JPH0980952A - Fixing device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device for an image forming device capable of reducing heat loss and saving power consumption. SOLUTION: A fixing roller 21 is constituted by forming a surface mold- released layer 23 whose spectral emissivity is <=0.65 in a wavelength region where the wavelength of radiation is 5 to 10μm on the surface of a core bar 22 consisting of a hollow cylinder made of aluminum. To put it concretely, the layer 23 is formed of composite material obtained by mixing synthetic resin such as PTFE, PFA or the like with metal showing excellent heat conductivity such as nickel. The surface temperature of a carrying rotating body is controlled to be lower than that of the conventional fixing roller while keeping the required fixing strength of toner, the heat loss is reduced and the power consumption is saved. It is desirable to form this surface mold-released layer on a separation pawl 41 separating recording paper CP from the fixing roller 21 and a sensor 25 detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a fixing device for an image forming apparatus which heats and fixes a toner image formed on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum is developed by a toner, the toner image is transferred to a recording medium, and the recording medium is transferred to a predetermined area. By passing the toner through a fixing roller heated to a constant temperature, the toner is melted by heating and pressed onto the recording medium to fix the toner image.

The fixing roller is temperature-controlled so as to maintain a predetermined fixing temperature, for example, 200 ° C. during operation of the apparatus, but in order to suppress wasteful consumption of heating power when the apparatus is in a standby state. And the fixing temperature during operation, for example 200
The temperature is controlled to a predetermined temperature lower than ℃, for example 160 ℃. In addition, if the print key is not operated for a predetermined time in the standby state, the power saving mode
In some cases, the temperature is controlled to a temperature lower than the temperature in the standby state, for example, 120 ° C.

In addition, in order to reduce the heat loss radiated from the fixing roller, measures such as covering the periphery of the fixing roller with a heat insulating material are taken, and the fixing device consumes energy consumed by the fixing device. Various means are incorporated to minimize it.

[0005]

However, when the image forming apparatus enters the operating state from the power saving mode or enters the operating state from the standby state, the temperature of the fixing roller is set to a predetermined temperature capable of fixing. Must be raised to. Since a certain waiting time is required for the rise of this temperature, it cannot be adequately adapted to the needs for quick processing.

Further, in order to reduce the heat loss radiated from the fixing roller, when a structure covered with a heat insulating material is adopted,
For that reason, a space is required, which causes a problem that the device becomes large. The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

Further, the fixing device is provided with a separating claw for separating the recording medium from the fixing roller. Since the separating claw is placed in contact with or close to the fixing roller and exposed to high temperature, conventionally, a fluororesin having a high heat resistance is used, but since the fluororesin has a high heat absorption property, the fixing roller is used. In addition to removing heat from the laser, the temperature of the separating claw itself rises. Therefore, in the case of double-sided copying or composite copying, the toner image that has been formed and fixed previously comes into contact with the high-temperature separating claw to form the toner image. There are inconveniences such as deformation, and inconvenience that the material price is high.

Further, in order to maintain the surface temperature of the fixing roller at a predetermined constant temperature in the fixing device, a temperature detecting sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller is arranged in contact with the fixing roller. ing. The surface of the temperature detection sensor was coated with fluororesin to prevent toner adhesion and protect the surface, but fluororesin has a high heat absorption property and removes heat from the fixing roller. , The temperature detection accuracy decreases,
There are inconveniences such as a decrease in responsiveness to temperature.
The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above problems. In the invention of claim 1, there is provided a fixing means comprising a heating conveyance rotating member for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium. In the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, the heating and conveying rotator has a release layer on its surface, and the surface release layer has a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less in a wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation. Is composed of a material that is

The surface release layer is composed of a composite material of a release material and a low heat emissive material, and the low heat emissive material contained in the composite material is preferably a metal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing means including a heating / conveying rotating body for heating and fixing the toner image formed on the recording medium, and a separating means for separating the recording medium from the heating / conveying rotating body. In the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, the separating means has a releasing layer on the surface thereof, and the surface releasing layer of the separating means has a spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation, which is heated to carry and rotate. It is characterized in that the surface release layer of the body is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range and the material of the separating means in the wavelength range.

The surface release layer of the separating means has a spectral emissivity of 0.5 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm.
It is preferable to use the following materials, and it is possible to use a composite material of a releasing material and a low heat emissive material.

The releasable material contained in the composite material is one or more fluororesins, and the low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material has a spectral emissivity of 0.2 or less in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm. It is good to be the material of. Also,
The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer is one or more metals or metal alloys, and
It is preferable that the material has a thermal conductivity of 1 w / mk or more in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing means composed of a heating / conveying rotary member for heating and fixing the toner image formed on the recording medium, and a temperature detecting means for detecting a surface temperature of the heating / conveying rotary member. In the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, the temperature detecting means has a release layer on the surface thereof, and the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means has a radiation wavelength of 5 to 10
The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of μm is smaller than the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer of the heating and conveying rotary member in the wavelength range, and the material is made of a material having high thermal conductivity. .

The surface release layer of the temperature detecting means may be made of a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.5 or less in a wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm. It can be composed of composite materials.

The releasing material is one or more fluororesins, and the low heat emissive material contained in the composite material contained in the composite material has a spectral emissivity of 0.2 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm. The following materials are preferable. The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer is one or more metals or metal alloys, and has a thermal conductivity of 1 w / mk in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm. The above materials are preferable.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
It is made of a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm.

The surface release layer of the separating means has a spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation, and a spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of the surface release layer of the heating and conveying rotary member and the separating means. The material is smaller than the spectral emissivity of the material in the wavelength range and has a high thermal conductivity.

Further, in the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means, the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation is smaller than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of the surface release layer of the heating and conveying rotary member. And a material having high thermal conductivity.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Structure of Copying Device] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a copying device to which the fixing device of the present invention is applied. Since its structure is the same as that of a known electrophotographic copying machine, its outline will be briefly described here.

In the copying apparatus, a photosensitive drum 10 which rotates at a constant peripheral speed is arranged in the central portion, an original table 1 is arranged above the photosensitive drum 10, and a scanning optical system 3 is arranged below it. A paper feed unit 5 is arranged on the lower left side of the photosensitive drum 10.

Around the photoconductor drum 10, a charging carrier 11, a developing device 13, a transfer carrier 15, and a separation carrier.
A jar 16, a cleaner 18, a fixing device 20, etc. are arranged.

The scanning optical system 3 includes an illumination light source 2 and a movable mirror.
31-33, conjugate length correction mirrors 34, 35, fixed mirror
36, and a projection lens 37 whose magnification can be changed.

The illuminating light source 2 and the movable mirror 31 are integrally held, and the movable mirrors 32 and 33 are integrally held, respectively, so that they can be moved and scanned right below the document table 1 to the left in FIG. Has been done. In the case of equal-magnification copying, the illumination light source 2 and the movable mirror 31 move at the same speed as the peripheral speed v of the photosensitive drum 10, and the movable mirrors 32 and 33 move at a speed of v / 2 m.

The paper feed section 5 includes a paper feed cassette 51 and a paper feed roll.
And a timing roller 53. The recording paper CP stored in the paper feed cassette 51 is fed by a paper feed roller 52 which is rotationally driven, and is conveyed by a convey roller (not shown) so that the leading end thereof is in the nip portion of the timing roller 53. It temporarily stops at the contacting standby position R.

The original M placed on the original table 1 is scanned by the scanning optical system 3 and an electrostatic latent image of the original image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10. The electrostatic latent image of the original image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is developed by the toner in the developing device 13 and moved to the transfer position, but the timing roller 53 starts rotating at this timing, The recording paper CP that has been waiting at the waiting position R is conveyed to the transfer position where the transfer carrier 15 is located. At the transfer position, transfer charger 15
The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 10 is transferred to the recording paper CP by the action of. The recording paper CP is separated from the photoconductor drum 10 by the action of the separation charger 16 and is conveyed by the conveyor belt 19 and is heated and pressed by the fixing device 20, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper CP.

[Structure of Fixing Device] FIG. 2 shows the fixing device 20.
3 is a sectional view of the fixing roller 21 and the pressurizing elastic roller 26, which are main constituent members of the fixing device 20, and FIG.

The fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 26 are
It is configured to rotate in the arrow direction by a drive mechanism (not shown) while being pressed against each other. A separating claw 41 is arranged in contact with the roller 21 on the downstream side of the fixing roller 21 in the rotation direction, and a separating claw 42 is arranged on the downstream side of the pressure elastic roller 26 in the rotation direction. Placed in contact with the recording paper C
P is peeled off from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 26 and discharged.

A temperature detecting sensor 25 for detecting the surface temperature is provided on the surfaces of the fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 26.
Are arranged in contact with each other, and the fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 2
The surface temperature of 6 is always detected, and the energization time of the heating halogen heater 24 is controlled by a temperature control circuit (not shown) so as to be maintained at a predetermined constant temperature set in advance.

The reference numeral 43 designates a recording paper CP on which an unfixed toner image Tn is formed, and a fixing roller 21 and a pressure elastic roller 2.
Guide plates for guiding the nip portion 6 and 44, 45 are guide plates for guiding the fixed recording paper CP in the discharging direction.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the guide plate 43. As shown in the drawing, the contact area of the guide plate 43 with the recording paper CP is reduced to reduce the frictional resistance when the recording paper passes, and A plurality of ribs 43a are formed to eliminate dust such as mixed paper dust. The height of the rib 43a is preferably about 0.3 to 1.0 mm in order to ensure smooth passage of the recording paper and reduce the influence of the temperature on the recording paper.

Although the guide plate 43 is made of a low-radiation material that hardly absorbs heat, the temperature of the guide plate 43 still rises. It is arranged so that the edge overlaps (see FIG. 4), and uneven fixing is suppressed. Rib 43a
There is no particular difference in the effect between the front opening arrangement (see Fig. 4) and the opposite opening.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a cleaning device and an offset preventing liquid applying device for removing toner adhering to the surface of the fixing roller 21. Further, 47 and 48 are heat insulating and heat reflecting materials which surround the fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 26 and prevent heat radiation from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure elastic roller 26. .

The structure of the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller will be described in detail. First, a conventional fixing roller will be described. The conventional fixing roller is the fixing roller 21 having the structure shown in FIG. 3, in which the hollow cylindrical core metal 22 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, copper and iron having good heat conduction characteristics. 22 is coated with a surface release layer 23 made of a material such as fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE) or polyphenylenealkoxy ether (hereinafter referred to as PFA) or silicon rubber. There is.

The physical properties of the surface release layer of the conventional fixing roller are such that the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of the radiation wavelength of 5 to 10 μm (infrared region) is 0.9 or more, and the heat of the surface release layer is The conductivity is 6.0 × 10 ^{−4 to} 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ cal / (deg
・ Cm ・ s) The surface roughness Rz (1
The 0-point average roughness, unit μm, hereinafter simply referred to as Rz) is 40 μm or less, and the film thickness of the surface release layer is 40 μm or less.

Further, in the conventional pressure elastic roller, in the pressure elastic roller 26 having the structure shown in FIG. 3, the hollow cylindrical core metal 27 is made of aluminum, copper, iron or the like having good heat conduction characteristics. Of the metal material, the surface of the cored bar 27 is covered with a material 28 such as silicon rubber to form an elastic layer, and the elastic layer is further covered with a fluororesin film 29.

On the other hand, in the fixing roller of the present invention, in the fixing roller having the structure shown in FIG. 3, the hollow cylindrical core metal 22 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, copper, iron or the like having a good heat conduction characteristic. The structure is the same as that of the conventional fixing roller, but the material of the surface release layer 23 covering the surface of the cored bar 22 is different.

That is, in the fixing roller of the present invention, the surface release layer 23 is composed of a composite material in which nickel and nickel which are good thermal conductivity are mixed with PTFE and PFA in a volume ratio of 30%. The physical properties of the surface release layer are such that the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm (infrared region) is in the range of 0.10 to 0.65, and the thermal conductivity of the surface release layer is Is less than 0.2 cal / (deg · cm · s) and is in the range of 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ cal / (deg · cm · s) or more. The surface roughness and film thickness of the surface release layer will be described in the experimental results described below. The pressure elastic roll
The roller is the same as the conventional pressure elastic roller described above.

Next, details of the structure of the separating claw will be described. Conventional separating claws include polyimide (PI), polyamide imide (PAI), and polyether ether ketone (PE).
A surface release layer made of a coating material containing a fluororesin as a main component such as PFA is formed on the surface of the nail main body made of a heat-resistant synthetic resin material such as EK). As for the physical properties of the surface release layer, the spectral emissivity is 0.9 or more in the wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm (infrared region), and the thermal conductivity is 6.0 × 10 ^{−4 to} 7.0 ×. 10 ^-4 cal / (deg ・
cm · s).

On the other hand, in the separation claw of the present invention, the claw body is P
It is the same as the conventional separating claws in that it is made of a fluororesin-based heat-resistant synthetic resin material such as I, PAI, and PEEK, but the surface release layer material is different.

That is, the surface release layer of the separating claw of the present invention is
Nickel, which is a heat conductor smaller than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of the radiation of this coating material in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm (infrared region), is added to the coating material containing PTFE as a main component. It is composed of a composite material obtained by mixing 70% by volume of PTFE as a material. Regarding the physical properties of the coating layer, the spectral emissivity is 0.15 and the thermal conductivity is about 0.13 cal / (deg.cm.s) in the wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 .mu.m (infrared region).

Next, the structure of the temperature detecting sensor will be described. Since the temperature detecting portion of the temperature detecting sensor is the same as the structure using the conventional thermistor, its explanation is omitted and the surface release layer related to the present invention will be explained.

The conventional temperature detection sensor is a stainless steel
A surface release layer made of a coating material containing a fluororesin as a main component such as PFA is formed on the surface of a base made of a metal such as SUS and a thermistor which is a temperature detecting portion. The physical property of the surface release layer is that the wavelength of radiation is 5 to 1
The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 0 μm (infrared region) is 0.9 or more, and the thermal conductivity is 6.0 × 10 ^{−4 to} 7.0 × 1.
It is about 0 ⁻⁴ cal / (deg · cm · s).

On the other hand, in the temperature detecting sensor of the present invention, the materials of the surface release layer formed on the surface of the substrate and the thermistor which is the temperature detecting portion are different. That is, the surface coating layer of the temperature detection sensor of the present invention has a coating material mainly composed of PTFE, and has a spectral emissivity smaller than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the wavelength of the coating material (infrared region). Nickel, which is a good heat conductor, and P, which is the coating material,
It is composed of a composite material in which 70% by volume of TFE is mixed. The physical property of the coating layer is that the wavelength of radiation is 5 to 1
The spectral emissivity in the wavelength region of 0 μm (infrared region) is 0.15, and the thermal conductivity is about 0.13 cal / (deg · cm · s).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is a fixing elastic roller, and there is no particular difference from the first embodiment in other points. Therefore, the fixing elastic roller will be described here. explain.

The fixing elastic roller 61 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in the sectional structure in FIG. 1, an elastic layer made of heat-resistant elastic rubber such as silicon rubber or fluororubber is provided on a hollow cylindrical core metal bar 62 made of a material such as aluminum, copper or iron having good heat conduction characteristics. 63 is formed, and the surface release layer 64 is formed thereon.

The surface release layer 64 is the same as the surface release layer 23 of the fixing roller 21 of the first embodiment described above, and the volume of PTFE is contained in nickel which is a metal exhibiting good thermal conductivity. It consists of a composite material mixed in a ratio of 30%. The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation is in the range of 0.10 to 0.65, and the thermal conductivity is 0.2 ca.
smaller than l / (deg ・ cm ・ s), 7.0 × 10 ^-4 cal /
(/ deg · cm · s) or more.

The thickness of the surface release layer 64 is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm, and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 64 is 0.
It is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm. Further, the hardness of the elastic layer 63 made of heat resistant elastic rubber has a JIS standard (JIS-
Adjusted in the range of 10 to 80 ° in A), and the thickness is 0.05.
It is adjusted in the range of ~ 15 mm.

The JIS standard (JIS-A) concerning the hardness of the elastic layer is the sheet (2) of the rubber material to be measured.
(mm thickness) is laminated to about 6 mm, and the pressing depth is measured with a JIS-A hardness meter (manufactured by Tekloc Co., Ltd.) at 5 points and a load of 1 kg is applied, and the measured values are arithmetically averaged. Is the hardness.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the third embodiment, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers, and in other respects there is no particular difference from the first embodiment. Now, a fixing elastic roller including a plurality of elastic layers will be described.

The fixing elastic roller 71 having a plurality of elastic layers of the third embodiment is made of a material such as aluminum, copper or iron having a good heat conduction characteristic as shown in the sectional structure of FIG. A plurality of elastic layers 73 made of heat resistant elastic rubber such as silicon rubber or fluororubber on the hollow cylindrical core metal 72.
a and 73b are formed, and the surface release layer 74 is formed thereon. As the material of the heat resistant elastic rubber forming the plurality of elastic layers 73a and 73b, different materials are used for the two elastic layers, but the same material may be used.

The surface release layer 74 is the same as the surface release layer 23 of the fixing roller 21 of the first embodiment described above, and nickel is a metal showing good thermal conductivity, and PTFE is added to the surface release layer 74. It consists of a composite material mixed in a ratio of 30%. The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation is in the range of 0.10 to 0.65, and the thermal conductivity is 0.2 ca.
smaller than l / (deg ・ cm ・ s), 7.0 × 10 ^-4 cal /
(/ deg · cm · s) or more.

The film thickness of the surface release layer 74 is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm, and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 74 is 0.
It is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm. The hardness of the elastic layers 73a and 73b made of heat resistant elastic rubber is 10 to 8
It is adjusted in the range of 0 ° (JIS-A), and the total thickness of the elastic layers 73a and 73b is adjusted in the range of 0.05 to 15 mm.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the fourth embodiment, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is a fixing elastic belt, and since there is no particular difference from the first embodiment in other points, the fixing elastic belt will be described here.

The fixing elastic belt of the fourth embodiment is such a fixing belt that an unfixed recording paper is sandwiched between the fixing elastic belt and the pressure elastic roller, and heating and fixing processing can be performed while the recording paper is being conveyed. Is.

As shown in the sectional structure of FIG. 7, the fixing elastic belt 81 has an elastic layer 83 made of heat resistant elastic rubber such as silicone rubber or fluororubber on a thin metal film 82 such as nickel alloy having a thickness of about 40 μm. Is formed,
The surface release layer 84 is formed thereon. The base of the belt may be made of a heat-resistant synthetic resin film such as polyimide or Teflon instead of the above-mentioned metal film.

The surface release layer 84 is the same as the surface release layer 23 of the fixing roller 21 of the first embodiment described above, and nickel is a metal showing good thermal conductivity, and PTFE is added to the surface release layer 84. It consists of a composite material mixed in a ratio of 30%. The spectral emissivity is 0.14 and the thermal conductivity is 0.13 cal / (deg · cm · s) in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm.
It is a degree.

The film thickness of the surface release layer 84 is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm, and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 84 is 40.
μm or less.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the fifth embodiment, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is a self-heating type fixing elastic roller, and since there is no particular difference from the first embodiment in other points, the self-heating is performed here. The fixing elastic roller of the mold will be described.

The self-heating type fixing elastic roller 91 of the fifth embodiment has a cross sectional structure shown in FIG. 8 and has a good heat conduction characteristic such as aluminum, copper, iron or the like metal, or phenol.
An elastic layer 93 also formed of a heat-resistant elastic rubber such as silicon rubber or fluororubber is formed on a cored bar 92 of a hollow cylinder made of a heat-resistant synthetic resin such as a rubber or a ceramic. Then, an electric insulating layer 94, a heat generating resistor layer 95, an electric insulating layer 96, and a surface release layer 97 are sequentially laminated on the structure.

The surface release layer 97 is the same as the surface release layer 23 of the fixing roller 21 of the first embodiment described above, and nickel is a metal showing good thermal conductivity, and PTFE is added to the surface release layer. It consists of a composite material mixed in a ratio of 30%. The spectral emissivity is 0.4 and the thermal conductivity is about 0.13 cal / (deg.cm.s) in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 .mu.m.

The film thickness of the surface release layer 96 is adjusted in the range of 1 to 100 μm, and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 96 is 40.
μm or less.

The fixing roller, the fixing elastic roller, the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers, the fixing elastic belt, and the self-heating type fixing elastic of the first to fifth embodiments described later. In a roller characteristic experiment, a conventional fixing roller, a fixing elastic roller, a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers, a fixing elastic belt, and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller are shown for comparison. La is different from each of the above-described embodiments only in the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer, and other configurations are not different from those of each embodiment.

The conventional surface release layer has a radiation wavelength of 5 to 1
The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 0 μm is 0.6 or more,
The thermal conductivity is 6.0 × 10 ^{-4 to} 7.0 × 10 ^-4 cal / (deg
・ Cm ・ s).

The fixing roller, the fixing elastic roller, the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers, the fixing elastic belt, and the self-heating type fixing elastic roller of the first to fifth embodiments described above. Since all of the rollers are rotating bodies that have a heating means and convey the recording medium, the rollers and the belt will be collectively referred to as heating and conveying rotating bodies.

[Explanation of Experimental Results of Characteristics of Fixing Roller] With respect to the characteristics of the fixing roller of the present invention having the above surface release layer, the results of experiments conducted under various conditions will be described below. .

First, the fixing roller of the first embodiment of the present invention used for the characteristic experiment of the fixing roller will be described. Fixing roll
The roller and the pressurizing elastic roller have the structure shown in FIG. 3, the core metal is an aluminum hollow cylinder, and the diameter is 60 mm and the thickness is 8 m.
m, axial length 320 mm is used.

The test piece S11 used in the above-described first embodiment had a surface release layer 23 having a thickness of 1-100.
The test piece S12 is a plurality of rollers that differ in the range of μm, and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer is 0.1.
It is a plurality of roller groups different in the range of up to 100 μm. Other physical properties of the surface release layer are described in the explanation of each experimental result.

The conventional fixing roller shown for comparison also has the same core metal size and structure as the fixing roller used in the characteristic experiment of the present invention, but the surface release layer is made of PTFE and P.
It is composed of a composite material with FA. Comparative test piece
The space R11 is a plurality of roller groups having different surface release layer thicknesses in the range of 1 to 100 μm.
No. 12 has a surface release layer having a surface roughness Rz of 0.1 to 100 μm.
It is a plurality of roller groups which differ in the range of m.

The spectral emissivity in this experiment was measured by a thermal radiation measuring device (Fourier conversion infrared spectrophotometer FT4200 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) and a thermal radiation measuring system (blackbody furnace, sample heating furnace). , Temperature controller)) is used to measure a temperature of 20 in the infrared region of a radiation wavelength of 5 to 10 μm.
It was carried out at 0 ° C.

The size of the sample for measuring the spectral emissivity was 10 × 50 mm. Further, in order to eliminate the influence of the surroundings of the sample, the measurement range was adjusted to 5 × 10 mm with an aperture and the measurement was performed. A high temperature black body paint (emissivity 0.9) was applied to half of the sample surface, and this was made into a pseudo black body.

The measurement method was as follows. First, the emission spectrum was measured using a pseudo-blackbody as a reference, and the temperature of the sample heating furnace was adjusted so that the emissivity was balanced at 90%. The sample was moved when the emissivity of the pseudo-blackbody reached 90%, and the emission spectrum of the sample to be measured was measured at that temperature.

[Experiment 1. Power Consumption of Fixing Roller] Experimental results of power consumption of the fixing roller will be described. Fixing roll
La is a test piece S11 with a spectral emissivity of 0.15,
Two of 0.65 are used, and test piece R1 is used for comparison.
1 was used.

In the experimental method, first, both ends of the fixing roller are held by metal jigs and maintained in a space where they do not come into contact with other objects. A heating halogen heater arranged inside the fixing roller is electrically heated via a temperature control circuit, and the surface temperature is detected by a temperature detecting sensor to maintain a predetermined constant temperature. The fixing time is controlled by controlling the energizing time.
The amount of power consumed for a certain period of time with respect to the surface temperature of the la was measured by an integrating wattmeter.

FIG. 9 shows the fixing roller of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the surface temperature of a fixing roller, and the measurement result of the electric power consumed for a fixed time. As is clear from the figure, the power consumption of the fixing roller of the present invention is reduced by about 30% as compared with the conventional fixing roller. This is because the whole surface of the fixing roller is made by using a composite material in which nickel, which is a low spectral emissivity material, is allowed to coexist with PTFE, which is a high spectral emissivity material, in the surface release layer of the fixing roller. This is because the spectral emissivity of is smaller than that of the conventional fixing roller, and the thermal energy radiated as radiant heat is reduced.

Further, the power consumption increases as the surface temperature of the fixing roller increases, but the power consumption tends to increase less as the spectral emissivity decreases, and the fixing roller with a small spectral emissivity tends to decrease. It can be seen that the higher the surface temperature, the lower the power consumption.

In a conventional copying machine or the like, in order to reduce the power consumed by the fixing roller during the period when the copying operation is not performed, the surface temperature of the fixing roller during the period when the copying operation is not performed is performed. Is lower than the temperature during copy operation (for example, 10
The temperature was controlled so that the temperature became lower (° C lower). However, this method requires a waiting time of several tens of seconds in order to raise the surface temperature of the fixing roller to the regular fixing temperature at the start of the copy operation.

According to the fixing roller provided with the surface release layer of the present invention, since the power consumption is small as described above, the surface temperature of the fixing roller during the period when the copying operation is not performed. Even if the temperature is not controlled so that it becomes lower than the temperature during copy operation, it is possible to reduce the amount of power commensurate with the amount of energy saved by the temperature control, and further reduce the amount of power consumption. Obtainable.

As an experiment related to this experiment, in order to see the difference in the film thickness of the surface release layer and the surface roughness of the surface release layer 23, the film thickness of the surface release layer was set to 1 to 100 μm. The power consumption was measured with the test piece S11 having different ranges and the surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer having different surface roughnesses Rz of 0.1 to 100 μm. The difference in the film thickness of the surface release layer was measured. It was found that the difference in surface roughness of the surface release layer did not affect the power consumption.

[Experiment 2. Power Consumption for Maintaining Surface Temperature of Fixing Roller at Predetermined Temperature] An experimental result of power consumption for maintaining the surface temperature of the fixing roller at a prescribed temperature will be described. Test piece S11 was used for the fixing roller, and test piece R11 was used for comparison.

FIG. 10 shows the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer 22 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation (infrared region) in the fixing roller of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the measurement result of the electric power consumption required in order to maintain the surface temperature of a fixing roller at 120 degreeC, 160 degreeC, and 200 degreeC, when changing in the range of 1.0.

As shown in FIG. 10, in any of the case where the surface temperature of the fixing roller is 120 ° C., 160 ° C. and 200 ° C., the power consumption increases as the spectral emissivity increases.

In FIG. 10, a spectral emissivity of 0.94 indicates a conventional fixing roller. In the fixing roller having a surface release layer coated with a fluororesin, the radiation wavelength is 5 to 10 μm.
The spectral emissivity of the surface release layer in the wavelength range of is 0.9 or more.

In FIG. 10, the region of the surface release layer having a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less shows the fixing roller having the surface release layer according to the present invention. As is apparent from FIG. 10, the surface temperature of the fixing roller is 120 ° C., 160 ° C., and 2
In any case of 00 ° C., when the fixing roller surface temperature is the same, the fixing roller having the surface release layer according to the present invention consumes 10% or more less power than the conventional fixing roller. Become.

According to the fixing roller provided with the surface release layer according to the present invention, since the power consumption is small as described above, the surface temperature of the fixing roller during the period when the copying operation is not performed is Even if the temperature is not controlled so that it becomes lower than the temperature during copy operation, the amount of power commensurate with the amount of power saved by the temperature control can be saved, and a further power consumption saving effect can be obtained. You can

FIG. 11 is a result of investigating the relationship between the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer and the power consumption in connection with the above experiment. The spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation is 0.65. In a small range, the power reduction effect corresponding to the power consumption reduction in the general standby mode for lowering the surface temperature of the conventional fixing roller by 10 ° was confirmed.

[Experiment 3. Fixing Performance of Fixing Roller] Experimental results of fixing performance of the fixing roller will be described. The fixing roller was a test piece S11, and the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.
It is. For comparison, a test piece R11 was used, and the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.

The experimental method is as follows. First, an unfixed toner image is formed between a roller pair composed of a fixing roller and a pressure elastic roller by a standard toner used by the applicant. Then, the recording paper is passed through for fixing processing.

Next, the reflection densities of the fixed toner images were measured by a reflection densitometer (Model RD-918 manufactured by Macbeth Co.) to determine that the image reflection densities were 0.8 and 1.4. After selecting two types, the surface of the toner image was rubbed three times with a sand eraser (N0.502 manufactured by Lion Corporation) loaded with a load of 1 kg, and then the reflection density of the toner image was measured again. , And the ratio with the above reflection density was determined, and this was defined as the fixing strength ratio. It can be determined that the fixing performance is better as the fixing strength ratio is closer to 1.

12 and 13 show the experimental results of the fixing performance of the fixing roller. FIG. 12 shows the image reflection density of 0.
No. 8 toner image, and FIG. 13 shows a toner image having an image reflection density of 1.4. The surface temperature of the fixing roller was changed from 130.degree. The results of measuring the fixing strength ratio at temperature are shown.

From the knowledge obtained from the conventional experiments, the applicant
When the toner image reflection density before rubbing with the sand eraser is 0.8, the fixing strength ratio is 0.6 or more, and when the toner image reflection density before rubbing with the sand eraser is 1.4, the fixing strength ratio is 0. It has been confirmed that if the toner image is 7 or more, the toner image is firmly fixed on the recording paper and there is no problem in using the recording paper.

The peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, the linear speed at which the recording paper passes between the fixing roller and the pressure roller) is 3
When it is 50 mm / sec, the fixing strength ratio is 0.6 when the toner image reflection density before rubbing with a sand eraser is 0.8.
As described above, the toner image reflection density before rubbing with the sand eraser was 1.
It has been confirmed that in the case of 4, the fixing strength ratio is 0.7 or more, and the fixing strength can be obtained without any trouble in using the recording paper.

As is apparent from FIGS. 12 and 13, the fixing roller of the present invention is higher than the conventional fixing roller when the fixing process is performed at the same surface temperature as that of the conventional fixing roller. The intensity ratio is shown. Further, in order to obtain the same fixing strength ratio, it is shown that the fixing roller of the present invention can be fixed at a surface temperature lower by about 20 ° C. than the conventional fixing roller.

[Experiment 4. Relationship between Surface Exposure Ratio of Metal in Surface Release Layer and Spectral Emissivity] An experimental result regarding a relationship between surface exposure ratio of metal in the surface release layer of the fixing roller and spectral emissivity will be described. In the test piece S11, the fixing roller used for this measurement was coated with PTFE on the surface release layer.
It is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of aluminum and aluminum, and the surface release layer has a film thickness of 40 μm. For comparison, a test piece R11 was used, and the surface release layer was formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of PTFE and aluminum. The surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.
It is.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of metal and the spectral emissivity in the surface release layer of the fixing roller, and shows the radiation ratio with respect to the surface exposure ratio of aluminum in the surface area of the fixing roller. The spectral emissivity of the surface release layer in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm is shown.

The spectral emissivity of the fixing roller of the present invention is 0.
Since it is 65 or less, it is understood that the exposure ratio of aluminum in the surface area of the fixing roller should be about 18% or more.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of metal in the surface release layer of the fixing roller and the power consumption. The surface release layer is a composite material made of a mixture of PTFE and aluminum. When formed, the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing roller and the power consumption required to maintain the surface temperature of the fixing roller at 200 ° C was shown.

As is clear from this figure, when the exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing roller is about 18% or more, the surface release layer is composed of only PTFE, and the aluminum is exposed on the surface. No (surface exposure ratio 0%) The power consumption of the heating heater is 2 compared with the conventional fixing roller.
It can be reduced by more than 10% from 75 watts to 230 watts.

In the above example, the surface release layer is made of PTF.
It is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of E and aluminum. However, in addition to aluminum, composite materials mixed with metals such as nickel, chromium, iron, titanium and zinc have a wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm. It was revealed that even if there is a slight difference in the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer, the effect of reducing the power consumption is obtained by setting the spectral emissivity to 0.65 or less. Furthermore, PT
It has been clarified that PFA, silicon rubber or the like may be used instead of FE to function similarly to PTFE and have the same effect.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal alloy in the surface release layer of the fixing roller and the spectral emissivity. The surface release layer is made of PTFE and nichrome (alloy of nickel and chromium). Shows the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation with respect to the surface exposure ratio of nichrome in the surface area of the fixing roller when the composite material is composed of a mixture of

The spectral emissivity of the fixing roller of the present invention is 0.
Since it is 65 or less, the exposure ratio of nichrome to the surface area of the fixing roller should be about 23% or more.

FIG. 17 is also a diagram showing the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal alloy in the surface release layer of the fixing roller and the power consumption. The surface release layer is a composite material made of a mixture of PTFE and nichrome. The relationship between the surface exposure ratio of nichrome to the surface area of the fixing roller and the power consumption required to maintain the surface temperature of the fixing roller at 200 ° C. is shown.

As is clear from this figure, when the exposure ratio of nichrome to the surface area of the fixing roller is about 23% or more, the surface release layer of the fixing roller is composed of only PTFE, and Nichrome is not exposed (surface exposure rate 0
%) The power consumption of the heating heater can be reduced by 10% or more from 275 watts to 230 watts as compared with the conventional fixing roller.

In the above example, the surface release layer is made of PTF.
This is the case when it is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of E and nichrome, and the wavelength of the radiation is 5 to 10 μm even when the composite material is mixed with nichrome and a metal alloy such as monel metal, inconel, chromel alumel, brass, and constantan manganin. Since there is a slight difference in the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer in the wavelength range of, even if there is a slight difference in the ratio of exposing each metal alloy to the surface, the spectral emissivity is 0.65 or less. It has become clear that this has the effect of reducing power consumption. Furthermore, PT
It has been clarified that PFA, silicon rubber or the like may be used instead of FE to function similarly to PTFE and have the same effect.

[Experiment 5. Relationship between Spectral Emissivity and Offset Phenomenon] The offset phenomenon is that the unfixed toner on the recording paper adheres to the surface of the fixing roller, and further adheres to the fixing roller when the fixing roller makes one rotation. It means a phenomenon in which the toner is transferred and adhered onto the recording paper. If such an offset phenomenon occurs, the quality of the formed image is significantly impaired. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the surface temperature range of the fixing roller where the offset phenomenon does not occur and the composition of the surface release layer.

The fixing roller used in this experiment is a test piece S11, and the thickness of the surface release layer is 40 μm. For comparison, a test piece R11 was used, and the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.

In the pressure elastic roller, an elastic layer made of silicon rubber having a thickness of 6 mm and a release layer made of a fluororesin tube having a thickness of 70 μm are attached to the core metal made of the hollow aluminum cylinder described above. Adhesive layers are provided between the core metal and the elastic layer, and between the elastic layer and the release layer.

The experimental method is as follows. First, the surface temperature of the fixing roller is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, the recording speed) is recorded. The linear velocity at which the paper passes through the fixing roller pair) is set to 350 mm / sec.

A roller composed of a fixing roller and a pressure elastic roller.
The standard toner used by the present applicant during the pair
The recording paper on which an unfixed toner image was formed (in this experiment, a basis weight of 64 g / m ² ) was passed through a fixing process to examine whether the offset phenomenon occurred.

FIG. 18 shows the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer and the surface temperature of the fixing roller in the fixing roller of the present invention.
And the non-offset region, showing the surface temperature of the fixing roller in the range of spectral emissivity of the surface release layer of 0.1 to 0.65 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation. It can be seen that there is a region (a) (non-offset region) having a sufficient temperature range in which offset does not occur. The region (b) is a high temperature offset region where the surface temperature of the fixing roller is too high and the offset is generated. The region (c) is low temperature where the surface temperature of the fixing roller is too low and the offset is generated. It is an offset area.
The spectral emissivity of 0.9 indicates the spectral emissivity of the conventional fixing roller.

As is apparent from FIG. 18, in the fixing roller of the present invention, the surface temperature range of the fixing roller in which the offset does not occur shifts to a temperature lower than that of the conventional fixing roller. ing. This is because the nickel, which is a high heat-conducting substance, is allowed to be present at the same time as PTFE, which is a low heat-conducting substance, in the surface release layer of the fixing roller of the present invention, so that the thermal conductivity of the entire surface of the fixing roller is improved. The heat transfer rate from the surface of the fixing roller to the recording paper becomes faster because the thermal conductivity of the fixing roller becomes larger than that of the entire surface of the fixing roller.
This is because the amount of heat transfer increases.

The fact that the surface temperature range of the fixing roller where offset does not occur is shifted to a lower temperature side than that of the conventional fixing roller means that the operation of the fixing roller is higher than that of the conventional apparatus. This means that the temperature can be kept low, and power consumption can be saved.

In order to expand the surface temperature range (non-offset region) of the fixing roller in which the offset does not occur, the PTF contained in the surface release layer of the fixing roller is used.
It is also clear from FIG. 18 that the volume ratio of E may be increased to increase the spectral emissivity.

[Experiment 6. Relationship between Film Thickness of Surface Release Layer and Offset Phenomenon] The experimental results concerning the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer, the surface temperature of the fixing roller, and the non-offset area in the fixing roller of the present invention will be described. To do. The fixing roller used in this experiment was a test piece S11 having different surface release layer thicknesses in the range of 5 to 70 μm. For comparison, test piece R11 was used, and different surface release layers were used in the range of 5 to 70 μm.

The pressure elastic roller is obtained by laminating an elastic layer made of silicon rubber having a thickness of 6 mm and a release layer made of a fluororesin tube having a thickness of 70 μm on the core metal made of the hollow cylinder described above. An adhesive layer is provided between the core metal and the elastic layer, and between the elastic layer and the release layer.

In the experimental method, first, the surface temperature of the fixing roller is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, the recording speed) is recorded. The linear velocity at which the paper passes through the fixing roller pair) is set to 350 mm / sec.

A roller composed of a fixing roller and a pressure elastic roller.
The standard toner used by the present applicant during the pair
The recording paper on which an unfixed toner image was formed (in this experiment, a basis weight of 64 g / m ² ) was passed through a fixing process to examine whether or not the offset phenomenon occurred.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer, the surface temperature of the fixing roller, and the non-offset area in the conventional fixing roller. However, the non-offset area fluctuates in response to changes in the film thickness of the surface release layer. Especially, on the thin film thickness side, which is advantageous in terms of securing the fixing strength and saving power consumption, the fixing roller of the non-offset area is changed. -The surface temperature range of the la becomes narrower, making it impractical.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer, the surface temperature of the fixing roller, and the non-offset region in the fixing roller of the present invention. In the case of (-), the non-offset region hardly changes with respect to the change in the film thickness of the surface release layer. Therefore, the film thickness can be set arbitrarily, but in consideration of productivity and durability of the fixing roller, the practical range of the film thickness is 1 to 80 μm, and the range of 5 to 50 μm. Optimal range.

[Experiment 7. Relationship between Thermal Emissivity and Thermal Conductivity] An experimental result regarding the relationship between the thermal emissivity from the roller surface and the thermal conductivity of the roller in the fixing roller of the present invention will be described. The fixing roller used in this experiment was test piece S1.
1, the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm. Also,
The conventional fixing roller for comparison is the test piece R1.
1, the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.

FIG. 21 shows the relationship between the thermal emissivity from the roller surface and the thermal conductivity, and the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal and the thermal conductivity. -The heat emissivity from the surface of the metal, the surface exposure ratio of the metal and the fixing roller
There is a correlation with the thermal conductivity of La, the higher the thermal conductivity is, the smaller the thermal emissivity is, and the higher the surface exposure ratio of the metal is,
It was revealed that the thermal conductivity was high.

Regarding the relationship between the thermal emissivity and the thermal conductivity, a great difference occurs even if the type of the metal element or the metal alloy forming the surface release layer is different, although there is some change in the value. It became clear that it wasn't.

Next, the fixing elastic roller, the fixing elastic belt, and the self-heating type fixing elastic roller of the second to fifth embodiments.
The result of a characteristic experiment of a la (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a fixing elastic roller) will be described. The experimental results shown below are the experimental results for the fixing elastic roller of the second embodiment, but some of the experimental results for the third to fifth embodiments are also described.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment will be described. The fixing elastic roller has the structure of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the core metal is an aluminum hollow cylinder, and the diameter is 60 mm.
A product having a thickness of 8 mm and an axial length of 320 mm is used.

A test piece S21 is a plurality of roller groups having different film thicknesses of the surface release layer 64 in the range of 1 to 100 μm,
The test piece S22 is a plurality of rollers having different surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 64 in the range of 0.1 to 100 μm, and the test piece S23 is S23 where the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is the wavelength of radiation. It is a plurality of roller groups different in the range of 0.1 to 0.65 in 5 μm to 10 μm. Other physical properties of the surface release layer are described in the explanation of each experimental result. The pressure elastic roller used as a pair with the fixing elastic roller of the present invention is the same as that used in the experiment of the first embodiment.

The conventional fixing elastic roller shown for comparison is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, but the core metal has the same size as the above test piece, and the surface release layer is made of PTFE.
And a PFA composite material. In the comparative test piece R21, the thickness of the surface release layer 64 is 1 to 100 μm.
, And the test piece R22 is a plurality of roller groups having different surface roughness Rz of the surface release layer 64 in the range of 0.1 to 100 μm.

The experimental method is the same as the experimental method in the first embodiment.

[Experiment 8. Power Consumption of Fixing Elastic Roller] The power consumption of the fixing elastic roller was measured. Test piece is S
21, the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is 0.15 and 0.65.
Two of them were tested. Test piece R2 for comparison
1 was used.

As the experimental result, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

Briefly explaining the experimental results, in order to keep the same surface temperature as compared with the conventional fixing elastic roller,
Heater power consumption can be reduced by about 30%.

[Experiment 9. Power Consumption for Maintaining Surface Temperature of Fixing Elastic Roller at a Predetermined Temperature] When the emission spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is changed in the range of 0.0 to 1.0, Surface temperature of 120 °, 160 ° and 200
The power consumption to maintain the temperature was measured. As the test piece, S21 was used, and for comparison, test piece R21 was used.

As the experimental result, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

The experimental results will be briefly described. When the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is the same, the power consumption can be reduced by about 10% or more as compared with the conventional fixing elastic roller. Even if the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is not controlled to be lower than the temperature during the copying operation during the period when the copying operation is not performed, the power corresponding to the saving power obtained by the temperature control, or more The power saving effect was obtained.

[Experiment 10. Effect of Surface Emissivity on Power Consumption] As an experiment related to Experiment 9, the effect of surface emissivity of the fixing elastic roller on power consumption was examined.

As the experimental result, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

Briefly explaining the experimental results, the effect of reducing the power consumption due to the difference in surface emissivity is observed, and the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation of the surface release layer is smaller than 0.65. In the range, the effect of reducing the power consumption was confirmed, which corresponds to the power consumption reduction in the general standby mode in which the surface temperature of the conventional fixing roller is lowered by 10 °.

In this experiment, not only the fixing elastic roller but also the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment) and the fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment) have some effect. Even if there were differences, the same effect of reducing power consumption was confirmed.

Further, a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (5th
Also in Example), when the roller surface was heated and maintained at a predetermined temperature, the effect of reducing the power consumed by the heating resistor due to the small emissivity of the surface release layer was confirmed.

In connection with Experiments 1 to 3 relating to power consumption described above, the difference in power consumption due to the difference in the film thickness of the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller and the surface roughness of the surface release layer There was no difference in power consumption due to the difference. In addition to the fixing elastic roller, a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), a fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth embodiment). In Example), no particular difference was found.

[Experiment 11. Fixing performance of fixing elastic roller]
The fixing performance of the fixing elastic roller was tested. The experiment is
Between the roller pair consisting of the fixing elastic roller and the pressing elastic roller of the present invention, the recording paper on which the unfixed toner image formed by the standard toner used by the applicant is passed. Then, the fixing process was performed. The test piece uses S21, and the thickness of the surface release layer is 40 μm. For comparison, a test piece R21 was used, and the surface release layer had a thickness of 40 μm.

Next, the reflection density of the fixed toner image was measured by a reflection density measuring device (Model RD-918 manufactured by Macbeth Co.) to obtain two kinds of image reflection density of 0.8 and 1.4. Select, and apply a load of 1 kg to a sand eraser (NO.502, manufactured by Lion Corp.) on the surface of the toner image and rub it back and forth three times, then measure the image reflection density again and measure the previous reflection. The fixing strength ratio was obtained by calculating the ratio with the density.

As the experimental result, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

The experimental results will be briefly described. When the image reflection density before rubbing with the sand eraser was 0.8, the fixing strength ratio was 0.6 or more, and the image reflection density before rubbing with the sand eraser was 1.4.
In this case, it is known that if the fixing strength ratio is 0.7 or more, the fixing strength that does not hinder the use of the recording paper can be obtained. However, as is clear from FIGS. According to the roller, if the fixing elastic roller temperature is the same, a stronger fixing performance than the conventional fixing roller can be obtained, and in order to obtain the same fixing strength, the fixing roller has a higher fixing performance than the conventional fixing roller. It can be seen that the fixing process can be performed at a surface temperature lower by 20 ° C.

[Experiment 12. Relationship between Spectral Emissivity and Non-Offset Temperature Range] Spectral emissivity of surface release layer of fixing elastic roller and unfixed toner on recording paper adheres to the surface of fixing elastic roller and further fixing The relationship with the surface temperature region (non-offset temperature region) of the fixing elastic roller in which the toner attached to the surface of the elastic roller transfers to the recording paper and does not cause the offset phenomenon was tested.

The fixing elastic roller used in this experiment is test piece S23, and the conventional fixing elastic roller for comparison is test piece R23.

The pressure elastic roller is formed by laminating an elastic layer made of silicon rubber having a thickness of 6 mm and a release layer made of a fluororesin tube having a thickness of 70 μm on the aluminum core metal described above. There is an adhesive layer between the core metal and the elastic layer and between the elastic layer and the release layer.

In the experimental method, the fixing elastic roller and the pressing elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed is set to 350 mm / sec. A recording paper on which an unfixed toner image is formed by a standard toner used by the present applicant between a roller pair consisting of a fixing elastic roller and a pressing elastic roller (in this experiment, An amount of 64 g / m ² ) was passed through for fixing processing, and the presence or absence of offset was inspected.

As the experimental result, the same result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

To briefly explain the experimental results, when the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller is in the range of 0.1 to 0.65 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation, It can be seen that the fixing elastic roller has a non-offset temperature region (a) having a sufficient temperature range.

The fact that the non-offset temperature region (a) is shifted to the low temperature side as compared with the conventional fixing elastic roller is as follows.
This means that the operating temperature can be kept lower than that of conventional devices, which means that power consumption can be reduced. Also,
It can also be seen that in order to expand the non-offset temperature region (a), the spectral emissivity can be increased by increasing the volume ratio of PTFE contained in the surface release layer.

[Experiment 13. Relationship between Thickness of Surface Release Layer and Offset Phenomenon] The relationship between the thickness of the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller and the offset phenomenon was tested. The fixing elastic roller used in this experiment, the conventional fixing elastic roller for comparison.
The structure of the roller and the pressurizing elastic roller was the same as in Experiment 12. The same as the above, and the experimental method is the same as in Experiment 12. Is the same as

The same experimental result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

To briefly explain the experimental results, the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer in the conventional fixing elastic roller, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller, and the non-offset area is as shown in FIG. In the conventional fixing elastic roller, the non-offset area fluctuates in response to the change in the film thickness of the surface release layer, and in particular, the thin film thickness side is advantageous in terms of securing the fixing strength and saving the power consumption. In the above, the surface temperature range of the fixing roller in the non-offset area becomes narrow and it becomes unpractical.

On the other hand, in the fixing elastic roller of the present invention, the film thickness of the surface release layer and the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller,
The relationship between the non-offset area and the non-offset area is as shown in FIG. 20. In the fixing elastic roller of the present invention, the non-offset area hardly changes with respect to the change in the film thickness of the surface release layer. Therefore, the film thickness can be set arbitrarily, but in consideration of productivity and durability of the fixing roller, the practical range of the film thickness is 1 to 80 μm, and the range of 5 to 50 μm. Optimal range.

In this experiment, not only the fixing elastic roller but also a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), a fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller are used. The roller (fifth embodiment) obtained almost the same result, and no particular difference was observed.

[Experiment 14. Relationship between thermal emissivity and thermal conductivity]
An experiment was conducted on the relationship between thermal emissivity and thermal conductivity. The structure of the fixing elastic roller used in this experiment is the same as in Experiment 12. Is the same as

The same experimental result as that of the first embodiment was obtained. For details of the experimental results, refer to the experimental results of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG.

The experimental results will be briefly described. The relationship between the thermal emissivity from the surface of the roller and the thermal conductivity of the roller is as shown in FIG. 21, and the thermal radiation from the surface of the fixing elastic roller is shown. There is a correlation between the thermal conductivity and the thermal conductivity of the fixing roller, and it is clear that the higher the thermal conductivity, the smaller the thermal emissivity, that is, the more advantageous the thermal conductivity, the less the heat loss. Natsuta.

As is clear from the results of Experiment 6, even if the film thickness of the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller is thin, a sufficient non-offset temperature region can be secured, so that a thin film thickness with high thermal conductivity is obtained. With this, a large energy saving effect can be obtained.

Regarding the relationship between the thermal emissivity and the thermal conductivity, a large difference occurs even if the type of the metal element or the metal alloy forming the surface release layer is different, although there is some change in the value. It became clear that it wasn't.

In this experiment, not only the fixing elastic roller but also the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), the fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and the self-heating type fixing elastic roller are used. The roller (fifth embodiment) obtained almost the same result, and no particular difference was observed.

[Experiment 15. Relationship between Exposure Amount of Low Emissive Material in Surface Release Layer and Spectral Emissivity] An experimental result regarding the relationship between the exposure amount of low emissive material in the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller and the spectral emissivity will be described.

FIG. 22 shows that the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller has a release agent of PTFE and a radiation wavelength of 5 to 10.
When formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of a metal or a metal alloy, which is a low emissive material having a spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of μm of less than 0.65, the surface release layer of the fixing elastic roller is spectrally separated. When the emissivity is 0.65, the spectral emissivity of the radiation of the low radioactive substance (metal or metal alloy simple substance) mixed in the surface release layer (spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of wavelength 5 to 10 μm), The exposure ratio of the low radioactive substance (metal or metal alloy) in the surface area of the fixing elastic roller is shown.

Considering the releasability on the surface of the fixing elastic roller (the property that the toner easily separates from the roller), a larger amount of the releasable substance (for example, PTFE) is deposited on the surface of the release layer. However, the low-emissivity substance (for example, metal or metal alloy) is preferably a substance capable of reducing the thermal emissivity with a smaller amount, that is, a substance having a small spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation. For example, in the case of metals and metal oxides, at least the exposure ratio of the metal to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller can reduce the thermal emissivity.

Further, regarding the fixing elastic roller in which the surface release layer is made of the composite material made of the mixture of PTFE and aluminum, in the measurement experiment of the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of the radiation wavelength of 5 to 10 μm, The same result was obtained as in the case of one example.

The details are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.
Please refer to the experimental results of the examples. The experimental results will be briefly described. Since the fixing elastic roller of the present invention has a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less, if the exposure ratio of aluminum in the surface area of the fixing elastic roller is set to about 18% or more, I know it's good.

With respect to the fixing elastic roller in which the surface release layer is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of PTFE and aluminum, the exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller and the surface temperature of the roller. Regarding the relationship of the power consumption required to maintain the temperature at 200 ° C., the same result as in the case of the first embodiment was obtained.

The details are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.
Please refer to the experimental results of the examples. Briefly explaining the experimental results, if the exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller of the present invention is about 18% or more, the surface release layer is composed of only PTFE, and the aluminum is exposed on the surface. It is possible to reduce the power consumption by 10% or more (reduced from 275 kw to 230 kw in FIG. 15) as compared with the conventional fixing elastic roller that does not have (surface exposure ratio 0%).

As the metal material which is a low emissivity material, aluminum, nickel, chromium, iron, titanium, zinc or the like can be used. Even if there is a slight difference in the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer, the spectral emissivity is small. It is clear that setting the ratio to 0.65 or less has the effect of reducing power consumption, and that PTFE, silicon rubber, etc., as well as PTFE, also function as a release material and have similar effects. It was

For the fixing elastic roller in which the surface release layer is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of PTFE and nichrome (metal alloy), the spectral emissivity measurement experiment in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation was conducted. The same result as in the first embodiment was obtained.

The details are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.
Please refer to the experimental results of the examples. The experimental results will be briefly described. Since the fixing elastic roller of the present invention has a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less, if the exposure ratio of nichrome to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller is set to about 23% or more. I know it's good.

With respect to the fixing elastic roller in which the above-mentioned surface release layer is formed of a composite material composed of a mixture of PTFE and nichrome, the exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller and the surface temperature of the roller. Regarding the relationship of the power consumption required to maintain the temperature at 200 ° C., the same result as in the case of the first embodiment was obtained.

The details are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.
Please refer to the experimental results of the examples. Briefly explaining the experimental results, if the exposure ratio of aluminum to the surface area of the fixing elastic roller of the present invention is about 23% or more, the surface release layer is composed of only PTFE, and the surface of the nichrome is exposed. Not available (0% surface exposure ratio) Conventional fixing elastic roll
It is possible to reduce power consumption by 10% or more as compared with La.

As the metal alloy material which is a low emissivity material, in addition to nichrome, Monel metal, inconel, chromel alumel, brass, constantan manganin, etc. are used, even if there is some difference in the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer. Setting the spectral emissivity to 0.65 or less has the effect of saving power consumption, and PTF is used as a release material.
In addition to E, it has been revealed that PFA, silicone rubber, etc. function similarly and have the same effect.

[Experiment 16. Effect of Fixing Elastic Roller on Line Image Quality] Toner with fixed hardness such as silicone rubber and fluororubber used in the elastic layer of the fixing elastic roller
An experiment was conducted on the effect on the line width of the image.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment had an outer diameter of 60 mm in which an elastic layer made of silicon rubber and a release layer were sequentially laminated on the core metal described above via an adhesive layer. The hardness of the rubber that forms the elastic layer (JIS-
In A), a plurality of different rollers were adjusted in the range of 10 to 80 °. For comparison, a fixing roller (outer diameter of 60 mm) having no elastic layer and only a release layer was prepared.

The pressure elastic roller is composed of a cored bar made of an aluminum hollow cylinder having a diameter of 48 mm, a thickness of 6 mm and an axial length of 320 mm as described above, and an elastic layer made of a silicon rubber having a thickness of 6 mm. A release layer made of a fluororesin tube having a thickness of 70 μm is laminated, and a core metal and an elastic layer are provided.
An adhesive layer was used between the elastic layer and the release layer.

The experimental method is as follows. First, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, the fixing roller). The linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the fixing roller pair is 350 mm / sec.
Set to.

Formation of an unfixed toner image having a line width of 250 .mu.m formed by a standard toner used by the present applicant between a roller pair consisting of a fixing elastic roller and a pressure elastic roller. Recording paper (basis weight of 64 g / m ^{2 in} this experiment)
And the fixing process, and the line width is measured.

For comparison, a fixing roller having no elastic layer and only a releasing layer is passed through a recording paper on which an unfixed toner image is formed under the same conditions as above to perform a fixing process, and a line width is set. taking measurement.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the experimental results. In the fixing roller having only the releasing layer without the elastic layer, the unfixed toner image having a line width of 250 μm is crushed by 270 μm when the fixing process is performed.
Although the line width expands to about m, in the fixing elastic roller provided with the elastic layer, the line width is small in the rubber hardness (JIS-A) range of 10 to 80 ° to obtain a more faithful image. The effect of the elastic layer was confirmed.

Further, even in the fixing elastic roller provided with a plurality of elastic layers, the rubber hardness of each elastic layer is 10 to 80 ° (JIS-
It was confirmed that the same effect can be obtained by setting the range of A). Further, in addition to the fixing elastic roller, a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), a fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (third embodiment). Similar results were obtained in the fifth embodiment.

[Experiment 17. Effect of fixing elastic roller on dot image quality] Effect of hardness of silicone rubber, fluororubber, etc. used in elastic layer of fixing elastic roller on dot size of fixed toner image I experimented.

The fixing elastic roller used for the experiment and the fixing roller for comparison were the same as those used in the above Experiment 16. The pressure elastic roller used was the same as the roller used in Experiment 16 above.

The experimental method is as follows. First, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, The linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the fixing roller pair is 350 mm / sec.
Set to.

Formation of an unfixed toner image having a dot diameter of 230 .mu.m formed by a standard toner used in the present applicant between a roller pair consisting of a fixing elastic roller and a pressure elastic roller. Recording paper (in this experiment, basis weight 64 g /
m ² ), fixing process is performed, and the dot diameter is measured.

For comparison, a fixing roller having no elastic layer but only a releasing layer was passed through a recording paper on which an unfixed toner image was formed under the same conditions as described above to perform fixing processing. To measure.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the experimental results. In the fixing roller having only the releasing layer without the elastic layer, the unfixed toner image having a dot diameter of 230 μm is crushed when the fixing process is performed.
The diameter is expanded to about 40 μm, but the rubber hardness (JIS-A) is 10 to 80 ° in the fixing elastic roller provided with the elastic layer.
It was found that the expansion of the dot diameter was small in the range of 3 and a more faithful image could be obtained, and the effect of the elastic layer was confirmed.

Further, even in the fixing elastic roller provided with a plurality of elastic layers, the rubber hardness of each elastic layer is 10 to 80 ° (JIS-
It was confirmed that the same effect can be obtained by setting the range of A). Further, in addition to the fixing elastic roller, a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), a fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (third embodiment). Similar results were obtained in the fifth embodiment.

[Experiment 18. Effect of Elastic Layer Thickness and Line Image Quality] Toner with fixed elastic layer thickness such as silicone rubber or fluororubber used for fixing elastic rollers
An experiment was conducted on the effect on the line width of the image.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment was a roller having an outer diameter of 60 mm in which an elastic layer made of silicon rubber and a release layer were sequentially laminated on the core metal described above via an adhesive layer.
The hardness of the rubber forming the elastic layer is 30 ° (JIS
-A), the thickness of the elastic layer was in the range of 0.05 mm to 15.0 mm, and a plurality of rollers having different thicknesses were adjusted. For comparison, a fixing roller (outer diameter 60 mm) having no elastic layer and only a release layer was prepared.

The pressure elastic roller has a rubber hardness of 40 ° (J
IS-A) elastic layer, 70 μm thick fluororesin resin
A release layer composed of a metal core and an elastic layer, and an adhesive layer between the elastic layer and the release layer were used.

In the experimental method, first, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is maintained at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, the fixing roller). The linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the fixing roller pair is 350 mm / sec.
Set to.

Formation of an unfixed toner image having a line width of 250 μm formed by a standard toner used in the present applicant between a roller pair consisting of a fixing elastic roller and a pressure elastic roller. Recording paper (basis weight of 64 g / m ^{2 in} this experiment)
And the fixing process, and the line width is measured.

For comparison, a recording roller on which an unfixed toner image is formed is passed through a fixing roller under the same conditions as above by a fixing roller having no elastic layer and only a releasing layer to fix the line width. To measure.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the experimental results. An unfixed toner image having a line width of 250 .mu.m was crushed by the fixing process with a fixing roller having no elastic layer and only a releasing layer, and was 260 .mu.
It was found that the line width spreads up to about m, but in the fixing elastic roller provided with the elastic layer, the line width spreads smaller as the thickness of the elastic layer increases, and a more faithful image can be obtained.

In the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), the total thickness of the elastic layers is 0.05 m.
Similar results were obtained in the range of m-15.0 mm. Further, similar results were obtained with the fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment) and the self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth embodiment).

From this result, it is considered appropriate that the thickness of the elastic layer of the fixing elastic roller is in the range of 0.05 mm to 15.0 mm.

[Experiment 19. Effect of Thickness of Elastic Layer and Dot Image Quality] The effect of the thickness of the elastic layer such as silicon rubber or fluororubber used for the fixing elastic roller on the dot diameter of the fixed toner image was tested.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment and the fixing roller for comparison were the same as those used in the experiment 17 above. The pressure elastic roller used was the same as the roller used in Experiment 17 above.

In the experimental method, first, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing roller (that is, The linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the fixing roller pair is 350 mm / sec.
Set to.

Formation of an unfixed toner image having a dot diameter of 230 .mu.m formed by a standard toner used by the present applicant between a roller pair consisting of a fixing elastic roller and a pressing elastic roller. Recording paper (in this experiment, basis weight 64 g /
m ² ), fixing process is performed, and the dot diameter is measured.

For comparison, a fixing roller having no elastic layer and only a releasing layer was passed through a recording paper on which an unfixed toner image was formed under the same conditions as above to fix the toner image. To measure.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the experimental results. In the fixing roller having only the releasing layer without the elastic layer, the unfixed toner image having a dot diameter of 230 μm is crushed when the fixing process is performed.
It was found that the dot diameter increases to about 40 μm or more, but in the fixing elastic roller provided with the elastic layer, the increase in the dot diameter decreases as the thickness of the elastic layer increases, and a more faithful image can be obtained.

Also in the fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), the total thickness of the elastic layers is 0.05 m.
Similar results were obtained in the range of m-15.0 mm. Further, similar results were obtained with the fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment) and the self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth embodiment).

From this result, it is considered appropriate that the thickness of the elastic layer of the fixing elastic roller is in the range of 0.05 mm to 15.0 mm.

[Experiment 20. Fixing Elastic Roller Warm-up Time] Conventionally, it has been a drawback that the fixing elastic roller has a long warm-up time for heating to a fixing possible temperature. This is because the heat capacity of the elastic layer forming the fixing elastic roller is large. Since the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention uses the composite material in which PTFE and the metal (eg, nickel) which is a low emissive material are mixed in the surface release layer, heat radiation from the roller surface is prevented. Since it is small, it is considered that the warm-up time is shortened, so an experiment was conducted to confirm this point.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment is a roller having an outer diameter of 60 mm obtained by sequentially laminating the elastic layer and the surface release layer on the core metal described above through the adhesive layer. Yes, the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer was adjusted to 0.65.

The conventional fixing elastic roller for comparison has the same structure as the fixing elastic roller used in the experiment, but the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is adjusted to 0.9. .

The experimental method is as follows: the fixing elastic roller is supported in a space so as not to come into contact with other rollers and other members, and the heater installed inside the roller is energized to obtain the roller surface temperature. Is 16
The heating time to 0 ° C. is measured.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing experimental results, and it has been found that the fixing elastic roller of the present invention rises to a predetermined temperature faster than the conventional fixing elastic roller. As described above, this uses a composite material in which PTFE and a low-emissivity metal (eg, nickel) are mixed in the surface release layer, so that the loss due to heat radiation from the roller surface is reduced. It is thought to be due to the small number.

[Experiment 21. Durability of Fixing Elastic Roller] The durability of the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention was tested.

The fixing elastic roll according to the invention used in the experiments
The la is a roller having an outer diameter of 60 mm in which an elastic layer and a surface release layer are sequentially laminated on the core metal described above via an adhesive layer, and the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is 0.65. Adjusted to.

The conventional fixing elastic roller for comparison has the same structure as the fixing elastic roller used in the experiment, but the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is adjusted to 0.9. .

In the experimental method, first, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is maintained at a predetermined constant temperature (here, 160 ° C. and 140 ° C.) at which fixing can be performed, and the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are fixed. The pressure is applied, and the peripheral velocity of the fixing elastic roller (that is, the linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the roller pair) is set to 350 mm / sec.

Next, an unfixed toner image formed by the standard toner used by the present applicant is formed between the roller pair consisting of the fixing elastic roller and the pressing elastic roller. 6 sheets of recording paper (in this experiment, the basis weight is 64 g / m ² ) are passed through for fixing processing, and the number of processed sheets until the fixing elastic roller is destroyed is counted.

FIG. 28 shows the experimental results. When the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is kept at 160 ° C., the roller core metal bar of the conventional fixing elastic roller is processed when about 50,000 sheets are processed. The elastic layer made of rubber peeled off and wrinkles were formed on the recording paper which had been subjected to the fixing treatment, but the fixing elastic roller of the present invention showed no abnormality until about 80,000 sheets were processed. Further, when the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller was kept at 140 ° C., the fixing elastic roller of the present invention did not cause any abnormality even after processing about 100,000 sheets.

This is due to the heat radiation from the roller surface due to the use of a composite material in which PTFE and a low-emissivity metal (eg, nickel) are mixed in the surface release layer, as described above. Since the loss is small, the temperature drop of the fixing elastic roller during fixing process is small and the heating time of the roller by the heater is greatly reduced.Therefore, a rubber elastic layer is attached to the roller core metal. It is considered that this is because the thermal deterioration of the adhered primer layer is unlikely to occur.

[Experiment 22. Change in Fixing Performance Due to Surface Temperature Drop during Fixing Process] In the conventional fixing elastic roller, A3
When a fixing process for a large size recording paper is performed, the leading edge of the recording paper that is first fixed and the trailing edge of the recording paper that is finally fixed are not fixed during the fixing process. −
Since the surface temperature of the la is lowered, the fixing strength is lowered. Therefore, an experiment was conducted on the change of the fixing performance of the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention during the fixing process.

The fixing elastic roller used in the experiment is a roller having an outer diameter of 60 mm by sequentially laminating an elastic layer and a surface release layer on the core metal described above through an adhesive layer. Yes, the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer was adjusted to 0.65.

The conventional fixing elastic roller for comparison has the same structure as the fixing elastic roller used in the experiment, but the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer is adjusted to 0.9. .

The experimental method is as follows. First, the surface temperature of the fixing elastic roller is maintained at 160 ° C. at which fixing is possible, the fixing roller and the pressure elastic roller are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the peripheral speed of the fixing elastic roller is set. (That is, the linear velocity at which the recording paper passes through the roller pair) is 350 mm / s.
ec, an unfixed toner image formed by a standard toner used in the present applicant was formed between a roller pair consisting of a fixed elastic roller and a pressure elastic roller. A
The recording paper of 3 sizes is passed through for fixing processing.

Next, the reflection densities of the front end portion (position 10 mm away from the front end portion of the paper) and the rear end portion (position 10 mm away from the rear end portion of the paper) of the fixed toner image were measured. Measured with an instrument (Model RD-918 manufactured by Macbeth Co.), and two types with reflection density of 0.8 and 1.4,
A sand eraser (NO.502, manufactured by Lion Corp.) with a load of 1 kg applied to the surface of the toner image was reciprocated three times to rub it, and then the reflection density was measured again for the front and rear ends of the toner image. It is measured and the ratio with the reflection density before rubbing is determined, and this is defined as the fixing strength ratio. The closer the fixing strength ratio is to 1, the better the fixing performance.

29 and 30 are diagrams showing the experimental results.
As is apparent from FIG. 29, the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention has an overall fixing strength ratio higher than that of the conventional fixing elastic roller regardless of whether the reflection density of the image is 0.8 or 1.4. In addition to being high, the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention is less likely to lower the fixing strength ratio of the image trailing edge portion with respect to the fixing strength ratio of the image leading edge portion as compared with the conventional fixing elastic roller.

FIG. 30 shows the reflection density when the reflection density of the image is 1.4. In the fixing elastic roller according to the present invention, the reflection density of the rear end of the image with respect to the reflection density of the front end of the image is shown. Although the decrease is small, it can be seen that the conventional fixing elastic roller has a large decrease in the reflection density at the image rear end portion with respect to the image reflection end portion at the image front end.

This is because in the conventional fixing elastic roller, the surface release layer made of the low thermal conductive material such as fluororesin is formed on the elastic layer made of the low thermal conductive material such as silicon rubber. Since heat is not rapidly transferred from the layer to the surface release layer, if heat is taken from the roller surface when the leading edge of the recording paper passes, the internal elastic layer will be able to supply sufficient heat. This is because the trailing edge of the recording sheet passes without being performed, and the roller surface temperature decreases toward the trailing edge of the recording sheet.

On the other hand, in the fixing elastic roller of the present invention,
Since the surface release layer containing metal (such as nickel), which is a high thermal conductive material, is formed on the elastic layer made of a low thermal conductive material such as silicon rubber, heat transfer from the elastic layer to the surface release layer is quick. Therefore, even if heat is taken away when the leading edge of the recording paper passes, the internal elastic layer sufficiently replenishes the heat, so that the trailing edge of the recording paper is also exposed.
The surface temperature of the recording paper hardly drops, and good fixing processing can be performed as with the leading edge of the recording paper.

[Explanation of Experimental Results for Separation Claw of Fixing Device] The results of experiments conducted under various conditions for the separation claw of the fixing device provided with the surface release layer will be described below.

[Experiment 23. Surface Temperature and Power Consumption of Fixing Roller] Conventionally, in the fixing device, in order to save the power consumed for maintaining the temperature of the fixing roller while the copying operation is not performed, the fixing roller is reduced. The surrounding area was covered with a heat insulating material, but a separation claw or a cleaner for peeling the recording paper around the fixing roller.
Since the cooling member and the like are arranged in contact with the fixing roller, it is difficult to sufficiently cover them with a heat insulating material, and the effect of reducing heat dissipation was not sufficient.

Therefore, in the present invention, the separation claw is provided with the surface release layer described below to reduce the heat dissipation. Therefore, the power consumption of the fixing device was measured in order to confirm the effect.

The separation claw used in the experiment was one in which a surface release layer was provided on the nail body of the heat-resistant synthetic resin described above, and the surface release layer was a coating material containing PTFE as a main component. ,
It consists of a composite material in which nickel, which is smaller than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation of the coating material and is a good heat conductor, is mixed with PTFE in a volume ratio of 70%.

In the experimental method, first, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is arranged in the fixing device, and the internal halogen heater for heating is electrically heated through the temperature control circuit. The surface temperature was detected by the temperature detection sensor, the energization time of the heater was controlled so as to maintain a predetermined constant temperature, and the power consumed during the constant time was measured by the integrating wattmeter.

FIG. 31 shows the measurement results of the surface temperature of the fixing roller and the power consumption. The power consumed to keep the surface temperature of the fixing roller at 200 ° C. is the same as that of the conventional separating claw. The fixing device equipped with the fixing device had 290 kW, whereas the fixing device provided with the separating claw of the present invention has 275 kW, which is 5%.
The above power saving effect was confirmed.

In the separating claw of the present invention, since the material of the surface release layer is a low emissivity material and the heat radiation from the surface is small, the radiant heat radiated from the fixing roller is reflected by the separating claw. It is considered that this is done and returned to the fixing roller.

This separating claw is applied not only to the fixing roller (first embodiment) but also to the fixing elastic roller (second embodiment).
Embodiment), a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third embodiment), and a fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), and the separating claws are used in the second to fourth embodiments. Even when applied to the example, the same power saving effect was observed.

Further, this separating claw can be applied to a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth embodiment), and when the separating claw is applied to the fifth embodiment, a similar power saving effect can be obtained. Admitted.

[Experiment 24. Surface exposure ratio and image noise of high thermal conductive material] Fix on the recording paper when copying an image on both sides of the recording paper or a composite image where another image is copied on the recording paper When the first processed toner image is in a reheated state during the fixing process of the next image, the hot separation claw may come into contact with the toner image, which may deform or disturb the toner image. Such image deformation or disorder is called image noise, and noise is more likely to occur as the image density increases.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the surface releasing layer is provided on the separating claw of the fixing device, the temperature of the separating claw is lowered depending on the surface exposure ratio of nickel, which is a high thermal conductive material contained in the surface releasing layer. In addition, since it is expected to diffuse the heat of the toner image, in order to confirm the effect, the surface exposure ratio of nickel, which is a high thermal conductive material contained in the surface release layer, and the image density at which image noise occurs are compared. I experimented with relationships.

The separation claws of the fixing device used in the experiment were obtained by providing a surface release layer on the main body of the heat-resistant synthetic resin described above, and the surface release layer was a coating containing PTFE as a main component. The film material is made of a composite material in which nickel, which is smaller than the spectral emissivity of the coating material in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm and is a good heat conductor, is mixed in 15% and 30%.

In the experimental method, an unfixed toner image was formed on the second surface (back surface) of the recording paper on which the toner image was fixed on the first surface, and fixing processing was performed to examine the occurrence of image noise. .

FIG. 32 shows the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the nickel contained in the surface release layer of the separation claw and the image density at which image noise occurs. The surface exposure of the nickel contained in the surface release layer is shown in FIG. When the ratio is 15%, the image density ID is 0.6.
(Half image) Image noise was observed at the above, and the surface exposure ratio of nickel contained in the surface release layer was 30% (spectral emissivity 0.
5 and FIG. 14 of Experiment 4), the image density ID is 1.2.
(Solid image) It was confirmed that the image noise was generated in the above range and that the image noise was not generated in the below range.

This is because the nickel contained in the surface release layer is exposed on the surface of the separation nail and the heat conductivity of the surface of the separation nail is high. Therefore, when the separation nail comes into contact with the toner image, the heat is quickly diffused. It is considered that the image noise is not generated because the temperature of the toner image is lowered and the temperature of the separation claw is also lowered.

The relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal or metal alloy contained in the surface release layer and the spectral emissivity is as described with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 17 in Experiment 4 described above. The spectral emissivity decreases as the ratio increases. Further, the relationship between the surface exposure ratio (heat emissivity) of the metal contained in the surface release layer and the thermal conductivity is as described with reference to FIG. 21 in Experiment 7 above, and the thermal conductivity also increases as the surface exposure ratio increases. Larger (smaller emissivity). This relationship does not make a big difference even if the type of metal is aluminum, nickel, iron, chromium, etc., or if it is a metal alloy.

Further, the separating claw is fixed to the fixing elastic roller (second
Example), a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers (third example), a fixing elastic belt (fourth example), and a self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth example). Also in the case, the effect of suppressing the occurrence of image noise was similarly confirmed.

[Experiment 25. Temperature of Separation Claw Base Material and Spectral Emissivity of Surface Release Layer] The separation claw is fixed in the fixing device.
The roller is in contact with the surface and is affected by heat from the fixing roller. Therefore, when the fixing roller was kept at 190 ° C. which is a temperature during a general fixing operation, the relationship between the temperature of the base material forming the separation claw and the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer was examined.

The separating claws of the fixing device used in the experiment are those in which a surface release layer is provided on the main body of the heat-resistant synthetic resin described above, and the surface release layer is a coating containing PTFE as a main component. A composite material prepared by mixing nickel into the film material and having a spectral emissivity in the range of 0.1 to 0.9 in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of the radiation of the coating material was prepared.

The experimental method was carried out by setting the surface temperature of the fixing roller to 19
Keeping the temperature at 0 ° C, the surface release layer has a spectral emissivity of 0.1 to 0.9.
The temperature of the separation nail base material was measured for the separation nails different in the range.

FIG. 33 shows the relationship between the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer of the separation claw and the temperature of the separation claw base material. The wavelength range of the radiation of the coating material of the surface release layer is 5 to 10 μm. It was confirmed that the internal temperature of the separation nail base material can be set to 120 ° C. or less by setting the spectral emissivity in (1) to less than 0.5.

It was also confirmed that the temperature can be kept low by providing the surface release layer having the above-mentioned spectral emissivity property with the guide plate other than the separating claw inside the fixing device, the heat insulating material and the like.

[Explanation of Experimental Results for Temperature Detecting Sensor of Fixing Device] The results of experiments conducted under various conditions for the temperature detecting sensor of the fixing device provided with the surface release layer will be described below.

[Experiment 26. Power Consumption of Fixing Device] Conventionally, in the fixing device, the surface temperature of the fixing roller is detected by a temperature detection sensor to control the temperature. Since the temperature detection sensor is in contact with the surface of the fixing roller, a release layer such as fluororesin was provided on the surface of the temperature detection sensor to protect the surface of the fixing roller and to prevent toner from adhering. , Had no purpose to reduce heat dissipation from the fixing device.

In the present invention, a surface release layer described below is provided on the surface of the temperature detecting sensor for the purpose of protecting the surface of the fixing roller, preventing toner adhesion, and reducing heat dissipation from the fixing device. It was To confirm the effect, the power consumption of the fixing device was measured.

The surface release layer of the temperature detecting sensor used in the experiment was a coating material containing PTFE as a main component, which had a spectral emissivity smaller than the spectral emissivity of the coating material in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm, and Nickel, which is a good heat conductor,
It is composed of a composite material in which 70% by volume of PTFE is mixed.

In the experimental method, first, the fixing roller of the first embodiment is arranged in the fixing device, and the internal halogen heater for heating is electrically heated through the temperature control circuit. The surface temperature was detected by the temperature detection sensor, the energization time of the heater was controlled so as to maintain a predetermined constant temperature, and the power consumed during the constant time was measured by the integrating wattmeter.

FIG. 34 shows the measurement results of the surface temperature of the fixing roller and the power consumption. The power consumed to keep the surface temperature of the fixing roller at 200 ° C. is the same as that of the conventional separating claw. The fixing device provided with the fixing device has a 290 kW, whereas the fixing device provided with the separating claw provided with the surface release layer of the present invention has a fixing device with a fixing device of 27 kW.
It was 0 kW, and it was possible to confirm a power saving effect of 5% or more.

This is because in the temperature detecting sensor of the present invention, the material of the surface release layer is a low emissivity material, and the heat radiation from the entire surface of the temperature detecting sensor is smaller than that of the conventional one. The relationship between the exposure ratio of the metal surface contained in the release layer and the spectral emissivity is as described with reference to FIG. 14 in Experiment 4 above, and the spectral emissivity decreases as the exposure ratio of the metal surface increases). It is considered that the radiant heat emitted from the temperature detection sensor is reflected by the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor and returned to the fixing roller, and that the heat absorption of the temperature detection sensor itself is reduced by the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor. .

This temperature detecting sensor is applied to the fixing roller (first embodiment), a fixing elastic roller (second embodiment), and a fixing elastic roller (plural elastic layers). Third
Embodiment), fixing elastic belt (fourth embodiment), self-heating type fixing elastic roller (fifth embodiment),
The same power saving effect was observed when the separating claw was applied to the second to fifth embodiments.

[Experiment 27. Surface exposure ratio and temperature response of high thermal conductivity material] As a surface release layer for temperature detection sensor,
A composite material in which a high thermal conductive material is mixed with a coating material containing PTFE as a main component is used, and a temperature detection sensor using such a material as a surface release layer is used to control the temperature of a fixing roller. The response was tested.

The surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor used in the experiment was a coating material containing PTFE as a main component and nickel, which is a high thermal conductive material, in a volume ratio of 10% to PTFE.
Mixed composite material (1), 30% mixed composite material (2),
50% mixed composite (3), 70% mixed composite
The four types of (4) and the fluororesin material (5) which is the surface release layer of the conventional temperature detection sensor for comparison. Also,
The surface release layer of the conventional temperature detection sensor for comparison is a fluororesin material.

In the experimental method, first, a temperature detecting sensor provided with a surface release layer made of the above-mentioned material was prepared, the fixing roller of the first embodiment was arranged in the fixing device, and the temperature detecting sensor was set to a predetermined value. Set to the detection position of. Next, the control target temperature of the temperature control circuit is set to 190 ° C., the halogen heater for heating inside the fixing roller is electrically heated through the temperature control circuit, and the surface of the fixing roller is detected by the temperature detection sensor. The temperature is controlled to detect the temperature and maintain the control target temperature.

FIG. 35 shows the experimental results. Line (5) shows a conventional example in which a fluororesin material is used for the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor. An overshoot that begins to descend is observed. Moreover, the peak value of the detected temperature is detected 30 seconds or more after the start of the temperature control.

On the other hand, when a composite material in which nickel is mixed is used for the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor, the line (1) is used for the 10% mixed material, the line (2) is used for the 30% mixed material, and the 50% mixed material is used. The line (3) shows the line (3), and the 70% mixed material shows the line (4). The higher the mixing ratio, the smaller the overshoot that exceeds the control target temperature of 190 ° C. The time to detect the peak value of the detected temperature is shortened to 30%.
With the mixed material (2), the peak value of the detected temperature is detected in about 1/2 the time as compared with the conventional one, and the detection sensitivity with respect to time is about doubled.

This is because the temperature detecting sensor of the present invention is
The nickel of high thermal conductive material contained in the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor is exposed on the contact surface of the fixing roller, and the fixing roller is exposed.
This is to quickly transfer the heat of the laser to the thermistor which is a temperature sensitive element.

The relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal or metal alloy contained in the surface release layer and the spectral emissivity is as described in Experiment 4 above with reference to FIGS. 14 and 17, and the surface exposure ratio of the metal or metal alloy is The larger the value, the smaller the spectral emissivity.
The relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal contained in the surface release layer and the thermal conductivity is as described with reference to FIG. 21 in Experiment 7 above, and the thermal conductivity increases as the surface exposure ratio increases (thermal emissivity). Becomes smaller). This relationship is not so different whether the type of metal is aluminum, nickel, iron, chrome, etc., or even a metal alloy, and if the spectral emissivity of the metal itself is 0.2 or less, the above-mentioned high thermal conductive material is used. Function as.

[Experiment 28. Durability of Surface Release Layer] The durability of the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor was tested.

The temperature detection sensor used in the experiment was PTF.
A coating material containing E as a main component and nickel, which is a high thermal conductivity material, mixed with PTFE in a volume ratio of 30% were provided with a surface release layer made of a composite material. Also,
A conventional temperature detection sensor for comparison has a surface release layer made of a fluororesin material.

In the experimental method, first, a temperature detecting sensor having a surface release layer made of the above-mentioned material was prepared, the fixing roller of the first embodiment was placed in the fixing device, and the temperature detecting sensor was set to a predetermined value. Set to the detection position of. Next, the control target temperature of the temperature control circuit is set to 190 ° C., the fixing processing of the recording paper is performed at a rate of 50 sheets per minute, and the abrasion amount of the surface release layer is measured after the processing of a predetermined number of sheets is completed.

FIG. 36 shows the experimental results. When the number of processed sheets was about 50,000, the wear amount of the conventional surface release layer made of the fluororesin material exceeded 4 μm.
The surface release layer made of the composite material mixed with TFE in a volume ratio of 30% showed almost no wear. Further, when the number of processed sheets was about 80,000, the amount of wear was remarkably large and exceeded 10 μm in the conventional surface release layer made of the fluororesin material. However, in the surface release layer made of the composite material according to the present invention,
It was less than 1 μm.

It is considered that in the surface release layer made of the composite material according to the present invention, the nickel contained therein is exposed on the surface, so that the abrasion resistance is remarkably improved.

In the above experiment, the abrasion due to the contact movement of the fixing roller and the temperature detecting sensor was measured. The guide plate for guiding the recording paper arranged around the fixing roller and the recording paper were measured. As for the abrasion of the surface release layer of the guide plate due to the contact with, the same excellent abrasion resistance was exhibited.

[0272]

As described above, the fixing device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the heating and conveying rotary member of the fixing means, that is, the fixing roller, the fixing elastic roller, the fixing elastic belt, and the self-heating type fixing roller. A material having a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less in the wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm, for example, a synthetic resin material such as PTFE, and a low radiation material such as nickel It is possible to control the surface temperature of the heating / transporting rotary body to be lower than the surface temperature of the conventional heating / transporting rotary body while maintaining the required fixing strength of the toner, since it is composed of the mixed material. , It is possible to reduce heat loss and power consumption without taking measures for preventing heat diffusion such as a heat insulating material. Since the surface temperature of the heating / transporting rotary body can be controlled to be lower than the surface temperature of the conventional heating / transporting rotary body, even if an operation start command is issued when the image forming apparatus is in the standby state, etc. The fixing operation can be started in a short time.
It has excellent effects.

In the case where the heating and conveying rotary member is provided with a single or a plurality of elastic layers, by providing the surface release layer made of the above composite material, it is possible to improve the temperature as compared with the case where the elastic layer is not provided. Fixing process to obtain high quality images becomes possible,
Further, the heating and transporting rotary body provided with the elastic layer can be improved in durability, which is a drawback, and has excellent effects.

When the surface release layer made of the above composite material is provided on the separating member for separating the recording paper from the heating and conveying rotator, the heat absorption rate of the separating member becomes small and the temperature rise becomes small. Not only can the separating member be made of a resin material having low heat resistance, but since the heat reflection from the separating member increases, the heating and conveying rotary member is secondarily heated by reflected heat, and as a result, at the time of starting the image forming apparatus. It is possible to reduce power consumption during standby. When the surface release layer made of the above composite material is provided on the separating member, the surface thermal conductivity becomes higher than that of the conventional resin material, so that it is fixed like the conventional separating member. Toner of
Image noise such as remelting of an image is not generated, and a high-quality image can be obtained, which is an excellent effect.

Further, when the surface release layer made of the above composite material is provided in the temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the heating and conveying rotary member, the surface emissivity of the temperature detecting means is low and the heat reflection increases. Similar to the case of the separating member, the heating and conveying rotary member is secondarily heated by reflected heat, and as a result, power consumption at the time of starting the image forming apparatus and at the time of standby can be reduced. Further, since the surface thermal conductivity of the temperature detecting means is higher than that of the conventional one, the followability with respect to the temperature change is improved, and the temperature control of the heating and conveying rotary member having high responsiveness to the temperature change can be performed. it can. Further, since the surface release layer has good release properties and abrasion resistance, it exhibits excellent effects such as highly reliable temperature control for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a copying apparatus to which a fixing device to which the present invention is applied is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a fixing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configurations of a fixing roller and a pressure elastic roller of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a guide plate.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a fixing elastic roller of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a fixing elastic roller having a plurality of elastic layers according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of a fixing elastic belt according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of a self-heating type fixing elastic roller of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a fixing roller temperature and power consumption.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a spectral emissivity of a surface release layer and power consumption.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another experimental result of the relationship between the spectral emissivity of the surface release layer and the power consumption.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a fixing roller temperature and a fixing strength.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a fixing roller temperature and a fixing strength.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a surface exposure ratio of a metal contained in a surface release layer and a spectral emissivity.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a surface exposure ratio of a metal contained in a surface release layer and power consumption.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the surface exposure ratio of the metal alloy contained in the surface release layer and the spectral emissivity.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a surface exposure ratio of a metal alloy contained in a surface release layer and power consumption.

FIG. 18: Spectral emissivity of surface release layer and fixing roller temperature,
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship with a non-offset temperature region.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the experimental results of the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer of the conventional fixing roller, the fixing roller temperature, and the non-offset temperature region.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing experimental results of the relationship between the film thickness of the surface release layer of the fixing roller of the present invention, the fixing roller temperature, and the non-offset temperature region.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the heat emissivity and the heat transfer coefficient of the surface of the fixing elastic roller.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the exposure amount of a low-emission substance alone contained in the releasing elastic roller surface release layer and the spectral emissivity.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a relationship between a rubber hardness of a fixing elastic roller and a line width of a line image after fixing.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the rubber hardness of the fixing elastic roller and the diameter of the dot image after fixing.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the thickness of the elastic layer of the fixing elastic roller and the line width of the line image after fixing.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the thickness of the elastic layer of the fixing elastic roller and the diameter of the dot image after fixing.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the heating time of the fixing elastic roller and the surface temperature.

FIG. 28 is a view showing an experimental result of durability of a fixing elastic roller.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a difference in fixing strength between the leading edge and the trailing edge of recording paper.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an experimental result of a difference in image reflection density between the leading edge and the trailing edge of recording paper.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the surface temperature of the fixing roller and the power consumption.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the exposure ratio of nickel in the surface release layer of the separation nail and the image density at which image noise occurs.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the spectral emissivity of the surface layer of the separation claw and the temperature of the separation claw base material.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an experimental result of the relationship between the surface temperature of the fixing roller and the power consumption.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing experimental results of surface exposure ratio and temperature response of the high thermal conductivity material.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an experimental result of durability of the surface release layer of the temperature detection sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Document Plate 3 Scanning Optical System 5 Paper Feeding Section 10 Photosensitive Drum 20 Fixing Device 21 Fixing Roller 22, 27 Core Bar 23 Surface Release Layer 24 Halogen Heater 25 Temperature Detection Sensor 26 Pressurizing Elastic Roller 28 Silicon Rubber layer 29 Fluororesin film layer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuro Ito 2-3-13 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yonekawa Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka 2-3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taizo Onishi 2-33-1 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device of an image forming apparatus, comprising a fixing means comprising a heating and conveying rotary member for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium, wherein the heating and conveying rotary member has a release layer on its surface. And the surface release layer is made of a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.65 or less in a wavelength range of radiation of 5 to 10 μm. 2. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface release layer is made of a composite material of a release material and a low heat radiation material. 3. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer is a metal. 4. A fixing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing unit composed of a heating / conveying rotary member for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium; and a separating unit for separating the recording medium from the heating / conveying rotating member. In the apparatus, the separation means has a release layer on the surface thereof, and the surface release layer of the separation means has a spectral emissivity in the wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation, A fixing device for an image forming apparatus, which is made of a material having a higher spectral conductivity in the wavelength range of the layer and a spectral emissivity of the material of the separating means in the wavelength range and having a higher thermal conductivity. 5. The surface release layer of the separating means has a spectral emissivity of 0. 0 in a wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm.
The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fixing device is made of a material having a ratio of 5 or less. 6. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the surface release layer of the separating means is composed of a composite material of a release material and a low heat radiation material. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the releasing material included in the composite material forming the surface releasing layer of the separating means is one or more kinds of fluororesins. Fixing device. 8. The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer of the separating means is a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.2 or less in a wavelength range of radiation wavelength of 5 to 10 μm. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6. 9. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer is one or more metals or metal alloys. apparatus. 10. The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material constituting the surface release layer has a radiation wavelength of 5 to 10 μm.
7. The fixing device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fixing device is a material having a thermal conductivity of 1 w / mk or more in a wavelength range of m. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing unit configured by a heating / conveying rotator for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium; and a temperature detecting unit for detecting a surface temperature of the heating / conveying rotator. In the fixing device, the temperature detecting means has a release layer on its surface, and the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means has a wavelength of radiation of 5 to 10 μm.
The spectral emissivity in the wavelength region of is smaller than the spectral emissivity in the wavelength region of the surface release layer of the heating and conveying rotary member, and is composed of a material having high thermal conductivity. Fixing device. 12. The surface release layer of the temperature detecting means is made of a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.5 or less in a wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation. Fixing device of the image forming apparatus. 13. The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means is made of a composite material of a release material and a low heat emissive material. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the releasing material contained in the composite material forming the surface releasing layer of the temperature detecting means is one or more kinds of fluororesins. Fixing device. The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means is a material having a spectral emissivity of 0.2 or less in a wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation. Item 14. A fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to item 13. 15. The image according to claim 13, wherein the low heat emissive material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means is one or more metals or metal alloys. Fixing device for forming device. 16. The low thermal emissivity material contained in the composite material forming the surface release layer of the temperature detecting means has a thermal conductivity of 1 w / m in a wavelength range of 5 to 10 μm of radiation.
The fixing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the fixing device is made of a material having k or more.