EP3757679B1 - Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images - Google Patents

Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3757679B1
EP3757679B1 EP20177951.9A EP20177951A EP3757679B1 EP 3757679 B1 EP3757679 B1 EP 3757679B1 EP 20177951 A EP20177951 A EP 20177951A EP 3757679 B1 EP3757679 B1 EP 3757679B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
temperature sensor
temperature
rotating member
nip
heater
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.)
Active
Application number
EP20177951.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3757679A1 (fr
Inventor
Ryohhei Sugiyama
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.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
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
Priority claimed from JP2020048747A external-priority patent/JP2021002029A/ja
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP3757679A1 publication Critical patent/EP3757679A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3757679B1 publication Critical patent/EP3757679B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • G03G15/2053—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
    • 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
    • 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
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5004—Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
    • 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

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a heating device, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.
  • JP-6164014-B JP-2015-069094-A discloses the fixing device including a fixing belt as a fixing member, a nip formation member to form a fixing nip, and a heater that is disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt and radiates radiant heat to heat the fixing belt and the nip formation member.
  • the fixing device including the heater disposed inside the loop of the fixing belt adopts a reflector structure including a reflector having high reflectance and covering around the heater to reflect infrared rays that are not directly emitted from the heater to an object to be heated and irradiate the object to be heated with all infrared rays radially radiated from the heater.
  • US 2014/0294417 A1 discloses an image forming apparatus including an endless belt, a heater, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller.
  • JP201602442A discloses a fixation device comprising a fixation belt; a pressure roller; belt guide members; halogen heaters; and a reflection member disposed between the halogen heaters and the belt guide members that reflects heat from the halogen heaters to heat the fixation belt.
  • JP2004191966 discloses a fixing device that predicts maximum power supply to a fixing heater according to rise time of temperature sensed by a main thermistor or a sub-thermistor, and corrects output power according to the maximum power supply at the time of output of power necessary for stable operation of the fixing device.
  • JP2006251479A discloses a fixing device in which temperature control on the surface of a heating member is accurately performed.
  • EP 1 995 646 A2 discloses a fixing device to fix an image to a print medium, including: a pressing roller, which is driven to rotate; a heat transferring unit facing the pressing roller, and contacting the pressing roller at a fixing nip position, to heat to a print medium disposed at the fixing nip position; a heating member that presses an portion of the heat transferring unit against the pressing roller at the fixing nip position; and a heat source that heats a preheating position of the heat transferring unit, and heats the heating member.
  • the object of the present disclosure is improving the temperature control performance of a rotating member such as a fixing belt and preventing a fixing failure caused by a temperature drop in a fixing nip.
  • a heating device according to claim 1.
  • the heating device includes a rotating member having an endless form, a heater disposed inside a loop of the rotating member, a pressing member disposed opposite the rotating member, a nip formation member, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor.
  • the nip formation member contacts an inner circumferential surface of the rotating member to form a nip between the pressing member and the rotating member.
  • the first temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the nip formation member
  • the second temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the rotating member.
  • the temperature control performance of a rotating member is improved, and a fixing failure caused by a temperature drop in the nip is prevented.
  • the image forming apparatus can be a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a plotter, and a multifunction peripheral having at least two of copying, printing, facsimile transmission, plotting, and scanning capabilities; or an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • a “sheet medium” as a recording medium is described as a “sheet” in the following embodiments, the “sheet medium” is not limited to the sheet made of paper.
  • the “sheet” include not only the sheet but also an overhead projector (OHP) transparency, a fabric, a metallic sheet, a plastic film, and a prepreg sheet including carbon fibers previously impregnated with resin.
  • OHP overhead projector
  • Examples of the "sheet medium” include all media to which developer or ink can adhere, and so-called recording paper and recording sheets.
  • Examples of the "sheet” include thick paper, a postcard, an envelope, thin paper, coated paper (e.g., coat paper and art paper), and tracing paper, in addition to plain paper.
  • image forming means not only giving an image having a meaning, such as a character or a figure, to a medium but also giving an arbitrary image having no meaning, such as a pattern, to a medium.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laser printer as an example of an image forming apparatus 100 including a fixing device 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image bearer 2 such as a photoconductor drum and a photoconductor cleaner 3.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 further includes a charging device 4 as a charger that uniformly charges the surface of the image bearer, a developing device 5 that renders visible an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer, a transfer device TM disposed under the image bearer 2, a discharger, and the like.
  • An exposure device 7 as an image forming device is disposed above the image bearer 2.
  • the exposure device 7 performs writing and scanning based on image data, that is to say, irradiates the image bearer 2 with laser light Lb emitted by a laser diode based on image data and reflected by a mirror 7a to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer 2.
  • a sheet feeder 50 including a tray loaded with sheets P is disposed in a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the sheet feeder 50 is configured as a recording-medium supply device and can house a sheaf of many sheets P as recording media.
  • the sheet feeder 50 is configured as one unit together with a sheet feeding roller 60 as a conveyor for the sheets P.
  • a registration roller pair 250 Downstream from the sheet feeding roller 60 in a sheet conveyance direction, a registration roller pair 250 as a separation and conveyance means is disposed.
  • the registration roller pair 250 temporarily stops the sheet P fed from the sheet feeder 50. Temporarily stopping the sheet P causes slack on the leading-edge side of the sheet P and corrects a skew of the sheet P.
  • the fixing device 300 is disposed downstream from the transfer nip N in the sheet conveyance direction.
  • the fixing device 300 includes a fixing belt 310 as a rotating member, a halogen heater 361 as a heater inside a loop of the fixing belt 310, which is described later, and a pressure roller 320 as a pressing member that rotates while contacting the fixing belt 310 at a predetermined pressure.
  • the sheet feeding roller 60 rotates in response to a sheet feeding signal from a controller of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the sheet feeding roller 60 rotates to separate the uppermost sheet from a sheaf of sheets P loaded in the sheet feeder 50 and send the uppermost sheet out to a sheet feeding path.
  • the sheet P forms slack and temporarily stops.
  • the registration roller pair 250 corrects the front-end skew of the sheet P and rotates in synchronization with an optimum timing to transfer a toner image on the image bearer 2 onto the sheet P.
  • the charging device 4 uniformly charges the surface of the image bearer 2 to high potential.
  • the exposure device 7 irradiates the surface of the image bearer 2 with the laser light Lb based on the image data and reflected by the mirror 7a.
  • the surface of the image bearer 2 irradiated with the laser light Lb has the electrostatic latent image due to a drop in the potential of the irradiated portion.
  • the developing device 5 includes a developer bearer 5a bearing a developer including toner and transfers unused black toner supplied from a toner bottle to the surface portion of the image bearer 2 having the electrostatic latent image, through the developer bearer 5a.
  • the image bearer 2 to which the toner has been transferred forms (develops) a toner image on the surface of the image bearer 2.
  • the transfer device TM transfers the toner image formed on the image bearer 2 onto the sheet P.
  • a cleaning blade 3a in the photoconductor cleaner 3 removes the residual toner adhering to the surface of the image bearer 2 after a transfer process.
  • the removed residual toner is collected to a waste toner container.
  • the sheet P bearing the toner image is conveyed to the fixing device 300.
  • the sheet P conveyed to the fixing device 300 is sandwiched by the fixing belt 310 and the pressure roller 320. Then, heating and pressing fixes the unfixed toner image onto the sheet P.
  • the sheet P fixed the toner image is sent out from the fixing device 300.
  • the fixing device 300 is an embodiment of a heating device according to the present disclosure.
  • the heating device according to the present disclosure is also applicable to a dryer to dry ink applied to the sheet in an inkjet type image forming apparatus and a coating device (a laminator) that heats, under pressure, a film serving as a covering member onto the surface of the sheet such as paper conveyed by a belt.
  • a coating device a laminator
  • the fixing device 300 includes a thin fixing belt 310 having a low thermal capacity and a pressure roller 320.
  • the fixing device 300 includes a first temperature sensor 381 as a first temperature detector, a second temperature sensor 382 as a second temperature detector, and a third temperature sensor 383 as a third temperature detector, as described in detail later.
  • the first temperature sensor 381 detects a temperature TN of a nip formation member
  • the second temperature sensor 382 detects a temperature of the fixing belt 310 inside a range of a sheet conveyance span in the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt 310
  • the third temperature sensor 383 detects a temperature of the fixing belt 310 outside the range of the sheet conveyance span, that is a non-sheet conveyance span in the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt 310.
  • the fixing belt 310 includes, for example, a tubular base made of polyimide (PI), the tubular base having an outer diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of from 40 to 120 ⁇ m.
  • the fixing belt 310 further includes a release layer serving as an outermost surface layer.
  • the release layer is made of fluororesin, such as tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer (PFA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and has a thickness of from 5 ⁇ m to 50 ⁇ m to enhance durability of the fixing belt 310 and facilitate separation of the sheet P from the fixing belt 310.
  • An elastic layer made of rubber having a thickness of from 50 to 500 ⁇ m may be provided between the base and the release layer.
  • the base of the fixing belt 310 may be made of heat-resistant resin such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or metal such as nickel (Ni) or stainless steel (Stainless Used Steel, SUS), instead of polyimide.
  • PEEK polyetheretherketone
  • Ni nickel
  • SUS stainless steel
  • the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 310 may be coated with polyimide or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a slide layer.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the pressure roller 320 having, for example, an outer diameter of 25 mm, includes a solid iron cored bar 321, an elastic layer 322 on the surface of the cored bar 321, and a release layer 323 formed on the outside of the elastic layer 322.
  • the elastic layer 322 is made of silicone rubber and has a thickness of 3.5 mm, for example.
  • the release layer 323 is formed by a fluororesin layer having, for example, a thickness of approximately 40 ⁇ m on the surface of the elastic layer 322 to improve releasability.
  • the pressure roller 320 is pressed against the fixing belt 310 by a biasing member.
  • the stays 330 as support members and the nip formation member 380 extend axially inside the loop of the fixing belt 310.
  • the stays 330 are a pair of metallic members that are made of stainless steel or the like, extend in parallel, face each other, and each have an I-shaped cross-section. Both side plates of the fixing device 300 support both end portions of the stays 330.
  • the pair of stays 330 reliably receive the pressing force of the pressure roller 320 acting on the nip formation member 380 and stably form a nip SN having a uniform width over an axial direction of the pressure roller 320 that is a longitudinal direction of the pressure roller 320.
  • a plurality of types of sheets having different widths in the axial direction of the fixing belt 310 can pass through the nip SN.
  • a stay as a support member may be one unit formed by connecting end portions of the pair of metallic members.
  • the nip formation member 380 is a plate bridged between the pair of stays 330 and supported by the stays 330. Both end portions of the nip formation member 380 in the sheet conveyance direction are each bent in an L shape, and the L-shaped bent portions 380a and 380b are located upstream and downstream in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the pair of stays 330.
  • the bent portion located upstream in the sheet conveyance direction is the bent portion 380b on the right side in FIG. 2A
  • the bent portion located downstream in the sheet conveyance direction is the bent portion 380a on the left side in FIG. 2A .
  • the first temperature sensor 381, which is described later, is sandwiched between the bent portion 380a located downstream in the sheet conveyance direction and the lower end portion of the stay 330.
  • the nip formation member 380 transfers heat in an axial direction that is a lateral direction in FIG. 2B in a short time to uniformize temperature of the fixing belt 310 in a width direction of the fixing belt 310.
  • the nip formation member 380 is made of a thin plate having high thermal conductivity such as copper (398 W / mK), aluminum (236 W / mK) or silver to smoothly transfer the heat in the width direction. In consideration of cost, processing, and the like, the nip formation member 380 is preferably made of a thin copper plate.
  • the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 310 slides over the bottom surface of the nip formation member 380 that is a nip formation surface.
  • the nip formation surface may be treated with alumite or coated with fluororesin material. Additionally, a lubricant such as fluorine grease may be applied to the nip formation surface to ensure slidability over time.
  • the nip formation surface of the nip formation member 380 is planar.
  • the nip formation surface may define a recess or other shape.
  • a recessed nip formation surface directs a leading edge of the sheet P toward the pressure roller 320 as the sheet is ejected from the fixing nip SN, thereby facilitating separation of the sheet P from the fixing belt 310 and preventing a sheet jam.
  • a separator may be disposed downstream from the fixing device 300 in the sheet conveyance direction to separate the sheet P from the fixing belt 310.
  • a pressurization assembly may be disposed to press the pressure roller 320 against the fixing belt 310 and release pressure exerted by the pressure roller 320 to the fixing belt 310.
  • each reflector 370 is assembled to each of facing surfaces of the pair of stays 330.
  • the halogen heater 361 as the heater is arranged at a center position between the right reflector 370 and the left reflector 370 and extends in the axial direction of the fixing belt 310.
  • Each of the reflectors 370 is made of a stainless steel plate or the like. Both end portions of the reflector 370, that is, an upper end portion 370a and a lower end portion 370b are bent toward outside and engaged with an upper end portion and a lower end portion of each of the pair of stays 330.
  • the reflector 370 is configured to increase heating efficiency for the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 and to reduce wasteful energy consumption caused by heating the stay 330 with radiant heat from the halogen heater 361.
  • the surface of the reflector 370 facing the halogen heater 361 is treated with mirror finish or the like to increase reflectance.
  • reflectance is measured using the spectrophotometer that is the ultraviolet visible infrared spectrophotometer UH4150 manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation in which the incident angle is set 5°.
  • Both side plates of the fixing device 300 support both ends of the halogen heater 361.
  • the above-described fixing device 300 uses one halogen heater 361.
  • the fixing device may use a plurality of halogen heaters 361 that are arranged in parallel and have different light emitting sections corresponding to a number of widths of sheets passing through the nip SN. Selecting the plurality of halogen heaters 361 in accordance with the width of the sheet and turning on the selected halogen heater 361 can effectively prevent overheating the non-sheet conveyance span of the fixing belt 310.
  • a center portion of the reflector 370 in a vertical direction is away from one of the pair of stays 330 and bulges inwardly in a curved convex shape toward the halogen heater 361.
  • This curved inward convex surface of the reflector 370 reflects infrared rays radiated in the left-right direction from the halogen heater 361 upward.
  • a radiant light receiving surface of the fixing belt 310 is irradiated with the infrared rays reflected upward by the reflector 370.
  • the radiant light receiving surface of the fixing belt 310 located above the halogen heater 361 is directly irradiated with the infrared rays radiated upward from the halogen heater 361.
  • infrared rays are mainly described as radiant light, but all light emitted from the halogen heater 361 as a heater is equivalent to radiant light.
  • the inner surface of the nip formation member 380 located under the halogen heater 361 is directly irradiated with the infrared rays radiated downward from the halogen heater 361.
  • the reflector 370 reflects infrared rays radiated in the left-right direction and an oblique downward direction from the halogen heater 361 toward the oblique downward direction.
  • the reflector 370 irradiates the inner surface of the nip formation member 380 with the infrared rays reflected toward the oblique downward direction.
  • an upper portion of the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 under the halogen heater 361 are directly irradiated with the infrared rays radiated around the halogen heater 361. Additionally, the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 are also efficiently irradiated with the infrared rays reflected by the reflector 370, and the fixing belt 310 at the nip SN is efficiently heated to a target temperature Tc.
  • the reflector 370 and the stay 330 in the present embodiment open toward the nip formation member 380.
  • the above-described configuration can give a first heat transfer path and a second heat transfer path.
  • the halogen heater 361 directly irradiates the nip formation member 380 with the radiant light and indirectly heats the fixing belt 310 via the nip formation member 380.
  • the halogen heater 361 directly irradiates and heats the fixing belt 310 with the radiant light.
  • a structure of a conventional reflector around the halogen heater is generally an inverted U-shaped reflector structure that covers upper portion of the halogen heater.
  • the upper portion of the halogen heater 361 is opened, and each of the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 is irradiated with the infrared rays radiated from the halogen heater 361 and the infrared rays reflected by the left and right reflectors 370.
  • a configuration of the present embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2A including the nip formation member 380 and the fixing belt 310 which are separately irradiated with the infrared rays and a controller 400 which controls temperatures of the nip formation member 380 and the fixing belt 310 based on values detected by the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 has a better performance of temperature control about the fixing belt 310 and more advantageous in reduction of wasteful power consumption, which is described below, than a conventional configuration in which the halogen heater 361 concentratively irradiates the nip formation member with the infrared rays of the halogen heater 361.
  • the present embodiment can give an advantage, that is, improvement of the heat transfer efficiency with respect to the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380. Additionally, the controller 400 described below improves the performance of the temperature control of the fixing belt 310 and reduces the fixing failure due to the temperature drop in the nip and unnecessary power consumption.
  • the controller 400 controls an amount of alternating current (AC) power supplied to the halogen heater 361 by, for example, phase control.
  • the controller 400 is arranged outside the fixing device 300 which is one embodiment of the heating device, for example, inside the controller of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the controller 400 may also configured as a dedicated product of the fixing device 300 independent of the controller of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the first temperature sensor 381 detects a temperature TN of the nip formation member 380.
  • a contact position between the first temperature sensor 381 and the nip formation member 380 is disposed outside the nip SN and downstream from the nip SN in the sheet conveyance direction.
  • the second temperature sensor 382 is arranged upstream from the radiant light receiving surface in the rotation direction of the fixing belt 310 to face the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt 310. That is, the second temperature sensor 382 is arranged to face the halogen heater 361 via the stay 330 and the reflector 370 and detect the temperature of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 310, that is, a fixing belt temperature TB.
  • Both the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 are disposed at the substantially center position in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the fixing belt 310 in the present embodiment but may be disposed in a range corresponding to a sheet conveyance span of the sheet having the smallest width in the axial direction of the fixing belt 310 and downstream from the nip SN in the rotation direction of the fixing belt 310.
  • the second temperature sensor 382 is disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt 310 and downstream from the first temperature sensor 381 in the rotation direction of the fixing belt 310. Both the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 are disposed such that a position at which the first temperature sensor 381 detects the temperature of the nip formation member 380 and a position at which the second temperature sensor 382 detects the fixing belt temperature are close to each other in the circumferential direction of the fixing belt 310.
  • controller 400 is described.
  • the controller 400 in FIG. 4 controls power supplied to the halogen heater 361 by, for example, a proportional integral derivation (PID) control method so that the fixing belt temperature TB changes in the vicinity of a control target temperature Tc determined according to the machine state.
  • PID control method is a kind of feedback control method and control of an input value based on three factors, that is, a deviation between an output value and a target value, the integral, and the differential.
  • the second temperature sensor 382 detects the fixing belt temperature TB at a position closer to an outlet of the nip SN than the radiant light receiving surface, and the controller 400 calculates a difference between the fixing belt temperature TB and the nip formation member temperature TN, that is, (TN - TB) to compare the fixing belt temperature TB with the nip formation member temperature TN. Based on the difference (TN - TB), the controller 400 can accurately estimate an amount of heat that transfers from the nip formation member 380 to the fixing belt 310 in the nip SN and, based on the estimation, determine the amount of power to be supplied to the halogen heater 361.
  • the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 are arranged in an outlet side of the nip SN, that is, upstream in the rotation direction of the fixing belt 310 from an upstream end of the radiant light receiving surface.
  • a distance D (mm) from the upstream end of the radiant light receiving surface to each of the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 is equal to or larger than a product of a control cycle S (seconds) of the halogen heater 361 and a rotation speed V (mm / second) of the fixing belt, that is, (S ⁇ V ⁇ D).
  • the above-described configuration enables the controller 400 to immediately determine a control parameter of the halogen heater 361, that is, a parameter of an amount of heat supplied to the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 at a next timing based on the detected fixing belt temperature TB.
  • both the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 at positions close to the outlet of the nip SN enables accurate detection of the temperature difference between the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380 at the nip SN, that is, (TN - TB) and accurate detection of the amount of heat transfer between the fixing belt 310 and the nip formation member 380.
  • the controller 400 can accurately determine the power to be supplied to the halogen heater 361. That is, correction of the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on the determined power enables accurately keeping the fixing belt temperature TB in the vicinity of the control target temperature Tc, improving fixing property, and reducing the unnecessary power consumption.
  • the controller 400 corrects the power based on the difference (TN - TB) between temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382.
  • the correction of the power may be calculated by using, for example, a relational expression between the temperature difference and the power obtained in advance or corrected by switching coefficients of the PID control or the control target temperatures Tc when the difference (TN - TB) between temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382 exceeds a threshold temperature.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs each illustrating a change of the fixing temperature TB and a change of the temperature of the nip formation member TN when the controller 400 performs the PID control to control the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on the fixing belt temperature TB detected by the second temperature sensor 382.
  • FIG. 5C is a graph illustrating the change of the fixing temperature TB and the change of the temperature of the nip formation member TN when the controller 400 performs the PID control to control the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on the difference (TN - TB) between temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382.
  • FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating the fixing belt temperature TB and the temperature TN of the nip formation member 380 under the PID control using a temperature control parameter suitably set for the nip formation member 380 sufficiently warmed.
  • relatively small power is supplied to the halogen heater 361 even when the fixing belt temperature TB is low. This is because the above-described temperature control parameter of the PID control is determined based on the state in which increase of the radiant heat from the halogen heater 361 immediately causes temperature rise of the fixing belt 310 as described above.
  • the controller 400 performs the PID control using the temperature control parameter suitably set for the nip formation member 380 that is not sufficiently warmed to control the power supplied to the halogen heater 361, and too much large power is supplied to the halogen heater 361 when the fixing belt temperature TB drops.
  • the controller 400 switches the parameters such as the coefficients of the PID control when the difference between the nip formation member temperature TN and the fixing belt temperature TB becomes small, which is the center position of the graph in FIG. 5C .
  • the above temperature control can reduce the wasteful power consumption and avoid the occurrence of the fixing failure regardless of the nip formation member temperature TN.
  • the above-described configuration can accurately keep the temperature of the fixing belt 310 in the vicinity of the control target temperature Tc, reduce the wasteful power consumption, and avoid the occurrence of the fixing failure.
  • the controller 400 controls the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on data detected by the first temperature sensor 381.
  • the controller 400 controls the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on data detected by the second temperature sensor 382.
  • the controller 400 controls the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on data detected by both the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382.
  • the above-described method can confirm whether the controller 400 controls the power supplied to the halogen heater 361 based on the temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor 381 and the second temperature sensor 382.
  • halogen heater 361 is used in the above-described embodiments, of course, two or three or more halogen heaters may be used.
  • induction heating (IH) may be employed as the heater.

Landscapes

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

Claims (10)

  1. Dispositif chauffant (300) comprenant :
    un élément rotatif (310) présentant une forme sans fin ;
    un radiateur (361) disposé à l'intérieur d'une boucle de l'élément rotatif (310) ;
    un élément de pression (320) disposé à l'opposé de l'élément rotatif (310) ;
    un élément de formation de pince (380) entrant en contact avec une surface circonférentielle interne de l'élément rotatif (310) pour former une pince (SN) entre l'élément de pression (320) et l'élément rotatif (310) ;
    un premier capteur de température (381) configuré pour détecter une température de l'élément de formation de pince (380) ; et
    un deuxième capteur de température (382) configuré pour détecter une température de l'élément de rotation (310), dans lequel
    le radiateur irradie de la lumière ;
    l'élément de rotation présente une surface de réception de lumière qui est irradiée avec la lumière en provenance du radiateur ;
    l'élément de formation de pince présente une surface de réception de lumière qui est irradiée avec la lumière en provenance du radiateur,
    dans lequel le premier capteur de température (381) est disposé en aval de la pince (SN) dans une direction de rotation de l'élément rotatif (310),
    dans lequel le deuxième capteur de température (382) est disposé en aval du premier capteur de température (381) dans la direction de rotation de l'élément rotatif (310), et
    dans lequel le radiateur (361) est commandé sur la base d'une différence de valeurs détectées par le premier capteur de température (381) et le deuxième capteur de température (382).
  2. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un dispositif de commande (400) configuré pour commander le radiateur (361).
  3. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un dispositif de commande (400) disposé à l'extérieur du dispositif chauffant (300) et configuré pour commander le radiateur (361).
  4. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, comprenant en outre un réflecteur (370) faisant face au radiateur (361).
  5. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4,
    dans lequel le premier capteur de température (381) et le deuxième capteur de température (382) sont disposés dans une direction axiale de l'élément rotatif (310) au sein d'une plage à travers laquelle une feuille présentant la plus petite largeur d'une pluralité de feuilles présentant des largeurs différentes dans la direction axiale de l'élément rotatif (310) passe dans la pince (N).
  6. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5,
    dans lequel le radiateur est situé entre les surfaces de réception de lumière respectives de l'élément rotatif et de l'élément de formation de pince.
  7. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon la revendication 6,
    dans lequel le deuxième capteur de température (382) est disposé en amont d'une extrémité amont de la surface de réception de lumière de l'élément rotatif dans une direction de rotation de l'élément rotatif (310) à une distance (D) égale ou supérieure à un produit d'un cycle de commande (S) du radiateur (361) en unités de secondes et une vitesse de rotation (V) de l'élément rotatif (310) en unités de millimètres par seconde.
  8. Dispositif chauffant (300) selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre un troisième capteur de température (383) configuré pour détecter une température de l'élément rotatif (310),
    dans lequel le troisième capteur de température (383) est disposé sur la surface de réception de lumière à l'extérieur d'une plage dans une direction axiale de l'élément rotatif (310), la plage à travers laquelle une feuille présentant la plus grande largeur d'une pluralité de feuilles présentant des largeurs différentes dans la direction axiale de l'élément rotatif (310) et passant à travers la pince (SN) passe dans la pince (SN).
  9. Dispositif de fixation (300) comprenant le dispositif chauffant (300) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8,
    dans lequel un support d'enregistrement portant une image de toner non fixée passe à travers la pince (SN).
  10. Appareil de formation d'image comprenant le dispositif de fixation selon la revendication 9.
EP20177951.9A 2019-06-24 2020-06-03 Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images Active EP3757679B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2019116780 2019-06-24
JP2020048747A JP2021002029A (ja) 2019-06-24 2020-03-19 加熱装置、定着装置及び画像形成装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3757679A1 EP3757679A1 (fr) 2020-12-30
EP3757679B1 true EP3757679B1 (fr) 2025-03-19

Family

ID=70977381

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20177951.9A Active EP3757679B1 (fr) 2019-06-24 2020-06-03 Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3757679B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR20230041468A (ko) * 2021-09-17 2023-03-24 휴렛-팩커드 디벨롭먼트 컴퍼니, 엘.피. 벨트 온도에 기반한 정착
US12066780B2 (en) * 2022-05-23 2024-08-20 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Fixing device including nip formation plate having a plurality of protruding portions and image forming apparatus incorporating same

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2006251479A (ja) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-21 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd 定着装置および画像形成装置
EP1995646A2 (fr) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-26 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images comportant celui-ci

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004191966A (ja) * 2002-11-29 2004-07-08 Canon Inc 定着装置および画像形成装置
JP2014194444A (ja) * 2013-03-28 2014-10-09 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置および熱定着装置
JP6164014B2 (ja) 2013-09-30 2017-07-19 ブラザー工業株式会社 定着装置および定着ベルト
JP6270652B2 (ja) * 2014-07-24 2018-01-31 株式会社沖データ 定着装置および画像形成装置

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2006251479A (ja) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-21 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd 定着装置および画像形成装置
EP1995646A2 (fr) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-26 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images comportant celui-ci

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3757679A1 (fr) 2020-12-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10712695B2 (en) Image forming apparatus configured to control a lighting duty of a heat generator
US8515324B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus employing the fixing device
US9383693B2 (en) Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
US9316968B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus
US9389550B2 (en) Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
US9341999B2 (en) Image forming apparatus which adjusts a time interval between successive recording media and the changing time at which the time interval is changed
JP6268979B2 (ja) 定着装置及び画像形成装置
US9207589B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
US10197957B2 (en) Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing device control method
US9575444B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
US9164445B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus
US20130195477A1 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
US20200379384A1 (en) Heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
JP2024005888A (ja) 加熱装置、定着装置及び画像形成装置
EP3757679B1 (fr) Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images
EP3709095A1 (fr) Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images
JP6682891B2 (ja) 定着装置及び画像形成装置
JP2017021173A (ja) 加熱定着装置および画像形成装置
US20190258196A1 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus
US20190171136A1 (en) Image heating apparatus
EP3699690A1 (fr) Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images
EP3696614B1 (fr) Dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images le comprenant
EP3761120A1 (fr) Dispositif de chauffage, dispositif de fixation et appareil de formation d'images
US12386293B2 (en) Fixing device and image forming apparatus with a controller to switch between a first heating and a second heating
JP6673033B2 (ja) 定着装置及び画像形成装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20200603

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20220628

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20241014

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Free format text: CASE NUMBER: APP_61869/2024

Effective date: 20241119

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602020047822

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: FP

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250619

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20250618

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20250618

Year of fee payment: 6

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250619

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20250618

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20250626

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250620

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1777429

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250721

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250719

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602020047822

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: H13

Free format text: ST27 STATUS EVENT CODE: U-0-0-H10-H13 (AS PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL OFFICE)

Effective date: 20260127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: L10

Free format text: ST27 STATUS EVENT CODE: U-0-0-L10-L00 (AS PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL OFFICE)

Effective date: 20260128

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20250319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20250603

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20251222

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20250630