Fixing device and image forming apparatus

• US 10,732,548 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamazoe, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Villaluna, Erika J
• Application Number:
  US16/172,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20200133175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0818 characterised by the structure of the donor member, e.g. surface properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2017 Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means G03G15/2053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2035 for maintenance purposes, e.g. for removing a jammed sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2053 Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2057 relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/206 Structural details or chemical composition of the pressure elements and layers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2064 combined with pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2035 the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2038 the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members

Abstract

A fixing device includes a fixing rotating member, a heater, a fixing pad, a pressurizing member, a lubricant, and a surface layer. The fixing rotating member is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium and is heated by the heater. The fixing pad is positioned on an inner circumferential side of the fixing rotating member, and presses the fixing rotating member from the inner circumferential side. The pressurizing member faces an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member, and forms a nip for fixing between the pressurizing member and the fixing rotating member. The lubricant is applied to the fixing rotating member. The surface layer is disposed in a vicinity of an end portion of a pressurizing surface of the fixing pad and returns the lubricant to a longitudinal central side of the pressurizing surface.

Claims

1. A fixing device, comprising:

a fixing rotating member configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium, the fixing rotating member having an inner circumferential surface configured to receive lubricant;

a heater configured to heat the fixing rotating member;

a fixing pad positioned on an inner circumferential side of the fixing rotating member, and configured to press the fixing rotating member from the inner circumferential side;

a pressurizer disposed to face an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member and to form a nip for fixing between the pressurizer and the fixing rotating member at a position facing the fixing pad; and

a surface layer disposed in a vicinity of a longitudinal end portion of a pressurizing surface of the fixing pad, and configured to direct lubricant applied to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member to a longitudinal central side of the pressurizing surface,

wherein the surface layer is formed of an oil repellent member, and

wherein, in the surface layer, the oil repellent member is coated on the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer includes:

a trapping portion configured to trap lubricant so as to prevent outflow of lubricant from a portion facing the pressurizing surface of the fixing pad to the longitudinal end portion of the pressurizing surface in the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member, and

an inclined portion configured to push the lubricant flowing into the trapping portion back to a longitudinal central side of the fixing rotating member by rotation of the fixing rotating member.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the trapping portion comprises a plurality of projecting portions projecting from a base.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a low friction member attached on the pressurizing surface of the fixing pad, the low friction member abutting on the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a non-pressurizing region that is not directly pressurized by the pressurizer, wherein the surface layer is provided on the non-pressurizing region.

6. A fixing device comprising:

a rotating member configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium, the rotating member having an inner circumferential surface configured to receive lubricant;

a heater disposed on an inner circumferential side of the rotating member, and configured to heat the recording medium from the inner circumferential side of the rotating member such that the rotating member is interposed between the heater and the recording medium in a pressed state;

a pressurizer disposed to face an outer circumferential surface of the rotating member, and form a nip for fixing between the rotating member and the pressurizer at a position facing the heating member; and

a surface layer disposed on a pressurizing surface of the heater, and arranged to direct lubricant applied to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating member to a longitudinal central side of the pressurizing surface,

wherein the surface layer is formed of an oil repellent member.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein, in the surface layer, the oil repellent member is coated on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating member.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein, in the surface layer, the oil repellent member is coated on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating member.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the surface layer includes:

a trapping portion configured to trap lubricant so as to prevent outflow of lubricant from a portion facing the pressurizing surface of the fixing pad to the longitudinal end portion of the pressurizing surface in the inner circumferential surface of the rotating member, and

an inclined portion configured to push the lubricant flowing into the trapping portion back to a longitudinal central side of the rotating member by rotation of the rotating member.

10. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a low friction member attached on the pressurizing surface of the fixing pad, the low friction member abutting on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating member.

11. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a non-pressurizing region that is not directly pressurized by the pressurizer, wherein the surface layer is provided on the non-pressurizing region.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a printer configured to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium; and

the fixing device according to claim 6.

13. A fixing method, comprising:

fixing, by a fixing rotating member, a toner image on a recording medium, the fixing rotating member having an inner circumferential surface configured to receive lubricant;

heating the fixing rotating member via a heater;

pressing the fixing rotating member from an inner circumferential side of the fixing rotating member by a fixing pad positioned on the inner circumferential side;

forming a nip for fixing between the pressurizer and the fixing rotating member at a position facing the fixing pad; and

causing lubricant applied to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member to be directed, by a surface layer disposed in a vicinity of a longitudinal end portion of a pressurizing surface of the fixing pad, to a longitudinal central side of the pressurizing surface,

wherein the surface layer is formed of an oil repellent member, and

wherein the method further comprises coating the oil repellent member on the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

trapping lubricant so as to prevent outflow of lubricant from a portion facing the pressurizing surface of the fixing pad to the longitudinal end portion of the pressurizing surface in the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotating member, and

pushing the lubricant flowing into the trapping portion back to a longitudinal central side of the fixing rotating member by rotation of the fixing rotating member.