JPS6169086A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make heating unnecessary by forming surfaces of fixing rolls, which are rotated while brought into contact with each other, with release layers and providing a pair of rotating members for fixing one of which has elasticity and rotating them while bringing them into contact with each other in the pressured state to form a nip and fusing a developer on a form passing between them to impregnate the form with developer. CONSTITUTION:With respect to one fixing roll 1 of fixing rolls which are rotated while brought into contact with each other, a release film 1b consisting of a fluororesin or the like is formed on the surface of a core bar 1a consisting of Al or the like, and a thin fixing liquid film is applied to the surface of the film 1b by a fixing liquid applying member 7. With respect to the other roll 2, an elastic release layer 2b is formed with a silicone rubber on the surface of a core bar 2a consisting of Al or the like. Rolls 1 and 2 are pressed to each other by a mechanism omitted in the figure to form a nip 6, and the roll 1 is driven in the direction of an arrow, and the roll 2 is allowed to follow up the roll 1. A form P on which a toner fix the image. Thus, heating is made unnecessary to shorten the fixing time, and good fixing is performed.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔発明の技術分野〕 本発明は、たとえば電子写真技術を使って転写紙等（＝
付着させた粉体トナーなどの未定着現像剤画像を永久的
に固着させる定着装置（＝関する。[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to the production of transfer paper, etc. (=
A fixing device (= related to) that permanently fixes an attached unfixed developer image such as powder toner.

〔発明の技術的背景とその問題点〕[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

未定着画像の定着方法としては、熱（＝よるもの、圧力
によるもの、熱＋圧力（＝よるもの、溶剤によるもの等
が実用化されているが、それぞれまだ、下記の様な問題
が残されている。熱十王力による方式（ヒートローラ方
式）は熱効率が高く、安全で紙搬送面での信頼性も高く
、広く実用化されているが、熱を使う為ファクシミリ等
の夜間通電用には使えず、またウオームアツプ時間も普
通１分以上必要であり、更に紙しわ、カール等の問題が
まだ解決されていない。Methods for fixing unfixed images include heat, pressure, heat + pressure, and solvents, but each method still has the following problems. The method using thermal power (heat roller method) has high thermal efficiency, is safe, and has high reliability in terms of paper conveyance, and has been widely put into practical use. However, since it uses heat, it is not suitable for night-time powering of facsimile machines, etc. cannot be used, the warm-up time is usually more than 1 minute, and the problem of paper wrinkles, curls, etc. has not yet been solved.

熱を全く使わない圧力ローラ方式は紙しわ以外の上記の
問題は解決できるが、装置が重くなる。定着性が充分で
なく書類を積み重ねた時、圧力で隣の紙の裏にくっつい
て画像が転写される、定着後の紙厚が薄くなり、光沢が
出てしま、オーバーへッドブロジェクタ（ＯＨＰ）用紙
には定着できない・・・等の問題がある。また、溶剤に
よる定着はそれらめ欠点がかなりカバーされるが、溶剤
をペーパー状態にし、その雰囲気内に未定着画像を通す
ことによって定着させる為ペーパー、による汚染、ペー
パーのシールのむつかしさ、定着の反応時間の遅さ、等
の欠点があり実用化されている例は少い。The pressure roller method, which uses no heat at all, can solve the above problems other than paper wrinkles, but the device becomes heavier. When documents are stacked due to insufficient fixing properties, the image will stick to the back of the adjacent paper due to the pressure, and the paper will become thinner and glossy after fixing. Overhead projector (OHP) paper There are problems such as not being able to take root. In addition, fixing using a solvent can overcome these shortcomings to a large extent, but since it is fixed by turning the solvent into paper and passing the unfixed image through the atmosphere, there are problems such as contamination caused by the paper, difficulty in sealing the paper, and difficulty in fixing. There are few examples of this method being put into practical use due to drawbacks such as slow reaction time.

〔発明の目的〕[Purpose of the invention]

本発明は、上記事情にもとずきなされたもので、その目
的とするところは、熱を全く使わず、圧力もあまりかけ
ず、溶剤（二よる汚染等も最少限に押えることのできる
構成で、画像支持体の適用１ｍも広く、夜間でも使え、
画像支持体の搬送性も良くカール、しわ等の画像支持体
の変形をほとんど起さずに良好な定着性を得ることがで
きるコンパクトな定着装置を提供しようとするものであ
る。The present invention was made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to create a structure that does not use any heat, does not apply much pressure, and can minimize contamination caused by solvents (2). The image support can be applied as wide as 1m, and can be used even at night.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact fixing device that has good transportability for an image support and can obtain good fixing performance with almost no deformation of the image support such as curls or wrinkles.

〔発明の概要〕[Summary of the invention]

本発明は、かかる目的を達成するために、互いに転接す
る定着用回転部材間（二面像支持体を通すこと（二より
その表面（：形成された未定着現像剤像を定着するよう
にした定着装置であって、離型性層をその表面に有する
とともに少なくとも一方が弾力性を持ち、加圧状態で転
接することによりニップ部を形成する一組の定着用回転
部材と、これら一組の定着用回転部材間を通過する画像
支持体上の現像剤を溶融もしくは軟化させる現像剤溶融
手段とを設け、溶けた現像剤を画像支持体の繊維間に圧
力で浸み込ませて定着する構成としたものである。In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a mechanism for fixing the formed unfixed developer image by passing the two-sided image support between the rotating members for fixing that roll into contact with each other. The fixing device includes a set of fixing rotary members each having a release layer on its surface, at least one of which has elasticity, and which forms a nip by rolling contact under pressure; A developer melting means for melting or softening the developer on the image support passing between the fixing rotating members is provided, and the melted developer is infiltrated between the fibers of the image support under pressure and fixed. That is.

〔発明の実施例〕[Embodiments of the invention]

以下、本発明の一実施例を第１図を参照して説明する。 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

図中１，２は、転写紙などの画像支持体（以後、単に支
持体という）Ｐを搬送する搬送路３を挾んで互い（二転
接する一組の定着用回転部材としての定着ローラである
。In the figure, reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate fixing rollers as a pair of fixing rotating members that come into contact with each other (twice) across a conveyance path 3 that conveys an image support P such as a transfer paper (hereinafter simply referred to as support). .

上記搬送路３はガイド板４，５の上面などによとて形成
されて図示しない搬送手段により支持体Ｐを所定の速度
で搬送するようになっている。上側の定着ローラ１は図
示しない駆動手段によって支持体の搬送スピードと略等
しい周速で矢印の方向（二回転し、・対向して設けられ
ている下側の定着ローラ２と接触して図示しない加圧手
段（二よりニップ部６の単位長さ１ｃｒｎ当たり０、５
〜ｌ　ＫＰの力で圧着され下測定着ローラ２を従動させ
ている。下測定着ローラ１はアルミ等の芯金１ａ（二弗
素樹脂等の離型性の膜１ｂを表面層として形成した離型
性ローラで、その表面上（−は後にその成分を説明する
定着液を塗布する定着液塗布手段としての塗布部材７が
接触しており定着ローラ１の表面には定着液の薄い膜が
均一に形成される。この塗布部材７は定着液を含浸させ
たフェルト状の部材７ａ及び定着液の貯蔵、補給を行う
部分を併せ持ち、更に定着液が揮発しない様ある程度シ
ールされた構造を持つ。下側の定着ローラ２はアルミ等
の芯金２ａの表面にシリコンゴム等の弾性離型性層２ｂ
を形成した構成となっており、上側の定着ローラ４と接
触し、加圧によりニップ部６を形成するよう（＝なって
いる。The transport path 3 is formed by the upper surfaces of guide plates 4, 5, etc., and is configured to transport the support P at a predetermined speed by a transport means (not shown). The upper fixing roller 1 rotates twice in the direction of the arrow at a circumferential speed approximately equal to the conveying speed of the support by a driving means (not shown), and comes into contact with the lower fixing roller 2 (not shown) provided oppositely. Pressure means (0, 5 per unit length 1 crn of the two-way nip portion 6)
It is pressed with a force of ~l KP and the lower measuring roller 2 is driven. The lower measuring roller 1 is a release roller having a core metal 1a made of aluminum or the like (with a release film 1b made of difluororesin or the like formed as a surface layer), and on its surface (- indicates a fixing liquid whose components will be explained later). A thin film of the fixer is uniformly formed on the surface of the fixing roller 1.The coating member 7 is a felt-like film impregnated with the fixer. It has a member 7a and a part for storing and replenishing the fixing liquid, and has a structure that is sealed to some extent so that the fixing liquid does not volatilize.The lower fixing roller 2 has a core metal 2a made of aluminum or the like with silicone rubber or the like on the surface. Elastic release layer 2b
The upper fixing roller 4 contacts the upper fixing roller 4 and forms a nip portion 6 by applying pressure.

なお、図中８はニップ部６の後段に位置して設けられた
剥離爪であり、９はこの剥離爪８の上方かつ下測定着ロ
ーラ１に摺接する状態（＝設けられたブレード式クリー
ニング部材である。Note that 8 in the figure is a peeling claw provided at the rear stage of the nip portion 6, and 9 is a state in which the peeling claw 8 is in sliding contact with the upper and lower measuring roller 1 (= a blade-type cleaning member provided). It is.

また、１０は下測定着ローラ２に摺接する状態に設けら
れたクリーニング部材である。Further, reference numeral 10 denotes a cleaning member provided in sliding contact with the lower measuring roller 2.

しかして、入口側のガイド板４上を搬送されて来る紙等
の支持体Ｐの表面に静電的に付着した現像剤画像（トナ
ー画像）ａ・・・は、例えばスチレン・アクジル樹脂及
びカーボン等を主体とした粉体からなり、現像剤溶融手
段Ａを構成する定着液塗布手段７により予め軟化又は溶
融されて支持体Ｐに固着されること（二なる。すなわち
、未定着現像剤画像ａ・・・は支持体Ｐに付着して上下
定着ローラ１，２のニップ部６を通過する際、上側定着
ローラ１の表面に一様に塗布された定着液によって軟化
、又は溶融し、加圧されることによって支持体Ｐに永久
的に固着し定着する。この時、上側定着ローラ１は表面
が現像剤（トナー）の付着しにくい離型性膜１ａで形成
されている為、軟化又は溶融した現像剤（トナー）はほ
とんど支持体Ｐの方に付着し、上側定着ローラ１には付
着しないがわずかに付着したものも後段でローラ表面（
＝接触しているクリーニング部材９によって除去される
。又、定着剤の支持体Ｐは剥離爪８に補助的（二作用さ
ｆ　　　れ、上側定着ローラ１から剥され出口側のガイ
ド板５上を矢印の方向へ排出される。Therefore, the developer image (toner image) a... electrostatically adhered to the surface of the support P such as paper that is conveyed on the guide plate 4 on the entrance side is, for example, styrene, axyl resin, carbon etc., and is softened or melted in advance by the fixer application means 7 constituting the developer melting means A and fixed to the support P (2. In other words, the unfixed developer image a . . adheres to the support P and passes through the nip 6 between the upper and lower fixing rollers 1 and 2, and is softened or melted by the fixing liquid uniformly applied to the surface of the upper fixing roller 1 and pressurized. The surface of the upper fixing roller 1 is formed of a releasable film 1a to which developer (toner) is difficult to adhere, so it is permanently fixed to the support P. Most of the developed developer (toner) adheres to the support P, and although it does not adhere to the upper fixing roller 1, the small amount of developer (toner) that adheres to the upper fixing roller 1 is also transferred to the roller surface (
=Removed by the contacting cleaning member 9. Further, the support P of the fixing agent is subjected to an auxiliary action (f) by the peeling claw 8, and is peeled off from the upper fixing roller 1 and discharged onto the guide plate 5 on the exit side in the direction of the arrow.

尚ニップ部６から出たばかりの支持体Ｐ上の現像剤画像
（トナー画像）はまだ軟化している為、剥離爪８も離型
性材料で出来ていることが好ましい。又、下側定着ロー
ラ２の表面も経時的（二汚れて来る為、クリーニング部
材９によりクリーニングされる。Note that since the developer image (toner image) on the support P that has just come out of the nip portion 6 is still softened, it is preferable that the peeling claw 8 is also made of a releasable material. Further, since the surface of the lower fixing roller 2 becomes dirty over time, it is cleaned by the cleaning member 9.

つぎに、定着液の材質（二ついての実施例を次ζ二示す
。Next, the material of the fixer (two examples are shown below).

定着液の構成としては揮発性を有し、かつ現像剤（トナ
ー）の樹脂を溶融又は、軟化させる溶剤としての性質を
もつ「定着成分」と蒸発せずに定着ローラ表面に残留し
て現像剤（トナー）との離型性を付与する「離型成分」
と、更にこれらを適正濃度で溶かすか又は１分散させる
「媒体成分」とからなっており、ここに示した例の他に
もこの考え方により、現像剤（トナー）（ご用いる樹脂
の特性に応じて、種々の「定着成分」あるいは、これら
の混合液（定着液）を選び、溶剤（定着成分）の分量を
トナーが最も良好な溶融状態となるよう（−調合する事
ができるであろう。The composition of the fixer is a "fixing component" which is volatile and has the properties of a solvent that melts or softens the resin in the developer (toner), and a "fixing component" which does not evaporate and remains on the surface of the fixing roller to form the developer. "Release component" that provides mold releasability from (toner)
and a "medium component" that dissolves or disperses these at appropriate concentrations.In addition to the examples shown here, based on this concept, developer (toner) (depending on the characteristics of the resin used) Then, various "fixing components" or a mixture thereof (fixing solution) can be selected, and the amount of solvent (fixing component) can be adjusted so that the toner is in the best melted state.

なお、上述の一実施例において、現像剤溶融手段Ａとし
て上側ローラ１の表面に定着液を塗布する定着液塗布手
段７から構成したものについて説明したが、本発明はこ
れ（二限らず、たとえば第２図に示すように溶剤蒸気供
給手段１１によって構成してもよい。すなわち、支持体
Ｐを搬送する搬送路３に対向して搬送路３を搬送される
支持体Ｐ上に溶剤の蒸気を供給して現像剤像ａ・・・を
溶融もしくは軟化させる構成としても良い。In the above-mentioned embodiment, the developer melting means A is composed of the fixer applying means 7 for applying the fixer to the surface of the upper roller 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example As shown in FIG. 2, it may be configured by a solvent vapor supply means 11. That is, the solvent vapor is supplied onto the support P conveyed along the conveyance path 3 opposite to the conveyance path 3 through which the support P is conveyed. A configuration may also be adopted in which the developer image a is supplied and melted or softened.

なお、前述の一実施例（第１図）の説明と同一部分は同
一の符号を付して詳細な説明を省略する。尚上記実施例
においては上側定着ローラ１はアルミ等の芯金１ａに弗
素樹脂等の離型性の膜２ａを表面層として形成している
が、本発明の装置は熱を全く使わず加圧力も比較的小さ
い為、離型性の良い耐溶剤性のある樹脂等によって直接
製作するか、樹脂製のローラ表面に更に離型性表面層を
形成したものであっても良い。Note that the same parts as those described in the above-mentioned embodiment (FIG. 1) are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the above embodiment, the upper fixing roller 1 has a core metal 1a made of aluminum or the like and a releasable film 2a made of fluororesin or the like as a surface layer, but the device of the present invention uses no heat at all and uses no pressing force. Since the roller is also relatively small, it may be directly manufactured from a solvent-resistant resin with good mold releasability, or it may be formed by further forming a releasable surface layer on the surface of the resin roller.

又、上側定着ローラ１も下側定着ローラ２と同様離型性
の良い８ｉゴム等の弾性層を持つたものでも良く、それ
に更にＳｉオイルを含浸させたものであっても良い。又
、定着像の光沢を低くして、自然な感じを与えるためと
、融着時の現像剤”（トナー）の溶けすぎによる広がり
による鮮鋭度の低下を防止するため（一定着ローラ表面
を粗面化（１０μｍ〜３０μｍ）することにより上記し
た効果は更に安定的なものとなる。Further, like the lower fixing roller 2, the upper fixing roller 1 may have an elastic layer made of 8i rubber or the like with good release properties, or may be further impregnated with Si oil. In addition, in order to lower the gloss of the fixed image and give it a natural feel, and to prevent a decrease in sharpness due to spreading due to excessive melting of the developer (toner) during fusing (the fixed fixing roller surface is roughened). The above-mentioned effect becomes even more stable by making it planar (10 μm to 30 μm).

又、上記実施例では熱を全く使わなかったが、定着液を
蒸気化させる為、熱を併用してもよく更にその熱源を上
側定着ローラ１内部に設けても良い。（但し、ヒー）ｏ
−ラ方式より格段（−低出力で良い。） その他、本発明は、本発明の要旨を変えない範囲で種々
変形実施可能で有ることは勿論である。Further, although no heat was used in the above embodiment, heat may be used in combination to vaporize the fixing liquid, and the heat source may be provided inside the upper fixing roller 1. (However, hee) o
- Significantly lower output than the LA method (-lower output is sufficient.) It goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔発明の効果〕〔Effect of the invention〕

本発明は、以上説明したよう（二、互いに転接する定着
用回転部材間に画像支持体を通すことによりその表面）
；形成された未定着現像剤像を定着するようにした定着
装置であって、離型性層をその表面に有するとともに少
なくとも一方が弾力性を持ち、加圧状態で転接すること
（二よリニツプ部を形成する一組の定着用回転部材と、
ｆ　　　これら一組の定着用回転部材間を通過する画像
支持体上の現像剤を溶融もしくは軟化させる現像剤溶融
手段とを設け、溶けた現像剤を画像支持体の繊維間に圧
力で浸み込ませて定着する構成としたものである。した
がって、熱を全く使わず夜間使用も可能で、加圧力もヒ
ートローラ程度の比較的小さい力ですみ、圧力定着用ロ
ーラの様に重い構造にシなくて済む為、コンパクトで安
価な構成にでき、また、画像支持体の適用種類も広く、
画像支持体の搬送性も良くカール、しわ等の画像支持体
の変形をほとんど起さずに良好な定着性を得ることがで
きる。また、従来のように雰囲気汚染もほとんどなく、
加圧を併用しているため定着に要する時間も短く処理ス
ピードの早い定着装置を提供できるといった効果を奏す
る。As explained above, the present invention (2. By passing the image support between the rotating members for fixing that roll into contact with each other, the surface of the image support)
; A fixing device for fixing the formed unfixed developer image, which has a release layer on its surface, at least one of which has elasticity, and which makes contact under pressure (two-linip); a set of rotating fixing members forming a part;
f A developer melting means is provided for melting or softening the developer on the image support that passes between the pair of rotating members for fixing, and the melted developer is penetrated between the fibers of the image support by pressure. The structure is such that it is fixed in place. Therefore, it can be used at night without using any heat, the pressing force is relatively small like that of a heat roller, and there is no need for a heavy structure like a pressure fixing roller, making it possible to have a compact and inexpensive structure. , Also, the types of image supports are widely applicable.
The image support has good transportability and good fixing properties can be obtained with almost no deformation of the image support such as curls or wrinkles. In addition, unlike conventional methods, there is almost no atmospheric pollution.
Since pressure is also used, the time required for fixing is short and a fixing device with high processing speed can be provided.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は本発明の一実施例を示す概略的構成図、第２図
は本発明の他の実施例を示す概略的構成図である。 １．２・・・定着用回転部材（定着ローラ）、３・・・
搬送路、６・・・ニップ部、７・・・定着液塗布手段、
１１・・・溶剤蒸気供給手段、Ａ・・・現像剤溶融手段
、Ｐ・・・画像支持体、ａ・・・現像剤（トナー像）。 出願人代理人　弁理士　　鈴　　江　　武　　彦第１図 １’Ｃ 第２図FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1.2... Rotating member for fixing (fixing roller), 3...
Conveyance path, 6... Nip portion, 7... Fixer application means,
11... Solvent vapor supply means, A... Developer melting means, P... Image support, a... Developer (toner image). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 1'C Figure 2

Claims (4)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）互いに転接する定着用回転部材間に画像支持体を
通すことにより、その表面に形成された未定着現像剤像
を定着するようにした定着装置であって、離型性層をそ
の表面に有するとともに少なくとも一方が弾力性を持ち
、加圧状態で転接することによりニップ部を形成する一
組の定着用回転部材と、これら一組の定着用回転部材間
を通過する画像支持体上の現像剤を溶融もしくは軟化さ
せる現像剤溶融手段とを具備してなることを特徴とする
定着装置。(1) A fixing device that fixes an unfixed developer image formed on the surface of an image support by passing an image support between rotational fixing members that roll into contact with each other, and the fixing device has a releasing layer on the surface of the image support. a set of rotating fixing members, at least one of which has elasticity and forms a nip by rolling contact under pressure; A fixing device comprising a developer melting means for melting or softening the developer. （２）現像剤溶融手段は、一組の定着用回転部材の少な
くとも一方の定着用回転部材に接触してその表面に定着
液を塗布する定着液塗布手段からなることを特徴とする
特許請求の範囲第１項記載の定着装置。(2) The developer melting means comprises a fixer applying means that contacts at least one of the fixing rotary members of a set of fixing rotary members and applies the fixer to the surface thereof. The fixing device according to scope 1. （３）現像剤溶融手段は、画像支持体を搬送する搬送路
に対向して設けられ搬送路を搬送される画像支持体上に
溶剤の蒸気を供給して現像剤を溶融もしくは軟化させる
溶剤蒸気供給手段からなることを特徴とする特許請求の
範囲第１項記載の定着装置。(3) The developer melting means is provided opposite to the conveyance path for conveying the image support, and supplies solvent vapor onto the image support conveyed through the conveyance path to melt or soften the developer. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, comprising a supply means. （４）定着用回転部材がローラからなることを特徴とす
る特許請求の範囲第１項記載の定着装置。(4) The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing rotating member comprises a roller.