Fluororesin Fixing Member With PFPE Oil for Long-Term Toner Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixing members in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges with long-term toner releasability and hot offset due to decomposition of perfluoropolyether and fluororesin compounds at high temperatures, leading to reduced image quality over time.

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 optimal adhesion properties by satisfying specific mass adherence requirements, ensuring continuous toner releasability through controlled diffusion and replenishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heat-fixing temperature of toner is increased to achieve higher process speed, then productivity is improved, but toner releasability becomes insufficient and hot offset occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess speedVSAvoidtoner releasability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the surface layer by incorporating fluorine oil with perfluoropolyether structure alongside fluororesin. This compositional parameter change modifies the surface properties to maintain low surface energy and excellent toner releasability even at elevated heat-fixing temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between increased productivity and maintained reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of fluororesin and fluorine oil with perfluoropolyether structure in the surface layer. This composite formulation combines the heat resistance and structural stability of fluororesin with the superior toner releasability and thermal stability of perfluoropolyether, enabling the surface layer to function effectively at higher temperatures without toner adhesion issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a fluororesin-containing surface layer is used to suppress toner adhesion, then toner releasability is improved, but the fluororesin and perfluoropolyether decompose at high temperatures over time, reducing long-term reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner releasabilityVSAvoidlong-term stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a self-service mechanism where the fluorine oil with perfluoropolyether structure in the surface layer continuously migrates to the outer surface, self-replenishing the low surface energy layer. This self-replenishment process maintains excellent toner releasability over extended periods without external intervention, counteracting the decomposition of fluororesin and perfluoropolyether at high temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention incorporates fluorine oil with perfluoropolyether structure into the surface layer in advance, creating a reservoir of toner-releasing material. This preliminary action ensures that even as the fluororesin decomposes over time at high temperatures, the perfluoropolyether continues to provide the necessary surface properties for toner releasability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 excellent toner releasability and prevents hot offset, enabling stable high-quality image formation over a long period by ensuring consistent fluorine oil supply and adhesion properties.

Implementation Method 1

ensuring continuous toner releasability through controlled diffusion and replenishment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

pressing a detection surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor against the position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectQuartz crystal microbalance:

Implementation Method 3

a heating unit of the fixing member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3770688B1Fixing member, fixing device, and electrophotographic image-forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.07.19 CANON KK

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AI summary

Provided is a fixing member for electrophotography having excellent toner releasability even after long-term use. The fixing member includes a base layer, and a surface layer provided 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 a predetermined treatment (i), a mass P11 of an adhered material adhered in a unit area of a detection surface of a QCM sensor and containing the fluorine oil is 1.0 × 102 ng or more and 1.0 × 104 ng or less, and when subjecting to a predetermined treatment (ii), a mass P12 of an adhered material adhered in the unit area of the detection surface of the QCM sensor and containing the fluorine oil is 0.5 × P11 or more and 1.2 × P11 or less.