FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-265466, filed on Dec. 5, 2011, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fixing device employing an electromagnetic induction heating method used in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, and a multifunction machine combining several of the functions of these apparatuses, and to an image forming apparatus using the fixing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanism for setting a fixing area according to sheet size.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner image transferred to a recording medium, such as a recording sheet, from an image carrier, such as a photoconductor, is fixed on the recording medium by the action of fusion and penetration with heat and pressure, and thereby a copy is obtained.

Heating methods employed in the fixing device include an electromagnetic induction heating method. Unlike a commonly used heat roller fixing method, the electromagnetic induction heating method is advantageous in that the method does not require a heating mechanism, such as a heating roller, and is capable of generating heat by using an eddy current generated in a member used in the fixing process, such as a fixing roller or a belt, i.e., is capable of using the fixing member as a heating source and thus reducing the time taken to raise the temperature.

According to the electromagnetic induction heating method, however, it is difficult, in some cases, to equalize temperature distribution in the latitudinal direction of the fixing roller or the width direction of the belt owing to the relative thinness of an electromagnetic induction heat generating layer serving as a heat generating member. That is, if the recording sheet serving as the recording medium is fed in, for example, a width center alignment method in the latitudinal direction of the fixing roller or the width direction of the belt, heat loss and reduction in temperature occur in a sheet passing area corresponding to a central portion in the width direction of the recording sheet, while the heat loss and the resultant reduction in temperature are suppressed in sheet non-passing areas (i.e., areas of the fixing roller or belt outside the sheet, and over which the sheet does not pass) corresponding to opposite lateral end portions in the width direction.

In addition, recording sheets come in various standard sizes, such as A-series sizes and B-series sizes according to Japan Industrial Standards (JIS), for example. Further, in sheet feeding, the longitudinal direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction may be different between recording sheets of the same size. Due to the presence of the sheet passing area and the sheet non-passing areas, therefore, unevenness in temperature tends to occur in the latitudinal direction of the fixing roller or the width direction of the belt. Specifically, if a large-sized recording sheet is fed immediately after continuous feeding of small-sized recording sheets, the temperature distribution may be uneven in the width direction of the large-sized recording sheet and thereby adversely affect, for example, the glossiness of the image.

As a configuration addressing the unevenness in temperature in the latitudinal direction of the fixing roller or the width direction of the belt, a background heating mechanism includes a demagnetizing member which changes the influence of magnetic flux in the electromagnetic induction heating method. As well as an exciting coil which performs electromagnetic induction heating, a secondary demagnetizing coil is provided at each of positions corresponding to the sheet non-passing areas such that induced electromotive force and induced current of the secondary demagnetizing coil, which are generated by a change in magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil, reduce the magnetic flux in the sheet non-passing areas and thereby prevent an excessive increase in temperature.

Another background heating mechanism has a configuration including a metal plate and a magnetic shunt alloy having a characteristic of switching between magnetic and non-magnetic states at a Curie temperature. The magnetic shunt alloy is disposed between the metal plate and an exciting coil to allow a magnetic flux to pass through the magnetic shunt alloy into the metal plate when the temperature of the magnetic shunt alloy reaches or exceeds the Curie temperature. Thereby, a repulsive magnetic flux against the magnetic flux of the exciting coil is generated in the metal plate, cancelling out an induced magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil to provide a built-in temperature control capability.

Still another background heating mechanism has a configuration which includes magnetic flux cancellation coils facing the sheet non-passing areas, and which controls power supply to the magnetic flux cancellation coils to prevent an excessive increase in temperature in the sheet non-passing areas.

In the configurations of the background heating mechanisms, the following issue arises owing to a relatively wide thermal boundary between the sheet passing area and each of the sheet non-passing areas. Thermal boundary width refers to the space between an end portion of a heating area and an end portion of a non-heating area obtained in accordance with the overlapping position of the exciting coil and the demagnetizing cancellation coil at the boundary between the sheet passing area and the sheet non-passing area.

If the space between the end portion of the heating area and the end portion of the non-heating area is increased, the sheet non-passing area, which is not required to be heated, is also heated and increased in temperature. This results in an increase in energy loss, and may cause degradation of the fixing member due to the excessive increase in temperature.

Meanwhile, if the exciting coil and the demagnetizing cancellation coil excessively overlap each other between the end portion of the heating area and the end portion of the non-heating area, a portion of the sheet passing area adjacent to the sheet non-passing area is reduced in temperature when the demagnetizing cancellation coil is operated. As a result, unevenness in temperature occurs in the entire sheet passing area, and may cause phenomena such as a fixing failure and uneven glossiness of the image. Such phenomena occur in the configurations of the foregoing background heating mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a novel fixing device. In one example, a novel fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heating the recording medium, with a heating area and a non-heating area selected in accordance with a magnetic flux and a repulsive magnetic flux. The fixing device includes a heat generating layer, an exciting coil, and a demagnetizing member. The heat generating layer is configured to generate heat. The exciting coil is configured to generate the magnetic flux and thereby inductively heat the heat generating layer. The demagnetizing member faces the heat generating layer in the non-heating area. Further, the demagnetizing member is configured to generate the repulsive magnetic flux against the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil, to thereby demagnetize the magnetic flux and suppress the heating. Further, the demagnetizing member is configured to have a different demagnetization effect between at least a portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area and the remaining portion of the non-heating area.

In the fixing device, a distance between the demagnetizing member and exciting coil, which face each other, may be different between at least the portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area and the remaining portion of the non-heating area.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a cancellation coil which generates a magnetic flux in a direction of canceling the magnetic flux of the exciting coil, and which is located closer to the exciting coil in the portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area than in the remaining portion of the non-heating area.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may have an end portion located at the position of the boundary between the heating area and the non-heating area.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a metal plate having a portion of increased thickness in the portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the heating area.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a metal plate having a portion of enlarged area in the area facing the exciting coil.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a metal plate having portions of different electrical resistances.

In the fixing device, the metal plate forming the demagnetizing member may have a portion plated with a material having relatively low electrical resistance.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a metal plate provided with one of a hole and a groove in the non-heating area.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include a metal plate having a portion located adjacent to the exciting coil.

In the fixing device, the demagnetizing member may include an aluminum plate.

The present invention further describes a novel image forming apparatus. In one example, a novel image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording medium, and the above-described fixing device having the heat generating layer provided in one of a fixing roller, a fixing sleeve, and a fixing belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the advantages thereof are obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a fixing device using a heating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of main components of the heating mechanism used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the configuration of the main components illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a control circuit used in the main components illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is diagram illustrating the operation of the configuration of the main components illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is diagram illustrating the operation of the modified example illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the main components of the heating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention using the fixing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In describing the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is adopted for the purpose of clarity. However, the disclosure of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so used, and it is to be understood that substitutions for each specific element can include any technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, embodiments of the present invention will be described. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, description will first be made of a configuration of main components of a fixing device according to a heat roller fixing method used in an image forming apparatus. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a configuration including a metal plate as a demagnetizing member. FIG. 1 illustrates a fixing roller 3, a pressure roller 4, and a heating mechanism 100 including a magnetic flux generator 2. In FIG. 1, the heat-generating fixing roller 3 faces and presses against the pressure roller 4. The outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller 3 facing and in contact with the pressure roller 4 rotates in a direction of moving a recording sheet (i.e., recording medium) P in a recording sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow y. In the vicinity of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller 3, the magnetic flux generator 2 forming a main component of the heating mechanism 100 is fixed to the not-illustrated body of the fixing device.

The magnetic flux generator 2 included in the heating mechanism 100 includes arch cores 2d and an exciting coil 2a. Each of the arch cores 2d includes a center core 2c and leg cores 2b respectively forming a central portion and opposed end portions of the arch core 2d. The exciting coil 2a is a substantially flat coil located between the arch cores 2d and the fixing roller 3 and wound around the center core 2c, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The illustrated fixing device generates a high-frequency magnetic field (i.e., magnetic flux) by high-frequency driving of the exciting coil 2a of the magnetic flux generator 2 with the use of a not-illustrated inverter drive source. The magnetic field causes an eddy current to flow through the fixing roller 3 mainly made of metal, and thereby increases the temperature of the fixing roller 3. The recording sheet P carrying thereon toner Tn passes between the fixing roller 3 and the pressure roller 4 such that a surface of the recording sheet P with the toner Tn comes into contact with the fixing roller 3. During the passage, the toner Tn is fixed on the recording sheet P with heat and pressure applied thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixing roller 3 includes a core bar demagnetizing member 3A located at the innermost position, a not-illustrated heat-insulating layer formed by an airspace or a foam layer provided on the outer circumferential surface of the demagnetizing member 3A, a magnetic shunt alloy 3B, a not-illustrated antioxidant layer, a heat generating layer 3C, a not-illustrated antioxidant layer, a not-illustrated elastic layer, and a release layer 3D forming an outer surface layer of the fixing roller 3.

The demagnetizing member 3A is formed by a cancellation coil serving as a demagnetizing coil or by a metal plate containing, for example, aluminum or an alloy thereof, as described above with reference to FIG. 1. The cancellation coil is also applicable to later-described cancellation coils 2e. As the magnetic shunt alloy 3B, any known appropriate magnetic shunt alloy is used. The antioxidant layers are formed by nickel strike plating. The heat generating layer 3C is formed by Cu plating. The elastic layer is made of silicone rubber. The release layer 3D is made of tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA).

The magnetic shunt alloy 3B is a magnetic material, such as a magnetic shunt alloy material containing iron and nickel, for example, which is formed to have a Curie temperature ranging, for example, from approximately 100 degrees Celsius to approximately 300 degrees Celsius. Further, the magnetic shunt alloy 3B is maintained at a position between the exciting coil 2a and the demagnetizing member 3A, and is configured to be pressed and deformed by the pressure roller 4 to form a nip. The presence of the magnetic shunt alloy 3B prevents overheating of components such as the heat generating layer 3C. Details of the configuration of the above-described fixing roller 3 are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2009-58829, which is an earlier application of the present applicant.

The configuration of the heating mechanism 100 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the heating mechanism 100 used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 1. The exciting coil 2a included in the heating mechanism 100 includes folded-back opposed end portions 200c and 200d and elongated portions 200a and 200b leading to the opposed end portions 200c and 200d. Each of the elongated portions 200a and 200b has a length sufficient to cover the entire area in the width direction of a large-sized recording sheet to be subjected to the fixing process, i.e., an A3-size recording sheet having a width of approximately 297 mm in this case.

Inside the elongated portions 200a and 200b of the exciting coil 2a, the cancellation coils 2e serving as demagnetizing coils are disposed on opposite sides relative to the center in the width direction of the recording sheet, i.e., relative to the position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3. The cancellation coils 2e are disposed in respective areas outside opposed end portions in the width direction of a small-sized recording sheet, i.e., an A4-size recording sheet having a width of approximately 210 mm in this case, which is smaller than the heating area of the large-sized recording sheet corresponding to the elongated portions 200a and 200b of the exciting coil 2a. Each of the cancellation coils 2e includes folded-back opposed end portions and elongated portions leading to the opposed end portions. One of the opposed end portions of the cancellation coil 2e is located at the position of the corresponding end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, i.e., the position indicated by a solid line La in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the cancellation coil 2e is disposed in a non-heating area of the small-sized recording sheet.

The folded-back end portion is positioned such that an outermost layer of the multiply wound cancellation coil 2e corresponds to the end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, or that a plurality of layers of the cancellation coil 2e are laid across the end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the configuration of the heating mechanism 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the fixing roller 3 facing the heating mechanism 100. In FIG. 4, the exciting coil 2a faces the fixing roller 3, and the cancellation coil 2e is laminated on the exciting coil 2a via an insulator 5. As described above, the fixing roller 3 includes lamination of the release layer 3D forming the outer surface layer and made of PFA set to a thickness of approximately 10 μm, the elastic layer provided inside the release layer 3D and made of a silicone rubber having a thickness of approximately 200 μm, and the heat generating layer 3C formed by a Cu layer having a thickness of approximately 20 μm. When the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a reaches the heat generating layer 3C, an eddy current is generated and heats the fixing roller 3.

The present embodiment is configured such that the demagnetization effect of a demagnetizing member in the non-heating area is different between a portion adjacent to the corresponding end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet and the remaining portion.

As an example of this configuration, if each of the cancellation coils 2e corresponding to the demagnetizing coil is used as the demagnetizing member, the gap between the cancellation coil 2e and the exciting coil 2a facing each other is changed. That is, in the non-heating area of FIG. 4, the gap between the cancellation coil 2e and the exciting coil 2a is reduced at a portion adjacent to the heating area, as compared with the remaining portion.

According to the present configuration, as indicated by thicknesses t0 and t1 in FIG. 4, the insulator 5 located between the cancellation coil 2e and the exciting coil 2a is reduced in thickness in a portion corresponding to an area R adjacent to the heating area such that the portion is thinner than the remaining portion, i.e., the thickness t1 is less than the thickness t0. Thereby, the portion of the cancellation coil 2e adjacent to the heating area is located closer to the exciting coil 2a than the remaining portion of the cancellation coil 2e is.

The cancellation coil 2e is connected to a control circuit illustrated in FIG. 5 to be drive-controlled. Specifically, a switch 6 is used to turn ON and OFF the power supply to the cancellation coil 2e. To heat the large-sized recording sheet, the switch 6 is maintained in the open state, i.e., the OFF state. To heat the small-sized recording sheet, the switch 6 is closed, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 5, to be set in a so-called ON state. Thereby, power is supplied to the cancellation coil 2e. When power is supplied to the cancellation coil 2e, a repulsive magnetic field against the magnetic field of the exciting coil 2a is generated in the non-heating area. Thereby, the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a is cancelled, and an overheated state of the heat generating layer 3C is prevented.

In the present example, the gap between the exciting coil 2a and the cancellation coil 2e used as the demagnetizing coil is changed. Specifically, the cancellation coil 2e is located closer to the exciting coil 2a in a portion adjacent to the boundary between the non-heating area and the heating area corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet than in the remaining portion. Accordingly, the repulsive magnetic flux of the cancellation coil 2e against the magnetic flux generated in the exciting coil 2a acts more effectively on the side of the end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating changes in temperature in the non-heating areas in a case using the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 and a case using a configuration having a uniform gap between the exciting coil 2a and each of the cancellation coils 2e used as the demagnetizing coil. In FIG. 6, a line A indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the small-sized recording sheet (i.e., A4) in the configuration of FIG. 4, and a line B indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the small-sized recording sheet in the configuration having the uniform gap. A line C indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the large-sized recording sheet (i.e., A3). It is observed from FIG. 6 that, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, a reduction in temperature starts in respective areas corresponding to the reduced gap between the exciting coil 2a and the cancellation coil 2e, i.e., at respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, as compared with the configuration having the uniform gap.

Accordingly, with a relatively simple configuration which changes the gap between the exciting coil 2a and the cancellation coil 2e, an excessive increase in temperature in the non-heating area is prevented in the portion of the non-heating area adjacent to the boundary between the heating area and the non-heating area. Further, since the reduction in temperature starts near the boundary, the temperature is increased in the entire heating area leading to the boundary, and a reduction in temperature in an end portion of the heating area near the boundary is prevented. Consequently, unevenness in temperature is suppressed.

The configuration which controls the power supply to the demagnetizing coil in the non-heating area and thereby generates a magnetic field for canceling the magnetic field generated by the exciting coil is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-321642. The disclosed configuration, however, is based on the assumption that the gap between the exciting coil and the demagnetizing coil is uniform. The disclosed configuration is therefore different from the configuration of the present example which sets, in the heating of the small-sized recording sheet, the demagnetization starting area to be adjacent to an end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, to thereby prevent an increase in temperature in the portion adjacent to the end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet.

As described above, according to the present example, with the relatively simple configuration which changes the gap between the exciting coil 2a and the cancellation coil 2e in the non-heating area, heating in the non-heating area is suppressed in the portion adjacent to the boundary between the heating area and the non-heating area. Therefore, a so-called thermal boundary width between the heating area and the non-heating area, i.e., the portion of the non-heating area affected by the heating action is reduced. Consequently, an excessive increase in temperature is prevented in a relatively large portion of the non-heating area.

Description will now be made of another embodiment which adjusts the demagnetization effect in the non-heating area to be different between the portion adjacent to the end portion in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet and the remaining portion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the demagnetizing member 3A is formed by the metal plate described above with reference to the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, the demagnetizing member 3A is increased in thickness in respective portions adjacent to the boundaries between the heating area and the non-heating areas, which correspond to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, such that the adjacent portions are thicker than the remaining portions. Specifically, the skin depth of the portions of the demagnetizing member 3A adjacent to the boundaries corresponds to a thickness of approximately 200%, when the skin depth of the remaining portions is represented as a thickness of approximately 100%.

According to the present embodiment, in the adjacent portions increased in thickness corresponding to skin depth, the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a reaches the demagnetizing member 3A in accordance with the increase in temperature owing to the characteristic of the magnetic shunt alloy 3B, and an eddy current is generated on the surface of the demagnetizing member 3A. Due to the increase in cross-sectional area, the skin resistance of the adjacent portions is approximately 2.7 times lower than the skin resistance of the remaining portions. In the adjacent portions, therefore, the eddy current density is increased, and the demagnetization effect is enhanced.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating changes in temperature in a case using the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 and a case not using the configuration. In FIG. 8, a line H-2 indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the small-sized recording sheet (i.e., A4) in the case using the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, and a broken line H-1 indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the small-sized recording sheet in the case not using the configuration. A line H-3 indicates changes in temperature in the non-heating areas of the large-sized recording sheet (i.e., A3). When the temperature of the magnetic shunt alloy 3B rises and reaches the Curie temperature, the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a reaches the demagnetizing member 3A, and an eddy current is generated. In this process, the eddy current density is higher in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, which correspond to the boundaries between the heating area and the non-heating areas, than in the remaining portions. Therefore, the demagnetization effect is enhanced in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet. Consequently, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 suppresses the unevenness in temperature in the heating area, unlike the other configuration in which the temperature starts to change at respective positions closer to the center of the heating area and more distant from the boundaries between the heating area and the non-heating areas.

Description will now be made of a modified example of the configuration which changes the demagnetization effect within the demagnetizing member 3A. FIG. 9 is a diagram relating to the area of the demagnetizing member 3A, and illustrates a configuration in which the area of the demagnetizing member 3A is increased in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet such that the adjacent portions are larger in area than the remaining portions. Each of FIGS. 9 to 13 illustrates a front view of the demagnetizing member 3A on the upper side thereof and a plan view of the demagnetizing member 3A on the lower side thereof. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the area of the demagnetizing member 3A facing the exciting coil 2a is increased in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet. In the adjacent portions, therefore, the area reached by the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a is increased, and a larger amount of repulsive magnetic flux is generated to cancel the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a. Consequently, a result similar to the result illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained.

FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration for reducing the electrical resistance of the metal plate forming the demagnetizing member 3A in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet such that the electrical resistance is lower in the adjacent portions than in the remaining portions. That is, the respective portions of the demagnetizing member 3A adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, i.e., portions 3A1 in FIG. 10 are made of a material lower in electrical resistance than a material forming the remaining portions.

In the present configuration, the electrical resistance of the demagnetizing member 3A is lower in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet than in the remaining portions. In the adjacent portions, therefore, the eddy current density is increased, and the demagnetization effect is enhanced to make it easy to cancel and the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 2a. Consequently, a result similar to the result illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified example of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10. To reduce the electrical resistance, the respective portions of the demagnetizing member 3A adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet, i.e., portions 3A1′ in FIG. 11 are plated with a material having relatively low electrical resistance.

FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration intended to increase the magnetic flux density in the respective portions of the demagnetizing member 3A adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet. That is, the demagnetizing member 3A is provided with holes 3A2 and 3A3 passing through the demagnetizing member 3A in the thickness direction except for the portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet.

In the present configuration, a flow path of the eddy current is blocked in the areas provided with the holes 3A2 and 3A3, i.e., the portions indicated as AREA 1 in FIG. 12. Thus, the eddy current concentrates on the portions not provided with the holes 3A2 and 3A3. Accordingly, the flow path of the eddy current is secured in the areas not provided with the holes 3A2 and 3A3, i.e., the portions indicated as AREA 2 in FIG. 12. In the portions indicated as AREA 2, therefore, the current density is increased, and the demagnetization effect is enhanced. Consequently, a result similar to the result illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained.

FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration in which the gap between the metal plate forming the demagnetizing member 3A and the exciting coil 2a is reduced in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet corresponding to the boundaries between the heating area and the non-heating areas. In the adjacent portions, therefore, the metal plate is located adjacent to the exciting coil 2a.

In the present configuration, the magnetic flux reaching from the exciting coil 2a is increased in intensity in the respective portions adjacent to the exciting coil 2a. In the respective portions, therefore, the eddy current density is also increased. Accordingly, the demagnetization effect is more enhanced in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet than in the remaining portions. Consequently, a result similar to the result illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained.

In the configurations described above, the demagnetization effect is enhanced in the respective portions adjacent to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet corresponding to the boundaries between the heating area and the non-heating areas. As illustrated in FIG. 8, therefore, the unevenness in temperature is suppressed in the entire heating area including the end portions thereof corresponding to the end portions in the width direction of the small-sized recording sheet.

The fixing device having one of the above-described configurations is used in an image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 14. The configuration of the image forming apparatus will now be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 illustrates an in-body sheet discharge-type image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit A, a sheet feeding unit B, a reading unit C, and a discharged sheet storage unit D. The image forming unit A is disposed at substantially the center of the image forming apparatus, and the sheet feeding unit B is disposed immediately under the image forming unit A. The image forming apparatus may include, if necessary, an extra sheet feeding unit under the sheet feeding unit B. The reading unit C for reading a document is disposed above the image forming unit A via the discharged sheet storage unit D. The discharged sheet storage unit D stores a recording sheet having an image formed thereon. A series of arrows on the right side of FIG. 14 indicate a sheet path of the recording sheet.

The image forming unit A includes drum-shaped photoconductors A1 each serving as an image carrier and surrounded by a charging device A2, a development device A3, a cleaning device A6, and a lubricant application device A7. In FIG. 14, the reference numerals are assigned only to the photoconductor A1, the charging device A2, the development device A3, the cleaning device A6, and lubricant application device A7 on the left side. The image forming unit A further includes an exposure device A10, an intermediate transfer device A4 including an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer device A5, cleaning devices A6, lubricant application devices A7, a fixing device A8, sheet discharge rollers A9, and registration rollers A11. Each of the lubricant application devices A7 includes a solid lubricant A72, a biasing member A73, and a lubricant application member A74.

The charging device A2 performs a charging process on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1. The exposure device A10 irradiates the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1 with laser light based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The development device A3 develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1 by the exposure process, and thereby forms a toner image. After a later-described transfer process performed by the intermediate transfer device A4, the cleaning device A6 removes and collects toner remaining on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1. The lubricant application device A7 applies the solid lubricant A72 to the photoconductor A1 to reduce the coefficient of friction of the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1. The intermediate transfer device A4 superimposes the toner images developed on the respective photoconductors A1. The transfer device A5 transfers the superimposed toner images onto the recording sheet. The fixing device A8 disposed on the downstream side of the sheet path performs a fixing process of fixing the unfixed toner images on the recording sheet. The image forming apparatus includes, as well as the cleaning devices A6 and the lubricant application devices A7 for the respective photoconductors A1, the cleaning device A6 and the lubricant application device A7 for the intermediate transfer device A4 and the transfer device A5, which are provided on the left and right sides of FIG. 14, respectively.

To make maintenance work easier, components such as the photoconductor A1, the charging device A2, the development device A3, the cleaning device A6, and the lubricant application device A7 are housed in a unit as a process cartridge PC attachable to and detachable from the body of the image forming apparatus. For the same reason, the cleaning device A6 and the lubricant application device A7 on the left side of FIG. 14 are housed in a unit attachable to and detachable from the intermediate transfer device A4. Further, the cleaning device A6 and the lubricant application device A7 on the right side of FIG. 14 and the transfer device A5 are integrally housed in a unit attachable to and detachable from the body of the image forming apparatus. The recording sheet having passed the fixing device A8 is discharged to and stored in the discharged sheet storage unit D via the sheet discharge rollers A9.

The sheet feeding unit B includes a sheet feeding cassette for storing unused recording sheets and a sheet feed roller B1. In accordance with the rotation of the sheet feed roller B1, the uppermost sheet is fed from the sheet feeding cassette and sent to the registration rollers 11. The registration rollers 11 are controlled to temporarily stop feeding the recording sheet and start rotating at appropriate timing such that the toner images on the outer circumferential surfaces of the photoconductors A1 and the leading end of the recording sheet have a predetermined positional relationship.

The reading unit C includes reading carriages C1, a contact glass C2, a lens C3, and a charge-coupled device (CCD) C4. In the reading unit C, to perform read-scanning of a not-illustrated document placed on the contact glass C2, the reading carriages C1 including a document illuminating light source and mirrors perform reciprocating movement. Image information scanned by the reading carriages C1 is read as image signals by the CCD C4 disposed behind the lens C3.

The read image signals are digitized and image-processed. On the basis of the image-processed signals, not-illustrated laser diodes of the exposure device A10 emit light to form electrostatic latent images on the respective outer circumferential surfaces of the photoconductors A1. Then, optical signals emitted from the laser diodes reach the photoconductors A1 via a known polygon mirror and lenses.

The charging device A2 mainly includes a charging member and a not-illustrated biasing member. The biasing member presses the charging member against the photoconductor A1 with predetermined pressure. The charging member includes a conductive shaft and a conductive elastic layer provided around the conductive shaft. A predetermined voltage is applied to the gap between the conductive elastic layer and the photoconductor A1 via the conductive shaft by a not-illustrated voltage application device. Thereby, the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1 is charged.

The development device A3 contains a developer, and includes a development roller, a not-illustrated mixing screw, and a not-illustrated development doctor blade. The development device A3 sufficiently mixes the developer by using the mixing screw, and causes the developer to magnetically adhere to the development roller. The developer adhering to the development roller is spread into a relatively thin layer over the development roller by the development doctor blade. With the developer spread into the relatively thin layer, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor Al is visualized into a toner image.

The visualized toner image is caused to electrically adhere to the intermediate transfer device A4 by a not-illustrated transfer bias roller. Residual toner having failed to be transferred to the intermediate transfer device A4 is removed from the photoconductor A1 by the cleaning device A6. The cleaning device A6 includes a cleaning blade and a not-illustrated cleaning brush roller, and is disposed upstream of the lubricant application device A7 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor A1.

In the lubricant application device A7, the lubricant application member A74 includes a metal shaft and a brush wound around the metal shaft into a roller shape. The solid lubricant A72 is biased toward the lubricant application member A74 by the biasing member A73. When rotated, the lubricant application member A74 scrapes the solid lubricant A72 into fine powder, and applies the lubricant powder to the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1. In this process, a lubricant application area to be applied with the solid lubricant A72 corresponds to substantially the entire outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1, and is set to be larger than a cleaning area to be cleaned by the cleaning device A6. This is because, while the effective cleaning area is determined by factors such as the cleaning performance, the solid lubricant A72 is desired to be applied to the entire area of the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor A1 in contact with the cleaning blade of the cleaning device A6.

The cleaning device A6 and the lubricant application device A7 on the left side of FIG. 14 are integrally housed in the body of the image forming apparatus, and form a transfer cartridge. The solid lubricant A72 is biased toward the lubricant application member A74 with predetermined pressure by the biasing member A73. In accordance with the rotation of the lubricant application member A74, the solid lubricant A72 is scraped off and applied to the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer device A4. The cleaning device A6 including a cleaning blade and a not-illustrated cleaning brush roller is located downstream of the lubricant application device A7 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer device A4. The cleaning brush roller rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer device A4, and disperses foreign substances on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer device A4. The cleaning blade, which is in contact with the intermediate transfer device A4 at a predetermined angle with predetermined pressure, removes residual toner on the intermediate transfer device A4.

The cleaning device A6 and the lubricant application device A7 on the right side of FIG. 14 and the transfer device A5 are integrally housed in the body of the image forming apparatus, and form a transfer cartridge. The cleaning device A6 is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 14 to remove residual toner on the transfer device A5.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements or features of different illustrative and embodiments herein may be combined with or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. Further, features of components of the embodiments, such as number, position, and shape, are not limited to those of the disclosed embodiments and thus may be set as preferred. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

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CPC

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