Film, member, transfer member, transfer device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides a film, a member, a transfer member, a transfer device, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus. And siloxane compound particles having a structure represented by the formula [RSiO1.5] n (in the formula, R represents an organic group, and n represents an integer of 2 or more). ) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles present in an evaluation region of 63 [mu] m * 42 [mu] m, when the distance r between the particles is 0.05 [mu] m or more and 5.00 [mu] m or less, the integrated value of the statistic L (r) represented by formula (1) is 0 or more and 1.6 or less. [Number Formula 1] # imgabs0 #

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a film, a component, a transfer component, a transfer device, a fixing device and an image forming device. Background Art

[0002] In an image forming apparatus (copier, facsimile machine, printer, etc.) using an electrophotographic method, a toner image formed on the surface of an image holding member is transferred to the surface of a recording medium and fixed to the recording medium to form an image.

[0003] The image forming apparatus uses a member having a releasable surface.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following: “A fixing member, characterized in that it comprises: a substrate and an outermost layer formed on the substrate, wherein the outermost layer comprises a plurality of silsesquioxane particles and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polymer matrix.”

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses the following: “A fixing member having a substrate, an elastic layer, a resin layer and a release layer in this order, wherein the fixing member is characterized in that the MD-1 Type C hardness of the surface of the release layer is 65 or more and 90 or less, the hardness of the surface of the release layer of a laminate obtained by removing the substrate and the elastic layer from the fixing member is 0.3 GPa or more and 2.5 GPa or less as measured by a nanoindentation method, and the linear expansion coefficient of the resin layer is 1.0×10 -4 / ℃ below. ".

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-262290

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-97279 Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a film having a surface that exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment compared to the following film, wherein the film comprises a resin and silicone compound particles, wherein the silicone compound particles have a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the later-described formula (1) is greater than 1.6.

[0009] Means for solving the above-mentioned problems include the following aspects.

[0010] <1> A film comprising: a resin; and siloxane compound particles, wherein the siloxane compound particles have a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n A structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2.) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group,

[0011] In the spatial distribution of the particles present in the evaluation area of ​​63 μm×42 μm, when the inter-particle distance r is 0.05 μm or more and 5.00 μm or less, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the following formula (1) is 0 or more and 1.6 or less.

[0012] [Formula 1]

[0013]

[0014] In the above formula (1), r represents the inter-particle distance, and K(r) represents Ripley's K function K(r) represented by the following formula (2).

[0015] [Formula 2]

[0016]

[0017] In the formula (2), 1(|X i -X j |≤r) represents the indicator function, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance, r represents the distance between the particles, s(|X i -X j |) represents the edge correction coefficient s(x) of the evaluation area represented by the following equation (3), x=|X i -X j |, N represents the total number of particles in the evaluation area, and λ represents the particle number density in the evaluation area.

[0018] [Formula 3]

[0019]

[0020] In the formula (3), L x and L y represents the side lengths (μm) of the evaluation area in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively. i -X j |, Xi and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance of .

[0021] <2> The film according to <1>, wherein

[0022] The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 3.0 μm or less.

[0023] <3> The film according to <2>, wherein

[0024] The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.

[0025] <4> The film according to <1>, wherein

[0026] The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

[0027] <5> The film according to <4>, wherein

[0028] The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

[0029] <6> The film according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein

[0030] The peeling force of the surface at 140°C is 24 kPa or less.

[0031] <7> A member comprising the film according to any one of <1> to <6> as a layer constituting an outer surface.

[0032] <8> A transfer member comprising the film according to any one of <1> to <6> further containing conductive particles as a layer constituting an outer surface.

[0033] <9> A fixing device comprising: a first rotating body; and a second rotating body arranged in contact with an outer surface of the first rotating body,

[0034] At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is formed of the member described in <7>.

[0035] <10> An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0036] Image holding body;

[0037] A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body;

[0038] An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body;

[0039] a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image;

[0040] a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and

[0041] <9> The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

[0042] <11> A transfer device comprising:

[0043] An intermediate transfer body, which is composed of the components described in <7> and has a toner image transferred to its outer peripheral surface;

[0044] a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and

[0045] The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

[0046] <12> A transfer device comprising:

[0047] An intermediate transfer body, which is composed of the transfer member described in <8> and has a toner image transferred to its outer peripheral surface;

[0048] a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and

[0049] The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

[0050] <13> An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0051] Image holding body;

[0052] A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body;

[0053] An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body;

[0054] a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image;

[0055] The transfer device described in <11> or <12> transfers the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and

[0056] The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

[0057] Effects of the Invention

[0058] According to the invention described in <1>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment compared to the following film, the film comprising a resin and silicone compound particles, the silicone compound particles having a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the later-described formula (1) is greater than 1.6.

[0059] According to the invention as set forth in <2>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency than a film having an average particle size of particles larger than 3.0 μm even in a high temperature environment.

[0060] According to the invention as set forth in <3>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency even in a high temperature environment than a film having an average particle size of particles greater than 1.0 μm and not greater than 3.0 μm.

[0061] According to the invention as set forth in <4>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency even in a high temperature environment than when the content of the particles relative to the resin is greater than 50% by mass.

[0062] According to the invention pertaining to <5>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency even in a high temperature environment than a film in which the content of particles relative to the resin is greater than 10% by mass and less than 50% by mass.

[0063] According to the invention according to <6>, there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment, compared with a film having a surface peeling force of more than 24 kPa at 140°C.

[0064] According to the inventions of <7>, <8>, <9>, <10>, <11>, <12> and <13>, there are provided a member or a transfer member, a transfer device and an image forming device having an intermediate transfer body composed of the member or the transfer member, and a fixing device and an image forming device having a rotating body composed of the member, wherein the surface thereof exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment compared to a case of having a film containing a resin and silicone compound particles, wherein the silicone compound particles have a crystalline structure represented by the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the later-described formula (1) is greater than 1.6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

[0066] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example of a first embodiment of the fixing device involved in this embodiment;

[0067] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example of a second embodiment of the fixing device involved in this embodiment;

[0068] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example of a third embodiment of the fixing device involved in this embodiment;

[0069] Figure 4 It is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[0070] Explanation of symbols

[0071] 60-fixing device, 62-pressure belt, 63-belt stroke guide, 64-pressing pad, 64a-front clamping part, 64b-peeling clamping part, 65-holding part, 66-halogen lamp, 68-sliding part, 69-thermal element, 70-peeling part, 71-separation claw, 72-holding part, 80-fixing device, 82-sliding part, 84-heating belt, 86-fixing belt assembly, 88-pressure roller, 89A-halogen heater, 89-heating pressing roller, 90A-halogen heater, 90-support roller, 92A-halogen heater, 92-support roller, 94-posture correction roller, 96-support part, 98-support roller, 100-image forming device, 200-fixing device, 211-pressure roller, 212-electromagnetic induction heating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Hereinafter, the present embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described. These descriptions and examples illustrate the embodiment and do not limit the scope of the embodiment.

[0073] In the numerical ranges recorded in stages in this embodiment, the upper limit or lower limit recorded in one numerical range can be replaced by the upper limit or lower limit of other numerical ranges recorded in stages. In addition, in the numerical ranges recorded in this embodiment, the upper limit or lower limit of the numerical range can be replaced by the value shown in the embodiment.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the term "process" includes not only an independent process but also a process that cannot be clearly distinguished from other processes as long as the intended purpose of the process is achieved.

[0075] In the present embodiment, when the embodiment is described with reference to the drawings, the structure of the embodiment is not limited to the structure shown in the drawings. In addition, the sizes of the components in each figure are conceptual, and the relative relationship between the sizes of the components is not limited thereto.

[0076] In this embodiment, each component may contain a plurality of corresponding substances. In the case of referring to the amount of each component in the composition in this embodiment, when there are a plurality of substances corresponding to each component in the composition, unless otherwise specified, it refers to the total amount of the plurality of substances present in the composition.

[0077] <Film>

[0078] The film according to the present embodiment contains a resin and siloxane compound particles, wherein the siloxane compound particles have a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] nThe structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the following formula (1) is greater than 0 and less than 1.6.

[0079] [Formula 4]

[0080]

[0081] In the above formula (1), r represents the inter-particle distance, and K(r) represents Ripley's K function K(r) represented by the following formula (2).

[0082] [Formula 5]

[0083]

[0084] In the formula (2), 1(|X i -X j |≤r) represents the indicator function, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance, r represents the distance between the particles, s(|X i -X j |) represents the edge correction coefficient s(x) of the evaluation area represented by the following equation (3), x=|X i -X j |, N represents the total number of particles in the evaluation area, λ represents the particle number density in the evaluation area,

[0085] [Formula 6]

[0086]

[0087] In the formula (3), L x and L y represents the side lengths (μm) of the evaluation area in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively. i -X j |, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance of .

[0088] The following will have the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n A siloxane compound having a structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group) is also referred to as a "siloxane compound SQ", and particles of the siloxane compound are also referred to as "particles of the siloxane compound SQ".

[0089] Furthermore, “the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the above formula (1) when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05 μm and less than 5.00 μm in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63 μm×42 μm” is also referred to as “the integral value of the statistic L(r)”.

[0090] [Integral value of statistic L(r)]

[0091] In the film according to the present embodiment, the integrated value of the statistic L(r) being 0 or more and 1.6 or less indicates that the particles of the siloxane compound SQ in the film are dispersed in a fine (dense) and nearly uniform state.

[0092] In the film according to the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of imparting higher oil repellency to the film, the integrated value of the statistic L(r) is, for example, preferably 0 or more and 1.4 or less, and more preferably 0 or more and 1.2 or less.

[0093] Here, the integrated value of the statistic L(r) of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ is obtained as follows.

[0094] First, the spatial distribution of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ is obtained by observing a 63 μm×42 μm evaluation area on one surface of the film at a magnification of 20,000 times using a scanning electron microscope (e.g., manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, model: SU8010), and binarizing the obtained 256-level grayscale image with a threshold value of 128 using analysis software (e.g., free software "ImageJ") as needed.

[0095] Then, according to the above formula (1), the statistic L(r) value for the inter-particle distance r of 0.05 μm or more and 5.00 μm or less is calculated for every 0.05 μm, and the integral value in the range of 0.05 μm or more and 5.00 μm or less is obtained, and this value is taken as the "integral value of the statistic L(r)".

[0096] In addition, as a method for confirming that the particles in the image are particles of the siloxane compound SQ, there is a method of confirming by identifying the particles using a scanning electron microscope and performing elemental analysis on the identified particle parts.

[0097] The film according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure and is a film whose surface exhibits high oil repellency even in a high-temperature environment. The reason for this is presumably as follows.

[0098] For example, a film containing a siloxane compound such as long-chain dimethylpolysiloxane has high oil repellency and is also excellent in strength stability.

[0099] On the other hand, when a film containing a siloxane compound is exposed to high temperatures where molecular motion becomes intense, oil repellency may decrease. This is believed to be because the main chain of the siloxane compound rotates depending on the type (structure) of the siloxane compound, and the alkyl group exhibiting oil repellency moves and penetrates into the resin.

[0100] The film according to the present embodiment contains, together with the resin, a material having the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group, and n represents an integer greater than 2.) and at least one R in the formula is a particle of a siloxane compound SQ containing an alkyl group. The particles of the siloxane compound SQ are particles of a compound having a high skeleton strength and a multidimensional structure. Therefore, it is inferred that the heat resistance of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ is high, and even in a high temperature environment, molecular motion is suppressed, and the alkyl group showing oil repellency is difficult to move and penetrate into the resin.

[0101] As a result, the film according to the present embodiment becomes a film having a high oil repellency on the surface even in a high temperature environment due to the above-mentioned structure.

[0102] Furthermore, in the film involved in the present embodiment, as indicated by the integral value of the above-mentioned statistic L(r), the particles of the siloxane compound SQ are dispersed in a fine (dense) and nearly uniform state. Then, when a uniform dispersion state is formed in the coating liquid by dispersing in a high-pressure collision disperser described later to obtain a coating liquid, it can be said that the abundance of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ in the film involved in the present embodiment in the thickness direction thereof changes little. Thus, it is inferred that, for example, even if the surface of the film is worn, high oil repellency is maintained.

[0103] Hereinafter, the film according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0104] The film according to the present embodiment contains particles of a resin and a siloxane compound SQ.

[0105] More specifically, in the film according to the present embodiment, particles of the siloxane compound SQ are dispersed in the resin, and the dispersion state of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ satisfies the range of the integral value of the above-mentioned statistic L(r).

[0106] Hereinafter, components contained in the film according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0107] [Siloxane compound SQ and its particles]

[0108] (Siloxane compound SQ)

[0109] The siloxane compound SQ has the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein, R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than or equal to 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group.

[0110] The organic group represented by R in the formula may be, for example, a hydroxyl group, a silyloxy group, a hydrocarbon group, a hydrocarbon group in which one or more methylene groups are substituted by a carbonyl group, a hydrocarbon group in which one or more carbon atoms are substituted by a heteroatom (oxygen atom, nitrogen atom or sulfur atom), or a group formed by a combination thereof, but at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group.

[0111] Examples of the silyloxy group described as the organic group represented by R include a monoalkylsilyloxy group, a dialkylsilyloxy group, and a trialkylsilyloxy group. A dialkylsilyloxy group and a trialkylsilyloxy group are preferred, and a trialkylsilyloxy group is more preferred.

[0112] Examples of the hydrocarbon group described as the organic group represented by R include an aliphatic hydrocarbon group and an aromatic hydrocarbon group.

[0113] Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group include a linear, branched or alicyclic saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group and a linear, branched or alicyclic unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

[0114] As the aliphatic hydrocarbon group, for example, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms is preferred, and a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms is more preferred.

[0115] The aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a substituent such as a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, or an aryl group.

[0116] Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include hydrocarbon groups having 6 to 18 carbon atoms (for example, preferably 6 to 14 carbon atoms). Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, and the like.

[0117] The aromatic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with a substituent such as a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group.

[0118] The organic group represented by R may have a reactive group.

[0119] Examples of the reactive group include a vinyl group, an allyl group, a styryl group, a maleimide group, an epoxy group, and a (meth)acryloyl group.

[0120] In the formula, multiple Rs may be the same or different.

[0121] From the viewpoint of showing high oil repellency, at least one of the multiple R in the formula is a group with an alkyl group. Here, from the viewpoint of showing high oil repellency, as a group containing an alkyl group, for example, preferably an alkyl group itself or a siloxy group containing an alkyl group. That is, at least one of the multiple R in the formula is, for example, preferably an alkyl group or a siloxy group containing an alkyl group. Here, the alkyl group, for example, preferably has an alkyl group with more than 1 and less than 6 carbon atoms, more preferably has an alkyl group with more than 1 and less than 4 carbon atoms, and further preferably has an alkyl group with 1 carbon atoms (that is, a methyl group).

[0122] In the formula, n represents an integer of 2 or more, and from the viewpoint of expressing high oil repellency, for example, it preferably represents an integer of 8 or more, and more preferably represents an integer of 8 or more and 10,000 or less.

[0123] The siloxane compound SQ is a polymer compound called silsesquioxane having various skeleton structures.

[0124] The siloxane compound SQ may have any framework structure of a cage structure (complete cage structure or cage structure), a ladder structure, or a random structure.

[0125] (Particle size of siloxane compound SQ)

[0126] In the film according to the present embodiment, the siloxane compound SQ is contained in the form of particles.

[0127] From the viewpoint of improving oil repellency at high temperatures, the average particle size of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ is, for example, preferably 0.05 μm to 3.0 μm, more preferably 0.05 μm to 1.5 μm, and further preferably 0.05 μm to 1.0 μm.

[0128] Here, the average particle size of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ in the film is calculated by taking a SEM image of the film surface obtained when calculating the integral value of the statistic L(r), binarizing the spherical part and the non-spherical part (resin and amorphous particle part) using analysis software (e.g., free software "ImageJ") as needed, and measuring the diameter of the spherical part.

[0129] In this case, it is also possible to confirm that the particles in the image are particles of the siloxane compound SQ by the same method as that used to determine the integrated value of the above-described statistic L(r).

[0130] (Content of Siloxane Compound SQ)

[0131] From the viewpoint of improving oil repellency at high temperatures, the content of the particles of the silicone compound SQ is, for example, preferably 1% by mass to 50% by mass, more preferably 1% by mass to 20% by mass, and further preferably 1% by mass to 10% by mass, relative to the mass of the resin.

[0132] [Resin]

[0133] Examples of the resin include polyimide resin (PI resin), polyamideimide resin (PAI resin), polyetherketone resin (for example, aromatic polyetheretherketone resin, etc.), polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS resin), polyetherimide resin (PEI resin), polyester resin, polystyrene resin, polyamide resin, polycarbonate resin, silicone resin, and the like.

[0134] Furthermore, the resin can be selected according to, for example, the application of the film.

[0135] For example, when the film is applied to a single-layer intermediate transfer belt, the resin is preferably an imide resin (ie, a resin containing a structural unit having an imide bond, such as a polyimide resin), a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin, or the like.

[0136] For example, when the film is applied to the outermost layer of the fixing belt, the resin is preferably an imide resin (ie, a resin containing a structural unit having an imide bond, such as a polyimide resin), a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin, or the like.

[0137] In addition, the film according to the present embodiment preferably does not contain fluorine atoms, for example. Specifically, for example, a resin not containing fluorine atoms (specifically, a resin other than a fluorine resin) is preferably used as the resin.

[0138] Here, polyimide resin will be described as a representative binder resin.

[0139] As a polyimide resin, the imidation product of the polyamic acid (precursor of a polyimide resin) which is a polymer of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and a diamine compound is mentioned, for example.

[0140] Examples of the polyimide resin include resins having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (I).

[0141] [Chemical formula 1]

[0142]

[0143] In the general formula (I), R 1 Represents a 4-valent organic group, R 2 It represents a divalent organic group.

[0144] As R1 The tetravalent organic group represented by may include an aromatic group, an aliphatic group, a cycloaliphatic group, a group formed by combining an aromatic group and an aliphatic group, or a group substituted with these groups. Specifically, as the tetravalent organic group, for example, the residue of tetracarboxylic dianhydride described below may be included.

[0145] As R 2 The divalent organic group represented by may be an aromatic group, an aliphatic group, a cycloaliphatic group, a group formed by combining an aromatic group and an aliphatic group, or a group substituted with these groups. Specifically, as the divalent organic group, for example, a residue of a diamine compound described later may be mentioned.

[0146] Specific examples of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride used as a raw material for the polyimide resin include pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3,3',4-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3,6,7-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,2,5,6-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)sulfonic acid dianhydride, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ether dianhydride, and ethylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride.

[0147] Specific examples of the diamine compound used as a raw material for the polyimide resin include 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,3'-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-benzidine, benzidine, 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl propane, 2,4-bis(amino-tert-butyl)toluene, bis(p-β-amino-tert-butylphenyl)ether, bis(p-β-methyl-δ-aminophenyl)benzene, bis-p-(1,1-dimethyl-5-amino-pentyl)benzene, 1-isobutylene. Propyl-2,4-m-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, di(p-aminocyclohexyl)methane, hexamethylenediamine, heptamethylenediamine, octamethylenediamine, nonamethylenediamine, decamethylenediamine, diaminopropyltetramine, 3-methylheptanediamine, 4,4-dimethylheptanediamine, 2,11-diaminododecane, 1,2-bis-3-aminopropoxyethane, 2,2-dimethylpropylenediamine, 3-methoxyhexanediamine, 2,5-dimethylheptanediamine, 5-methylnonanediamine, 2,17-diaminoeicosane (2,17-diaminoeicosadecane), 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, 1,10-diamino-1,10-dimethyldecane, 12-diaminooctadecane, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, piperazine, H 2 N(CH 2 ) 3 O(CH 2 ) 2 O(CH 2 )NH 2 , H 2 N(CH 2 ) 3 S(CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 , H 2 N(CH 2 ) 3 N(CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) 3 NH 2 wait.

[0148] The content of the resin is preferably set to an amount that becomes a main component of the film, for example.

[0149] Specifically, the content of the resin is, for example, preferably 73% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less, and more preferably 78% by mass or more and 85% by mass or less, based on the total mass of the film.

[0150] (Other additives)

[0151] Examples of other additives include known additives such as a conductive agent, a reinforcing agent, an antioxidant, a surfactant, and a heat-resistant antioxidant, depending on the application of the film.

[0152] Here, a conductive agent will be described as a representative additive.

[0153] As the conductive agent, for example, conductive particles are preferred, for example, carbon black, metals (such as aluminum or nickel), metal oxides (such as yttrium oxide, tin oxide, etc.), ion conductive substances (such as potassium titanate, LiCl (lithium chloride)), etc., among which carbon black is preferred.

[0154] These conductive agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0155] Examples of carbon black include Ketjen black, oil furnace black, channel black (ie, gas black), acetylene black, etc. As carbon black, surface-treated carbon black (hereinafter also referred to as "surface-treated carbon black") can be used.

[0156] Surface-treated carbon black is obtained by imparting, for example, a carboxyl group, a quinone group, a lactone group, a hydroxyl group, etc. to its surface. Examples of surface treatment methods include air oxidation in which the carbon black is exposed to air in a high-temperature atmosphere and reacts therewith, a method in which the carbon black is reacted with nitrogen oxides or ozone at room temperature (e.g., 22° C.), and a method in which the carbon black is oxidized with air in a high-temperature atmosphere and then oxidized with ozone at a low temperature.

[0157] Among them, as the conductive agent, for example, channel black is preferred, and acidic carbon black having a pH of 5.0 or less is particularly preferred.

[0158] Examples of the acidic carbon black include carbon blacks whose surfaces have been oxidized, for example, carbon blacks obtained by imparting carboxyl groups, quinone groups, lactone groups, hydroxyl groups, etc. to the surface.

[0159] As acidic carbon black, from the viewpoint of improving the transferability to embossed paper, for example, carbon black with a pH of less than 4.5 is preferred, acidic carbon black with a pH of less than 4.0 is more preferred, acidic carbon black with a pH of less than 3.0 is further preferred, acidic carbon black with a pH of greater than 2.0 and less than 3.0 is particularly preferred, and acidic carbon black with a pH of greater than 2.0 and less than 2.8 is extremely preferred.

[0160] The pH of acidic carbon black is a value measured by the pH measurement method specified in JIS Z8802 (2011).

[0161] The content of the conductive agent in the film can be determined according to the purpose of the film. For example, the content of the conductive agent in the film can be 10% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, 12% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less, 14% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, or 15% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the film.

[0162] In the film according to the present embodiment, the peel strength of the surface at 140° C. is, for example, preferably 24 kPa or less, more preferably 22 kPa or less, and further preferably 21 kPa or less.

[0163] The lower limit of the peeling force of the surface at 140° C. is, for example, 19.7 kPa.

[0164] The peel strength of the film surface at 140°C is an indicator of high surface oil repellency in a high temperature environment. Therefore, since the peel strength of the film surface at 140°C of the present embodiment is within the above range, it can be said that the film has high surface oil repellency even in a high temperature environment.

[0165] Here, the peeling force of the film surface at 200° C. is measured as follows.

[0166] First, as preliminary preparation, A4-size P paper (manufactured by FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.) was prepared, and a test paper with a black 100% image printed on the entire surface was prepared using a copier (ApeosPort-V C3375) manufactured by FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. Then, a 1 cm×1 cm square sample piece was collected from the film to be measured.

[0167] Next, the surface of the sample piece was attached to the probe of a viscosity tester (TA-500, manufactured by UBM) heated to 140°C, and the probe was brought close to the test paper at a speed of 0.1 mm / s. After being pressed against the image surface of the test paper, the probe was maintained at a pressing load of 3900 gf for 10 seconds, and the peeling force when lifted at a lifting speed of 10 mm / s was measured.

[0168] [Method for producing film]

[0169] The film according to the present embodiment can be produced, for example, by the following method.

[0170] An example of a method for producing a film according to the present embodiment includes:

[0171] In the first step, a solution containing particles of a resin or a resin precursor and a siloxane compound SQ is dispersed by a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating liquid;

[0172] In the second step, a coating liquid is applied on the material to be coated to form a coating film;

[0173] The third step is to dry the coating film formed on the coated material;

[0174] In a fourth step, the dried coating film is heated to form a resin film; and

[0175] In the fifth step, the resin film formed on the material to be coated is peeled off from the material to be coated.

[0176] In addition, depending on the type of resin, the fourth step may be omitted. Furthermore, depending on the use of the film, when it is not necessary to peel the resin film from the coated material, the fifth step may be omitted.

[0177] (1st step)

[0178] The first step is a step of dispersing a solution containing particles of a resin or a resin precursor and a siloxane compound SQ using a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating solution.

[0179] The solution containing the resin or the resin precursor and the particles of the siloxane compound SQ is dispersed by a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating liquid, whereby the particles of the siloxane compound SQ are dispersed in the coating liquid in a nearly uniform state.

[0180] When obtaining a film containing conductive particles, for example, in the first step, a solution containing a resin or a resin precursor, particles of a siloxane compound SQ, and conductive particles is preferably dispersed using a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating liquid.

[0181] Here, the pressure value applied to the solution by the high-pressure collision disperser is a setting value of the high-pressure collision disperser.

[0182] Furthermore, as the dispersion conditions using a high-pressure collision disperser, for example, it is preferable to disperse at a dispersion pressure of 100 MPa or more and 220 MPa or less.

[0183] As the resin precursor used for the solution (or coating liquid), for example, when the resin contained in the film is a polyimide resin, a polyamic acid is used.

[0184] Furthermore, the solvent contained in the solution (or coating liquid) is preferably an organic solvent, for example. In addition, the type of the resin or the organic solvent is not particularly limited.

[0185] -High-pressure collision disperser-

[0186] A high-pressure collision disperser is a device that disperses pressurized raw materials by causing them to collide with each other.

[0187] Examples of the high-pressure collision type disperser include Genus PY manufactured by Genus Corporation and NANOMIZER manufactured by NANOMIZER Corporation.

[0188] (Second step)

[0189] The second step is a step of applying the coating liquid onto the material to be coated to form a coating film.

[0190] The material to be coated may be determined according to the application of the obtained film. For example, when a cylindrical film is to be obtained, a cylindrical or columnar material to be coated may be used.

[0191] The material to be coated is not particularly limited, but for example, a metal material is preferably used.

[0192] Furthermore, a glass coating, a ceramic coating, or the like may be provided on the surface of the material to be coated, or a release agent such as a silicone-based or fluorine-based release agent may be applied.

[0193] Before applying the coating liquid, the coating liquid may be defoamed. By defoaming the coating liquid, the generation of bubbles and coating film defects during coating is suppressed. As a method for defoaming the coating liquid, a method of setting it to a reduced pressure state, a method of performing centrifugal separation, etc. can be cited, but defoaming in a reduced pressure state is simple and has a large defoaming capacity, so it is suitable for use.

[0194] There are no particular limitations on the method for applying the coating liquid to the material to be coated, and a known coating method can be applied.

[0195] Examples of the coating method include bar coating and flow coating.

[0196] Furthermore, as coating methods, for example, there can be cited a method in which the coating liquid is spirally coated on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical or cylindrical material to be coated by moving the rotating cylindrical or cylindrical material to be coated in the direction of the rotation axis while discharging the coating liquid from a nozzle (spiral coating method); a method in which a scraper is pressed against the coating liquid discharged onto the surface of the cylindrical or cylindrical material to be coated while moving it in the direction of the rotation axis (scraper coating method); and an immersion coating method in which the cylindrical or cylindrical material to be coated is immersed in the coating liquid and pulled up.

[0197] (Step 3)

[0198] The third step is a step of drying the coating film formed on the substrate.

[0199] The coating film can be dried, for example, by heating the material to be coated to volatilize the solvent while rotating it. Moreover, for example, it is preferable to dry the coating film to a state where the coating liquid does not drip even without rotating the material to be coated.

[0200] The heating temperature of the coating film in the third step is, for example, more preferably 105° C. or higher and 170° C. or lower, and further preferably 110° C. or higher and 135° C. or lower.

[0201] The drying time of the coating film in the third step is, for example, more preferably 10 minutes to 90 minutes, and further preferably 30 minutes to 70 minutes.

[0202] (Step 4)

[0203] The fourth step is a step of forming a resin film by heating the dried coating film.

[0204] In the 4th operation, for example, the coating is preferably heated at a temperature higher than the heating temperature of the coating in the 3rd operation. Thus, the volatilization of the solvent contained in the coating is promoted. In addition, the reaction of the resin precursor is easily carried out (for example, when using polyamic acid as the resin precursor, imidization reaction is easily carried out, thereby easily becoming a polyimide resin).

[0205] As the heating conditions in the fourth step, for example, heating is preferably performed at a temperature of 150° C. to 450° C. (for example, preferably 200° C. to 350° C.) for 20 minutes to 180 minutes.

[0206] When the coating film is heated, for example, it is preferred to heat the coating film by gradually increasing the temperature or gradually increasing the temperature at a constant rate until the final temperature of heating is reached.

[0207] Here, when a polyamic acid is used as a resin precursor, the heating temperature varies depending on, for example, the type of raw material used, but is preferably set to a temperature at which imidization is completed from the viewpoint of mechanical properties and electrical properties.

[0208] (5th step)

[0209] The fifth step is a step of peeling the resin film formed on the material to be coated from the material to be coated.

[0210] The method for peeling the resin film from the coated material is not particularly limited, and a known method can be applied.

[0211] Examples of a method for peeling the resin film from the coated material include a method of pulling out the coated material by hand and a method of blowing air between the coated material and the resin film and then pulling out the coated material.

[0212] As described above, depending on the application of the film, when it is not necessary to peel the resin film from the coated material, the fifth step can be omitted.

[0213] A film is obtained through the above steps.

[0214] Furthermore, after the fifth step, a step (cutting step) of cutting the resin film peeled off from the substrate into an arbitrary size may be included.

[0215] <Parts and transfer parts>

[0216] The member according to the present embodiment has the film according to the present embodiment described above as a layer constituting the outer surface (also referred to as an outermost layer).

[0217] The member according to the present embodiment can be used as a member for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0218] The transfer member according to the present embodiment has a film further containing conductive particles in the film according to the present embodiment as a layer constituting the outer surface (also referred to as the outermost layer). That is, the layer constituting the outer surface of the transfer member according to the present embodiment contains conductive particles in addition to the particles of the resin and the siloxane compound SQ.

[0219] In addition, the "outer surface" refers to a surface that can be visually recognized from the outside of a component.

[0220] The member or transfer member according to the present embodiment may be any of a single-layer member of the film according to the present embodiment described above and a member in which the film according to the present embodiment described above is provided on a substrate.

[0221] The particles of the siloxane compound SQ used in this embodiment have the characteristics of high hardness, low friction, high demolding properties, etc. The component or transfer component involved in this embodiment has the film involved in this embodiment as a layer constituting the outer surface. In the film involved in this embodiment, the particles of the siloxane compound SQ having such characteristics are dispersed in a fine (dense) and nearly uniform state as shown by the integral value of the above-mentioned statistic L(r). It is inferred that the component or transfer component involved in this embodiment has the following effects (1) to (3).

[0222] (1) Prevent foreign matter from adhering to the outer surface of the component.

[0223] (2) Particles of the siloxane compound SQ are exposed (protruded) on the outer surface of a component and come into point contact with other components (contact objects), thereby improving wear resistance.

[0224] (3) The rigidity of the layer constituting the outer surface of the component is improved, and the mechanical strength (for example, breaking strength) is improved.

[0225] When the component or transfer member involved in the present embodiment is applied to an intermediate transfer body for an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic method, the component or transfer member can be applied to a single layer of the film involved in the present embodiment or a laminate having the film as the outermost layer. In the laminate, the layers other than the film (for example, a base layer on which the film is provided, an elastic layer provided between the film and the base layer, etc.) can be applied to a known layer provided on the intermediate transfer body.

[0226] The intermediate transfer body to which the components according to the present embodiment are applied is less likely to have toner, paper powder, discharge products, etc. attached to the outer surface (also referred to as the outer peripheral surface) and has excellent wear resistance, so it has excellent transferability, cleanability, and durability. Therefore, the image quality of the image forming apparatus equipped with the intermediate transfer body to which the components according to the present embodiment are applied is suppressed from being degraded, and the image quality maintenance is excellent.

[0227] When the component involved in this embodiment is applied to a fixing component (heating component, pressure component, sliding component, etc.) for an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic method, the component can be applied to a component having a substrate, an elastic layer provided on the substrate, and a release layer provided on the elastic layer and composed of the film involved in this embodiment, and the substrate and the elastic layer can be a known substrate and elastic layer provided as a fixing component. In addition, the fixing component can have a known metal heating layer for electromagnetic induction heating between the substrate and the elastic layer.

[0228] The members according to the present embodiment may include, in addition to the intermediate transfer member and the fixing member, a paper conveying member for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the like.

[0229] <Transfer device>

[0230] The transfer device according to this embodiment includes:

[0231] An intermediate transfer member, which is composed of the member or transfer member involved in the above-mentioned embodiment, and has a toner image transferred on its outer peripheral surface;

[0232] a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and

[0233] The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of the recording medium.

[0234] Here, the member or transfer member involved in this embodiment applicable to the intermediate transfer body preferably has, for example, a layer constituting the peripheral surface (outer surface), in which, in addition to the particles of the resin and the siloxane compound SQ, a predetermined amount of conductive particles are mixed. For example, the content of the conductive particles in the layer constituting the peripheral surface is preferably 5% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or more and 35% by mass or less, and further preferably 15% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, relative to the total mass of the layer.

[0235] (Primary transfer device)

[0236] In the primary transfer device, the primary transfer member is arranged opposite to the image holding member via the intermediate transfer member (e.g., intermediate transfer belt). In the primary transfer device, the toner image is primarily transferred onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member by applying a voltage of a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner to the intermediate transfer member.

[0237] (Secondary transfer device)

[0238] In the secondary transfer device, the secondary transfer member is arranged on the toner image holding side of the intermediate transfer body. And the secondary transfer device includes, for example, the secondary transfer member and a back member arranged on the side of the intermediate transfer body opposite to the toner image holding side. In the secondary transfer device, the toner image on the intermediate transfer body is secondarily transferred to the recording medium by sandwiching the intermediate transfer body and the recording medium with the secondary transfer member and the back member and forming a transfer electric field.

[0239] The secondary transfer member may be a secondary transfer roller or a secondary transfer belt. In addition, the back member may be, for example, a back roller.

[0240] In addition, the transfer device involved in this embodiment may be a transfer device that transfers the toner image to the surface of the recording medium via a plurality of intermediate transfer bodies. That is, the transfer device may be, for example, a transfer device that transfers the toner image from the image holding body to the first intermediate transfer body, and then transfers the toner image from the first intermediate transfer body to the second intermediate transfer body, and then transfers the toner image from the second intermediate transfer body to the recording medium.

[0241] The transfer device applies the intermediate transfer body composed of the components according to the present embodiment described above to at least one of the plurality of intermediate transfer bodies.

[0242] <Fixing unit>

[0243] Fixing member according to the present embodiment

[0244] A first rotating body and a second rotating body arranged in contact with an outer surface of the first rotating body.

[0245] At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is constituted by the member according to the above-described present embodiment.

[0246] Hereinafter, with respect to the fixing device involved in the present embodiment, a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressure belt as a first embodiment, a fixing device including a heating belt and a pressure roller as a second embodiment, and a fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method including a heating belt and a heating roller as a third embodiment will be described.

[0247] In addition, the fixing device according to the present embodiment is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and may be a fixing device including a heating roller or a heating belt and a pressure belt.

[0248] Then, in the fixing device according to the present embodiment, the components according to the present embodiment described above may be applied to any of the heating roller, the heating belt, the pressure roller, and the pressure belt.

[0249] (First Embodiment of Fixing Device)

[0250] refer to Figure 1 A first embodiment of the fixing device will be described. Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the fixing device according to the first embodiment (that is, the fixing device 60 ).

[0251] like Figure 1 As shown, the fixing device 60 is composed of, for example, a rotationally driven heating roller 61 (an example of a first rotating body), a pressure belt 62 (an example of a second rotating body), and a pressing pad 64 (an example of a pressing member) that presses the heating roller 61 via the pressure belt 62.

[0252] The pressing pad 64 may be formed by pressing the pressure belt 62 and the heating roller 61 relative to each other. Therefore, the pressure belt 62 side may be pressed by the heating roller 61 or the heating roller 61 side may be pressed by the pressure belt 62.

[0253] A halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating device) is disposed inside the heating roller 61. The heating device is not limited to the halogen lamp, and other heat-generating members that generate heat may be used.

[0254] On the other hand, a thermistor 69 is placed in contact with the surface of the heating roller 61. The lighting of the halogen lamp 66 is controlled based on the temperature measurement value of the thermistor 69, and the surface temperature of the heating roller 61 is maintained at a target setting temperature (for example, 150°C).

[0255] The pressure belt 62 is rotatably supported by, for example, a pressing pad 64 and a belt stroke guide 63 disposed inside. The pressure belt 62 is disposed so as to press the heating roller 61 by the pressing pad 64 in the nip region N (nip portion).

[0256] The pressing pad 64 is disposed, for example, inside the pressure belt 62 in a state of being pressed by the heating roller 61 via the pressure belt 62 , and a nip region N is formed between the pressing pad 64 and the heating roller 61 .

[0257] The pressing pad 64 has, for example, a front nip member 64 a for ensuring a wide nip region N disposed on the entrance side of the nip region N, and a peeling nip member 64 b for deforming the heating roller 61 disposed on the exit side of the nip region N.

[0258] In order to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 and the pressing pad 64, a sheet-like sliding member 68 is provided on the surface of the front sandwiching member 64a and the peeling sandwiching member 64b that contacts the pressure belt 62. Then, the pressing pad 64 and the sliding member 68 are held by a metal holding member 65.

[0259] The sliding member 68 is provided, for example, so that its sliding surface contacts the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 , and participates in retaining and supplying the oil between the sliding member 68 and the pressure belt 62 .

[0260] The structure is such that, for example, the belt stroke guide 63 is attached to the holding member 65 and the pressure belt 62 rotates.

[0261] The heating roller 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow S by, for example, a driving motor (not shown), and the pressure belt 62 is driven by the rotation and rotates in the direction of arrow R opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roller 61. Figure 1 The pressure belt 62 rotates in the clockwise direction and the pressure belt 62 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

[0262] Then, the paper K (an example of a recording medium) having the unfixed toner image is guided by, for example, a fixing entrance guide 56 and conveyed to the nip region N. Then, when the paper K passes through the nip region N, the unfixed toner image on the paper K is fixed by the pressure and heat acting in the nip region N.

[0263] In the fixing device 60 , for example, a wider nip region N is ensured by the concave front nip member 64 a following the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 61 , compared with a configuration in which the front nip member 64 a is not provided.

[0264] Furthermore, in the fixing device 60 , for example, the peeling nip member 64 b is disposed so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 61 , so that the deformation of the heating roller 61 in the exit region of the nip region N is locally increased.

[0265] When the peeling nip member 64 b is arranged in this way, for example, when the fixed paper K passes through the peeling nip region, the paper K is easily peeled from the heating roller 61 due to the locally large deformation.

[0266] As a peeling auxiliary device, for example, a peeling member 70 is disposed downstream of the nip region N of the heating roller 61. The peeling member 70 is held by a holding member 72, for example, in a state where the separation claw 71 approaches the heating roller 61 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roller 61 (the reverse direction).

[0267] (Second Embodiment of Fixing Device)

[0268] refer to Figure 2 A second embodiment of the fixing device will be described. Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the fixing device according to the second embodiment (that is, the fixing device 80 ).

[0269] like Figure 2 As shown, the fixing device 80 is composed of, for example, a fixing belt assembly 86 having a heating belt 84 (an example of a first rotating body), and a pressure roller 88 (an example of a second rotating body) arranged to be pressed against the heating belt 84 (fixing belt assembly 86). Then, for example, a nip region N (nip portion) is formed at a contact portion between the heating belt 84 (fixing belt assembly 86) and the pressure roller 88. In the nip region N, the paper K (an example of a recording medium) is pressurized and heated, and the toner image is fixed.

[0270] The fixing belt assembly 86 includes, for example: an annular heating belt 84; a heating and pressing roller 89, on which the heating belt 84 is wound on the pressure roller 88 side and is rotationally driven by the rotational force of a motor (not shown), and the heating belt 84 is pressed from its inner circumference toward the pressure roller 88 side; and a supporting roller 90, which supports the heating belt 84 from the inside at a position different from the heating and pressing roller 89.

[0271] The fixing belt assembly 86 is provided with, for example: a support roller 92, which is arranged on the outer side of the heating belt 84 and defines its winding path; a posture correction roller 94, which corrects the posture of the heating belt 84 from the heating and pressing roller 89 to the support roller 90; and a support roller 98, which applies tension to the heating belt 84 from the inner circumference on the downstream side of the sandwich area N formed by the heating belt 84 and the pressure roller 88.

[0272] Then, the fixing belt assembly 86 is provided, for example, with a sheet-like sliding member 82 interposed between the heating belt 84 and the heating and pressing roller 89 .

[0273] The sliding member 82 is provided, for example, so that its sliding surface contacts the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 , and participates in retaining and supplying the oil between the heating belt 84 .

[0274] Here, the sliding member 82 is provided in a state where both ends thereof are supported by the supporting members 96 , for example.

[0275] A halogen heater 89A (an example of a heating device), for example, is provided inside the heating and pressing roller 89 .

[0276] The support roller 90 is a cylindrical roller formed of, for example, aluminum, and has a halogen heater 90A (an example of a heating device) disposed therein, and heats the heating belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface side.

[0277] At both end portions of the support roller 90 , for example, spring members (not shown) are disposed to press the heating belt 84 outward.

[0278] The support roller 92 is a cylindrical roller formed of, for example, aluminum, and a 20 μm-thick release layer made of fluororesin is formed on the surface of the support roller 92 .

[0279] The release layer of the support roller 92 is formed, for example, to prevent toner or paper powder from being deposited on the support roller 92 from the outer peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 .

[0280] For example, a halogen heater 92A (an example of a heating device) is disposed inside the support roller 92 , and the heating belt 84 is heated from the outer peripheral surface side.

[0281] That is, for example, the heating belt 84 is heated by the heating pressing roller 89 , the support roller 90 , and the support roller 92 .

[0282] The posture correction roller 94 is a cylindrical roller formed of, for example, aluminum, and an end position measuring mechanism (not shown) for measuring the end position of the heating belt 84 is arranged near the posture correction roller 94 .

[0283] The posture correction roller 94 is provided with an axial displacement mechanism (not shown) for displacing the contact position of the heating belt 84 in the axial direction according to the measurement result of the end position measurement mechanism, so as to control the meandering of the heating belt 84 .

[0284] On the other hand, the pressure roller 88 is supported rotatably, for example, and is provided to press the portion of the heating belt 84 wound around the heating pressure roller 89 by a biasing device such as a spring (not shown). Thus, as the heating belt 84 (heating pressure roller 89) of the fixing belt assembly 86 rotates and moves in the arrow S direction, the pressure roller 88 is driven by the heating belt 84 (heating pressure roller 89) to rotate and move in the arrow R direction.

[0285] Then, the paper K with the unfixed toner image (not shown) is transported in the direction of arrow P and guided to the nip region N of the fixing device 80. Then, when the paper K passes through the nip region N, the unfixed toner image on the paper K is fixed by the pressure and heat acting in the nip region N.

[0286] In addition, in the fixing device 80, a method of applying a halogen heater (halogen lamp) as an example of multiple heating devices is described, but it is not limited to this. In addition to the halogen heater, a radiation lamp heating element (a heating element that emits radiation (infrared rays, etc.)) and a resistance heating element (a heating element that generates Joule heat by passing an electric current through a resistor: for example, a heating element formed by forming a film with resistance on a ceramic substrate and calcining it, etc.) may also be applied.

[0287] (Third Embodiment of Fixing Device)

[0288] refer to Figure 3 A third embodiment of the fixing device will be described. Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fixing device according to a third embodiment (that is, a fixing device 200 ).

[0289] like Figure 3 As shown, the fixing device 200 is an electromagnetic induction heating type fixing device including a belt 220 having a metal layer.

[0290] In the fixing device 200, a pressure roller (pressure member) 211 is arranged so as to pressurize a part of the belt 220. From the viewpoint of effective fixing, a contact area (nip) is formed between the belt 220 and the pressure roller 211, and the belt 220 is bent in a shape along the peripheral surface of the pressure roller 211. In addition, from the viewpoint of ensuring the releasability of the recording medium, a curved portion where the belt is curved is formed at the end of the contact area (nip).

[0291] The pressure roller 211 is configured by forming an elastic layer 211B made of silicone rubber or the like on a base material 211A, and further forming a release layer 211C made of a fluorine-based compound on the elastic layer 211B.

[0292] An opposing member 213 is disposed inside the belt 220 at a position opposing the pressure roller 211. The opposing member 213 is made of metal, heat-resistant resin, heat-resistant rubber, etc., and includes a pad 213B that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the belt 220 to locally increase the pressure and a support body 213A that supports the pad 213B.

[0293] An electromagnetic induction heating device 212 having an electromagnetic induction coil (excitation coil) 212a built therein is provided at a position opposite to the pressure roller 211 (an example of a pressure member) with the belt 220 as the center. The electromagnetic induction heating device 212 applies an alternating current to the electromagnetic induction coil, causing the generated magnetic field to change in the excitation circuit, thereby generating an eddy current in a metal layer (e.g., an electromagnetic induction metal layer) not shown in the figure of the belt 220. The eddy current is converted into heat (Joule heat) by the resistance of the metal layer not shown in the figure, and as a result, the surface of the belt 220 is heated.

[0294] In addition, the position of the electromagnetic induction heating device 212 is not limited to Figure 3 The position shown may be set, for example, on the upstream side of the rotation direction B relative to the contact area of ​​the belt 220 , or may be set on the inner side of the belt 220 .

[0295] In the fixing device 200 , the driving force is transmitted from the driving device to the gear fixed to the end of the belt 220 , whereby the belt 220 rotates in the direction of arrow B. As the belt 220 rotates, the pressure roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction, that is, the direction of arrow C.

[0296] The recording medium 215 on which the unfixed toner image 214 is formed passes through the contact area (nip) between the belt 220 and the pressure roller 211 in the fixing device 200 in the direction of arrow A, and the unfixed toner image 214 is pressed in a molten state to be fixed on the recording medium 215 .

[0297] <Image forming device>

[0298] Next, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0299] The image forming device involved in this embodiment includes: an image holder; a charging device for charging the surface of the image holder; an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged image holder; a developing device for accommodating a developer containing a toner and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holder with the developer to form a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium; and a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the surface of the recording medium.

[0300] Then, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the transfer device according to the present embodiment is applied as the transfer device, or the fixing device according to the present embodiment is applied as the fixing device. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the transfer device according to the present embodiment can be applied as the transfer device, and the fixing device according to the present embodiment can be applied as the fixing device.

[0301] Here, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the transfer device and the fixing device can be boxed in a manner of being attached and detached from the image forming apparatus. That is, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment can be provided with the transfer device of the present embodiment and the fixing device of the present embodiment as components of the process box.

[0302] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0303] Figure 41 is a schematic structural diagram showing the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[0304] like Figure 4 As shown, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an image forming apparatus of an intermediate transfer method generally called a tandem type, and includes: a plurality of image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, which form toner images of each color component by an electrophotographic method; a primary transfer unit 10, which sequentially transfers (primary transfers) the toner images of each color component formed by each image forming unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K to an intermediate transfer belt 15; a secondary transfer unit 20, which transfers (secondary transfers) the overlapping toner images transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15 to a sheet of paper K as a recording medium; and a fixing device 60, which fixes the secondary transferred image on the sheet of paper K. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 40 for controlling the operation of each device (unit).

[0305] Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a photoreceptor 11 that rotates in the direction of arrow A and is an example of an image holding member that holds a toner image formed on the surface.

[0306] Around the photosensitive body 11, as an example of a charging device, a charger 12 for charging the photosensitive body 11 is provided, and as an example of an electrostatic latent image forming device, a laser exposer 13 (the exposure beam is represented by the symbol Bm in the figure) for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body 11 is provided.

[0307] In addition, around the photosensitive body 11, as an example of a developing device, there is provided a developer 14 that contains toners of each color component and uses the toners to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body 11, and there is provided a primary transfer roller 16 that transfers the toner images of each color component formed on the photosensitive body 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 15 through the primary transfer section 10.

[0308] In addition, a photoreceptor cleaner 17 for removing residual toner on the photoreceptor 11 is provided around the photoreceptor 11, and the electrophotographic devices of the charger 12, the laser exposure device 13, the developer 14, the primary transfer roller 16, and the photoreceptor cleaner 17 are arranged in sequence along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 11. These image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged in a substantially straight line from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

[0309] The intermediate transfer belt 15 as an intermediate transfer body is composed of a film-like pressure belt with a resin such as polyimide or polyamide as a base layer and an appropriate amount of antistatic agent such as carbon black. 6 Ωcm or more and 1014 The intermediate transfer belt 15 may be formed in a manner of being less than Ωcm, and its thickness may be, for example, about 0.1 mm. Specifically, the intermediate transfer belt 15 may be an intermediate transfer body composed of the components involved in the above-mentioned present embodiment. More specifically, the intermediate transfer belt 15 may be composed of, for example, a belt having a layer, the layer constituting an outer peripheral surface containing a resin such as polyimide or polyamide, particles of a siloxane compound SQ, and a conductive agent such as carbon black (also called an antistatic agent). In this case, the volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is 10 6 Ωcm or more and 10 14 The thickness is preferably about 0.1 mm, for example.

[0310] The intermediate transfer belt 15 passes through various rollers. Figure 4 The various rollers include a driving roller 31 for rotating the intermediate transfer belt 15 driven by a motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed, a supporting roller 32 for supporting the intermediate transfer belt 15 extending substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the photosensitive bodies 11, a tension applying roller 33 for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and functioning as a correction roller for preventing the intermediate transfer belt 15 from meandering, a back roller 25 provided on the secondary transfer unit 20, and a cleaning back roller 34 provided on the cleaning unit for scraping residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[0311] The primary transfer section 10 is composed of a primary transfer roller 16 disposed opposite to the photosensitive body 11 via an intermediate transfer belt 15. The primary transfer roller 16 is composed of a core body and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core body. The core body is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron and SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a mixed rubber of NBR, SBR and EPDM mixed with a conductive agent such as carbon black, and has a volume resistivity of 10 7.5 Ωcm or more and 10 8.5 Sponge-like cylindrical roller with a thickness of Ωcm or less.

[0312] The primary transfer roller 16 is placed in pressure contact with the photoreceptor 11 via the intermediate transfer belt 15, and a voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner (negative polarity, the same below) is applied to the primary transfer roller 16. As a result, the toner images on the photoreceptors 11 are electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 in sequence, forming overlapping toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[0313] The secondary transfer section 20 includes a back roller 25 and a secondary transfer roller 22 disposed on the toner image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 .

[0314] In the back roller 25, the surface is composed of a mixed rubber tube of EPDM and NBR in which carbon is dispersed, and the inside is composed of EPDM rubber. Then, the surface resistivity is 10 7 Ω / Υ or more and 10 10 The back roller 25 is arranged on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and constitutes the counter electrode of the secondary transfer roller 22, and is in contact with a metal power supply roller 26 that stably applies a secondary transfer bias.

[0315] On the other hand, the secondary transfer roller 22 is composed of a core body and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core body. The core body is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron and SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a mixed rubber of NBR, SBR and EPDM mixed with a conductive agent such as carbon black, and has a volume resistivity of 10 7.5 Ωcm or more and 10 8.5 Sponge-like cylindrical roller with a thickness of Ωcm or less.

[0316] The secondary transfer roller 22 is placed in pressure contact with the back roller 25 via the intermediate transfer belt 15 . The secondary transfer roller 22 is grounded to form a secondary transfer bias between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the back roller 25 . The toner image is secondarily transferred onto the paper K transported to the secondary transfer unit 20 .

[0317] In addition, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer section 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15, an intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 is provided to be freely contactable and detachable with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 15. The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 removes residual toner or paper powder on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer and cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[0318] The intermediate transfer belt 15 , the primary transfer section 10 (primary transfer roller 16 ), and the secondary transfer section 20 (secondary transfer roller 22 ) correspond to an example of a transfer device.

[0319] On the other hand, a reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 is disposed on the upstream side of the yellow image forming unit 1Y. The reference sensor 42 generates a reference signal that serves as a reference for obtaining the timing of image formation in each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. The reference sensor 42 is configured to recognize a mark provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and generate a reference signal. In response to an instruction from the control unit 40 based on the recognition of the reference signal, each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K starts forming an image.

[0320] Furthermore, an image density sensor 43 for image quality adjustment is disposed on the downstream side of the black image forming unit 1K.

[0321] In addition, in the image forming apparatus involved in the present embodiment, as a conveying device for conveying paper K, there is a paper accommodating portion 50 for accommodating paper K, a paper supply roller 51 for taking out and conveying the paper K stacked in the paper accommodating portion 50 at a predetermined time, a conveying roller 52 for conveying the paper K delivered by the paper supply roller 51, a conveying guide device 53 for conveying the paper K conveyed by the conveying roller 52 to the secondary transfer portion 20, a conveying belt 55 for conveying the paper K conveyed after secondary transfer by the secondary transfer roller 22 to the fixing device 60, and a fixing entrance guide 56 for guiding the paper K to the fixing device 60.

[0322] Next, a basic image forming process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0323] In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, image data output from an image reading device (not shown) or a personal computer (PC) (not shown) is processed by an image processing device (not shown) and then image forming operations are performed by image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K.

[0324] In the image processing device, the input image data is subjected to image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame removal or various image editing such as color editing and motion editing. The image data subjected to image processing is converted into color material grayscale data of four colors, Y, M, C, and K, and output to the laser exposure device 13.

[0325] In the laser exposure device 13, according to the input color material grayscale data, for example, an exposure beam Bm emitted from a semiconductor laser is irradiated to each photosensitive body 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. In each photosensitive body 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, after the surface is charged by the charger 12, the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure device 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image of each color of Y, M, C, and K by each image forming unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K.

[0326] The toner images formed on the photosensitive bodies 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer section 10 where each photosensitive body 11 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 15. More specifically, in the primary transfer section 10, a voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity (negative polarity) of the toner is applied to the substrate of the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer roller 16, and the toner images are sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to perform primary transfer.

[0327] After the toner images are transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in sequence, the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves and conveys the toner images to the secondary transfer section 20. When the toner images are conveyed to the secondary transfer section 20, in the conveying device, the paper feed roller 51 rotates in synchronization with the timing when the toner images are conveyed to the secondary transfer section 20, and paper K of a target size is supplied from the paper storage section 50. The paper K supplied by the paper feed roller 51 is conveyed by the conveying roller 52, and reaches the secondary transfer section 20 via the conveying guide 53. Before reaching the secondary transfer section 20, the paper K stops temporarily, and the registration roller (not shown) rotates in synchronization with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 holding the toner images, thereby aligning the position of the paper K with the position of the toner images.

[0328] In the secondary transfer section 20, the secondary transfer roller 22 is pressed against the back roller 25 via the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the paper K that is transported in time is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roller 22. At this time, if a voltage (secondary transfer bias) having the same polarity as the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the toner is applied from the power supply roller 26, a transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the back roller 25. And, the unfixed toner image held on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is electrostatically transferred onto the paper K in the secondary transfer section 20 that is pressed by the secondary transfer roller 22 and the back roller 25.

[0329] Then, the paper K to which the toner image is electrostatically transferred is conveyed as it is in a state of being peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roller 22, and is conveyed to the conveying belt 55 provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 22 in the paper conveying direction. The conveying belt 55 conveys the paper K to the fixing device 60 in accordance with the optimal conveying speed in the fixing device 60. The unfixed toner image on the paper K conveyed to the fixing device 60 is fixed on the paper K by receiving a fixing process with heat and pressure by the fixing device 60. Then, the paper K on which the fixed image is formed is conveyed to a paper discharge accommodating portion (not shown) provided in a discharge portion of the image forming apparatus.

[0330] On the other hand, after the transfer to the paper K is completed, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is transported to the cleaning section as the intermediate transfer belt 15 rotates, and is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the cleaning back roller 34 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 .

[0331] As mentioned above, although this embodiment was demonstrated, it is not interpreted as being limited to the said embodiment, Various deformation|transformation, change, and improvement are possible.

[0332] Example

[0333] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following Examples.

[0334] <Example 1>

[0335] (1st step)

[0336] A solution was prepared by adding particles of a siloxane compound SQ of the type shown in Table 1 to polyamic acid of a polyimide varnish (JFE Chemical Corporation, JIV300R, solid content ratio 18% by mass). The prepared solution was dispersed at a dispersion pressure of 100 MPa or more using a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating solution.

[0337] The particles of the siloxane compound SQ were added in such an amount that the amount in the obtained film became the content described in Table 1 (the content of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ relative to the resin).

[0338] (Second step)

[0339] The coating liquid was applied on the metal plate with a bar coater, thereby forming a coating film having a thickness of 100 μm on the metal plate.

[0340] (Step 3)

[0341] The coating film was dried by heating at 140° C. for 30 minutes while the metal plate on which the coating film was formed was kept horizontal.

[0342] (Step 4)

[0343] The dried coating film was heated for 120 minutes so that the maximum temperature reached 320° C., thereby forming a resin film to obtain a film.

[0344] <Examples 2 to 8, Comparative Example 1>

[0345] As shown in Table 1, a film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the type and content of the siloxane compound and the type of the resin were appropriately changed.

[0346] <Example 9>

[0347] The resin (PC: polycarbonate resin) (trade name TS-2040, manufactured by TEIJIN LIMITED) listed in Table 1 was mixed and stirred in THF (manufactured by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation) as a solvent so that the resin solid content became 15 mass %, thereby preparing a resin solution.

[0348] In the process after using this resin solution, a coating liquid in which particles of the siloxane compound SQ were dispersed was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, and film formation was performed using the coating liquid to obtain a film.

[0349] <Comparative Example 2>

[0350] In the first step, a film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the high-pressure dispersion was changed to stirring with a stirrer.

[0351] <Measurement and evaluation>

[0352] (Measurement of the integrated value of the statistic L(r) and the particle size of the siloxane compound particles)

[0353] For each of the obtained films, the integrated value of the statistic L(r) and the particle size of the siloxane compound particles were determined by the above-described method.

[0354] Table 1 shows the results.

[0355] Table 1 also shows the content of the particles of the siloxane compound.

[0356] (Peel force)

[0357] The peeling force of the surface of the film of each example at 140°C was measured according to the method described above.

[0358] Table 1 shows the results.

[0359] In addition, the abbreviations shown in Table 1 are as follows.

[0360] -Siloxane compounds-

[0361] SQ1: Polymethylsilsesquioxane (trade name MSP-N030, manufactured by eiwa CO., LTD., particle size 0.3 μm)

[0362] SQ2: polymethylsilsesquioxane (trade name X-52-854, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., particle size 0.7 μm)

[0363] SQ3: Polymethylsilsesquioxane (trade name KMP-590, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., particle size 2.0 μm)

[0364] SQ4: Polymethylsilsesquioxane (trade name: KMP-591, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., particle size 5.0 μm)

[0365] SQ5: Silicone particles (trade name KMP-605, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., particle size 2.0 μm)

[0366] -Resin-

[0367] PI: polyimide resin (trade name: JIV300R, manufactured by JFE Chemical Corporation)

[0368] PAI: polyamide-imide resin (trade name: HPC-9000F-8L, manufactured by Resonac Holdings Corporation)

[0369] PC: Polycarbonate resin (trade name TS-2040, manufactured by TEIJIN LIMITED)

[0370]

[0371] In addition, in Table 1 and Table 2 below, “whether there is a 1.5 ] n In the column "Structure represented by (R: organic group, n: integer greater than 2, R contains one or more alkyl groups)", "Y" represents a structure represented by the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (R: organic group, n: integer greater than 2, R contains one or more alkyl groups), "N" represents the absence of the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (R: organic group, n: integer of 2 or more, R contains one or more alkyl groups).

[0372] From the above results, it is understood that the film of this example is a film showing higher oil repellency on the surface even in a high temperature environment than the film of the comparative example.

[0373] Furthermore, it is understood that the film of this example can impart the property of exhibiting high oil repellency to the outer surface of the component even in a high temperature environment, compared with the film of the comparative example, by being applied as a layer constituting the outer surface of the component.

[0374] <Example 11>

[0375] (1st step)

[0376] A solution was prepared in which particles of a siloxane compound SQ of the type shown in Table 2 and carbon black (Special Black 4, manufactured by Degussa AG) were added to polyamic acid of a polyimide varnish (manufactured by JFE Chemical Corporation, JIV300R, solid content ratio of 18% by mass). The prepared solution was dispersed at a dispersion pressure of 100 MPa or more using a high-pressure collision disperser to obtain a coating solution.

[0377] The particles of the siloxane compound SQ were added in such an amount that the amount in the obtained film became the content (content of the particles of the siloxane compound SQ relative to the resin) listed in Table 2. Furthermore, carbon black (Special Black 4 manufactured by Degussa AG) was added in such an amount that the amount in the obtained film (layer) became the content (content of carbon black relative to the film (layer)) listed in Table 2.

[0378] (Second step)

[0379] First, an aluminum cylinder was prepared, and the surface of the aluminum cylinder was sandblasted to a surface roughness Ra of 0.5 μm. Then, a silicone anti-sticking agent (trade name: KS700, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was applied to the surface of the aluminum cylinder to a thickness of 2 μm, and sintered at 300° C. for 1 hour to obtain a cylinder mold.

[0380] The coating liquid was applied to the obtained cylindrical mold by flow coating so as to have a thickness of 180 μm, thereby forming a coating film on the cylindrical mold.

[0381] (Step 3)

[0382] The coating film was heated and dried at 140° C. for 30 minutes using hot air while the cylindrical mold on which the coating film was formed was rotated in a horizontal state.

[0383] (Step 4)

[0384] The dried coating film was heated and dried for 120 minutes so that the maximum temperature reached 320° C., thereby forming a resin film and obtaining a strip-shaped film.

[0385] The obtained belt-shaped film was peeled off from the cylindrical mold to obtain an intermediate transfer belt having a volume resistivity of 10.2 LogΩcm and a thickness of 90 μm.

[0386] <Examples 11 to 17, Comparative Example 3>

[0387] As shown in Table 2, an intermediate transfer belt was obtained in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the type and content of the siloxane compound and the type of the resin were appropriately changed.

[0388] <Example 18>

[0389] The resins listed in Table 2 (PC: polycarbonate resin (trade name TS-2040, manufactured by TEIJIN LIMITED)) were mixed and stirred in THF (manufactured by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation) as a solvent so that the resin solid content was 15% by mass, thereby preparing a resin solution.

[0390] In the process after using this resin solution, a coating liquid in which particles of the siloxane compound SQ and carbon black were dispersed was prepared in the same manner as in Example 10, and a film was formed using the coating liquid to obtain an intermediate transfer belt.

[0391] <Comparative Example 4>

[0392] In the first step, the intermediate transfer belt was obtained in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the high-pressure dispersion was changed to stirring with a stirrer.

[0393] <Measurement and evaluation>

[0394] (Integral Value of Statistical Quantity L(r), Particle Size of Siloxane Compound Particles, and Measurement of Peeling Force)

[0395] For each of the intermediate transfer belts obtained, the integrated value of the statistic L(r), the particle size of the siloxane compound particles, and the peeling force were determined by the above-described method.

[0396] Table 2 shows the results.

[0397] Table 2 also shows the contents of the siloxane compound particles and carbon black.

[0398] (Image quality maintenance)

[0399] Using a modified machine of Docu Centre Color400CP of FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. equipped with each of the obtained intermediate transfer belts, paper was output to 1500kPV, and its transfer image quality was evaluated every 50kPV. The output image at this time was a black halftone 50% image, and the output image was visually observed, and the image quality was evaluated as image density unevenness by comparison with the event sample image sample. In addition, the modification point in the modified machine is the point where the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt is set to 220mm / s. In addition, the paper used was the product name "LEZAC66 (151g / m 2 )". The paper size is A3.

[0400] (Cleaning durability)

[0401] When evaluating the image quality maintenance, the intermediate transfer belt surface was observed for each predetermined number of output sheets (50 kPV), and the cleaning durability was evaluated based on the state of attached matter and the degree of surface wear.

[0402]

[0403] The above results show that the intermediate transfer belt of this embodiment has excellent transferability and cleaning durability compared to the intermediate transfer belt of the comparative example. It can also be seen that the image forming device having the intermediate transfer belt of this embodiment has excellent image maintenance compared to the image forming device having the intermediate transfer belt of the comparative example.

[0404] This embodiment includes the following aspects.

[0405] (1) A film comprising: a resin; and siloxane compound particles, wherein the siloxane compound particles have a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n A structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2.) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group,

[0406] In the spatial distribution of the particles present in the evaluation area of ​​63 μm×42 μm, when the inter-particle distance r is 0.05 μm or more and 5.00 μm or less, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the following formula (1) is 0 or more and 1.6 or less.

[0407] [Formula 7]

[0408]

[0409] In the above formula (1), r represents the inter-particle distance, and K(r) represents Ripley's K function K(r) represented by the following formula (2).

[0410] [Formula 8]

[0411]

[0412] In the formula (2), 1(|X i -X j |≤r) represents the indicator function, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance, r represents the distance between the particles, s(|X i -X j |) represents the edge correction coefficient s(x) of the evaluation area represented by the following equation (3), x=|X i -X j |, N represents the total number of particles in the evaluation area, λ represents the particle number density in the evaluation area,

[0413] [Formula 9]

[0414]

[0415] In the formula (3), L x and L y represents the side lengths (μm) of the evaluation area in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively. i -X j |, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance of .

[0416] (2) The film according to (1), wherein

[0417] The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 3.0 μm or less.

[0418] (3) The film according to (2), wherein

[0419] The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.

[0420] (4) The film according to (1), wherein

[0421] The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

[0422] (5) The film according to (4), wherein

[0423] The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

[0424] (6) The film according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein

[0425] The peeling force of the surface at 140°C is 24 kPa or less.

[0426] (7) A member having the film according to any one of (1) to (6) as a layer constituting an outer surface.

[0427] (8) A transfer member having the film according to any one of (1) to (6) further containing conductive particles as a layer constituting an outer surface.

[0428] (9) A fixing device comprising: a first rotating body; and a second rotating body arranged in contact with an outer surface of the first rotating body,

[0429] At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is composed of the member described in (7).

[0430] (10) An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0431] Image holding body;

[0432] A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body;

[0433] An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body;

[0434] a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image;

[0435] a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and

[0436] (9) The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

[0437] (11) A transfer device comprising:

[0438] An intermediate transfer body, which is composed of the components described in (7) and has a toner image transferred to its outer peripheral surface;

[0439] a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and

[0440] The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

[0441] (12) A transfer device comprising:

[0442] An intermediate transfer body, which is composed of the transfer member described in (8) and has a toner image transferred on its outer peripheral surface;

[0443] a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and

[0444] The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

[0445] (13) An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0446] Image holding body;

[0447] A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body;

[0448] An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body;

[0449] a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image;

[0450] The transfer device described in (11) or (12) transfers the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and

[0451] The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

[0452] The effects of the above method are as follows.

[0453] According to the invention described in (1), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment compared to the following film, the film comprising a resin and silicone compound particles, the silicone compound particles having a structure represented by the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] nThe structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the later-described formula (1) is greater than 1.6.

[0454] According to the invention as set forth in (2), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency than a film having an average particle size of particles larger than 3.0 μm even in a high temperature environment.

[0455] According to the invention as set forth in (3), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency than a film having an average particle size of particles greater than 1.0 μm and not greater than 3.0 μm even in a high temperature environment.

[0456] According to the invention as set forth in (4), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency even in a high temperature environment than a film in which the content of particles relative to the resin is greater than 50% by mass.

[0457] According to the invention as set forth in (5), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits higher oil repellency even in a high temperature environment than a film in which the content of particles relative to the resin is greater than 10% by mass and less than 50% by mass.

[0458] According to the invention as set forth in (6), there is provided a film having a surface that exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment, compared with a film having a surface peeling force of more than 24 kPa at 140°C.

[0459] According to the inventions of (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (13), there are provided a member or a transfer member, a transfer device and an image forming device having an intermediate transfer body composed of the member or the transfer member, and a fixing device and an image forming device having a rotating body composed of the member, wherein the surface thereof exhibits high oil repellency even in a high temperature environment compared with a case of having a film containing a resin and silicone compound particles, wherein the silicone compound particles have a structure represented by the formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by (wherein R represents an organic group and n represents an integer greater than 2) and at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, and in the spatial distribution of the particles existing in the evaluation area of ​​63μm×42μm, when the inter-particle distance r is greater than 0.05μm and less than 5.00μm, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the later-described formula (1) is greater than 1.6.

[0460] The above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are provided for the purpose of illustration and description. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention do not fully and exhaustively include the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the disclosed methods. Obviously, various modifications and changes are self-evident to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. The present embodiment is selected and described in order to most easily understand the principles of the present invention and its application. Thus, other technicians in the art can understand the present invention through various variations optimized for specific uses assumed to be various embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the above claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A film comprising: a resin; and siloxane compound particles, wherein the siloxane compound particles have a formula: [RSiO 1.5 ] n The structure represented by the formula is that at least one R in the formula is a group containing an alkyl group, wherein R represents an organic group, and n represents an integer greater than 2, In the spatial distribution of the particles present in the evaluation area of ​​63 μm×42 μm, when the inter-particle distance r is 0.05 μm or more and 5.00 μm or less, the integral value of the statistic L(r) represented by the following formula (1) is 0 or more and 1.6 or less, [Formula 1] In the above formula (1), r represents the interparticle distance, K(r) represents Ripley's K function K(r) represented by the following formula (2), [Formula 2] In the formula (2), 1(|X i -X j |≤r) represents the indicator function, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance, r represents the distance between the particles, s(|X i -X j |) represents the edge correction coefficient s(x) of the evaluation area represented by the following equation (3), x=|X i -X j |, N represents the total number of particles in the evaluation area, λ represents the particle number density in the evaluation area, [Formula 3] In the formula (3), L x and L y represents the side lengths (μm) of the evaluation area in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively. i -X j |, X i and X j Represent the coordinates of point i and point j respectively, |X i -X j | represents coordinate X i With coordinate X j The Euclidean distance of .

2. The film according to claim 1, wherein The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 3.0 μm or less.

3. The film according to claim 2, wherein The particles have an average particle size of 0.05 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.

4. The film according to claim 1, wherein The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

5. The film according to claim 4, wherein The content of the particles is 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less relative to the mass of the resin.

6. The film according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The peeling force of the surface at 140°C is 24 kPa or less. 7 . A component comprising the film according to claim 1 as a layer constituting an outer surface. 8 . A transfer member comprising the film according to claim 1 further comprising conductive particles as a layer constituting an outer surface.

9. A fixing device comprising: a first rotating body; and a second rotating body arranged in contact with an outer surface of the first rotating body, At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is formed of the member according to claim 7 .

10. An image forming apparatus comprising: Image holding body; A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body; An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body; a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and The fixing device according to claim 9 fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

11. A transfer device comprising: An intermediate transfer body, comprising the member according to claim 7, having a toner image transferred to its outer peripheral surface; a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

12. A transfer device comprising: An intermediate transfer body, comprising the transfer member according to claim 8, having a toner image transferred to its outer peripheral surface; a primary transfer device for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body; and The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to the surface of a recording medium.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising: Image holding body; A charging device for charging the surface of the image holding body; An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding body; a developing device that contains a developer containing a toner and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body with the developer to form a toner image; The transfer device according to claim 11 or 12, which transfers the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; and The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording medium.

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