FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH

Abstract

In a fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus of the present invention, an external heating section is provided that includes: an external heating belt; two heat rollers suspending the external heating belt and pressed against a fixing roller via the external heating belt; and a release/contact mechanism for causing the two heat rollers to separate from or contact with the fixing roller. With the heat rollers separated from the fixing roller by the release/contact mechanism, the external heating belt and the fixing roller are in contact with each other and the external heating belt follows rotation of the fixing roller. As a result, a fixing apparatus is provided that includes an external release/contact mechanism that can quickly operate in a small space and at low power without encouraging deterioration of the belt member. An image forming apparatus provided with such a fixing apparatus is also provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure in a main part of an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) are diagrams illustrating a structure of a support section for an external heating section provided in the fixing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an upper view of the support section for the external heating section.

FIGS. 5( a) through 5(c) are diagrams representing how an external heating belt is brought into contact with a fixing roller.

FIGS. 6( a) and 6(b) are diagrams illustrating a structure of a support section for an external heating section in a fixing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an upper view of the support section for the external heating section shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8( a) and 8(b) are diagrams showing a structure of a support section for an external heating section in a fixing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9( a) and 9(b) are diagrams representing positions of a heat roller and an external heating belt in a fixing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10( a) and 10(b) are diagrams illustrating a structure of a support section of an external heating section in the fixing apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) are diagrams illustrating a structure of an external heating section and a support section therefor, in a fixing apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fixing apparatus comprising an external heating section that brings an endless belt member into contact with a surface of a rotatable fixing member and supplies heat from the belt member to the fixing member so as to externally heat the fixing member, said fixing apparatus causing a printing medium to pass between the fixing member and a pressure member pressed against the fixing member, so as to fix a toner image formed on the printing medium, the external heating member including: the belt member; a heating member provided inside the belt member and pressed against the fixing member via the belt member; and a release/contact mechanism for causing the heating member to separate from or contact with the fixing member,the belt member and the fixing member being in contact with each other, with the heating member separated from the fixing member by the release/contact mechanism.

2. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating member is separated from the fixing member by such a distance that the belt member follows rotation of the fixing member.

3. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a pressing member for pressing the belt member against the fixing member, with the heating member separated from the fixing member by the release/contact mechanism.

4. The fixing apparatus 1 as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt member is suspended by a plurality of heatable belt-suspending rollers having heat sources therein, the belt-suspending rollers each serving as the heating member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism moves a support frame that supports bearings respectively provided for the belt-suspending rollers, so as to cause the heating member to separate from or contact with the fixing member.

5. The fixing apparatus 1 as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt member is suspended by a plurality of belt-suspending rollers including at least one heatable belt-suspending roller having a heat source therein, and at least one unheated belt-suspending roller, the heatable belt-suspending roller serving as the heating member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism moves the heatable belt-suspending roller and does not move the unheated belt-suspending roller.

6. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt member is suspended by at least one heatable belt-suspending roller having a heat source therein, and by an unheated belt-suspending roller, the heatable belt-suspending roller serving as the heating member,wherein the heatable belt-suspending roller and the unheated belt-suspending roller respectively having bearings that are supported on a single support frame, andwherein the release/contact mechanism moves the heatable belt-suspending roller by rotating the support frame about a rotational axis of the unheated belt-suspending roller.

7. The fixing apparatus 1 as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt member is suspended by a plurality of belt-suspending rollers including at least one heatable belt-suspending roller having a heat source therein, the heatable belt-suspending roller serving as the heating member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism separates the heatable belt-suspending roller from the belt member.

8. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belt member is suspended by a pair of belt-suspending rollers at least one of which has a heat source therein, the heatable belt-suspending roller having the heat source therein serving as the heating member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism moves the pair of belt-suspending rollers such that the belt-suspending rollers separate away from the surface of the fixing member, and that a center distance between the belt-suspending rollers becomes shorter,said fixing apparatus comprising a belt guide member that retains a shape of the belt member by restraining changes in shape of the belt member that occurs when the movement of the pair of belt-suspending rollers loosens a tension in the belt member.

9. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating member is a heat source that directly heats the belt member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism separates the heat source from the belt member.

10. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating member is a heat source that directly heats the belt member, andwherein the release/contact mechanism moves a support frame supporting the heat source, so as to cause the heating member to separate from or contact with the fixing member,said fixing apparatus comprising a belt guide member that retains a shape of the belt member by restraining changes in shape of the belt member that occurs when the heat source releases the pressure of the belt member pressed against the fixing member.

11. The fixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising: a control section for controlling driving of the release/contact mechanism,wherein the control section causes the heating member to separate from the fixing member while rotation of the fixing member is stopped.

12. An image forming apparatus that comprises a fixing apparatus including an external heating section that brings an endless belt member into contact with a surface of a rotatable fixing member and supplies heat from the belt member to the fixing member so as to externally heat the fixing member, said fixing apparatus causing a printing medium to pass between the fixing member and a pressure member pressed against the fixing member, so as to fix a toner image formed on the printing medium, the external heating member including: the belt member; a heating member provided inside the belt member and pressed against the fixing member via the belt member; and a release/contact mechanism for causing the heating member to separate from or contact with the fixing member,the belt member and the fixing member being in contact with each other, with the heating member separated from the fixing member by the release/contact mechanism.