Fluororesin Fixing Member With PFPE Oil for Hot Offset Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing members for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with long-term toner releasability and hot offset due to decomposition of perfluoropolyether and perfluoroalkyl chain compounds at high temperatures, leading to decreased adhesion of toner to the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
A fixing member with a surface layer containing fluororesin and fluorine oil with a perfluoropolyether structure, where the fluorine oil is strategically distributed to maintain adhesion by satisfying specific mass adherence requirements, ensuring continuous toner releasability through controlled diffusion and replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heat-fixing temperature of toner is increased to achieve higher process speed, then productivity is improved, but toner releasability deteriorates and hot offset occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the surface layer by incorporating fluorine oil with perfluoropolyether structure into the fluororesin-based surface layer. This compositional parameter change enables the surface to maintain appropriate toner adhesion at higher fixing temperatures, resolving the contradiction between increased productivity (higher temperature) and maintained toner releasability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite surface layer material combining fluororesin (such as PFA) with fluorine oil having perfluoropolyether structure. This composite material system provides both the heat resistance needed for high-speed fixing and the controlled toner adhesion properties required to prevent hot offset, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and reliability maintenance.
2Reliability
If perfluoropolyether and perfluoroalkyl chain compounds are used in the surface layer, then toner releasability is improved, but the compounds decompose at high temperatures leading to decreased adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the molecular structure parameters of the fluorinated compounds by selecting perfluoropolyether structures with specific chain lengths and configurations that exhibit both good toner releasability and high thermal stability. This parameter optimization allows the compounds to maintain their functional properties at elevated fixing temperatures without decomposition, resolving the contradiction between improved toner releasability and compositional stability.
3Reliability
If fluorine oil is added to the surface layer to maintain toner releasability, then manufacturing complexity increases, but toner releasability is maintained over long periods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the fluororesin matrix with fluorine oil additives into a unified surface layer system where the fluorine oil is dispersed within the fluororesin structure. This merging approach allows the complex functionality of maintained toner releasability to be achieved through a relatively simple single-layer structure, minimizing manufacturing complexity while ensuring long-term reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution maintains high toner releasability over long periods, preventing hot offset and ensuring stable, high-quality electrophotographic image formation by continuously supplying fluorine oil to the surface layer, even after prolonged use at high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the fluorine oil having a perfluoropolyether structure is 0.5×P11 or more and 1.2×P11 or less
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a fixing member including a base layer, and a surface layer on an outer surface of the base layer directly or with a primer layer interposed between the base layer and the surface layer, in which the surface layer is constituted by a single layer, the surface layer contains a fluororesin, and fluorine oil having a perfluoropolyether structure, and as for a measurement sample taken from the surface layer, when subjecting to predetermined treatments (i) and (ii), masses of an adhered material adhered in a unit area of a detection surface of a QCM sensor and containing the fluorine oil are within specific ranges.