JPH06313979A - Developer ror heat-fixing and heat-fixing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the developer for heat-fixing which prevents the fault and the scraping on the surface of a fixing film and the sticking of a residual developer and attains excellent fixing property and resistance to offset. CONSTITUTION:In the developer which is used for the fixing method which heat-fixes the sensible picture 20 of the developer on the recording material 19 by using the fixed.supported heating body 11 and the pressure member 18 which is pressure-welded opposite to the heating body 11 and which adheres closely the recording material 19 to the heating body 11 through a film 15, the developer is incorporated with the fine powder treated with silicone oil or silicone wax, and the specific surface area of the fine powder is 0.4-0.8 times thereof before being treated with the silicone oil or the silicone wax.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrophotography, electrostatic recording,
The present invention relates to a developer and a fixing method used in a fixing method for fixing a visible image formed of a developer on a recording material in magnetic recording and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for fixing a visible image of a developer (toner) on a recording material, a heating roller which is maintained at a predetermined temperature and a pressure roller which has an elastic layer and is brought into pressure contact with the heating roller. Therefore, a heat roll fixing system is widely used in which a recording material holding an unfixed developer visible image is heated while being nipped and conveyed.

A belt fixing method described in US Pat. No. 3,578,797 is known.

[0004]

However, in the above-described thermal roll fixing which has been frequently used, there is (1) a time during which the image forming operation is prohibited until the heat roller reaches a predetermined temperature, that is, a so-called wait time. (2) Optimum temperature of the heating roller in order to prevent fixing failure and transfer of the developer to the heating roller due to the temperature of the heating roller fluctuating due to passage of the recording material or other external factors, so-called offset phenomenon. Therefore, the heat capacity of the heating roller or the heating body must be increased, which requires a large amount of electric power. (3) Since the roller has a low temperature, when the recording material passes through the heating roller and is discharged, the recording material and the developer on the recording material are cooled slowly, so that the adhesiveness of the developer becomes high. Also, in combination with the curvature of the roller, paper jam may occur due to the offset or winding of the recording material. (4) The high temperature heating roller is in direct contact with the hand, which may cause a safety problem or require a protective member.

Also, in the belt fixing method described in US Pat. No. 3,578,797, the problems (1) and (2) of the heat roll fixing described above have not been fundamentally solved.

[0006] In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-62, which was previously proposed by the present applicant.
In JP-A-147884, a wait time is shortened by a fixing device that heats a developer visible image through a moving heat-resistant sheet by a heating element of low heat capacity that is energized and heated in a pulsed manner and fixes it on a recording material. An image forming apparatus with low power consumption has been proposed. Similarly, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-12069 previously proposed by the applicant of the present invention, in a fixing device that heat-fixes a visible image of a developer onto a recording material via a heat resistant sheet, the heat resistant sheet is A fixing device has been proposed which effectively prevents an offset phenomenon by having a heat resistant layer and a release layer or a low resistance layer.

However, in order to realize a fixing method with a short wait time and low power consumption while achieving excellent fixability of a developer image on a recording material, prevention of offset, etc. In addition to the device, the characteristics of the developer are largely responsible.

That is, in recent years, compact and inexpensive personal use copying machines, laser printers, and the like have appeared, and in these small machines, from the standpoint of maintenance-free, a cartridge in which a photoconductor, a developing device, a cleaning device, etc. are integrated. It is desirable to use a magnetic one-component developer because the method is used and the structure of the developing device can be simplified as a developer.

In the method using such a magnetic one-component developer, in order to form a visualized image of good image quality, the developer must have high fluidity and uniform chargeability. It is necessary, and for that purpose, fine powder, preferably inorganic fine powder, has been conventionally added to and mixed with the toner.

In the magnetic developer containing such an inorganic fine powder, the developer itself has a strong polishing effect, and the surface of the fixing member is strongly rubbed at the time of fixing, so that the surface of the fixing member is scraped, scratched, or otherwise damaged. However, there is a problem that the residual developer is fused due to the above phenomenon.

This problem is remarkable when used in the heat fixing method according to the present invention. In other words, since the fixing member in the present invention is in the form of a film, when the scratches, abrasions, and the sizing of the developer as described above occur, the tension of the film is distorted, which adversely affects the fixing property and eventually the film is damaged. The harm such as doing appears remarkably.

Further, in recent years, toner particles have been made finer for the purpose of improving the image quality of a copy. As the toner particles become smaller, the specific surface area of the toner increases, and the toner particles may adhere to each other due to external pressure. In order to maintain high fluidity, a large amount of inorganic fine powder needs to be added to and mixed with the toner in order to maintain high fluidity, and this problem is more likely to appear.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a recording material which has substantially no wait time or an extremely short time, low power consumption, and no offset phenomenon. Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-fixing method in which the fixing of the developer image is also good.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat fixing developer which is preferably used in the heat fixing method provided in the present invention.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heat fixing method which does not require a heat resistant special bearing by not using a high temperature rotating roller.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heat fixing method which is excellent in safety or does not require a protective member by having a fixing device structure in which a high temperature body is not directly touched. It is in.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a good image without the fixing member being affected by sticking by a developer, scratches and the like.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat fixing method and a developer which are stable against environmental changes such as high temperature and high humidity and low temperature and low humidity and can always exhibit good characteristics. .

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a fixedly supported heating element and a pressing member which is in pressure contact with the heating element and presses a recording material to the heating element through a film. A developer used in a fixing method of heat-fixing a developed image of an agent on a recording material, wherein the developed material contains fine powder treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish,
The specific surface area of the fine powder is 0.4 to 0 .. of the specific surface area before treated with the silicone oil or silicone varnish.
The present invention relates to a developer characterized by being 8 times, and a heat fixing method characterized by using the developer.

By incorporating fine powder which has been subjected to a specific treatment into the developer used in the heat fixing method, scratches and scrapes on the surface of the fixing film, and further, the sticking of the residual developer due to them is prevented. It is possible to realize a fixing method that achieves excellent fixing property and anti-offset property, has a short wait time and low power consumption, and achieves high durability.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.

First, the heat fixing constitution of the present invention applicable to the fixing method of the present invention will be specifically described.

In the present invention, the heating element has a smaller heat capacity than the conventional heating roll and has a linear heating part, and the maximum temperature of the heating part is preferably 100 to 300 ° C.

The film located between the heating element and the pressing member is preferably a heat-resistant sheet having a thickness of 1 to 100 μm, and these heat-resistant sheets have high heat resistance, such as polyester and PET. (Polyethylene terephthalate), PEA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), polyimide, polyamide and other polymer sheets, as well as metal sheets such as aluminum and metal sheets and polymer sheets A configured laminated sheet is used. A more preferable film structure is that these heat resistant sheets have a release layer and / or a low resistance layer.

FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of an example of a fixing device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Reference numeral 11 is a low-heat-capacity linear heating element fixedly supported by the apparatus, and as an example, a thickness of 1.0 mm and a width of 10 m.
resistance material 1 on the alumina substrate 12 having a length of m and a length of 240 mm.
3 is applied to have a width of 1.0 mm, and electricity is applied from both ends in the longitudinal direction. Energization is a pulsed waveform with a cycle of 20 msec of DC 100 V and is given by varying the pulse width according to a desired temperature and energy release amount controlled by the temperature measuring element 14. Approximate pulse width is 0.5 mse
c to 5 msec.

The fixing film 15 moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure by coming into contact with the heating body 11 whose energy and temperature are controlled in this way. As an example of this fixing film, the thickness is 20 μm
Heat resistant film such as polyimide, polyetherimide, PES, PFA, PT on at least the image contacting side
It is an endless film having a release layer of 10 μm coated with a conductive agent on a fluororesin such as FE or PAF. Generally, the total thickness is 100 μm, more preferably less than 40 μm. The film drive is driven roller 16 and driven roller 1
It moves in the direction of the arrow without wrinkling due to the driving tension of 7.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a pressure roller having a rubber elastic layer having a good releasability such as silicon rubber, which covers the film with a total pressure of 4 to 20 kg and presses a heating element to rotate in pressure contact with the film. The unfixed developer 20 on the transfer material 19 is fed into the entrance guide 2
The image is guided to the fixing section by 1 and a fixed image is obtained by the above heating.

Although the endless belt has been described above, the sheet feeding shaft 24 and the winding shaft 27 may be used as shown in FIG. 2, and the fixing film may be an end film.

The image forming apparatus is applicable to all fixing devices such as copying machines, printers, facsimiles and the like which are formed by using a developer.

In the low heat capacity linear heating element 11, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 14 is T ₁ , the surface temperature T ₂ of the film 15 facing the resistance material 13 is substantially equal to T ₁ . The film surface temperature T _{3 at} the portion where the film 15 is peeled off from the developer fixing surface is substantially equal to the temperatures T ₁ and T ₂ .

Next, the developer applicable to the heat fixing method of the present invention will be described.

The developer according to the present invention is a developer containing fine powder treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish, and the specific surface area of the fine powder is the specific surface area before treatment with the silicone oil or silicone varnish. It is characterized by being 0.4 times to 0.8 times. Further, as a form thereof, a form in which the fine powder is uniformly dispersed on the surface of the developer is preferable.

The reason why the developer containing the specific fine powder of the present invention is effective in preventing sticking to the surface of the fixing film and generation of scratches is considered as follows.

Since the developer according to the present invention has fine powder uniformly and sufficiently treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish under specific conditions, it is excellent in absorption of mechanical impact force and further the developer. Lubricity of the fine powder existing on the surface of the fixing film acts to relieve the mechanical pressure at the contact area between the fixing film and the pressure member on the developer, resulting in a dot-like or film-like fixing phenomenon on the fixing film surface. Furthermore, it prevents scratches and scraping due to rubbing.

In addition, since the fine powder of the present invention is treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish having a strong negative charge property, the fine powder is strongly negatively charged, and therefore, when added to the developer, it becomes a developer. It can provide strong and uniform negative chargeability. This characteristic is effective for the magnetic one-component toner in which charging becomes unstable easily. In particular, it is effective for a toner having a fine particle diameter for the purpose of improving image quality.

The material of the fine powder used in the developer according to the present invention is preferably an inorganic compound. For example, fine powders of metal oxides of Groups 3 and 4 such as silicic acid, alumina, titanium oxide, etc. are preferable. As preferable fine powders, both so-called dry method produced by vapor phase oxidation of silicon halogen compound or dry silica called fumed silica and so-called wet silica produced from water glass can be used. However, dry silica having less silanol groups on the surface and inside the silicic acid fine powder and less production residues such as Na ₂ O and SO ₃ ^2- is preferable.

For dry silica, it is also possible to obtain a composite fine powder of silica and another metal oxide by using another metal halogen compound such as aluminum chloride or titanium chloride together with a silicon halogen compound in the manufacturing process. And includes them.

The particle size is 0.0 as the average primary particle size.
The particle size is preferably in the range of 01 to 2 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 0.002 to 0.2 μm.

In the silicone oil or silicone varnish treatment, the surface of the fine powder can be completely covered by applying the silicone oil or silicone varnish to the surface of the fine powder to absorb mechanical impact force, lubricity and Moisture resistance is dramatically improved.

The solid content of the silicone oil or silicone varnish used in the present invention is generally represented by the following formula:

[0042]

[Chemical 1]

R: C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl group R ′: alkyl, halogen-modified alkyl, unsubstituted phenyl, silicone oil-modified group such as phenyl having a substituent R ″: C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl group or alcohol Oxyl group

Examples thereof include dimethyl silicone oil, alkyl-modified silicone oil, α-methylstyrene-modified silicone oil, chlorophenyl silicone oil, and fluorine-modified silicone oil. The silicone oil preferably has a viscosity of 50 at 25 ° C.
~ 1000 centistokes are used. If the viscosity is low and the molecular weight is too low, the silicone oil may generate volatile components due to heat treatment and the like, and if the viscosity is high and the molecular weight is too high, the processing operation becomes difficult.

As a method for treating the silicone oil or the silicone varnish, known techniques are used. For example, the fine powder and the silicone oil may be directly mixed by using a mixer such as a Henschel mixer, or a method of spraying the silicone oil on the fine powder of the base may be used. More preferably, it is prepared by dissolving or dispersing silicone oil in a suitable solvent, mixing with the fine powder of the base, and then removing the solvent.

The treatment of the silicone oil or silicone varnish in the present invention is carried out so that the specific surface area of the fine powder after the silicone oil or silicone varnish treatment is 0.4 to 0.8 times the specific surface area of the fine powder before the treatment. It is preferable to treat Here, the specific surface area of the fine powder is B
It is a value obtained from N ₂ adsorption in the ET method.

The reason why the above treatment conditions are limited is that the reduction of the specific surface area of the fine powder due to the treatment with silicone oil or silicone varnish is small, the treatment with silicone oil or silicone varnish is little, or the treatment is non-uniform. The effect of preventing scratches and scrapes on the fixing film does not work. Further, the moisture resistance is not improved and the fine powder absorbs moisture under high humidity, so that a high quality image cannot be obtained. Further, if the specific surface area of the fine powder is reduced too much by the treatment with silicone oil or silicone varnish, agglomerates of the fine powder are generated, and there is a problem that the fluidity cannot be improved when applied to the developer. .

When the silicone oil or silicone varnish is treated, the solid content of the silicone oil or silicone varnish charged is generally 3 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fine powder.

It is more preferable that the fine powder used in the present invention is first treated with a silane coupling agent and then treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish.

Generally, when only the silicone oil or the silicone varnish is treated, when the amount of the silicone oil for covering the surface of the fine powder is large, agglomerates of the fine powder are liable to be formed during the treatment, and the fluidity of the developer when applied to the developer is increased. Since it causes problems such as deterioration, it is necessary to pay close attention to the process of treating the silicone oil or silicone varnish.
Therefore, in order to remove the agglomeration of the fine powder while maintaining good lubricity and moisture resistance, it is better to treat the fine powder with a silane coupling agent and then to treat it with silicone oil or silicone varnish. This means that the treatment effect can be fully exerted.

The silane coupling agent used in the present invention has a general formula

R _m Si Y _n R: Alcooxy group or chlorine atom m: integer of 1 to 3 Y: hydrocarbon containing alkyl group, vinyl group, glycid group, methacryl group n: represented by integer of 3 to 1, For example, typically dimethyldichlorosilane,
Trimethylchlorosilane, allyldimethylchlorosilane, hexamethyldisilazane, allylphenyldichlorosilane, benzyldimethylchlorosilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, civinylchlorosilane, dimethyl. Vinyl chlorosilane etc. can be mentioned.

More preferably, after previously treating with a coupling agent having a mono- or dimethyl group such as dimethyldichlorosilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, monomethyltrichlorosilane, monomethyltrimethoxysilane,
Furthermore, when treated with a coupling agent having a trimethyl group such as hexamethyldisilazane, trimethylchlorosilane, and trimethylmethoxysilane, the hydrophobicity of the fine powder itself before the silicone oil or silicone varnish treatment can be maintained high, and the surface of the fine powder can be maintained. Since the affinity with silicone oil or silicone varnish is improved, more uniform treatment is possible. When using a silane coupling agent,
Generally, it is preferable to charge 2 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 25 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of fine powder.

The treatment of the fine powder with a silane coupling agent is a dry treatment in which the vaporized silane coupling agent is reacted with a fine powder made into a cloud shape by stirring or the like, or the fine powder is dispersed in a solvent for silane coupling. The treatment can be carried out by a generally known method such as a wet method in which the agent is dropped.

The applied amount of these treated fine powders to the developer is 0.10 with respect to 100 parts by weight of the developer (toner).
The amount is 01 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 3 parts by weight.

As the binder resin used in the toner of the present invention, a homopolymer of styrene such as polystyrene and polyvinyltoluene or a substitution product thereof; styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene- Methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid Methyl copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl ethyl Ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl polymer Styrene-based copolymers such as ruketone copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-isoprene copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymers; polymethylmethacrylate, polybutylmethacrylate , Polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenol resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, paraffin wax, carnauba wax, etc. Can be used alone or in combination.

As the coloring material which can be further added to the toner of the present invention, conventionally known carbon black, copper phthalocyanine, iron black and the like can be used.

When the toner is magnetic toner,
Powders of ferromagnetic metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel, or alloys and compounds such as magnetite, γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ and ferrite, and magnetic materials such as other ferromagnetic alloys can be used.

If desired, the toner may be mixed with additives. Examples of such additives include lubricants such as Teflon and zinc stearate, fixing aids (such as low molecular weight polyethylene), and metal oxides such as tin oxide as a conductivity-imparting agent.

[0060]

The basic structure and features of the present invention have been described above, but the method of the present invention will be specifically described below based on the embodiments. However, this does not limit the embodiments of the present invention in any way. In addition,
"Parts" means "parts by weight".

Example 1 Styrene-n-butyl acrylate copolymer 100 parts (copolymerization ratio 80/20, weight average molecular weight 240,000) Magnetic material 90 parts Low molecular weight polypropylene 3 parts Monoazo dye chromium complex 1 part

The above mixture was melt-kneaded by a twin-screw kneading extruder heated to 140 ° C., the cooled kneaded product was coarsely pulverized by a hammer mill, and the coarsely pulverized product was finely pulverized by a jet mill. Ultra fine powder and coarse powder were classified and removed from the pulverized product with a multi-division classifier to obtain a magnetic toner having a weight average particle diameter of 7.2 μm.

Next, silica fine powder Aerosil # 300
After treating 100 parts (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) with 20 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane, further treating with 10 parts of hexamethyldisilazane, specific surface area: 172 m ² / g
A fine powder of While stirring this fine powder, 15 parts of dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100cSt (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was applied by spray spraying, and then 190 ° C.
To obtain a fine silicic acid powder having a specific surface area of 115 m ² / g (that is, 0.67 times the specific surface area before the silicone oil treatment).

To 100 parts of the above-mentioned magnetic toner, 1.0 part of dimethyldichlorosilane-treated dimethyl silicone oil-treated silicic acid fine powder was externally added by a Henschel mixer to obtain a developer.

Next, the image forming apparatus used in this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a fixing device of a commercially available laser beam printer LBP-8II (manufactured by Canon Inc.) was modified into the following constitution and a printout test was conducted.

In the heat fixing device of the present invention shown in FIG.
The surface temperature T ₁ of the temperature detecting element of the heating element 11 is 190 ° C., the power consumption of the resistance material in the heating part is 150 W, the total pressure between the heating element 11 and the pressure roller 21 is 13 kg, and the nip between the pressure roller and the film is 3 mm. The rotation speed of the fixing film 18 was set to 48 mm / sec (equivalent to Canon LBP8II machine).

As the heat-resistant sheet, a 20 μm-thick polyimide film having a low-resistance release layer in which a conductive substance was dispersed in PTFE was used on the contact surface with the recording material. At this time, the time required for the surface temperature T _{1 of the} temperature detecting element of the heating element to reach 185 ° C. was about 3 seconds. Furthermore, the temperature T ₂
Was 184 ° C. and the temperature T ₃ was 183 ° C.

Under the above setting conditions, 4 sheets (A4) / min
At a normal speed and normal humidity (25
℃, 60% RH), high temperature and high humidity (32.5 ℃, 85% R)
H) and low temperature and low humidity (15 ° C., 10% RH) to evaluate printout images. At the same time, the state of the surface of the fixing film was observed.

Example 2 Treatment As fine silica powder, 100 parts of Aerosil # 200 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was treated with 10 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane, and then treated with 15 parts of hexamethyldisilazane. Specific surface area: 155
A fine powder of m ² / g was obtained. Dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100cSt12 while stirring this fine powder.
Except that the treated silicic acid fine powder having a specific surface area of 113 m ² / g (0.73 times the specific surface area before the silicone oil treatment) was obtained by applying heat treatment at 180 ° C. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 3 As a treated silicic acid fine powder, 100 parts of Aerosil # 200 was treated with 20 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane (specific surface area: 180 m ² /
g), dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100c
A specific surface area of 100 m ² / g (that is, a specific surface area before silicone oil treatment) obtained by mixing 15 parts of St with a solvent diluted and then volatilizing the solvent under reduced pressure and then performing a heat treatment at 150 ° C. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 4 As a treated silicic acid fine powder, 100 parts of Aerosil # 300 was treated with 30 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane (specific surface area: 230 m ² /
g), dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100c
After mixing 15 parts of St with a solvent diluted, the solvent was volatilized under reduced pressure and then heat-treated at 150 ° C. to obtain a specific surface area of 120 m ² / g (0 of the specific surface area before the silicone oil treatment). A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder of 0.52 times) was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 5 As the treated silicic acid fine powder, a specific surface area of 100 m ² / g (silicone oil) obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the treatment amount of dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100 cSt was changed to 20 parts. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 by using the treated silicic acid fine powder having 0.43 times the specific surface area before treatment.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 6 As treated fine silicate powder, 100 parts of Aerosil # 300 was treated with 35 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane (specific surface area: 210 m ² /
g), dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100c
After mixing 5 parts of St with a solvent diluted and then volatilizing the solvent under reduced pressure, a specific surface area of 125 m ² / g (0 of the specific surface area before the silicone oil treatment) was obtained by heating at 150 ° C. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder of 0.59 times) was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 7 As a treated silicic acid fine powder, 100 parts of Aerosil # 200 was treated with 20 parts of trimethylchlorosilane (specific surface area: 160 m ² /
g), dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100c
After mixing 10 parts of St with a solvent diluted and then volatilizing the solvent under reduced pressure, a heat treatment at 180 ° C. was performed to obtain a specific surface area of 90 m ² / g (specific surface area before treatment with silicone oil: 0 m ² / g). A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

<Example 8> As a treated silicic acid fine powder, Aerosil # 200 (specific surface area: 200 m ² / g) was added to dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100 cSt 35.
Part was diluted with a solvent, the solvent was volatilized under reduced pressure, and then heat treatment was performed at 150 ° C. to obtain a specific surface area of 80 m ² / g (0. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder of 40 times) was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 9 As a treated silicic acid fine powder,
Trimethylchlorosilane on 100 parts of EROSIL # 200
After treatment with 20 parts (specific surface area: 160 m²/
g), higher alkoxy modified silicone oil KF-85
15 parts of 80 cSt (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) diluted with solvent
After mixing with the diluted solution and evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure,
85m specific surface area obtained by heat treatment at 150 ° C² /
g (0.53 times the specific surface area before silicone oil treatment)
The same as in Example 1 except that the treated silicic acid fine powder was used.
An image agent was obtained.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

<Example 10> As a treated silicic acid fine powder,
After treating 100 parts of Aerosil # 200 with 20 parts of trimethylchlorosilane (specific surface area: 160 m ² /
g), dimethyl silicone oil KF-96 100c
Treatment with a specific surface area of 95 m ² / g (0.59 times the specific surface area before silicone oil treatment) obtained by diluting 15 parts of St with a solvent, spray-spraying it, drying it, and then heat-treating it at 180 ° C. A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that fine silica powder was used.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that untreated Aerosil # 200 was used as the fine powder.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 2 A developer was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts of Aerosil # 200 treated with 20 parts of dimethyldichlorosilane was used as the treated silicic acid fine powder.

This was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[0092]

[Table 1]

[0093]

According to the present invention, by using a developer containing a specific fine powder as the developer, scratches and abrasions on the surface of the fixing film due to the developer, and further, fixing of the residual developer due to the scratches and abrasion. As a result of the prevention, it was possible to realize a fixing method with a short wait time and low power consumption while achieving excellent fixing properties and offset resistance, and at the same time, it was possible to achieve high durability.

Further, it is possible to obtain an image of high quality which is stable against environmental changes such as high temperature and high humidity and low temperature and low humidity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an example of a fixing device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of another example of a fixing device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Low Heat Capacity Linear Heater 12 Alumina Substrate 13 Resistance Material 14 Thermometric Element 15 Fixing Film 16 Drive Roller 17 Driven Roller 18 Rubber Elastic Layer (Pressurizing Member) 19 Transfer Material (Recording Material) 20 Unfixed Developer (Developer 21) Entrance guide 24 Sheet feeding shaft 27 Rewinding shaft

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued front page (72) Inventor Manabu Ohno 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image of a developer is heated on a recording material by a fixedly supported heating element and a pressing member which is brought into pressure contact with the heating element and presses the recording material to the heating element through a film. A developer used in a fixing method for fixing, comprising a fine powder treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish, wherein the specific surface area of the fine powder is the specific surface area before treatment with the silicone oil or silicone varnish. A developer for heat fixing, which is 0.4 times to 0.8 times. 2. A visible image of a developer is heated on a recording material by a fixedly supported heating body and a pressing member which is brought into pressure contact with the heating body and is in close contact with the heating body via a film. In the fixing method of fixing, the developer is a developer containing fine powder treated with silicone oil or silicone varnish, and the specific surface area of the fine powder is the specific surface area before treated with the silicone oil or silicone varnish. 0.4 times to 0.8 times the heat fixing method.