JPH03273275A - Flash fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and accurately attach and detach a guiding wire for conveying a paper and to adjust the tension of the wire by mutually linking the guiding wire by the use of one or plural wire rods and one or plural elastic members. CONSTITUTION:The plural guiding wires 36 for conveying the paper are constituted as one wire rope or as one parts by unifying the plural wires 36, and the elastic member 38 such as a coil spring, etc., is used as a means for obtaining the appropriate tension. Thus, the guiding wire 36 is easily attached and detached. Since the wire 36 is unified as one parts even in a state where it is detached, it is prevented from losing and being forgot to attach. The tension of the wire 36 is decided according to the elastic quantity of the member 38, so that the adjustment thereof is made unnecessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a flash fixing device used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, an electrostatic printer, or a facsimile, and particularly relates to an improvement in paper conveyance guide means.

[Prior Art] This type of flash fixing device is generally used in copying machines that use an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method.

Used in printer devices, facsimile devices, etc.

A toner image formed by an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method is fixed by a fixing device. Fixing methods include a heat roll method, a pressure roll method, a flash method, and the like. Among these, the flash method applies a high voltage to electrodes installed at both ends of a flash lamp filled with an inert gas such as xenon gas to emit light, and the emitted energy instantly fixes the image. No need for warm-up time,
Since it is non-contact fixing, there are advantages such as no burning or scorching of the paper.

In a flash fixing device, a sheet of paper on which a toner image has been formed in an image forming apparatus is conveyed by a roller, an endless belt, or the like to a fixing section, where a flash lamp is emitted one or more times to perform fixing. At this time, in order to efficiently utilize the light energy emitted from the flash lamp, a reflective device made of a material with high reflectivity such as high brightness aluminum and formed into a trapezoidal, elliptical, etc. cross-sectional shape is installed around the flash lamp. It is often set in

Furthermore, since the flash lamp itself and the surrounding reflector become extremely hot due to the light emitted by the flash lamp, ventilation holes for cooling are often provided around the flash lamp.

When a sheet of paper with a fixed toner image formed on it is transported to the position of a flash fixing device with such a configuration, the sheet may get caught in the air outlet or the edge of the reflection device, causing disturbances in the unfixed toner image or causing severe damage. In some cases, paper jams may occur.

For this reason, a paper conveyance guide using a glass plate, wire lobe, or the like has conventionally been provided at the opening of a reflection device disposed so as to face the paper conveyance path.

Among these paper conveyance guides that use wire lobes, multiple wire ropes are stretched parallel or diagonally to the paper conveyance direction through the opening of the reflection device, and the paper is conveyed above or below the wire ropes, and the paper is fixed between them. It is designed to encourage people to do the following.

Here, the conventional technique will be specifically explained using FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b).

As shown in the figure, a reflective bag N2 having an opening facing the paper conveyance path is provided around the flash lamp 1, supporting the flash lamp 1 and the reflecting device 2, and supplying power to the flash lamp 1. A side plate 3 having a power supply section 4 for carrying out this operation is provided. A plurality of slit-like notches 6 are provided at the end 5 of the reflecting device 2, and a paper conveying guide wire 7 having ring-shaped or hook-shaped ends is passed through the notches 6, and the reflecting device 2 is provided with a plurality of slit-like notches 6. Both ends of the guide wire 7 are hooked onto protrusions 8 provided on the outside of the device 2 and fixed. In order to apply proper tension to each guide wire 7, the guide wire 7 is hooked onto a tension adjustment screw 9 provided above the projection 8, and the tension is adjusted by tightening the screw.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the paper conveyance guide in the conventional device described above, a plurality of wire ropes must be attached one by one to the Fura Nosh fixing device, and the tension must be adjusted to an appropriate level one by one. Therefore, the number of parts increased, and the effort involved in the assembly process could not be ignored.

In addition, the flash fuser requires periodic cleaning and replacement of the flare and reflector, which requires removing and reinstalling the paper transport guide wire and adjusting the tension each time it is used. There was a problem in that it required a great deal of effort and time on site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to easily and accurately attach, detach, and adjust the tension of a guide wire for paper conveyance in order to convey unfixed toner image forming paper conveyed to a fixing section without any trouble. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flash fixing device which can be used in a flash fixing process, and which also reduces the number of parts, reduces the assembly process, and reduces labor at the site of use.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objectives, the present invention takes the following measures.

The multiple guide wires for paper transport provided in the flash fixing device can be configured as a single wire lobe, or multiple guide wires can be configured as a single component, and as a means to obtain appropriate tension. , is characterized by the use of elastic members such as coil springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, and rubber.

[Effect: As a result of taking the above measures, it is easy to attach and remove the guide mark, and even when it is removed, the parts are in one piece, so there is no need to lose or forget to attach it, and the tension of the guide wire is reduced.) Since it is determined by the amount of elasticity of an elastic member such as a brace, no adjustment is necessary.

[Example] Examples will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This configuration example shows a printer configured using an ion flow recording head.

In the figure, 10 is a paper feed cassette, 11 is cut sheet paper placed in the paper feed cassette 10, 12 is a paper feed roller that feeds out the paper 11 one by one from the paper feed cassette 10, and 13 is the paper feed roller This is a retard pad for pushing back into the paper feed cassette 10 two or more sheets of paper 11 that have been fed out from the paper feed cassette 10 by the paper feed roller 12, except for the paper located at the top. 15
A and 15b are conveyance rollers that convey the paper 11 fed out one by one by the paper feed roller 12 and the FJ retard pad 13 to the image forming section. 19
1 is a dielectric drum, and 18 is a recording head, which emits an ion flow modulated in accordance with an image signal to be recorded onto one of the dielectric drums in a dot shape to form an electrostatic charge image.

17 is a developing device for developing the electrostatic charge image on the dielectric drum 19 with toner, 20 is a transfer roller for transferring the toner image on the dielectric drum onto the paper 11, and 23
A cleaning blade 24 removes the toner remaining on the dielectric drum 19 after transfer, and a catch pan 24 collects the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 23.

22 is an eraser for erasing charges remaining on the dielectric drum 19; 21a and 21b are peeling claws for peeling off the paper 11 that has been wrapped around the dielectric drum 19 and the transfer roller 2o; 25 is a toner This is a conveyance roller that conveys the paper 11 onto which the image has been transferred to the fixing section. Reference numeral 26 denotes a flash fixing device that emits light multiple times toward the paper 11 having an unfixed toner image and fixes the toner image using the light energy. 28a and 28b are the flash fixing devices! One is a discharge roller that discharges the paper 11 on which the toner image has been fixed by f26, and the other is a stacker that stores the paper 11 that has been discharged by the discharge roller 28. Note that 14°16.27 is a paper conveyance guide.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are enlarged perspective views of the flash fixing device 26. FIG.

In the figure, numeral 30 is a flash lamp that is filled with an inert gas such as xenon gas and has electrodes at both ends, and has a structure in which a trigger wire is wound around the circumferential surface of the flash lamp. Reference numeral 31 denotes a reflection device having an opening facing the paper conveyance path in order to efficiently irradiate the paper 11 with light energy emitted from the flash lamp 30; 33 supplies power to electrodes at both ends of the flash lamp 30; ,
The connector 32 that supports the flash lamp 30 via electrodes at both ends is a side plate that supports the reflection device 31 and the connector 33 and prevents light from leaking in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.

34 constitutes an end portion of the reflection device 31 and is a paper guide plate 3 for smoothly guiding the transported paper 11;
5 is a slit-like notch provided in the paper guide plate 34, and 36 is a slit-like notch provided in the paper guide plate 34;
This guide wire is stretched over the opening of the paper guide plate 34 and smoothly guides the paper 11 together with the paper guide plate 34. 37 is a projection for hooking the guide wire 36; 38
39 is a coin spring that applies appropriate tension to the guide wire 36, and 39 is a hook that hooks the fill spring. Further, both ends of the guide wire 36 are provided with a ring-shaped end treatment.

During the assembly process or during installation in the market, one end of the guide wire 36 is sometimes connected to one of the protrusions 37, 3.
7a, pass the guide wire 36 through the notch 35a, pass it over the opening of the reflector 31, and connect the guide wire 36 to a notch symmetrically provided on the opposite side with the flash lamp 30 in between. Through the notch 35b, through the protrusion 37b provided directly below the notch 35b and the protrusion 37c adjacent thereto, the notch 35b
through the notch 35c adjacent to the reflection device 3 again.
Pass over the opening of 1. This operation is repeated alternately, and after the guide wire 36 is hooked onto the last protrusion 37j, the other end of the guide wire 36 is hooked onto the hook portion of the coil spring 38. Then, by hooking the other hook portion of the coil spring 38 onto the hook 39 while biasing the coil spring 38, the guide wire 36 is fixed to the flash fixing device 26, and the guide wire 36 is fixed to the flash fixing device 26. Apply proper tension.

Next, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3(II)(b) will be described.

36b to 36f are guide wires that guide the paper 11, and 36a and 36g are guide wires that guide the paper 11.
b to 36f, and the guide wires 36b to 36
It is a support member that constitutes the guide wire 36 together with f. 39a to 39d are hooks for hooking and fixing the end of the guide wire 36 and the hook portion of the coil spring 38. During the assembly process or during installation in the market, the support portion 3 of the guide wire 36 is sometimes
One end of the coil spring 6a is hooked on the hook 39d, and the other end is hooked on the hook portion of the coil spring 38. Then, while biasing the coil spring 38, the other hook portion of the coil spring 38 is hooked onto the hook 39C.

Next, the guide portions 36b to 36 of the guide wire 36
f through the notches 35a, 35d, 35e, 35h, and 35i provided at the end of the reflecting device t31, passing over the opening of the reflecting device 31, and then inserting the flash lamp 30 in the opposite direction. The cutouts 35b, 35c, 35f, 35g, 35 provided symmetrically on the sides
Pass through j.

Then, one end of the support member 36g of the guide wire 36 is hooked on the hook 39b, and the other end is hooked on the hook portion of the coil spring 38. Then, while biasing the coil spring 38, the other hook portion of the coil spring 38 is hooked onto the hook 39g. This secures the guide wire 36 to the flash fixing device and applies appropriate tension to the guide wire 36.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating still another embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 36b to 36f are guide wires that guide the paper 11, and the guide wires are brought together at both ends to form engaging portions for fixing them to the flash fixing device 26. The guide wires 36b to 3
Tension to 6f is applied by the coil spring 38.

In FIG. 5, 36b to 36f are guide wires that guide the paper 11, 38a to 38e are coil springs that engage and apply tension to the guide wires 36b to 36f, respectively, and 36&, 36g are guide wires 36b to 36f. and coil springs 38a to 38
e and together constitute the guide wire 36. Support members 36a and 36 of the guide wire 36
g has a shape that engages with the hooks 39a to 39d shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, 36b to 36f are guide wires that guide the paper 11; 38a to 38d are coil springs that engage the guide wires and apply tension;
Both ends of the guide wire 36 are attached to the hooks 3 in FIG.
9. The method of attaching the guide wire in this embodiment is almost the same as in the first embodiment.

By configuring as described above, the guide wire can be easily attached and removed, and even in the detached state, it is integrated as one member, so that it will not be lost or forgotten to attach. Further, since the tension is applied by an elastic member such as a coil spring, no adjustment is necessary.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since the guide wire that guides the traveling paper is configured as one wire lobe or a plurality of wire lobes collectively as one member, it is difficult to remove and attach the guide wire from the flash fixing device. In addition, since it is integrated as a single member even when removed, there is no risk of losing it or forgetting to put it back on at the same time. Further, since the tension of the guide wire is applied using an elastic member such as a coil spring, there is no need to adjust the tension.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus to which a flash fixing device according to the present invention is applied, and FIGS.
) is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the flash fixing device according to the present invention, FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are perspective views showing the structure of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing main parts of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7(a)(b)
is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. 1...Flash lamp, 2...Reflector, 3...
...Side plate, 4...Power feeding part, 5...Reflector end, 6...Slit-shaped notch, 7...Guide wire 8...Protrusion, 9...Tension adjustment screw, 1
0...Paper cassette, 11...Paper, 12.
... Paper feed roller, 13 ... Retard pad, 14
... Paper conveyance guide, 15 ... Conveyance roller, 16
...Paper conveyance guide, 17...Developing device, 18.
...Recording head, 1 ...Dielectric drum, 20.
...Transfer roller, 21...Peeling claw, 22...Eraser, 23...Cleaning blade, 24.
... Catch pan, 25 ... Conveyance roller, 26.
...Flash fixing device, 27... Paper transport guide, 28... Paper ejection roller, 29... Stacker,
30...Flash lamp, 31...Reflector,
32...Side plate, 33...Connector, 34...
Paper guide plate, 35...Slit-shaped cutout, 36.
...Guide wire 37...Protrusion, 38...Coil spring, 39...Hook.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A flash lamp that fixes an unfixed toner image on a traveling sheet of paper by emitting light; a reflection device that is provided around the flash lamp and has an opening facing the paper conveyance path; and a reflection device of the reflection device. In a flash fixing device, the guide wire is provided in an opening and has a guide wire for transporting paper, which is made up of a plurality of wire rods such as a wire rope. A flash fixing device characterized in that the devices are interconnected using members.