Fusing roller for image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same

Abstract

A fusing roller for an image forming apparatus is provided. The fusing roller includes a tubular fusing unit having a treated surface, an inner pipe inserted into the fusing unit, a heating unit surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe and generating heat, and an insulating unit. The insulating unit includes a first insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the inner pipe, and a second insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the fusing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional fusing device, which uses a halogen lamp as a heat source, of an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fusing device, which includes a fusing roller, of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the fusing roller of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of a fusing roller according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of a fusing roller according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of a fusing roller according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the structure of an image forming apparatus utilizing a fusing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fusing roller for an image forming apparatus, the fusing roller comprising: a tubular fusing unit having a treated surface;an inner pipe inserted into the fusing unit;a heating unit surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe that generates heat; andan insulating unit including a first insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the inner pipe, and a second insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the fusing unit.

2. The fusing roller of claim 1, wherein the fusing unit is made of aluminium, and the surface of the fusing unit is anodized.

3. The fusing roller of claim 2, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.

4. The fusing roller of claim 3, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

5. The fusing roller of claim 1, wherein the fusing unit is made of steel, and the surface of the fusing unit is parkerized.

6. The fusing roller of claim 5, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.

7. The fusing roller of claim 6, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

8. A fusing roller for an image forming apparatus, the fusing roller comprising: a tubular fusing unit;an inner pipe inserted into the fusing unit;a heating unit surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe and generating heat; andan insulating unit including a first insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the inner pipe, and a second insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the fusing unit.

9. The fusing roller of claim 8, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.

10. The fusing roller of claim 8, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

11. The fusing roller of claim 10, wherein the second insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

12. The fusing roller of claim 9, wherein the second insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

13. A fusing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a fusing roller; anda pressure roller biased towards the fusing roller,wherein the fusing roller comprises: a tubular fusing unit;an inner pipe inserted into the fusing unit;a heating unit; andan insulating unit that electrically insulates the heating unit, the insulating unit a first insulating unit with one or more insulating layers disposed between the heating unit and the inner pipe, and a second insulating unit with one or more insulating layers disposed between the heating unit and the fusing unit.

14. The fusing device of claim 13, wherein the first and second insulating units comprise polyimide.

15. The fusing device of claim 13, wherein the fusing unit is made of aluminium, and the surface of the fusing unit is anodized.

16. The fusing device of claim 15, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.

17. The fusing device of claim 16, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

18. The fusing device of claim 13, wherein the fusing unit is made of steel, and the surface of the fusing unit is parkerized.

19. The fusing device of claim 18, wherein the first and second insulating units comprise polyimide.

20. The fusing device of claim 19, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

21. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body;a paper cassette disposed in the main body, the paper cassette holding a stack of printing paper;a pickup roller for picking up a sheet of printing paper from the stack of printing paper and conveying the sheet of paper along a paper path;a developing device for developing a toner image onto the conveyed sheet of paper;a fusing device including a fusing roller and a pressure roller biased towards the fusing roller for fusing the developed toner image onto the sheet of paper; the fusing roller comprising: a tubular fusing unit having a treated surface;an inner pipe inserted into the fusing unit;a heating unit surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe that generates heat; andan insulating unit including a first insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the inner pipe, and a second insulating unit, which includes one or more insulating layers and is disposed between the heating unit and the fusing unit; anda paper discharge unit for discharging the sheet of paper with the fused toner image outside the main body.

22. The image forming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fusing unit is made of aluminium, and the surface of the fusing unit is anodized.

23. The image forming apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first insulating unit further includes an insulating unit made of mica, which contacts the heating unit.

25. The image forming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fusing unit is made of steel, and the surface of the fusing unit is parkerized.

26. The image forming apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the first insulating unit and the second insulating unit comprises polyimide.