JP2000106265A - Heater, heating device, image heating device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance reliability of a contact part between the electrode part of a back-heating type heater in a heating device and a connector and throughput during printing on a narrow recording material and to reduce thermal stresses and to abolish the process of bonding the heater to a heater holder. SOLUTION: In a heating device, using a back heating type heater 601a that uses an aluminum nitride plate or the like, a hole (a) is bored in a heater holder 601c so that an electrode part 11d for feeding electricity to an electric heating resistance layer is exposed. A contact (b) for supplying electric power makes contact with the electrode part for feeding electricity. A spring member (c) for pressurizing the heater 601a from the back of the electrode part 11d for feeding electricity is provide, and a spacer member 601g made of a heat resistant resin or the like is interposed between the spring member (c) and the heater 601a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heater, a heating device, an image heating device, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., a recording material (transfer material, photosensitive paper, electrostatic recording, A heat-fixing device that heat-fixes an unfixed image formed and carried on a transfer (indirect) method or a direct method on paper, printing paper, etc., such as a heat roller method, is a contact heating type with good thermal efficiency and safety. Are widely known.

In recent years, in recent years, from the viewpoint of promoting energy saving, a method of heating a material to be heated through a film having a small heat capacity has been adopted as a method (on-demand) having a high heat transfer efficiency and a fast start-up of the apparatus. Apparatus (JP-A-63-313182, JP-A-2-15787)
8, 4-44075-44083, 4-20498-
No. 2,049,844) has attracted attention and has been put to practical use.

This film heating type heating device has a heater (heater) and a film (heat transfer member) in which one surface slides with the heater and the other surface comes in contact with the material to be heated and moves together. And having a basic structure of heating a material to be heated by heat from a heater via the film, and a surface of a recording material on which an unfixed image is formed and carried in an image forming apparatus. The image can be used as a heat fixing device for thermally fixing the image as a permanent fixed image. Further, it can be used as an image heating device for heating a recording material carrying an image to improve the surface properties such as luster, an image heating device for temporary attachment, and the like.

[0005] In comparison with other contact heating type heating devices such as a heat roller type, such a film heating type heating device uses a thin film as a heating heater having a low heat capacity or a heat transfer member which is quickly heated. Since the temperature of the heating unit rises to a predetermined level in a short time because it can be used, there is no need to perform energization heating (preheating) to the heater during standby, and even if the material to be heated is passed immediately, An image forming apparatus or the like that can sufficiently raise the temperature of the heating element to a predetermined temperature before the material reaches the heating section, thereby saving power and shortening the wait time (quick start property, on-demand). This has the advantage that the temperature rise in the machine can be reduced.

FIG. 7A is a schematic configuration diagram of a main portion of a film heating type heating device (heating fixing device). That is, a heater 11 fixedly supported by a stay holder (holding member) 12, and a heating nip portion having a predetermined nip width (hereinafter, referred to as a fixing film) 13 sandwiched between the heater 11 and the heating nip ( A fixing nip portion (N) is formed and an elastic pressure roller 20 is brought into pressure contact with the roller.

The heater 11 is heated and adjusted to a predetermined temperature by energization.

The fixing film 13 is conveyed and moved in the direction of arrow a while being in close contact with and sliding on the surface of the heater 11 at the fixing nip N by a driving means (not shown) or the rotational force of the pressure roller 20. Or a member in the form of an endless belt or a rolled end web.

The surface of the heater 11 and the stay holder 1
2 is coated with silicone grease, and the fixing film 13
And the slidability is improved.

The heater 11 is heated and controlled to a predetermined temperature, and the fixing film 13 is conveyed and moved in the direction of arrow a. When a recording material P on which an unfixed toner image t as a material to be heated is formed and supported is introduced, the recording material P
Is in close contact with the surface of the fixing film 13 and
Together with the fixing nip N.

In the fixing nip N, the recording material P
The toner image t is heated by the heater 11 via the fixing film 13 and the toner image t on the recording material P is heated and fixed.

The recording material passing through the fixing nip N is peeled off from the surface of the fixing film 13 and conveyed.

As the heater 11, a ceramic heater is generally used. FIG. 7B is a partially cutaway plan model diagram of the front side (heating surface side) of one example of the ceramic heater 11, and FIG. 7B is a plan model diagram of the back side (anti-heating side).

That is, for example, an electrical insulating property such as alumina
A heat-generating resistance layer 11b such as silver palladium (Ag / Pb) / Ta ₂ N is provided on the surface side (the surface facing the fixing film 13) of the ceramic substrate 11a having good heat conductivity and low heat capacity along the length of the substrate. Formed by screen printing etc.
Further, the surface on which the current-generating heating resistor layer is to be formed is thin-glass protective layer 11.
c. In the ceramic heater 11, when power is supplied from the power supply electrode portion 11 d, the power-generating resistance layer 11 b generates heat, and the entire heater rapidly rises in temperature.

The temperature rise of the heater 11 is detected by a temperature detecting means 14 arranged on the back of the heater, and the power supply control (not shown) is performed via an electric circuit pattern 11e, a through hole 11f, and a temperature control section output electrode section 11g. Feedback to the department.

The power supply control section controls the power supply to the power supply heating resistor layer 11b so that the heater temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 14 such as a thermistor is maintained at a predetermined substantially constant temperature (fixing temperature). That is, the heater 11 is heated and adjusted to a predetermined fixing temperature.

The thickness of the fixing film 13 is considerably reduced to 20 to 70 μm in order to efficiently apply the heat of the heater 11 to the recording material P as a material to be heated in the fixing nip portion N. The fixing film 13 has a three-layer structure including a film base layer, a primer layer, and a release layer. The film base layer side is the heater 11 side, and the release layer side is the pressure roller 20 side. Film base layer is heater 1
A polyimide having a higher insulating property than the glass protective layer 11c,
Polyamide imide, PEEK, etc., having heat resistance and high elasticity. Further, the mechanical strength such as the tear strength of the entire fixing film 13 is maintained by the film base layer. The primer layer is formed as a thin layer having a thickness of about 2 to 6 μm. The release layer is a toner offset prevention layer for the fixing film 13, and is formed by coating a fluororesin such as PFA, PTFE, FEP or the like to a thickness of about 10 μm.

The stay holder 12 is formed of, for example, a heat-resistant plastic member, and holds the heater 11 and also serves as a conveyance guide for the fixing film 13.

In such a heating apparatus of the film heating type using the thin film 13 for fixing, the pressing roller 20 having an elastic layer due to the high rigidity of the ceramic heater 11 applies the film 13 to the film 13. Following the flat lower surface of the heater 11 brought into pressure contact with the heater, the flattened portion is formed at the pressure contact portion to form a fixing nip portion N having a predetermined width, and only the fixing nip portion N is heated, thereby realizing the heat fixing of the quick start. are doing.

[0020]

However, the conventional example has the following problems.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the width (effective heating length area) of the heating nip portion N through which the recording material of the heating device passes is determined so that a letter-size recording material can be fed vertically. However, when fixing an image by passing a recording material (B5 size, A5 size, postcard, envelope, etc.) that is considerably narrower than the width of the letter size, the heating nip portion where the recording material does not pass (non- The temperature rise (the temperature rise phenomenon in the non-sheet passing portion) of the sheet passing region) becomes more intense as printing is continuously performed, and when an alumina substrate is used as the substrate of the heater 11, the substrate is subjected to thermal stress. Problems such as breakage, melting of the stay holder 12 made of a resin material holding the heater, and breakage of the rubber portion of the pressure roller 20 are caused.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, heating using a ceramic material having a higher thermal conductivity than alumina, such as aluminum nitride (AlN: the thermal conductivity is 5 to 10 times that of alumina), is used as a heater substrate. Means for improving the heat conduction in the longitudinal direction of the heater by using a heater to improve the throughput of narrow recording paper have been considered.

In this case, (a), (b), (c) of FIG.
As shown in the figure, when the heat conductivity of the heater substrate is higher than the heat conductivity of the glass of the conventional example, the heat generation resistance layer 11b is provided on the back side (the opposite side of the heating surface) of the heater substrate 11a, so that the heat generation is reduced. Efficiency is improved (backside heating type Al
N heater). The energizing electrode portion 11d is provided on the front side (heating surface side) of the heater substrate 11a.
From 1d, current is supplied to the current-carrying resistance layer 11b through the through-hole 11h and the electric circuit pattern 11i on the back side of the heater substrate.

The back surface of the heater substrate on which the heat-generating resistance layer 11b is formed is covered with a thin glass protective layer 11c. In this case, the temperature detecting means 14 is a thin glass protective layer 11c.
Are arranged in pressure contact with a pressing member.

FIG. 9A shows a backside heating type AlN heater 1.
FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. Reference numeral 19 denotes a flange member fitted to both ends of the stay holder 12, and the cylindrical film 1 fitted outside the stay holder 12.
In the rotation of 3, the movement of the stay holder in the longitudinal direction is restricted.

However, as shown in FIG. 8, the heat-generating resistance layer 11b is provided on the back side of the substrate 11a.
When using the conventional power supply connector 18 (FIG. 9),
As shown in FIG. 8 described above, it is necessary to bring the power supply electrode portion 11d to the front side of the heater by the through hole 11h. However, since the through hole in the current-carrying resistance layer locally increases the conductive resistance, it is burned. There is a problem.

The present invention relates to a heating heater of this type, a heating device and an image heating device using the heating heater, and an image forming apparatus provided with the heating device or the image heating device. It is an object of the present invention to improve the reliability of a contact portion of a connector portion, facilitate connector mounting, and the like.

[0028]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heater, a heating device, an image heating device and an image forming apparatus having the following constitutions.

(1) A flat substrate, an energizing heating resistor layer formed on a surface of the substrate and generating heat by energization, and an electrode portion for energizing the energizing heating resistor layer, In the heater for heating the heating material, the energization heating resistance layer is formed on the substrate surface opposite to the surface side on which the material to be heated is heated, and the electrode portion is also on the same surface as the energization heating resistance layer. A heater, wherein a spacer member is adhered to a surface opposite to the electrode portion, or a spacer member is provided on a surface opposite to the electrode portion.

(2) The heater according to (1), wherein the substrate of the heater comprises a ceramic substrate of aluminum nitride.

(3) The heater according to (1) or (2), wherein the spacer member is a heat-resistant resin material.

(4) A heater composed of a flat substrate, a film, a holding member for holding the heater and guiding the inner surface of the film, and supplying power from a power supply unit to the heater. A contact member, a heating member including a housing member that holds the contact portion, and a pressing member that forms a heating nip by pressing the heater of the heating member and a film across the film. In a heating device in which the material to be heated is nipped and conveyed, and the material to be heated is heated by heat from the heater through the film,
The housing member is held at a predetermined position on the holding member, and the heater forms an energized heat generating resistance layer that generates heat by energization on a surface of the substrate opposite to a surface of the pressing member that is pressed against the heating member. The holding member is provided with a perforated portion so that an electrode portion to the energized heat generating resistance layer of the heater is exposed, a contact member of the housing member contacts, and in addition to the contact member, And a biasing means for pressing the heater from the back surface of the electrode portion, and a spacer member is provided between the heater and the biasing means.

(5) The heating device according to (4), wherein the heater comprises a ceramic substrate of aluminum nitride.

(6) The heating device according to (4) or (5), wherein the spacer member is adhered and fixed to a heater.

(7) The heating device according to any one of (4) to (6), wherein the spacer member is a heat-resistant resin material.

(8) A heater composed of a flat substrate, a film, a holding member for holding the heater and guiding the inner surface of the film, and supplying power from a power supply unit to the heater. A contact member, a heating member including a housing member that holds the contact portion, and a pressing member that forms a heating nip by pressing the heater of the heating member and a film across the film. In an image heating apparatus in which a recording material is nipped and conveyed and an image on the recording material is heated by heat from a heater through the film, the housing member is held at a predetermined position of the holding member, and the heater Is formed with an energized heat generating resistance layer that generates heat by energization on the surface of the substrate opposite to the surface of the pressing member that is in pressure contact with the pressing member. A perforated portion is provided so that an electrode portion to the heat resistance layer is exposed, and a contact member of the housing member contacts, and in addition to the contact member, presses the heater from the back surface of the electrode portion. Having biasing means,
An image heating apparatus, wherein a spacer member is provided between the heater and the urging means.

(9) The image heating apparatus according to (8), wherein the heater comprises a ceramic substrate of aluminum nitride.

(10) The image heating apparatus according to (8) or (9), wherein the spacer member is fixed by being adhered to a heater.

(11) The image heating apparatus according to any one of (8) to (10), wherein the spacer member is made of a heat-resistant resin material.

(12) The image heating apparatus according to any one of (8) to (11), wherein the image is fixed by heating.

(13) The heating device according to any one of (4) to (7) is provided as an image heating device for heating an image on a recording material, or (8) to (12).
An image forming apparatus comprising the image heating device according to any one of the above.

<Operation> A heating device comprising a heater substrate having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum nitride. The heating device has a current-generating resistance layer on the surface of the substrate opposite to the surface of the pressing member against which the member is pressed. By providing a hole in the holding member so that the electrode portion of the current-generating heating resistor layer is exposed and making contact with the connector, the contact portion can be brought into contact with the contact member without providing a through-hole in the electrode portion of the current-generating heating resistor layer. Can be
This eliminates the risk of burning due to a local increase in resistance.

In addition, in the heat fixing device, the reliability of the contact portion of the connector is not affected by the influence of water vapor generated from the recording material at the time of fixing, paper dust, grease applied to the surface of the heater, and the like. Increase.

Therefore, when a heater composed of a heater substrate having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum nitride is used, it is possible to improve the throughput when printing a recording material having a narrow feature width and reduce the thermal stress.

Further, by providing the urging means for pressing the heater from the back side of the electrode portion, it is not necessary to bond the heater to the holding member, and the cost is reduced.

[0046]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4) (1) Example of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a laser beam printer capable of performing both-side printing using a transfer type electrophotographic process.

At the lower part of the printer body 1,
Are mounted, and a recording material P (transfer material, sheet material) is stacked on the sheet stacking plate 201. The recording material P is conveyed to a pair of paper feed rolls 203 including a paper feed roll 203a and a retard roll 203b by rotating the pickup roll 202 in the direction of arrow A by driving from a main motor (not shown). After separating the recording material P one by one, the first transport roll 301a and the roller 301
b to the first pair of transport rolls 301.

The recording material P conveyed to the first conveying roll pair 301 is transported by a second conveying roller 302a and a roller 302
The transfer roller 302 is transported to a second transport roll pair 302 made of b, and further transported to a transfer section which is a press-contact nip portion between a rotating drum type photoconductor (transfer photoconductor) 401 and a transfer roll 402.

The photoreceptor 401 is contained in a process cartridge 4 detachable from the printer main body 1 together with a charger, a developing device, a cleaning device, and the like.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a laser scanner which outputs a laser beam modulated in accordance with an image signal processed by a controller (not shown) and scans and exposes a photosensitive member 401 in the process cartridge 4 to form an electrostatic image. Write the latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image, and the unfixed toner image is transferred to a recording material P surface at a transfer portion.

The recording material P to which the unfixed toner image has been transferred is introduced into a heat fixing device (fixing device) 6 as a heating device via a transfer guide 403, and undergoes a heat fixing process of the image.

The recording material P on which the image has been fixed by the heat fixing device 6 is held in a first discharge roller pair 603 comprising a first discharge roller 603a and a discharge roller 603b, and in a first switching position. The sheet is guided upward through a path on the upper surface side of the flapper 605, and the second sheet discharging roll 701a and the roller 701 are
b, and is conveyed to a second paper discharge roll pair 701, and is discharged and stacked on a face-down tray 702.

In the case of the double-sided printing mode, the recording material P having been printed on the first side, which has exited from the heat fixing device 6, passes through the lower surface of the flapper 605 held in the second switching position, and is turned over. 8, a switchback roll pair 801 including a switchback roll 801a and a roller 801b, and a reverse process by a switchback path 807, and a first re-conveyance roll 803a and a roller 803.
b, a first re-conveying roll pair 803 comprising a second re-conveying roll pair 804, a second re-conveying roll pair 804 comprising a second re-conveying roll 804a and a roller 804b. The toner image is conveyed to the transfer unit again through the path of the pair 302 and receives the transfer of the toner image on the second surface.

Thereafter, the face down tray passes through the path of the heat fixing device 6, the first pair of discharge rolls 603, the upper surface of the flapper 605 held in the first switching position, and the second pair of discharge rolls 701. 702 is stacked.

(2) Heat Fixing Device 6 FIG. 2 is an enlarged model view of the heat fixing device 6. The heat fixing device of the present example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 4-44075-44083.
Publication No. JP-A-2005-64103 and the like, a film heating system, a pressure roller drive system, and a tensionless type heating device using a cylindrical fixing film.

Reference numerals 601 and 602 denote a heating member (fixing member, heater unit) and a pressurizing member which are in contact with each other to form a heating nip portion (fixing nip portion) N.

The heating member 601 includes a ceramic heater 601a as a heater and a cylindrical fixing film 601.
b, a film guide 601c as a holding member for holding the ceramic heater 601a and guiding the inner surface of the fixing film 601b, a stay member 601d, and a flange member 60
1e (FIGS. 3 and 4) and the like.

The pressing member 602 is an elastic pressing roller.
A configuration including a cored bar, a silicone rubber elastic layer provided on the outer side thereof, a PFA sheet tubing layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the like, minimizes toner adhesion when fixing an unfixed toner image.

In the heating member 601, the fixing film 6
In this example, reference numeral 01b denotes a polyimide layer coated with fluorine.

The film guide 601c is a member that holds the ceramic heater 601a and prevents heat radiation in the direction opposite to the heating nip N, and is made of a liquid crystal polymer, phenol resin, PPS, PEEK, or the like. The film guide 601c of this example is a member having a substantially semicircular trough-shaped cross section, heat resistance, electrical insulation, and withstands a high load. The ceramic heater 601a is provided at a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the film guide 601c. The heating surface is exposed downward into a groove provided along the length of the member, and is fitted and fixedly supported.

The cylindrical fixing film 601b is loosely fitted around the film guide 601c including the ceramic heater 601a with a margin in the circumferential length.
The film guide 601c supports the fixing film 601b fitted on the outside from the inside. The pressure roller 602 is held by a bearing member (not shown), and the fixing film 601b is sandwiched between a downward heating surface of the ceramic heater 601a fixed and supported on the lower surface side of the film guide 601c. To form a heating nip portion N necessary for heat fixing from both ends in the longitudinal direction (for example, a total pressure of 4).
１５15 kgf).

The pressing roller 602 is driven by a driving force from a main motor (not shown) in the printer main body 1 to the pressing roller gear and is driven to rotate counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow (pressing roller driving type). ).

The rotational force acts on the fixing film 601b by the frictional contact between the outer surface of the roller 602 and the outer surface of the fixing film 601b due to the rotational driving of the pressure roller 602 at the heating nip portion N.
The inner surface of the film guide 601c is rotated clockwise in a circumferential direction substantially corresponding to the rotational peripheral speed of the pressure roller 602 while the inner surface thereof is in close contact with the downward heating surface of the ceramic heater 601a in the heating nip portion N while sliding. State.

In this case, the cylindrical fixing film 601b, which is driven to rotate around the outer periphery of the film guide 601c, is tension-free (excluding tension) except for the heating nip portion N having a peripheral length and the fixing film portion in the vicinity thereof. Not in the state). In addition, a film guide 6 generated with the rotation of the fixing film 601b is formed.
01c is the film guide 601c
The end of the fixing film 601b is received and regulated by the inner surface of the flange member 601e provided at the end of the fixing member 601e.

Since the inner surface of the fixing film 601b rotates while rubbing against a part of the outer surface of the ceramic heater 601a and the film guide 601c, the frictional resistance between the ceramic heater 601a and the film guide 601c and the fixing film 601b is reduced. There is a need. Therefore, a small amount of lubricant such as heat-resistant grease can be interposed on the surfaces of the ceramic heater 601a and the film guide 601c. Thereby, the fixing film 6
01b can rotate smoothly.

Thus, the pressure roller 602 is driven to rotate, and accordingly, the cylindrical fixing film 601b is driven to rotate around the film guide 601c, and the ceramic heater 601a is energized to be energized. In a state where the temperature of the heating nip N rises to a predetermined level due to the heat generated by
The recording material P on which an unfixed toner image is formed and carried is introduced from the entrance guide 610, and the unfixed toner image carrying surface of the recording material P is fixed to the fixing film 60 in the heating nip portion N.
The heating nip N is conveyed together with the fixing film 601b in close contact with the outer surface of the heating nip 1b.

In the process of nipping and transporting the recording material P, the heat of the ceramic heater 601a is applied to the recording material P via the fixing film 601b, and the unfixed toner image on the recording material P is heated and pressed to be fixed. go.

When the recording material P passes through the heating nip N, the recording material P is separated from the outer surface of the fixing film 601b by a curvature, and
08, the sheet is ejected and conveyed from the apparatus 6 along the path of the first sheet ejection roller pair 603. Reference numeral 612 denotes a guide facing the flapper 605.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ceramic heater 601a has a heater substrate 11a similar to the heater 11 shown in FIG.
Is a backside heating type ALN heater using aluminum nitride having good thermal conductivity, in which an energization heating resistor layer 11b is formed on the backside (non-heating side) of the substrate 11a, and a glass layer 1 is formed.
1c. However, in the case of the present example, the power supply electrode portion 11d for the energized heating resistor layer 11b is also provided on the back surface of the substrate 11a. Since the thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride is better than the thermal conductivity of glass, the ceramic heater 601a is the side of the heater substrate 11a on which the heat-generating resistance layer 11b is not formed, and which is pressed against the pressing roller 602 with the heating side as the heating side. Are arranged on the film guide 601c.

The ceramic heater 601a as the heater is provided with a temperature control system temperature detecting means, but is omitted in the figure.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing how to make contact with the power supply connector (housing member for holding the contact member) 601f of the power supply electrode portion 11d of the ceramic heater 601a. (A) is FF in FIG.
FIG. 7B is a cutaway top view of a main part of the heater unit of the apparatus 6 viewed from the direction (the fixing film is omitted), and FIG. 10B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the power supply connector 601f viewed from GG in FIG.

The end of the film guide 601c is provided with two perforations a so that the power supply electrode 11d on the back side of the ceramic heater 601a is exposed. The power supply connector 601f is connected to the end of the film guide 601c. Is mounted at a predetermined position of the power supply connector 601f and the power supply electrode portion 1 on the ceramic heater 601a side.
1d is in contact as shown in FIG.

A heat-resistant resin (for example, LCP) is provided on the back side of the power supply electrode portion 11d of the ceramic heater 601a.
The spacer 601g is fixed to the ceramic heater 601a by bonding or the like, and the spacer 601g is pressed by the heater pressing spring portion c as a biasing means provided on the connector 601f to be pressed by the contact portion. This prevents the ceramic heater 601a from escaping, eliminating the need to adhere the ceramic heater 601a to the film guide 601c.

The spacer 601g converts the load on the ceramic heater 601a of the heater pressing spring portion c from point contact to surface contact, and plays a role in preventing the ceramic heater 601a from being damaged by the heater pressing spring portion c. .

Thus, the power supply connector 601f is held at a predetermined position of the film guide (holding member) 601c, and the heater 601a using the heater substrate 11a having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum nitride is used as the pressing member 6a.
On the surface of the heater substrate opposite to the surface of the heater substrate 602, an energized heat generating resistance layer 11b that generates heat by energization is formed, and an electrode portion 11d of the heater 601a to the energized heat generating resistance layer 11b is formed on the film guide 601c. Is provided so that the contact portion b of the power supply connector 601f contacts the contact portion b without providing a through hole in the electrode portion 11d. This eliminates the risk of burning due to a temporary increase in resistance value, and improves the reliability of the electrode portion.

Further, in addition to the contact member b, the power supply connector 601f is connected to the spacer 601g from the back surface of the electrode portion 11d.
Is provided with an urging means c for pressing the heater / pressurizing heater 11 through the film guide 6.
It is not necessary to adhere to the heater 01c, so that the cost is greatly reduced and the ceramic heater 601a is prevented from being damaged by the heater pressing spring c due to the interposition of the spacer 601g.

<Second Embodiment> (FIG. 5) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. (A) and (b) in FIG.
(C) is a power supply electrode portion 11 of the ceramic heater 601a.
It is a figure showing how to take the contact with the power supply connector 601f of d.

The electrode portion 1 of the heating resistor layer (11b) of the ceramic heater 601a is provided at the end of the film guide 601c.
Two perforations a are opened so that 1d is exposed.
First, as shown in FIG. 5B, the connector 601f is attached to a predetermined position at the end of the film guide 601c. Thus, the electrode contact portion b of the power supply connector 601f corresponds to the power supply electrode portion 11d on the ceramic heater 601a side. At this time, the heater pressing spring portion c of the connector 601f
Has not yet pressed the back surface of the electrode contact portion of the ceramic heater 601a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the spacer 601g is inserted between the ceramic heater 601a and the heater pressing spring portion c from the direction of the arrow, as in the first embodiment. The ceramic heater 601a is sufficiently pressed by the heater pressing spring c of the connector 601f via the spacer 601g, and the electrode contact b of the power supply connector 601f and the ceramic heater 601 are pressed.
The power supply electrode 11d on the a side makes pressure contact. The ceramic heater 601a is prevented from escaping by being pressed by the contact portion, and the necessity of bonding the ceramic heater 601a is eliminated.

In this embodiment, since the spacer 601g is inserted later, the connector 601f is connected to the film guide 60.
There is an advantage that a small force is required for insertion into 1c. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the spacer 601g converts the load on the ceramic heater 601a of the heater pressing spring portion c from point contact to surface contact so that the ceramic heater 601a is not damaged by the heater pressing spring portion c. Plays a role.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

<Third Embodiment> (FIG. 6) FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. (A) and (b) of FIG.
(C) is a power supply electrode portion 11 of the ceramic heater 601a.
It is a figure showing how to take the contact with the power supply connector 601f of d.

At the end of the film guide 601c, two perforations a are formed so as to expose the electrode portion 11d of the heating resistor layer of the ceramic heater 601a. First, as shown in FIG. The connector 601f is attached to a predetermined position at the end of the film guide 601c. This allows
The electrode contact b of the power supply connector 601f corresponds to the power supply electrode 11d on the ceramic heater 601a side. At this time, the heater pressing spring portion c of the connector 601f has not yet pressed the back surface of the electrode contact portion of the ceramic heater 601a.

Next, the spacer 601g is moved from the direction of the arrow opposite to that of the second embodiment to the ceramic heater 601a.
And between the heater pressing spring portion c and
As shown in FIG. 6C, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the ceramic heater 601a is sufficiently pressed by the heater pressing spring c of the connector 601f via the spacer 601g. Then, the electrode contact portion b of the power supply connector 601f comes into pressure contact with the power supply electrode portion 11d on the ceramic heater 601a side. The ceramic heater 601a is prevented from escaping by being pressed by the contact portion, and the necessity of bonding the ceramic heater 601a is eliminated.

Also in this embodiment, since the spacer 601g is inserted later, there is an advantage that a small force is required when the connector 601f is inserted into the film guide 601c. Further, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the spacer 601 is used.
g converts the load of the heater pressing spring c to the ceramic heater 601a from point contact to surface contact, and plays a role in preventing the ceramic heater 601a from being damaged by the heater pressing spring c.

The other structure is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

<Others> 1) The pressing member 602 is not limited to a roller body but may be a rotating body such as a rotating belt body.

2) In the case of a film heating type heating device, an endless belt-like or cylindrical film is used as a driving method of the film 601b, and a driving roller is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the film. A driving system may be used in which a film is stretched and stretched between a plurality of members including a roller and the film is rotated and driven by a driving roller. In this manner, the film is driven by applying a tension. The method has an advantage that film transportability can be increased. The tensionless drive system as in the embodiment has an advantage that the configuration can be simplified and a low-cost heating device can be realized.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a device of a system in which a roll-wound long web-shaped ended film is used and is run while being rewound from the pay-out side to the take-up side.

3) The heating device in the present invention is not limited to the heating and fixing device of the embodiment, but may be an image heating device for heating a recording material carrying an image to improve the surface properties such as gloss, Apparatuses for heating a material to be heated, such as a device for heating and drying a material to be heated and a laminating device for heating, are also included.

4) The principle and process of forming an unfixed image on a recording material in an image forming apparatus are arbitrary.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, this type of heater, a heating device and an image heating device using the heater, and an image forming apparatus provided with the heating device or the image heating device are provided. Improving the reliability of the power supply electrode part of the heater and the contact part with the connector, improving the throughput when printing a narrow recording material, reducing the thermal stress, bonding the heater to the heater holding member (heater holder) Can be eliminated, the reliability of the contact part of the connector part with the power supply electrode part of the heater can be improved, the space of the connector part can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Is done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged model diagram of a heat fixing device part.

3A is an enlarged cross-sectional model view of a heating member (heater unit) and a pressing member (pressure roller), and FIG. 3B is a partially cutaway plan model view of the heating heater on the side opposite to the heating surface.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing how to make contact between a power supply electrode portion of a heater and a power supply connector.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams showing how to make contact with a power supply connector of a power supply electrode portion of a heater in a heat fixing device according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are partial views of a heating fixing device according to a third embodiment, in which a contact between a power supply electrode portion of a heater and a power supply connector is taken; Abbreviated plan view

7A is a model diagram of a main part of a film heating type heating device, FIG. 7B is a plan model diagram of a partially cutout on a heating surface side of a heater, and FIG. Plan model drawing

8 (a) is a model diagram of a main part of a film heating type heating device using a backside heating type AlN heater, FIG. 8 (b) is a plan model diagram of a heating surface side of the heater, and FIG. 8 (c) is an anti-heating surface. Plan view of the side cutout

9A is a plan view of a heater unit from which a film is omitted, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a power supply connector viewed from dd in FIG. 9A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Heat fixing device (film heating type heating device) 601 Heating member (heater unit) 602 Pressing member (elastic pressing roller) 601a Heating heater (ceramic heater) 601b Fixing film 601c Film guide 601d Stay member 601e Flange member 601f Power supply Connector 601g Spacer member

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A heating device comprising: a flat substrate; an energization heating resistor layer formed on a surface of the substrate, which generates heat by energization; and an electrode portion for energizing the energization heating resistor layer. In the heater for heating a material, the energized heat generating resistance layer is formed on a substrate surface opposite to a surface side on which a material to be heated is heated, and the electrode portion is also on the same surface as the energized heat generating resistance layer. A heater, wherein a spacer member is adhered to a surface opposite to the electrode portion, or a spacer member is provided on a surface opposite to the electrode portion. 2. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the substrate of the heater is a ceramic substrate of aluminum nitride.
The heater according to claim 1. 3. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the spacer member is made of a heat-resistant resin material. 4. A heater comprising a flat substrate, a film, a holding member for holding the heater and guiding an inner surface of the film, and a power supply unit for supplying power from a power supply unit to the heater. A heating member comprising a contact portion, a housing member holding the contact portion, and a pressure member for forming a heating nip by pressing a heater of the heating member with a film interposed therebetween; In a heating device in which a heating material is nipped and conveyed and the material to be heated is heated by heat from a heater through the film, the housing member is held at a predetermined position of the holding member, and the heater is An energized heat generating resistance layer that generates heat by energization is formed on a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface of the pressing member that is in pressure contact, and the energized heat generating resistance layer of the heater is formed on the holding member. A perforated portion is provided so that the electrode portion is exposed, a contact member of the housing member contacts, and, in addition to the contact member, biasing means for pressing the heater from the back surface of the electrode portion. And a spacer member is provided between the heater and the urging means. 5. The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the heater is made of an aluminum nitride ceramic substrate. 6. The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the spacer member is fixed by being adhered to a heater. 7. The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the spacer member is made of a heat-resistant resin material. 8. A heater comprising a flat substrate, a film, a holding member which holds the heater and guides an inner surface of the film, and a power supply for supplying power from a power supply unit to the heater. A heating member composed of a contact portion and a housing member holding the contact portion, and a pressure member for forming a heating nip by pressing a heater of the heating member with a film interposed therebetween, and recording by the heating nip In an image heating apparatus in which a material is nipped and conveyed and an image on a recording material is heated by heat from a heater through the film, the housing member is held at a predetermined position of the holding member, and the heater is An energized heat generating resistance layer that generates heat by energization is formed on a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface of the pressing member that is in pressure contact, and the energized heat generated by the heater is formed on the holding member. A perforated portion is provided so that the electrode portion to the anti-layer is exposed, and a contact member of the housing member comes into contact with the contact member. In addition to the contact member, a pressure is applied to the heater from the back of the electrode portion. An image heating apparatus, comprising: biasing means, wherein a spacer member is provided between the heater and the biasing means. 9. An image heating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said heater comprises a ceramic substrate of aluminum nitride. 10. The heater according to claim 8, wherein the spacer member is fixedly adhered to a heater.
An image heating device according to claim 1. 11. The image heating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spacer member is made of a heat-resistant resin material. 12. The image heating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image is heat-fixed. 13. An image heating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said heating apparatus is provided as an image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material. An image forming apparatus comprising a heating device.