Patent Grant
6864461
This application is based on application(s) No(s). 2002-90472, 2002-218102, and 2002-218457 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier or printer.
2. Prior Art
In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier or printer, a latent image of an original image is formed by uniformly charging a photosensitive member and exposing the original image on the photosensitive member. The formed latent image is developed with a toner to form a toner image of the original image, which is transferred onto a recording medium or transferred onto an intermediate transfer member and then further transferred onto the recording medium. The transferred toner image is subjected to a heat fixing process performed by a fixing device, whereby image formation is accomplished.
Examples of the fixing device include a fixing device of fixing-roller type and a fixing device of fixing-belt type. In the fixing device of fixing-roller type, a heating roller internally provided with a heat source and a pressing roller are disposed in opposing and contact relation. A fixing process is performed by causing a recording medium having a toner image transferred thereon to pass through a nip portion between the heating roller and the pressing roller and thereby fixing a toner image.
The aforementioned conventional fixing device of fixing-roller type has the disadvantage of a long waiting time from the time of power-on until a temperature at which a fixing process can be performed is reached in addition to the problems of large energy consumption for constantly holding the heating roller at a high temperature and temperature elevation within the fixing device due to heat dissipation from the fixing device into an image forming apparatus even during standby.
In the fixing device of fixing-belt type, on the other hand, the fixing belt is entrained in spanning relation between a heating roller internally provided with a heating source and a winding roller such that the heat of the heating roller is transmitted to the fixing belt. A fixing process is performed by causing a recording medium having a toner image transferred thereon to pass through a nip portion between a pressing roller disposed in opposing relation to the winding roller and the fixing belt and thereby heat pressing the toner image. Accordingly, it is no more necessary to provide a heat source at the nip portion, specifically within the fixing roller, which has been provided in the conventional fixing device and to effect heat conduction from inside the fixing roller, which has been effected conventionally. This allows a low-hardness elastic layer with a low heat conductivity to be provided at the nip portion and the provision of the low-hardness elastic layer ensures the provision of the nip portion with a large width.
An example of such a belt-type fixing device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 137306/1996. The technology disclosed therein disposes a fixing belt in entrained and spanning relation between two rotating rollers, opposing an electromagnetic induction coil to the belt entrained in spanning relation between the rollers, and directly heats the belt with the electromagnetic induction coil. Since the rollers revolve the belt on receiving the tension of the belt, they should have a relatively large strength, which increases the heat capacity of the rollers. The heat given to the belt partly flows to the roller. Because of the large heat capacity, the heat of the belt is partly taken by the rollers so that the reduction of a warm-up time is approaching a limit even if efficient heating is performed by electromagnetic induction.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 107961/1993, on the other hand, an approach to reducing the warm-up time by bringing a heater into sliding contact with an outer surface of a heating roller and thereby performing heating has been made. However, the approach has the problem of low durability since the surface in sliding contact with the heater is a fixing surface and therefore is prone to flaws.
Another approach to direct heating performed by disposing a non-rotating heater at the nip portion has also been made. However, since a heater is required to have a pressing function and a heating function, the nip portion cannot have a sufficiently large width. In addition, the problem of high cost is also encountered since highly accurate dimensions and assembly are required of a heater holding member and the heater.
There has also been proposed a fixing device of fixing-belt type having a structure in which a non-rotating semi-cylindrical, i.e., trough-like heating plate is used in place of the heating roller and a fixing belt is entrained in spanning relation between the semi-cylindrical heating plate and a winding roller (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 343849/2001). Since the diameter of the non-rotating semi-cylindrical heating plate used in place of the heating roller corresponds to substantially half the diameter of the heating roller, the structure offers the advantages of a reduced lateral dimension of the fixing device and easy scaling down of the fixing device. Since a sheet-like heat generator as a heat source can be affixed directly to the inner surface of the trough-like heating plate, the structure also offers the advantages of high heat transmission efficiency, a reduced standby time, and the like.
In the foregoing fixing device of fixing-belt type using the semi-cylindrical heating plate, however, the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical heating plate is open so that heat is radiated uselessly. The radiated heat not only reduces heat efficiency but also renders the fixing device unsatisfactory in terms of safety. In inspecting the fixing device, the inspector may suffer a burn by mistake.
The present invention has been achieved to solve the foregoing problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact and low-cost fixing device of fixing-belt type which uses a heating plate in place of a heating roller to reduce a waiting time from the time of power-on until a temperature at which a fixing process can be performed is reached, ensure the supply of heat from the heating plate to the fixing belt, and give a proper tension to the fixing belt during a fixing operation.
1. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device of fixing-belt type which is capable of promptly heating the fixing belt to an operating temperature proper for a fixing process by using a heating plate with a novel structure which allows efficient heat transmission to the fixing belt.
2. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device of fixing-belt type with reduced energy consumption which is capable of promptly heating a fixing belt to an operating temperature proper for a fixing process by using a compact and light-weight heating plate with a novel structure which is low in heat capacity.
3. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and light-weight fixing device of fixing-belt type suitable for use in a compact image forming apparatus, which has a reduced number of components and a low heat capacity and can be heated promptly to an operating temperature proper for a fixing process.
4. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) are cross-sectional views each illustrating a belt-type fixing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are cross-sectional views each illustrating a positional relationship between a heating plate and a fixing belt in the belt-type fixing device;
FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) are views showing a first example of a holding structure for securing a heating plate to a holding member;
FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) are cross-sectional views each showing a mounting structure for a temperature sensing element; and
The fixing belt 4 is entrained about the pressing pad 3 and the heating plate 2 in a properly tensioned condition. The pressing pad 3 is composed of an elastic member 32 such as a heat resistant sponge fixed onto a rigid support member 31. A biasing force for pressing the fixing belt 4 against the pressing pad 3, as indicated by the arrow a, has been imparted to the pressing roller 5. The biasing force deforms the elastic member 32 and the fixing belt 4 into configurations conformal to the circular cross-sectional configuration of the pressing roller 5 so that a nip portion N is formed.
The heating plate 2 comprises: a cylindrical surface portion 21 having a nearly circular configuration; inwardly curved guide-in and guide-out portions 22 and 23 each extending continuously from the cylindrical surface portion 21. The guide-in and guide-out portions 22 and 23 guide the fixing belt 4 such that it smoothly comes in and goes out of contact therewith and prevent the edge portions of the heating plate 2 from damaging the fixing belt 4. The cylindrical surface portion 21 has a large contact area with the fixing belt 4 and conducts a majority of heat from the heating plate 2 through contact.
If the pressing roller 5 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow b, the fixing belt 4 revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow c in association with the rotation of the pressing roller 5. A recording sheet PP with an unfixed toner image TN adhered thereto is introduced from the direction d indicated by the arrow d into the space between the pressing roller 5 and the fixing belt 4 so that heat and pressure are given to the recording sheet PP at the nip portion N. The heat and pressure fuse a toner so that it is secured, i.e., fixed to the recording sheet PP. The heat has been given by the cylindrical surface portion 21 of the heating plate 2 to the fixing belt 4 and transmitted to the nip portion N by the revolution of the fixing belt 4.
A sheet-like resistance heat generating member 24 for generating heat with power from the outside is provided on the back side of the cylindrical surface portion 21.
The resistance heat generator 25 is bent in the directions orthogonal to the arrow e for the prevention of uneven heat generation over the entire width of the fixing belt. Since the essence of the resistance heat generator 25 lies in even heat generation over a large surface and in efficient heat transmission to the cylindrical surface portion 21, the material of the resistance heat generator 25 is not limited particularly to the metal plate. The resistance heat generator 25 may also be composed of a foil or coating.
The heating plate 2 composed of such a thin plate member allows a significant reduction in heat capacity so that the temperature raising performance after the application of power subsequent to a power stop is improved. Since it is sufficient to turn on the heating plate 2 only when necessary, it exerts a large energy saving effect. Moreover, the heating plate 2 allows the fixing device to be reduced in size and weight since the heating plate 2 is freer from structural constraint added to heating means of radiation heating type, such as a halogen heater, which should be surrounded by an object to be heated. The energy saving effect of the heating plate 2 is also large in terms of transmitting heat to the fixing belt 4 by contact with the cylindrical surface portion 21 and thereby allowing efficient and highly responsive heat transmission.
Since the elastic member 32, such as a sponge, of the pressing pad 3 is low in each of heat capacity and heat conductivity, the amount of lost heat that has been transmitted to the nip portion N and dissipated into the elastic member 32 can be reduced so that heat from the fixing belt 4 is transmitted efficiently to the toner image TN.
The temperature sensing unit 6 is a sensor mounted on the heating plate 2 to measure the temperature thereof, such as a thermistor, which is preferably mounted downstream in the direction of movement of the fixing belt 4. Since the temperature of the heating plate 2 eventually corresponds to the temperature of the fixing belt 4, it follows therefore that the temperature sensing unit 6 senses the temperature of the fixing belt 4. The temperature sensing unit 6 is connected to the control unit 7 which controls power supplied to the heating plate 2 in accordance with the sensed temperature. The power control may be effected by any power control method, though it can be effected by thyristor control or the like.
The electromagnetic induction coil 26 is wound around the center iron core of an E-shaped core 27 to have an open end located in proximity to the cylindrical surface portion 21. By allowing an alternating current on the order of several tens of K hertz in the electromagnetic induction coil 26, an eddy current is generated in the cylindrical surface portion 21, which generates Joule heat. The control unit 7 controls the amplitude of an alternating voltage based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit 6, thereby controlling a temperature to which the cylindrical surface portion 21 is heated in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
Electromagnetic induction heating has the advantage of extremely efficient heating since it can directly heat the object to be heated without depending on heat transmission. Moreover, electromagnetic induction heating improves the temperature raising performance since the heat capacity of the heating plate 2 can be reduced significantly in the same manner as in the first embodiment, exerts a large energy saving effect since it is sufficient to turn on the heating plate 2 only when necessary, reduces the size and weight of the fixing device since the heating plate 2 is more free from structural constraint as added to the halogen heater, and allows efficient and highly responsive heat transmission since heat is transmitted to the fixing belt 4 by contact with the cylindrical surface portion 21, thereby achieving a large energy saving effect.
Since the elastic member 32, such as the sponge of the pressing pad 3, has a low heat capacity and a low heat conductivity, the amount of lost heat that has dissipated to the elastic member 32 can be reduced so that heat from the fixing belt 4 is transmitted efficiently to the toner image TN in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
In each of the aforementioned belt-type fixing devices according the first and second embodiments, the heating plate may be disposed appropriately as will be shown later in the description of a belt-type fixing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. That is, the heating plate may be supported rotatably around a support shaft parallel to the driving shaft, which is not shown, of the pressing roller and the support shaft may be positioned appropriately to be higher in level than the centroid of the heating plate and external to the centroid.
The heating plate described above may be constructed as will be shown later in the description of the belt-type fixing device according to the third embodiment. That is, the heating plate may be composed of at least a semi-cylindrical plate base made of a heat conductive material and a heat generator disposed on the surface of the plate base opposite to the surface thereof in contact relation with the fixing belt. The heating plate may be held appropriately by a holding member disposed to cover the heat generator at a distance therefrom.
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) are views each illustrating a structure of a fixing device according to the third embodiment, of which FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of a structure of a fixing belt assembly, FIG. 7(b) is a perspective view of a pressing roller assembly, and FIG. 7(c) is a perspective view of the fixing device completed by mounting the pressing roller assembly on the fixing belt assembly.
A description will be given herein below with reference to FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c),
The frame 42 of the fixing belt assembly 41 has brackets 42a and 42b provided at the both left and right ends thereof. Pins 43a and 43b are provided outwardly of the brackets 42a and 42b in inserted relation thereto. A guide 44 is disposed in fixed relation between the brackets 42a and 42b. A pressing pad 45 is attached to the lower surface of the guide 44.
As is obvious from the cross-sectional view shown in
The heating plate 46 has arms 46a and 46b formed on the both ends in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration thereof. The arms 46a and 46b are provided with respective support shafts 47a and 47b as heater support shafts. On the other hand, the brackets 42a and 42b are provided with respective shaft receiving holes 48a and 48b into which the support shafts 47a and 47b as the heater support shafts are to be fitted such that the heating plate 46 is held rotatably. It is to be noted that the heating plate 46 does not rotate, which is different from a conventional heating roller.
It is assumed that the support shafts 47a and 47b of the heating plate 46 are positioned higher in level than the centroid of the heating plate 46 and external to the centroid, i.e., positioned eccentrically external to a vertical plane passing through the centroid. A detailed description will be given later to the effect of a structure in which the support shafts 47a and 47b are positioned eccentrically.
Although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that the arms are provided with the support shafts and the brackets are provided with the shaft receiving holes, it is also possible to provide the arms with the shaft receiving holes and provide the brackets with the support shafts.
The fixing belt 49 is a loop-like endless belt entrained in spanning relation between the heating plate 46 and the guide 44 having the pressing pad 45 composing the support member attached thereto. As the fixing belt 49, a belt high in heat resistance and having a mold release layer formed on the surface thereof, such as a belt composed of a nickel thin plate having a surface thereof covered with a silicon rubber layer or a belt composed of a thin plate of a polyimide resin having a surface thereof covered with a PFA layer, is used.
The guide 44 is composed of a material high in heat resistance such as a PPS resin or a phenol resin. The pressing pad 45 is composed of a pad main body made of a material high in heat resistance and low in heat conductivity and having a surface thereof covered with a material low in abrasion resistance, such as a pad composed of a silicon sponge having a surface thereof covered with a PFA layer.
The frame 52 of the pressing roller assembly 51 has brackets 52a and 52b provided on the both left and right ends thereof and the pressing roller 54 is rotatably supported thereby. In addition, a drive gear 56 engaged with a driving mechanism not shown is mounted on the shaft of the pressing roller 54.
Engaging claws 53a and 53b are formed outwardly of the brackets 52a and 52b of the pressing roller assembly 51, while pins 43a and 43b are provided outwardly of the brackets 42a and 42b of the fixing belt assembly 41, so that fixing springs 55a and 55b are provided in spanning relation between the pin 43a and the engaging claw 53a and between the pin 43b and the engaging claw 53b, respectively.
The pressing roller 54 is composed of a material high in resistance such as one composed of a silicon sponge covering a cored bar and having a surface thereof covered with a PFA layer or one composed of a silicon rubber covering a cored bar and having a surface thereof covered with a PFA layer.
A description will be given to the assembly of the foregoing structure. First, the fixing belt 49 configured as the loop-like endless belt is entrained in spanning relation between the heating plate 46 and the guide 44 including the pressing pad 45. The heating plate 46 and the pressing roller 54 are disposed such that the rotation shaft of the pressing roller 54 is parallel to the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration of the heating plate 46. The fixing springs 55a and 55b are provided in spanning relation between the pin 43a and the engaging claw 53a and between the pin 43b and the engaging claw 53b, respectively.
Since the fixing belt assembly 41 and the pressing roller assembly 51 are biased in the direction in which they approach each other by the pulling action of the fixing springs 55a and 55b, the pressing pad 45 of the fixing belt assembly 41 and the pressing roller 54 are pressed against each other with the fixing belt 49 interposed therebetween so that a fixing nip portion N is formed at a surface at which the pressing pad 45 and the pressing roller 54 are pressed against each other.
A description will be given next to the operation of the fixing device described above. FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are cross-sectional views each illustrating a positional relationship between the heating plate 46 and the fixing belt 49 in the fixing device, of which FIG. 10(a) shows the fixing device in a non-operating state and FIG. 10(b) shows the fixing device in an operable state.
When the fixing device is in the non-operating state, the pressing roller 54 does not rotate so that the fixing belt 49 pressed against the pressing roller 54 is also halted. In this state, the heating plate 46 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction indicated by the arrow cc) around the support shafts 47a and 47b under the influence of gravity since the heating plate 46 has the support shafts 47a and 47b of the arms 46a and 46b thereof positioned higher in level than the centroid of the heating plate 46 and external to the centroid, as stated previously.
Consequently, the upper surface of the heating plate 46 comes away from the fixing belt 49 and the heating plate 46 moves downward under the influence of gravity so that the tension given to the fixing belt 49 by the heating plate 46 is removed (see FIG. 10(a)).
When the fixing device is in an operating state, the pressing roller 54 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and the fixing belt 49 pressed against the pressing roller 54 to be driven thereby also moves in the direction indicated by the arrow b. In this state, the movement of the fixing belt 49 in the direction indicated by the arrow b exerts a force pressing the heating plate 46 in the direction indicated by the arrow d on the vicinity of the portion A of the fixing belt 49 which first comes away from the heating plate 46. Consequently, the heating plate 46 rotates clockwise (in the direction indicated by the arrow c) around the support shafts 47a and 47b against the influence of gravity to press the fixing belt 49 upward, thereby bringing the fixing belt 49 into close contact with the heating plate 46 (see FIG. 10(b)).
As the fixing belt 49 in contact with the heating plate 46 moves continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow b, the pressing plate 46 rotates clockwise (in the direction indicated by the arrow c) to constantly press the fixing belt 49 upward so that the fixing belt 49 in close contact with the pressing plate 46 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow b in a properly tensioned condition.
The sliding movement of the fixing belt 49 in close contact with the heating plate 46 allows efficient transmission of heat generated in the heating plate 46 to the fixing belt 49.
When the pressing roller 54 stops rotation, the state shown in FIG. 10(a) is restored so that the heating plate 46 moves downward under the influence of gravity and the fixing belt 49 slackens out of tension. This not only elongates the lifespan of the fixing belt 49 but also renders the fixing belt 49 less likely to recover a curved or like shape which is remembered when the fixing belt 49 is allowed to stand in a tensioned condition for a long time.
The fixing operation performed by the belt-type fixing device will be described briefly with reference to FIG. 9. It is assumed first that the heating plate 46 has been energized by an electric resistor for heating under the control of a control unit not shown and heated to a specified fixing temperature. The pressing roller 54 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and the fixing belt 49 pressed against the pressing roller 54 to be driven thereby also moves in the direction indicated by the arrow b. At that time, the fixing belt 49 is heated to the specified fixing temperature while it is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow a in sliding contact with the non-rotating heating plate 46.
A recording medium P having a toner image formed on the surface thereof is conveyed out of the imaging mechanism of an image forming apparatus not shown. When the recording medium P is caused to pass through the fixing nip portion N at which the pressing roller 54 and the fixing belt 49 are pressed against each other, the toner image on the recording medium P comes in contact with the fixing belt 49 heated to the specified fixing temperature to be heated, while it is pressed by the pressing roller 54, whereby the fixing process for the toner image on the recording medium P is completed.
A description will be given next to a belt-type fixing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The foregoing third embodiment has described that, when the fixing device is in the non-operating state, the fixing belt 49 moves downward under the influence of gravity and the tension given to the fixing belt 49 is removed. In the fourth embodiment, a fixing belt 49 is kept away from a heating plate 46 by using a spring, without depending on gravity, when the fixing device is in the non-operating state so that the tension is removed.
In
The structure in which a fixing belt assembly including the fixing belt and a pressing roller assembly including the pressing roller are biased in the direction in which they approach each other by the pulling action of fixing springs, the fixing belt of the fixing belt assembly and the pressing roller are pressed against each other, and a fixing nip portion N is formed at a surface at which the fixing belt and the pressing roller are pressed against each other is the same as in the third embodiment, though it is not depicted in FIG. 11.
A guide 44 having the pressing pad 45 mounted thereon is provided with an engaging member 44p. The heating plate 46 has one end 46p engaged in one end of the spring 58 and the other end of the spring 58 is engaged in the engaging member 44p so that the one end 46p of the semi-cylindrical heating plate 46 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow e, i.e., in the direction away from the fixing belt 49.
The heating plate 46 has holding portions 46m and 46n formed on the both ends in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration thereof and supported rotatably by support shafts 47m and 47n. Since the support shafts 47m and 47n are positioned internal to the other end 46q of the heating plate 46, the heating plate 46 receives a clockwise rotating force around the support shafts 47m and 47n if a force in the direction indicated by the arrow d is applied to the end 46q.
When the fixing device is in the non-operating state in the foregoing structure, the pressing roller 54 does not rotate so that the fixing belt 49 pressed against the pressing roller 54 to be driven thereby is also halted. In this state, the one end 46p of the heating plate 46 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow e by the spring 58, as described above, so that the upper surface of the heating plate 46 is kept away from the fixing belt 49.
When the fixing device is in an operating state, the pressing roller 54 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and the fixing belt 49 pressed against the pressing roller 54 to be driven thereby also moves in the direction indicated by the arrow b. The movement of the fixing belt 49 in the direction indicated by the arrow b exerts a force moving the heating plate 46 in the direction indicated by the arrow d on the vicinity of the portion of the fixing belt 49 which first comes away from the heating plate 46, i.e., the other end 46q of the heating plate 46. Consequently, the heating plate 46 rotates clockwise (in the direction indicated by the arrow s) around the support shafts 47m and 47n against the biasing force of the spring 58 to press the fixing belt 49 upward so that the arcuate surface of the heating plate 46 comes into close contact with the fixing belt 49.
When the arcuate surface of the heating plate 46 has come into close contact with the fixing belt 49, the heating plate 46 receives such a force as to rotate clockwise (in the direction indicated by the arrow s) around the support shafts 47m and 47n from the frictional force therebetween so that the heating plate 46 and the fixing belt 49 are brought into closer contact. While the fixing belt 49 continues movement, the close contact state between the heating plate 46 and the fixing belt 49 is maintained. The sliding movement of the fixing belt 49 in close contact with the heating plate 46 allows efficient transmission of heat generated in the heating plate 46 to the fixing belt 49.
Since the structure does not use gravity to keep the fixing belt 49 away from the surface of the heating plate 46 when the fixing device is in the non-operating state, it is unnecessary to consider the direction of gravity when the fixing device is installed in the image forming apparatus so that free installation is enabled.
A description will be given to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Alternatively, as shown in
The heating plate 61 is constructed by attaching a heater 63 to a plate base 61a prepared by forming a heat conductive material, e.g., a plate material with a thickness of about 0.5 mm such as a metal plate made of copper, aluminum, or the like into a semi-cylindrical configuration (trough-like configuration) with an electric insulating layer 62 interposed therebetween. The attachment is performed by affixment or by any other appropriate means. The electric insulating layer 62 is constituted to extend outwardly from the peripheral end portion of the heater 63 by a specified dimension, e.g., by 2.0 mm or more when a power supply voltage is 100 V to 125 V and by 2.5 mm or more when the power supply voltage is 200 V to 240 V for the prevention of a short circuit between the peripheral end portion of the heat generator 63 and the plate base 61a.
As the electric insulating layer 62, a heat resistant synthetic resin film is used assumedly. For example, a polyimide ranging from, e.g., 10 to 30 μm may be used appropriately.
As the heat generator 63, a resistor obtained by dispersing metal powder in a heat resistant synthetic resin such as a resistor obtained by dispersing Nichrome powder, molybdenum powder, or the like in polyimide (PI) or a resistor composed of a metal foil such as a foil made of stainless steel ranging from, e.g., 20 to 30 μm or a foil made of another metal may be used. In addition to a power supply terminal, a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat generator 63 is provided in the heat generator 63 in contact relation therewith, though they are not depicted in FIG. 12. The heat generator 63 is supplied with power via a control unit not shown so that temperature control is performed to maintain a specified fixing temperature.
Since the holding member 64 for holding the heating plate 61 has a plurality of examples, the structures thereof will be described later in detail. The holding member 64 is formed by molding a synthetic resin. As a synthetic resin material, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a mixture of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyamide-imide (PAI), or polyimide (PI) may be used or a fiber reinforced composite material obtained by mixing 50% or less of glass fiber in such a resin material may be used instead.
The pressing pad 65 is composed of a pad main body made of a material high in heat resistance and low in heat conductivity and having a surface thereof covered with a material low in abrasion resistance, such as a silicon sponge having a surface thereof covered with a PFA layer. Preferably, the pressing pad 65 is mounted on a proper holding member and then secured to the fixing device.
The fixing belt 66 is a loop-like endless belt entrained in spanning relation between the heating plate 61 and the pressing pad 65 or pressing roller 68. As the fixing belt 66, a belt composed of a silicon rubber layer coated on a nickel thin plate, a belt composed of a PFA layer coated on a thin plate made of a polyimide resin, or the like is used.
Each of the pressing roller 67 and the opposing pressing pad 65 or pressing roller 68 is composed of a material high in heat resistance such as one obtained by covering a cored bar made of aluminum or iron with a silicon sponge and covering the surface of the silicon sponge with a PFA layer or one obtained by covering a cored bar made of aluminum or iron with a silicon rubber and covering the surface of the silicon rubber with a PFA layer.
A fixing operation performed by the fixing device 60 will be described briefly. It is assumed that the heating plate 61 has been energized by the heat generator 63 under the control of a control unit not shown and heated to a specified fixing temperature. The pressing roller 67 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and the fixing belt 66 pressed against the pressing roller 67 to be driven thereby also moves in the direction indicated by the arrow b. Heat is transmitted from the heating plate 61 to the fixing belt 66 while the fixing belt 66 is moving in sliding contact with the non-rotating heating plate 61 so that the fixing belt 66 is heated to a specified fixing temperature.
A recording medium P having a toner image formed on the surface thereof is conveyed out of the imaging mechanism of an image forming apparatus not shown. When the recording medium P is caused to pass through a fixing nip portion N at which the pressing roller 67 and the fixing belt 66 are pressed against each other, the toner image on the recording medium P is brought into contact with the fixing belt 66 heated to the specified temperature and heated, while it is pressed by the pressing roller 67, whereby the fixing process for the toner image on the recording medium P is completed.
A description will be given next to the holding structure for securing the heating plate 61 to the holding member 64. The holding member 64 holds the heating plate 61 at a distance therefrom. The holding structure has a plurality of examples, which will be described in succession.
FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) are views each showing a first example of the holding structure for securing the heating plate 61 to the holding member 64, of which FIG. 14(a) is a perspective view showing the outer appearance thereof and FIG. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view thereof.
The holding member 64 is composed of holders 64a and 64b formed in receiving portions each having a semi-cylindrical end face and a holding plate 64c. The both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the plate base 61a (in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration) are fitted into the semi-cylindrical receiving portions of the holders 64a and 64b and the holders 64a and 64b are secured to the holding plate 64c with screws. In the drawings, 64f denotes a screw hole provided in the holder, while 64h and 64g denote screw holes provided in the holding plate 64c.
In the foregoing structure, the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 has only the end portions in the circumferential direction thereof in contact with the holding plate 64c and the end portions in the axial direction of the cylinder in contact with the semi-cylindrical receiving portions of the holders 64a and 64b, while spaces are formed between the heat generator 63 disposed on the inner surface of the heating plate 61 and the holders 64a and 64b and between the heat generator 63 and the holding plate 64c, so that the heat generator 63 is held in covered relation by the holding member 64 at a distance therefrom.
As a result, the inner surface of the heating plate 61 is closed so that heat radiation is suppressed. This enhances heat efficiency as well as safety.
The plate base 61a of the heating plate 61 has upper and lower end portions in the circumferential direction thereof bent in the radial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration, thereby forming extended portions 61a1 and 61a2. The extended portions 61a1 and 61a2 are secured to the side surface of the holding plate 64c. For a safety reason, the both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating plate 61 (in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration) may be closed by appropriate means such as closing plates provided on the holding plate 64c. As the closing structure, e.g., the same structure as adopted in the first example shown in
In the structure also, the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 has only the end portions in the circumferential direction thereof in contact with the holding plate 64c, while a space is formed between the heat generator 63 disposed on the inner surface of the heating plate 61 and the holding plate 64c, so that the heater 63 is held in covered relation by the holding member 64 at a distance therefrom and heat radiation is suppressed thereby. This enhances heat efficiency as well as safety.
The plate base 61a of the heating plate 61 has upstream and downstream end portions in the direction of movement of the fixing belt 66 entrained thereabout bent in the radial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration thereof, thereby forming extended portions 61a1 and 61a2. The extended portions 61a1 and 61a2 are fitted in secured relation into grooves 64c1 and 64c2 provided in the upper and lower end faces of the holding plate 64c. In the structure, the plate base 61a can be fitted into the holding plate 64c by moving the plate base 61a toward the front or back of
For a safety reason, the both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating plate 11 (in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration) may be closed by appropriate means such as closing plates provided at the holding plate 64c. As the closing structure, e.g., the same structure as adopted in the first example shown in
In the structure also, the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 has only the end portions in the circumferential direction thereof in contact with the holding plate 64c, while a space is formed between the heat generator 63 disposed on the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 and the holding plate 64c, so that the heat generator 63 is held in covered relation by the holding member 64 at a distance therefrom and heat radiation is suppressed. This enhances heat efficiency as well as safety.
In the fourth example, the holding member 64 is composed of a holding plate 64c and semi-cylindrical holders 64p and 64q formed at the end portions in the longitudinal direction thereof (in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration). The end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating plate 61 (in the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical configuration) are secured to the holders 64p and 64q with respective screws 64r and 64s.
In the structure also, the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 has only the end portions in the circumferential direction thereof in contact with the holding plate 64c and the end portions in the axial direction of the cylinder in contact with the semi-cylindrical holders 64p and 64q, while spaces are formed between the heat generator 63 disposed on the inner surface of the heating plate 61 and the holding plate 64c and between the heat generator 63 and the holders 64p and 64q, so that the heat generator 63 is held in covered relation by the holding member 64 at a distance therefrom.
As a result, the inner surface of the heating plate 61 is closed so that heat radiation is suppressed. This enhances heat efficiency and safety.
In the fifth example, the holding member 64 is composed of holding portions 64j and 64k and a holding leg portion 64m to have a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration such that the plate base 61a of the semi-cylindrical heating plate 61 has one end portion 61a5 in the circumferential direction thereof held by the holding portion 64j, the other end portion 61a6 in the circumferential direction thereof held by the holding portion 64k, and a center portion 61a7 held by the holding leg portion 64m.
In the structure, an electric insulating layer 62 and the heat generator 63 disposed on the inner surface of the plate base 61a are halved so that the holding leg portion 64m of the holding member 64 is in direct contact with the plate base 61a.
A description will be given next to a mounting structure for the temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat generator. FIG. 19(a) shows a first example of the mounting structure and FIG. 19(b) shows a second example of the mounting structure.
In the first example of the mounting structure shown in FIG. 19(a), a temperature sensing element 71 is adhered to the heat generator 63 and secured thereto by means of a sheet metal 72 extended from the holding member 64.
The second example of the mounting structure shown in FIG. 19(b) is similar to the first example of the mounting structure mentioned above except that a hole 64n is provided in the holding member 64 such that the temperature sensing element 71 having the sheet metal 72 attached thereto is inserted through the hole 64n in the space formed between the heating plate 61 and the holding member 64 and the temperature sensing element 71 is secured to the heat generator 63. The structure allows the temperature sensing element 71 to be inserted in the space through the whole 64n and attached to the heat generator 63 after the attachment of the heating plate 61 to the holding member 64. As the temperature sensing element 71, a thermistor may be used appropriately.
When the heating plate 61 is mounted on the holding member 64 to be held thereby, the contact terminal 63p of the heat generator 63 and the contact piece 74 for power supply of the holding member 64 are brought in contact with each other so that a power supply circuit is formed.
In the structure, the mere mounting of the heating plate 61 on the holding member 64 completes the power supply circuit simultaneously so that an additional operation of connecting a lead wire to the heat generator 63 or the like is unnecessary. Since a lead wire is not soldered, the degradation of the heating plate 61, the electric insulating layer 62, the heat generator 63, and the like caused by heat resulting from a soldering operation can be prevented.
Thus, in the belt-type fixing device according to the present invention, the fixing belt is entrained about the heating plate to be heated by the heating plate. As the heat generator as the heat source of the heating plate, a resistance heat generator or an electromagnetic induction heater is used. Since the heat capacity of the heating plate can be reduced significantly compared with the case where the conventional fixing roller is used, the fixing belt can be heated promptly to a temperature suitable for fixing so that a waiting time from the time of power-on is reduced.
Moreover, since it is sufficient to heat the fixing belt by energizing the heating plate only when the fixing device performs the fixing operation, a high heat efficiency is achieved so that useless heat dissipation to the outside during standby is prevented. This achieves the large effect of reducing energy consumption.
Furthermore, the supply of heat from the heating plate to the fixing belt is performed reliably and a proper tension can be given to the fixing belt during a fixing operation.
The present invention also achieves the prominent effect of providing a low-cost fixing device suitable for use in a compact image forming apparatus since the fixing device is small in size and weight and has a reduced number of components and the waiting time from the time of power-on until the fixing process is enabled is short.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-090472 | Mar 2002 | JP | national |
| 2002-218102 | Jul 2002 | JP | national |
| 2002-218457 | Jul 2002 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20030183610 A1 | Oct 2003 | US |
