JPH11133778A - Fixing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device equipped with a releasing-agent supply device which evenly supplies a small amount of releasing agent to the surface of a rotary body such as a roll or belt for fixing toner, and an image forming device using the fixing device. SOLUTION: The fixing device 1 has a releasing-agent supply device 11 for supplying oil to the fixing roll 2 in order to prevent recording paper P passed through a nip N from sticking to the surface of the fixing roll 2. The releasing-agent supply device 11 has a oil tank 4 which stores the oil 13, a releasing-agent hold roll 15 which rotates holding the oil 13 on the surface, an oil regulation blade 16 which abuts on the surface of the releasing-agent hold roll 15 to regulate the amount of oil carried by the releasing-agent hold roll 15, and a donor roll 19 which supplies the oil, supplied from the releasing- agent hold roll 15, to the fixing roll 2. The oil regulation blade 16 is a metal plate in the form of a thin film having a thickness of 0.02 mm-0.075 mm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image transferred to recording paper in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a fixing device of an image forming apparatus,
By passing a recording sheet carrying an unfixed toner image on the surface through a nip formed by a pair of rotating members such as a pair of rolls or a belt pressed against each other, one of the rotating members of the pair of rotating members or A fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image on the surface of a recording sheet by heating with a heat source incorporated in both rotating members and pressing at a nip portion is widely used.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional fixing device. FIG. 4 shows a fixing roll 50 rotating in the direction of arrow A and a fixing roll 50 pressed against the fixing roll 50.
Pressure roll 51 rotating in the direction B opposite to the direction of rotation
The recording paper P carrying the unfixed toner image T on its surface, which has been conveyed to the nip N between the fixing roll 50 and the pressure roll 51, is heated and pressed at the nip N to form the unfixed toner. A fixing device for fixing the image T to the recording paper P is shown.

In such a fixing device, the nip portion N
In some cases, a part of the unfixed toner image heated and pressurized may be offset on the surface of the fixing roll 50, so that the recording paper P passing through the nip portion N may adhere to the fixing roll 50 and cause troubles such as winding. There is a problem of getting up.
Therefore, such a fixing device is usually provided with a release agent supply device that supplies a release agent to the surface of the fixing roll 50 for preventing the recording paper P from adhering to the fixing roll 50 in many cases. (See JP-A-55-7795 and JP-A-56-5576). As the release agent, silicone oil or the like is used, and its application amount is about several mg to several tens mg per recording paper A4 size sheet.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing device includes an oil tank 56 for storing oil 55 and an oil tank 56 which is partially immersed in the oil 55 in the oil tank 56 and rotates in the direction of arrow D. The release agent carrying roll 57 that pumps up the oil 55, the oil regulating blade 58 that regulates the amount of oil pumped by the releasing agent carrying roll 57 to a predetermined amount, and the amount of oil regulated by the oil regulating blade 58 is once received. Releasing agent supply device 5 having a donor roll 59 for supplying the same to fixing roll 50.
4 are provided.

When the fixing roll 50 of this fixing device rotates in the direction of arrow A, the donor roll 59 that is in pressure contact with the fixing roll 50 rotates in the direction of arrow C, and the release agent that is in contact with the donor roll 59 accordingly. Carrying roll 57 is arrow D
And the oil 55 in the oil tank 56 is pumped up. The pumped oil is supplied to the oil regulating blade 58.
Is regulated to a predetermined regulated amount by the donor roll 59.
Is supplied to the fixing roll 50 through the fixing roller 50. In this manner, the nip portion N
This prevents the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P heated and pressed from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 50.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of a conventional fixing device. As shown in FIG. 5, a releasing agent supply device 64 provided in the fixing device has an oil tank 6 at the lower end.
6 is immersed in an oil 65, and the upper end thereof is
The oil 65 in the oil tank 66 by capillary action
An oil-applied felt 61 for sucking up and supplying the fixing roll 60 to the fixing roll 60 and an oil regulating blade 68 for regulating the oil supplied to the fixing roll 60 to a predetermined amount are provided. When the fixing roll 60 of the fixing device rotates in the direction of arrow A, oil is sucked up from the oil application felt 61 by capillary action, and the oil is applied to the surface of the fixing roll 60. The oil applied to the surface of the fixing roll 60 is regulated to a predetermined amount by an oil regulating blade 68. This prevents the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P heated and pressed in the nip N from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 60.

[0008]

Conventionally, as an oil regulating blade used in a fixing device, the surface of a blade supporting member formed of a leaf spring such as phosphor bronze is provided with a rubber hardness in view of adhesion to a mating roll. : JIS A HS45
Those coated or bonded with a heat-resistant rubber such as fluorine rubber having a temperature of about 80 to 80 degrees are widely used. If the rubber hardness is too hard, the followability to the mating roll is poor, and if the rubber hardness is too soft, the pressure for regulating the oil supply becomes low, so that the hardness in the above range, more preferably JIS A
It is considered that the range of HS 60 degrees to 70 degrees is preferable.
The contact pressure between the oil regulating blade and the mating roll can be adjusted by changing the amount of deflection of the blade supporting member.

When the oil regulating blade having such a structure is pressed against the mating roll, relatively stable oil supply can be performed at the beginning of use, but as the cumulative use time increases, offset toner and paper dust are reduced. Foreign matter such as accumulates near the edge of the blade, passes through a contact portion between the roll and the edge, or accumulates in a gap between the roll and the edge, so that the amount of oil supplied to the fixing roll tends to fluctuate. In particular, if foreign matter passes through the contact portion between the roll and the edge and accumulates in the wedge-shaped gap between the roll and the blade, many oil streaks are generated in the circumferential direction of the fixing roll,
There is a locally excessive oil portion and an insufficient oil portion, and the releasability of the fixing roll is reduced, which may cause a problem such as paper wrapping.

In a fixing device of a full-color copying machine or a full-color printer, an unfixed toner image having a high layer thickness formed by superimposing yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images must be fixed. Therefore, the load on the fixing device is greater than that of the conventional single-color image forming apparatus.
By supplying a relatively large amount of oil g, the releasability of the recording paper is ensured.

In recent years, it has been required to reduce the supply amount of the release agent oil as much as possible in order to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated due to oil stains on the recording paper. An oil supply of about 2.0 mg is required. Thus, the conventional oil supply amount can be obtained by simply adjusting the parameters such as the edge shape of the oil regulating blade, the blade installation angle, the pressing load, the surface roughness of the release agent carrying roll, and the oil viscosity with the conventional configuration. It is difficult to reduce the oil supply to one order of magnitude less.

If the pressure of the oil regulating blade is increased in order to reduce the amount of oil supply, rubber on the blade surface is liable to be worn, and the driving torque of the entire fixing device is increased. Occurs. Also, when the oil supply amount is reduced, the oil supply to the fixing roll surface tends to be uneven due to the occurrence of oil streaks, etc.
If there is a portion where oil is not supplied, not only the releasability of the fixing roll is reduced, but also the service life of the fixing roll may be shortened.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a fixing device including a release agent supply device capable of uniformly supplying a small amount of a release agent to the surface of a rotating body such as a fixing roll or belt, and It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus using the fixing device.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device comprising a pair of rotating bodies having a nip portion which is pressed against each other, and which has been conveyed and has not been fixed on its surface. In a fixing device that fixes the unfixed toner image on the recording paper by heating and pressing the recording paper carrying the toner image sandwiched between the nips, the recording paper passing through the nip is placed on the surface of the rotating body. It has a release agent tank for holding a release agent for preventing adhesion, and a release agent carrying roll for forming at least a part of a release agent supply route by carrying the release agent on its surface and rotating. And a release agent supply unit that supplies the release agent in the release agent tank to the rotating body of the pair of rotating bodies that is in contact with the surface of the recording paper that holds the unfixed toner image. Abuts on the release agent-carrying roll surface And a releasing agent regulating blade for regulating the amount of the release agent carried by the release agent carrying roll,
The release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more.
It is a thin metal plate having a thickness of 075 mm or less.

The second object of the present invention to achieve the above object is as follows.
The fixing device includes a pair of rotating bodies having a nip portion pressed against each other, and heats and presses the conveyed recording paper carrying the unfixed toner image on the surface while sandwiching the recording paper between the nip portions. Thus, in the fixing device for fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording paper, the release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper passing through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of the rotating body; Releasing agent supply means for supplying the release agent in the mold agent tank to the first rotating body of the pair of rotating bodies, which is in contact with the surface of the recording paper that carries the unfixed toner image; A release agent regulating blade which abuts on the surface of the first rotating body to regulate the amount of the release agent carried to the nip by the first rotating body, wherein the release agent regulating blade has a thickness. 0.02mm or more, 0.075m
m or less.

The first object of the present invention to achieve the above object is as follows.
The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface, a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a toner image formed on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a recording sheet to a recording sheet; and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image transferred to the recording sheet to the recording sheet, wherein the fixing unit has a nip portion that is pressed against each other. The unfixed toner image is fixed on the recording paper by heating and pressing the recording paper having a pair of rotating bodies and carrying the unfixed toner image on the surface thereof while nipping the nip portion. A release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper passing through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of the rotating body; and supplying the release agent by rotating while holding the release agent on the surface. At least one of the routes The release agent in the release agent tank is formed by rotating the release agent in the release agent tank on the side of the pair of rotating bodies that comes into contact with the surface of the recording paper, which carries the unfixed toner image. A mold release agent supply means for supplying the mold release agent to the body, and a mold release agent regulating blade for regulating the amount of the mold release agent carried by the mold release agent carrying roll in contact with the surface of the mold release agent carrying roll; The agent regulating blade is a thin metal plate having a thickness of 0.02 mm or more and 0.075 mm or less.

The second object of the present invention to achieve the above object is as follows.
The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface, a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a toner image formed on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a recording sheet to a recording sheet; and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image transferred to the recording sheet to the recording sheet, wherein the fixing unit has a nip portion that is pressed against each other. The unfixed toner image is fixed on the recording paper by heating and pressing the recording paper having a pair of rotating bodies and carrying the unfixed toner image on the surface thereof while nipping the nip portion. A release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper that has passed through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of the rotating body; and a release agent in the release agent tank, the pair of rotating bodies. Of which, the above recording paper is undecided And a release agent supplying means for supplying to the first rotary member on the side in contact with the surface bearing the toner image, the first
A release agent regulating blade that abuts against the surface of the rotating body to regulate the amount of the release agent carried to the nip by the first rotating body, wherein the release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 m.
It is a thin metal plate having a thickness of not less than m and not more than 0.075 mm.

Here, the above-mentioned rotator includes all rotators used for fixing a toner image, such as a fixing roll or a fixing belt.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a fixing device of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment relating to the first fixing device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 1 has a nip N
And a pair of rolls having a fixing roll 2 and a pressure roll 3, and transporting the recording paper P, which has the unfixed toner image T on its surface, to the nip N
The unfixed toner image T is fixed on the recording paper P by heating and pressurizing.

The fixing device 1 includes a release agent supply device 11 for supplying a release agent to the fixing roll 2 for preventing the recording paper P passing through the nip N from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 2.
Is provided. In the present embodiment, as the release agent,
Silicone oil is used. The release agent is not limited to silicone oil, and any other oil may be used as long as it has excellent safety, durability, and release properties, or any release agent other than oil may be used. .

The release agent supply device 11 includes an oil tank 14 for storing the oil 13 and a release agent carrying roll 15 for forming a part of the release agent supply route by rotating the oil supply 14 while holding the oil 13 on the surface. A release agent regulating blade 16 that abuts on the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 to regulate the amount of oil carried by the release agent carrying roll 15; A donor roll 19 which receives the supply of oil from 15 and supplies it to the fixing roll 2
And

In this embodiment, the oil 13
Is equivalent to the release agent according to the present invention, the oil tank 14 in this embodiment is equivalent to the release agent tank according to the present invention, and the oil regulating blade 16 in this embodiment is Corresponds to the agent regulating blade. This fixing device 1
In 1, when the fixing roll 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow A, the donor roll 19 pressed against the fixing roll 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow C, and the release agent carrying roll 15 pressed against the donor roll 19 accordingly. It rotates in the direction of arrow D, and the oil 13 in the oil tank 14 is pumped. Although the pumped oil is excessively attached to the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15, the excess oil is returned to the oil tank 14 by the oil regulating blade 16, and only the oil regulated to a predetermined amount is used as the release agent. The donor roll 19 supported on the support roll 15
And supplied from the donor roll 19 to the fixing roll 2. Thus, an oil film is formed on the surface of the fixing roll 2 in an amount corresponding to a predetermined oil supply amount per unit area of the recording paper, and the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P heated and pressed in the nip N is formed. Adhesion to the surface of the fixing roll 2 is prevented, and fixing is performed without the recording paper P wrapping around the fixing roll 2.

The fixing roll 2 is formed by coating the surface of a cylindrical metal roll base 2_1 with a heat-resistant elastic layer 2_2 to a large thickness. Heaters 8, 9 are provided inside the fixing roll 2 and the pressure roll 3, and are heated to a predetermined temperature from the inside. Release agent carrying roll 15
Is an elastic layer 15_ on the surface of the metal roll base 15_1.
2 is coated and formed, and the donor roll 19 is also
An elastic layer 19_2 is formed by coating the surface of a metal roll base 19_1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the oil regulating blade in the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the oil regulating blade 16 has a length substantially equal to the entire width of the fixing roll 2 in the axial direction, a thin stainless film 18 as a blade body, and a phosphor bronze supporting the stainless film 18. The edge 18a at the tip of the stainless steel film 18 is made of a blade holder 17 and the elastic layer 1 on the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 is pressed by a predetermined pressing force.
5_2.

In the release agent supply device 11, the amount of oil supplied to the surface of the fixing roll 2 depends on the thickness of the oil film on the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 formed by the oil regulating blade 16 and its uniformity. It is determined. That is, the thickness of the oil film formed on the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 is not constant,
5, the amount of oil supplied to the surface of the fixing roll 2 also becomes non-uniform,
There is a possibility that a portion of excessive oil and a portion of insufficient oil are locally generated on the surface, and the releasability of the fixing roll is reduced, which may cause a problem such as wrapping of the paper.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have been studying the requirements of an oil regulating blade capable of uniformly supplying a small amount of oil to the surface of a fixing roll, in order to reduce the thickness of the oil regulating blade and the oil supply performance. A test for the relationship was performed. For the test, the fixing device 1 provided with the release agent supply device 11 shown in FIG. 1 was used. The thickness of the oil regulating blade 16 is 0.015 mm to 0.1 mm.
Width 10 by etching from thin stainless steel film
A rectangular strip-shaped stainless steel film 18 having a length of 315 mm is formed. This stainless film 18
As shown in FIG. 2, an oil regulating blade 16 is formed by attaching a stainless steel film 18 to a blade holder 17 made of phosphor bronze having a thickness of 0.3 mm and a length of 315 mm so that the tip 2 mm of the stainless film 18 protrudes from the blade holder 17. I do.

The oil regulating blade 16 is configured such that the edge 18a at the tip end of the stainless steel film 18 is pressed against the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 with a blade load of 0.1 kg to 6.0 kg. As the release agent carrying roll 15, an aluminum roll base 1 having a diameter of 24 mm is used.
The surface of 5_1 was coated with a 0.5 mm thick silicone rubber elastic layer 15_2 to have a diameter of 25 mm. The hardness of the silicone rubber used for the elastic layer 15_2 is 40 degrees, and the ten-point surface roughness Rz of the elastic layer 15_2 is 0.8 μm.

The donor roll 19 has a diameter of 22 mm.
The aluminum roll base 19_1 was coated with a 1.5 mm-thick silicone rubber elastic layer 19_2 to have a diameter of 25 mm. Elastic layer 1
The hardness of the silicone rubber used for 9_2 was 40 degrees, and the 10-point surface roughness Rz of the elastic layer 19_2 was 2.5 μm.
m.

The oil 13 used as a mold release agent is an amino-modified silicone oil (300 cs) having an amino group functional group at a terminal. Oil tank 14 has a depth of 1
A 0-mm-thick wick having a thickness of 4 mm was laid on the bottom thereof to store 50 g of oil. As the fixing roll 2, an elastic layer 2_2 of silicone rubber is formed on a surface of a cylindrical aluminum roll base 2_1 with a thickness of 2.5 mm.
It was coated, and then coated with a 30 μm-thick fluorine rubber to have a diameter of 50 mm.

As the pressure roll 3, a PFT (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkylvinyl copolymer) layer 3_2 is formed on the surface of a metal roll base 3_1 by 30 μm.
What was baked to the thickness of was used. The surfaces of the fixing roll 2 and the pressure roll 3 are heated to a surface temperature of 150 ° C. by built-in heaters 8 and 9, respectively. The linear velocity on the surface of the fixing roll 2 and the pressure roll 3 is 160 m.
m / sec.

The pressing force between the release agent carrying roll 15 and the donor roll 19 and the pressing force between the donor roll 19 and the fixing roll 2 were both set to 0.5 kg / cm.
The fixing device 1 configured as described above is incorporated in a full-color copying machine, and J paper (A4 size) manufactured by Company F is fed as a recording paper P in a horizontal insertion mode, and 2,000 copies are taken. The oil supply and the uniformity of the oil supply were tested.

As a result, when the thickness of the stainless steel film 18 of the oil regulating blade 16 is 1.0 mm, the rigidity of the stainless steel film 18 is too high to follow the surface roughness and surface undulation of the release agent carrying roll 15. Thus, it was difficult to uniformly supply oil to the surface of the fixing roll 2. Then, the blade load was increased, but there was a problem that the silicone rubber on the surface of the release agent carrying roll 15 was worn in a short period of time and the surface became rough.

On the other hand, when the thickness of the stainless steel film 18 is set to 0.015 mm, the stainless steel film 18 is deformed by heat due to a rise in the temperature of the release agent carrying roll 15 during operation, and the edge 18a is wavy and the blade width is reduced. It was difficult to obtain a uniform pressure contact force in all directions. Further, when the thickness of the stainless film 18 is 0.015 mm, the blade load cannot be increased due to the low blade rigidity, the ability to scrape foreign matters such as offset toner and paper powder is low, and the 2,000 sheets Oil streaks occurred on paper.

The thickness of the stainless steel film 18 is set to 0.02
mm and 0.075 mm or less, A
Oil having an oil supply amount of 0.1 mg or more and 1.0 mg or less per four size recording paper could be uniformly supplied to the surface of the fixing roll 2. The blade load at this time was 0.5 kg to 2.0 kg. Further, when the thickness of the stainless film 18 is 0.02 mm or more and 0.075 mm or less, foreign matters such as offset toner and paper powder are accumulated in the oil regulating blade 16 even when continuous copying is performed with a small amount of oil supply. Thus, fixing could be performed for a long period of time without generating oil streaks.

In this embodiment, a thin stainless steel film is used as the blade body of the oil regulating blade 16, but other than the stainless steel film, other steels such as carbon steel, nickel steel, chromium steel, molybdenum steel,
For copper alloys such as tungsten steel, manganese steel, and vanadium steel, phosphor bronze, nickel phosphor bronze, beryllium copper,
For other metals such as nickel silver, a thin metal plate such as a nickel alloy, a zinc alloy, and a titanium alloy can be used. However, among these, a thin metal plate of stainless steel or nickel phosphor bronze is most preferable.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the fixing device of the present invention. This embodiment is a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an embodiment related to the fixing device of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 21 includes a pair of rolls having a nip portion N that is pressed against each other, that is, a fixing roll 22 and a pressure roll 23. The unfixed toner image T is fixed on the recording sheet P by heating and pressing the recording sheet P carrying the unfixed toner image T across the nip portion N.

The fixing device 21 is provided with a release agent supply device 31 for supplying a release agent to the fixing roll 22 for preventing the recording paper P passing through the nip N from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 22. ing. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, silicone oil is used as the release agent. The oil 33 in this embodiment corresponds to a release agent according to the present invention, and the oil tank 34 in this embodiment corresponds to a release agent tank according to the present invention. Is
This corresponds to the release agent regulating blade according to the present invention.

The fixing roll 22 is formed by thickly coating a heat-resistant elastic layer 22_2 on the surface of a cylindrical metal roll base 22_1. Heaters 28 and 29 are provided inside the fixing roll 22 and the pressure roll 23, and are heated to a predetermined temperature from the inside. A release agent supply device 31 that supplies a release agent to the surface of the fixing roll 22 to prevent the recording paper P from adhering to the fixing roll 22 is provided upstream of the nip portion N of the fixing roll 22. I have.

The release agent supply device 31 is provided with an oil tank 34 for storing the oil 33, an oil application felt 39 for sucking up the oil 33 in the oil tank 34 and applying the oil 33 to the surface of the fixing roll 22, and an oil application felt 39. And an oil regulating blade 36 for regulating the amount of oil on the surface of the fixing roll 22 to a predetermined regulated amount. The oil regulating blade 36 is composed of a thin stainless film 38 which is a blade main body and has a length substantially equal to the axial length of the fixing roll 22, and a phosphor bronze blade holder 37 supporting the stainless film 38. The edge 38a of the leading end of the film 38 is configured to be pressed against the elastic layer 22_2 on the surface of the fixing roll 22 with a predetermined pressing force.

In the fixing device 21, when the fixing roll 22 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the oil 33 is sucked up from the lower end of the oil application felt 39 immersed in the oil 33 by capillary action and applied to the surface of the fixing roll 22. You. The applied oil excessively adheres to the surface of the fixing roll 22, but the excess oil is removed by the oil regulating blade 36 in contact with the surface of the fixing roll 22.
4 and only the oil regulated to a predetermined amount is carried on the fixing roll 22. Thus, an oil film corresponding to a predetermined oil supply amount per unit area of the recording paper is formed on the surface of the fixing roll 22, and is conveyed to the nip N. As a result, the unfixed toner image T on the recording paper P heated and pressed in the nip portion N is prevented from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 22, and the recording paper P is fixed without being wound around the fixing roll 22. Done.

Using this fixing device 21, a test was conducted on the relationship between the thickness of the oil regulating blade and the oil supply property as in the first embodiment. As a result, when the thickness of the stainless steel film 38 of the oil regulating blade 36 was in the range of 0.03 mm or more and 0.075 mm or less, a small amount of oil could be uniformly supplied to the surface of the fixing roll 22 for a long period of time. . At this time, the oil supply amount is 0.3 mg to 2.0 per A4 size recording paper.
mg could be set within the range.

The fixing device 21 is different from the fixing device 1 of the first embodiment in that an oil regulating blade 36 is provided.
Temperature of the edge 38a at the tip of the stainless steel film 38 tends to increase, and therefore, the stainless steel film 3
No. 8 tends to easily adhere to the surface of the offset toner. In order to prevent the offset toner from adhering to the stainless film 38,
It is preferable to coat the tip portion for regulating the oil amount with a fluororesin having a thickness of about several μm.

As apparent from the above embodiment, the fixing device of the present invention has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more and 0.075 mm or more.
By using a release agent regulating blade of a thin metal plate having a thickness of 0.1 mm or less, a very small amount of oil of about 0.1 mg to 2.0 mg per A4 size recording paper can be uniformly spread on the surface of the fixing roll. Can be supplied. next,
An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention using the above fixing device will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an image carrier 110 that carries an electrostatic latent image on its surface and rotates in the direction of arrow A, a charging device 120 that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 110, and an image carrier that uniformly charges the surface. An exposure device 130 for irradiating the surface of the image carrier 110 with exposure light based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 110, and developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 110 with toner to form a toner image Developing device 140 for forming
A transfer device 150 for transferring the toner image on the surface of the image carrier 110 to the recording paper P, a fixing device 160 for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording paper P to the recording paper P, and an image carrier 110 after the transfer. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a cleaning device 170 that removes toner remaining on the surface.

The fixing device 160 includes a pair of rolls having a nip portion N pressed against each other, that is, a fixing roll 161 and a pressure roll 162, and the unfixed toner image on the surface conveyed to the nip portion N. The unfixed toner image is fixed on the recording paper P by heating and pressurizing the recording paper P carrying the toner while sandwiching the nip N. The fixing device 160 is provided with a device for supplying a releasing agent to the fixing roll 161 to prevent the recording paper P passing through the nip N from adhering to the surface of the fixing roll 161. Silicone oil is used as a release agent. In order to supply the release agent oil to the fixing roll 161, an oil tank 163 for storing the oil, and a release agent carrier forming a part of the release agent supply route by rotating the surface while supporting the oil. Roll 164 and release agent-carrying roll 164 in contact with the surface of release agent-carrying roll 164
An oil regulating blade 166 that regulates the amount of oil carried by the roller, and a donor roll 165 that presses against the release agent carrying roll 164, receives oil from the release agent carrying roll 164, and supplies it to the fixing roll 161 Have. The oil regulating blade 166 has a thickness of 0.02 mm.
A thin metal plate having a thickness of not less than 0.075 mm is used.

The charging device 120, the exposing device 130, and the developing device 140 in this embodiment correspond to the toner image forming means according to the present invention, and the transfer device 150 in this embodiment corresponds to the present invention. The fixing device 160 according to the present embodiment corresponds to the fixing unit according to the present invention, and the oil tank 163 according to the present embodiment.
Is equivalent to the release agent tank according to the present invention, and the oil regulating blade 16 in this embodiment is equivalent to the oil regulating blade according to the present invention.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention, the release agent regulated to a small amount by the oil regulating blade 166 of the fixing device 160 is uniformly supplied to the fixing roll 161. A thin release agent film having a uniform thickness is formed. Therefore, the toner image heated and pressed in the nip portion N of the fixing device 160 is
Is prevented from adhering to.

[0048]

As described above, according to the fixing device of the present invention, the release agent for preventing the recording paper from adhering to the surface of a rotating body such as a roll or belt for fixing toner is rotated. The release agent supply device for supplying to the body has a thickness of 0.02
A fixing device having a release agent supply device capable of uniformly supplying a small amount of release agent to the surface of the rotating body by providing a release agent regulating blade of a thin metal plate having a thickness of not less than 0.075 mm. Can be realized.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the use of the above-described fixing device may cause troubles such as winding of the recording paper P around a rotating body such as a roll or a belt for fixing toner. In addition, stable image formation can be performed, and the supply amount of the release agent to the rotating body can be regulated to a small amount. Good images can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an oil regulating blade in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a fixing device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing apparatus 2 Fixing roll 2_1 Roll base 2_2 Elastic layer 3 Pressure roll 3_1 Roll base 3_2 PFT layer 8,9 Heater 11 Release agent supply device 13 Oil 14 Oil tank 15 Release agent carrying roll 15_1 Roll base 15_2 Elastic body Layer 16 Oil regulating blade 17 Blade holder 18 Stainless film 18 18a Edge 19 Donor roll 19_1 Roll base 19_2 Elastic layer 21 Fixing device 22 Fixing roll 22_1 Roll base 33_2 Elastic layer 23 Pressure roll 28, 29 Heater 31 Release agent supply Device 33 Oil 34 Oil tank 36 Oil regulating blade 37 Blade holder 38 Stainless film 38a Edge 39 Oil-applied felt 50 Fixing roll 51 Pressure roll 54 Release agent supply device 55 Oil 56 Oil tank 57 Release agent carrying roll 58 Oil regulating blade 59 Donor roll 60 Fixing roll 61 Oil application felt 64 Release agent supply device 65 Oil 66 Oil tank 68 Oil regulating blade 100 Image forming device 110 Image carrier 120 Charging device 130 Exposure Apparatus 140 Developing device 150 Transfer device 160 Fixing device 161 Fixing roll 162 Pressure roll 163 Oil tank 164 Release agent carrying roll 165 Release agent supply roll 166 Oil regulating blade 170 Cleaning device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heating and pressurizing method comprising a pair of rotating bodies having a nip portion which is brought into pressure contact with each other, wherein a recording sheet having an unfixed toner image carried on its surface is heated and pressed between said nip portions. A fixing device for fixing the unfixed toner image to the recording paper, the release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper passing through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of the rotating body; A release agent carrying roll that forms at least a part of a release agent supply route by supporting and releasing the release agent in the release agent tank, and releasing the release agent in the release agent tank with the pair of rotating bodies. A release agent supply unit configured to supply a rotating body on a side of the recording paper that contacts an unfixed toner image carrying surface; and a release agent supporting roll that abuts on the release agent supporting roll surface. Release agent regulation that regulates the amount of release agent carried A release blade, wherein the release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more and a thickness of 0.02 mm or more.
A fixing device comprising a thin metal plate having a thickness of 075 mm or less. 2. A printing apparatus comprising a pair of rotating bodies having a nip portion which is brought into pressure contact with each other, wherein heating and pressurizing the conveyed recording paper carrying an unfixed toner image on its surface while sandwiching the recording paper between the nip portions. A fixing device for fixing the unfixed toner image to the recording paper, the release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper passing through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of a rotating body; The release agent in the release agent tank, of the pair of rotating bodies,
A releasing agent supply unit for supplying a first rotating body on a side of the recording sheet that contacts an unfixed toner image carrying surface; and a first rotating body that abuts on the first rotating body surface. A release agent regulating blade for regulating an amount of the release agent carried to the nip portion, wherein the release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more and a thickness of 0.02 mm or more.
A fixing device comprising a thin metal plate having a thickness of 075 mm or less. 3. The release agent regulating blade is characterized in that at least a tip portion of the release agent regulating blade which regulates an amount of the release agent is coated with a fluororesin layer. The fixing device according to claim 1. 4. A release agent supply amount regulated by the release agent regulation blade is set at 0.1 per A4 size sheet.
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the fixing device is not less than mg and not more than 2.0 mg. 5. An image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface, a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a predetermined recording of the toner image formed on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a toner image onto a recording sheet; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording sheet onto the recording sheet. The fixing unit includes a nip portion that is pressed against each other. The unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording sheet by heating and pressing the recording sheet having a pair of rotating bodies and carrying the unfixed toner image on the surface thereof, between the nip portion. A release agent tank containing a release agent for preventing the recording paper that has passed through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of the rotating body; and releasing the recording paper by rotating while holding the release agent on the surface. At least the mold supply route Also has a release agent carrying roll that forms a part, and the release agent in the release agent tank is brought into contact with the surface of the pair of rotating bodies, which carries the unfixed toner image of the recording paper. Release agent supply means for supplying the release agent to the rotating body, and a release agent regulating blade for contacting the surface of the release agent carrying roll to regulate the amount of the release agent carried by the release agent carrying roll. The release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more.
An image forming apparatus comprising a thin metal plate having a thickness of 075 mm or less. 6. An image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface, a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a predetermined recording of the toner image formed on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a toner image onto a recording sheet; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording sheet onto the recording sheet. The fixing unit includes a nip portion that is pressed against each other. The unfixed toner image is fixed to the recording sheet by heating and pressing the recording sheet having a pair of rotating bodies and carrying the unfixed toner image on the surface thereof, between the nip portion. A release agent tank that stores a release agent that prevents recording paper that has passed through the nip portion from adhering to the surface of a rotating body; and a release agent in the release agent tank, Of the rotating body of
A releasing agent supply unit for supplying a first rotating body on a side of the recording sheet that contacts an unfixed toner image carrying surface; and a first rotating body that abuts on the first rotating body surface. A release agent regulating blade for regulating an amount of the release agent carried to the nip portion, wherein the release agent regulating blade has a thickness of 0.02 mm or more and a thickness of 0.02 mm or more.
An image forming apparatus comprising a thin metal plate having a thickness of 075 mm or less.