Fixing device and method for recycling fixing device

Abstract

To improve the reuse rate of a member in a used fixing unit.SOLUTION: A fixing device comprises: a heater; a pressure-contact member 103 that holds the heater attached by using an adhesive; a fixing belt that slides, having its inner peripheral surface in contact with the heater; and a pressure roller that forms, with the fixing belt, a fixing nip part sandwiching and conveying a sheet. One of the heater and the pressure-contact member 103 has: a first adhesive application surface 41 that faces an adhesive surface formed on the other of the heater and the pressure-contact member 103, and is adhered to the adhesive surface when the adhesive is applied thereto; and a second adhesive application surface 42 that is arranged at a position different from the first adhesive application surface 41 and faces the adhesive surface, and is an irregular surface adhered to the adhesive surface when the adhesive is applied thereto. The heater is attached to the pressure-contact member 103 in such a manner that the first adhesive application surface 41 is adhered to the adhesive surface by using the adhesive, and the adhesive is not applied to the second adhesive application surface 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing device that heats and fixes a toner image on a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, a film fixing method that fixes an unfixed toner image on a recording material via a film (belt) heated by a heater has become widespread as a fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image by heating and melting it. Compared with the roller fixing method, the film fixing method can form a wide nip without making the device larger, so it is possible to reduce wait time, make the device smaller, and accommodate high speed. As a fixing device of the film fixing method, one that has a heater having a heating element provided on a substrate, a cylindrical fixing film that rotates with its inner surface in contact with the heater, a holding member that holds the heater, and a lubricant interposed between the heater and the film is known (see Patent Document 1). In this fixing device, the heater and the holding member are bonded to each other with an adhesive.

[0003] In film heating type fixing devices, the fixing film is often the cause of the end of its life. The fixing film needs to be replaced several times during the warranty period of the image forming device, and when it is replaced, it is replaced as a fixing unit including the fixing film. Since the fixing film is often the cause of the end of its life in used fixing units, the parts other than the fixing film are often reusable. In order to use limited resources effectively, it is desirable to sort reusable parts and units from used products and reuse and recycle them to help realize a resource-circulating society. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-71413 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the fixing device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the adhesive strength of the adhesive applied between the heater and the holding member may decrease due to the lubricant applied to the inner surface of the film over a long period of use. Therefore, in a process for reusing parts, when cleaning the lubricant attached to a used heater, if a load is applied in a direction to peel the heater from the holding member, the heater may peel off from the holding member. If the heater peels off from the holding member in this way, even if it is reattached, the adhesive will be applied over it, and there is a risk that the desired adhesive strength will not be obtained. Therefore, if the heater peels off from the holding member, it is difficult to reuse the heater and the holding member.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of improving the reuse rate of members in a used fixing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a fixing device comprising a heat-generating member, a holding member that holds the heat-generating member attached with adhesive, a fixing belt that slides with its inner surface in contact with the heat-generating member, and an opposing rotating body that forms a fixing nip portion that sandwiches and transports a sheet between the fixing belt, wherein one of the heat-generating member and the holding member has a first adhesive application area that faces an adhesive surface formed on the other of the heat-generating member and the holding member and is adhered to the adhesive surface when adhesive is applied, and a second adhesive application area that is positioned at a different position from the first adhesive application area, faces the adhesive surface, and is an uneven surface that is adhered to the adhesive surface when adhesive is applied, and wherein the heat-generating member is attached to the holding member with the first adhesive application area adhered to the adhesive surface with adhesive, and with no adhesive applied to the second adhesive application area. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the reuse rate of members in a used fixing unit can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a fixing unit according to the embodiment, in which (a) is a side view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in (a). [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is a bottom view showing a holding member according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a bottom view showing a holding member according to a comparative example. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reusing a pressure contact member and a heater according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reusing a pressing member and a heater according to a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Note that this embodiment is applied to a full-color copying machine equipped with a plurality of photosensitive drums. However, this is not limited thereto, and the present invention can also be applied to a monochrome or mono-color copying machine or printer equipped with one photosensitive drum.

[0011] [Image forming equipment] The image forming apparatus 500 of this embodiment is an electrophotographic tandem-type full-color printer equipped with four cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, each of which has a photosensitive drum 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d as an image carrier. The image forming apparatus 500 forms a toner image (image) on a recording material in response to an image signal from a document reading device (not shown) connected to the main body of the apparatus or a host device such as a personal computer connected to the main body of the apparatus so as to be able to communicate with the main body of the apparatus. Examples of the recording material include sheet materials such as paper, plastic film, and cloth. The cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, respectively.

[0012] The four cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d included in the image forming apparatus 500 have substantially the same configuration, except for the different developing colors. Therefore, the cartridge 7a will be described as a representative, and the subscript "a" of the reference numerals attached to the configuration of the cartridge 7a will be replaced with b, c, and d, respectively, and the description of the other cartridges will be omitted.

[0013] The cartridge 7a includes a drum unit 26a having a photosensitive drum 1a as an image carrier and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing unit 4a. The photosensitive drum 1a is driven to rotate in a clockwise direction (arrow Q direction) in FIG. 1 by a driving member (not shown). In addition, a cleaning member 6a, a charging roller 2a, and a developing unit 4a are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1a in this order in the rotation direction.

[0014] The charging roller 2a uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a. After the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a is charged by the charging roller 2a, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a is exposed to laser light from the scanner unit (exposure means) 3 through unit openings 32a to 32d. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a. In this embodiment, the scanner unit 3 is disposed below the cartridges 7a to 7d.

[0015] The developing unit 4a supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1a to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The developing unit 4a includes a developing roller 25a that contacts the photosensitive drum 1a to supply toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a, and a supply roller 34a that contacts the developing roller 25a to supply toner to the developing roller 25a.

[0016] When forming an image on the recording material S, first, an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 a by the scanner unit 3 is developed into a toner image by the developing unit 4 a and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 .

[0017] An intermediate transfer belt 5 as an intermediate transfer body is stretched around a drive roller 10, a tension roller 11, etc., and driven in the direction of the arrow R in FIG. 1. Primary transfer rollers 12a-12d are disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 5, facing the photosensitive drums 1a-1d, and a transfer bias is applied by a power source (bias application means) not shown. For example, when a negatively charged toner is used, a positive bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 12a-12d, whereby the toner images are sequentially primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5. A secondary transfer roller 18 as a secondary transfer member is disposed downstream of the tension roller 11 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 5 so as to come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5, and a secondary transfer section 15 is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the secondary transfer roller 18.

[0018] The cleaning member 6a removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1a after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1a is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5. The toner removed by the cleaning member 6a is collected in a removed toner chamber in the drum unit 26a.

[0019] The toner images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 in a superimposed state. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is then transported to a secondary transfer section 15 with the four color toner images superimposed thereon. In the secondary transfer section 15, the toner images are secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 5 to the recording material S. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer onto the recording material S is removed by a belt cleaning device 23, and the removed toner passes through a waste toner transport path (not shown) and is collected in a waste toner collection container (not shown).

[0020] Meanwhile, in synchronization with the image forming operation described above, a conveying mechanism including a feeding device 13 and a pair of registration rollers 17 feeds a recording material S toward a secondary transfer unit 15. The feeding device 13 has a feeding cassette 24 that stores a plurality of recording materials S, a feeding roller 8 that feeds the recording material S, and a pair of conveying rollers 16 that convey the fed recording material S.

[0021] The feed cassette 24 is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 500. The user pulls out the feed cassette 24, removes it from the main body of the apparatus, sets the recording materials S in it, and inserts it back into the main body of the apparatus to complete the supply of the recording materials S. The feed roller 8 presses against the uppermost recording material S among the recording materials S stored in the feed cassette 24, and as the feed roller 8 rotates, the recording materials S are peeled off one by one by the separation pad 9 (friction piece peeling method), and the recording materials S are transported.

[0022] Then, the recording material S conveyed from the feeding device 13 is conveyed to a secondary transfer section 15 by a pair of registration rollers 17. In the secondary transfer section 15, a positive bias is applied to a secondary transfer roller 18, so that the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 can be secondarily transferred onto the conveyed recording material S.

[0023] Then, the recording material S fed from the secondary transfer unit 15 is further transported to the fixing device 40. The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure to the toner image carried on the recording material S to fix the toner image onto the recording material S. Thereafter, the recording material S with the fixed toner image is discharged onto a discharge tray 20 by a pair of discharge rollers 19.

[0024] [Fixing device] Next, the configuration of the fixing device 40 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2(a) and 2(b). Figure 2(a) shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fixing device 40 in this embodiment (AA cross-sectional view in Figure 1), and Figure 2(b) shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the fixing device 40 (BB cross-sectional view in Figure 2(a)). The fixing device 40 is a pressure roller driving type fixing device that uses a film-like fixing belt 101 having an elastic layer formed on a cylindrical thin metal base layer and drives the fixing belt 101 with a pressure roller 106.

[0025] The fixing device 40 includes a fixing belt 101, a pressure roller 106, a heater 100 which is an example of a heat generating member, a pressure contact member 103, a stay 102, a fixing flange 104, and a pressing member 107. The fixing device 40 heats the recording material S conveyed to a fixing nip portion N formed by the fixing belt 101 and the pressure roller 106, and fixes the toner image carried on the recording material S to the recording material S.

[0026] Hereinafter, the fixing belt 101, heater 100, pressure contact member 103, stay 102, and fixing flange 104 are collectively referred to as a film unit 111. In this embodiment, the short side direction of the film unit 111 is referred to as an X direction, the longitudinal direction of the film unit 111 is referred to as a Y direction, and the pressure direction of the film unit 111, which will be described later, is referred to as a Z direction. Note that the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2(a)) is the direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the recording material S conveyed in the fixing nip portion N, and is also the width direction intersecting with the rotation direction of the fixing belt 101. Next, each configuration will be described in detail.

[0027] [Fixing belt] The fixing belt 101, which is an endless belt serving as a fixing member, is a cylindrical heat-resistant film that transfers heat to the recording material S, and is loosely fitted around the pressure contact member 103. The fixing belt 101 has a film thickness of 100 μm or less, preferably 20 μm or more and 50 μm or less, in order to reduce heat capacity and improve quick start performance. The fixing belt 101 may be a single layer of heat-resistant PTFE, PFA, or FEP, or a composite layer film in which the outer surface of polyimide, polyamideimide, PEEK, PES, PPS, or the like is coated with PTFE, PFA, FEP, or the like. It may also be made of metal.

[0028] The fixing belt 101 rotates and comes into contact with the recording material S, and heats the toner image carried on the recording material S, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording material. As will be described later, the fixing belt 101 rotates in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 3, driven by the pressure roller 106.

[0029] [Pressure roller] As shown in Fig. 2(b), the pressure roller 106 as a counter rotating body facing the fixing member is composed of a metal core 106a, an elastic layer 106b formed concentrically around the core 106a in a roller shape, and a release layer provided on the surface of the elastic layer 106b. The elastic layer 106b is a layer having heat resistance and elasticity such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, or fluororesin. The release layer can be made of a material having good releasability and heat resistance such as fluororesin, silicone resin, fluorosilicone rubber, fluororubber, silicone rubber, PFA, PTFE, or FEP.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2(a), bearing members 113 made of heat-resistant resin such as PEEK, PPS, liquid crystal polymer, etc. are attached to both ends of the core metal 106a. The pressure roller 106 is rotatably supported on a side plate of the fixing frame 112 by the bearing members 113. The pressure roller 106 is rotated by a fixing motor (not shown) provided in the main body of the device. The fixing belt 101 rotates in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 2(b) following the pressure roller 106. The pressure roller 106 is an example of a counter rotating body that forms a fixing nip portion N that sandwiches and conveys a sheet between the pressure roller 106 and the fixing belt 101.

[0031] [heater] Heater 100 as a heating member is disposed inside fixing belt 101 and is a heat source for heating fixing belt 101, and in this embodiment, a ceramic heater is used. Fixing belt 101 slides with its inner circumferential surface in contact with heater 100. Heater 100 is basically composed of a thin, longitudinally elongated ceramic substrate and an electrically-heating resistor layer provided on this substrate, and is a low-heat-capacity heater that rises in temperature with a steep overall rise characteristic when power is supplied to the heating element from the main body of the device.

[0032] [Press-welded parts] The pressing member 103 is disposed inside the fixing belt 101, and forms a fixing nip N between the pressing member 103 and the pressure roller 106, sandwiching the fixing belt 101 therebetween. Such a pressing member 103 is a heat-resistant and heat-insulating member having a substantially semicircular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The pressing member 103 is preferably made of a material having good insulating and heat-resistant properties, such as phenol resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyamideimide resin, PEEK resin, PES resin, PPS resin, PFA resin, PTFE resin, or LCP resin.

[0033] The pressure contact member 103 backs up the fixing belt 101 and presses the fixing belt 101 against the pressure roller 106, thereby forming a fixing nip portion N between the fixing belt 101 and the pressure roller 106. The pressure contact member 103 serves to press the fixing nip portion N and stabilize the conveyance of the fixing belt 101 during rotation. The heater 100 is fitted and held in a fitting groove 103a formed in the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the pressure contact member 103, and the pressure contact member 103 also functions as a holding member for holding the heater 100. The heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are configured such that the heater 100 is fixed to the pressure contact member 103 for the purpose of stabilizing the contact function of the heater 100. The heater 100 is disposed opposite the fixing nip portion N across the fixing belt 101.

[0034] In this embodiment, the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are bonded by applying adhesive 108 to a plurality of first adhesive application surfaces 41 provided along the longitudinal direction of the pressure contact member 103. That is, the pressure contact member 103 is an example of a holding member that holds the heater 100 attached by adhesive 108. The surface shape of the first adhesive application surface 41 is an uneven surface having minute irregularities such as a grained or knurled shape to make it difficult for the applied adhesive to peel off. Therefore, the adhesive strength of the heater 100 to the bonding surface 100a can be increased. The bonding method of the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 will be described in detail later. In addition to the above, the surface shape of the first adhesive application surface 41 can also include a surface that is rougher than the parts other than the first adhesive application surface 41 or a surface that is higher than the other parts.

[0035] [Stay] The stay 102 is disposed inside the fixing belt 101 along the longitudinal direction in order to ensure the strength of the pressing member 103. That is, the stay 102 is made of a relatively flexible resin, and is a member for providing the pressing member 103 with strength in the longitudinal direction and correcting the pressing member 103 by pressing against the back surface of the pressing member 103 (the surface opposite to the side where the heater 100 is disposed).

[0036] [Fixed flange] Fixing flanges 104 serving as holding portions are provided at both longitudinal ends of the cylindrical fixing belt 101, and regulate the amount of longitudinal movement of the fixing belt 101. That is, the fixing flanges 104 are fitted into both ends of the assembly of the pressure contact member 103 and the stay 102, and guide the rotation of the fixing belt 101 while preventing the fixing belt 101 from slipping out. In other words, the fixing flanges 104 hold the fixing belt 101 so that it can rotate freely.

[0037] 2, a pressure force is applied in the direction of arrow P to fixing flanges 104 arranged on both longitudinal ends of fixing belt 101 by pressure plates (not shown) rotatably attached to fixing frame 112. This presses film unit 111 toward pressure roller 106.

[0038] [Thermistor] Thermistor 105 detects the temperature of the inner surface of fixing belt 101 and feeds it back to a control circuit (not shown). Thermistor 105 has a temperature detection element portion 105a and a leaf spring portion 105b. Temperature detection element portion 105a has a holding portion for fixing and holding it on pressure contact member 103, and a temperature detection element, and detects the temperature by contacting the inner surface of fixing belt 101. Leaf spring portion 105b has elasticity for biasing temperature detection element portion 105a against fixing belt 101 with a predetermined contact pressure. Leaf spring portion 105b is made of stainless steel, and also serves as a conductive path for the temperature detection element.

[0039] [Lubricant] The lubricant is selected from materials that have sliding properties to reduce the sliding resistance between the fixing belt 101 and the heater 100 and that do not deteriorate much even when used at high temperatures. One example of a lubricant that satisfies these conditions is fluoro grease. Fluoro grease is made of fluoro oil and fluoro resin, and can achieve high sliding properties due to the lubricity of the oil and high durability by the fluoro resin retaining the fluoro oil.

[0040] [Adhesive structure of pressure-welded member and heater] Next, the bonding configuration of the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 when the new pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 in this embodiment are used will be described. FIG. 3(a) is a bottom view showing the first adhesive-applied surface 41 provided on the pressure contact member 103 of this embodiment. In FIG. 3(a), the first adhesive-applied surface 41 of the pressure contact member 103 is used when assembling the pressure contact member 103 in a new state, and is provided at nine locations at intervals in the longitudinal direction in the fitting groove 103a. In addition, next to each first adhesive-applied surface 41, the second adhesive-applied surface 42 is provided at nine locations at intervals in the longitudinal direction. That is, a plurality of first adhesive-applied surfaces 41 and a plurality of second adhesive-applied surfaces 42 are provided, and the first adhesive-applied surfaces 41 and the second adhesive-applied surfaces 42 are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103. The arrangement order of the first adhesive application surfaces 41 and the second adhesive application surfaces 42 is not limited to being alternate.

[0041] In this embodiment, the multiple first adhesive-coated surfaces 41 and the multiple second adhesive-coated surfaces 42 are arranged at equal intervals. This allows the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 to have the same adhesive strength at any point in the longitudinal direction, and the heater 100 is stably held against the sliding of the fixing belt 101. Also, the multiple first adhesive-coated surfaces 41 and the multiple second adhesive-coated surfaces 42 are arranged in equal numbers. This allows the adhesive strength of the heater 100 to the pressure contact member 103 to be the same when it is new and when it is reused, and the heater 100 is stably held against the sliding of the fixing belt 101.

[0042] The second adhesive-coated surface 42 is an adhesive-coated surface used when re-adhering the heater 100 and the pressure-contact member 103 when the heater 100 peels off from the pressure-contact member 103 in a process of reusing the used pressure-contact member 103 and heater 100. The surface shape of the second adhesive-coated surface 42 is an uneven surface having minute irregularities such as a grained or knurled shape to make it difficult for the applied adhesive to peel off, similar to the first adhesive-coated surface 41. Note that the surface shape of the second adhesive-coated surface 42 may also include a surface that is rougher than the areas other than the second adhesive-coated surface 42, a surface that is higher than the other areas, and the like.

[0043] The first adhesive application surface 41 and the second adhesive application surface 42 provide a total of 18 adhesive application surfaces. In this embodiment, both the first adhesive application surface 41 and the second adhesive application surface 42 are substantially square shaped. However, the shape is not limited to this and may be rectangular or circular. Here, the first adhesive application surface 41 is an example of a first adhesive application region that faces the adhesive surface 100a formed on the heater 100 and is adhered to the adhesive surface 100a when the adhesive 108 is applied. The second adhesive application surface 42 is an example of a second adhesive application region that is an uneven surface that faces the adhesive surface 100a and is disposed at a position different from the first adhesive application surface 41, and is adhered to the adhesive surface 100a when the adhesive 108 is applied.

[0044] When assembling a new product, the adhesive 108 is applied only to the nine first adhesive-applied surfaces 41 provided on the pressure contact member 103. At this time, the adhesive 108 is not applied to the nine second adhesive-applied surfaces 42. By fitting the heater 100 into the fitting groove 103a, the adhesive 108 applied to the first adhesive-applied surface 41 adheres to the adhesive surface 100a of the heater 100, and the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 are bonded and attached via the adhesive 108. In other words, the heater 100 is attached to the pressure contact member 103 in a state where the first adhesive-applied surface 41 is bonded to the adhesive surface 100a by the adhesive 108, and the second adhesive-applied surface 42 has not been coated with the adhesive 108.

[0045] The adhesive 108 used in this embodiment is a moisture-curing adhesive that absorbs moisture in the air and hardens. For example, the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are placed in a tightly attached state in an environment with a humidity of 80% for 5 hours, during which the adhesive 108 absorbs moisture in the air and hardens, thereby bonding the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103. In this embodiment, the adhesive strength per one location of the first adhesive-applied surface 41 is set to, for example, 5 N or more.

[0046] [Reuse of pressure-welded parts and heaters] Next, a procedure for reusing the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 will be described by comparing a comparative example with this embodiment. Here, a case will be described in which the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are reused once.

[0047] (Comparative Example) Fig. 3(b) is a bottom view showing the adhesive application surface 43 provided on the pressure contact member 203 of the comparative example. In Fig. 3(b), the adhesive application surfaces 43 used when assembling the pressure contact member 203 in a new state are provided at nine positions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the fitting groove 203a. In the comparative example, a second adhesive application surface is not provided.

[0048] Next, a procedure for reusing the pressing member 203 and the heater 100 using the pressing member 203 in the comparative example will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. First, it is determined whether or not the pressing member 203 and the heater 100 have been reused based on the history associated with the used and collected fixing unit (step S1). Since the number of times that the pressing member 203 and the heater 100 have been reused is set to one, if it is determined that they have been reused (YES in step S1), they are deemed not to be reusable (step S2).

[0049] If it is determined that there is no history of reuse (NO in step S1), the old lubricant that has been used for a long time and is adhering to the pressure contact member 203 and the heater 100 is cleaned (step S3). Since the adhesion between the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 203 may come off during this cleaning process, it is determined whether or not the adhesion between the pressure contact member 203 and the heater 100 has come off after cleaning (step S4). If it is determined that the adhesion between the pressure contact member 203 and the heater 100 has not come off (NO in step S4), the pressure contact member 203 is reused as is (step S5). If it is determined that any of the nine adhesion points between the pressure contact member 203 and the heater 100 has come off (YES in step S4), the pressure contact member 203 is deemed unreusable (step S2).

[0050] Here, if the heater 100 peels off from the pressure contact member 203, it is necessary to bond the heater and the pressure contact member 203 again using an adhesive to achieve a desired adhesive strength. However, if adhesive is applied again while the adhesive remains on the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 203, the adhesive is applied on top of the already cured adhesive, and therefore the desired adhesive strength may not be obtained. Therefore, a removal process was required to remove the adhesive remaining on the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 203 to the same condition as a new product, thereby achieving the desired adhesive strength. However, there is a risk of damaging the parts when attempting to remove the adhesive that has entered the step between the heating element and the glass surface on the adhesive surface 100a of the heater 100, or the grain or minute unevenness of the adhesive application surface 43 on the pressure contact member 203. For this reason, if the heater 100 peels off from the pressure contact member 203, it cannot be reused.

[0051] Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to the first adhesive-coated surface 41 used for bonding when the heater 100 is new, a second adhesive-coated surface 42 used for bonding when the heater 100 is reused is provided, and after the adhesive on the first adhesive-coated surface 41 peels off, the second adhesive-coated surface 42 on which no adhesive has been applied is used for bonding. Note that, for example, when a smooth surface other than the first adhesive-coated surface 41 is bonded to the heater 100, the adhesive force per unit area is smaller than that of the first adhesive-coated surface 41, so it is necessary to apply the adhesive to a larger surface. This is undesirable because it increases costs and the heat of the heater 100 escapes to the pressure contact member 103.

[0052] (Example) Next, a procedure for reusing the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 in the embodiment of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. Note that steps S1 to S5 are the same as those in the comparative example, and therefore will not be described. If it is determined that any of the nine bonded portions between the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 has come off (YES in step S4), it is necessary to bond the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 again. For this reason, the bond between the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 is peeled off at all points (step S10). Then, the adhesive 108 attached to the heater 100 or the pressure contact member 103 is removed (step S11). Regarding the removal of the adhesive 108, it is sufficient to remove the adhesive 108 to the extent that the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are not in contact with each other through the adhesive 108 that has hardened and adhered thereto, and it is not necessary to make the adhesive 108 have the same surface properties as a new part.

[0053] Next, adhesive is applied only to the nine second adhesive application surfaces 42 provided on the pressure contact member 103 (step S12). At this time, adhesive is not applied to the nine first adhesive application surfaces 41. Then, a bonding process is carried out in which the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are placed in a tightly attached state in an environment with a humidity of 80% for five hours, making the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 reusable (step S13).

[0054] As described above, according to the fixing device 40 of the present embodiment, when the first adhesive application surface 41 and the adhesive surface 100a are peeled off, the second adhesive application surface 42 is adhered to the adhesive surface 100a by the adhesive 108. The heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are attached to the first adhesive application surface 41 without any new adhesive being applied thereto. Therefore, when the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are reused and used, even if the heater 100 is peeled off from the pressure contact member 103, the pressure contact member 103 and the heater 100 can be adhered again to satisfy the desired adhesive force. This makes it possible to reuse the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103. As a result, it is possible to provide a fixing device 40 that effectively utilizes resources by improving the reuse rate of used parts and reduces the environmental load.

[0055] In the above embodiment, a ceramic heater is used as the heat generating member, and the ceramic heater and the pressure contact member 103 are bonded to each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in an IH heating type fixing device, a plate material made of SUS may be used as the heat generating member, and the plate material and the pressure contact member 103 may be bonded to each other.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 are reused once, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be reused twice or more. In this case, for example, if the number of reuse times is two, a third adhesive application surface is provided, and the number of adhesive application surfaces is increased by the number of times the adhesive is reused.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the first adhesive-coated surface 41 and the second adhesive-coated surface 42 are formed on the pressure contact member 103, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first adhesive-coated surface 41 and the second adhesive-coated surface 42 may be formed on the heater 100. That is, one of the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 has the first adhesive-coated surface 41 and the second adhesive-coated surface 42, and the other of the heater 100 and the pressure contact member 103 has an adhesive surface 100a to which the first adhesive-coated surface 41 and the second adhesive-coated surface 42 can be bonded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 40... fixing device, 41... first adhesive application surface (first adhesive application area), 42... second adhesive application surface (second adhesive application area), 100... heater (heat generating member), 101... fixing belt, 103... pressure contact member (holding member), 106... pressure roller, N... fixing nip portion

Claims

1. A heat-generating member; a holding member for holding the heat generating member attached by adhesive; a fixing belt whose inner circumferential surface slides on the heat-generating member while being in contact with the heat-generating member; a counter rotating body that forms a fixing nip portion between the fixing belt and the counter rotating body, and the sheet is nipped and conveyed between the counter rotating body and the fixing belt, One of the heat generating member and the holding member is a first adhesive application area facing an adhesive surface formed on the other of the heat generating component and the holding component, and being adhered to the adhesive surface when an adhesive is applied thereto; a second adhesive application area that is disposed at a position different from the first adhesive application area, faces the adhesive surface, and is an uneven surface that is adhered to the adhesive surface when an adhesive is applied thereto; the heat generating member is attached to the holding member in a state in which the first adhesive application area is adhered to the adhesive surface with an adhesive, and in a state in which no adhesive is applied to the second adhesive application area. A fixing device characterized by:

2. a plurality of the first adhesive application areas and a plurality of the second adhesive application areas are provided, and the first adhesive application areas and the second adhesive application areas are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heat generating member and the holding member; 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is a fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium.

3. The plurality of first adhesive application areas and the plurality of second adhesive application areas are arranged at equal intervals.

3. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device is a fixing device.

4. The plurality of first adhesive application regions and the plurality of second adhesive application regions are arranged in equal numbers, 4. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member is a fixing member.

5. the heat-generating member is disposed opposite the fixing nip portion across the fixing belt; 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a fixing member.

6. The heat generating member is made of a ceramic heater.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a fixing member.

7. An endless, rotatable fixing belt; a heat generating member disposed inside the fixing belt and configured to heat the fixing belt; a counter rotating body that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion and fixes a toner image onto a sheet at the fixing nip portion; a holding member that holds the heat-generating member with an adhesive; A method for recycling a fixing device comprising: the holding member has a first adhesive application area to which an adhesive is applied and a second adhesive application area that is different from the first adhesive application area and to which no adhesive is applied, a step of peeling off the adhesion between the first adhesive-applied area of ​​the holding member and the heat-generating member; applying adhesive to the second adhesive application area of ​​the holding member; and adhering the holding member, the second adhesive-applied region of which is coated with adhesive, to the heat-generating component. A method for recycling a fixing device.

8. The method further comprises the step of removing adhesive adhering to the first adhesive application area of ​​the holding member, applying adhesive to the second adhesive application area of ​​the holding member from which the adhesive attached to the first adhesive application area has been removed; 8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

9. The method further comprises a step of determining whether or not there is peeling between the first adhesive application area of ​​the holding member and the heat-generating member, If it is determined that peeling has occurred in the step, the adhesion between the first adhesive-applied area of ​​the holding member and the heat-generating member is peeled off.

8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

10. The second adhesive application area has minute irregularities.

8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

11. The first adhesive application area and the second adhesive application area are each provided in plurality, The first adhesive application areas and the second adhesive application areas are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the holding member.

8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

12. The first adhesive application area and the second adhesive application area are each provided in plurality, The plurality of first adhesive application areas and the plurality of second adhesive application areas are arranged at equal intervals.

8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

13. The first adhesive application area and the second adhesive application area are each provided in plurality, The plurality of first adhesive application regions and the plurality of second adhesive application regions are arranged in equal numbers, 8. The method for recycling a fixing device according to claim 7.

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