JPH0816014A - Heat roller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the joining failure of a heat radiating resistor layer, cause no peeling of the layer, and improve the reliability of a heat roller with a simple structure by making the heat roller composed of conductive pinching members and a supplying electrode; the conductive pinching members are composed so as to pinch and be joined to at least end parts of a cylindrical substrate and are made possible to come into contact with a heat radiating resistor layer and the heat radiating resistor layer is composed so as to slide on the conductive pinching members. CONSTITUTION:A heat roller 1 is manufactured by forming a heat radiating resistor layer 4 on the circumferential face of a cylindrical substrate 2 through an electrically insulating layer 3 and further forming a peeling layer 5. In one of pinching members 6, which are metal flanges to pinch the heat roller 1 at both ends, a projected part 6a is formed pushed into the cylindrical substrate. The pinching members 6 come into contact with the heat radiating resistor layer 4 through a conductive layer 9, a conductive adhesive 10 is applied so as to cover the conductive layer 9, and thus the pinching members 6 and the heat radiating resistor layer 4 are put in electrically continuity state. Further, the heat roller 1 has a supplying electrode 8 connected with an electric power source of a fixing apparatus and composed so as to slide on the tip surfaces of the pinching members 6. Consequently, without using a ring-like electrode, fixing can be carried out for a long time.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【０００１】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は電子写真複写機、ファク
シミリ、プリンタ等の電子写真方式を利用した画像形成
装置に使用される定着装置のヒートローラに関し、特に
円筒基体上に電気絶縁層を介して発熱抵抗層を積層した
ヒートローラに電流を供給する電極に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat roller of a fixing device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. The present invention relates to an electrode for supplying an electric current to a heat roller having a heating resistance layer laminated thereon.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来技術】電子写真装置を利用した画像形成装置にお
いては感光体表面にトナー像を形成し、このトナー像を
用紙などにより転写した後、転写紙上のトナーを加熱溶
融させて用紙に付着させることで定着を行う加熱定着方
式は従来より知られているが、特に現在、加熱定着方式
の中でヒートローラとプレスローラにより定着を行うヒ
ートローラ方式が主流を占めるに至っている。2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic apparatus, a toner image is formed on the surface of a photoconductor, the toner image is transferred onto a sheet of paper, and the toner on the transfer sheet is heated and melted to adhere to the sheet. Although a heat fixing method of fixing by means of a heat roller has been known in the past, a heat roller method of fixing by means of a heat roller and a press roller is now predominant among the heat fixing methods.

【０００３】このヒートローラによる加熱方式の中で
も、ハロゲンランプ等をローラ中央の軸芯に設置してロ
ーラを加熱することで間接的にトナーを加熱する方式は
従来より知られているが、通紙によるローラ表面の急激
な温度変化、紙サイズの異なる事によるローラ長手方向
での温度の不均一性に対処するために、十分な熱容量の
下でハロゲンランプの加熱を行うことが要求されること
から、印字可能温度に達するまでの時間（立ち上がり時
間）がかかり過ぎるという問題点がある。Among the heating methods using the heat roller, a method of indirectly heating the toner by installing a halogen lamp or the like on the central axis of the roller to heat the roller is conventionally known. Because it is required to heat the halogen lamp with sufficient heat capacity in order to deal with the rapid temperature change of the roller surface due to, and the non-uniformity of temperature in the roller longitudinal direction due to different paper sizes. However, there is a problem that it takes too much time (rise time) to reach the printable temperature.

【０００４】かかる問題点を解決するために金属製円筒
基体の周面に電気絶縁層を介して発熱抵抗層を形成した
ヒートローラにより定着を行うことで定着温度までの立
ち上がり時間を短くし、さらに表面温度を均一に保つ技
術が提案されている（特開昭５５−７２３９０，特開昭
６４−８６１８５）。In order to solve such a problem, fixing is performed by a heat roller having a heating resistance layer formed on the peripheral surface of a metal cylindrical substrate with an electric insulation layer interposed therebetween, thereby shortening the rise time to the fixing temperature, and Techniques for keeping the surface temperature uniform have been proposed (JP-A-55-72390, JP-A-64-86185).

【０００５】[0005]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、かかる
技術の電流供給手段として、リング状電極を前記発熱抵
抗層の周囲に導電性接着剤により接着させて電流供給可
能に構成しているが、かかる方法では、円筒基体、絶縁
層、発熱抵抗層の各層相互の接合力が強く要求される。However, as a current supply means of such a technique, a ring-shaped electrode is adhered to the periphery of the heating resistance layer with a conductive adhesive so that the current can be supplied. Then, the bonding force between the respective layers of the cylindrical substrate, the insulating layer, and the heating resistance layer is strongly required.

【０００６】すなわち、発熱抵抗層とリング状電極との
接合力が確保されても、発熱抵抗層と電気絶縁層との接
合力、また円筒基体と電気絶縁層の接合力が問題とな
り、硬度の低い材質を選択するのにもよるが電気絶縁層
を厚く円筒基体に塗布すると、一般的には発熱抵抗層と
電気絶縁層の接合力が弱くなり、結果的にリング状電極
を保持することが困難となる。That is, even if the joining force between the heating resistance layer and the ring-shaped electrode is secured, the joining force between the heating resistance layer and the electric insulating layer and the joining force between the cylindrical substrate and the electric insulating layer become problems, and the hardness Depending on the selection of a low material, thick coating of the electrical insulation layer on the cylindrical substrate generally weakens the bonding force between the heating resistance layer and the electrical insulation layer, resulting in the retention of the ring electrode. It will be difficult.

【０００７】従って、これにより接合不良，長期使用に
よる剥がれが生じ定着不良の原因に成りかねないばかり
か立ち上がり時間も長くなる。一方、電気絶縁層を薄く
すると接合力も増すが絶縁不良を起こす可能性が高くな
る。従って、このように電気絶縁体の厚さ、種類が限ら
れたものしか利用できず選択の自由度がなくなり、材料
選定、工程管理にコストがかかる問題点があった。Therefore, this may cause defective bonding, peeling due to long-term use and cause defective fixing, and also increase the rise time. On the other hand, if the electric insulation layer is made thin, the bonding force also increases, but the possibility of causing insulation failure increases. Therefore, there is a problem in that only limited thicknesses and types of electrical insulators can be used, the degree of freedom in selection is lost, and material selection and process control are costly.

【０００８】本発明は上述の欠点に鑑みてなされたもの
で、別途リング状電極を用いることなく長期にわたりト
ナー定着が可能なヒートローラを提供することを目的と
する。The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heat roller capable of fixing toner for a long period of time without separately using a ring-shaped electrode.

【０００９】本発明の他の目的は、簡単な構成で発熱抵
抗層の接合不良，剥がれ等が起こらず、信頼性の高いヒ
ートローラを提供することを目的とする。Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat roller which has a simple structure and which is highly reliable and does not cause defective bonding or peeling of the heating resistance layer.

【００１０】[0010]

【課題を解決するための手段】上記問題点を解決するた
めに、本発明のヒートローラは円筒基体の周囲に発熱抵
抗層が積層されるとともに、前記発熱抵抗層に電流を供
給可能に構成されたヒートローラにおいて、前記円筒基
体の少なくとも一端で挟持結合するとともに、前記発熱
抵抗層に接触可能に構成された導電性挟持部材と、その
導電性挟持部材に摺擦可能に構成され前記発熱抵抗層へ
電流を供給する供給電極とで構成する。In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the heat roller of the present invention is constructed such that a heating resistance layer is laminated around a cylindrical substrate and an electric current can be supplied to the heating resistance layer. In the heat roller, a conductive sandwiching member that is sandwiched and coupled at at least one end of the cylindrical base body and is configured to be in contact with the heat generating resistance layer, and the heat generating resistance layer configured to be slidable on the conductive sandwiching member. It is composed of a supply electrode for supplying a current to.

【００１１】[0011]

【作用】上記構成によれば、金属製のフランジを円筒基
体と一体化して固着させ、しかも、そのフランジが発熱
抵抗層と接触して、しっかり固定しているために、発熱
抵抗層と電流を供給するフランジの間に強い接合力が得
られ、層の剥がれ等は生じない。According to the above construction, since the metal flange is integrally fixed to the cylindrical substrate and the flange is in contact with and firmly fixed to the heat generating resistance layer, the heat generating resistance layer and the current are prevented from flowing. A strong joining force is obtained between the supply flanges, and no peeling of layers occurs.

【００１２】[0012]

【実施例】本発明の実施例について図面を用いて説明す
る。図１は定着装置の構成を説明した図であり、１は本
発明のヒートローラであり、円筒基体２周面に電気絶縁
層３を介して発熱抵抗層４を積層し、さらに剥離層５を
積層してなる。Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a fixing device. Reference numeral 1 is a heat roller of the present invention. A heating resistance layer 4 is laminated on a peripheral surface of a cylindrical substrate 2 with an electrical insulating layer 3 interposed therebetween, and a peeling layer 5 is further provided. Stacked.

【００１３】１０はプレスローラであり、金属コア１２
の表面にシリコンスポンジ等の弾性体１１を被覆した状
態で形成されており、その両端で不図示の軸受け部に支
持されて自由に回転可能に設けられ、ヒートローラ１の
回転に従って回転する。Reference numeral 10 denotes a press roller, which has a metal core 12
Is formed in a state in which an elastic body 11 such as a silicon sponge is coated on the surface thereof, is supported by bearings (not shown) at both ends thereof and is rotatably provided, and rotates according to the rotation of the heat roller 1.

【００１４】またヒートローラ１とプレスローラ１０で
形成されるニップ部の両端にガイド板２３によって用紙
搬送路が形成されており、その用紙搬送路２３に搬送さ
れてくる用紙２０の表面に形成されるトナー画像２１を
プレスローラ１０による加圧とヒートローラ１による加
熱をほぼ同時に行うことで定着される。なお、ヒートロ
ーラ１の周囲には温度コントロールの温度センサーが設
けられている。A sheet conveying path is formed by guide plates 23 at both ends of a nip portion formed by the heat roller 1 and the press roller 10, and is formed on the surface of the sheet 20 conveyed to the sheet conveying path 23. The toner image 21 is fixed by applying pressure by the press roller 10 and heating by the heat roller 1 almost at the same time. A temperature sensor for temperature control is provided around the heat roller 1.

【００１５】ヒートローラ１を構成する円筒基体２の素
材としては導電性のものが安価で形成できるため好まし
く、具体的にはアルミニウム，アルミニウム合金，銅，
銅合金，鉄，鉄合金等の導電性の良い金属を用いること
ができる。As a material for the cylindrical substrate 2 constituting the heat roller 1, a conductive material is preferable because it can be formed at a low cost, and specifically, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper,
A metal having good conductivity such as copper alloy, iron or iron alloy can be used.

【００１６】電気絶縁層３は有機金属ポリマーが用いら
れるが、これに限定されず、ガラス等の硬度が高いもの
に使用可能であるが、本発明は絶縁性の高くて硬度が比
較的低い材料に利用するのが最適である。かかる有機金
属ポリマー自体は硬度が比較的低く、可撓性を有し、あ
る程度のまげにも十分耐えるため、欠けや割れの生じる
ことがなく、また金属円筒基体との熱膨張率が近似して
いることから、その差による電気絶縁層３のヒビ割れ等
も生じない等の作用効果が得られ、また、未硬化の有機
金属ポリマーを塗布し比較的低温で加熱硬化させること
により形成できるので、基体の選択自由度が増し、基体
の肉薄化も可能で、実質の熱容量が低下し、より一層の
定着器の立ち上がり時間が短縮されるものである。Although an organic metal polymer is used for the electric insulating layer 3, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be used for a material having a high hardness such as glass, but the present invention is a material having a high insulating property and a relatively low hardness. It is best used for. Such an organometallic polymer itself has a relatively low hardness, has flexibility, and can withstand a certain amount of blistering, so that no cracks or cracks occur, and the coefficient of thermal expansion is similar to that of a metal cylindrical substrate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the electric insulation layer 3 is not cracked due to the difference, and can be formed by applying an uncured organometallic polymer and heating and curing at a relatively low temperature. The degree of freedom in selecting the substrate is increased, the thickness of the substrate can be reduced, the substantial heat capacity is reduced, and the rise time of the fixing device is further shortened.

【００１７】発熱抵抗層４はＲｕＯ₂ 、Ｎｉ−Ｃｒ合
金，Ｎｉ，Ｃｒ，Ｃｕ等の金属粉末を有するペーストか
ら形成されている。剥離層５は発熱抵抗層４を覆い、転
写時にトナーがヒートローラ側に付着することを防止す
るためにＰＦＡ，ＰＴＦＥ等のフッ素樹脂から形成され
ている。The heating resistance layer 4 is formed of a paste containing a metal powder such as RuO ₂ , Ni-Cr alloy, Ni, Cr, Cu or the like. The peeling layer 5 covers the heat generating resistance layer 4 and is made of a fluororesin such as PFA or PTFE in order to prevent the toner from adhering to the heat roller side during transfer.

【００１８】次に本発明の特徴を詳細に説明する。図２
はヒートローラ１の層構成の端部拡大断面図を示す。６
はヒートローラ両端を挟持する金属製フランジであり、
その挟持部材の一つは突起部６ａが形成され、円筒基体
２に圧入されている。ここで、円筒基体２が金属の場合
には、他のフランジを図のように絶縁層３を介して固着
させてもよい。また、フランジ６は導電層９を介して発
熱抵抗層４に接触しており、その導電層９を覆うように
導電性接着剤が塗布されて、フランジ６と発熱抵抗層４
が導通状態となっている。なお、フランジの材質として
は上述の円筒基体２で示した材質を使用することができ
る。Next, the features of the present invention will be described in detail. Figure 2
Shows an enlarged end sectional view of the layer structure of the heat roller 1. 6
Is a metal flange that holds both ends of the heat roller,
One of the holding members is formed with a protrusion 6a and is press-fitted into the cylindrical base body 2. Here, when the cylindrical substrate 2 is made of metal, another flange may be fixed via the insulating layer 3 as shown in the figure. Further, the flange 6 is in contact with the heating resistance layer 4 via the conductive layer 9, and a conductive adhesive is applied so as to cover the conductive layer 9, so that the flange 6 and the heating resistance layer 4 are covered.
Is in conduction. As the material of the flange, the material shown for the cylindrical base 2 can be used.

【００１９】８は定着装置の電源に接続され、フランジ
の頂上表面と摺擦可能に構成した供給電極であり、上述
のフランジ６，導電層９をかいして発熱抵抗層４に電流
を供給可能に構成されている。なお、供給電極８は頂上
表面で接触可能に構成しているが、これに限定されずフ
ランジ６の外周面ならどこでも接触させることができ
る。なお、７はヒートローラ１の軸受けである。Reference numeral 8 denotes a supply electrode which is connected to the power source of the fixing device and which can be rubbed against the top surface of the flange, and can supply an electric current to the heating resistance layer 4 through the flange 6 and the conductive layer 9 described above. Is configured. Although the supply electrode 8 is configured to be in contact with the top surface, the supply electrode 8 is not limited to this and can be contacted with any outer peripheral surface of the flange 6. Reference numeral 7 is a bearing of the heat roller 1.

【００２０】かかるヒートローラの製造例として両端を
フランジ６で電気的絶縁にして圧入挟持した円筒基体２
の表面を、予め化学的エッチングにより粗面とし、その
円筒基体２上に有機金属ポリマーを塗布して電気絶縁層
３を形成し、その後ニクロムを用いたスパッタリング処
理によりＮｉの発熱抵抗層４を形成する。その後にヒー
トローラ１表面を剥離層５としてフッ素樹脂を塗布する
ことにより完成する。As an example of manufacturing such a heat roller, a cylindrical base body 2 in which both ends are electrically insulated by flanges 6 and press-fitted and sandwiched is provided.
Is roughened by chemical etching in advance, an organometallic polymer is applied onto the cylindrical substrate 2 to form an electric insulating layer 3, and then a Ni heating resistance layer 4 is formed by a sputtering process using nichrome. To do. After that, the surface of the heat roller 1 is applied as a release layer 5 with a fluororesin to complete the process.

【００２１】[0021]

【発明の効果】本発明によれば、金属製のフランジを円
筒基体と一体化して固着させ、そのフランジが発熱抵抗
層と接触させて従来のリング状電極と兼ねた構成として
いるために長期使用してもリング状電極を使用したよう
なフランジの接合不良，剥がれ等の不具合が起こること
が防止され信頼性が高いヒートローラが提供できる。ま
た、この構成をすると電気絶縁層の材料選択の自由度が
増し、電気絶縁層の加工管理もラフに行える。According to the present invention, the metal flange is integrally fixed to the cylindrical substrate and fixed, and the flange is brought into contact with the heating resistance layer to serve as the conventional ring-shaped electrode. Even if a ring-shaped electrode is used, problems such as defective flange joining and peeling can be prevented, and a highly reliable heat roller can be provided. Further, with this configuration, the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the electric insulating layer is increased, and the processing control of the electric insulating layer can be roughly performed.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図１】本発明のヒートローラの概要説明図FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a heat roller of the present invention.

【図２】本発明のヒートローラの要部拡大図FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the heat roller of the present invention.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１：ヒートローラ ２：円筒基体 ３：電気絶縁層 ４：発熱抵抗層 ５：剥離層 ６：フランジ ６ａ：突起部 ７：軸受 ８：供給電極 ９：導電層 １０：導電性接着剤 1: Heat roller 2: Cylindrical substrate 3: Electric insulating layer 4: Heat resistance layer 5: Release layer 6: Flange 6a: Protrusion 7: Bearing 8: Supply electrode 9: Conductive layer 10: Conductive adhesive

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】円筒基体の周囲に発熱抵抗層が積層される
とともに、前記発熱抵抗層に電流を供給可能に構成され
たヒートローラにおいて、 前記円筒基体の少なくとも一端で挟持結合するととも
に、前記発熱抵抗層に接触可能に構成された導電性挟持
部材と、 該導電性挟持部材に摺擦可能に構成され前記発熱抵抗層
へ電流を供給する供給電極とを備えたことを特徴とする
ヒートローラ。1. A heat roller configured such that a heat generating resistance layer is laminated around a cylindrical base, and a current can be supplied to the heat generating resistance layer. The heat roller is sandwiched and bonded at least at one end of the cylindrical base and the heat generation is performed. A heat roller comprising: a conductive sandwiching member configured to be capable of contacting the resistance layer; and a supply electrode configured to be slidable on the conductive sandwiching member and supplying an electric current to the heating resistance layer.