JPS5883876A - Method and device for transfer and fixing of toner image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a high-resolution and high-quality recorder image without causing the offset phenomenon, by heating a toner image on an intermediate transfer material to a temperature lower than the toner fusing temperature and heating a pressing material to a temperature higher than the toner fusing temperature to transfer and fix the toner image. CONSTITUTION:A latent image formed by a latent image forming mechanism 2 is developed by a developing mechanism 3 to form a toner image T on a toner image carrier 1. This toner image T is transferred onto an intermediate transfer material 5 in a transfer region A by the pressing force of a press roll 6. A heat roll 7 heats the transfer material 5 and the toner image T to a temperature lower than the toner fusing temperature in an intermediate transfer material heating region B. A transfer material heating plate 10 has such adapted shape that the heating plate 10 is brought into contact with the outside circumferential face of a heat press roll 9, and the heating plate 10 heats the transfer material to a temperature higher than the toner fusing temperature together with the roll 9 when the transfer material passes between the surface of the roll 9 and the heating plate 10. Thus, the toner image on the transfer material 5 is transferred and fixed to the transfer material sufficiently in a transfer and fixing region C.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to improvements in methods and devices.

In general, in a stamp recording device equipped with an intermediate transfer member, a latent image is developed in seconds with a developing toner, and the formed toner image on the toner image carrier is transferred to an endless to belt-like or roll-like intermediate transfer member. The nine toner images transferred onto this intermediate transfer member are then retransferred onto a transfer material made of Tenreishigyo and fixed, thereby recording an image. According to such a device, it is possible to obtain high-quality recorded images, and it is also possible to obtain high-quality recorded images. It is now possible to introduce the so-called retention method, which records a large number of identical images by repeatedly developing and transferring the formed latent image 9. High-speed image recording It has the advantage of being easy to implement. In addition, since it is possible to use a single-component conductive toner as a developing toner, it can also be transferred to a transfer material made of plain paper, which has the advantage of simplifying the developing system and improving image quality. be.

Therefore, since the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the transfer material and fixed at the same time, there are various strict conditions for K, and it is quite difficult to achieve good transfer and fixation of the toner image. It is difficult to

Conventionally, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 479, a transfer material is heated without heating the toner of the toner image on an intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred by the heat of the transfer material. There are known means of fixation.

This method is preferable in that there is no risk of overheating the intermediate transfer member and can prevent adverse thermal effects on the toner image bearing member, but it has a low heat utilization rate and is suitable for transfer materials other than ordinary paper. It is necessary to generate a considerable amount of thermal energy tm. , and because of the transfer material type 1iK, which is usually made of paper. The amount of thermal energy to be applied to the transfer material is different9. For example, the amount of thermal energy required is the same as the weight, but if the same amount of thermal energy is applied to a transfer material made of light weight paper or thin paper, it will overheat. This may cause the transfer material to become deformed or burnt, resulting in rounding that results in good transfer and fixation.

It is necessary to adjust the supplied heat energy depending on the IIIK of the transfer material. Furthermore, when transferring and fixing a toner image at high speed, it is necessary to apply even more heat energy to the transfer material.As a result, energy consumption increases and smooth conveyance of the transfer material becomes difficult. By the time a jam occurs without a problem, there is a great chance of a sudden jam.

On the other hand, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 18-Misaki-ttsst, when heating one transfer material, if the toner of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is heated to its melting temperature Kt, Means for transferring and fixing a toner image on a transfer member to a transfer material is also known.

However, with this method, the transfer material absorbs more heat than the toner, so the fluidity of the toner transfer material (on the side in contact with it decreases, making it difficult to ensure fixing). For this reason, it is actually necessary to heat the intermediate transfer member as well.As a result, heat is applied to the toner image carrier through the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image carrier is exposed to electrophotographic photosensitive material. In the case of a toner image carrier, the image density decreases due to a decrease in the initial potential, and fog occurs due to the material components of the intermediate transfer member adhering to the surface of the toner image bearing member, as well as deterioration of the intermediate transfer member. It is not possible to get faster speed and greater durability.

In order to solve this problem, K may consider cooling the intermediate transfer body in the movement path region after arriving at the transfer chamber, but
In the case of forced cooling, more energy is consumed, and in the case of natural cooling, it is necessary to lengthen the path of movement of the toner until it comes into contact with the image carrier.
The equipment will become larger.

In addition, when the toner is transferred to the transfer material, the side that contacts the transfer material is cooled first and its fluidity decreases as described above. 'Ik' adheres to the body and remains, contaminating the toner image bearing member and causing an offset phenomenon.
Ru.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention is capable of fk, and is capable of reliably transferring and fixing a toner image on a toner image carrier to a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member. It is possible to obtain a high-quality recorded image with high resolution even with the retention method, and it is also possible to expand the selection range of toner component materials, and it consumes less energy, making the device compact. This invention has been made for the purpose of providing a toner/image transfer fixing method and apparatus which can be constructed as follows.

For the above purpose of the present invention, there is provided a toner image transfer and fixing method in which a toner image is transferred from a toner image carrier to an intermediate transfer member, and transferred and fixed from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material. - heated to a lower melting temperature ib, and
The pressing body that presses the transfer material against the intermediate transfer body is heated to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer and fixing position. A toner image transfer and fixing method characterized in that the toner image is transferred and fixed onto the transfer material, and the toner image is transferred from the toner image carrier to an intermediate transfer member, and retransferred from the intermediate transfer member to the transfer material. In a toner image transfer and fixing device for fixing, a means for heating the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner, and a pressing member for pressing the transfer material against the intermediate transfer member are provided. It is characterized by having a heating means for heating the toner to a temperature higher than the melting temperature, and a heating means for heating the transfer material to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner, so as to send the transfer material to a transfer and fixing position. This is achieved by a toner image transfer fixing device.

In the present invention, the melting temperature of the toner is determined using a Koka type flow tester K (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), and a good value is used as a standard. In other words, the measurement was carried out using a Koka type 7゛ low tester under the conditions of load x Kg/cm', nozzle diameter ゛/U, nozzle length 1, and heating rate 1℃/1n. 3/h, and when the plunger descent amount is h, IICb/
The temperature at the 9th point is determined to be the melting temperature of the toner. For this measurement, an amount of toner of 10 n'' is used as a sample.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a latent image forming mechanism 2, a developing mechanism 3, a cleaning mechanism 3, a latent image forming mechanism 2, a developing mechanism 3, and a Mechanisms are provided in this order in the rotational direction, and the developing mechanism 3
In the transfer area between the cleaning mechanism and the intermediate transfer body 3, an intermediate transfer body j made of an endless belt is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the toner image carrier l by a pressure roller. %sW-rough, tension rollers 1 and Kll are mounted on the back of t', and they are moved in the same direction as the toner image bearing member 1 in the transfer area 1 in equal succession to heat roller) 7
The middle transfer material heating area B is shown in FIG.

In the transfer and fixing area C which is located at or near the separation point of the intermediate transfer body j in this heat roller rough, the intermediate transfer body j is transferred between the heat roller 7 and the intermediate transfer body j! and transfer material (usually consisting of transfer paper)
A heat press roller t is provided to pinch and feed the transfer material, and a transfer material heating area is provided along the transfer material movement path PK immediately before the transfer material is pinched by the heat roller te and the heat press rollers 9 and K. A transfer material heating plate 10 is also provided to provide heat.

In the apparatus configured as above, the toner image carrier/KJI! ! The formed thinner image T is finally transferred and fixed onto a transfer material.

First, the F toner image on the toner image carrier l is formed by the latent image forming mechanism 2, and when the nine latent images are developed by the developing mechanism 3. That is, when using the electron zero method, the toner image carrier l is composed of a selenium-based, organic compound-based, zinc oxide or cadmium sulfide-based binder type, or other electrophotographic photoreceptor, and the latent image is The forming mechanism JK' forms an electrostatic latent image by charging the entire outer peripheral surface of the toner image carrier l and then performing image exposure. When electrostatic recording is used, the toner image carrier is constructed of a dielectric material consisting of a conductive substrate and a dielectric layer, and image signals are transmitted using a multi-stylus electrode or an ion control electrode. When converted into a sand electrostatic image, a latent image is formed. When a magnetic recording method is used, the toner image carrier l may be made of a magnetic material, and one image signal may be converted into a magnetic signal by a magnetized head to form a magnetic latent image.

If the latent image formed in this way is an electrostatic latent image, it can be produced by the developing mechanism JK using toner, which is a colored charged particle charged to the opposite polarity to that forming the latent image. It is considered a visual image. If the toner component used is a conductive magnetic toner, the toner can be developed by the electric charge induced in the toner. - Components When a conductive magnetic toner is used and a magnetic brush development method is used, one layer of the toner is formed as a single particle layer or a thin layer close to it, so the image quality of the final image is improved. When the latent image is a magnetic latent image, it is preferable for ll11 because it is excellent in durability and high-speed developability, and good transfer is possible without any need to select a transfer material. This makes it possible to prevent K-bleeding from occurring in the image during transfer and to obtain a clear image.

The toner image on the toner image carrier l formed as described above! , the intermediate transfer body in the transfer area 5! The paper is transferred onto the paper by the pressure of the pressure roller.

Here, the intermediate transfer body 3 includes an F layer made of a heat-resistant elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluorine-based rubber, and a heat-resistant base material made of stainless steel plate, polyimide, polyimide amide, polyamide, polyester, or polyarylate. Heat-resistant film made of resin such as
The transfer layer is formed of a laminate with a heat-resistant polymer film such as (manufactured by Taihei Kagaku Co., Ltd.), and the material of the transfer layer is particularly preferably room-temperature vulcanization type or low-temperature vulcanization type silicone rubber. For example, r LTV tsoo J, ``L'l'V
ll00 J (manufactured by Kame Shinetsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is an addition polymerization type silicone rubber, and is a particularly preferable material for the transfer layer. In the transfer region 5, the rubber elasticity containing the toner can overcome the toner holding force of the toner image carrier/toner and sufficiently capture the toner on the intermediate transfer member side.

Since its surface energy is sufficiently lower than that of ordinary transfer material materials, the toner is heated from the surface of the toner O on the transfer material side in the transfer fixing area C described later and becomes fluid and has good fluidity. When the transfer material is pressed into contact with the
The toner strongly adheres to the transfer material and is almost completely transferred and fixed onto the transfer material. And heat--rafy, toner image! And since it is preferable that the intermediate transfer body S be heated at high speed, the film thicknesses of the transfer layer and the substrate are as follows:
It is preferable that the SW is smaller within the range of desired performance; for example, the thickness of the transfer layer is optimally 10-100 microns, and the thickness of the substrate is optimally 10 to -zoot microns.

The intermediate transfer body may be an endless transfer body, for example, an aluminum or stainless steel hollow roller with a transfer layer provided on the surface and a heater provided inside the hollow roller O. Using
A thinner image transfer fixing device using a belt can be made smaller and lighter.

The illustrated heat roller 7 has a built-in heater 7 made of, for example, an infrared lamp inside a hollow metal roller made of aluminum or the like, and controls the temperature of the surface of this metal roller to an appropriate range. An intermediate transfer body made of an endless belt in the area between the contact start point X with the intermediate transfer body 3 made of an endless belt and the transfer fixing area C, that is, the intermediate transfer body heating area B! and the toner image thereon is heated to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner. In addition, the heat roller 7
A heat-resistant elastic layer made of silicone rubber or the like may be provided on the surface of the substrate.

The temperature of the intermediate transfer body S heated as described above is preferably as low as possible so that sufficient transfer and fixing can be performed on the transfer material 1 in the transfer and fixing area O. This is because when the temperature of the intermediate transfer member S increases, the heat from the intermediate transfer member SO in the transfer area 5 forces the toner image carrier l to be heated, reducing the performance of the toner image carrier l at low temperatures. At the same time, toner or intermediate transfer material!
This is because image deterioration occurs due to the transfer of material components onto the toner image carrier l. Therefore, if the temperature of the intermediate transfer member j becomes high, it is necessary to perform forced cooling before the transfer area m, as in the conventional method.

The heat pressing roller 9 in the transfer/fixing area can be a hollow metal roller made of aluminum or the like, or a hollow inner roller with a surface layer of heat-resistant elastic material such as a silicone rubber corner.
For example, a built-in heater tom consisting of an infrared lamp is used, and the heat generated by this heater tom is controlled to an appropriate level, so that the surface temperature of the heat press roller T is the melting temperature of the toner in the toner image. The settings above are appropriate.

Further, the transfer material heating plate 10 in the illustrated example has a shape adapted to contact along the outer peripheral surface of the hot press roller 9, and transfers the transfer material between the surface of the hot press roller 9 and the transfer material heating plate 10.
When the toner is passed between the toner and the toner, the toner is heated to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner together with the hot press roller t. As a result, the toner image on the intermediate transfer member j is sufficiently transferred and fixed onto the transfer material in the transfer and fixing area O. Here, the friction coefficient of the surface of the hot press roller is made larger than that of the surface of the transfer material heating plate IO, so that the movement of the transfer material is accompanied by the movement of the surface due to the rotation of the hot press roller 9.
Even if the transfer material is moved in contact with the surface of the fixed transfer material heating plate 100 in order to improve heating efficiency, K is obtained if the transfer material is smoothly conveyed to the transfer fixing area 0. The thus heated transfer material is an intermediate transfer member that has been previously heated together with the paper toner image by the heat roller 7 in the transfer fixing area 0! 9 overlaps with K, and this overlap is heated to a temperature higher than the toner melting temperature of the toner image and is pressed by the hot press roller 9.

As a result, at least the side of the toner in contact with the transfer material is melted by the heat from the transfer material and is further pressed against the toner image, so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 3 is reliably transferred to the transfer material. It will be established.

As mentioned earlier, when the transfer material is brought into contact with the surface of the transfer material heating plate 10, it is important that the coefficient of friction between the transfer material heating plate 10 and the transfer material is small. It is effective to make the surface of the plate 100 a smooth surface or to coat it with a material having a low coefficient of friction such as fluororesin. For example, when materials such as aluminum and stainless steel are coated with resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy resins, and polyfluoroethylene/propylene, metal powder and inorganic oxides may be present in the resin. For example, coating with d "Rulon" (manufactured by Dinox Co., Ltd.), which is a mixture and dispersion of
It is particularly excellent in terms of the ni coefficient. In addition, the above-mentioned coating treatment is also superior in that it has a low surface energy and does not accumulate dirt on the toner cape. Furthermore, a metal plate with a mirror surface formed by four-metal plating is a desirable material.

As the transfer material heating plate/θ heater, it is preferable to use a plate-shaped heater. A PC plate made of a resistance heating element having positive temperature characteristics does not require temperature control and is advantageous in terms of electric power consumption. .

It is preferable that one or more heat transfer surfaces of the transfer material heating plate 10 contact the transfer material, but they may partially contact the surface of the transfer material. Also, it must be very close and in good condition.
However, it is possible to obtain a sufficient heating effect even if there is no direct contact. In this case, the distance from the surface of the transfer material is usually 3W or less. Alternatively, a pinch roller system using a heat roller may be installed in front of the transfer and fixing area C.
It is also effective to further heat the transfer material.

The transfer material that has passed through the transfer fixing area C is usually an intermediate transfer member jK.
The sand is separated from the intermediate transfer member j by a tensilon roller l. In this case, if the diameter of the tensilon roller l is made small, it is possible to easily separate the transfer material from the intermediate transfer body S, but by further swinging it, one intermediate transfer body consisting of an endless belt can be easily separated. It is also possible to suppress the deviation of S.

The intermediate transfer member S that has passed through the transfer and fixing area C is naturally cooled, undergoes transfer again in the transfer area 5, and further repeats the transfer and fixing process in the transfer and fixing area O.

In the figure, // is a cleaning roller, which is used to center the toner when it adheres to the hot press roller tray.

In the present invention, as described above, the intermediate transfer body that supports the toner of the toner image on the intermediate transfer body S transferred from the toner image carrier L! At the same time, the transfer material is heated to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner (1), and the transfer material is heated to a temperature higher than the above melting temperature, and in that state, the intermediate transfer member is formed! Since the toner and the transfer material are pressed against each other, the gloss can be transferred and fixed onto the transfer material without disturbing the condition of the toner image.

That is, in the intermediate transfer member heating region B, the toner forming the toner image is only heated to a temperature of 11, at which the toner does not melt and remains in a solid state or a state in which it deforms under pressure. The toner image that reaches the transfer fixing area is in the same state as it has been transferred from the toner image carrier I, and there is no disturbance of the image due to fluidity of the toner. It is brought into pressure contact with the transfer material at C. Then, due to the heat from the transfer material and the hot press roller t, the temperature of the toner rises from the side where it comes into contact with the transfer material, melting this part, and furthermore, it is deformed by the pressure force and is still adhered to the transfer material. As a result, the toner is not soaked and no bleeding occurs, resulting in 11% transfer and fixing while maintaining high resolution.

Moreover, since the toner remains in a solid state or a high viscosity state, an offset phenomenon occurs considerably.

It should be noted that when heating the transfer material by the transfer material heating plate 10 to a high temperature of, for example, 100° C. or higher, the heating efficiency decreases. Therefore, the transfer material heating plate 10 only heats the transfer material to a temperature slightly higher than the melting temperature of the toner of the toner image, and the heat pressing roller 9 heated to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the donor heats the transfer material in the intermediate state. It is preferable to press the transfer member jK into contact with each other. As a result, the temperature of the transfer material is maintained above the melting temperature of the toner for efficient printing, and the temperature of the transfer material and intermediate transfer body is maintained at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner. The interface temperature of the toner image and the toner temperature of the toner image also rise, making stable and reliable transfer and fixing as described above possible.

On the other hand, as mentioned above, the intermediate transfer body! and its toner image,
By heating both the transfer material and the hot press roller VOVAS, it is possible to lower the heating temperature required for each of them, and therefore it is unnecessary to excessively heat each of them. With this method, the amount of heat dissipated can be suppressed to a small value, and the overall heat utilization efficiency can be greatly improved, and together with this, the total energy consumption can be significantly reduced. In addition, toner image O
It also becomes possible to perform transfer and fixing at high speed.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, it is possible to keep the temperature of the intermediate transfer body j low by passing through the transfer fixing area 0 in %II#, and there is no need to forcefully cool the intermediate transfer body 3, and cooling can be done by natural heat radiation. Even if the toner image carrier I is a photoconductive photoreceptor, which has a sensitive property to heat in its basic properties, it will not impede its good properties. , or that some of the material components of the intermediate transfer member J adhere to the toner image bearing member/2, etc., can be prevented, and the intermediate transfer member 3 is not heated to a high temperature and is not exposed to severe temperature changes. The durability of the paper can be maintained for a long period of time by not being heated, or the heat resistance condition required for the material 1 [K of the intermediate transfer body j is relaxed, and the selection range of materials is expanded. It can be expanded and reduce costs.1. However, in the present invention, the intermediate transfer body! This does not prohibit forced cooling of the toner image carrier/D. Since toner fixation is performed as described above, the toner image in the transfer fixing area OK is almost completely separated from the intermediate transfer body j, and therefore, after the transfer and fixation, the intermediate transfer body jK is free of toner. If it remains, the toner image bearing member l is not stained and the offset phenomenon is prevented from occurring.

2 and 3 show cases in which the surface temperature of the thermal press roller 9 is set to be lower than the upper surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member S, and the upper surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member J in the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, respectively. Of course, the intermediate transfer body near the pinching point between the heat roller 7 and the heat press roller 9 is set to be higher than the core melting temperature of the toner image on its upper surface! The upper surface of the lagoon ['l's and the transfer surface temperature of the transfer material! ? , Table 1 Temperature of Heat Press Roll Rub! , shows the temperature change. The horizontal axis shows the three distances taken from there in the direction of rotation of both rollers, with the electric potential just before the pressing point between the heat roller rough and the hot press roller 9 being 0, just before entering the pressing point. Even if the transfer surface temperature P of the transfer material is set to be higher than the toner melting temperature of the toner image, the surface temperature of the hot press roller t is set to be much lower than the upper surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member j. Since the heat capacity of the transfer material is small, the transfer surface temperature 〒P of the transfer material immediately decreases as shown in Figure 2.
Intermediate transfer body! The upper surface temperature of the F toner image O11 degrees never exceeds the melting temperature of the toner, and therefore the toner image is not attached to the transfer material in the transfer chamber. ,! As can be seen from the temperature change in , the thermal press roller 9 is the transfer material and the intermediate transfer body! Rather, it has a cooling effect. On the other hand, if the surface temperature of the hot press roller t is set to be higher than the toner melting temperature, even if the transfer surface ['l'P of the transfer material decreases once, as shown in Fig. 3, As a result, the upper surface temperature T of the intermediate transfer body S rises above the toner melting temperature.
As described above, the image is transferred and fixed onto the transfer material.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 described above, the intermediate transfer body is configured as an endless belt! and the toner image ρ transferred thereto,
Intermediate transfer body! The school is heated by the conductive heat of the heat roller 7 which also serves as a support and comes into contact with the school, which is preferable in terms of efficiency of heat use. In this case, it is desirable to heat the intermediate transfer member S by contacting it with the original 2 of the heat roller 7 at a center angle of 90 degrees. If the heating area B of the intermediate transfer body is made large enough in this way, then when the area C is reached, the temperature of the intermediate transfer body J and the heat roller 7 is almost at equilibrium. The intermediate transfer body is obtained! The temperature just before the upper toner enters the transfer fixing area 0 can be controlled with high precision, making it possible to perform stable transfer and fixing.In addition, by making the heating roller 7 small in diameter, the device It is also possible to reduce the size of the device.

In order to heat the intermediate transfer body j and the toner of the toner image, the heat roller 7 is replaced with a simple roller 1, as shown in FIG.
Instead of 2, a heat roller/J having a heater/J may be provided so as to rotate in contact therewith. This heat roller/3
It is preferable that the surface layer is formed of fluorine-based or silicone-based rubber to have mold releasability. In this case, it is desirable that the liquid contact between the roller 12 and the heat roller /J be large.

Fig. j shows an embodiment other than the present invention, in which a transfer material heating roller/- having a heater/diam of 11 in place of the transfer material heating plate 10 in the example of Fig. 7 is heated, and roller 9 is heated. It is a mourning thing to set up the leaf and also to set up the transfer material guide plate/j. As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer material is heated by the transfer material heating roller l# when it passes through the transfer material heating area formed by the nipping part between the transfer material heating roller /# and the thermal press roller t. Post-transfer material guide plate/transfer and fixing area OK along jK
After that, the intermediate transfer body is created in the same way as the first WA example!
The upper toner image is transferred and fixed onto the transfer material. The transfer material heating roller/di is different from the eleventh case and is used to instantaneously apply heat to the dyeing and transfer material. The surface of the transfer material heating roller 1 is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy resin, etc. to prevent toner from adhering to the surface.
Alternatively, it is preferable to apply mold releasability by coating with a fluororesin such as polyfluoroethylene/propylene or by applying a taflam treatment, or a felt or blade may be provided in parallel to remove adhering donors. .

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the pressure roller 2 and the tension roller lt are connected to an endless bell)/7
is suspended, and the straight portion of this endless belt is used as a transfer material moving path P.
The transfer material heating plate 10 is arranged along K, and the transfer material heating MIO is designed to be in contact with the transfer material heating plate 10. /9 is a heater. With this configuration, it is possible to freely lengthen the contact time between the transfer material heating plate 10 and the transfer material, and the transfer material can be reliably heated while being moved at high speed. Further, the conveyance of the transfer material is ensured, and great reliability is obtained, and furthermore, the shape of the transfer material heating plate IO can be easily made into a flat plate.

The material of the endless belt is preferably a heat-resistant elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyimide, polyimide base material, etc., and its thickness varies depending on the material.
, / -j m, especially in the case of silicone rubber O0j
~3m, preferably. It is preferable that the transfer material heating plate 10 be subjected to appropriate surface treatment as described above to reduce its coefficient of friction and provide wear resistance and release properties. In order to do this, grooves are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the pressure roller and Tensilon roller/1 so that the grooves have a depth of 0. /wx
l! The temperature is preferably 71 degrees. Tension roller/
In order to prevent the endless bell 770 from shifting to one side, it is more preferable to configure it with a crown roller whose outer diameter at the center is larger than that at both ends.

FIG. 1 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, on the upstream side of the transfer fixing area C in one transfer material movement path P, the transfer It is constructed by providing a material heating roller and a roller that presses the transfer material. According to such a configuration, since the transfer material is heated independently of the pressing roller 9, excessive heating of the J pressing roller 9 is suppressed, and the heating of the transfer material is suppressed.
Since it only has to perform the function of bringing the transfer material into pressure contact with the transfer material heating roller, it is possible to improve the heating efficiency of the transfer material heating roller and improve the control accuracy of the heating temperature of the transfer material. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an offset phenomenon due to excessive heating. Moreover, the toner adhering to the transfer material is heated at a position separate from the second press row 29, and the toner adhering to the transfer material is prevented from adhering to the transfer material due to the heat.

ijmu, /jB are transfer material guide plates.

Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

The toner used in the examples had a melting temperature of 100°C. JOμm belt-shaped polyimide substrate as intermediate transfer body! Silicone elastomer RteV-Kl manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. was dissolved in 300 t of toluene and sprayed at 5 ozva to a thickness of 1.08 oz., and a 9-belt intermediate transfer member was used. The primary image on the photoreceptor is transferred to the transfer section,
Transfer onto an intermediate transfer body, and install a rubber roll coated with silicone rubber on a yφ-thick aluminum roll and φ-thick silicone rubber inside the intermediate transfer body. For the pressure roll, an aluminum roll with a thickness of MdJms and a silicone rubber coated with a thickness of 1 is used, heated to 00"cK by a heater equipped with a nine-gen lamp installed inside, and then transferred to the intermediate transfer body. The transfer and fixing section is constructed by pressing the sheet with a heating plate in which a sheet heating element, in which a film-shaped chromium-based heating element is embedded inside a plate-shaped silicone rubber plate, is adhered to an aluminum plate/JO℃. Transfer the heated transfer paper to this transfer fixing section at line speed tso W/
When the paper was passed through the paper at mtnv11I speed, it showed excellent fixation even under adverse conditions of high temperature and humidity.There were no K smudges or smearing on the letters or lines, and it could also be used for I/O such as black paper and photographs.
-I was able to turn over the final image with good reproducibility down to the final tone.

Example 2゜ The material used had a melting temperature of 100°C.

As an intermediate transfer body, the surface of an SvS roller with a thickness of φ is coated with silicone rubber of a thickness of φ, and the surface of a rubber roll is coated with silicone elastomer RTV-KN manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
/300 dissolved in toluene and spray-coated to a thickness of 1100 μm using a roll-shaped intermediate transfer member. The primary image on the photoreceptor is pressure-transferred onto this intermediate transfer member in a transfer section, and this toner image is provided inside the intermediate transfer member.
0ge/・K with the intermediate transfer body by the lamp heater
Heat to ℃.・As a pressure roll, a pressure roll coated with silicone rubber 1 of thickness 1 is heated by a halogen lamp heater installed inside the plate-shaped silicone rubber. A planar heating element embedded with a film-like nichrome heating element was adhered to an Al electric plate, heated to 1[K Yo-dye, /JO℃, and transferred to this transfer-fixing section with nine-transfer paper, line speed / 70 wx
When the paper was passed through the paper at a feeding speed of 11iH, it showed excellent fixing properties even under adverse conditions of high temperature and humidity, and it was
It looks like IKK, but it's not glossy, and it's a problem when you get a final image with good reproducibility, including black peta and half tones of photographs! picture.

In the present invention, it is a requirement that the intermediate transfer member be lower than the melting temperature of the toner, but the intermediate transfer member is preferably heated to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner.

Further, it is desirable that the pressing body be heated to a temperature higher than 0 to 1j0°C, and the transfer material be heated to a temperature higher than 0-M°C.

As described above, according to the present invention, the toner image on the intermediate transfer member S can be reliably and suitably transferred and fixed onto the transfer material while maintaining high resolution, and the toner on the toner image carrier L can be transferred to the intermediate transfer member by pressure. The latent image is transferred onto the transfer member j, and therefore the latent image on the toner image carrier l is basically not destroyed, so this latent image is developed again, thereby forming the same clear toner image. Therefore, it is possible to reliably develop a retention method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are curve diagrams showing temperature changes of an intermediate transfer body having a toner image and a transfer material in the example of FIG. 1. , Figure 3 is an explanatory enlarged view of the main parts of the apparatus in another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus in still another embodiment of the invention, and Figure 3 is An explanatory enlarged view of a part of the figure, FIG. 7, and FIG. ! ...toner image carrier, c...latent image forming mechanism...
3...Developing mechanism% 3...Intermediate transfer body, t.
...Press roller, 7...Heat roller, 7m...
・Heater, I-tension roller, 9...
Heat press roller, t-heater, 10... Transfer material heating plate, /J--heat roller, 1--transfer material heating roller, /F--transfer material guide plate, //i- ...Tension roller, #-mll''c belt, lto...support part, ...heater, m...transfer area,
B... Intermediate transfer body heating area, C... Transfer fixing area, D... Transfer material heating area, P... Transfer material moving path, ! ...Toner statue. Patent applicant Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.Kinsha Figure 1 Of2345 mm C 1Z545 mm %゛5 Figure P! j6 figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A toner image transfer and fixing method in which a toner image is transferred from a toner image carrier to an intermediate transfer member, and transferred and fixed from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer machine, wherein the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is (1) heating the toner to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the toner; A toner image/transfer/fixing method characterized in that a toner image is transferred and fixed onto the transfer material by sending the transfer material to a transfer/fixing position. 2. In a toner image transfer fixing device in which a toner image is transferred from a toner image carrier to an intermediate transfer member, and retransferred from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material and fixed, the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. heating means for heating a pressing member that presses the transfer material against the intermediate transfer member to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner; and heating the transfer material to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the toner. 1. A zero-transfer and fixing device for a thinner image, characterized in that the transfer material is fed to a transfer and fixing position even when the transfer material is provided with a heating means. [Claim 2] The toner image carrier and the intermediate transfer member are each a rotating body having a roll-like shape and a belt-like shape.
5. The toner image transfer fixing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the upper surface of the intermediate transfer body is made of silicone rubber or fluorine rubber. The means for heating the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is a heat roller that contacts the lower surface side of the intermediate transfer member and rotates the intermediate transfer member, and the means for heating the transfer material is heated in relation to the heat roller. The toner image transfer fixing device according to claim 1 or 4, which is a heat pressing row 2 that pinches and feeds the intermediate transfer body and the transfer material. 6. The toner image transfer and fixing device according to claim 5, further comprising a pressure roller, which presses the intermediate transfer member against the toner image bearing member, at the base of the intermediate transfer member, separately from the heat roller.