CN100462858C - Transferring apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Transferring apparatus and image forming apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
CN100462858C
CN100462858C CNB2006101447249A CN200610144724A CN100462858C CN 100462858 C CN100462858 C CN 100462858C CN B2006101447249 A CNB2006101447249 A CN B2006101447249A CN 200610144724 A CN200610144724 A CN 200610144724A CN 100462858 C CN100462858 C CN 100462858C
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China
Prior art keywords
transfer
image
slit
fixing
paper
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CNB2006101447249A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN1952808A (en
Inventor
高垣博光
藤田贵史
中藤淳
田村博臣
国井博之
上浩二
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Abstract

A first guide member and a second guide member guide a recording medium into a nip between a transfer member and a nip-forming member. The first guide member and the second guide member are arranged so as to form a substantial V-shape with tip of the V-shape being toward the nip. A distance between the first guide member and the second guide member at the tip being equal to or less than 5 millimeters.

Description

Transfer device and imaging device
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of visual image that will be formed on the image-carrier is transferred on the recording medium and with the transfer device of described image fixing on described recording medium.The invention still further relates to the imaging device of using above-mentioned transfer device.
Present specification in conjunction be incorporated in the 2005-269743 of on September 16th, 2005 in Japanese publication, on July 14th, 2006 in the 2006-193639 of Japanese publication and on August 10th, 2006 full content at the 2006-218770 of Japanese publication Japanese priority file.
Background technology
In known imaging device,, described recording chart is sent into fixing device come the described visual image of photographic fixing being formed at after the visual image such as toner image on the image-carrier is transferred on the recording chart such as transfer paper.In such imaging device, when recording chart is admitted to fixing device and the described visual image that has been transferred also not during photographic fixing, because around the inlet of fixing device, guided plate etc., image carrier surface can confuse the visual image of not photographic fixing with contacting of described recording chart.
On the other hand, in known imaging device, visual image is carried out (for example, referring to Japan publication application No.2004-145260) to transfer process and fixing on the recording chart basically simultaneously by transfer printing/fixing device.Transfer printing/fixing device in such imaging device comprises roll gap formation element that transferring member, its surface of shuttling movement while contact with each other and the heater block that heats visual image.After the visual image on the image-carrier that is carried on such as the intermediate transfer element is transferred on the surface of transferring member, described visual image advances to two surfaces by the shuttling movement element and contacts in the formed transfer-fixing roll gap of part, heats described visual image with heating unit simultaneously.The propelling of recording chart and described visual image synchronously is admitted to described transfer-fixing roll gap.When described visual image is transferred on the described recording chart, the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member by photographic fixing to the recording chart that is admitted to.Adopt this structure, described visual image is carried out basically and in side by side between the transfer-fixing roll gap of transfer printing/fixing device to transfer process and fixing on the recording chart.Therefore, after described visual image is transferred on the described recording chart, carry described recording chart so that the described visual image of photographic fixing.So this structure can be avoided such problem: confuse the image of described not photographic fixing owing to guided plate or the like causes to rub by the above image.
But owing to the visual image that needs to heat before advancing to roll gap on the first shuttling movement element surface, described transfer printing/fixing device is tending towards having bigger thermal loss than the fixing device of only carrying out fixing in roll gap.So people's expectation reduces described thermal loss as much as possible.
Summary of the invention
Finish the present invention in view of such circumstances, and the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of transfer device as described below and imaging device.That is, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of transfer device, described transfer device can be avoided such problem: because the described image of guided plate or the like friction, and confuse the image of described not photographic fixing; And compare with existing transfer printing/fixing device, described transfer device can further reduce thermal loss, or the like.
The objective of the invention is to solve at least in part the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.
According to an aspect of the present invention, transfer device receives the visual image be carried on the image-carrier and described image is transferred to recording medium, and it comprises: be configured to described image-carrier on described image receive the transferring member of toner accordingly; Thereby heat the heating unit that the described transferring member that has image on it heats the toner on the described transferred image; Thereby be constructed to the toner of heat is transferred to recording medium, be used for described image is formed element from the roll gap that transferring member is transferred on the recording medium from described transferring member forming roll gap between the described transferring member and between described roll gap, clamp recording medium; And with first induction element and second induction element of described recording medium towards described roll gap guiding, described first induction element and second induction element are formed V-type makes the tip of described V-type towards described roll gap, and the distance between described first induction element in described tip and second induction element is equal to or less than 5 millimeters.
According to another aspect of the present invention, transfer device receives the visual image be carried on the image-carrier and described image is transferred to recording medium, and it comprises: be constructed to described image-carrier on described image receive the transferring member of toner accordingly; Thereby heat the heating unit that the described transferring member that has image on it heats the toner on the described transferred image; Thereby be constructed to the toner of heat is transferred to recording medium, be used for described image is formed element from the roll gap that transferring member is transferred on the recording medium from described transferring member forming roll gap between the described transferring member and between described roll gap, clamp recording medium; And the cap member that covers the entrance side of described roll gap, described cap member has an opening, advance towards described roll gap by the described recording medium of described opening, described opening has first length of the width of being wider than described recording medium and is equal to or less than 5 millimeters second length.
According to a further aspect of the invention, imaging device comprises above-mentioned transfer device.
Description of drawings
Read hereinafter the detailed explanation to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings, the present invention above-mentioned and other purpose, characteristics, advantage and technology and industrial significance will be more understandable.
Fig. 1 is the synoptic diagram according to the printer of first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is the enlarged drawing of the processing unit that is used for Y (yellow) shown in Fig. 1 (process unit);
Fig. 3 is the synoptic diagram that is used to explain second transfer step, the 3rd transfer step and photographic fixing step;
Fig. 4 is the enlarged drawing of the transfer printing/fixing device shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is the synoptic diagram of existing transfer-fixing device;
Fig. 6 is according to first embodiment, at first enlarged drawing that improves the relevant portion in the transfer-fixing device;
Fig. 7 is according to first embodiment, at second enlarged drawing that improves the relevant portion in transfer printing/fixing device;
Fig. 8 is according to first embodiment, at the 3rd enlarged drawing that improves the relevant portion in transfer printing/fixing device;
Fig. 9 is according to first embodiment, at the 4th synoptic diagram that improves first guided plate in transfer printing/fixing device;
Figure 10 is according to the part enlarged drawing that receives the zone of the opening transfer printing/fixing device in the second embodiment of the invention printer, close;
Figure 11 is the synoptic diagram according to the transfer printing/fixing device in the third embodiment of the invention printer;
Figure 12 is the first guided plate enlarged side view shown in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is the synoptic diagram that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to first of the 3rd embodiment;
Figure 14 is the synoptic diagram that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to second of the 3rd embodiment;
Figure 15 is the synoptic diagram that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to the 3rd of the 3rd embodiment;
Figure 16 is the synoptic diagram that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to the 4th of the 3rd embodiment;
Figure 17 is the synoptic diagram according to the transfer printing/fixing device of fourth embodiment of the invention printer;
Figure 18 is the enlarged drawing that improves the opening in transfer printing/fixing device according to first of the 4th embodiment;
Thereby Figure 19 opens to allow the first access hatch spare (shutter) that recording chart enters and the enlarged drawing of the second access hatch spare;
Figure 20 is the enlarged drawing that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to first in the second embodiment printer;
Figure 21 is the enlarged drawing that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to second of the 4th embodiment;
Figure 22 is the enlarged drawing according to the transfer printing/fixing device in the printer of fifth embodiment of the invention;
Figure 23 is the enlarged drawing that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to first of the 5th embodiment.
Embodiment
To explain according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention below.
At first explain the essential structure of printer.Fig. 1 is the synoptic diagram of printer.As shown in fig. 1, printer comprises four processing unit 6Y, 6M, 6C and the 6K (hereinafter using " Y, M, C and K " expression) of the toner image that produces yellow, carmetta, blue-green and black.Described processing unit is used Y, M, C and four kinds of toners that differ from one another of K as image forming material, and still, except that employed toner difference, they have identical construction, and after finishing their serviceable life, replaces them with using new unit.
As shown in Figure 2, for example, the processing unit 6Y that produces the Y toner image comprises columnar photoconductor 1Y, cylinder cleaning device 2Y, electric charge removal device 3Y, charging device 4Y, developing apparatus 5Y or the like.Form described photoconductor 1Y by coating photoelectric conductor layer on columnar raw metal pipe, and it drives rotatably along the counter clockwise direction shown in Fig. 2 by the driver element (not shown).Described photoconductor 1Y can form band shape and replace cylindrical shape.Described charging device 4Y comprises charging roller, when making its contact or during near described photoconductor 1Y, make described charging roller have the charging bias voltage by charging grid bias power supply (not shown), and make the surperficial uniform charging of described photoconductor 1Y according to the discharge of described charging roller.Also can use the charging brush contact or replace charging roller near described photoconductor 1Y.Also can make the surperficial uniform charging of described photoconductor 1Y by corona charging.With the described electrostatic latent image that is carried Huang (Y) by the surface of the photoconductor 1Y of uniform charging of laser L exposure-scanning, described laser L penetrates from the optical writing unit of hereinafter being described.Make the latent electrostatic image developing of Huang (Y) be yellow (Y) toner image by the developing apparatus 5Y that uses Huang (Y) toner.Described Huang (Y) developed image temporarily is transferred on the intermediate transport band 11.Described cylinder cleaning device 2Y removes through remaining in the lip-deep toner of described photoconductor 1Y after the intermediate transfer step.After cleaning, described electric charge removal device 3Y removes the residual charge on the described photoconductor 1Y.Along with removing of electric charge, the surface of described photoconductor 1Y is initialised, so that prepare imaging next time.Similarly, also on photoconductor 1M, 1C and 1K, form M, C, K toner image, so that be transferred to intermediate transport band 11 at the processing unit 6M, the 6C that are used for other color and 6K.
As shown in fig. 1 aforesaid, optical writing unit 7 is disposed on processing unit 6Y, 6M, 6C and the 6K.The described optical writing unit 7 that forms the unit as sub-image is based on by PC (not shown) image transmitted information or data, by the laser L that penetrates, carries out optical scanning on separately the photoconductor in described processing unit 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K.By described optical scanning, on described photoconductor 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K, form the electrostatic latent image of Y, M, C and K.When scanning, described optical writing unit 7 is launched laser (L), and is that it is sent by the light source on the described photoconductor, through a plurality of optical lenses or catoptron.Described laser scans along main scanning direction, and the polygon mirror (not shown) that is driven by the motor rotation reflects.Replace so optical writing unit 7 of structure, can adopt structure by led array emitting light emitting diode (LED) light.
As shown in fig. 1, the paper feeding cassette 50 that the mode that stacks that is stacked with many transfer paper P is held many transfer paper P is disposed under the intermediate transport band 11, and described transfer paper P is a recording element.Paper-feed roll 50a is pushed on uppermost transfer paper P.Drive described paper-feed roll 50a by rotation, uppermost transfer paper P is sent paper path 51.The transfer paper P that sent is carried between the roller of the aligning that is arranged in described paper path 51 rear ends is to 52 roller.Roller as the aligning of sheet feeding unit drives two rollers with clamping transfer paper P to 52 rotations, and just temporarily stops the rotation of described roller after described roller is clamped described paper.Described alignment roller is carried towards following transfer paper P 52 with the transfer-fixing roll gap of describing.
As shown in fig. 1, intermediate transfer unit 10 moves described intermediate transport band 11 circularly, and described intermediate transport band 11 is that intermediate transfer element and image-carrier while span (spanning) are arranged under described processing unit 6Y, 6M, 6C and the 6K in the same manner.Except that described intermediate transport band 11, described intermediate transfer unit 10 also comprises band cleaning device 16, cooling device 17, tape label sensor 18 or the like.Described intermediate transfer unit 10 also comprises span roller group, and described span roller group comprises four first transfer bias roller 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K; Driven roller 13; Jockey pulley 14; With cleaning backing roll 15.Across described intermediate transport band 11, and its carrying plane (annular inner peripheral surface) is supported by each roller of described span roller group with predetermined tension force.As shown in fig. 1, driven roller 13 makes described intermediate transport band 11 shuttling movement along clockwise direction, and described driven roller 13 is rotated in a clockwise direction driving by the driver element (not shown).
Thereby the described intermediate transport band 11 of clamping shuttling movement forms the first transfer printing slit between described four first transfer bias roller 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K and described photoconductor 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K.And described these first transfer bias rollers adopt such system, described system be used for have with the polarity opposite polarity of toner (for example, anode) transfer bias is applied to the back side (annular inner peripheral surface) of described intermediate transport band 11, so that be configured to carry out the charging system by electrode discharge.
Because its shuttling movement and order are passed in the process in the first transfer printing slit of Y, M, C and K, described described Y, M, C and K toner image on photoconductor 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K at first is transferred on the described intermediate transport band 11 with being overlapped each other at described intermediate transport band 11.Therefore, on described intermediate transport band 11, form four looks overlapping toner image (being expressed as " four look toner image " hereinafter).
As shown in fig. 1, comprise that the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of transfer-fixing roller 21 or the like is disposed in the right side of described intermediate transfer unit 10, and at described transfer-fixing roller 21 be in the described intermediate transport band 11 of clamping between the described driven roller 13 in the described intermediate transfer unit 10, so that form second slit.(0.5 is applied on the described driven roller 13 of described intermediate transfer unit 10 by the power supply (not shown) to-2kV) second transfer bias to have the negative voltage identical with described toner polarity.On the other hand, the described transfer-fixing roller 21 in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 is grounded.As a result, form in the second transfer printing slit from described band side towards described transfer-fixing roller 21 second transfer area of mobile toner statically, the second transfer printing slit is the contact portion between described intermediate transport band 11 and the described transfer-fixing roller 21.Described transfer-fixing roller 21 in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 is heated to 100 ℃.It is more coarse that the surface of described transfer-fixing roller 21 begins the surface that becomes than described intermediate transport band 11.
Be formed on four look toner image on described intermediate transport band 11 fronts by passing described four first transfer printing slits, owing to the shuttling movement of described intermediate transport band 11 advances in the second transfer printing slit.By second transfer area and slit pressure, described four look toner image then jointly are transferred to the surface of transfer-fixing roller 21 by the front of described intermediate transport band 11.At this moment, because the heating of described transfer-fixing roller 21, the toner that forms described four look toner image is softened, so toner increases the viscosity of transfer-fixing roller 21 with surface more coarse than described travelling belt surface.Thereby, improved described second transfer printing.
The tape label (not shown) of a plurality of patch shapes of being made by the reflectorized material such as aluminium, the Width along band is fixed on the end of described intermediate transport band 11 on the whole circumference of band within a predetermined distance.Detect described tape label by tape label sensor 18, described tape label sensor be one in the face of after having passed the described second transfer printing slit through the reflection type optical sensor of the surface arrangement of the described intermediate transport band 11 at predetermined interval.
Even rotate described intermediate transport band 11 with constant speed by drive source drives motor as described driven roller 13, because the excentricity of driving-transmission gear or the thickness deviation of described band, the speed of the shuttling movement of described intermediate transport band 11 slightly changes.When described intermediate transport band 11 during with constant speed shuttling movement, the marker detection that obtains by described tape label sensor 18 becomes preset time at interval at interval.But when the speed of described intermediate transport band 11 produced fluctuation, described marker detection had also changed at interval.Printer comprises belt speed control circuit (not shown), and described belt speed control circuit detects the velocity perturbation of described intermediate transport band 11 based on the output signal of described tape label sensor 18, testing result is fed back to the actuating speed of described CD-ROM drive motor again.Therefore, suppressed the velocity perturbation of described intermediate transport band 11.
As shown in fig. 1, comprise that the cooling device 17 of heat pipe 17a, cleaning scraper plate 17b or the like is disposed in the left side of described tape label sensor 18, the front of wherein said heat pipe 17a and described intermediate transport band 11 rotates in contact.In described heat pipe 17a, comprise the cooling medium (not shown), and it absorbs the heat by described heat pipe conduction effectively.Therefore, its temperature is owing to the described intermediate transport band 11 that raises that contacts with described transfer-fixing roller 21 in the second transfer printing slit is cooled.Because the toner after the remaining transfer printing is bonded on the front of described intermediate transport band 11, described toner is not transferred in the second transfer printing slit on the described transfer-fixing roller 21, and the toner after the remaining transfer printing of part can be bonded on the described heat pipe 17a.Be bonded at toner after the described remaining transfer printing on the described heat pipe 17a by being eliminated with the contacted cleaning scraper plate of described heat pipe 17a 17b.
As shown in fig. 1, described band cleaning device 16 is disposed in the left side of described intermediate transport band 11, so as between it and described cleaning backing roll 15 the described intermediate transport band 11 of clamping.When the described intermediate transport band 11 that was cooled off by described cooling device 17 passed cleaning position, this position was and described band cleaning device 16 contacted positions that the toner after the remaining transfer printing on its front is eliminated.Thereafter, described intermediate transport band 11 orders are passed described four first transfer printing slits, thereby form four look toner image thereon.
Except that described transfer-fixing roller 21, described transfer printing/fixing device 20 also comprises Halogen lamp LED 22, reflecting plate 23, pressure roller 24, clearer 25, first guided plate 26, second guided plate 27, as the housing 28 of shell, or the like.
Described transfer-fixing roller 21 comprise by the metal plug 21a such as aluminium and make by the hard material such as porous ceramics or glass, be formed on the lip-deep heat insulation layer 21b of described plug 21a.Described transfer-fixing roller 21 also comprise make by the resilient material such as silicon rubber, thickness is 0.05 to 0.5 millimeter elastic layer 21c, it is formed on the surface of described heat insulation layer 21b; With form by the fluorine resin material such as perfluoro alkoxy polymer resin (PFA) or teflon (PTEE), thickness is 10 to 30 microns superficial layer (not shown), it covers on the surface of described elastic layer.The superficial layer that is formed by the fluorine resin material is formed on the surface of described elastic layer 21c by the thermal shrinkage of material coating or tube material, and it presents and helps discharging the performance that is bonded at the toner on the described superficial layer.In order to shorten the heating-up time, preferred described plug 21a has thickness or the diameter that is equal to or less than 1 millimeter.In order not only to realize high heat-insulating property, but also to reach the high compressive strength of bearing as the load that acts on the transfer-fixing slit that hereinafter will describe, the thermal conductivity of also preferred described heat insulation layer 21b is set equal to or less than 0.1W/mK, and its compressive strength is set equal to or greater than 3 megapascal (MPa)s.In order to guarantee the general hardness of photographic fixing superficial layer, described elastic layer 21c preferably has and is equal to or greater than 0.1 millimeter thickness, and in order to shorten the heating-up time, described elastic layer 21c also preferably has and is equal to or less than 0.5 millimeter thickness.For the general hardness of the superficial layer that guarantees photographic fixing, described superficial layer preferably has and is equal to or less than 30 microns thickness.The girth of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is set to greater than the length that can be contained in the maximum sized transfer paper P (being A3 in the present embodiment) in the described paper feeding cassette 50.
The heating unit that comprises Halogen lamp LED 22 and reflecting plate 23 is disposed under the transfer-fixing roller 21, as shown in fig. 1.Described Halogen lamp LED 22 is disposed in the opposite of described transfer-fixing roller 21 with predetermined gap.Described reflecting plate 23 is arranged as with predetermined interval and faces the face that is located in downside of Halogen lamp LED 22 as shown in Figure 1, and is and the not reverse part of described photographic fixing transfer roll 21.When described Halogen lamp LED 22 was lighted, the infrared ray part that is gone out by the light emission that moves ahead towards described transfer-fixing roller 21 heated described transfer-fixing roller 21 by direct radiation.The infrared ray that advances towards described transfer-fixing roller 21 opposition sides after the reflection of its working direction by described reflecting plate 23 is diverted, arrives described transfer-fixing roller 21.Therefore, the described infrared ray that is reflected heats described intermediate transfer fixing roller 21 by indirec radiation.The positioned opposite that replaces described transfer-fixing roller 21 and described Halogen lamp LED 22 also can be by the described transfer-fixing roller 21 of Halogen lamp LED 22 inner heating that is arranged in described transfer-fixing roller 21 inside.But in this case, the surface of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is heated by plug wherein, and this causes the increase of the heat energy accumulated.
The surface temperature sensor (not shown) that utilizes technique known to detect the surface temperature of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is disposed in the inside of described transfer printing/fixing device 20, so that the output temperature signal is to heater power source circuit (not shown).Described heater power source circuit changes the Kai Heguan of the power supply of supplying with described Halogen lamp LED 22 based on the temperature signal from surface temperature sensor.Therefore, the surface temperature of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is maintained in the temperature range of photographic fixing.
As shown in fig. 1, the described transfer-fixing roller 21 as transferring member is rotatably driven in the counterclockwise direction by the driver element (not shown).Therefore, as shown in fig. 1, the surface of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is shuttling movement in the counterclockwise direction.Four look toner image from described intermediate transport band 11 secondary transfer printings to described transfer-fixing roller 21 are softening gradually owing to the heating of described transfer-fixing roller 21.When passing the position relative with described Halogen lamp LED 22 along with the described four look toner image of the motion on described transfer-fixing roller 21 surfaces, it is further heated by radiation.Therefore, the toner in the described four look toner image is fully softened.At this moment, in the Temperature Distribution of described toner layer, along the thickness of described toner layer, temperature raises from described roller side to described lamp side.In the first embodiment of the present invention, carry out heating by described Halogen lamp LED 22, so that the temperature of described roller side is stated 80 ℃ and the temperature of described lamp side reaches about 110 to 120 ℃.Especially, because the outlet side of (hereinafter describing) in described transfer-fixing slit is finished described transfer-fixing step, the Push And Release of described Halogen lamp LED 22 is controlled in this wise: make the surface of contact between described transfer paper and the described toner image have 110 to 120 ℃ temperature at described outlet side.
As shown in fig. 1, described pressure roller 24 is disposed in the right side of described transfer-fixing roller 21, so that exert pressure, and when contacting with described transfer-fixing roller 21, it is rotated, to form described transfer-fixing slit towards described transfer-fixing roller 21.The described pressure roller 24 that forms element as the slit comprise the plug 24a that makes by the material such as iron and make by the hard material such as porous ceramics or glass, be formed on the lip-deep heat insulation layer 24b of described plug 24a.Described pressure roller 24 also comprises lip-deep elastic layer 24c that is made by the resilient material such as silicon rubber and be formed on described heat insulation layer 24b and the lip-deep superficial layer (not shown) of being made by the fluorine resin material and be formed on described elastic layer 24c.In order to shorten the heating-up time, preferred described plug 24a has thickness or the diameter that is equal to or less than 1 millimeter.In order not only to realize high heat-insulating property, but also to reach the high compressive strength that bears the load that acts on the transfer-fixing slit, the thermal conductivity of preferred described heat insulation layer 24b is set equal to or less than 0.1W/mK, and its compressive strength is set equal to or greater than 3 megapascal (MPa)s.For the general hardness of the superficial layer that guarantees photographic fixing, the upper limit of the thickness of also preferred described elastic layer 24c is set to 0.1 millimeter, and its lower limit is set to 0.5 millimeter.For the general hardness of the superficial layer that guarantees photographic fixing, the thickness of preferred described superficial layer is set equal to or less than 30 microns.
As shown in Figure 3, by the fully softening described four look toner image of the radiation of described Halogen lamp LED 22, along with the apparent motion of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is forwarded in the described transfer-fixing slit.On the other hand, as shown in fig. 1, the alignment roller that is arranged under the described transfer-fixing roller 21 is synchronously sent into transfer paper P in described transfer-fixing slit towards described transfer printing/fixing device 20 to (not shown) and described four look toner image.
In described transfer-fixing slit, the toner that is contained in the described four look toner image that are softened is clipped between the fiber of described transfer paper P the toner on described toner laminar surface side.Therefore, described four look toner image by photographic fixing on described transfer paper P.Exit in described transfer-fixing slit, described transfer-fixing roller 21 and described transfer paper P are separated from one another.But because described transfer paper P has the surface more coarse than described fixing roller 21, the adhesion that described four look toner image are compared described transfer-fixing roller 21 to the adhesion of described transfer paper P is higher.Therefore, the described four look toner image on the described transfer-fixing roller 21 are transferred on the described transfer paper P for the third time.When the difference of only utilizing the surfaceness between described paper and the described roller can not realize good transfer printing for the third time, in transfer printing for the third time, utilizing and using static printing in the described surfaceness and assist transfer printing for the third time.In this case, when the material of the conductive material that comprises the dispersion such as material with carbon element was used to each layer on the plug in described transfer-fixing roller 21 and described pressure roller 24, another then was subjected to transfer bias described roller 21 and one of them ground connection of plug of 24.
As shown in fig. 1, after the described transfer paper P that passes described transfer-fixing slit discharged from described transfer printing/fixing device 20, it was discharged to the outside of described device to (not shown) via the paper distributing roller.Be not transferred on the described transfer paper P, remaining toner sticks on the surface of the described transfer-fixing roller 21 that passes described transfer printing slit after the transfer printing for the third time.Remaining toner after the described clearer 25 of rotation has been removed described transfer printing for the third time when contacting with described transfer-fixing roller 21.
In the printer that adopts aforesaid basic structure, visual image forms the unit forms a visual image on intermediate transport band 11 surfaces toner image, travelling belt 11 is used for image-carrier, it comprises optical writing unit 7, four processing unit 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K and intermediate transfer unit 10.
Next, the architectural feature of described printer will be explained.
Fig. 4 is the enlarged drawing after transfer printing/fixing device 20 is amplified.As shown in Figure 4, comprise housing 28, transfer-fixing roller 21, pressure roller 24, clearer 25, heating unit in described transfer printing/fixing device 20, or the like.Described housing 28 comprises that a part that is used for described transfer-fixing roller 21 peripheries is exposed to the outside so that the escape hole that the surface that makes described part contact described intermediate transport band (not shown) exposes a mouthful 28a, is used to receive the receiving port 28b of transfer paper and is used to discharge transfer paper.For example, as the material that is used to make described housing 28, can use two plates with the thermal insulation material metallic luster that be bonded to each other and that have low-E of predetermined gap or foaming.Comprise that the thin plate that is used for the micro heat pipe structure of the CPU of subnotebook PC cooling can be used as the material that forms described housing 28.Have the material of high insulation effect by use, can suppress the heat release of described transfer printing/fixing device 20.
Described receiving port 28b is formed in the described housing 28, so that vertically face down, and by described receiving port 28b, the transfer paper of being sent into by the alignment roller that is arranged under described transfer printing/fixing device 20 is received in the described housing 28.The first supporting element 30 reception opening 28b that is positioned at the left side shown in Figure 4 that is fixed encloses on the marginal portion of edge (peripheral edge) part.Second supporting element 31 is fixed on the marginal portion that is positioned at the right side shown in Figure 4.
First guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 are disposed between described transfer-fixing slit and the described receiving port 28b.Be arranged to described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 that very easily raise by its temperature of radiation and comprise the flexible thin plate that is made as base element by the metal material such as copper or aluminium from described heating unit.In order to make the slip between described guided plate and the transfer paper become more level and smooth, the superficial layer that the surface coverage of described base element is made by the low-friction material such as fluorine resin.An end that is positioned at described first guided plate 26 of described open side forms cantilevered fashion by described first supporting element 30, and its free end that is positioned at described slit side is positioned near described transfer-fixing slit.On the position of described second guided plate 27 of facing described first guided plate 26, an end that is positioned at described second guided plate 27 of described open side forms cantilevered fashion by described second supporting element 31, and its free end that is positioned at described slit side is contacted with the free end of described first guided plate 26.When described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate, 27 free ends being contacted with each other close described receiving port 28b, they guide transfer paper, also: be exactly recording chart and advance towards described transfer-fixing slit between described two guided plates.
Because the heat that produces by the Halogen lamp LED among described transfer printing/fixing device 20 22 is easy to produce the air-flow of rising.When vertically ventricumbent described receiving port 28b stayed open, extraneous air was inhaled into described housing 28 on one's own initiative from described receiving port 28b, thereby quickened the rising of air-flow.Heated air in the described housing 28 is discharged on one's own initiative from the described surperficial escape hole 28c that exposes mouthful 28a or vertically be positioned on the described receiving port 28b, so greatly reduce thermal property.But, as shown in Figure 4, in printer, because described receiving port 28b is the closure along with the contact between the free end of the free end of described first guided plate 26 and described second guided plate 27, so avoided suction, shown in the thick arrow among Fig. 4 from the extraneous air of described receiving port 28b.Therefore, in housing 28, suppress the generation of updraft, and can suppress the release of internal heat.Therefore, can reduce thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device 20.
Thereby guide the leading edge of the transfer paper of carrying to advance between two plates near the contact portion between described two plates rapidly by first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.The free end that described transfer paper P promotes described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 makes them separated from one another.Thereby flexible described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 free end separately, not that direction close to each other but separated from one another is outwardly-bent along them.As shown in fig. 1, along with above-mentioned bending, two guided plate transfer papers separated from one another and described advance between two guided plates, so described transfer paper is by the guiding of the described transfer-fixing slit in described housing 28.Though explained the free-ended example of removing them along with described first guided plate 26 and described two plates of second guided plate, 27 free-ended bendings in an embodiment of the present invention, among two free ends only one can be moved.Can rotate the free end that makes described guided plate around the stiff end of guided plate by free end moves to substitute free-ended bending.
The synoptic diagram of existing common fixing device 100 among Fig. 5.Described fixing device 100 is used for photographic fixing toner image on the transfer paper that passes the transfer printing unit (not shown), and described transfer printing unit is transferred to toner image on the transfer paper.Described fixing device 100 comprises fixing roller 102 and the pressure roller 104 in the housing 101.Described fixing roller 102 comprises Halogen lamp LED 103 wherein, and by the driver element (not shown), described fixing roller 102 is rotatably driven along the counter clockwise direction shown in Fig. 5.Exert pressure towards 102 pairs of described pressure roller 104 of described fixing roller, and when its surface was contacted with described fixing roller 102, it rotated along the clockwise direction shown in Fig. 5.Described housing 101 comprises and being provided on described housing 101 base plates so that vertically prone receiving port 101a and being provided on described housing 101 top boards so that vertically towards last escape hole 101b.The transfer paper (not shown) that is received from described receiving port 101a is applied in slit pressure in its process by the transfer printing slit, described transfer printing slit is the contact portion between described fixing roller 102 and the described pressure roller 104, simultaneously by described fixing roller 102 heating.Therefore, when described toner image by after photographic fixing is to the surface of described transfer paper P, described transfer paper P is discharged to the outside of described housing 101 via described escape hole 101b.Guided plate 105 is disposed between described photographic fixing slit and the described receiving port 101a, is positioned at the right side as shown in Figure 5, and forms cantilevered fashion by the described guided plate in marginal portion that described receiving port 101a encloses edge.
Thereby described guided plate 105 is fixed on the marginal portion of right side receiving port 101a as shown in Figure 5, and still, guided plate is not fixed on the marginal portion of left side receiving port 101a as shown in Figure 5.To describe below and adopt this structural reason.That is, in existing fixing device 100, receive the transfer paper that has been transferred toner image by the transfer printing unit (not shown) from described receiving port 101a.But the toner image of photographic fixing is not carried on the relative face of described transfer paper and described fixing roller 102.If guided plate is fixed on the marginal portion of left side receiving port as shown in Figure 5, the toner image and the described guided plate of the described not photographic fixing on the so described transfer paper rub mutually.Therefore, in shown fixing device 100, as shown in Figure 5, do not provide guided plate in the left side edge part.Further,, make the width of described receiving port 101a bigger along the horizontal direction shown in Fig. 5, for example several millimeters so that the toner of the not photographic fixing on described transfer paper not with the edge part phase-splitting friction in the described receiving port 101a left side shown in Fig. 5.Adopt this structure, the updraft that in housing, produces along with the heat that produces owing to described Halogen lamp LED 103, extraneous air is sucked energetically from described receiving port 101a, shown in the thick arrow among Fig. 5.Because Hot air quilt is discharged into the outside of housing energetically from described escape hole 101b, the thermal loss in the described fixing device significantly increases simultaneously.
On the other hand, as shown in fig. 1, in the photographic fixing transfer device 20 in printer, be not received in the housing 28 by carrying toner image transfer paper P thereon, even the two-sided of described transfer paper P all slides on induction element, the problem such as toner image is disturbed can not take place yet.Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, described induction element is provided at the marginal portion of receiving port 28b peripheral part, its be positioned at shown in Fig. 5 the left and right sides, corresponding with the thickness direction of described transfer paper P, so that the one side of described transfer paper P and another side all on described guided plate, slide.Described receiving port 28b closes by two guided plates (described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27), accepts extraneous air so stoped by described receiving port 28b.
As shown in fig. 1, contact portion between described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 is arranged in the such zone of neutralization, zone that the periphery of wherein said two rollers faces with each other, be that described zone is positioned in along the upstream side in the described transfer printing slit of the apparent motion direction of two rollers, contacting with each other as the described transfer-fixing roller of transfer roll and the described pressure roller that forms roller as the slit.Adopt such structure, by described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27, described transfer paper P between described two rollers is guided near ground, described transfer-fixing slit, so just carry out the accurate location of described transfer paper P in the front portion in described slit.Therefore, can form the high-quality image that does not comprise the picture position deviation.
As mentioned above, in the transfer-fixing slit, when two systems of thermal transfer printing system and static printing system all were used, another then was applied in the 3rd transfer bias one of transfer-fixing roller 21 and pressure roller 24 ground connection.Adopt this structure, as shown in fig. 1, when the leading edge of transfer paper P was clamped in the described transfer-fixing slit, the rear end of described transfer paper P was clamped between first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.Therefore, described transfer-fixing slit, and first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 are by described transfer paper P cross-over connection.At this moment, when because moisture absorption effect when making the resistance value of described transfer paper P quite low, the transfer printing electric current leaks on first guided plate 26 or second guided plate 27 via described transfer paper P.In described transfer-fixing slit, when two systems of thermal transfer printing system and static printing system all were used, the plate that has the superficial layer of being made by insulating material was used as described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.Therefore, can prevent that electric current from leaking into described two guided plates.
In printer, has plate with the surface of contact of transfer paper P, its edge is perpendicular to the size of the direction of sheet transport direction, promptly, along size, can be used as first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 when satisfying following condition perpendicular to the direction of described accompanying drawing paper plane (figure paper plane).That is, described condition is that along the direction perpendicular to described throughput direction, described size is greater than the size that can be contained in the maximum sized transfer paper P (being A3 in the present embodiment) in the described paper feeding cassette 50.Adopt this structure,, also can guide described transfer paper P reliably towards described transfer-fixing slit by described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 even use maximum sized transfer paper.
The time layout in printer, the escape hole 28c of preferred described housing 28 is vertically towards last, as shown in fig. 1.Adopt this structure,, can suppress dew condensation by discharge the unnecessary heat in the top that remains in described housing 28 at leisure by described escape hole 28c.Therefore, can suppress reduction owing to the picture quality that causes attached to the water droplet on the transfer paper P.Need be used for transfer paper P vertically upwards is discharged to described housing 28 outsides vertically by carrying transfer paper P towards upside to point to described escape hole 28c ground in described transfer-fixing slit than downside.
Be well known that the shape that forms the toner particle of toner image has relation with the transfer properties (maintenance of transfer efficiency or picture shape) that is transferred to the toner image on the described transfer-fixing roller 21 by described intermediate transport band 11.It is relatively good on the transfer printing performance that the actual sphericity φ of Wadell ＇ s of toner particle is equal to or greater than 0.8 toner.Therefore, the actual sphericity φ of Wadell ＇ s of toner particle is equal to or greater than 0.8 toner and is used as toner in the embodiment of the invention.Can utilize in Japan publication application No.H09-258474 disclosed method to measure the actual sphericity φ of described Wadell ＇ s.Particularly, can obtain the actual sphericity φ of described Wadell ＇ s by using such relational expression " φ=(equaling the diameter of a circle L1 of seat projected area)/(the external diameter of a circle L2 of particle projected image) ".An amount of pulverous toner is placed on the microslide, can be by this toner particle of microscopic examination of 500 times of speed, and can measure the L1 and the L2 of any 100 toner particle in above-mentioned pulverous toner particle, thereby obtain the actual sphericity φ of described Wadell ＇ s.What use is that the mean value of the actual sphericity φ of Wadell ＇ s of 100 toner particle is equal to or greater than 0.8 toner powder.
Explained such embodiment, in described embodiment, flexible and have and make contacted each other free-ended plate be used as first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.But, unbending and have the free-ended plate that faces with each other with the slit that is equal to or less than 5 millimeters and can be used as guided plate.
In printer, the cap member that is used to cover described transfer-fixing slit inlet is formed by the base plate of the housing 28 of described transfer printing/fixing device 20 and described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 that is fixed on the described base plate.Slit between described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 is as the opening that transfer paper P is directed in the described transfer-fixing slit.
Fig. 6 is the enlarged drawing according to the relevant portion of the first improved device 20A in the printer of first embodiment.The described first improved device 20A comprises driven roller 40, transfer-fixing band 41, the backing roll 42 that replaces the transfer-fixing roller 21 shown in Fig. 1, or the like.Transfer-fixing band 41 as transferring member passes through driven roller 40 along the counter clockwise direction shuttling movement shown in Fig. 6, across between driven roller in the loop that is arranged in described transfer-fixing band 41 40 and the backing roll 42, described driven roller 40 is rotatably driven along the counter clockwise direction shown in Fig. 6 by the driver element (not shown) simultaneously.Thereby described intermediate transport band 11 contacts with the zone in the left side shown in Fig. 6 and forms the second transfer printing slit, and this zone is included in the knuckle section of the transfer-fixing band 41 on the driven roller 40.Described pressure roller 24 contacts with the zone in the knuckle section right side, that be included in the transfer-fixing band 41 on the driven roller 40 shown in Fig. 6, thereby also forms the described second transfer printing slit.Be transferred to four look toner image on the described transfer-fixing band 41 in the described second transfer printing slit for the second time by described intermediate transport band 11, be transferred on the transfer paper P for the third time in described transfer-fixing slit and by photographic fixing on its paper.Stick on described transfer-fixing band 41 fronts of passing described transfer-fixing slit, the residual toner roller 25 that is cleaned is removed after the transfer printing for the third time, this clearer 25 is the described transfer-fixing band 41 of clamping between clearer 25 and described backing roll 42.
In the first improved device 20A that so constitutes, described transferring member (described transfer-fixing roller 21 or described transfer-fixing band 41) replaces the transfer-fixing roller to be elongated by the range ability that exports to the second transfer-fixing slit in described transfer-fixing slit by utilizing the transfer-fixing band.Therefore, after being further cooled, described transferring member is forwarded in the described second transfer printing slit.Be suppressed by of the heat conduction of described transferring member, so can suppress the heat ageing of described intermediate transport band 11 to described intermediate transport band 11.When using described transfer-fixing roller 21, be sent on the plug in the described roller from the heat of described Halogen lamp LED 22, still, when using the transfer-fixing band, can be suppressed to the heat conduction of described plug.Therefore, reduced the heat of building up, so improved efficiency.
Fig. 7 is the enlarged drawing according to the relevant portion of the second improved device 20B in the printer of first embodiment.The described second modifying device 20B comprise the electromagnetic induction device that produces the source as heat be used to replace described Halogen lamp LED 2 heat by secondary be transferred to the lip-deep four look toner image of transfer paper.Described electromagnetic induction device comprises by the heat generating layers 21d under the superficial layers that make and that be provided to described transfer-fixing roller 21 such as silver, with inductive coil 43 and the core (not shown) of predetermined clearance plane to described transfer-fixing roller 21 layouts.When described inductive coil during by excitation, described core (not shown) produces magnetic field.In the heat generating layers 21d of described transfer-fixing roller 21, produce eddy current, so described heat generating layers 21d produces heat.Therefore, four look toner image of the superficial layer of described transfer-fixing roller 21 and carrying on it are heated.Adopt this structure, provide described heat generating layers 21d to play the effect of heat generation source by the surface near described transfer-fixing roller 21, described transfer-fixing process can be carried out with the energy lower than the energy that needs in radiating system.
Fig. 8 is the enlarged drawing according to the relevant portion of the 3rd modifying device 20C in the printer of first embodiment.Described the 3rd modifying device 20C comprises first row's paper guide plate 32 and second row's paper guide plate 33, and they are arranged between the escape hole 28c of outlet of described transfer-fixing slit and described housing 28 with facing with each other.The transfer paper P that leaves from described transfer-fixing slit advances between described row's paper guide plate, is subjected to the guiding towards described escape hole 28c.Distributing roller is disposed between described first row's paper guide plate 32 and second row's paper guide plate 33 and the described escape hole 28c, so the described distributing roller of described transfer paper P process is to arriving described escape hole 28c between 34 the roller 34.
Around the rotation of turning axle 36 and the parts of valve 35 of the described escape hole 28c of open closed is disposed on the top board of described housing 28.Be rotated by the described turning axle 36 of drive transmission (not shown) that comprises gear etc., open or closed described escape hole 28c thereby make described parts of valve 35 be rotated.One that is provided for the heat that is easy to most discharge among three opening 28a, 28b of described housing 28 and the 28c in the described housing is the described escape hole 28c that is provided on described housing 28 top boards.Therefore, provide described parts of valve 35 to suppress the leakage hot-air of wasting by described escape hole 28c as much as possible.Therefore, have only when described transfer paper P is discharged by described escape hole 28c, described escape hole 28c just is opened, perhaps in printing continuously, discharge paper continuously in, described escape hole 28c is just opened constantly, can reduce thermal loss greatly like this.When because the closure of described parts of valve 35 when causing heat superfluous, can carry out the control of opening described parts of valve 35 in time the row's of removing paper, periodically by the parts of valve operation control unit.Therefore, can avoid owing to the dew condensation in the superfluous described housing 28 that causes of heat.Described parts of valve 35 can adopt according to its such structure of carrying out the open and close operation of sliding and replace carrying out the structure that open closed is operated according to its rotation.
Fig. 9 is the synoptic diagram according to first guided plate in the 4th improvement transfer printing/fixing device of first embodiment.In described the 4th modifying device, photographic fixing is not formed with a plurality of slit 26a to the free end of described first guided plate 26 of described first supporting element 30, described slit is arranged with predetermined spacing along the direction vertical with described paper supply direction, thereby described free end is divided into many along the direction vertical with described paper supply direction.By described slit 26a, described free end is divided into many along the direction vertical with described paper supply direction, so that make the bending individually of described each piece.Described first guided plate 26 and transfer paper P are set to the width of being longer than the maximum sized transfer paper in the described paper feeding cassette 50 that can be contained in the Fig. 1 that preceding illustrates along the length L 3 of the contacted part of direction vertical with described paper supply direction.When described maximum sized transfer paper is admitted to described transfer printing/fixing device, separated of in the described free end of described first guided plate 26 all are all along with crooked with contacting of described transfer paper, so described reception opening (not shown) is opened on its whole width.On the other hand, when the size transfer paper littler than described full-size was admitted to, only separated in the described free end of some described first guided plate 26 was along with crooked with contacting of described transfer paper.Do not keep agley contacting with the described second guided plate (not shown) with contacted separated of described transfer paper.Adopt this structure, when size than described full-size little transfer paper when being admitted to described transfer printing/fixing device, can avoid such problem: promptly the described first guided plate free end not with the contacted zone of described transfer paper in, described zone is also crooked, consequently the problem by described reception opening heat release air or suction extraneous air that causes by the slit that forms between described free end and described second guided plate.The free end of described second guided plate 27 can be divided into a plurality of and replace being separated of described first guided plate 26, or make described two guided plates all have narrow slit structure.
Next, with the printer of explaining according to second embodiment of the invention.Unless otherwise indicated, with basic identical, and omitted explanation according to the basic structure of the printer of second embodiment to it according to the printer of first embodiment.Shown in the synoptic diagram of Figure 10 and back, the identical reference number of those reference numbers during printer that those components identical in the printer of function and first embodiment or device were coupled with and illustrated first embodiment.
Figure 10 is the enlarged drawing of the part of transfer printing/fixing device 20 of close reception opening 28b in the printer.In the structure of transfer printing/fixing device described in the printer 20 and according to the basically identical in the printer of first embodiment.But, two printers differ from one another at the free end of described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27, contact with each other at free end according to first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 described in the printer of first embodiment, and in the printer according to second embodiment, described two free-ended ends of guided plate face with each other with microgap G.The value of described microgap G is set equal to or less than 250 microns, and its thickness is less than the thickness that is generally used for the cardboard in the printer.Adopt this structure, when transfer paper is not received in described transfer printing/fixing device 20, described reception opening 28b only is opened and is equal to or less than 250 microns small width, so by the release of the hot-air of described reception opening 28b or the suction of extraneous air, can suppress the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 by inhibition.When transfer paper is received, by the displacement that the free-ended bending owing to described first guided plate 26 or second guided plate 27 forms described reception opening 28b is opened the thickness that reaches described transfer paper, so described transfer paper can be received in the described housing 28.Described microgap G can be set equal to or less than 100 microns, it is consistent with the general-purpose thick of standard paper.
Figure 20 is the enlarged drawing that improves transfer printing/fixing device according to first in the second embodiment printer.The described first modifying device 20H does not comprise housing as shell, it includes various rollers 21,24 and 25 and Halogen lamp LED 22, and described roller and lamp all are exposed in the printer.But, be used for shielding described transfer-fixing slit and be positioned under the described slit alignment roller to the barricade 29 of (not shown, but 52 consistent with shown in Fig. 1) at Figure 20 be provided at described slit and described roller between.On being sitting at part under the described transfer-fixing slit, described barricade 29 has opening 29a.Form cantilever by described first guided plate 26 of described opening 29a two inwalls respect to one another and second guided plate 27.Slit between the free end of first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters.Note that 0 millimeter is also included within the scope that is equal to or less than 5 millimeters.
Adopt this structure, by the slit between first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 is set at also be not set for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters less size, along with being reduced as the advance amount that produces along the conveying of the transfer paper of described barricade 29 upstream sides of the cladding element of the throughput direction of transfer paper towards the air-flow of described opening 29a.Therefore, can avoid the problem such as the air-flow that the Hot air quilt around remaining on described Halogen lamp LED 22 is entered by described opening 29a blows away, so can reduce thermal loss.
Next, will explain printer according to third embodiment of the invention.Unless otherwise indicated, with basic identical, and omitted explanation according to the basic structure of the printer of the 3rd embodiment to it according to the printer of first embodiment.Shown in the synoptic diagram of Figure 11 and back, the identical reference number of those reference numbers during printer that those components identical in the printer of function and first embodiment or device were coupled with and illustrated first embodiment.
Figure 11 is the synoptic diagram of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 in the printer.The structure of the 3rd modifying device 20C that formerly illustrates among the structure of shown transfer printing/fixing device 20 and Fig. 8 is basic identical.But, difference between the 3rd modifying device 20C shown in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 and Fig. 8 is: be used for transfer paper is constructed to first guided plate 26 defeated state of described transfer paper towards described two guided plates 52 paper path of carrying towards described transfer printing/fixing device 20 by alignment roller in the former, described guided plate forms cantilever at the edge that encloses of the reception opening of described transfer printing/fixing device 20.Difference between the 3rd modifying device 20C shown in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 and Fig. 8 also is: guided plate 26 and 27 free end are subjected to displacement along with the rotation of described guided plate described in the former.
Because described first guided plate 26 is near the heating unit location that comprises Halogen lamp LED 22, reflecting plate 23 etc., described plate is heated by described heating unit.According to by described heating unit to the distance of described first guided plate 26, the shape of described reflecting plate 23 etc., the temperature of described first guided plate 26 changes, and it can reach about 100 ℃.Described paper path 51 is constructed to towards carrying transfer paper by described first guided plate 26 of described heating unit heating.Particularly, described paper path is to be used to that transfer paper is passed and to be arranged in as shown in Figure 11 the first path plate 51a in left side and be arranged in as shown in Figure 11 between the second path plate 51b on right side.But, thereby outstanding the extending to of the described second path plate 51b exceeds the first path plate 51a in their end along described paper feeding direction, and the outshot of the described second path plate 51b is towards the described first path plate 51a bending.Therefore, described transfer paper contacts with the end of the described second path plate 51b in the end of described paper path, so that carry transfer paper towards described first guided plate 26, so described transfer paper is pulled on described first guided plate 26 at the upstream side of the contact portion between described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.Adopt this and structure, transfer paper can be pulled on described first guided plate 26, thereby can be preheated before described transfer paper advances to described transfer printing/fixing device 20.By described preheating, utilize of the temperature rising of the heat of accumulation in described first guided plate 26 with described transfer paper, this heat energy that is different from accumulation in described first guided plate 26 is discharged into the technology in the atmosphere in vain.Therefore, by reducing the heat that need be applied to described transfer paper in described transfer-fixing slit, the heat that is applied to described transfer-fixing roller 21 by described heating unit can be reduced, thereby has suppressed thermal loss.According to the experiment that the inventor implemented by the application, for example carrying under the such condition of transfer paper with the linear velocity of 300mm/sec, when not carrying out described preheating by described first guided plate 26, must be with the surface temperature control to 150 of described transfer-fixing roller 21 ℃.On the other hand, when described when carrying out preheatings by described first guided plate 26, even the surface temperature of described transfer-fixing roller 21 is low to 140 ℃, toner image also transfer printing easily and photographic fixing to transfer paper.At this moment, the temperature of described first guided plate 26 is approximately 100 ℃.If the temperature of described first guided plate 26 does not fully raise by described heating unit, described reflecting plate 23 will be connected via the material with high thermal conductivity such as aluminium with described first guided plate 26, maybe will carry out direct radiation via the opening that is formed in the described reflecting plate 23 to described first guided plate 26 by Halogen lamp LED 22.
In first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 each is all by using the heat stable resin coating such as polyimide to be formed by the metal thin plate with high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminium.Thicken described first guided plate by using resinous coat, the thermal accumlation of described first guided plate 26 has increased, so can utilize the heat energy of accumulation to come abundant preheating.But because its thickness increases, the flexible of guided plate can not be improved fully.Therefore, described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 rotatably are equipped with around turning axle 26a and 27a, and the power that the free end of described two plates all passes through such as spring force is biased, to cause described plate closer to each other.When transfer paper advanced between two plates, the free end of described plate was along the direction rotation relative with the bias voltage direction of described spring force.Can finish the open and close of described reception opening along with described free-ended displacement.
When thermal transfer printing system and these two systems of static printing system all are applied in the transfer-fixing slit, the plate that preferably is used as first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 is formed the superficial layer of being made by insulating material, so prevented the electric leakage of described guided plate.The superficial layer of preferred described first guided plate 26 is formed by the material with low-friction coefficient, has nothing to do and use with the static printing system time.Therefore, the leading edge by being pulled to the transfer paper on described first guided plate 26 in paper path 51 is slided on the surface of described first guided plate 26 glossily, can avoid the stacking of transfer paper on first guided plate 26.
Figure 12 is the first guided plate enlarged side view shown in Figure 11.As shown in Figure 12, described first guided plate 26 is formed the flexure plane that is extended by the arc of described reception opening (not shown) towards described transfer-fixing slit.Can further avoid the stacking of transfer paper leading edge on described first guided plate 26.
Figure 13 is the synoptic diagram according to the first modifying device 20D of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 3rd embodiment.In the first modifying device 20D, thin and plate that demonstrate flexibility is used as first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.Adopt this structure, even be not provided for the rotary setting mechanism of two guided plates in this device shown in Figure 11 formerly, the reception opening of described housing 28 also can be opened, this be since along with the cause of the free end bending of described two plates of contacting of transfer paper.But the heat that described first guided plate 26 gathers is less than the heat that gathers in the device shown in Figure 11.
Figure 14 is the synoptic diagram according to the second modifying device 20E of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 3rd embodiment.The described second modifying device 20E comprises the inlet deflector roll 37 that replaces described second guided plate 27, described inlet deflector roll 37 forms by using the elastic layer of being made by rubber to cover plug, and when its periphery contacts with described first guided plate 26, described inlet deflector roll 37 rotations.Thin and flexible plate is used as described first guided plate 26.Described inlet deflector roll 37 rotatably is supported on enclosing on the edge of described reception opening, and by the less power such as elastic force, it is biased towards described first guided plate 26.By the contact between the described inlet deflector roll 37 of described first guided plate 26, described reception opening is closed, but, when transfer paper advances to contact region between described plate and roller two, the free end of described first guided plate 26 is bent, and reaches the thickness of described transfer paper so described reception opening is opened.Therefore, described transfer paper is received in the described housing 28.Nothing it should be noted that described transfer paper is by being preheated with described first the contacting of guided plate 26 before described reception.
Figure 15 is the synoptic diagram according to the 3rd modifying device 20F of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 3rd embodiment.Difference between transfer printing/fixing device 20 shown in the 3rd modifying device 20F and Figure 11 is: in the former, the parts of valve 35 that is used for the escape hole of the described housing of open and close is disposed in the roof of described housing 28.Have only when transfer paper P is discharged by described escape hole 28c, described escape hole 28c is just opened by described parts of valve 35, and perhaps during discharging the continuous printing of paper continuously, described paper escape hole is opened continuously, so can reduce thermal loss greatly.
Figure 16 is the synoptic diagram according to the 4th modifying device 20G of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 3rd embodiment.Described the 4th modifying device 20G comprises the EM induction system heating unit that replaces radiation and reflection-type heating unit.Described heating unit comprises elastic layer and the generation of the heat between heat insulation layer layer 21d, inductive coil 39 that is arranged in described transfer-fixing roller 21 and the core 38 that is used for described coil, and described coil and core are arranged described transfer-fixing roller 21 with predetermined clearance plane.Described heat produces layer 21d and is formed by thin metal layer, and described thin metal layer is made by the material such as ferromagnetic material.When described inductive coil 39 during, produce magnetic fields by described core 38 by excitation.Produce induction generation vortex flow among the layer 21d in described heat, produce hot so described heat produces layer 21d.In view of the balance of calorie value and thermal capacitance, the thickness that preferred described heat produces layer 21d is set in about 200 to 1000 microns scope.Therefore, the surface of described transfer-fixing roller 21 can more effectively be heated, and can realize reducing of heating unit size.Described first guided plate 26 is arranged near described core 38, and the Joule heat that sensed coil 39 produces heats.Produce layer if in described first guided plate 26, also have heat, just can heat described first guided plate 26 by the magnetic field that produces by core 38 so.
Next will explain printer according to fourth embodiment of the invention.Unless otherwise indicated, with basic identical, and omitted explanation according to the basic structure of the printer of the 4th embodiment to it according to the printer of first embodiment.Shown in the synoptic diagram of Figure 17 and back, those components identical in the printer of function and first embodiment or device are coupled with the identical reference number of those reference numbers with the printer that is used to illustrate first embodiment.
Figure 17 is the synoptic diagram according to the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 4th embodiment.Described transfer printing/fixing device 20 does not comprise first guided plate and second guided plate that is used for towards described transfer-fixing slit guiding transfer paper (do not show, go out).Described transfer paper is recording chart and has been received in the described housing as shell and covering.To describe below and adopt this structural reason.Promptly, in printer, the transfer paper of (not shown in Figure 17, but 52 consistent with shown in Fig. 1) being carried towards described transfer printing/fixing device 20 by alignment roller, opening 28d from housing 28 base plates that are arranged in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 is received in the described housing 28.Described opening 28d and the distance that is formed between the described transfer-fixing slit in the described housing 28 are very short, thereby when transfer paper was received in the described housing 28 by described opening 28d, described transfer paper can advance in the described transfer-fixing slit reliably.
The described opening 28d of described housing 28 is formed rectangle, and the minor face of described opening 28d is illustrated, so that in the face of the front shown in Figure 17.The length W of described minor face is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters, and it is the short size that was not used.In the former fixing device, owing to carry toner image on the transfer paper that wherein is admitted to, so when the size of described opening was excessively reduced, the inwall of described toner image and described opening produced friction, this will confuse described toner image.Therefore, the size of the minor face of described opening (with the consistency of thickness of transfer paper) has to be set to have several centimetres at least.On the other hand, in the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of printer since transfer paper be received enter described housing 28 before, do not carry toner image on it, produce friction even described transfer paper leans against the inwall of described opening 28d, can not confuse toner image yet.Therefore, the length W of described minor face is set to be equal to or less than 5 millimeters be possible, this size is the size that can not be used in the former fixing device.The bottom surface of described housing 28 prevents that the airflow that produces along with the action of the transfer paper of housing 28 outsides from entering described housing 28.Preferred described length W is set to the thickness that is used as the paper (thin paper is to cardboard) of transfer paper usually.
As pre-reception first guided plate 53 of pre-reception guiding piece with receive second guided plate 54 in advance and be disposed in alignment roller between (not shown) and the opening 28d as the housing 28 of the covering that covers described transfer-fixing slit inlet, recording chart be received enter described opening 28d before, with described recording chart by described alignment roller to towards described opening 28d guiding.The transfer paper of (rice illustrates) being carried by described alignment roller advances between described two guided plates.Pre-first guided plate 53 that receives contacts with the image transfer surface of described transfer paper, thereby the end of described transfer paper by described opening 28d minor face guided towards its core.Described pre-reception second guided plate 54 contacts with image transfer surface opposing backside surface with described transfer paper, thereby the other end of described transfer paper by described opening 28d minor face guided towards its core.
Be narrower than spacing distance between described alignment roller offside at described pre-reception first guided plate 53 and the spacing distance that receives the described opening 28d side between second guided plate 54 in advance.Therefore, after the transfer paper of carrying being received between spacing distance is relatively than two guided plates of long alignment roller offside by described alignment roller, described transfer paper progressively is directed into the relatively described opening 28d side of weak point of spacing distance simultaneously near the central side of described opening 28d short brink.
Preferably the spacing distance of the described opening 28d side between described two guided plates 53 and 54 is set to and slightly is shorter than the length W of described opening 28d at short side direction.Adopt this structure, can avoid stacking of around described opening 28d transfer paper leading edge.But, even adopt said structure, when described escape hole 28c along the length W of short side direction very in short-term, may make the leading edge of described transfer paper be stopped by the inwall of described opening 28d.And in printer of the present invention, described length W is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters, preferably be equal to or less than 2 millimeters, described length W be set to than transfer paper leading edge on described opening 28d inwall according to the pitch angle of described two guided plates 53 and 54 and the size that may stack by index law is long.The expectation value of described size (lower limit of described length W) is according to the tilt angle varied of described two guided plates 53 and 54.
Figure 18 is the enlarged drawing according to the part of the opening 28d in transfer printing/fixing device 20 first modifying devices of the printer of the 4th embodiment.In first modifying device, be fixed on the case inner face of described housing 28 base plates as the first access hatch spare 81 and the second access hatch spare 82 of access hatch spare.Each of described parts of valve is all made by thin and flexible resin plate.
The described first access hatch spare 81 forms cantilevered fashion by the housing parts around the described opening 28d, and it is continuous to the end of described opening 28d along the short side direction of described opening, so its free end can be bent.As shown in Figure 18, half of the closed described opening 28d of described free end.
The described second access hatch spare 82 forms cantilevered fashion by the housing parts around the described opening 28d, and it is continuous to the other end of described opening 28d along the short side direction of described opening, so its free end can be bent.As shown in Figure 18, described free end closure is not by the open area of the described first access hatch spare, 81 closures.
Contact with each other the Zone Full of the closed described opening 28d of described access hatch spare at the core of described opening by the free end that makes them.
As shown in Figure 19, when with transfer paper P by described alignment roller to (not shown) when described opening 28d carries, the leading edge of described transfer paper contact described two go into parts of valve 81 and 82 or one of them.Therefore, the free end of described access hatch spare is towards the interior curve of described housing 28, so that open described opening 28d.Therefore, described transfer paper P is received in the described housing 28.
Adopt such structure, when transfer paper P was not admitted to described housing 28, described opening 28d so compare with the situation that described opening 28d always opens, can reduce the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device by described access hatch spare closure.Even do not have the driver element that drives described access hatch spare, also can come the described opening 28d of open and close by moving two access hatch spares, described access hatch spare is the access hatch spare that is used for the described opening 28d of open and close.
Explained the example of the housing 28 that comprises opening 28d, described opening is provided for described housing as the cap member that covers described transfer-fixing slit inlet, still, needn't require described housing to cover whole transfer printing/fixing device.Described cap member can cover described transfer-fixing slit inlet and described heating unit at least.
Figure 21 is the enlarged drawing according to the second modifying device 20J of the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 4th embodiment.The described second modifying device 20J does not comprise housing as shell, it includes various rollers 21,24 and 25 and Halogen lamp LED 22, and described roller and lamp are all exposed in the printer.But, described slit and described roller between provide and be used for covering described transfer-fixing slit and shield described transfer-fixing slit and be positioned at alignment roller under the described slit the barricade 29 of (not shown, but 52 consistent with shown in Fig. 1) at Figure 20.On the part that is sitting at as the described barricade 29 of cladding element under the described transfer-fixing slit, has opening 29a.Described opening 29a is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters in the length of its short side direction.
Adopt this structure, by described opening 29a is set in the slit of its short side direction also be not set for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters less size, along with in the conveying of the transfer paper of described barricade 29 upstream sides and the advance amount that produces towards the air-flow of described opening 29a can be reduced, described barricade 29 is the cladding elements along the throughput direction of transfer paper.Therefore, can avoid the problem such as the airflow that the Hot air quilt around remaining on described Halogen lamp LED 22 is entered by described opening 29a blows away, so can reduce thermal loss.
Next, will explain printer according to fifth embodiment of the invention.Unless otherwise indicated, with basic identical, and omitted explanation according to the basic structure of the printer of the 5th embodiment to it according to the printer of first embodiment.Shown in the synoptic diagram of Figure 22 and back, those components identical in the printer of function and first embodiment or device aeration add and illustrate the identical reference number of those reference numbers of the printer of first embodiment.
Figure 22 is the enlarged drawing according to the transfer printing/fixing device 20 of the printer of the 5th embodiment.In described transfer printing/fixing device 20, described opening 28d is provided at as the cap member that covers described transfer-fixing slit inlet on the part of base plate of described housing 28, and it just in time is positioned under the described transfer-fixing slit.Described first guided plate 26 forms cantilever by one of two long limit inwalls in four inwalls of described rectangular aperture 28d, and described two long limit inwalls face with each other along the thickness direction of the transfer paper of (not shown) being sent into by alignment roller within a predetermined distance.The free end of described first guided plate 26 extends with the direction on another long limit of inwall, and it has inlet from described opening 28d to the heeling condition that progressively enters described transfer printing/fixing device 20 inside.Be with the difference of first embodiment: described the 5th embodiment only comprises first guided plate 26 that is fixed on the described opening 28d inwall, and does not comprise second guided plate.
Described first guided plate extends like this: its free end is near to another long edge joint of inwall gradually from the long limit of the inwall of the described opening 28d of described first guided plate 26 of cantilever support, and described free end is grown limit near another of the most close described inwall.Be positioned near another of the part (free end in the example shown) of described first guided plate 26 on another long limit of inwall and described inwall and grow that slit W between limit is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters.
Adopt this structure, by the slit W between the long limit of described first guided plate 26 and described opening 28d inwall is set at also be not set for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters short size, can suppress to be drawn into airshed in the described housing, so can reduce the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device 20 by described slit.
When being used as first guided plate 26 along with the bendable crooked with contacting of transfer paper, be included in 0 millimeter in the scope that is equal to or less than 5 millimeters, also can be used as the size of slit W.
Figure 23 is the enlarged drawing according to the first modifying device 20K of the transfer printing/fixing device of the printer of the 5th embodiment.The described first modifying device 20K does not comprise housing as shell, it includes various rollers 21,24 and 25 and Halogen lamp LED 22, and described roller and lamp are all exposed in the printer.Described slit and described roller between provide and be used for covering described transfer-fixing slit and shield described transfer-fixing slit and be positioned at alignment roller under the described slit the barricade 29 of (not shown, but 52 consistent with shown in Fig. 1) at Figure 23.On being sitting at part under the described transfer-fixing slit, described barricade 29 has opening 29a.Form cantilevers by the described guided plate 26 in the long limit of inwall of described opening 29a, and the slit W between described first guided plate 26 and another the long limit inwall is set equal to or less than 5 millimeters.
Adopt this structure, by the slit W between the long limit inwall of first guided plate 26 and described opening 29a is set at also be not set for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters less size along with the airflow that the conveying at the transfer paper of described barricade 29 upstream sides produces can be reduced in the advance amount of described opening 29a, described barricade 29 is the cladding elements along the throughput direction of transfer paper.Therefore, can avoid the problem such as the airflow that the Hot air quilt around remaining on described Halogen lamp LED 22 is entered by described opening 29a blows away, so can reduce thermal loss.
Explained that before this second transfer printing slit is formed on the printer on 21 next doors, described transfer-fixing slit just, the described second transfer printing slit is the contact portion between described intermediate transport band 11 and the described transfer-fixing slit 22.Yet the present invention is also applicable to the printer of other structure.For example, the second transfer printing slit can be arranged with respect to described transfer-fixing slit with being inclined upwardly, also can be dipped down and tiltedly arrange, can also be disposed in described transfer-fixing slit directly over or under.Described as shown in the Fig. 1 in Japan publication application No.2004-145260, described transfer-fixing slit can be arranged with being tilted.The system of described transfer-fixing band as shown in described free conveyer belt system, the Fig. 8 in Japan publication application No.2004-145260 and the band system that exerts pressure as shown in Fig. 9 or the Figure 10 in Japan publication application No.2004-145260 and Figure 11 can both be used as shown in the Fig. 5 in Japan publication application No.2004-145260 and Fig. 6.
Explained that before this present invention is applicable to the example of the printer of electrophotographic system.But the present invention is applicable to utilizing direct-recording system to form the imaging device of image.Described direct-recording system is a kind of like this system, it directly sticks on recording element or the intermediate record element by the toner group that toner is flown device (toner flying device) and fly (filed) with the form of toner point and forms pixel image, thereby directly forms toner image on recording medium or element or intermediate record element.In Japan publication application No.2002-307737 or the like, the imaging device that has adopted described direct-recording system has been described.
In the device shown in Fig. 1,4,8,13 and 14, the plate of being made by flexible material is used as first guided plate 26, and by along with free end produces displacement with the bending that causes that contacts as the transfer paper P of recording chart.Adopt this structure, even be not provided for rotating the mechanism of described first guided plate (device as shown in Figure 11), along with the bending of first guided plate, 26 free end portions, the reception opening of described housing 28 also can be opened.
In Fig. 1,4,8,13 and 15 shown devices, transfer-fixing roller 21 as transfer roll is used as transferring member, the pressure roller that forms roller as the slit is used as slit formation element, and be positioned at first guided plate 26 with as the contact portion between second guided plate 27 of second induction element in the upstream region in the described transfer-fixing slit of the apparent motion direction of two rollers, face with each other at the periphery of two rollers described in the described zone.Adopt this structure, transfer paper P is directed near the described transfer-fixing gap position that is positioned between two rollers, and was accurately located before described slit just by described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27.Therefore, can form the high-quality image that does not have position deviation.
In device shown in Figure 1, be provided as the paper feeding cassette 50 of paper accomodating unit, hold the transfer paper P that will carry towards described transfer-fixing slit, and the size of the surface of contact of described first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 and the transfer paper P full-size transfer paper P that in the vertical direction of described sheet transport direction is sized to greater than described paper feeding cassette 50, can hold on the vertical direction in sheet transport direction.Therefore, have maximum sized transfer paper P, can guide described transfer paper P towards described transfer-fixing slit reliably by first guided plate 26 and second guided plate 27 even use.
In the 4th modifying device according to the transfer printing/fixing device of the first embodiment printer, as shown in Figure 9, the plate that is used as first guided plate 26 has such free end at least, is about to described along with being divided into many sections at least with free end that contacting of transfer paper can produce displacement on the vertical direction of described sheet transport direction.Adopt this structure, avoided by making that forming micro gap between the described free end and second guided plate forms admittance opening suction extraneous air or release heat because the free end of described first guided plate is bent along the zone that does not contact with transfer paper on its Width.
In the printer according to the 3rd embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the surface of contact of described first guided plate 26 and transfer paper is formed the curved surface that extends towards described transfer-fixing slit from the admittance opening of described housing 28 with arc.Adopt this structure, can avoid the stacking of transfer paper leading edge on first guided plate 26.
In Fig. 8 and device shown in Figure 15, the parts of valve 35 of the escape hole 28c of the described housing 28 of open and close owing to the open and closed that drive according to drive source, have only when discharging the described transfer paper P of institute by described escape hole 28c, described escape hole 28c just is opened, perhaps during continuous row's paper of printing continuously, continue to open described escape hole 28c, so can reduce thermal loss greatly.
In printer and each improved device according to each embodiment, because therefore the layout that adopts the escape hole of described housing 28 vertically directly to make progress can be suppressed owing to the overheated dew point that causes remaining in described housing 28 condenses by above reason.
In first embodiment, because being equal to or greater than 0.8 toner, the actual sphericity of Wadell ＇ s is used as the toner that forms toner image, so in transfer process, do not produce any confusing, can form high-quality image.
In an embodiment of the present invention, by in transfer printing/fixing device, substantially side by side carrying out transfer process and the fixing of visual image, after being transferred on the described recording paper, described visual image had the recording paper of described visual image to be transferred by photographic fixing to recording paper.Therefore, can avoid the problem that causes photographic fixing visual image not to be disturbed owing to friction with guided plate etc.
According to embodiments of the invention, by the slit between described first guided plate and second plate is set at also do not adopt for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters less size, the air-flow advance amount towards described transfer printing/fixing device that can reduce to produce along with the conveying of recording chart.Therefore, can reduce because described air-flow preceding and then the thermal loss that causes.
According to embodiments of the invention, by opening described in the described cap member for example is equal to or less than 5 millimeters less size at the length setting of its short side direction for what also do not adopt, can be reduced in the advance amount that described cap member upstream side produces along with the conveying of recording chart towards the air-flow of described opening along the throughput direction of recording chart.Therefore, can avoid remaining on the air-flow that the Hot air quilt around the described heating unit enters by described opening and blow away such problem, so can reduce because described air-flow preceding and then the thermal loss that causes.
According to embodiments of the invention, by the inwall of described cap member opening and leader record paper are entered slit between the described induction element in the described opening be set at also do not adopt for example be equal to or less than 5 millimeters short size, along with the conveying of recording chart, can be reduced in the air-flow advance amount that described cap member upstream side produces along the throughput direction of recording chart.Therefore, can avoid remaining on that hot-air around the described heating unit is entered by described opening along with air-flow and the problem that is blown away, so can reduce the thermal loss that causes owing to entering of described air-flow.
Preferably, embodiments of the invention provide a kind of transfer printing/fixing device, and described device comprises transferring member, will be carried on the surface that visual image on the image-carrier is transferred to described transferring member shuttling movement; Heating unit, heating is transferred to the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member; Form element with the slit, the surface of shuttling movement is contacted with the surface of described transferring member, thereby between two surfaces, form the slit, wherein when described visual image be transferred on the described recording paper simultaneously the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member by photographic fixing to the recording paper that is clipped in the described slit, wherein said transferring member, described heating unit and described slit form element and are covered by a housing, described housing comprises that the surface exposes opening, and the surface makes described part face mutually with described image-carrier thereby it exposes a part of described transferring member; Thereby the recording paper that reception is transferred by the outside guides recording paper towards described slit receiving port; The escape hole that the recording paper that is discharged from is discharged to the outside from described slit; With the guidance unit that will guide towards described slit from the recording paper that described receiving port receives, and described guidance unit is constructed to, described first induction element is disposed in the periphery of described receiving port lateral ends by receiving port and forms cantilever between described receiving port and described slit, when second induction element of described first induction element being contacted with each other closed described receiving port by described first induction element and the circumferential surface that is fixed on receiving port, the described recording paper that advances between described two induction elements is guided towards described slit, thereby and, open described receiving port by by the free end travel of described first induction element being separated described first induction element and described second induction element with contacting of recording paper.
Preferably, embodiments of the invention provide preferably, and embodiments of the invention provide a kind of transfer printing/fixing device, and described device comprises transferring member, will be carried on the surface that visual image on the image-carrier is transferred to described transferring member shuttling movement; Heating unit, heating is transferred to the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member; Form element with the slit, the surface of shuttling movement is contacted with the surface of described transferring member, thereby between two surfaces, form the slit, wherein when described visual image be transferred on the described recording paper simultaneously the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member by photographic fixing to the recording paper that is clipped in the described slit, wherein said transferring member, described heating unit and described slit form element and are covered by a housing, described housing comprises that the surface exposes opening, and the surface makes described part face mutually with described image-carrier thereby it exposes a part of described transferring member; Thereby the recording paper that reception is transferred by the outside guides recording paper towards described slit receiving port; The escape hole that the recording paper that is discharged from is discharged to the outside from described slit; With the guidance unit that will guide towards described slit from the recording paper that described receiving port receives, and described guidance unit is constructed to, described first induction element is disposed in the periphery of described receiving port lateral ends by receiving port and forms cantilever between described receiving port and described slit, when first induction element that passes through and second induction element of periphery that is fixed to described receiving port to face with each other with the slit that is equal to or less than 250 microns with described first induction element, make the opening size of described receiving port reduced during to the gap size that is equal to or less than 250 microns, the described recording paper that advances between described two induction elements is guided towards described slit, and by by the displacement that produces with the free end of described first induction element of contacting of recording paper, the size of described receiving port is further enlarged.
In these structures, thereby the element by the element that covers described first shuttling movement, described heating unit and described second shuttling movement remains in the described housing heat from described heating unit, compare with transfer printing/fixing device, the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device can be reduced.When recording chart is not admitted to described transfer printing/fixing device, by the receiving port in the closed described housing of the contact between first induction element and second induction element, or described receiving port opened according to the trace that is equal to or less than 250 microns, described trace is consistent with the thickness of common cardboard.Therefore, by suppressing via described receiving port by the ventilation of the inside of described housing to its outside, or suppress to expose opening or the ventilation of escape hole from described receiving port to described outside via the inside and the described surface of described housing, can further reduce the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device.
Embodiments of the invention can provide a kind of imaging device, and described imaging device comprises the image-carrier that carries visual image in its surface; The visual image that forms visual image on described image-carrier forms the unit; When described visual image is transferred to described recording paper by described image-carrier, the transfer printing/fixing device of the described visual image of photographic fixing on described recording paper; With paper feed path from recording paper to described transfer printing/fixing device that supply with; Wherein said transfer printing/fixing device comprises transferring member, will be carried on the surface that visual image on the image-carrier is transferred to described transferring member shuttling movement; Heating unit, heating is transferred to the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member; Form element with the slit, the surface of shuttling movement is contacted with the surface of described transferring member, thereby between two surfaces, form the slit, wherein when described visual image be transferred on the described recording paper simultaneously the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member by photographic fixing to the recording paper that is clipped in the described slit, wherein in described transfer printing/fixing device, also be provided with on the position that is disposed in by described heating unit heating, and the induction element that when contacting with described recording paper the paper that is transferred is guided towards described slit from described paper feed path, and described paper feed path is constructed to the described recording paper that is positioned at described paper feed path inside is carried towards described induction element.In this structure, enter described in described transfer printing/fixing device before the slit making to advance towards the recording paper that described transfer printing/fixing device is transferred, the induction element that is gathered heat by heating unit heating in described transfer printing/fixing device is therein contacted with recording medium by described paper feed path.By described contact, by the heat conduction between described induction element and the described recording paper, after described recording paper was preheated, it advanced in the described slit.In this structure, replace heat discharge in atmosphere, comparing by utilizing the heat preheating of in described induction element, gathering with described device, can reduce the thermal loss in described transfer printing/fixing device.
In the described structure of utilizing preheating, preferably the described transferring member in described transfer printing/fixing device, described heating unit and described slit formation element are covered by housing, thereby described housing comprises that exposing a part of described transferring member surface makes described part expose opening in the face of the surface of described image-carrier; Reception is by the receiving port of the outside with its recording paper that is transferred that guides towards described slit; The escape hole that the recording paper that is discharged from is discharged to the outside from described slit; With the guidance unit that will guide towards described slit from the recording paper that described receiving port receives.Preferably first induction element and second induction element are provided as induction element, wherein said first induction element forms cantilever in the end that receives oral-lateral by the edge that encloses of receiving port between described receiving port and described slit, and what second induction element was fixed to receiving port encloses edge to face first guiding device; So the described recording paper that advances between described two induction elements is guided towards described slit, and by making described two induction elements closed described receiving port that contacts with each other, thereby and, open described receiving port by described first induction element and described second induction element being separated along with producing displacement with the described first induction element free end that contacts of recording paper.Equally, the preferred element of making by bendable material that uses, thereby by along with making described free end produce displacement with the crooked described free end of contacting of recording medium.In addition, preferably use transfer roll as transferring member, use the slit to form roller and form element as the slit, and the contact region between described first induction element and second induction element be positioned in described slit at the upstream region on the apparent motion direction of described two rollers and in the zone that the periphery of described two rollers faces with each other.And, preferably be set to supply with the paper accomodating unit of the described recording paper of reception of described recording paper towards described slit, and such element is used as first induction element and second induction element: along the direction vertical with sheet transport direction, described element and recording paper phase-contact surface are sized to the size greater than the full-size recording paper that can hold in described paper accomodating unit.Also have, preferred described first induction element or second induction element are constructed to: allow its displacement by along the direction vertical with described sheet transport direction its free end being divided into many sections at least.Preferred described first induction element and described recording paper phase-contact surface are formed from described receiving port with the curved surface of arc extension towards described slit.The parts of valve of the described escape hole of open and close along with the drive source drives switching manipulation preferably is set.Preferably adopt the layout of vertically guiding described floss hole with the direction that makes progress.
The preferred example of the embodiment of the invention comprises transfer-fixing device, and described device comprises transferring member, will be carried on the surface that visual image on the image-carrier is transferred to described transferring member; Heating unit, heating is transferred to the lip-deep described visual image of described transferring member; The slit forms element, forms the slit thereby its surface is contacted with the surface of described transferring member; With the crust component that forms element comprising described transferring member, described heating element and described slit, wherein, when the described visual image on the described transferring member is transferred on the described recording paper, when the visual image on the described transferring member was received to the described opening from be arranged on described shell by photographic fixing in the described shell and is clamped on the recording paper in the described slit, the length of wherein said opening short side direction was set equal to or less than 5 millimeters.In this respect, more preferably with the length setting of described opening short side direction for being equal to or less than 2 millimeters.Pre-reception induction element further preferably is set, recording paper is being received described opening described transfer printing/fixing device from sheet feeding unit output back before, with recording paper towards described opening channeling conduct.
Although clearly openly described the present invention with reference to specific embodiment for complete, but therefore appending claims is not construed as limiting, and should be interpreted as that those skilled in the art can make all improve and various structure falls into the scope of basic instruction disclosed herein fully.

Claims (11)

1. transfer device, its reception are carried on the visual image on the image-carrier and described image are transferred on the recording medium, and described transfer device comprises:
Transferring member is constructed to receive toner corresponding to the image from image-carrier;
Therefore the described transferring member that heating element, heating have described image thereon heats the described toner on the described transferred image;
The slit forms element, be constructed between described transferring member, form the slit, and clamping recording medium in described slit, therefore the toner with described heat is transferred on the described recording medium by described transferring member, so that described image is transferred on the described recording medium by described transferring member; With
First induction element and second induction element, with described recording medium towards the channeling conduct of described slit, described first induction element and second induction element are arranged to be roughly V-arrangement, and the tip that makes described V-type is towards described slit, and the distance at the tip is equal to or less than 5 millimeters between described first induction element and second induction element.
2. transfer device according to claim 1, a close at least most advanced and sophisticated part of one in wherein described at least first induction element and second induction element is flexible.
3. transfer device, its reception is carried on the visual image on the image-carrier, and described image is transferred on the recording medium, and described transfer device comprises:
Transferring member is constructed to receive toner corresponding to the image from image-carrier;
Therefore the described transferring member that heating element, heating have described image thereon heats the described toner on the described transferred image;
The slit forms element, be constructed between described transferring member, form the slit, and clamping recording medium in described slit, therefore the toner with described heat is transferred to described recording medium from described transferring member, so that described image is transferred on the described recording medium by described transferring member; With
Cap member covers the entrance side in described slit and is provided with opening, and described recording medium advances to described slit by described opening, and described opening has first length of the width of being wider than described recording medium and is equal to or less than 5 millimeters second length.
4. transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said cap member prevent owing to the air-flow of carrying described recording medium to produce flows into zone on every side, described slit.
5. transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said second length is equal to or less than 2 millimeters.
6. transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said second length approximates the thickness of described recording medium greatly.
7. transfer device according to claim 3 further comprises the parts of valve of the described opening of open and close.
8. transfer device according to claim 7, wherein the part of described at least parts of valve is flexible.
9. transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said cap member is constructed to the part of the outer casing member of described transfer device.
10. imaging device comprises:
Image-generating unit forms visual toner image;
Image-carrier, carrying is by described image-generating unit toner image formed thereon; With
Transfer device, reception is transferred on the recording medium, wherein from the described toner image of described image-carrier and with described toner image
Described transfer device is constructed to transfer device as claimed in claim 1.
11. an imaging device comprises:
Image-generating unit forms visual toner image;
Image-carrier, carrying is by described image-generating unit toner image formed thereon; With
Transfer device, reception is transferred on the recording medium, wherein from the described toner image of described image-carrier and with described toner image
Described transfer device is constructed to transfer device as claimed in claim 3.
CNB2006101447249A 2005-09-16 2006-09-18 Transferring apparatus and image forming apparatus Expired - Fee Related CN100462858C (en)

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