EP0551288B1 - Poste de thermofixage avec transport par bande - Google Patents

Poste de thermofixage avec transport par bande Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0551288B1
EP0551288B1 EP91915451A EP91915451A EP0551288B1 EP 0551288 B1 EP0551288 B1 EP 0551288B1 EP 91915451 A EP91915451 A EP 91915451A EP 91915451 A EP91915451 A EP 91915451A EP 0551288 B1 EP0551288 B1 EP 0551288B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fixing
transfer
station
printing
thermofixing
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91915451A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0551288A1 (fr
Inventor
Klaus Dipl.-Ing. Kümmel
Helmut Dipl.-Ing. Naeser (Fh)
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH filed Critical Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Publication of EP0551288A1 publication Critical patent/EP0551288A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0551288B1 publication Critical patent/EP0551288B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G03G15/2064—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat combined with pressure
    • 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
    • G03G15/2017—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means
    • G03G15/2028—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means with means for handling the copy material in the fixing nip, e.g. introduction guides, stripping means
    • 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
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6582—Special processing for irreversibly adding or changing the sheet copy material characteristics or its appearance, e.g. stamping, annotation printing, punching
    • 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
    • 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
    • G03G2215/2025—Heating belt the fixing nip having a rotating belt support member opposing a pressure member
    • G03G2215/2032—Heating belt the fixing nip having a rotating belt support member opposing a pressure member the belt further entrained around additional rotating belt support members
    • 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
    • G03G2215/207—Type of toner image to be fixed 
    • G03G2215/2074—Type of toner image to be fixed  colour
    • 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
    • G03G2215/207—Type of toner image to be fixed 
    • G03G2215/2083—Type of toner image to be fixed  duplex
    • 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
    • G03G2215/207—Type of toner image to be fixed 
    • G03G2215/209—Type of toner image to be fixed  plural types of toner image handled by the fixing device

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a thermal fusing station with tape transport and a printing or copying device with a thermal fusing station arranged therein.
  • Printing or copying devices operating on the principle of electrophotography are generally known.
  • a charge image is generated on an intermediate carrier, developed with toner in a developer station and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium in a transfer printing station.
  • the toner images are fixed in a fixing station downstream of the transfer printing station by pressure and heat.
  • the fusing stations used, such as z. B. are described in US Pat. No. 4,147,922, contain a preheating device in the form of a heating saddle and the actual fixing device consisting of two fixing rollers, at least one of which is heated. The toner particles are melted into the recording medium by heat and pressure.
  • a suction table or a paper brake is usually used to check and control the path.
  • a paper brake as described for example in DE-PS 27 07 170.
  • the achievable printing speed is also limited by the structure of the fusing station itself.
  • the toner and the paper In the fusing station, the toner and the paper must be heated to the fusing temperature of 120 to 200 °. Only then is the toner sufficiently doughy that it can be bonded to the paper using pressure.
  • the recording medium In the known fixing station, the recording medium is therefore preheated and only then fed to the fixing rollers.
  • the copier contains a photoconductor drum with a transfer and fixing station arranged downstream of the photoconductor drum in the paper running direction.
  • the transfer printing and fixing station consists of two transfer belts arranged on both sides of the paper transport channel, which are guided over fixing rollers and can be pivoted onto the photoconductor drum.
  • the toner image assigned to the front of the single sheet is first transferred from the photoconductor drum to the one transfer belt and then the toner image assigned to the back of the single sheet to the other transfer belt.
  • the toner images are then simultaneously transferred to the single sheet and fixed there between the fixing rollers in a line-shaped transfer printing and fixing zone.
  • a thermal fusing station which is used to fix a toner image on one side of a single sheet. It consists of a fixing belt that is guided around drive rollers, which is heated by an internal heating plate that extends between the drive rollers and that is arranged on one side of an elongated fixing zone, and a heat-resistant feed belt that is guided over deflection rollers and arranged on the other side of the fixing zone for the Single sheet.
  • the feed belt is guided obliquely downwards over a deflection roller in relation to the drive roller in the entry region of the fusing station.
  • An elongated fixing zone for fixing the toner image on the single sheet adjoins the entry area delimited by a deflection roller for the feed belt.
  • the single sheet is guided over its entire length between the fixing belt and the feed belt, the feed belt pressing the single sheet with its stressed side evenly flat against the fixing belt.
  • the single sheet between the fixing belt and the feed belt is hard milled. There is therefore a risk that the single sheet will be exposed to an increased shock load or that warping will occur during the phase-in.
  • the fixation through large-area contact between the fixing belt and the feed belt increases the risk of blurring the not yet adequately fixed toner image, in particular at high printing speeds, and favors an uneven pressure distribution of the fixing pressure over the toner image, which has a negative effect on the fixing quality and thus on the printed image.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a thermal fuser for a printing or copying machine, which is of simple construction, is suitable for fusing single sheets in simplex and duplex operation and enables a compact construction of the overall machine.
  • Another object of the invention is to design the thermal fixing station so that the required fixing pressure in the fixing roller area can be reduced.
  • the thermal fuser is said to be particularly suitable for use in printing or copying machines with single sheet operation in duplex operation at high speed.
  • thermal fuser with the features of the first claim.
  • a printer or copier with such a thermal fuser is characterized by the features of claim 11.
  • the thermal fixing station according to the invention is suitable for fixing toner images on sheet-like recording media in printing or copying machines. It essentially consists of heated fixing belts arranged on both sides of a feed channel, which wrap around the fixing rollers and are guided around an additional deflection point on the input side. The guiding of the fixing belts results in a wedge-shaped cross section of the feed channel, which narrows from a feed area on the input side to a contact area of the fixing rollers at a predeterminable feed angle. In this feed channel, the toner and the recording medium are heated to the fixing temperature and pressed onto the recording medium in the doughy state in the contact zone of the fixing stations.
  • the slow and constant heating of the toner and recording medium enables a lower fixing pressure, since the toner is doughy before it enters the contact area of the fixing rollers. This results in a gentler paper treatment with less tendency to paper curl.
  • the tapered fixing area formed by the fixing tapes enables the individual sheets to be smoothly phased into the fixing station and the individual sheets to be transported at the same process speed as in the transfer printing area.
  • the cut sheet does not suffer recoil on the fusing rollers.
  • the greatly reduced impact load also increases the lifespan of the fusing rollers and their mechanics.
  • the belt fixing station can connect directly to the transfer station without any space. This significantly reduces the overall structure of the device and reduces the risk of blurring the toner images.
  • the forced guidance of the record carrier between the transfer printing station and the fusing station and in the fusing station itself also reduces paper flow disturbances.
  • additional deflection elements are provided on the output side to the fixing rollers in the paper transport direction, over which the fixing belts are guided. This avoids stripping errors by deflecting the recording medium from the channel or transport direction when paper emerges from the fixing rollers.
  • the thermal fuser can be used for all modes, be it duplex or simplex.
  • infrared elements are arranged between the tapes, which are particularly easy to regulate.
  • the fixing tapes can contain heating fabric or they can be heated by induction heating.
  • the entire fuser is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and low-maintenance.
  • An electrophotographic printing device shown schematically in FIG. 1 contains a band-shaped intermediate carrier 10 in the form of a photoconductor, which is guided in an electrically motorized manner via guide rollers 11.
  • the various units for the electrophotographic process are grouped around the intermediate carrier 10. These are essentially: a charging device LE in the form of a charging corotron for charging the intermediate carrier; a character generator ZG with a light-emitting diode comb for character-dependent exposure of the intermediate carrier; Developer stations EY, EM, EC and EB for coloring the charge-dependent discharged image on the intermediate carrier 10 using colored toner.
  • the developer station EY contains yellow toner, the developer station EM toner with the color magenta, the developer station EC toner with the color cyan and the developer station EB black toner.
  • a cleaning station RS is provided with a cleaning brush 13 integrated therein.
  • the developer stations EY, EM, EC and EB are designed to be interchangeable and can, for. B. pulled out of the device via slide guides and inserted into the device. They are constructed in the usual way and contain developer rollers 14 for coloring the charge image as well as guide rollers 11/1 to 11/4 which can be swiveled in and out for swiveling the intermediate carrier 10 onto and off the developer rollers 14 by means of electromagnetic swivel devices 15.
  • the swivel devices 15 can, for . B. as plunger magnets or z. B. be designed as a swing magnet. They are used to couple the developer stations EY, EM, EC and EB individually to the intermediate carrier 10, controlled by a controller of the device.
  • the transfer printing stations U1 and U2 each contain a ribbon-shaped transfer element 16, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a photoconductor ribbon.
  • the transfer elements 16 are driven by an electric motor and are mounted on guide rollers 11.
  • the transfer printing stations have a transfer area T, which serves to transfer toner images on the intermediate carrier 10 to the transfer elements 16.
  • pivotable guide rollers 11/5 and 11/6 are provided, by means of which the intermediate carrier 10 can be pivoted in and out of the transfer elements 16 in the transfer areas T.
  • a transfer printing corotron 17 is located in the transfer area T opposite the guide rollers 11/5 and 11/6. For pivoting the guide rollers 11/5 and 11/6 in and out, they are the same as in the developer stations Electromotive swivel devices 15 are provided.
  • the intermediate carrier 10 is brought into contact with the transfer element 16 and transferred to the transfer element 16 via the transfer printing corotron 17 with the aid of charge forces. During this transfer, the transfer element 16 is moved in the area of the transfer areas T in synchronism with the intermediate carrier 10.
  • An additional corotron 19 is arranged downstream of the transfer area T in the direction of movement during the transfer of the transfer element.
  • the arrangement of such an additional corotron 19 can be favorable if the printing device is used for four-color printing, in which several individual images of different colors are printed one above the other, and consequently a toner image passes through the transfer area T four times.
  • the transfer printing stations U1 and U2 have transfer printing areas UB. These exist in each case from a guide roller with a transfer corotron arranged opposite the guide roller.
  • the transfer printing area UB1 of the first transfer printing station is arranged for printing on a front side of the recording medium on one side of a transport channel K and the transfer printing area UB2 of the second transfer printing station for printing on a rear side of a recording medium on the other side of the transport channel K.
  • the transport channel K is used for feeding the Record carrier for the transfer printing areas UB1 and UB2.
  • Cleaning stations RS are provided for cleaning the transfer elements 16 after transfer printing. These are designed in accordance with the cleaning station RS of the intermediate carrier 10. They also contain a cleaning brush 13 and cleaning corotron 20 for loosening the toner before cleaning or for unloading the transfer element 16 or the intermediate carrier 10 before cleaning.
  • the transfer elements 16 and the intermediate carrier 10 are driven via electric motors M1 to MN which are arranged on the bottom of the device and are coupled to the guide rollers 11 via belt drives 21.
  • the transfer element 16 of the lower transfer station U1 is only moved in one direction (arrow direction). The direction of movement corresponds to the movement of the transfer element 16 during the transfer of a toner image.
  • the transfer element 16 of the upper transfer station U2 can be moved in both directions.
  • the transfer element 16 of the upper transfer printing station U2 is moved with the intermediate carrier 10 in the direction of the arrow. After the transfer of the toner images to the transfer element 16 of the upper transfer station U2, the contact of the transfer element 16 with the intermediate carrier 10 is released and the transfer element 16 of the transfer station U2 is reversed to transfer the toner image onto the record carrier (arrow direction).
  • the pivotable guide rollers 11/5 and 11/6 are therefore used for the alternative generation of a transfer position in which toner images are transferred from the intermediate carrier 10 to the transfer element 16 and a standby position in which the intermediate carrier 10 and transfer element 16 are spaced apart from one another in such a way that no toner images are transferred.
  • the transfer printing areas UB1 and UB2 are supplied with a sheet-shaped recording medium 22 via the transport channel K.
  • the transport channel K consists of the actual pressure channel KD and a supply channel KZ.
  • the individual sheets 22 are fed one after the other via the feed channel KZ to the pressure channel KD.
  • the mouth area is arranged in a device area delimited by transfer printing stations U1 and U2 and the intermediate carrier 10.
  • a direction deflection device for the recording medium is arranged in this mouth region.
  • the printing device is designed as a single-sheet printer, this consists of fixed stops 23 and movable stops 24 and a paper transport device PT.
  • the fixed stops 23 are fixedly arranged at the rear end of the feed channel KZ in the mouth area between the feed channel and the pressure channel. They limit the rear stop of a single sheet 22 fed via the feed channel KZ.
  • the stops 24, which can be pivoted in and out, are located in the middle of the pressure channel KD in the mouth region. The pivoting in and out is effected by means of electric motors or magnets MO.
  • the pressure channel KD is designed for the parallel transport of at least two single sheets 22/1 and 22/2 of a first format, in this case A4, arranged next to one another and for the transport of single sheets of a second format, in this case A3.
  • A4 format For the parallel transport of two single sheets in A4 format, the single sheets are fed one after the other via the storage area VB. In doing so, a first one comes across Sheet 22/1 with its lateral edges on the fixed stop 23. Then the movable stops 24 are moved centrally into the mouth area between the pressure channel KD and the supply channel KZ, so that the second single sheet 22/2 with its lateral edges lies against the movable stops 24 is coming.
  • the paper transport device consists of motor-driven paper transport rollers 26 which transport single sheets in the printing channel KD and of paper transport belts 25 which are mounted on rollers and which extend into the feed channel KZ. Paper transport belts 25 and paper transport rollers 26 are arranged perpendicular to one another. The paper conveyor belts 25 capture the single sheets 22 in the feed channel KZ and place them on the stops 23 and 24. The individual sheets, which are arranged next to one another in parallel, are then transported further via the paper transport rollers 26.
  • the movable stops 24 are moved out of the transport area of the paper transport channels.
  • a fed A3 sheet thus comes into contact with the fixed stops 23 with its upper edge. It is then transported further in landscape format and printed in landscape format.
  • the orientation of the applied printed image on the single sheets can be done with the help of an electronic page turning device, which is designed in the usual way. This makes it possible to describe sheets specified in landscape format so that a single sheet described in portrait format is created.
  • Such side turning devices are generally known.
  • a deflecting beam 27 ( Figure 2) may be arranged.
  • This deflecting bar 27 can consist of a paper guide roller rotated by 45 ° with respect to the paper feed direction, which deflects the continuous paper by 90 ° and feeds the transfer printing areas.
  • 27 paper transport rollers can be arranged in front of and behind the deflecting bar in the direction of movement of the paper.
  • a thermal print fixing station FX is arranged to fix the toner images on the recording medium 22.
  • This can e.g. B. be designed according to the embodiments of Figures 3 or 4. It contains a pair of fixing rollers with a fixed fixing roller 28 and a z. B. under the force of a spring 29 pressing against the fixing roller 28 pressure roller 30.
  • Both pressure roller 30 and fixing roller 28 consist of an aluminum hollow roller with radiator heater 31 arranged therein in the form of a halogen heater.
  • the fixing rollers 28, 30 are arranged with respect to their linear contact zone, the actual printing area of the fixing rollers, at the end of a feed channel 32 for the recording medium, for example they have a diameter of 60 mm or preferably 80 mm.
  • the feed channel 32 extends in a straight extension to the transport channel K.
  • the feed channel 32 is formed by heat-resistant lower and upper fixing belts 33/1 and 33/2, which each wrap around the fixing roller 28 or the pressure roller 30 and a deflection point 34 on the input side.
  • This input-side deflection point 34 contains rollers which, for. B. are designed in the form of tensioning rollers with a diameter of about 30 mm and the z. B. tighten the fixing straps 33 via springs 39.
  • the deflection point 34 leads in connection with the fixing rollers 28 and the pressure rollers 30, the fixing tapes 33 such that a results in a conical feed channel 32, which decreases from a feed area 35 to the contact zone between the rollers at a predeterminable feed angle ⁇ .
  • the feed area 35 has a clear width that is somewhat thicker than the thickness of the record carrier (z. B. 1.5 mm).
  • Heating elements 36 in the form of electrically heated infrared elements, are located in the space between the forward and returning fixing bands 33. In order to enable a uniform heating of the fixing band 33, the filaments of the heating elements can be arranged offset to one another.
  • the heating elements 36 serve to heat the fixing tapes to a fixing temperature of approximately 120 to 200 °. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, they consist, according to FIG. B. a thickness of about 0.1-0.5 mm and a coating 38 made of toner-repellent material, for. B. PTFE / silicone with a thickness of about 1.5 - 2 mm, for example.
  • Such an elastic fixing tape is suitable for fixing two-component toner.
  • the fixing belt itself is designed as an endless belt. This reduces the risk of breakage, for example at the welding point, and the risk of bulging is reduced.
  • Such an endless belt can be produced in a simple manner by using an endless steel belt or z.
  • the fixing tape can be with respect to its support layer 37 as a laminate or fabric interspersed with resistance elements, the z. B. is designed according to an elastic electric blanket. Such a support layer can then be supplied with power via sliding contacts 40 which contact the fixing straps 33 from the inside. However, it is also possible to heat the metal mesh using induction heating.
  • the fixing rollers are usually oiled with separating oil.
  • Oiling stations 41 are provided for this purpose. According to the embodiment in FIG. 4, these can be arranged in the vicinity of the fixing rollers 28 or, in the case of an embodiment in accordance with FIG. 3, in the area of the fixing belts 33. In the oiling stations 41, separating oil is applied to the coated side of the fixing belts with the aid of a wick 42 or a fleece 33 applied.
  • the fixing station is covered by an insulating housing 43. It extends on both sides of the fuser station over the entire width of the fixing straps 33.
  • the thermal insulation prevents the surroundings from heating up and enables short heating times when the fusing station is switched on. Furthermore, such a housing reduces heat loss during standby operation.
  • a problem with thermal printing fusing stations is the so-called "stripping" of the single sheets when fusing.
  • Such a deflection can also occur if a toner image is arranged on both sides in duplex mode, as in the present fixing station.
  • the toner image has a different size depending on the print image generated and the single sheet can thus adhere more strongly to one or the other of the fixing rollers and thus be deflected.
  • the use of mechanical scraper elements in the exit area of the contact zone is not recommended because the toner on the single sheet is still soft after leaving the contact zone. The stripping elements can then blur the still soft toner image.
  • output-side deflection points 45 are integrated in the belt construction.
  • the fixing belts 33 are additionally guided around these deflection points 45. They have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the fixing rollers 28, for. B. 30 mm with a diameter of the fixing rollers of 60 mm or preferably 80 mm, the diameter of the deflection points 45 is dimensioned such that the single sheets detach themselves directly from the deflection point during implementation. Due to the simultaneous rectilinear guidance in the output channel 44 via the two fixing bands 33, the individual sheets cannot deform and cannot be deflected on one side either.
  • the deflection points 34 can be fastened in adjustable bearing elements 46.
  • These adjustable bearing elements 46 can be equipped with servomotors. By actuating the servomotors, the deflection points with the rollers arranged therein can be displaced perpendicular to the direction of transport of the recording medium. It is conceivable that this setting z. B. with the help of the control device of the printing device, wherein the input of the channel angle ⁇ can be done via a control panel D with a display on the device.
  • the thermal fixing station functions as follows: A single sheet provided with a toner image in the transfer printing station UB is fed via the feed area 35 to the fixing area of the thermal fixing station (position 1, FIG. 3).
  • the two fixing straps 33/1 and 33/2 gently grasp the front edge of the single sheet 22, regardless of the thickness of the single sheet (position 2). This is particularly the case if 33 elastic bands are used as the fixing bands.
  • they are favorable for setting the position at which the single sheet comes into contact with the fixing belts 33 for the first time and are therefore favorable for adjusting and coordinating the fixing station with the transport elements of the actual transport channel of the printing device.
  • the tapered fixing channel 32 thus enables the individual sheets to be smoothly phased into the actual fixing area.
  • the recording medium is then continued at the same process speed VP as in the transfer printing areas UB. Due to the soft phase-in, the record carrier does not suffer any recoil on its leading edge when it enters the fusing station. This means that the paper cannot bulge.
  • recoil-free feeding with process speed VP This reduces the impact load on the edge of the record carrier and the impact load on the fixing rollers because the record carrier is fed in a wedge shape. As a result, the life of the rollers and mechanics is extended.
  • the fixing station can be arranged directly adjacent to the transfer printing area or the transfer printing station UB.
  • the fixing tapes 33 lie evenly over the front and back of the single sheet. This results in a slow, constant heating of toner and paper in the fixing area during the transport of the single sheet through the fixing area 32.
  • the toner is brought to the fixing temperature.
  • the fixing pressure i.e. H. to keep the pressure of the pressure roller against the fixing roller low. The result is a gentler paper treatment and the risk of paper curl is minimized.
  • the described thermal fusing station can preferably be used in printing or copying machines with a transfer printing principle, as was described in connection with FIG. 1.
  • a fixing station of this type in conventional printing or copying devices in which a duplex operation involves two passes through the fixing station and in which the fixing station is coupled to a turning device.
  • the fixing straps 33 only have to be equipped with heating elements 36 on the fixing side.
  • the heating elements, e.g. B. the upper fixing straps 33/2 can be omitted.
  • heating elements 36 of the fixing belts can couple to the control and to control them in dependence on the operating mode.
  • the heating elements can therefore be designed to be switchable if necessary.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)

Abstract

Un poste de thermofixage avec transport par bande comporte des bandes de fixage supérieure et inférieure (31/1, 31/2) disposées des deux côtés d'un canal d'alimentation (32) et chauffées à l'aide d'un chauffage aux rayons infrarouges (36) disposé entre les bandes de fixage. Les bandes de fixage (33/1, 33/2) entourent le rouleau de fixage et le rouleau presseur et sont guidées autour d'un point de renvoi supplémentaire (34) du côté entrée. De cette façon se forme un canal d'alimentation (32) à section cunéiforme, lequel permet une introduction souple feuille à feuille dans le poste de fixage. Pour éviter des défauts de pelliculage (stripping), les bandes de fixage peuvent en outre être guidées à travers des points de renvoi (45) côté sortie.

Claims (11)

  1. Poste de thermofixage pour un appareil d'impression ou de copiage, destiné au fixage d'images de toner sur des supports d'enregistrement (22) en forme de feuille, comportant
    - un couple de cylindres de fixage, comprenant un cylindre inférieur de fixage (28) et un cylindre supérieur de fixage (30), dont l'un au moins (28, 30) peut être entraîné par un moteur électrique pour appliquer une pression de fixage à un support d'enregistrement, dans une zone de contact linéaire entre les cylindres de fixage (28, 30),
    - un canal d'amenée (32) destiné à amener le support d'enregistrement (22) au couple de cylindres de fixage, et
    - des bandes de fixage inférieure et supérieure (33/1, 33/2), auxquelles sont associés des dispositifs respectifs de chauffage (31, 36) destiné à chauffer de façon uniforme les bandes de fixage (33/1, 33/2), chaque bande de fixage (33/1, 33/2) passent autour d'un cylindre de fixage (28) et autour d'au moins un autre point de renvoi (34) situé côté entrée de telle sorte que les bandes de fixage (33/1, 33/2) s'étendent des deux côtés le long du canal d'amenée (32) et forment une zone de fixage en forme de coin en coupe transversale, qui se rétrécit dans la direction de transport des supports d'enregistrement depuis une zone d'amenée (35) située côté entrée jusqu'à la zone de contact comprise entre les cylindres de fixage (28, 30) et ce suivant un angle d'amenée (a) prescrit, de sorte que le support d'enregistrement (22) portant des images de toner peut être introduit en douceur dans la zone de fixage et être porté lentement et de façon constante à la température de fixage.
  2. Poste de thermofixage suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé par
    - un canal de sortie (44) en aval du couple des cylindres de fixage dans le prolongement du canal d'amenée (32) et comportant des points de renvoi (45) situés côté sortie, de part et d'autre du canal de sortie (44) et autour desquels passent en outre les bandes de fixage (33/1, 33/2) de telle sorte que le support d'enregistrement (22) est écarté des bandes de fixage (33) dans la zone des points de renvoi (45).
  3. Poste de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé par le fait que le dispositif de chauffage (36) associé à une bande de fixage (33) est disposé sur le côté, tourné à l'opposé du canal d'amenée (32), des bandes de fixage (33).
  4. Poste de thermofixage suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que les bandes de fixage (33) elles-mêmes sont agencées de manière à pouvoir être chauffées électriquement.
  5. Poste de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé par le fait qu'un dispositif de chauffage associé à un cylindre de fixage (28) est réalisé sous la forme d'un dispositif de chauffage à rayonnement (31) et que le dispositif de chauffage (36) associé aux bandes de fixage (33) est réalisé sous la forme d'un système de chauffage à infrarouge.
  6. Système de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé par un bottier (43) thermo-isolant qui s'étend au-dessus du poste de fixage.
  7. Poste de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 2 ou 5, caractérisé par des bandes de fixage (33) élastiques munies d'un dispositif de mise en tension, qui est disposé dans la zone des points de renvoi (35) situés côté sortie.
  8. Poste de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé par une bande de fixage (33) formée de plusieurs couches et comportant une couche de support (37) et une couche (38) située sur la précédente et en un matériau repoussant le toner.
  9. Poste de thermofixage suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé par le fait que les bandes de fixage (33) sont sous forme de bandes sans fin.
  10. Poste de thermofixage suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé par
    - des moyens de réglage de l'angle d'amenée (α).
  11. Appareil d'impression ou de copiage comportant
    - un support intermédiaire (10) auquel est associé un poste d'enregistrement et de développement (ZG, EY, EM, EC, EB) destiné à produire des images de toner sur le support d'enregistrement (10),
    - des premier et second postes de renvoi (U1, U2) comportant chacun un élément de transfert (16) destiné à la prise en charge d'une image de toner d'un support intermédiaire (10) dans une zone de transfert (T) et au transfert de l'image de toner de l'élément de transfert (16) à un support d'enregistrement (22) dans une zone de transfert (UB), les zones de transfert (T) des postes de transfert (U1, U2) étant disposées à distance le long du support intermédiaire (10),
    - un canal de transport (K) destiné à transporter le support d'enregistrement (22) d'une zone de réserve (VB) à la zone de transfert (UB) des postes de transfert (U1, U2), la zone de transfert (UB) du premier poste de transfert (U1) destinée à imprimer un recto du support d'enregistrement (22), étant d'un côté du canal de transport (K1) et la zone de transfert (UB2) du second poste de transfert (U2), étant destiné à imprimer un verso du support d'enregistrement (22), de l'autre côté du canal de transport (K), et
    - un poste de thermofixage (FX) selon la revendication 1.
EP91915451A 1990-10-02 1991-09-11 Poste de thermofixage avec transport par bande Expired - Lifetime EP0551288B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4031140 1990-10-02
DE4031140 1990-10-02
PCT/DE1991/000724 WO1992006417A1 (fr) 1990-10-02 1991-09-11 Poste de thermofixage avec transport par bande

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0551288A1 EP0551288A1 (fr) 1993-07-21
EP0551288B1 true EP0551288B1 (fr) 1994-07-20

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EP (1) EP0551288B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE59102290D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1992006417A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE59006076D1 (de) * 1990-11-22 1994-07-14 Siemens Nixdorf Inf Syst Wärmestation zum Erwärmen eines Aufzeichnungsträgers in einem Druck- oder Kopiergerät.
EP0488415B1 (fr) * 1990-11-30 1996-10-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Mécanisme de fixage et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre l'utilisant
JP2500414B2 (ja) * 1992-12-11 1996-05-29 日本電気株式会社 電子写真装置の用紙送り機構
US5873020A (en) * 1995-11-13 1999-02-16 Minolta Co., Ltd. Fixing device with endless belt
JP3482611B2 (ja) * 1997-02-14 2003-12-22 株式会社日立製作所 加熱装置
DE10064560A1 (de) * 2000-12-22 2002-06-27 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren zum doppelseitigen Bedrucken und/oder Beschichten eines Substrats
DE10064582B4 (de) * 2000-12-22 2004-03-04 Nexpress Solutions Llc Digitale Druck-oder Kopiermaschine
DE10301587A1 (de) * 2003-01-17 2004-08-05 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren und Transporteinrichtung zum Vorfixieren von Toner auf einem Bedruckstoff

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3666247A (en) * 1969-12-29 1972-05-30 Ibm Fusing device and method
US3810735A (en) * 1972-12-26 1974-05-14 Xerox Corp Heat fixing apparatus for fusible material
US4242566A (en) * 1980-03-21 1980-12-30 Pitney Bowes Inc. Heat-pressure fusing device
US4954845A (en) * 1988-08-02 1990-09-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing device and image forming apparatus with same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0551288A1 (fr) 1993-07-21
WO1992006417A1 (fr) 1992-04-16
DE59102290D1 (en) 1994-08-25

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