Fixing device and image forming apparatus

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-005527 filed Jan. 14, 2016.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes a first support portion, a first member, a second member, a first biasing member, a second support portion, a third support portion, a second biasing member, and a switching portion. The first support portion supports an endless belt, and presses the endless belt against a rotating body by relatively moving with respect to the rotating body. The first member is supported in the endless belt by the first support portion. The second member is supported in the endless belt so as to be capable of approaching and being separated from the first support portion. The first biasing member is provided in the first support portion, and biases the second member to a rotating body side. The second support portion supports the first support portion to be rotatable around a shaft portion. The third support portion supports the second support portion so that the second support portion is capable of relatively moving, rotates the first support portion in a direction of approaching the rotating body by pressing the first support portion to the rotating body side at a first position where the third support portion has moved in the direction of approaching the rotating body side, and is separated from the first support portion at a second position where the third support portion has moved in a direction of being separated from the rotating body. The second biasing member is provided in the third support portion, and biases the second support portion to the rotating body side. The switching portion switches between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the endless belt is pressed against the rotating body by the first member and the second member, by moving the third support portion to the first position. In the second state, the endless belt is pressed against the rotating body only by the second member among the first member and the second member, by moving the third support portion to the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a configuration view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device according to a first exemplary embodiment which is used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one end portion in the shaft direction of a fixing belt and a heating roll which are used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a child lever which supports a guide member of the fixing belt illustrated in FIG. 3, and a parent lever which supports the child lever to be movable;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a first state in which the fixing belt is pressed against the heating roll by a pad member and a block member which are used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a state where a part near the pad member, the block member, and the heating roll which are illustrated in FIG. 5 is enlarged;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the part through which FIG. 5 is taken and illustrates a state where the parent lever presses the guide member of the fixing belt against the heating roll side in the first state illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the parts through which FIGS. 5 and 7 are taken and illustrates a state where the child lever is separated from the guide member of the fixing belt in the first state illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a second state where the fixing belt is pressed against the heating roll only by the pad member among the pad member and the block member which are used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a state where a part near the pad member, the block member, and the heating roll which are illustrated in FIG. 9 is enlarged;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the part through which FIG. 9 is taken and illustrates a state where the parent lever is separated from the guide member of the fixing belt in the second state illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the part through which FIG. 9 is taken and illustrates a state where the child lever holds the guide member of the fixing belt in the second state illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the fixing belt used in the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 3 is separated from the heating roll;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the part through which FIG. 13 is taken and illustrates a state where the parent lever is separated from the guide member of the fixing belt in a latch release state illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken through a different part from the part through which FIG. 13, is taken and illustrates a state where the child lever holds the guide member of the fixing belt, in the latch release state illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating a fixing device according to a second exemplary embodiment, and a sectional view illustrating the first state where the fixing belt is pressed against the heating roll by the pad member and the block member;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view illustrating the second state where the fixing belt is pressed against the heating roll only by the pad member among the pad member and the block member of the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the fixing belt of the fixing device illustrated in FIG. 16 is separated from the heating roll; and

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a position of a shaft portion which supports the guide member and the child lever of the fixing belt to be relatively rotatable, in a fixing device according to a third exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a fixing device and an image forming apparatus of the invention will be described based on the drawings. In addition, in the drawings, the direction indicated by an arrow H is the apparatus height direction, and the direction indicated by an arrow W is the apparatus width direction. In the drawings, the direction which is indicated by an arrow D which is orthogonal to each of the apparatus height direction and the apparatus width direction, is the apparatus depth direction (arrow D indicates a near side in the apparatus depth direction).

Entire Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

In FIG. 1, an example of a configuration of the image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention is described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 includes a recording paper accommodating unit 12 which accommodates recording paper P which is an example of a recording medium, a toner image forming unit 14, a transport unit 16, a fixing device 70, a discharge unit 20, and a controller 22. The toner image forming unit 14 is provided with four image forming units 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, and a transfer unit 26. Here, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are examples of toner colors. Each of the image forming units 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K is provided with a photoconductor 28, a charging device 30, an exposure device 32, a developing device 34, and a removing device 36. In each of the image forming units 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, toner images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are formed on an outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 28.

The photoconductor 28 has a function of holding the toner image developed by the developing device 34. The photoconductor 28 is formed in a cylindrical shape, is provide with a photosensitive layer on a surface thereof, and is driven to rotate in the arrow direction by a driving unit (not illustrated). The developing device 34 develops a latent image formed in the photoconductor 28 as the toner image.

The transfer unit 26 is provided with a transfer belt 38, a primary transfer roll 40 of each color, a driving roll 42, and a secondary transfer roll 44. A posture of the transfer belt 38 is determined by four rolls, including the primary transfer roll 40, a support roll 46, the driving roll 42, and a tension applying roll 48, which are in contact with the inner circumferential surface. In the transfer belt 38, a cleaning device which is not illustrated is provided downstream of a secondary transfer portion which is in contact with the secondary transfer roll 44. The outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 28 disposed in each of the image forming units 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, is in contact with the outer circumferential surface on the lower side of the transfer belt 38.

The transport unit 16 is provided with a sending roll which is not illustrated and sends out the recording paper P from the recording paper accommodating unit 12, and plural transport roll pairs which are not illustrated along a transport path, and transports the recording paper P sent out by the sending roll to the secondary transfer portion which is at a position at which the driving roll 42 and the secondary transfer roll 44 oppose each other. Furthermore, the transport unit 16 transports the recording paper P to the fixing device 70. In the fixing device 70, the toner image which is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P is fixed to the recording paper P, and further, the recording paper P is transported to the discharge unit 20 by the transport unit 16.

In the image forming apparatus 10, exposure light emitted in accordance with image data of each color from the exposure device 32 is incident on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor 28 charged by the charging device 30, and the latent image which corresponds to the image data of each color is formed on the outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 28. The latent image formed on the outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 28 is developed as the toner image of each color by each developing device 34. The toner image of each color of the outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 28 is primarily transferred to the outer circumferential surface of the transfer belt 38 by each primary transfer roll 40 which opposes each photoconductor 28.

Meanwhile, in accordance with a timing at which the toner image of each color which is primarily transferred to the transfer belt 38 reaches the secondary transfer portion, the recording paper P is sent out of the recording paper accommodating unit 12, and is transported to the secondary transfer portion provided with the secondary transfer roll 44. In the secondary transfer portion, the toner image of each color on the transfer belt 38 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P. Furthermore, after the recording paper P to which the toner image is transferred is transported toward the fixing device 70, is heated in a contact portion between a heating roll 72 and a fixing belt 74 which will be described later, and is pressurized, and the toner image is fixed to the recording paper P, the recording paper P is output to the discharge unit 20.

Configuration of Fixing Device

Next, the fixing device 70 will be described. In FIG. 2, the fixing device 70 is illustrated in a perspective view, and in FIG. 3, a state where one end portion side of the fixing device 70 in the longitudinal direction is illustrated in a perspective view. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing device 70 is provided with the heating roll 72 which is an example of a rotating body, and the fixing belt 74 which is an example of an endless belt that is in contact with or is separated from the heating roll 72. The heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 are aligned in the apparatus width direction indicated by the arrow W.

The fixing device 70 is provided with a support member 76 and a support unit 78. The support member 76 supports both end portions of the heating roll 72 to be rotatable. The support unit 78 supports both end portions of the fixing belt 74 to be rotatable, and presses the fixing belt 74 against the heating roll 72 by relatively moving to the support member 76. The support members 76 are provided in both end portions of the heating roll 72 as a left and right pair, and the support units 78 are provided in both end portions of the fixing belt 74 as a left and right pair (refer to FIG. 2). The heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 are disposed considering the apparatus depth direction indicated by the arrow D of the image forming apparatus 10 as the shaft direction (longitudinal direction).

The heating roll 72 has a multilayer structure provided with a thin cylindrical core bar made of a steel material, an elastic layer made of silicone rubber with which the surface of the core bar is coated, and a release layer including a fluororesin with which the surface of the elastic layer is coated. On the inside of the heating roll 72, a heat source 73 configured with plural halogen lamps (three in the exemplary embodiment) is disposed at an interval with the inner circumferential surface of the heating roll 72 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 5).

The fixing belt 74 has a shape of an endless belt, and the release layer including the fluororesin is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a thin cylindrical base member made of a synthetic resin, such as a polyimide resin or a polyamide-imide resin, as necessary. As illustrated in FIG. 5, on the inside of the fixing belt 74, in order to press the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt 74 against the outer circumferential surface of the heating roll 72, a block member 120 which is an example of a first member and a pad member 122 which is an example of a second member are provided. The fixing belt 74 is configured to perform pressurizing by the heating roll 72 nipping the recording paper P (not illustrated), and the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed in the contact portion (nip portion) at which the outer circumferential surface of the heating roll 72 and the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt 74 is in contact with each other. The configuration of the inside of the fixing belt 74 will be described later.

The support member 76 supports both end portions of the heating roll 72 to be rotatable via a bearing which is not illustrated. The support member 76 is supported by a bracket 100 in which an arc-like recessed portion 100A to which the support member 76 is fitted is formed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the support unit 78 is provided with a guide member 102 which is an example of a first support portion that supports the fixing belt 74. Furthermore, the support unit 78 is provided with a child lever 80 which is an example of a second support portion that supports the guide member 102 to be relatively rotatable in the direction of approaching or being separated from the heating roll 72, and a parent lever 82 which is an example of a third support portion that supports the child lever 80 to be relatively rotatable.

An upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82 in a plan view of the fixing device 70 is formed in a U shape, and is open toward the support member 76 side of the heating roll 72. An upper portion 80A of the child lever 80 in a plan view of the fixing device 70 has a U shape, and is open toward the side opposite to the support member 76. The width (width in the apparatus depth direction indicated by the arrow D) of the child lever 80 is configured to be smaller than the width (width in the apparatus depth direction indicated by the arrow D) of the parent lever 82, and the child lever 80 is inserted into the parent lever 82. In this state, the parent lever 82 and the child lever 80 relatively move.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the child lever 80 is provided with an inner wall 80B disposed on the inner side (fixing belt 74 side) in the apparatus depth direction indicated by the arrow D, and an outer wall 80C disposed to oppose the outer side (a side opposite to the fixing belt 74) of the inner wall 80B. On the inner wall 80B of the child lever 80, a recessed portion 81 which is recessed in the apparatus width direction (arrow W direction) is formed not to interfere with the fixing belt 74 (refer to FIG. 4). The parent lever 82 is provided with an inner wall 82B disposed on the inner side (fixing belt 74 side) in the apparatus depth direction indicated by the arrow D, and an outer wall 82C disposed to oppose the outer side (a side opposite to the fixing belt 74) of the inner wall 82B. The inner wall 82B of the parent lever 82 is formed in an L shape not to interfere with the fixing belt 74 (refer to FIG. 4).

The inner wall 80B and the outer wall 80C of the child lever 80 are disposed between the inner wall 82B and the outer wall 82C of the parent lever 82, and a shaft portion 84 which is an example of a second shaft portion penetrates a through hole formed in a lower portion of the inner walls 82B and 80B and outer walls 80C and 82C. Accordingly, the child lever 80 and the parent lever 82 relatively move (in the exemplary embodiment, rotate) around the shaft portion 84. In other words, the child lever 80 and the parent lever 82 move independently from the support member 76.

In a wall 80D along the apparatus depth direction (D direction) of the upper portion 80A of the child lever 80, a hole portion 80E (refer to FIG. 4) is formed, and in a state where a pin member 86 is inserted into the hole portion 80E, a base end of the pin member 86 is fixed to the wall 80D (refer to FIGS. 4 and 5). The shaft direction of the pin member 86 is the direction intersecting the shaft direction of the shaft portion 84. In a wall 82D along the apparatus depth direction (D direction) of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82, a long hole 82E is formed (refer to FIG. 3). The long hole 82E is formed in the wall 82D so that a long diameter portion is in the apparatus height direction (H direction). The outer diameter of the shaft portion of the pin member 86 is configured to be smaller than a short diameter portion of the long hole 82E, and in a state where the tip end portion side of the pin member 86 penetrates the long hole 82E, the pin member 86 can move in the long hole 82E. In other words, the tip end portion of the pin member 86 is not fixed to the wall 82D of the parent lever 82, and is a free end.

A spring 96 which is an example of a second biasing member which biases the wall 80D of the child lever 80 to the support member 76 side of the heating roll 72 is attached to the wall 82D of the parent lever 82. The spring 96 is disposed around the pin member 86, and in this state, one end of the spring 96 is fixed to the wall 82D of the parent lever 82 by an attaching tool 88 (refer to FIG. 4).

In addition, on an end surface on the guide member 102 side of the inner wall 82B of the parent lever 82, a projection portion 82F which protrudes to the guide member 102 side is provided (refer to FIG. 4). When the parent lever 82 moves in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72, the guide member 102 is pressed by the projection portion 82F. An operation of the parent lever 82 will be described later.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in an intermediate portion of the parent lever 82 in the vertical direction, a roll member 90 is disposed, and a shaft portion 90A of the roll member 90 is supported to be rotatable by the inner wall 82B and the outer wall 82C. The roll members 90 are respectively provided to one left and right pair of the parent levers 82.

On a wall 100B on the roll member 90 side in the apparatus width direction (arrow W direction) of the bracket 100, a cam 92 which is an example of a switching portion is supported to be rotatable. The cams 92 are provided as a left and right pair on both sides of the fixing device 70 in the longitudinal direction, and the left and right pair of cams 92 are configured to be linked to each other by a rotating shaft 94 and to integrally rotate. In the cam 92, a radius of an outer circumferential surface 92A from the center portion of the rotating shaft 94 continuously changes in the circumferential direction, and the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the roll member 90. The cam 92 is driven to rotate by a motor (not illustrated) linked to the end portion of the rotating shaft 94 in the shaft direction.

As the position of the roll member 90 changes according to the rotation of the cam 92, the parent lever 82 relatively moves in the direction of approaching or being separated from the support member 76 of the heating roll 72 around the shaft portion 84.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the guide member 102 is disposed in both end portions of the fixing belt 74. The guide member 102 is provided with a main body portion 102A disposed along the vertical direction on the outer side of both end portions of the fixing belt 74 in the longitudinal direction, and an arc-like outer guide portion 102B formed along the outer circumferential surface of both end portions of the fixing belt 74 in the main body portion 102A (in FIG. 3, only one end portion of the fixing belt 74 is illustrated, and the other end portion of the fixing belt 74 is omitted). Furthermore, the guide member 102 is provided with an extending portion 102C which extends to a lower side in the vertical direction along the child lever 80 from the lower portion of the main body portion 102A.

In the inner wall 80B of the child lever 80 and the extending portion 102C of the guide member 102, a through hole (not illustrated) is provided, and a shaft portion 130 which is an example of a first shaft portion is provided in the through hole. The shaft portion 130 is disposed considering the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt 74 as the shaft direction. Accordingly, the guide member 102 is supported to be rotatable by the child lever 80 around the shaft portion 130. In other words, the guide member 102 is rotatable with respect to the child lever 80 in the direction of approaching or being separated from the heating roll 72 around the shaft portion 130 disposed in the lower portion of the guide member 102. In FIGS. 5 and 6, in order to easily grasp the position of the shaft portion 130, a center 130A of the shaft portion 130 is illustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, on the inside of the fixing belt 74, an ark-like sliding sheet 103 which is disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 74 and allows the fixing belt 74 to slide, is provided. The sliding sheets 103 are respectively attached to a first attaching member 104 and a second attaching member 106 which are fixed to the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102. In addition, in FIG. 5, the first attaching member 104 is a section, but in order to easily grasp the configuration, hatching is omitted.

The sliding sheet 103, the first attaching member 104, and the second attaching member 106 are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt 74. The first attaching member 104 is formed in an L shape in a sectional view, and a felt member 108 is fixed to one end portion of the first attaching member 104 by adhesion or the like to be in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 74. Lubricating oil is impregnated into the felt member 108, and when the felt member 108 contacts with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 74, the oil is supplied to the inner circumferential surface.

On the inside of the fixing belt 74, a first holding portion 110 formed in an L shape in a sectional view is disposed along the first attaching member 104, and the first holding portion 110 is fixed to the first attaching member 104 and the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102. In addition, in FIG. 5, the first holding portion 110 is a section, but in order to easily grasp the configuration, hatching is omitted. A hole portion 110A is formed in one end portion (end portion on the heating roll 72 side) of the first holding portion 110. In addition, on the inside of the fixing belt 74, a second holding portion 112 formed in an L shape in a sectional view is disposed to configure the first holding portion 110 and a rectangular frame body. One end portion of the second holding portion 112 is inserted into the hole portion 110A of the first holding portion 110, and the other end portion of the second holding portion 112 is in contact with the other end portion of the first holding portion 110. In this state, the second holding portion 112 is fixed to the first holding portion 110. A part of the second attaching member 106 is in contact with the outer side of the other end portion of the second holding portion 112, and the other end portion of the second holding portion 112 is fixed to the second attaching member 106.

An attaching surface 112A which opposes the heating roll 72 is formed on one end portion side of the second holding portion 112, and the block member 120 is fixed to the attaching surface 112A by adhesion or the like. Accordingly, the block member 120 is supported (fixed) to the guide member 102 via plural components, such as the first holding portion 110 and the second holding portion 112. In the exemplary embodiment, the block member 120 is formed of a synthetic resin.

In the second attaching member 106, an attaching portion 106A having a U shape in a sectional view is formed on the center portion side of the fixing belt 74, the attaching portion 106A is disposed to be open to the heating roll 72 side. In the attaching portion 106A, a spring 114 which is an example of a first biasing member is disposed, and one end portion of the spring 114 is fixed to a bottom surface of the attaching portion 106A. A holding portion 116 having an L shape in a sectional view is attached to the other end portion of the spring 114. A recessed surface 116A is formed toward the heating roll 72 side in the holding portion 116, and the pad member 122 is fixed to the recessed surface 116A by adhesion or the like. Accordingly, the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 disposed in the attaching portion 106A of the second attaching member 106. The second attaching member 106 is fixed to the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102, and the pad member 122 is supported to approach and be separated from the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102. In the exemplary embodiment, the pad member 122 is formed of a foam resin, such as a silicone resin, and has a softer configuration than that of the block member 120. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the pad member 122 has a two-layered structure in which the foam resins having different forming ratios are layered, but the configuration of the pad member 122 can be changed, and for example, may have a single layer structure.

In the fixing device 70, the pad member 122 is disposed on an upstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P (FIG. 1) which passes through the contact portion (nip portion) between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74, and the block member 120 is disposed downstream of the pad member 122 in the transport direction of the recording paper P (FIG. 1). In the exemplary embodiment, in the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74, the transport path of the recording paper P is disposed along the vertical direction, the pad member 122 is disposed on the lower side of the vertical direction, and the block member 120 is disposed on the upper side of the vertical direction. The pad member 122 and the block member 120 are disposed at a position at which the pad member 122 and the block member 120 are near or adjacent to each other.

In addition, the guide member 102 can rotate around the shaft portion 130 disposed at a lower part of the guide member 102 with respect to the child lever 80. In other words, the pad member 122 is disposed upstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P (FIG. 1) which passes through the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74, and the shaft portion 130 is disposed upstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74. Therefore, when the guide member 102 rotates around the shaft portion 130 with respect to the child lever 80, the block member 120 which is disposed to be far from the shaft portion 130 is more largely displaced in the direction of approaching or being separated from the heating roll 72 than the pad member 122 which is positioned to be close to the shaft portion 130 (a displacement amount increases).

In addition, in the fixing device 70, a tension spring 132 which links an upper portion of the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102 and the parent lever 82 is provided. In other words, one end of the tension spring 132 is locked to the upper portion of the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102, and the other end of the tension spring 132 is locked to the upper portion 82A side of the parent lever 82.

In the fixing device 70, by the rotation of the cam 92, the parent lever 82 of the support unit 78 and the heating roll 72 (support member 76) are relatively moved in the direction of approaching or being separated from each other. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when a part having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, as the parent lever 82 rotates (rotates clockwise indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 5) around the shaft portion 84, the parent lever 82 relatively moves in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72. In other words, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the parent lever 82 moves to a first position which is close to the heating roll 72.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, when a part having a smaller radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A than the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A, at the first position, of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, as the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84, the parent lever 82 relatively moves in the direction of being separated from the heating roll 72. In other words, in FIGS. 9 and 10, the parent lever 82 moves to a second position where the parent lever 82 is separated from the heating roll 72.

The cam 92 is configured to switch between a first state (refer to FIGS. 5 and 6) and a second state (refer to FIGS. 9 and 10), by moving the parent lever 82 of the support unit 78 between the first position and the second position. In the first state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122. In the second state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122.

More specifically, in the fixing device 70, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the part having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, a full latch mode is achieved, and the state of the full latch mode becomes the first state. In the first state, the parent lever 82 moves to the first position which is close to the heating roll 72, and the child lever 80 moves in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72 by the spring 96 of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the parent lever 82 moves to the first position, the first holding portion 110 fixed to the guide member 102 is pressed by the projection portion 82F of the parent lever 82, and the guide member 102 rotates in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72 indicated by an arrow B against the force of the tension spring 132. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the parent lever 82 moves to the first position, the child lever 80 does not abut against the guide member 102. In this state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the part having the smallest radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, a latch release mode is achieved. In the latch release mode, as the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84, the parent lever 82 relatively moves in the direction of being separated from the heating roll 72. In other words, the parent lever 82 moves to a third position which is the most separated from the heating roll 72. The child lever 80 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 96 of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82, the child lever 80 moves to a position at which the tip end portion (head portion) of the pin member 86 comes into contact with the wall 82D of the parent lever 82. As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the parent lever 82 moves to the third position, the parent lever 82 does not abut against the guide member 102. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 15, when the parent lever 82 moves to the third position, as the recessed portion 81 of the child lever 80 abuts against the guide member 102, the child lever 80 holds the guide member 102 against the force of the tension spring 132. In this state, the block member 120 and the pad member 122 are separated from the heating roll 72.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, when a part (a part having a smaller radius than the radius of the first state and a larger radius than the radius of the latch release mode) at which the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 is set to be an intermediate dimension comes into contact with the roll member 90, a half latch mode is achieved, and a state of the half latch mode becomes the second state. In the second state, the parent lever 82 moves to the second position (a position which is close to the heating roll 72 than the third position) which is more separated from the heating roll 72 than the first position. The child lever 80 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 96 of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82, and the child lever 80 stops at a position at which a load of the spring 96, a load of the spring 114, and a pressing force of the block member 120 are balanced with respect to the parent lever 82. As illustrated in FIG. 11, when the parent lever 82 moves to the second position, the parent lever 82 does not abut against the guide member 102. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 12 when the parent lever 82 moves to the second position, as the recessed portion 81 of the child lever 80 abuts against the guide member 102, the child lever 80 holds the guide member 102. In this state, a fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122 among the block member 120 and the pad member 122.

In the fixing device 70, as the fixing belt 74 is pressurized to the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122 in the second state, the length of the spring 114 and a stroke by which the pad member 122 moves are set.

In the image forming apparatus 10 provided with the fixing device 70, an operation of the motor which rotates the cam 92 is controlled by the controller 22.

The fixing device 70 is configured so that in the first state, a pressing load to the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122 switch between a high load and a low load by changing the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92. In other words, in the first state, the pressing load increases (high load) at the part having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92, and the pressing load decreases (low load) at the part having a smaller radius of the high load of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 than that of the part. In addition, in the fixing device 70, in the second state, by changing the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92, the pressing load to the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122 is configured to change to the high load and the low load. In other words, in the second state, the pressing load increases (high load) at the part (a part having a smaller radius than that of the first state) having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92, the pressing load decreases (low load) at the part having a smaller radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 than that of the part of the high load of the second state.

In accordance with the type of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion (nip portion) between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74, the cam 92 is configured to switch the first state and the second state. In the exemplary embodiment, the type of the recording paper P is detected by a sensor which is not illustrated, but the type of the recording paper P may be manually input. For example, when thin paper (for example, a case of being less than 60 g/m²(GSN)) is used as the recording paper P, the cam 92 is switched to the high load in the first state, and when plain paper (for example, a case of being from 60 g/m²(GSN) to 120 g/m²(GSN)) is used as the recording paper P, the cam 92 is switched to the low load in the first state. In addition, for example, when thick paper (for example, a case of being greater than 170 g/m²(GSN)) is used as the recording paper P, the cam 92 is switched to the high load in the second state, and when an envelope (a case where of a double paper structure) is used as the recording paper P, the cam 92 is switched to the low load in the second state. In addition, the type of the recording paper P and the switching of the cam 92 are not limited to the above-described configuration, and can be changed.

Next, actions and effects of the exemplary embodiment will be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the fixing device 70, when the part having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, the full latch mode is achieved, and the first state is achieved. As the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84 by the cam 92, the parent lever 82 moves to the first position where the parent lever 82 is close to the heating roll 72. In the upper portion 80A of the parent lever 82, the spring 96 which biases the child lever 80 to the heating roll 72 side is provided, and the child lever 80 moves in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72 by the spring 96. At this time, at the position at which the load of the spring 96, the load of the spring 114, and the pressing force of the block member 120 are balanced, the child lever 80 stops with respect to the parent lever 82.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the parent lever 82 moves to the first position, the first holding portion 110 fixed to the guide member 102 is pressed by the projection portion 82F of the parent lever 82, and the guide member 102 rotates in the direction of approaching the heating roll 72 indicated by the arrow B against the force of the tension spring 132. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the child lever 80 does not abut against the guide member 102.

Accordingly, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 supported by the guide member 102. In addition, the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 disposed in the second attaching member 106 of the guide member 102, and the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122. Therefore, in the first state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122. In other words, the part at which the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122 becomes the contact portion (nip portion), and as the recording paper P passes through the contact portion, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed.

In addition, the fixing device 70 is configured so that in the first state, the pressing load to the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122 is switched between the high load and the low load by changing the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the part (the part having a smaller radius than that of the first state and the second state) having the smallest radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, the latch release mode is achieved. As the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84 by the cam 92, the parent lever 82 moves to the third position which is the most separated from the heating roll 72. The child lever 80 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 96 of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82, and by the force of the spring 96, the child lever 80 moves to the position at which the tip end portion (head portion) of the pin member 86 comes into contact with the wall 82D (refer to FIG. 9) of the parent lever 82.

When the parent lever 82 moves to the third position which is the most separated from the heating roll 72, the parent lever 82 does not abut against the guide member 102 (refer to FIG. 14), and as the recessed portion 81 of the child lever 80 abuts against the guide member 102, the child lever 80 holds the guide member 102 (refer to FIG. 15). At the position of the guide member 102, the block member 120 fixed to the guide member 102 is separated from the heating roll 72, and the pad member 122 attached to the second attaching member 106 of the guide member 102 via the spring 114 is also separated from the heating roll 72.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the part (the part having a radius smaller than that of the first state and a radius larger than that of the latch release state) at which the dimension of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 is set to be the intermediate dimension comes into contact with the roll member 90, the half latch mode is achieved, and the second state is achieved. As the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84 by the cam 92, the parent lever 82 moves to the second position (a position which is closer to the heating roll 72 than the third position) where the parent lever 82 is more separated from the heating roll 72 than the first position. The child lever 80 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 96 of the upper portion 82A of the parent lever 82. In addition, the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 disposed in the second attaching member 106 of the guide member 102. At the position at which the load of the spring 96, the load of the spring 114, and the pressing force of the block member 120 are balanced, the child lever 80 stops with respect to the parent lever 82.

When the parent lever 82 moves to the second position, the parent lever 82 does not abut against the guide member 102 (refer to FIG. 11), and as the recessed portion 81 of the child lever 80 abuts against the guide member 102, the child lever 80 holds the guide member 102 (refer to FIG. 12). The position of the guide member 102 moves in the direction of being more separated from the heating roll 72 than the position of the guide member 102 of the first state. At the position of the guide member 102, the block member 120 fixed to the guide member 102 is separated from the heating roll 72.

In addition, the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 disposed in the second attaching member 106 of the guide member 102, and the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122. Therefore, in the second state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122 among the block member 120 and the pad member 122. In other words, the part at which the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122 becomes the contact portion (nip portion), and as the recording paper P passes through the contact portion, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed.

In addition, in the fixing device 70, in the second state, by changing the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92, the pressing load to the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122 is changed to the high load and the low load.

The cam 92 switches four modes, such as the high load and the low load in the first state, and the high load and the low load in the second state, in accordance with the type of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion (nip portion) between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74.

In the fixing device 70, compared to a configuration in which the first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion are not provided, a load difference when performing the switching by the cam 92 increases.

In addition, in the fixing device 70, the pad member 122 is disposed upstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion (nip portion) between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74, and the shaft portion 130 is disposed upstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74. Therefore, in the fixing device 70, compared to a configuration in which the first member is not disposed at a position which is farther from the shaft portion than the second member, in the second state, the block member 120 which is at a position farther from the shaft portion 130 than the pad member 122 is likely to move in the direction of being separated from the heating roll 72.

In addition, in the fixing device 70, the child lever 80 is supported to be rotatable around the shaft portion 84 with respect to the parent lever 82, and the shaft portion 84 is disposed upstream of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P. In the exemplary embodiment, the length of the line segment L1 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center 130A of the shaft portion 130 is shorter than that of the line segment L2 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center of the shaft portion 84. Therefore, compared to a case where the shaft portion and the other shaft portion match each other, since the rotation of the guide member 102 by the shaft portion 130 is generated in addition to the rotation of the guide member 102 by the child lever 80 and the shaft portion 84 of the parent lever 82, the pressure on the downstream side in the transport direction of the pad member 122 (downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P) in the second state does not deteriorate, and the deterioration of the fixing properties of the toner is prevented.

Furthermore, according to the image forming apparatus 10 provided with the fixing device 70, compared to a configuration in which the switching portion which switches the first state and the second state is not provided, an appropriate fixing load is switched in accordance with the type of the recording paper P which passes through the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74.

Next, by using FIGS. 16 and 18, the fixing device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. In addition, configuration elements which are the same as those of the above-described first exemplary embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in a fixing device 150, on the inside of the fixing belt 74, a first holding portion 152, a second holding portion 154, and a second attaching member 156 which are fixed to the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102 are provided. The first holding portion 152 is formed in an L shape in a sectional view, is disposed along the first attaching member 104, and is fixed to the first attaching member 104. The L-shaped second holding portion 154 is fixed to the first holding portion 152, and the second attaching member 156 is fixed to the second holding portion 154. In addition, in FIG. 16, the first holding portion 152 is a section, and in order to easily grasp the configuration, hatching is omitted.

In the second attaching member 156, an attaching portion 156A in a U shape in a sectional view is formed on the center portion side of the fixing belt 74 to be open to the heating roll 72 side. In the attaching portion 156A, the spring 114 is disposed, and the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114.

At the position which is adjacent to the attaching portion 156A, a spring 158 which is an example of a third biasing member which biases the block member 120 to the heating roll 72 side is attached to the first holding portion 152. More specifically, one end portion of the spring 158 is fixed to a wall surface on the felt member 108 side of the first holding portion 152. A holding portion 160 is attached to the other end portion of the spring 114, and the block member 120 is fixed to an attaching surface 160A on the heating roll 72 side of the holding portion 160 by adhesion or the like. In other words, the first holding portion 152 is fixed to the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102, and the block member 120 is supported to approach and be separated from the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102.

In the fixing device 150, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when the part having a large radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, the full latch mode is achieved, and the first state is achieved. As the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84 by the cam 92, the parent lever 82 moves to the first position where the parent lever 82 is close to the heating roll 72. In the first state, the block member 120 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 158 supported by the guide member 102, and the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120. In addition, the pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 supported by the guide member 102, and the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122. Therefore, in the first state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 and the pad member 122.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, when the part having the smallest radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 comes into contact with the roll member 90, the latch release mode is achieved. In a latch release state, as the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84, the parent lever 82 moves to the third position which is the most separated from the heating roll 72, and the block member 120 and the pad member 122 are separated from the heating roll 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, when the part (the part having a radius smaller than that of the first state and a radius larger than that of the latch release state) at which the radius of the outer circumferential surface 92A of the cam 92 is set to be the intermediate dimension comes into contact with the roll member 90, the half latch mode is achieved, and the second state is achieved. As the parent lever 82 rotates around the shaft portion 84 by the cam 92, the parent lever 82 moves to the second position (a position which is closer to the heating roll 72 than the third position) where the parent lever 82 is more separated from the heating roll 72 than the first position. When the parent lever 82 moves to the second position, the guide member 102 moves in the direction of being more separated from the heating roll 72 than the position of the guide member 102 of the first state. At the position of the guide member 102, the block member 120 supported by the guide member 102 via the spring 158 is separated from the heating roll 72.

The pad member 122 is biased to the heating roll 72 side by the spring 114 supported by the guide member 102, and the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 by the pad member 122. Therefore, in the second state, the fixing belt 74 is pressed against the heating roll 72 only by the pad member 122 among the block member 120 and the pad member 122.

In the fixing device 150, the spring 158 which biases the block member 120 to the heating roll 72 side is provided. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the spring 158 is not provided, the pressure by which the fixing belt 74 comes into contact with the heating roll 72 by the block member 120 is stabilized.

Next, by using FIG. 19, the fixing device according to the third exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described. In addition, configuration elements which are the same as those of the above-described first and second exemplary embodiments will be given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in a fixing device 170, the position at which the block member 120 (refer to FIG. 5) and the pad member 122 (refer to FIG. 5) are disposed is a region between an upper virtual line 172 and a lower virtual line 174. In the fixing device 170, the upper virtual line 172 and the lower virtual line 174 are disposed along the pressing direction of the block member 120 (refer to FIG. 5) of the full latch state. In the fixing device 170, the shaft portion 84 and the shaft portion 130 are disposed on the lower side in the vertical direction (upstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P). The shaft portion 84 relatively rotates the parent lever 82 and the child lever 80. The shaft portion 130 relatively rotates the child lever 80 and the guide member 102. Furthermore, the length of the line segment L1 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center 130A of the shaft portion 130 is shorter than that of the line segment L2 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center of the shaft portion 84. Accordingly, in the fixing device 170, compared to a case where the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion match each other, since the rotation of the guide member 102 by the shaft portion 130 is generated in addition to the rotation of the guide member 102 by the child lever 80 and the shaft portion 84 of the parent lever 82, the pressure on the downstream side in the transport direction of the pad member 122 (downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P) in the second state does not deteriorate, and the deterioration of the fixing properties of the toner is prevented.

Here, in the fixing device 170, the positions of the shaft portion 84 and the shaft portion 130 can be changed. At this time, in the region between the upper virtual line 172 and the lower virtual line 174, since the displacement amount of the guide member 102 is small, the shaft portion 130 is not provided. Therefore, a configuration in which the shaft portion 84 which relatively rotates the parent lever 82 and the child lever 80, and the shaft portion 130 which relatively rotates the child lever 80 and the guide member 102, are provided further on the upper side of the upper virtual line 172 in the vertical direction (downstream of the upper virtual line 172 in the transport direction of the recording paper P), may be employed. At this time, it is preferable that the length of the line segment L1 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center 130A of the shaft portion 130 is shorter than that of a line segment L2 which connects the center of the contact portion between the heating roll 72 and the fixing belt 74 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and the center of the shaft portion 84.

In addition, in the fixing device 170, a case where the shaft portion 130 is disposed on the upper side of the upper virtual line 172 in the vertical direction (upstream of the upper virtual line 172 in the transport direction of the recording paper P), it is preferable that the pad member 122 is disposed downstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P which passes through the nip portion and that the shaft portion 130 is disposed upstream of the block member 120 in the transport direction of the recording paper P which passes through the nip portion. Accordingly, compared to a configuration in which the first member is not disposed at a position which is farther from the first shaft portion than the second member, in the second state, the block member 120 which is at a position farther from the shaft portion 130 than the pad member 122 is likely to move in the direction of being separated from the heating roll 72.

In addition, in the first to third exemplary embodiments, the cam 92 is used as a switching portion, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration in which a switching portion, such as a cylinder, an actuator, and a lack and pinion, is used, may be employed.

In addition, in the first to third exemplary embodiments, the tension spring 132 which links the upper portion of the main body portion 102A of the guide member 102 and the parent lever 82 is provided, but a configuration in which the tension spring 132 is not provided may be employed.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
20090226227	Furukata	Sep 2009	A1
20130322936	Yagi	Dec 2013	A1
20140270832	Saito	Sep 2014	A1

Number	Date	Country
2006-126536	May 2006	JP
2009-163188	Jul 2009	JP
2009163188	Jul 2009	JP

Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

Field of Search

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (3)

Foreign Referenced Citations (3)

Related Publications (1)