EP0992864A2 - Ink layer fixing - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment has an infra red lamp (1) for heating the toner (7) deposited on the copier and/or laser printing paper (6). A primary reflector (4) concentrates the infrared beam on to the paper. A quartz glass tube (8) acts as a spectral filter. Provision can be made to prevent stray reflection of the beam on to other printer components and to cool the reflectors.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Fixation of a color application on a sheet-like and / or endless carrier, especially of toner powder on copy paper and / or laser printing paper, the ink application being heated, to achieve a permanent connection with the wearer. Under "Endless" is understood to mean individual sections of the carrier in contrast to individual sheets with no space between them Sections are related. The sections for example, separated from each other on pre-perforated lines become. The invention further relates to the use of a By means of fixing the color application. When fixing in particular, the toner is also cross-linked.

When fixing a color application on a sheet-like Carrier should the paint application be permanently connected to the carrier become. However, the durability does not exclude that the Paint application, for example to correct an overall image, is wholly or partly removed from the carrier. The Carrier can be made not only from conventional paper, but also made of special paper with resin components, foil and / or anything other carrier material.

In the case of copiers, it is known to use a powder of black or different colored color particles (toner powder) by means of electrophotographic Applying methods to copy paper so that the outline and possibly the color of the toner powder Color order correspond to an original image. The toner powder immediately after it is applied to the copy paper by electrostatic forces, adhesion and / or by its Weight force at the desired location on the copy paper held. Then the toner powder is fixed by the Copy paper with the toner powder application through the space a pair of fuser rollers is promoted. At least one of the Both fuser rollers are actively heated, that is, by one Heating warmed to a temperature and held. The The temperature of the roller surface is sufficient for the toner powder to melt and a firm connection of the toner powder with the To effect copy paper.

When fixing using a pair of fixing rollers, it comes up good heat transfer between the fuser rollers and the Toner powder, or the copy paper. The distance between the two fixing rollers is therefore set so that the Surfaces of the fixing rollers, the copy paper or the toner powder contact under a contact pressure. The contact pressure can contribute to fixation in addition to the warming by the melted toner powder is pressed into the copy paper surface becomes. This creates a toothing of the toner surfaces with the copy paper surface.

The same or similar procedure for fixing color orders are used for example in laser printers.

It is known that in fixing processes described in the Way or otherwise a contact heating of the Color application and / or the sheet-like carrier cause a Warm-up time is needed, in which the heating the contact body, especially the actively heated fuser roller, at operating temperature warmed up. For example, is a copier or a laser printer has been switched off for some time, must first be waited until the operating temperature is reached. For this reason, the heating is not switched off when there are only brief interruptions between two Fixing operations are to be expected or are possible. The heating system is therefore usually only switched off after a few minutes or placed in a standby mode in which the contact device a lower temperature than the operating temperature keeps.

Because the actively heated contact device by heat radiation and / or by heat conduction and / or by convection heat loses, care must be taken that the device for Apply the paint application and the one not yet applied Paint application can not be heated. Otherwise the material would of the color application before application to the sheet-like carrier subjected to a heat treatment that the Application in the desired manner prevented or difficult.

Another consequence of contact heating is that usually the entire sheet-like carrier is heated to a considerable extent. In further process steps following the fixation must the high carrier temperature can be taken into account. In particular Parts of the device must be designed to be temperature-resistant and may have to wait for cooling phases.

The operating temperature of the contact device is also through limited their type and construction, with the result that the Working speed or clock rate is limited. Another The reason for a limit of the operating temperature is that the Paper at about the same temperature or even higher Temperature as the toner heats up and that the paper Damage exceeded a certain maximum temperature or is destroyed.

The object of the present invention is a method and a device for fixing a color application on a leaf-like and / or endless carriers of the aforementioned Specify the type in whose execution or operation one for the Fixing unnecessary heating of device parts and / or the sheet-like carrier can be avoided. Another The object of the invention is to provide a means whose Use allows heating of the paint application, whereby a heating of not required for fixation Parts of the device and / or the carrier can be avoided.

The task is accomplished through a process with the characteristics of Claim 1, a device with the features of the claim 11 and a use with the features of the claim 19 solved. Further training is the subject of each dependent claims.

An essential idea of the invention is that the Color application is irradiated with infrared radiation, so that the Color application by absorption of at least part of the infrared radiation is heated. On the device side, it is proposed that a radiation source for generating infrared radiation to provide and to provide an irradiation area, in which the carrier can be introduced to the infrared radiation to be exposed so that the paint application is heated.

An advantage of the invention is that infrared radiation is so adjustable and / or controllable that a targeted Warming only for fixing the paint application on the Carrier required matter is effected. A targeted warming does not rule out, however, that areas of the Carriers that do not apply paint are desirably heated be, for example, following the fixation Prepare process steps or to dry the carrier. Depending on the type and material of the paint application takes place through the heating also takes place a networking of the paint application.

The infrared radiation or its essential, radiation components causing heating in the near Infrared. That spectral range is under near infrared Electromagnetic radiation understood between the visible wavelength range and about 1.4 micron wavelength lies. In particular, 80% of the radiation energy is in the Wavelength range from 0.8 to 1.8 µm. Particularly preferred is that the infrared radiation or its essential, the Radiation components causing heating, in the wavelength range between the visible range and 1.0 micron wavelength lie.

Especially when the infrared radiation from a radiation source is emitted, the emission temperature of 2500 K. or higher, in particular of 2900 K or higher, can higher radiation flux density of those absorbed by the paint application Infrared radiation can be achieved as the emitting Surface of the radiation source Radiation with greater radiance emitted. The spectral continues to shift Maximum of the emitted radiance according to the Vienna displacement law with increasing surface temperature shorter wavelengths and is expressed as a percentage distribution of the emitted radiation energy sharper, that means a certain percentage of the radiant energy is in an increasingly narrow spectral range around the wavelength spectral radiance emitted around. In this way spectrally different optical properties, especially absorption and reflection properties of the the parts of the device involved in the radiation heating, the Color application and the carrier better in the sense of a targeted Take advantage of warming. Therefore, in a training of the process according to the invention of the paint application and the carrier selected such that their absorption properties for spectrally differentiate the absorption of infrared radiation. The near infrared carrier is preferably low Degree of absorption, for example an absorption level of 0.1 to 0.2, and the color application in the near infrared has one Degree of absorption, for example an absorption level of 0.7 to 0.9. The radiant energy that is on the carrier and the is then applied mainly absorbed by the paint application. In this way there is a targeted heating of the paint application.

The infrared radiation is preferably applied before it strikes the paint application spectrally filtered, and the filtering so on the absorption properties of the carrier and the Color order matched that the heating of the carrier is negligible is small. For example, come as spectral filters optical gratings, spectrally selective transparent materials, like glass, and materials with different spectral refractions with a suitable shape, for example prisms, in Question. In particular, longer-wave filters are used Radiation components of the infrared radiation filtered out to the To minimize heating of the carrier. The has preferably device according to the invention a spectral filter for filtering out of radiation components of the radiation source, where the spectral filter between the radiation source and the Irradiation area is arranged. At a training course the spectral filter is a plate-like, by absorption certain spectral radiation components of active filters, in particular a quartz glass pane.

It is further preferred that the heating of the paint application using infrared radiation in a short time, especially within fractions of a second or a few seconds. In these cases, unwanted warming can occur of the wearer can be effectively avoided, including the flat Shape of the carrier is helpful. In particular, there is a noteworthy The carrier is only heated directly at the interfaces the carrier surface and the paint application instead. A such localized warming may be desirable to get a firm connection with the paint application.

In the case of further training, the carrier and the paint application non-absorbed, reflected radiation components of the Infrared radiation in the direction of the wearer or the color application reflected back. In this way, the radiation energy not yet absorbed and reflected back at least partially absorbed by the paint application.

Another option from a radiation source emitted infrared radiation effectively for heating the To use paint job is that of the radiation source not in the direction of the carrier or the color application emitted infrared radiation in the direction of the carrier or Color order is reflected. This is on the device side preferably a primary reflector for reflecting the generated ones Infrared radiation and for concentrating infrared radiation provided in the radiation area in which the carrier can be introduced. In a further training there is a secondary reflector for reflecting back radiation components of the Infrared radiation from the carrier and the paint application is not absorbed and reflected towards the secondary reflector are provided in the direction of the carrier.

In a development of the device according to the invention this has a back reflector, which from the perspective of the radiation source is arranged behind the radiation area. The The back reflector is used to reflect radiation from the Radiation source is emitted towards the carrier.

The reflector or reflectors are advantageously actively cooled. In particular, the reflector or the reflectors have a reflector body with one therein arranged cavity to preferably liquid cooling of the respective reflector from the inside of the To allow reflector surface. The cooling of the radiation emitted by the reflectors is minimized and thus good Controllability of the irradiation of the sheet-like carrier or guaranteed of his color application. Chilled continue to work Reflectors as protective shields against undesired heating of device parts involved in the process of heating should not be heated. The cooling, especially the Liquid and / or gas cooling is expediently not only used with reflectors, but generally with one Part or more parts of the device that measure the intensity, Direction and / or wavelength of that from the radiation source emitted infrared radiation. These are in particular also spectral filters and / or radiation transmissive Envelopes of a radiation source, which inevitably one Warming by absorbing part of it subject to transmitted radiation.

In particular with copying devices or with laser printers the color applications of a plurality of sheet-like carriers successively fixed by the sheet-like supports one after the other be promoted in the fusing area. Can do more or less long time intervals occur. At a A further development of the method according to the invention becomes a plurality the sheet-like carrier with color applications in succession promoted by an irradiation area in which the infrared radiation takes place, and becomes infrared radiation depending on the funding, especially depending on the Crossing a carrier through the radiation area, started and stopped. The radiation can in particular even before a sheet-like carrier enters the Irradiation area can be started. A major advantage this training is that the radiation sources in the No unnecessary heating of device parts during breaks and other matter. Energy is also saved.

If the paint application contains color particles of different colors, for example blue, red and green, and become the paint application parts different color in successive Process steps first applied and then fixed, the infrared radiation is preferably spectrally different Absorption properties of the respective color partial order Voted. So in particular already fixed parts of the paint application warmed less than before parts that are not fixed, or in the best case will not be warmed more. The adaptation of infrared radiation to the Absorption properties are achieved in particular through filtering and / or adaptation of the emission temperature of a heat radiator.

The use according to the invention is used to heat the paint application an infrared lamp proposed. Preferably, the Infrared lamp is a halogen lamp. One is particularly preferred Infrared lamp, which is a filament for radiation emission which has an emission temperature of 2500 K or higher, especially at emission temperatures of 2900 K or higher, is operable. In particular, the infrared lamp is a tube emitter with a line-like in a radiolucent Tube, preferably in a quartz glass tube Filament is formed.

In a preferred embodiment, the infrared lamp is used a plate-like spectral determined by absorption Radiation components acting spectral filter, especially with a quartz glass pane combined, the spectral filter between the radiation source, d. i.e., the incandescent body, and the Irradiation area is arranged in which the sheet-like Carrier is arranged. This creates a space between the radiation source and the spectral filter from a cooling gas forcibly flowed through. The spectral filter serves Delimitation of the flow space from the space in which the Irradiation area is located. With such forced convection cooling is also preferred in addition to the spectral filter any radiation-permeable covering of the Radiation source and / or one or more possibly present Cooled reflectors in the area of the radiation source.

Fig.1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung als Bestandteil eines Kopierers zum Kopieren von auf Papier gedruckten Texten, Bildern und dergleichen.

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Reflektoranordnung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels.

The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. However, it is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments. Reference is made to the attached drawing. The individual figures in the drawing show:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of a device according to the invention as part of a copier for copying text, images and the like printed on paper.

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through a reflector arrangement of a second embodiment.

The device shown in FIG. 1 has two halogen lamps 1 on, each having a filament 2 made of tungsten wire. The Filaments 2 are each one along the center line Quartz glass tube 8 extending perpendicular to the image direction. With the halogen lamps 1 is a primary reflector 4 combined, with a constant cross-sectional profile extends parallel to the quartz glass tube 8. When switched on Halogen lamp 1 reflects the primary reflector 4 from the halogen lamp 1 not in the direction of an irradiation area emitted infrared radiation in the radiation area.

In the snapshot shown in Fig. 1 there is a Sheet of copy paper 6 in the irradiation area. The copy paper 6 was previously coming from the right into the radiation area promoted. For this purpose, the device or one with the Device combined copier an applicator roller 10 and an application counter roller 11. The axes of rotation of the application roller 10 and the application counter roller 11 are parallel aligned and positioned so that at counter-rotating movement of the rollers from top right in Fig. 1 fed copy paper (feed direction is with Arrow indicated) promoted by the pair of rollers to the bottom left becomes. A guide element 12 ensures that the copy paper swings in a horizontal conveying direction and thus in the Irradiation area occurs.

The application roller 10 is used to apply toner powder Copy paper 6 through the space between the Application roller 10 and the application counter roller 11 conveyed through becomes. By an electrophotographic copying process the toner powder is applied by a device, not shown the application roller 10 is applied, in accordance with the Lettering or the image of the original from which a copy is made shall be. When the application roller 10 rolls off, the toner powder in the area of the gap to the application counter roller 11 applied to the copy paper 6. Until entry into the Irradiation area, the toner powder adheres to the copy paper 6 due to electrostatic forces.

When you enter the radiation area, the copy paper comes 6 on its underside with the surface of a conveyor belt 13 in contact and is circulating through the endless Movement of the conveyor belt 13 through the irradiation area conveyed through until the front end of the copy paper 6 Conveyor roller pair 15, 16 reached. The copy paper 6 supported by a further guide element 14.

The copy paper 6 shown in Fig. 1 is an example three places on its top toner 7, which as described applied to the copy paper 6 by the application roller 10 has been. Both the copy paper itself and the toner 7 are shown exaggeratedly thick.

Shortly before the copy paper 6 enters the radiation area, which is approximately defined by the upper side of the conveyor belt 13, the halogen lamps 1 are switched on. Due to the low thermal inertia of the filaments 2, the operating temperature of the filaments 2 is reached within fractions of a second after switching on. If the copy paper 6 enters the radiation area with its front edge, the full radiation power of the halogen lamps 1 is available at least approximately. Accordingly, the radiation spectrum emitted by the halogen lamps 1 changes only slightly from this point in time until the halogen lamps 1 are switched off. In particular, the circuit flux density of the radiation impinging on the copy paper 6 is more than 300 kW / m ² . In order to maintain the constant operating temperature of approximately 2900 K on the surface of the filaments 2, the electric glow current is regulated by the filaments 2.

The number of hours the halogen lamps can be operated 1 crucially depends on that lamp parts like the brackets the filaments 2 at their ends and reflector components none are exposed to significant thermal alternating loads. Therefore, the filament holders and the reflector components preferably actively cooled. In addition there are air cooling and liquid cooling in question.

That of the halogen lamps 1 at a filament surface temperature radiation emitted by 2900 K essentially exists from short-wave infrared radiation. Longer-wave components of the emitted radiation will be at least partially absorbed by the quartz glass tubes 8. An additional, in 1 spectral filter (not shown) can be provided to certain radiation components, which after the passage of the Radiation through the quartz glass tubes 8 are still present, filter out. These radiation components exist in particular in long-wave infrared radiation components and in radiation components, at the wavelength of the copy paper 6, printing or already fixed toner of a different color have a high degree of absorption.

As indicated by arrows, the radiation from the Infrared lamps 1 emitted in different directions. On Part of the radiation is, for example, directly in the direction of Toner 7 is emitted on the copy paper 6 and from the toner 7 absorbed. Another part of the radiation is directed towards the Primary reflector 4 emits and from this in the direction of Toner 7 reflects. Another part of the radiation is reached directly, or after reflection by the primary reflector 4, places the copy paper 6, which do not carry a color application. Because of the low degree of absorption of the copy paper 6 for the emitted and possibly filtered radiation these radiation parts essentially from the copy paper reflected. An essential part of the reflected radiation strikes the primary reflector 4 or a secondary reflector 5 on the underside of a reflector body 3, in the trough-shaped recesses arranged the halogen lamps 1 are, the surfaces of the trough-shaped recesses with a reflective layer are coated or preferably consist of polished aluminum, so that the Primary reflector 4 is formed. From the primary reflector 4 or a significant part of the secondary reflector 5 incident infrared radiation back towards the copy paper 6 reflected back. There the radiation either hits on the toner 7 or on places of the copy paper 6 that are not Wear toner. Accordingly, part of the incident radiation continues the chain of reflection. As a result the majority of the halogen lamps 1 emitted radiation absorbed by the toner 7 and in heat implemented.

To avoid significant portions of the emitted Radiation the radiation area laterally, that is, in Direction of the application roller 10, in the direction of the conveyor rollers 15, 16 or in directions transverse to the image surface preferably further to the side of the radiation area Reflectors provided that the radiation in the radiation area throw back. Alternatively or additionally, the Distance of the reflector body 3 to the top of the conveyor belt 13, on which the copy paper 6 is located, clearly be less than shown in Fig. 1. That way too can cause radiation losses due to leakage from the side Irradiation area can be minimized.

Fig. 2 shows a reflector arrangement of such a device. Except for the reflector body already described with reference to FIG. 1 3 with the primary reflector 4 and the secondary reflector 5 the reflector arrangement has a total of 4 side reflector bodies 23, of which only due to the sectional view two are shown. The other side reflector bodies, not shown are located above and below the 2 at the level of the side reflector body shown 23. The side reflector bodies point to their Irradiation room side secondary reflectors 21, the preferably have a surface of polished aluminum. Furthermore, there is a back reflector body in the reflector arrangement 24 is provided with a back reflector 22. The back reflector 22 is shown on the back of the dashed lines leaf-like carrier directed. In the shown The reflector arrangement is that of the reflectors 4, 5, 21, 22 bordered irradiation room almost completely closed. Therefore, only slight radiation losses occur Radiation emerges from the radiation room. All in all is the proportion of radiation that is indirect, i.e. that is, at least a reflection, starting from the radiation source on the leaf-like carrier or its color application, larger than 60% of the radiation emitted.

The reflector body 3 has a cavity, not shown on. Around the primary reflector 4 and the secondary reflector 5 cool, liquid, preferably water, through the Cavity passed through. For this purpose, the reflector body 3 an input port 25 for introducing the liquid and an outlet port 26 for discharging the liquid. The direction of flow is indicated by arrows in FIG. 2. The coolant takes on the inside of the reflectors 4, 5 heat on, inevitably through absorption part of the radiation energy absorbed by the reflectors 4, 5 arises. In an alternative embodiment can also the side reflector body 23 and / or the back reflector body 24 can be cooled in a similar manner.

Referring again to Figure 1, through continued funding the copy paper 6 this to the conveyor roller pair 15, 16 funded. The conveyor roller pair 15, 16 met in addition to Funding function two more functions. For toners or Color orders, which are not only caused by heating but also by printing are fixed, the conveyor roller pair 15, 16 exercises the required Print on the warmed toner or paper out. Furthermore, the conveyor roller pair 15, 16 cools the toner 7 and the copy paper 6. Subsequent components of the copier therefore do not have to be temperature resistant.

• aufgrund der Erwärmung des Farbauftrages zumindest im wesentlichen durch Strahlungserwärmung kann gezielt die zu erwärmende Materie, insbesondere der Toner, erwärmt werden. Andere Materie, beispielsweise temperaturempfindliche Vorrichtungsbauteile, werden nicht zwangsläufig erwärmt.
• durch Verwendung von Glühkörpern geringer thermischer Trägheit als Infrarot-Strahlungsemitter können die Einschaltzeiten verkürzt werden und kann Energie gespart werden.
• durch gezielte Erwärmung möglichst nur des Farbauftrages kann ebenfalls Energie eingespart werden. Bei gleicher Heizleistung wird im Vergleich zu einer Kontakterwärmung eine schnellere Erwärmung bewirkt. Taktzeiten bei der sukzessiven Fixierung von Farbaufträgen auf einer Vielzahl von blattartigen Trägern (wie beim Kopieren eines Stapels von Dokumenten oder beim Laserdruck) können somit verkürzt werden.
• bei Farbaufträgen mit unterschiedlichen Farben können Teile des Farbauftrages selektiv erwärmt und fixiert werden.
• Vorrichtungsteile, die die Intensität, Richtung und/oder Wellenlänge der von der Strahlungsquelle emittierten Infrarotstrahlung beeinflussen, etwa Reflektoren oder Spektralfilter können aktiv gekühlt werden. Bei einer Kühlung durch Gas- bzw. Luftstrom ist es vorteilhaft, eine für die Strahlung durchlässige Platte oder einen plattenartigen Gegenstand zwischen der Strahlungsquelle und dem Bestrahlungsbereich anzuordnen, um den Bereich der Strahlungsquelle zu kühlen, jedoch die Kühlgase von dem Bestrahlungsbereich fernzuhalten. Weiterhin kann der Kühlgasstrom durch geeignete Positionierung der strahlungsdurchlässigen Platte eine effektive Anströmung des Bereichs der Strahlungsquelle, insbesondere der Strahlungsquelle bzw. deren Umhüllung und/oder der dort angeordneten Reflektoren, bewirken. Die Platte gewährleistet eine ausreichende Strömungsgeschwindigkeit in dem zu kühlenden Bereich und verhindert, daß der Kühlgasstrom divergiert.

The advantages of the device according to the invention can be summarized as follows:

• due to the heating of the paint application, at least essentially by radiant heating, the material to be heated, in particular the toner, can be heated in a targeted manner. Other matter, such as temperature sensitive device components, is not necessarily heated.
• by using incandescent bodies with low thermal inertia as infrared radiation emitters, the switch-on times can be shortened and energy can be saved.
• Energy can also be saved by targeted heating of only the paint application, if possible. With the same heating output, faster heating is achieved compared to contact heating. Cycle times when successively fixing color jobs on a large number of sheet-like carriers (such as when copying a stack of documents or when laser printing) can thus be shortened.
• for color orders with different colors, parts of the color order can be selectively heated and fixed.
• Parts of the device which influence the intensity, direction and / or wavelength of the infrared radiation emitted by the radiation source, for example reflectors or spectral filters, can be actively cooled. In the case of cooling by means of gas or air flow, it is advantageous to arrange a plate or a plate-like object which is permeable to the radiation between the radiation source and the radiation region in order to cool the region of the radiation source but to keep the cooling gases away from the radiation region. Furthermore, by suitably positioning the radiation-transmissive plate, the cooling gas flow can bring about an effective flow against the area of the radiation source, in particular the radiation source or its envelope and / or the reflectors arranged there. The plate ensures a sufficient flow velocity in the area to be cooled and prevents the cooling gas flow from diverging.

Reference list

1

Halogen lamp

2nd

filament

3rd

Reflector body

4th

Primary reflector

5

Secondary reflector

6

Copy paper

7

toner

8th

Quartz glass tube

10th

Applicator roller

11

Application counter roller

12th

Guide element

13

Conveyor belt

14

Guide element

15

Conveyor roller

16

Conveyor roller

21

Secondary reflector

22

Back reflector

23

Side reflector body

24th

Back reflector body

25th

Input connector

26

Output connector

Claims (21)

Method for fixing an ink application (7) on a sheet-like carrier (6), in particular toner powder on copy paper, the ink application (7) being heated in order to achieve a permanent connection with the carrier (6),
characterized,
that the paint application (7) is irradiated with infrared radiation, so that the paint application (7) is heated by absorption of at least part of the infrared radiation. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the infrared radiation or its essential radiation components causing the heating lie in the near infrared. The method of claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the infrared radiation is emitted by a radiation source (1) which has an emission temperature of 2500 K or higher, in particular of 2900 K or higher. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the color application (7) and / or the carrier (6) are selected such that their absorption properties for the absorption of infrared radiation differ spectrally, and that by adjusting the spectral distribution of the irradiated infrared radiation, this is predominantly absorbed by the color application (7) . Method according to claim 4,
characterized,
that the infrared radiation is spectrally filtered before striking the paint application (7) and that the filtering is matched to the absorption properties of the support (6) and the paint application (7) such that the heating of the support (6) relative to that of the paint application is negligibly small. Method according to claim 5,
characterized,
that longer-wave radiation components of the infrared radiation are filtered out in order to minimize the heating of the carrier (6). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that reflected portions of the infrared radiation which are not absorbed by the carrier (6) and the color application (7) are reflected back in the direction of the carrier (6) or the color application (7). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
that a plurality of the sheet-like carriers with color applications are conveyed in succession through an irradiation area in which the infrared irradiation takes place, and that the infrared irradiation is started and stopped depending on the conveyance, in particular depending on the passage of a carrier through the irradiation area. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
that a part or more parts, which influence the intensity, direction and / or wavelength of the infrared radiation emitted by a radiation source (1) that falls into the radiation area, are liquid and / or gas cooled. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9
characterized,
that the paint application is cross-linked by the infrared radiation. Device for fixing a paint application (7) on a sheet-like and / or endless
Carrier (6), in particular of toner powder on copy paper and / or laser printing paper, the ink application (7) being heated in order to achieve a permanent connection with the carrier (6),
marked by a radiation source (1) for generating infrared radiation and an irradiation area into which the carrier (6) can be introduced in order to be exposed there to the infrared radiation, so that the paint application is heated and fixed. Device according to claim 11,
marked by,
a primary reflector (4) for reflecting the generated infrared radiation and for concentrating the infrared radiation in the irradiation area. Device according to claim 11 or 12,
marked by
a secondary reflector (5) for reflecting back radiation components of the infrared radiation, which are not absorbed by the carrier (6) and the paint application (7) and reflected in the direction of the secondary reflector (5), in the direction of the carrier (6). Device according to claim 12 or 13,
characterized,
that the reflector (4, 5, 21, 22) or the reflectors have a reflector body (3, 23, 24) having a cavity for liquid cooling of the respective reflector (4, 5, 21, 22) from an inside of the reflector surface. Device according to one of claims 11 to 14,
marked by
a spectral filter for filtering out radiation components of the radiation source (1), which is arranged between the radiation source (1) and the radiation region. Device according to claim 15,
characterized,
that the spectral filter is a plate-like filter which acts through absorption of certain spectral radiation components, in particular a quartz glass pane. Device according to one of claims 11 to 16,
characterized,
that a forced convection cooling device is provided for cooling a radiation-permeable component of the device by means of a cooling gas, in particular for cooling the spectral filter and / or for cooling an envelope surrounding a glow element of the radiation source (1). Device according to one of claims 11 to 17,
characterized,
that from the point of view of the radiation source (1) a back reflector (22) is provided behind the radiation area for reflecting radiation components. Use of an infrared lamp to fix a Color application (7) on a sheet-like and / or endless Carrier (6), in particular of toner powder on copy paper and / or laser printing paper, the ink application by the infrared lamp (1) generated infrared radiation is heated by radiation absorption and permanent Connection with the carrier is established. Use according to claim 19,
the infrared lamp (1) being a halogen lamp and having an incandescent body (2) for radiation emission which can be operated at emission temperatures of 2500 K or higher, in particular at emission temperatures of 2900 K or higher. Use according to claim 19 or 20,
wherein the infrared lamp (1) is designed as a tube radiator with a filament (2) extending in a line in a radiation-permeable tube (8), in particular in a quartz glass tube.

Images