjected to an inner surface adhesion treatment was coated on the elastic layer, followed by secondary firing at 200 ° C. for 4 hours to obtain a fixing belt.

<Evaluation>
The obtained fixing belt was evaluated according to the following items. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Thermal conductivity)
From the fixing belt, the base material layer was sampled to a 30 mm square, and the thermal diffusivity was measured using a thermal conductivity measuring device (ai-Phase Mobile, manufactured by Eye Phase Co., Ltd.). Then, specific heat (JIS K7123) and density (JIS K7112A) were integrated with the thermal diffusivity to calculate thermal conductivity.

(Folding resistance)
A bending strength test piece (test part length: 100 mm, width: 15 mm) was prepared from the obtained fixing belt.
Using the prepared test piece, with a testing machine MIT-DA (manufactured by TOYOSEIKI), the specified number of times under conditions of bending R0.36, load 1.25 kg, double swing, swing angle 135 °, speed 175 times / min. Bending stress was applied. The temperature conditions were a humidity of 55% RH and a temperature of 22.5 ± 2 ° C. The elastic layer of each sample was observed with an optical microscope to confirm the presence or absence of cracks. The evaluation criteria are as follows.
A: No crack at 10,000 times.
B: Crack occurred after 10,000 times.
C: Cracks occurred after 5,000 times.

(Fixability)
The obtained fixing belt was used as a heating belt in a fixing device for an image forming apparatus (Color 1000 Press) manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., and the fixing device was incorporated in the image forming apparatus. However, this image forming apparatus was remodeled so that the fixing speed was increased and fixed up to 120 sheets per minute. Using this image forming apparatus, a halftone fixed image with an image density of 30% was output to A4 paper, and the fixability was evaluated. The evaluation criteria are as follows.
A: No peeling of fixed image up to 350 gsm with nail scratch B: There is peeling with fixed image of 350 gsm with nail scratch

[Examples 2 to 5]
Example 1 except that the kind of particles of the heat conductive material contained in the coating layer of the coated fiber and the ratio of the particles of the heat conductive material in the base material layer were changed to the contents shown in Table 1. A coated fiber was produced in the same manner, and a fixing belt was produced using the coated fiber. The obtained fixing belt was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are shown in Table 1.

[Example 6]
<Preparation of fixing belt>
(Production of coated fiber)
Using a polyimide precursor solution (U-varnish S: manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd.), a fiber assembly of a tubular body having a three-dimensional structure was formed by an electrospinning method. Specifically, first, the polyimide precursor solution is sprayed from the nozzle to the metal column so that the outer periphery of the metal column is covered with the fibrous polyimide precursor solution. Thereafter, the fibrous polyimide precursor solution was dried at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes and then placed in a furnace at 380 ° C. and baked for 60 minutes to obtain a tubular fiber assembly.
In addition, the apparatus of the following structures was used for implementation of an electrospinning method.
A polymer solution coating nozzle (inner diameter: 1.25 mm) is arranged facing the rotating cylindrical mold (metal column with an outer diameter of 30 mm), and the nozzle is connected to a syringe pump via a solvent-resistant tube. An apparatus in which a high voltage power source for applying a voltage is disposed between a rotating cylindrical mold and a nozzle.

  As described above, a three-dimensional tubular polyimide fiber assembly having an inner diameter of 30 mm and a film thickness of 60 μm was obtained. In the obtained fiber assembly, the average fiber diameter of the polyimide fibers was 2 μm.

Next, electroless copper plating with a thickness of 0.2 μm was applied to the fiber assembly. The porosity in the base material layer (ratio other than coated fibers) was 40% by volume.
The electroless copper plating was performed under the following conditions by immersing the fiber assembly in an electroless copper plating bath having the following composition.

-Composition of electroless copper plating bath-
-Copper (II) sulfate solution: 10 g / liter-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)-2Na: 30 g / liter-Formaldehyde (37% by mass) solution: 5 g / liter-Polyethylene glycol (trade name PEG # 1000, NOF Corporation) Manufactured): 0.5 g / liter

-Conditions for electroless copper plating-
・ Plating bath temperature: 65 ℃
-Stirring method: Air stirring-Plating time: 6 minutes-Plating bath pH: 12.5

(Preparation of base material layer)
After the pressure-impregnated polyimide precursor solution used for the fiber of the coated fiber was pressure impregnated into the voids of the plated fiber assembly obtained as described above, it was dried at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then 380 ° C. And then baked for 60 minutes.
And the polyimide base material (base material layer) with an internal diameter of 30 mm was obtained.

(Formation of elastic layer and surface layer)
On the obtained polyimide base material, an elastic layer and a surface layer were laminated in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a fixing belt.

<Evaluation>
The obtained fixing belt was evaluated using the same items as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Examples 1-4]
In place of the coated fiber 1 of Example 1, fibers or particles (additives) listed in Table 2 were added so that the amount in the substrate layer would be the amount described in Table 2 to produce a substrate layer. A fixing belt of Example 1 was obtained except that. The obtained fixing belt was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The results are shown in Table 2.

<Details of materials used in Examples and Comparative Examples>
Carbon black (trade name Special Black 4, manufactured by Orion Engineered Carbons), particle size 25 nm
-Graphite particles (trade name Z-5F, manufactured by Ito Graphite Industries Co., Ltd.), particle size 4 μm
-Carbon nanotube particles (trade name VGCF-H, Showa Denko), major axis 3 μm, outer diameter 150 nm
・ Aluminum particles (trade name: aluminum powder for filler, manufactured by Toyo Aluminum Co., Ltd.), particle size 5μm
-Copper particles (trade name 1400YM, manufactured by Mitsui Kinzoku Mining Co., Ltd.), particle size 4μm
Polyimide fiber (trade name: P84, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.), average length of major axis 10 mm, average fiber diameter 7 μm
-Boron nitride particles (trade name HGP, manufactured by Denka), particle size 5 μm

60 fixing device 61 heating roll 62 pressure belt 63 belt traveling guide 64 pressure pad 64a front clamping member 64b peeling clamping member 65 holding member 66 halogen lamp 68, 82 sliding member 69 temperature sensitive element 70 peeling member 71 peeling claw 72 Holding member 80 Fixing device 84 Heating belt 86 Fixing belt module 88 Pressure roll 89A Halogen heater 89 Heating and pressing 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 110 Endless belt (fixing member)
110A Base material layer 110B Elastic layer 110C Surface layer

Claims (7)

A base material layer including a resin and a coated fiber in which a surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin;
At least one layer provided on the base material layer;
I have a,
It said fibers, fibers der Ru endless belt comprising a resin of the resin and the like.   The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the coating layer is a layer containing particles of the heat conductive material. A base material layer including a resin and a coated fiber in which a surface of the fiber is coated with a coating layer including a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin;
At least one layer provided on the base material layer;
Have
It said coating layer is a plating layer der Ru endless belt comprising the heat conducting material. The endless belt according to claim 3 , wherein the fiber is a fiber containing the same kind of resin as the resin.   The endless belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the coated fiber is included in the base material layer by forming a three-dimensional structure. A first rotating body, and a second rotating body arranged in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is an endless belt 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;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image to the recording medium, the fixing means being the fixing device according to claim 6;
An image forming apparatus comprising: