EP0436955A2 - Set temperature changeable image fixing apparatus - Google Patents
Set temperature changeable image fixing apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0436955A2 EP0436955A2 EP90125761A EP90125761A EP0436955A2 EP 0436955 A2 EP0436955 A2 EP 0436955A2 EP 90125761 A EP90125761 A EP 90125761A EP 90125761 A EP90125761 A EP 90125761A EP 0436955 A2 EP0436955 A2 EP 0436955A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- temperature
- film
- heater
- image
- fixing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
- G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
- G03G15/2039—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat with means for controlling the fixing temperature
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/20—Details of the fixing device or porcess
- G03G2215/2003—Structural features of the fixing device
- G03G2215/2016—Heating belt
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/20—Details of the fixing device or porcess
- G03G2215/2003—Structural features of the fixing device
- G03G2215/2016—Heating belt
- G03G2215/2035—Heating belt the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member
- G03G2215/2038—Heating belt the fixing nip having a stationary belt support member opposing a pressure member the belt further entrained around one or more rotating belt support members
Definitions
- the high temperature toner offset can occur due to the overfusing of the toner if the continuous fixing operation is carried out.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an image heat-fixing apparatus wherein a recording material bearing a visualized image is urged through a film toward the heater, by which the image is fixed.
- As for the image fixing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an electrophotographic printer, a heat-roller type image fixing system is wisely used. However, this system involves a problem that the waiting period is long until the surface of the heating roller reaches a predetermined temperature.
- U.S. Applications Serial Nos. 206,767, 387,970, 409,341, 416,539, 426,028, 435,247, 430,437, 440,380, 440,678, 444,802 and 446,449 which have been assigned to the assignee of this application have proposed an image fixing apparatus comprising a low thermal capacity heater and a thin film, wherein the waiting period is significantly reduced or eliminated. In this film fixing system, if the temperature of the heater is controlled to be constant, the quantity of the heat applied to the toner image by the nip varies if the temperature of the fixing film varies.
- The inventors have made thermal analysis on the relationship between the surface temperature of the fixing film immediately before the nip (the temperature on that surface of the fixing film which is contactable to the toner image of the recording material) in other words, the initial surface temperature and the temperature increase with time after entering the nip.
- The results are shown in Figures 9A and 9B, wherein Figure 9A relates to the fixing film having a thickness of 40 microns, and Figure 9B relates to the fixing film having the thickness of 80 microns. In the graphs,
a curve (1) represents the film surface temperature at which the image fixing operation is possible (fixable temperature which is approximately 200 °C in this Example);
a curve (2) represents the surface temperature of the fixing film when the initial surface temperature is 130 °C; and
a curve (3) represents the fixing film surface temperature when the initial temperature is 20 °C. - As will be understood from the graphs of Figures 9A and 9B, when the fixing film surface temperature before entering the nip is low, the time required for the temperature of the fixing film to reach the fixable temperature during the passage of the nip is long, and therefore, the effective toner image heating period is short. If the fixing film has a significant thickness, it can occur that the fixable temperature is not reached until the fixing film has passed through the nip (curve (3) in Figure 9B).
- Since the temperature of the fixing film is low immediately after the main switch is actuated or after the apparatus is left unused, the low temperature toner offset can occur due to insufficient fusing of the toner.
- If the temperature of the heater is increased in an apparatus wherein the recording sheet is separated from the film when the temperature of the toner is higher than the glass transition point, the high temperature toner offset can occur due to the overfusing of the toner if the continuous fixing operation is carried out.
- Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an image fixing apparatus wherein substantially the same quantity of heat can be applied to a visualized image irrespective of the initial temperature of the fixing film.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide an image fixing apparatus wherein the power supply to the heater can be changed in accordance with a temperature of the fixing film.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image fixing apparatus wherein the setting temperature for the heater is changed in accordance with the temperature of the fixing film.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image fixing apparatus wherein the temperature of the fixing film is controlled on the basis of an output of a temperature detecting means.
- These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an image fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a sectional view of an image fixing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a temperature detecting unit for detecting a fixing film temperature.
- Figure 4 is a graph of a fixing film temperature immediately before the fixing nip, a heater temperature, a high temperature offset temperature and a minimum fixable temperature.
- Figure 5 is a graph of a fixing film temperature and a follower roller temperature during the fixing operation and during non-operation.
- Figure 6 shows a part of the fixing apparatus, illustrating a temperature detecting element for the follower roller.
- Figure 7 is a graph of relations among an image fixing film temperature, a heater temperature, a high temperature offset temperature and a minimum fixable temperature.
- Figure 8 is a sectional view of an example of an image forming apparatus.
- Figures 9A and 9B are graphs of a relation between a time period in which the fixing film is in the nip and a fixing film surface temperature, when the thickness of the fixing film is 40 microns and 80 microns.
- Referring to Figure 8, there is shown an image forming apparatus using an image fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus is an image transfer type electrophotographic apparatus which comprises a reciprocable original supporting carriage and a rotatable drum.
- The apparatus comprises a
casing 100, a reciprocable original supportingcarriage 1 made of transparent material such as glass or the like disposed above thetop plate 100a of thecasing 100. Theoriginal carriage 1 reciprocates above theplate 100a in the left and right directions (a-a'). - An original G is placed face down on the
original carriage 1 in alignment with the reference position. Then, the original is covered with an original cover 1a. - A
slit opening 100b is formed in thetop plate 100a, extending in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocal movement direction of the original carriage 1 (perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing). Through theslit 100b the original is illuminated. - The surface of the original image of the original G placed on the
original carriage 1 is passed by the slit opening 100b from the right side to the left side during the forward movement (a) of theoriginal carriage 1. During this, the original image receives the light L through theslit 100b through the transparentoriginal carriage 1, so that the original is scanned. The light reflected by the original is imaged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 through an array ofimaging elements 2 having short focus and small diameter. - The photosensitive drum 4 has a photosensitive layer such as a zinc oxide photosensitive layer or an organic photosensitive layer, and is rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow b at a predetermined peripheral speed about the central axis 4a. During the rotation, the photosensitive member is uniformly charged to a positive or negative polarity. The surface thereof thus charged is exposed to the image light from the original through a slit, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4.
- The electrostatic latent image is visualized sequentially by a developing device 6 with toner made of heat-softenable or -fusible resin material or the like. Then, the toner image (visualized image) is conveyed to an image transfer station having a
transfer discharger 9. - A cassette S accommodates transfer sheet materials (recording material). From the cassette S, a sheet is singled out by rotation of a pick-up roller, and is fed to the photosensitive drum 4 by
registration rollers 8 in such a timed relation that when the leading edge of the toner image reaches thetransfer charger 9 position, the leading edge of the transfer sheet P reaches the position between thetransfer discharger 9 and the photosensitive drum 4. To the surface of the thus fed transfer sheet, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum 4 by thetransfer discharger 9. - The transfer sheet having received the transferred image, is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 by an unshown separating means, and is conveyed by a
conveying device 10 to an image fixing apparatus 11 where it is subjected to an image fixing operation by heat so that the unfixed toner image Ta is fixed. Finally, it is discharged along aguide 43 anddischarging rollers 44 to adischarge tray 12 outside the apparatus as a print (copy). - The surface of the photosensitive drum 4 after the image transfer is subjected to a cleaning operation by a
cleaning device 13, by which the residual toner or contamination is removed, so that it is prepared for a repeated image forming operation. - An image fixing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the fixing apparatus 11. A
fixing film 25 in the form of an endless belt is stretched around four parallel members, namely, aleft driving roller 26, aright follower roller 27, a low thermal capacitylinear heater 20 fixed below a position between therollers roller 26a disposed below thedriving roller 26. - The
follower roller 27 functions also as a tension roller for thefilm 25. Thefixing film 25 is rotated without crease, snaking movement or delay in the clockwise direction by the rotation of thedriving roller 26 in the clockwise direction, at a peripheral speed which is the same as the conveying speed of the transfer sheet P (recording material) having the unfixed toner image Ta conveyed from theimage forming station 9. - A
pressing member 28 in the form of a pressing roller has a rubber elastic layer made of silicone rubber or the like having a good parting property. It presses the bottom travel of thefixing film 25 to the bottom surface of theheater 20 by urging means with a total pressure of 4 - 7 kg, for example. It rotates codirectionally with the transfer sheet P conveyance, that is, in the counterclockwise direction. - Since the
fixing film 25 in the form of an endless belt is repeatedly used for heating and fixing the toner image, it has a sufficient heat-durability, parting property and durability. Generally, the total thickness thereof is not more than 100 microns, and preferably not more than 40 microns. - It may a single layer film of a heat resistive resin such as PI (polyimide), PEI (polyether imide) or PFA (copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl-vinylether), or it may be a multi-layer film including a thicker film of 20 microns coated with a parting layer of 10 microns at least on the side contactable to the image, the coating being made of PTFE resin (tetrafluoroethylene resin) added by electrically conductive material.
- The
heater 20 comprises aheater support 21 extended in a lateral direction (perpendicular to the fixingfilm 25 moving direction) and having a high rigidity, heat-durability and insulating property. Aheater substrate 22 of good heat conductive material is mounted on the bottom side of the support along the length of thesupport 21. - A
heat generating resistor 23 is mounted on the film side of theheater substrate 22, and theheat generating resistor 23 instantaneously generates heat upon electric power supply thereto. At the opposite side of theheater substrate 22, atemperature detecting element 24 is provided to detect the temperature of theheater substrate 22. - The
heater support 21 provides the entire mechanical strength of the heater and is made of a heat-durable resin material such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PAI (polyamide imide), PI (polyimide), PEEK (polyether etherketone) or a liquid crystal polymer material or a compound material of such a resin material and a ceramic, metal, glass or the like material. - An example of the
heater substrate 22 has a thickness of 1.0 mm, a width of 10 mm and a length of 240 mm, made of alumina. - An example of a heat generating element is in the form of an electric resistor material such as Ag/Pt, RuO₂, Ta₂N or the like applied on the bottom surface of the
substrate 22 along a substantial center line of thesubstrate 22 with a width of 1.0 mm, by screen printing or the like. Thus, theheat generating element 23 is a linear or stripe element having a low thermal capacity and activatable by electric power. - A
temperature detecting element 24 is in the form of a temperature sensor having a low thermal capacity in the form of a Pt film or thermister. It is applied on the top surface of thesubstrate 22 along a substantially central longitudinal line of the top surface (opposite from theheat generating element 23 side). In this embodiment, the temperature of thesubstrate 22 having the good thermal conductivity is detected by thetemperature sensor 22 as the temperature of theheater 20. - In this embodiment, the
heat generating element 23 is connected to a power source at the opposite longitudinal ends to generate the heat along the entire length of theheat generating element 23. The heat generating element is supplied with electric power on the basis of an output of a fixing filmtemperature detecting unit 31 which will be described hereinafter and a set (target) temperature so as to compensate the energy emission. - The fixing
film 25 is not limited to the form of the endless belt. It may be as shown in Figure 2, in the form of a film rolled on a feedingshaft 41 and a take-upshaft 42 and stretched therebetween and between theheater 20 and thepressing roller 28 below aguide roller 26a. The fixingfilm 23 in this case is advanced from the feedingshaft 41 to the take-upshaft 27 at the same speed as the speed of the transfer sheet P. - In order to prevent the wearing and damage of the
heat generating element 23, theheater 20 has a protection layer made of Ta₂O₅ or the like at the side contactable to the fixingfilm 25. - In operation, an unshown copy button is depressed, and when an image forming signal is produced, the power supply is effected to reach the set temperature of the heater determined in the manner which will be described hereinafter. After the set temperature is reached, the power supply is controlled to maintain the set temperature.
- The transfer sheet P is conveyed to the fixing apparatus 11 from the
transfer station 9 by the image forming operation responsive to the image formation start, and is conveyed into the nip N (fixing nip) formed between the fixingfilm 25 and apressing roller 28 and by theheater 20 and thepressing roller 28, theheater 20 being temperature-controlled. The sheet P having the unfixed toner image is passed through the fixing film N between theheater 20 and thepressing roller 28 together with the fixingfilm 20 in close contact with the bottom surface of the fixingfilm 25 moving at the same speed as the moving speed of the sheet P, without surface deviation and without crease. During this, the sheet P is pressed. - The
heat generating element 23 at the bottom of the heater has a width w. Theheat generating element 23 is within the width of the fixing nip N, that is, the contact region between the bottom surface of theheater 20 and the top surface of thepressing roller 28 through the fixingfilm 25. - The toner image bearing surface of the sheet P receives heat through the fixing
film 25 from theheat generating element 23, while it is passed through the fixing nip N with pressure-contact therebetween. The toner image is fused by the high temperature and is softened and adhered on the surface of the sheet P (Tb). - In this embodiment, the separation between the sheet P and the fixing
film 25 occurs at the point of time when the sheet P has passed through the fixing nip N. - At this point of separation, the temperature of the toner Tb is still higher than the glass transition point of the toner, and therefore, the adherence (bonding force) between the sheet P and the fixing
film 25 is small. Therefore, the sheet P is smoothly separated substantially without toner offset to the fixingfilm 25 surface and substantially without wrapping of the sheet P on thefilm 25 surface due to improper separation. - Since the toner Tb having the temperature higher than the glass transition point has moderate rubber properties, the toner image surface at the time of separation does not completely follow the surface property of the fixing film so that it has proper roughness. With the surface property maintained, the toner image is cooled and solidified, and therefore, the toner image surface after the image fixing is not too glossy, and therefore, the quality thereof is high.
- After the sheet P is separated from the fixing
film 25, it is guided along aguide 43 to the dischargingroller couple 44. During this, the temperature of the toner Tb increases from the temperature above the glass transition point decreases by spontaneous cooling down to a point lower than the glass transition point, and therefore, it is solidified into a toner image Tc. The sheet P having the fixed image is discharged onto the tray. - The temperature control of the heater will be described.
- In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a
temperature detecting unit 31 disposed in contact with an inside surface of the fixingfilm 25 upstream of the fixing nip N with respect to the movement direction of the fixing film. - The
unit 31 comprises asilicone sponge 32, a temperature detecting element 33 embedded therein and aPTFE tape 34 thereon having a good sliding property. Theunit 31 is in contact with the fixing film to detect the temperature of the inside of the fixing film of that portion thereof which is immediately before the fixing nip N, before the heater is energized with electric power. - The information of the detected temperature is fed back to a microcomputer M of a heater control system as a controlling factor.
- The inventors' experiments using a commercially available toner for a Canon FC copying machine have shown that if the fixing film has a temperature of 20 °C immediately before the nip, the sufficient image fixing operation is not possible unless the temperature of the
heater 20 is maintained above 190 °C (minimum fixable temperature); and that if the temperature is not lower than 210 °C, the toner is fused too much with the result of toner offset. As shown in Figure 5, the respective temperatures are different depending on the temperature of the fixing film immediately before the nip. - In this embodiment, the set temperature of the heater control system is changed using a microcomputer, in accordance with the temperature of the fixing film detected by the
temperature detecting unit 31 in accordance with the table 1 which is determined on the basis of the results shown in Figure 5. - More particularly, when the temperature of the fixing film upon the start of the fixing operation is not higher than 30 °C, as in the case that the fixing apparatus is left unused for a long period of time, the set temperature is selected to maintain 200 °C during the fixing operation. When the temperature of the fixing film is increased, and it becomes 31 - 60 °C, the temperature of 195 °C is selected, and further when the temperature becomes 61 - 100 °C, the temperature is selected to be 190 °C. When the temperature of the fixing film is not lower than 101 °C, the control temperature is lowered to 185 °C.
- Thus, even if the quantity of heat deprived the fixing film changes, the good fixed images can be produced without improper image fixing attributable to the low temperature of the fixing film and without the high temperature toner offset attributable to the too high temperature of the fixing film during a long continuous fixing operation.
- Another embodiment will be described. In the foregoing embodiment, the temperature of the fixing film is directly detected. However, when the thickness of the fixing film is very small, not more than 20 microns, for example, the fixing film may be damaged by the sliding with the
temperature detecting unit 31. When the temperature is detected without contact, a constant clearance (0.3 mm, for example) is not easily maintained in consideration of the waving motion of the fixing film. Therefore, the temperature is not always detected correctly. - In order to solve the problem, this embodiment is intended to particularly note that the temperature of the follower roller, the temperature of the pressing roller or another member other than the fixing
film 25 changes in the similar manner as the fixing film temperature. Then, the temperature of the member other than the fixingfilm 25 is detected to switch the control temperature for the heater is switched. - Figure 5 shows the temperature change of the fixing
film 25 and thefollower roller 27 when the fixing apparatus is stopped after it is operated for 10 min. As will be understood, the temperature changes have a similarity. In the apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, thetemperature detecting element 41 is used to detect thefollower roller 27 temperature. When it detects a temperature not higher than 60 °C, theheater 20 is controlled to be 193 °C; and when it is higher than 60 °C, theheater 20 is controlled to be 188 °C. - The system in which the temperature of the fixing film is predicted on the basis of the detected temperature of the part other than the fixing
film 25 is advantageous in that the contact of the temperature detecting element to the fixingfilm 25 is not required and that the durability of the fixingfilm 25 is increased. - In this embodiment, the temperature of the
follower roller 27 is detected, but it is a possible alternative that the temperature in the neighborhood of the fixingfilm 25, such as the temperature of the drivingroller 25 or thepressing roller 28 is detected. - In a fixing apparatus in which the movement of the fixing
film 25 is so stabilized that the gap between thetemperature detecting element 31 and the fixingfilm 25 can be maintained constant, a non-contact type temperature sensor is effectively usable. - A further embodiment will be described. When the fixing apparatus is at rest, so that the power supply to the heater is not effected, the temperature of the
heater 20 changes similarly to the fixing film. - Therefore, in this embodiment, the
temperature detecting element 24 for theheater 20 is used to detect the temperature of the heater prior to the start of the image fixing operation, and on the basis of the detection, the set temperature during the fixing operation is changed. - According to this embodiment, the necessity for the particular temperature detecting element is eliminated.
- When a heat fixing toner A (Canon Kabushiki Kaisha) is used, when the temperature of the fixing film is not higher than 60 °C, the optimum temperature of the heater is 190 °C, as shown in Figure 7 showing the relation between the fixing film temperature and the heater temperature. However, when the temperature of the fixing film is not lower than 140 °C, the
temperature 190 °C of the heater is too high, and the temperature 185 °C is proper. - Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the fixing film temperature detected by the
temperature detecting element 24 for theheater 20 before the start of the image fixing operation is not higher than 60 °C. the power supply is such that the temperature of theheater 20 is 190 °C. When the temperature of the fixing film is already not lower than 60 °C before the start of the fixing operation, theheater 20 is controlled to be 185 °C from the first copy. By doing so, the sufficient image fixing power without toner offset can be provided. - In the image fixing apparatus of this embodiment, the temperature of the fixing film increases by approximately 60 °C by the power supply for one minute (which corresponds to 5 sheets processing), until the temperature of the fixing film reaches approximately 140 °C. In consideration of this, the continuous energy supply period is counted from the start of the operation by the microcomputer, during the continuous operation, on the basis of which the temperature of the film can be predicted. When the predicted temperature reaches 60 °C, the control temperature for the
heater 20 is switched to 185 °C. - By predicting the temperature rise of the fixing
film 25 in this manner, the high temperature offset does not occur even if the control temperature is controlled on the basis of the temperature of theheater 20 before the start of the fixing operation and even if the fixing operation is carried out continuously. - In this embodiment, the temperature of the fixing
film 25 is predicted on the basis of the continuous power supply period, but it may be effected on the basis of the number of continuously processed sheets. - As for the control method, the setting temperature of the control system is changed in the foregoing embodiment, but it is a possible alternative to change the power supply to provide the same effects on the basis of the detection of the film temperature or the like.
- While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
- An image fixing apparatus includes a heater maintained at a controlled temperature; a film contacted to the heater and movable together with and in sliding contact with a recording material carrying a visualized image, wherein the visualized image is heated by the heater through the film; a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the film or a member contacted to the film; and a controller for changing a level of the controlled temperature on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting element before start of an image fixing operation of the image fixing apparatus.
Claims (12)
- An image fixing apparatus, comprising:
a heater maintained at a controlled temperature;
a film contacted to said heater and movable together with and in sliding contact with a recording material carrying a visualized image, wherein the visualized image is heated by said heater through said film;
a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of said film or a member contacted to said film; and
control means for changing a level of said controlled temperature on the basis of an output of said temperature detecting element before start of an image fixing operation of said image fixing apparatus. - An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting element detect a temperature of said heater, and during the fixing operation, said control means controls power supply to said heater to provide the level of the temperature of said heater.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said set temperature is determined by said control means before start of power supply to said heater.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting element detects the temperature of a side of said film contactable to the visualized image.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting element detects the temperature of the member contacted to a side of said film opposite from another side of said film contactable to the visualized image.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said heater is fixed during fixing operation, and said film is in sliding contact with said heater.
- An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said heater comprises a base plate and a heat generating resistor layer on a film side of the base plate generating heat upon electric power supply thereto, and the heat from the heat generating resistor layer is transferred to the visualized image without air layer therebetween.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the visualized image comprises powdery toner, and the recording material is separated from said film while a temperature of the toner is higher than a glass transition point of the toner.
- An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said film is in the form of an endless belt.
- An apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein a thickness of said film is not more than 100 microns.
- An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein a thickness of said film is not more than 40 microns.
- An image fixing apparatus, comprising:
a heater maintained at a controlled temperature;
a film contacted to said heater and movable together with and in sliding contact with a recording material carrying a visualized image, wherein the visualized image is heated by said heater through said film;
a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of said film or a member contacted to said film; and
control means for changing electric power supply to said heater on the basis of an output of said temperature detecting element before start of an image fixing operation of said image fixing apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2002317A JP2833088B2 (en) | 1990-01-09 | 1990-01-09 | Fixing device |
JP2317/90 | 1990-01-09 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0436955A2 true EP0436955A2 (en) | 1991-07-17 |
EP0436955A3 EP0436955A3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
EP0436955B1 EP0436955B1 (en) | 1995-05-10 |
Family
ID=11525955
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90125761A Expired - Lifetime EP0436955B1 (en) | 1990-01-09 | 1990-12-28 | Set temperature changeable image fixing apparatus |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0436955B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2833088B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR940010610B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69019331T2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2701575A1 (en) * | 1993-02-16 | 1994-08-19 | Canon Kk | Fixing apparatus with variable temperature. |
EP0668547A2 (en) * | 1994-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming appartus and image fixing apparatus |
US6934483B2 (en) | 2002-02-28 | 2005-08-23 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image heating device, image forming apparatus, image copying machine, and method for controlling temperature |
US6968137B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2005-11-22 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image heating device, image forming apparatus, image copying machine, and method for controlling temperature |
US9904218B2 (en) | 2016-03-04 | 2018-02-27 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Heating device and image forming apparatus |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2727899B2 (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1998-03-18 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image heating device and image forming device |
JP4078235B2 (en) | 2003-03-26 | 2008-04-23 | キヤノン株式会社 | Heating device |
JP5317682B2 (en) * | 2008-12-24 | 2013-10-16 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image heating device |
Citations (3)
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DE2653486A1 (en) * | 1976-11-25 | 1978-06-01 | Reinhold H Dr Epping | Fixing toner image in two stages - first rapid stage on electrically heated belt and second radiant stage |
EP0222120A1 (en) * | 1985-11-12 | 1987-05-20 | International Business Machines Corporation | Environmental sensor control device for a heated fuser in a xerographic copier |
EP0295901A2 (en) * | 1987-06-16 | 1988-12-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | An image fixing apparatus |
-
1990
- 1990-01-09 JP JP2002317A patent/JP2833088B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-12-28 DE DE69019331T patent/DE69019331T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-12-28 EP EP90125761A patent/EP0436955B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1991
- 1991-01-09 KR KR1019910000195A patent/KR940010610B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2653486A1 (en) * | 1976-11-25 | 1978-06-01 | Reinhold H Dr Epping | Fixing toner image in two stages - first rapid stage on electrically heated belt and second radiant stage |
EP0222120A1 (en) * | 1985-11-12 | 1987-05-20 | International Business Machines Corporation | Environmental sensor control device for a heated fuser in a xerographic copier |
EP0295901A2 (en) * | 1987-06-16 | 1988-12-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | An image fixing apparatus |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2701575A1 (en) * | 1993-02-16 | 1994-08-19 | Canon Kk | Fixing apparatus with variable temperature. |
EP0612003A1 (en) * | 1993-02-16 | 1994-08-24 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Fixing apparatus with variable fixing temperature |
US5534987A (en) * | 1993-02-16 | 1996-07-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Fixing apparatus with variable fixing temperature |
EP0668547A2 (en) * | 1994-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming appartus and image fixing apparatus |
EP0668547A3 (en) * | 1994-02-21 | 1995-12-20 | Canon Kk | Image forming appartus and image fixing apparatus. |
US5592277A (en) * | 1994-02-21 | 1997-01-07 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus |
US6934483B2 (en) | 2002-02-28 | 2005-08-23 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image heating device, image forming apparatus, image copying machine, and method for controlling temperature |
US6968137B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2005-11-22 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image heating device, image forming apparatus, image copying machine, and method for controlling temperature |
US7062188B2 (en) | 2002-02-28 | 2006-06-13 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. | Image heating device, image forming apparatus, image copying machine, and method for controlling temperature |
US9904218B2 (en) | 2016-03-04 | 2018-02-27 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Heating device and image forming apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69019331T2 (en) | 1995-10-05 |
JPH03208076A (en) | 1991-09-11 |
DE69019331D1 (en) | 1995-06-14 |
KR910014775A (en) | 1991-08-31 |
JP2833088B2 (en) | 1998-12-09 |
EP0436955A3 (en) | 1992-07-01 |
EP0436955B1 (en) | 1995-05-10 |
KR940010610B1 (en) | 1994-10-24 |
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