Fixing Pressure Roller with Silicone Rubber Voids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure rollers formed from silicone rubber foam with incorporated resin microballoons and volatile components fail to achieve uniform pore distribution, leading to inadequate low hardness and compression set, resulting in defective fixing performance when idle and resumed.
Innovation Solution
A fixing pressure roller is developed with an elastic layer formed by mixing silicone rubber with resin microballoons and water, where pressure breaks the microballoons and evaporation creates voids, reducing hardness and heat capacity, and a release layer is optionally added for improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If resin microballoons and volatile components are incorporated into silicone rubber to lower hardness, then hardness is reduced, but pores are not uniformly distributed and compression set deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the silicone rubber composition by incorporating specific additives (silicone oil, silicone water, silicone resin) in controlled amounts and adjusting curing conditions to achieve uniform pore distribution while maintaining low hardness and excellent compression set
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining silicone rubber with multiple functional additives (silicone oil for lubrication, silicone water for pore formation, silicone resin for structural support) to achieve properties that single materials cannot provide, specifically uniform pore distribution, low hardness, and low compression set
2Area of moving object
If large thickness rubber layer is used for pressure roller, then fixing width is increased, but deformation occurs during idle operation causing defective fixing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters of the rubber layer by controlling the composition ratios of silicone rubber, silicone oil, silicone water, and silicone resin, and adjusting curing parameters to achieve optimal balance between flexibility, deformation resistance, and fixing performance for large thickness applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses silicone water as a temporary placeholder that evaporates during curing to create uniform voids throughout the rubber layer, effectively copying the desired final pore structure during the manufacturing process rather than attempting to create it directly
3Area of moving object
If silicone rubber foam with low hardness is used to achieve large nip, then fixing width is increased, but heat capacity increases causing heat loss from heat source
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thermal parameters of the silicone rubber by incorporating heat-resistant additives (silicone resin, silicone oil) that modify the material's heat capacity and thermal conductivity, allowing the rubber to maintain low hardness for large nip while reducing heat loss from the heat source
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 provides a pressure roller with excellent compression set, low hardness, and low heat capacity, enhancing durability and reliability, ensuring effective toner fixing and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
voids provided by breakage of the resin microballoons through application of pressure
Implementation Method 2
voids provided through evaporation of the water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a fixing pressure roller exhibiting excellent compression set and having low hardness and low heat capacity, as well as a fixing device including the fixing pressure roller. A pressure roller employed in a fixing unit of a fixing device includes a core, and an elastic layer provided around the core, wherein the elastic layer is formed of a silicone rubber product produced by mixing a silicone rubber raw material with resin microballoons and water, and then curing the silicone rubber raw material; and the silicone rubber product includes therein voids provided by breakage of the resin microballoons through application of pressure, and voids provided through evaporation of the water.