Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A fixing device has a heating roller with a heat source therein. A power supply operates the heat source for heating a transfer material and fixing a toner image thereon. A pressure roller is spaced from the heating roller and a facing member faces the heating roller. An endless fixing belt is mounted on the facing member and the heating roller and contacts the pressure roller to form a nip. A temperature detector faces the outer surface of the fixing belt for detecting the surface temperature thereof. An excessive temperature preventer faces part of the outer surface of the heating roller where the fixing belt is not mounted for detecting the surface temperature of the heating roller and cutting off the power supply to the heat source when the surface temperature rises above a preset temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view in section showing the internal construction of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view in section outlining a fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fixing device.

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the fixing device shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are respectively a front view in section and a perspective view partly cut away showing one embodiment of a mounted state of a thermostat and temperature sensors in the fixing device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a controller.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing one embodiment of a control flow by the controller.

FIG. 8 is a section showing a state where a tension roller and a cleaning roller are applied to a fixing belt in the fixing device.

FIG. 9 is a section showing a state where a fixing pad member is used instead of a fixing roller in the fixing device.

Claims

1. A fixing device for fixing a toner image by giving heat to a transfer material having the toner image transferred thereto, comprising: a heat source for generating heat upon receiving the supply of power;a heating roller having the heat source mounted therein;a pressure roller disposed at a specified distance to the heating roller;a facing member disposed to face the heating roller;an endless fixing belt mounted on the facing member and the heating roller and pressed into contact with the pressure roller to form a nip portion;a temperature detecting member disposed to face the outer surface of the fixing belt for the detection of the surface temperature of the fixing belt; andan excessive temperature increase preventing member disposed to face a part of the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller where the fixing belt is not mounted for detecting the surface temperature of the heating roller and cutting off the power supply to the heat source when the surface temperature rises to or above a preset temperature.

2. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting member and the excessive temperature rise preventing member are arranged such that the heating roller is located therebetween.

3. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a first area of the fixing belt that comes into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of minimum size passes the nip portion, and a detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is not in contact with the fixing belt.

4. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a second area of the fixing belt that does not come into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of maximum size passes the nip portion, and a detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is in contact with the fixing belt.

5. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein: the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a first area of the fixing belt that comes into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of minimum size passes the nip portion and a second area of the fixing belt that does not come into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of maximum size passes the nip portion, anda detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is not in contact with the fixing belt in the first area while being in contact with the fixing belt in the second area.

6. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a part of the fixing belt mounted on the heating roller.

7. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the excessive temperature rise preventing member is held in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller.

8. A fixing device according to claim 7, wherein either one or both of the contact surface of the excessive temperature increase preventing member with the heating roller and the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller are coated with a coating having good slidability.

9. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the facing member is a fixing roller which is rotatable about its central axis and on which the fixing belt is mounted.

10. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the facing member is a nonrotational fixing pad on which the fixing belt is mounted while being held in sliding contact.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit for performing an operation of transferring a toner image to a transfer material, anda fixing unit for fixing the toner image by giving heat to the transfer material, the fixing unit including:a heat source for generating heat upon receiving the supply of power;a heating roller having the heat source mounted therein;a pressure roller disposed at a specified distance to the heating roller;a facing member disposed to face the heating roller;an endless fixing belt mounted on the facing member and the heating roller and pressed into contact with the pressure roller to form a nip portion;a temperature detecting member disposed to face the outer surface of the fixing belt for the detection of the surface temperature of the fixing belt; andan excessive temperature increase preventing member disposed to face a part of the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller where the fixing belt is not mounted for detecting the surface temperature of the heating roller and cutting off the power supply to the heat source when the surface temperature rises to or above a preset temperature.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the temperature detecting member and the excessive temperature rise preventing member are arranged such that the heating roller is located therebetween.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a first area of the fixing belt that comes into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of minimum size passes the nip portion, and a detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is not in contact with the fixing belt.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a second area of the fixing belt that does not come into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of maximum size passes the nip portion, and a detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is in contact with the fixing belt.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a first area of the fixing belt that comes into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of minimum size passes the nip portion and a second area of the fixing belt that does not come into contact with a transfer material when the transfer material of maximum size passes the nip portion, anda detecting surface of the temperature detecting member is not in contact with the fixing belt in the first area while being in contact with the fixing belt in the second area.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the temperature detecting member is disposed to face a part of the fixing belt mounted on the heating roller.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the excessive temperature rise preventing member is held in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein either one or both of the contact surface of the excessive temperature increase preventing member with the heating roller and the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller are coated with a coating having good slidability.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the facing member is a fixing roller which is rotatable about its central axis and on which the fixing belt is mounted.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the facing member is a nonrotational fixing pad on which the fixing belt is mounted while being held in sliding contact.