JPH1115315A - Fixing member, fixing device using the same, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing member which is excellent in releasing property of the toner, in the durability, in smoothness, and in image quality of the image surface by providing an outermost layer formed of the prescribed fluororesin of the prescribed average molecular weight in the gel permeation chromatography. SOLUTION: The fluororesin to form an outermost layer has the repeated unit to be selected at least among formulae I-III, and the average molecular weight in the gel permeation chromatography is 50,000-350,000. The resin to be obtained from formula I or II is preferable from the viewpoint of the solubility. The fluororesin having the repeated unit to be selected among formulae I-III may be the copolymer, and more specifically, either of the random copolymer or the block copolymer. In addition, the fluororesin is soluble in the prescribed perfluoro-solvent, and the thin coating can be manufactured, and can be dried and baked at lower temperature according to the solvent kind, and a substrate is not degraded with heat even when silicone rubber, etc., is used for the substrate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing member such as a heating roll or a heating belt used in a fixing section of a copying apparatus, a printer or other various image forming apparatuses used in an electrophotographic system, and a fixing member for the fixing section. The present invention relates to a fixing device using a member and an image forming method using the fixing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine or the like utilizing an electrophotographic process, it is necessary to fix an unfixed toner image formed on a recording sheet into a permanent image. As the fixing method, a solvent fixing method, a pressure fixing method, and a heat fixing method are known, but the solvent fixing method has a drawback that solvent vapor is emitted, and there are many problems of odor and hygiene, Also, the pressure fixing method has a disadvantage that the fixing property is poor as compared with other fixing methods. For this reason, in the fixing of an unfixed toner image, a heat fixing method of melting the toner by heating and fusing the toner on a recording sheet has been widely adopted.

As a device for performing the heat fixing, a heat fixing roll system, a hot air fixing system, and an oven fixing system are known, but compared with other heat fixing methods such as a hot air fixing system and an oven fixing system. A heat-fixing roll type device is currently most widely used because of its high thermal efficiency, low power, high speed, and low risk of fire due to paper jam.

FIG. 1 shows a fixing device of a heating fixing roll type. This heat-fixing roll type fixing device includes a pair of rolls, a heating roll 1 and a pressure roll 11. The heating roll 1 has a surface of a cylindrical hollow metal core 2 made of aluminum, iron, or the like, which is made of fluoro rubber, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (P
An outermost layer 4 made of a heat-resistant elastomer or a heat-resistant resin having excellent release properties such as a fluorine-based resin such as FA) is coated. A heating element 21 such as a halogen lamp is disposed inside the heating roll 1 so as to have a function of a heating roll.

On the other hand, the pressure roll 11 is made of aluminum,
An outermost layer 14 made of a heat-resistant elastomer or a heat-resistant resin having the same or different type as that of the heating roll 1 and excellent in releasability is coated on the surface of a hollow cylindrical core 12 made of iron or the like. The heating roll 1 and the pressure roll 11 are pressed against each other by a spring or the like. In the figure, reference numeral 27 denotes an inlet, 28 denotes an outlet, and 29 denotes a release agent application device for applying a release agent to the surface of the heating roll 1.

In this hot roll fixing device, the pressure between the heating roll 1 and the pressure roll 11 is 1 to 15 K
g / cm ² , preferably 3 to 10 kg / cm ² , the paper 31 having the toner image 32 on the surface becomes
The toner image 32 is conveyed between the heating roll 1 and the pressure roll 11, and is fixed on the paper 31, and then conveyed from the pair of rolls via the outlet 28.

[0007] The heat fixing roll depends on the material used.
It is mainly divided into two. After coating an adhesive called a primer on an aluminum or iron core roll, a copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA) called “Teflon” by DuPont. Such as a fluororesin roll formed thinly of a fluororesin, and a silicone rubber roll or fluororubber roll also formed thinly of silicone rubber or fluororubber through a primer. The former is called a hard roll because it is relatively hard, and the latter is called a soft roll because it is soft and elastic. The former is mainly for black-and-white copiers and printers, and the latter is
It has been mainly used in color copiers and color printers, and high-quality black and white machines. In particular, in the case of color, high image quality and high releasability are required, and soft rubber rolls such as silicone rubber and fluorine rubber have been employed because rubber rolls having elasticity are excellent in fixing toner images uniformly. Was.

Conventionally, a release agent such as silicone oil was supplied to the roll surface. However, recently, from the viewpoint of cost reduction and improvement in reliability, supply of the release agent to the roll surface has been reduced. ing. However, in the case of a soft roll, in particular, the surface of the silicone rubber or fluororubber roll may be damaged or abraded at about several hundred copies, making it unusable. Therefore, formation of a resin layer, particularly a wear-resistant fluororesin layer, instead of a rubber layer as the outermost layer of the soft roll has been studied.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 43-1555,
JP-A-48-46340, JP-A-50-1504
No. 39 discloses that PTFE is used as a fluororesin on the roll surface.
Has been proposed. In particular, Shoko 4
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-1555 proposes a configuration of a pressure roll in which a silicone rubber layer is provided as an elastic body around a core metal, and PTFE is further coated thereon as a fluororesin.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-43740 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-109845 propose a fixing roll coated with a PFA resin instead of PTFE.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-109845 discloses a fixing roll coated with a PFA powder formed on a roll surface and melted. Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-43740 discloses that a silicone rubber is formed as an elastic layer around a cored bar. Further, a fixing roll coated with a PFA resin having an ether group specified therearound has been proposed.

As a method for coating these fluororesins,
A tube coating method, an electrostatic coating method, and a resin dispersion liquid coating method have been proposed.

JP-A-53-74436, JP-A-5-74436
JP-A-9-198118, JP-A-61-38957, JP-A-62-28213, JP-A-63-36
No. 382, etc. relates to a tube coating method of forming a fluororesin layer by winding a PFA tube, and JP-A-61-38957 proposes a method of winding a tube on a silicone rubber layer via a primer. JP 6
JP-A-2-28213 and JP-A-63-36382 propose a method in which a tube is kept in a tensioned state, a liquid silicone rubber is poured into the tube, vulcanized and fired to form a roll.

In these tube coating methods, since the fired fluororesin tube is used, the influence on the underlying silicone rubber is small. However, when the thickness of the fluororesin tube is large, the glossy image quality after fixing becomes uneven (micro gloss), which is not good. Conversely, when the thickness of the fluororesin tube is small, handling in production becomes difficult, and there has been a problem that production capacity is extremely reduced.

JP-A-55-31494, JP-A-59-174, and JP-A-59-39372 disclose a method of forming a PFA particle layer by electrostatic coating.
The present invention relates to an electrostatic coating method for forming a PFA resin layer by melting and firing, and in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-31494, a fluoroprimer is attached to a metal core, PFA powder is attached by an electrostatic coating method, and then 300 A method of obtaining a resin film of 12 to 120 microns by heating and melting at ４425 ° C. has been proposed.

However, in these electrostatic coating methods, since the melting and firing temperature of the fluororesin used is 380 to 420 degrees and the temperature is as high as 30 minutes to 2 hours and a long time, when silicone rubber or the like is used as a base material, There is a problem that the silicone rubber is deteriorated by heat and cannot be used.

Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-252381,
JP-A-61-84670, JP-A-61-1249
No. 74, JP-A-62-153982 and JP-A-63-298382 disclose PTFE, PFA, FE
The present invention relates to a resin dispersion coating method in which a core resin is coated with a fluororesin dispersion (dispersion) such as P and melted and fired.

However, in the resin dispersion coating method,
If the firing temperature is low, the resin particles contained therein do not emerge to the surface layer, so the releasability is poor. Conversely, if the firing temperature is increased, the resin particles emerge and the releasability improves, but these particles are removed. Therefore, there is a problem that wear resistance is deteriorated.

As described above, it is difficult to uniformly coat the surface of the fixing member, particularly the surface of the silicone rubber used as the base elastic body, with the fluororesin. No fixing member such as a heat fixing roll which has excellent moldability and can obtain high image quality has not been obtained.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to uniformly coat the surface of a fixing member with a fluororesin, to have good releasability from a toner, to be hardly worn, to have excellent durability, and to obtain an unfixed image. Is to provide a fixing member capable of uniformly fixing the toner, and having high smoothness of an image surface after fixing and obtaining high image quality, a fixing device using the fixing member, and an image forming method.

[0020]

Means for Solving the Problems In view of the above problems, the present inventors have conducted various studies, and as a result, have found that a repeating unit selected from at least the following general formula (I), general formula (II) or general formula (III) When the weight average molecular weight in the gel permeation chromatograph of the fluororesin is 50,000 to 350,000, it is found that the surface of the fixing member can be uniformly coated with the fluororesin,
The present invention has been completed.

[0021]

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[0022]

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[0023]

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That is, the present invention relates to a fixing member having a layer on a carrier, wherein the outermost layer of the layer is a repeating member selected from at least the above-mentioned general formula (I), general formula (II) or general formula (III) A fluororesin layer having units,
The fluororesin forming the fluororesin layer has a weight average molecular weight of 5 to 3 in gel permeation chromatography.
A fixing member having a number of 50,000. Further, according to the present invention, in a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer member by heating the fixing member, the fixing member in contact with the toner image on the transfer member has a layer on a carrier, and the outermost layer Is a fluororesin having at least a repeating unit selected from the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula (III), and the fluororesin has a weight average molecular weight of 5 to 5 in a gel permeation chromatograph. The present invention relates to a fixing device containing 350,000 fluororesins.

Further, the present invention provides a process for forming a latent image on a latent image carrier, a process for developing the latent image using a developer, a process for transferring the developer onto a transfer member, and a process for transferring the developed image to a transfer member. In an image forming method having a step of fixing on a transfer body, the fixing step has a layer on a carrier, and the outermost layer is formed by at least the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula (III
Transfer member using a fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of a fluororesin having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000 in gel permeation chromatography of the fluororesin. The present invention relates to an image forming method characterized in that the toner image is fixed on the toner image by contact.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high quality image which is excellent in releasability from toner, is hard to be worn, has excellent durability, can fix an unfixed image uniformly, and has high smoothness of the image surface after fixing. The present invention provides a fixing member, a fixing device using the same, and an image forming method.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The fluororesin forming the outermost layer in the fixing member having a layer on a carrier of the present invention will be described. The fluororesin forming the outermost layer of the present invention is a fluororesin having at least a repeating unit selected from the following general formula (I), general formula (II) or general formula (III). Formula (I), Formula (II) or Formula (III
Among the fluororesins having a repeating unit selected from), from the viewpoint of solubility, the compounds represented by the general formula (I) or the general formula (II)
Are preferred.

[0028]

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[0029]

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[0030]

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The fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula (III) may be a copolymer, and may be a random copolymer, a block copolymer or an alternating copolymer. Any of polymers may be used.

Specifically, as the fluororesin (C ₆ F ₁₀ O) represented by the general formula (I) or (II), “CYTOP XL809M” manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
As the fluororesin composed of I), “AF” manufactured by Du Pont-Mitsui Fluorochemicals can be preferably used.

The fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula (III) is soluble in a specific perfluoro solvent, so that a thin film can be coated. Yes, it can be dried and baked at a low temperature depending on the type of solvent. Even when silicone rubber or the like is used for the base, the base is not deteriorated by heat.

Since the fluororesin layer of the present invention is formed by liquid coating, it does not contain fluororesin particles unlike conventional resin dispersions and dispersion type solutions. In addition, there is no problem that the fluororesin particles contained therein do not float on the surface and the releasability is reduced, and conversely, the fluororesin particles are dropped or peeled and the wearability is lowered. Also,
The conventional fluororesin tube forming method has a limit of about 30 μm in thickness, and it is difficult to produce a thin film of about 10 μm with excellent fixing image quality. However, the fluororesin layer of the present invention is formed by liquid coating. Therefore, thin film coating from submicron to several tens of microns is possible.

Further, the strength of the thin film after coating is
Higher tensile strength and yield strength than conventional fluororesins (PTFE, PFA), toughness, and a highly reliable surface can be obtained.

The fluororesin forming the outermost layer of the present invention is
The weight average molecular weight in a gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) is 50,000 to 350,000. When the weight average molecular weight in GPC is smaller than 50,000, the releasability and abrasion resistance decrease. On the other hand, the weight average molecular weight in GPC is 35.
If it is larger than 10,000, unevenness in thickness occurs when coating on silicone rubber as a base elastic body, and an unfixed image cannot be fixed uniformly. It is not clear why the thickness unevenness is improved in a relatively low molecular weight range where the weight average molecular weight in GPC is from 50,000 to 350,000, but on the surface of a non-fluorine-based low surface energy material such as silicone rubber, low This is presumed to be because the molecular weight is easier to wet uniformly.

The molecular weight was measured by gel permeation
It is performed by a chromatograph (GPC). As a measuring device,
"HLC-802A" manufactured by Saw Corporation is used. column
Are TSKgel G2000H and T
SKgel GMH ”and samples were
0.2% by weight of 2- (2-butyltetrahydrofuran)
Take 10 ml of the prepared solution and use it as a carrier liquid.
Uses perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran)
And flow rate 2ml / min, pressure 200kg / cm ^Two, Warm
The measurement was performed under the conditions of 40 ° C and the poly obtained under the same conditions.
The molecular weight is converted from the calibration curve of styrene.

The fluororesin layer, which is the outermost layer of the present invention, may contain an inorganic filler, particularly for improving abrasion and releasability. Inorganic fillers have the following characteristics in terms of improving wear resistance.
iC, SiO ₂ , BN, Al ₂ O ₃ , TiN, and CF are preferable, and SiC is more preferable from the viewpoint of mixing and dispersibility with a fluororesin. Further, these inorganic fillers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The amount of the inorganic filler is preferably 1 to 50% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, based on the fluororesin layer. If the amount is less than 1% by weight, it is difficult to exhibit curability, and if the amount is more than 50% by weight, the releasability tends to decrease. The particle size of the inorganic filler can be appropriately selected according to the required film thickness, and a particle having a particle size of about 1 to 10 μm can be used.

As a material of the carrier of the fixing member, a metal such as aluminum, iron, copper, etc., glass or a heat-resistant resin can be used.
It can be cylindrical roll or belt.

An elastic layer may be interposed between the carrier of the present invention and the outermost fluororesin layer. As the elastic body forming the elastic body layer, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluororesin or fluororubber is preferable. Among these rubber elastic bodies, those having relatively high rebound resilience are preferred, and those having rebound resilience of 40% or more, preferably 50% or more are effective, and silicone rubber is particularly preferable.

As the silicone rubber and the fluorine rubber, general-purpose ones can be used. For example, as the silicone rubber, vinyl methyl silicone rubber, methyl silicone rubber, phenyl methyl silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber and the like can be used. As the fluorine rubber, vinylidene fluoride rubber, ethylene tetrafluoride / propylene rubber, ethylene tetrafluoride / perfluoromethyl vinyl ether rubber, phosphazene rubber, fluoropolyether, and other fluorine rubbers can be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, PTFE and PFA can be used as fluororesins as special elastic bodies.

These elastic bodies can contain various inorganic or organic fillers. As the inorganic filler, carbon black, titanium oxide, silica, silicon carbide, talc, mica, kaolin, iron oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, magnesium oxide, graphite, silicon nitride, boron nitride, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, Magnesium carbonate and the like. As the organic filler, polyimide, polyamide imide, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, or the like can be used.

The fluororesin layer, which is the outermost layer of the present invention, is formed by coating a solution in which the fluororesins of the general formulas (I), (II) and (III) are dissolved on a substrate.

The solvent used in the present invention may be any solvent capable of dissolving the above-mentioned general formulas (I), (II) and (III), but is not limited to perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran).
Solvents of perfluoro compounds such as (trade name “FC-75”: manufactured by 3M Company) and perfluorobenzene (trade name “Aflud”: manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) are suitable. The dilution concentration is 0.
1 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 20% by weight
It is.

As a coating method, a dip method, a spin method, a spray method, a roll coat method and the like can be used, but a dip method and a roll coat method are preferable. The film thickness is preferably 1 to 30 μm as a fixing part for electrophotography,
15 μm is more preferred. Drying may be performed such that after being dried at room temperature, prebaking is performed at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent to slowly raise the temperature.

The fixing device of the present invention is a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer member by heating the fixing member, wherein the fixing member in contact with the toner image on the transfer member has a layer on a carrier. Wherein the outermost layer has at least the general formula (I):
It is a fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from the general formula (II) or the general formula (III), wherein the fluororesin has a weight average molecular weight of 550,000 to 350,000 in gel permeation chromatography.

It is preferable that the fixing member that comes into contact with the toner image on the transfer member has a heating source, and a fixing device that heats and fixes the toner image on the transfer member as shown in FIG. Although a fixing device of a heat fixing roll type shown in FIG. 1 is generally used, a fixing device having a configuration shown in FIG. 2 can also be used. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the heating fixing roll type fixing device. The fixing device of the heat fixing roll type includes a heating roll 1, a pressure belt 6 for pressing the heating roll 1 in pressure, and a pressure roll 24 for pressing the pressure belt 6 from behind. In the fixing device of the heat fixing roll type, the toner image 3 is applied by applying a pressure between the heating roll 1 and the pressure belt 6.
2 is fixed on the paper 31. Further, as another embodiment, there is a fixing device shown in FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a heating fixing belt type fixing device. In the fixing device of the heat fixing belt type, a pressure roller 42 and a pressure roller 42 which are pressure members for pressing the heat belt 41 and the heat belt 41 from the inside.
A pressure roll 45 is disposed at a position facing the pressure roller 45. A heater 44 for heating the heating belt 41 is disposed above the pressure roll 42, and a pressure application member 43 is disposed inside the pressure roll 42. The pressure applying member 43 includes a metal skeleton portion 43a and a sliding portion 43b formed of a low coefficient of friction material such as Teflon. In this heat fixing belt type fixing device, the metal skeleton 4
Pressure is applied to the pressure roll 42 from the inside by the 3a and the sliding portion 43b. As a result, pressure is applied between the heating belt 41 and the pressure roll 45, and the toner image 32 is fixed on the paper 31. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration of the heating fixing belt type fixing device. In the fixing device of the heating fixing belt type, the heating belt 51 and the pressing roller 52 which is a pressing member which presses the heating belt 51 from the inner side, and the pressing belt 52 is pressurized at a position opposed to the pressing roller 52 via the pressing belt 55. A roll 56 is provided. A heater 54 for heating the heating belt 51 is disposed above the pressure roll 52, and a pressure application member 53 is disposed inside the pressure roll 52. The pressure applying member 53 includes a metal skeleton portion 53a and a sliding portion 53b formed of a low coefficient of friction material such as Teflon. In this heat fixing belt type fixing device, the metal skeleton 53
The pressure is applied to the pressure roll 52 from the inside by the a and the sliding portion 53b. As a result, pressure is applied between the heating belt 51 and the pressure belt 55, and the toner image 32 is fixed on the paper 31.

In the above-described fixing device, the outermost layer of the layer formed on the heating roll or the heating belt that comes into contact with the toner image on the transfer member is at least the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula It is a fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from (III), wherein the fluororesin has a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000 in gel permeation chromatography.

The image forming method of the present invention comprises the steps of forming a latent image on a latent image holding member, developing the latent image using a developer, transferring the developer onto a transfer member, And fixing the image on the transfer member.

In the step of fixing the developed image on a transfer member, a layer is provided on a carrier, and the outermost layer is formed of at least the above general formula (I), general formula (II) or general formula (III)
If a fixing member comprising a fluororesin having a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of a fluororesin having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000 in a gel permeation chromatograph of the fluororesin, No restrictions. Each of these steps is a general step itself, and is described in, for example, JP-A-56-40868, JP-A-49-91231, and the like. In addition,
The image forming method of the present invention can be performed using a known image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[0052]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 (Preparation of Molecular Weight of Fluororesin) The molecular weight of the fluororesin was prepared by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) as in the measurement of the molecular weight. As an apparatus, "HLC-802A" manufactured by Tosoh Corporation was used. The column is
Tosoh's TSKgelG2000H and TSKgel
gelGMH "was used. As the fluororesin, a fluororesin “CYTOP XL809M” having a repeating unit of the general formula (I) or (II) (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.)
And 1 liter of a 20% by weight solution of perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran) was used as the carrier liquid. Perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran) was used as a carrier liquid, and the flow rate was 2 ml / mi.
n, pressure 200 kg / cm ² , temperature 40 ° C., G
A PC having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 was fractionated, and the solvent was distilled off to obtain a fluororesin having a GPC weight average molecular weight of 200,000. (Preparation of coating liquid) A perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) is added as a solvent to a fluororesin having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 of the above GPC to prepare a coating liquid having a fluororesin concentration of 15%. did.

(Preparation of Heating Roll 1 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 2 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier.
A base roll 4 coated with a silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° to a thickness of 3 mm was prepared as the elastic layer 3 and immersed in the coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 15%.
Baking was performed at 0 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a fluororesin layer having a thickness of 10 μm. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer.

(Preparation of Pressure Roll 11 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 6 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier, and silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° was coated as an elastic layer 7 to a thickness of 1 mm. To make a base roll 8
After immersion in the coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 15%,
Baking was performed at 120 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a fluororesin layer with a thickness of 10 μm, and the pressure roll 11 was manufactured. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer.

(Evaluation) The obtained fixing roll was used as an electrophotographic apparatus “A col” having a fixing section having the same configuration as that of FIG.
or 635 "(manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.), and evaluated for images, and evaluated for releasability and wear resistance.

Electrophotographic apparatus "A color 635"
The heating roll 1 of the fixing unit of the remodeled machine (manufactured by Fuji Xerox) has a halogen lamp heater 21 of 800 W inside, set at a set temperature of 150 ° C., a speed of 100 mm / sec, and a nip width of 6 mm. Have been.
A running test was performed using this device. 1 microliter / A of "Color fuser oil" (manufactured by Fuji Xerox) as a release agent oil on both roll surfaces
A very small amount was supplied so as to have an amount of 4 sizes. The toner is
A color toner for Acolor 635 (cyan) manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. was used, and was also fixed on “J paper” manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Reference numeral 32 denotes a powder toner image formed on the plain paper 31. The toner density of the image is 1 mg.
/ Cm ² .

Image evaluation: The image was evaluated by sensory evaluating gloss unevenness (microgloss) after fixing. The scale of the image evaluation in the above electrophotographic apparatus is as follows. Gloss unevenness after fixing A: No problem B: Slight unevenness of gloss but acceptable C: Slightly uneven gloss D: Slightly uneven gloss

Releasability evaluation: The releasability evaluation was performed at the temperature at which the high-temperature offset phenomenon occurs. If the offset phenomenon does not occur up to a higher temperature, the releasability is excellent.

Evaluation of abrasion resistance: The abrasion resistance was evaluated by the above-described electrophotographic apparatus, based on the presence or absence of gloss and offset after fixing after a 20,000-sheet copy passing test.
Further, the heating roll 1 and the pressure roll 5 were taken out, and the surface wear was visually evaluated.

Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

[0062]

[Table 1]

Example 2 (Preparation of Molecular Weight of Fluororesin) The molecular weight of the fluororesin was prepared by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) as in the measurement of the molecular weight. As an apparatus, "HLC-802A" manufactured by Tosoh Corporation is used. The columns are “TSKgelGMH” and “TSKgelG2” manufactured by Tosoh Corporation.
000H "was used. The general formula (II
Fluorine resin "AF" having a repeating unit consisting of I)
(Manufactured by DuPont-Mitsui Fluorochemicals Co., Ltd.), and
Using 1 liter of a 0% by weight solution, perfluoro (2-butyltetrahydrofuran) as a carrier liquid, a flow rate of 2 ml / min, and a pressure of 200 k
Under the conditions of g / cm ² and a temperature of 40 ° C., GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 was fractionated, and the solvent was distilled off.
A fluororesin having a PC weight average molecular weight of 200,000 was obtained. (Preparation of coating liquid) A perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) is added as a solvent to a fluororesin having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 of the above GPC to prepare a coating liquid having a fluororesin concentration of 10%. did.

(Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) In the same manner as in Example 1, a heating roll 1 and a pressure roll 11 were prepared. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

Example 3 (Preparation of Coating Liquid) A fluororesin "CYTOP XL809M" (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (I) or (II) was used as a fluororesin. In the same manner as in Example 1, GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 was obtained. To this, a perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) was added as a solvent.
A coating solution was prepared by preparing a solution having a fluororesin concentration of 15% and further adding 10% by weight of SiC as a filler. (Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) Heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above coating liquid was used. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results. Comparative Example 1 (Production of Heating Roll 1 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 2 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier, and silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° was coated as an elastic layer 3 to a thickness of 3 mm. A base roll 4 was prepared, and a binary peroxide-based fluororubber “G-802” (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) was formed to a thickness of 30 μm to prepare a heating roll 1.

(Preparation of pressure roll 11 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 6 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier, and silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° was coated as an elastic layer 7 to a thickness of 1 mm. To make a base roll 8
Furthermore, a binary peroxide-based fluororubber “G-80”
2 "(manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) to a thickness of 30 μm,
The pressure roll 11 was produced.

(Evaluation) The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 5. Table 1 shows the evaluation results. Comparative Example 2 (Production of Heating Roll 1 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 2 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier, and silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° was coated as an elastic layer 3 to a thickness of 3 mm. A base roll 4 was prepared, and further 30 μm
PFA heat shrink tubing (Gunze Industry Co., Ltd.)
Heating roll 1 was produced by forming the film through a primer layer made of a silicone-based coupling agent.

(Preparation of pressure roll 11 in FIG. 1) A hollow aluminum core 6 made of aluminum was prepared as a carrier, and silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 55 ° was coated as an elastic layer 7 to a thickness of 1 mm. To make a base roll 8
Furthermore, a PFA heat-shrinkable tube (manufactured by Gunze Kogyo Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 30 μm was formed via a primer layer made of a silicone-based coupling agent, to produce a pressure roll 11.

The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.
Shown in

Comparative Example 3 (Preparation of Coating Liquid) A fluororesin “CYTOP XL809M” (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (I) or (II) was used as a fluororesin. In the same manner as in Example 1, GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 was obtained. To this, a perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) was added as a solvent to prepare a coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 15%.

(Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) Heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above-mentioned coating liquid was used. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

Comparative Example 4 (Preparation of Coating Solution) As a fluororesin, a fluororesin “A” having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (III) was used.
F "(manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemicals)
In the same manner as in Example 2, GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 was obtained. To this, a perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) was added as a solvent to prepare a coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 10%. (Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) Heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above coating liquid was used. As a result of visual inspection, no coating unevenness occurred on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

Comparative Example 5 (Preparation of Coating Liquid) A fluororesin “CYTOP XL809M” (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (I) or (II) was used as a fluororesin. In the same manner as in Example 1, GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 400,000 was obtained. To this, a perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) was added as a solvent.
A coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 15% was prepared. The coating liquid had a high viscosity.

(Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) Heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above-mentioned coating liquid was used. As a result of visual inspection, considerable unevenness of coating was found on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

Comparative Example 6 (Preparation of Coating Solution) As a fluororesin, a fluororesin “A” having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (III) was used.
F "(manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemicals)
In the same manner as in Example 2, GPC having a weight average molecular weight of 400,000 was obtained. To this, a perfluoro-based solvent "FC-75" (manufactured by 3M) was added as a solvent to prepare a coating solution having a fluororesin concentration of 10%. The coating liquid had a high viscosity.

(Preparation and Evaluation of Heating Roll 1 and Pressure Roll 11) A heating roll 1 and a pressure roll 11 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above-mentioned coating liquid was used. As a result of visual inspection, considerable unevenness of coating was found on the fluororesin layer. The same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed on the obtained heating roll 1 and pressure roll 11. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

From Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, it can be seen that the fixing member of the present invention has excellent releasability and abrasion resistance equivalent to a PFA tube (30 μm) roll. . Further, the image fixed by the fixing member of the present invention does not show even minute gloss unevenness, and it can be seen that the toner is fixed uniformly.

[0078]

The fixing member according to the present invention is excellent in the releasability and abrasion resistance of the toner and, at the same time, is uniformly covered with the fluororesin, so that the unfixed image can be fixed uniformly, and after fixing. Has a high smoothness on the image surface and high image quality can be obtained.

The fixing member of the present invention can be easily produced and economical by applying a fluororesin solution or dipping in a fluororesin solution. A body can also be used, and can be used for various fixing applications.

Further, the fixing member of the present invention can be obtained without thermally degrading the base rubber material as in the conventional electrostatic coating method, and can be used for the fixing member obtained by the resin dispersion coating method. Thus, the fluororesin particles do not detach, and the glossy image quality and uniformity are not inferior to the fixing member obtained by the tube coating method.

The fixing member of the present invention has at least a surface layer made of a cyclic fluororesin having wear resistance, so that various types of heat fixing roll type fixing devices as shown in FIGS. By using this in a fixing device of the heat fixing belt type, it is possible to provide a fixing device having high image quality, high abrasion resistance and high releasability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing device of a heat fixing roll type.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration of a fixing device of a heat fixing roll type.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing device of a heating fixing belt type.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration of a heating fixing belt type fixing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating roll 2,12 Hollow core metal 4,14 Outermost layer 6,55 Pressure belt 11,24,42,45,52,56 Pressure roll 21,44,54 Heater 22 Pressure pad 25 Belt transport roll 27 Inlet 28 Outlet 29 Release Agent Coating Device 31 Paper 32 Toner Image 41, 51 Heating Belt 43, 53 Pressure Applying Member 43a, 53a Metal Skeleton 43b, 53b Sliding

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A fixing member having a layer on a carrier, wherein the outermost layer of the layer has fluorine having at least a repeating unit selected from the following general formula (I), general formula (II) or general formula (III): A fixing member, wherein the fluororesin forming the fluororesin layer has a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000 in gel permeation chromatography. Embedded image Embedded image Embedded image 2. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the fluororesin layer contains an inorganic filler. 3. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is selected from metal, glass and heat-resistant resin.
3. The fixing member according to item 1. 4. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is a cylindrical roll or a belt. 5. The fixing member according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler is contained in an amount of 1 to 50% by weight based on the fluororesin layer. 6. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein an elastic layer and an outermost layer are sequentially laminated on the carrier. 7. The elastic body forming the elastic body layer may include at least silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber,
The fixing member according to claim 6, wherein the fixing member is selected from a fluororesin and a fluororubber. 8. A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer member by heating the toner image, wherein the fixing member that contacts the toner image on the transfer member has a layer on a carrier, and the outermost layer is A fluororesin layer having at least a repeating unit selected from the general formulas (I), (II) and (III), wherein the fluororesin forming the fluororesin layer is a gel permeation chromatograph. A fixing device having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000. 9. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member has a heating source. 10. The fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the fixing member is a heating roll. 11. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member is a heating belt. 12. A heating roll comprising: a heating roll; a pressure belt for pressing the heating roll in pressure; and a pressure roll for pressing the pressure belt from behind.
3. The fixing device according to claim 1. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating roll and a pressure roll for pressing said heating roll.
0. The fixing device according to item 0. 14. A heating belt comprising: a heating belt; a pressure member for pressing said heating belt from the inside; and a pressure roll at a position facing said pressure member.
3. The fixing device according to claim 1. 15. A heating belt comprising: a heating belt; a pressure member for pressing the heating belt from the inside; and a pressure roller at a position facing the pressure member via a pressure belt. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1. 16. A step of forming a latent image on a latent image holding member,
A step of developing the latent image using a developer, a step of transferring the developer onto a transfer member, and a step of fixing the developed image on a transfer member, wherein the fixing step is performed on a carrier. Wherein the outermost layer is a fluororesin layer having at least a repeating unit selected from the general formula (I), the general formula (II) or the general formula (III). An image forming method, wherein a fluororesin to be formed is contact-fixed to a toner image on a transfer member using a fixing member having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 350,000 in gel permeation chromatography.