JP2002174988A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the realizing of quick start and the securing of safety when temperature control is disable in spite of the limit of commercial power supply. SOLUTION: In the fixing device provided with heating sources 3, 4 for generating heat by current supply, a fixing member 1 or a heating member to be heated by the heating sources 3, 4, an accumulator 18 for driving at least one of the heating sources 3, 4 for prescribed time by power stored at the time of a stand-by state and more than the output power of a normal commercial power supply 17 at the time of start, and a charging device 19 for charging the condenser 18 by power obtained from the power supply 17, both the heating sources 3, 4 are driven simultaneously or at different timing by the accumulator 18 and the power supply 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, a fixing roller,
A pressure roller, a pressure belt, and a fixing member such as a fixing belt
A heat fixing device that presses a pressing member such as a pressing pad and fixes the toner on the sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing when a sheet such as transfer paper passes between the fixing member and the pressing member. Used. The most common type of the heat fixing device is a method in which a fixing roller is heated from the inner surface by a radiant heater to perform both heat transfer required for fixing by temperature and pressure and sheet conveyance.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 63-150967 discloses a fixing device for fixing a visible image transferred onto a transfer paper by an electrophotographic process by a heating means, a first heater driven by an AC power supply, and a charging device. And a second heater driven by a battery charged by the means.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-5779 discloses an image forming apparatus provided with a heat fixing device having a pressure roller having a built-in main heater and a sub-heater. First switching means for switching on / off of a power supply, a storage battery for heating the sub-heater, charging means for charging the storage battery, and second connection for switching the connection between the storage battery and the sub-heater and the connection between the storage battery and the charging means. Switching means, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pressure roller, based on the detection result of the temperature detecting means,
A control unit for controlling the first and second switching units, and when the temperature of the heating roller heated by the main power supply decreases to a reference temperature associated with fixing property,
While heating the sub-heater via the storage battery,
An image forming apparatus is described in which heating of a sub-heater is stopped when the temperature becomes higher than a reference temperature.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-36579 discloses a heating device for a fixing device having a heater which generates heat by being supplied with electric power via a heater driving means, wherein the heater driving means comprises a chargeable storage battery and a chargeable storage battery. A charger connected to a commercial power supply to charge the storage battery, wherein the heater is a main heater that receives power supply from the commercial power supply,
The storage battery has an auxiliary heater that receives supply of power from the storage battery, and the storage battery has a connection configuration that forms a charging circuit with the charger or a connection configuration that forms a discharging circuit with the auxiliary heater. There is described a heating device for a fixing device, which is provided so as to be switchable to any one of them.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-98799 discloses a heating device for a fixing device having a heater that generates heat when supplied with electric power and a heater driving unit that supplies electric power to the heater. A rechargeable storage battery, and a charger that is supplied with power from a commercial power supply and charges the storage battery, wherein the heater includes a main heater that is supplied with power from a commercial power supply, and an auxiliary heater that is supplied with power from the storage battery. And a heating device for the fixing device, wherein the charging of the storage battery is performed when the main heater is turned off.

[0007]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
No. 0967, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-5779, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3
In JP-A-36579 and JP-A-2000-98799, a battery or a storage battery is used for driving a heater. However, it is difficult to discharge a large amount of power with a general battery or a storage battery. In addition, there is no countermeasure for safety at startup, that is, safety against suddenly increasing the fixing temperature to an excessive temperature when the fixing temperature cannot be controlled due to runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means. Further, there is no mention of using a capacitor as power storage means.

In the above-mentioned heat fixing device, there is a problem that the heat capacity of the fixing roller is large and the warm-up time is long. Therefore, during standby, it is necessary to maintain the surface temperature of the fixing roller near the temperature required for fixing by preheating of the fixing roller, and when not in use, much energy is consumed by preheating of the fixing roller. However, for example, if the warm-up time is about 5 seconds to 10 seconds or less, the user does not need to preheat the fixing roller, or preheats the fixing roller to an extremely low temperature as compared with the conventional apparatus, so that the user has almost no inconvenience. An image forming apparatus can be used.

Therefore, attempts have been made to reduce the heat capacity of the fixing member, and it is possible to shorten the rise time by using a fixing roller having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less. To further shorten the rise time, it is sufficient if more power can be supplied to the heater for heating the fixing member. However, a general commercial power supply is 100 V and 15 A, and in this range, the commercial power supply is used for the heater of the image forming apparatus and the paper. It is necessary to supply power to the transport system, the image forming unit, and the control unit. Higher power is used in large-sized image forming apparatuses. However, this large-sized image forming apparatus requires power supply work for obtaining large power from a commercial power supply, and the use place is limited.

Further, various fixing devices have been proposed which aim at a rapid start-up using a rechargeable battery without being bound by the limit of a commercial power supply. However, a constant and continuous energy supply to a heater at the time of start-up is proposed. In the event that the fixing temperature cannot be controlled due to a runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means, the fixing temperature rapidly continues to rise to an excessively high temperature, which directly leads to a serious danger such as ignition.

According to the present invention, it is possible to start up in a short time irrespective of the limit of a commercial power supply, to secure safety when temperature control is impossible, and to further reduce power consumption.
It is possible to achieve a substantially constant rise time and minimize the amount of charge in the power storage device, to achieve both long life and convenience for users, and to reduce costs by effectively using resources and reducing waste. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus that can perform the fixing.

[0012]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device for fixing a toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, wherein a heat source which generates heat by energization; A fixing member or a heating member that is heated by the heat source, a power storage device that drives at least one of the heat sources for a predetermined time at the time of startup with power equal to or higher than the output power of the normal commercial power stored during standby, and A charging device for charging the power storage device with electric power from the commercial power supply, wherein the heat source is driven by the power storage device and the commercial power supply simultaneously or at different timings.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first aspect, the power storage device includes a capacitor;
The heat source is driven by the capacitor and the commercial power supply simultaneously or at different timings.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the fixing device described above, the predetermined time is within 6 seconds.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first aspect, the heat sources are a first heat source driven by the power storage device and a second heat source driven by the commercial power supply. A switch for switching the power storage device between the charging device side and the first heating source side, and controlling the switch to switch the power storage device to the charging device side during standby and to use the power storage device during use. Control means for switching the power storage device to the first heat source side.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first aspect, a switch for switching the power storage device between the charging device side and the commercial power supply side, and the power storage device is controlled during standby by controlling the switch. And control means for switching the power storage device to the heat source side during use by switching the power storage device to the charging device side.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the fixing device described above, the power storage device is a proton polymer battery.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claims 1, 2, 3
In the fixing device according to the fourth aspect, the power storage device is a capacitor having a capacity equal to or more than [F] order.

The invention according to claim 8 is the first or second invention.
In the fixing device described above, the power storage device is an electric double layer capacitor.

[0020] The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the above fixing device, the power storage device is an aqueous solution type electric double layer capacitor.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first, third or fourth aspect, a small heater driven by the power storage device at startup is provided, and a small heater is provided near the small heater when the temperature rises excessively. And a safety device for interrupting energization of the heat source.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first aspect, the safety device is a safety device that stops energizing the heat source when the temperature rises.

The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claims 1 to 11
In the fixing device according to any one of the above, the amount of power stored in the power storage device is changed according to a fixing temperature during standby.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the twelfth aspect, the fixing temperature is detected by temperature detecting means for detecting a surface temperature of the fixing member or the heating member.

The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claims 1 to 11
In the fixing device described above, the amount of power stored in the power storage device is changed according to a standby time.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first aspect, the power storage device includes a storage battery, and a power release time of the storage battery is changed according to a fixing temperature during standby.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device which is used in an image forming apparatus and fixes toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing. A fixing member or a heating member heated by a power source, a storage battery that drives an electric circuit other than the heat source of the image forming apparatus by the stored power, and a charging device that charges the storage battery with power from a commercial power supply. It is a thing.

The invention according to claim 17 is the invention according to claims 1 to 16
The fixing device according to any one of the above.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus having the fixing device and the copying function according to the first aspect, wherein the setting means sets the first mode in which the heat source is driven by the power storage device. And the setting means can be set only in the copy mode.

The invention according to claim 19 is the invention according to claims 1 to 16
Wherein the heat generating source is driven by the power storage device when a print mode in which image formation is performed at a higher speed than usual is set.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighteenth aspect, there is provided a human body detecting means for detecting that a person is near the apparatus, and the human body detecting means is provided near the apparatus. The first mode is automatically set by the setting means when it is detected that the power storage device is present, and the heat source is driven by the power storage device.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighteenth aspect, there is provided a means capable of setting image formation at a speed higher than normal, and setting of image formation at a speed higher than normal by this means. The first mode is automatically set by the setting means, and the heat storage device is driven by the power storage device.

The invention according to claim 22 is the invention according to claims 2, 7 to
9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 9, wherein a detecting means for detecting an internal resistance of the capacitor is provided, and when the detecting means detects that the internal resistance of the capacitor has doubled, a warning is issued. Alternatively, the setting of the first mode by the setting means is prohibited or canceled.

The invention according to claim 23 is the invention according to claims 2, 7 to
10. An image forming apparatus having a fixing device according to claim 9, wherein a manufacturing time is entered in the power storage device, and the image forming device is collected and reused according to the manufacturing time entered in the power storage device at the time of disposal. It is.

[0035]

FIG. 2 schematically shows a heat fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the fixing device according to the first embodiment, a fixing roller 1 as a fixing member is used.
A pressing roller 2 as a pressing member made of an elastic member such as silicone rubber is pressed against the pressing roller 2 by a pressing force (not shown) with a constant pressing force. Since the fixing member and the pressing member are generally rollers in many cases, they are shown in FIG. 2 as rollers. However, one or both of them are not limited to rollers, and an endless belt or the like may be used.

The heating and fixing device has heaters 3 and 4 as heat sources which generate heat when supplied with electric power. The heaters 3 and 4 are provided at arbitrary positions for heating the fixing roller 1. For example, the heater 3 is disposed inside the fixing roller 1 and heats the fixing roller 1 from the inside. The heater 4 is a sheet-shaped heater and is placed over the upper portion of the fixing roller 1 to heat the fixing roller 1 from the outside. I do.

The fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 are driven to rotate by a driving mechanism (not shown). The temperature sensor 5 is in contact with the surface of the fixing roller 1 and detects the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1. When a sheet 7 such as transfer paper carrying the toner 6 passes through a nip portion between the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2, the toner 6 is fixed by heating and pressing by the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2. You.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of the fixing device according to the first embodiment. The detection signal from the temperature sensor 5 is taken into the CPU 13 as control means via the input circuit 12, and the CPU 13 maintains the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 at the set temperature based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor 5. As described above, the power supply to the heater 3 is controlled via the driver 14, and the power supply to the heater 4 is controlled via the switch 15.

The heater 3 is connected to a commercial power supply 17 via a thermostat 16 as a safety device and a driver 14, and the driver 14 is controlled by the CPU 13 to control the power supply from the commercial power supply 17 to the heater 3. The thermostat 16 detects the temperature of the heating and fixing device, and turns off when the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature to stop energizing the heater 3 from the commercial power supply 17. In addition, thermostat 1
Instead of 6, a safety device such as a thermal fuse may be used.

The CPU 13 switches the switch 15 depending on whether the apparatus is in the standby mode or in use mode, so that the capacitor 18 as a power storage device is connected to the charging device 19 and the heater 4.
Switch to the side. During standby, the switch 15 switches the capacitor 18 to the charging device 19 side, and the charging device 19 converts the AC power from the commercial power supply 17 into DC power and applies the DC power to the capacitor 18 to charge the capacitor 18. When the heat fixing device is used, the switch 15 switches the capacitor 18 to the heater 4 side, and when the heat fixing device starts up, the capacitor 18 discharges to the heater 4 and the heater 4 is driven by a direct current.

Therefore, at the time of startup, the heater 3
Is driven by an AC current flowing from a commercial power supply 17 through a driver 14, the heater 4 is driven by a DC current flowing from a capacitor 18, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to a set temperature. After startup, CPU
Reference numeral 13 controls energization of the heater 3 via the driver 14 so that the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at a set temperature.

As the capacitor 18, a capacitor having a large capacitance of the order of Farad [F] or more is used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this capacitor, and a capacitor in which a large number of electrolytic capacitors are connected, a polyacene redox capacitor, or the like may be used. Conventionally, the capacity is [μ
Although only capacitors of the order of [F] or less were available, capacitors having large capacitances of the order of Farad [F] or more have recently been developed (Electronics 199).
(Refer to the April 2008 issue “Special Feature: New Rechargeable Battery Expedition Team, Technological Innovation of New High-Capacity Power Capacitors”).

The amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18 is set so as to be substantially discharged within the rising time of the heat fixing device, and is set to be substantially discharged within, for example, 6 seconds.
That is, the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18 is equal to or more than the output power of the ordinary commercial power supply 17 within, for example, 6 seconds within the rise time of the heating and fixing device at a general environmental temperature (room temperature) of about 15 to 25 ° C. (This discharge does not include the discharge of a very small current less than or equal to a predetermined current that is not very effective for heating the heater).
Therefore, during use, the discharge of the capacitor 18 is performed within the rise time of the heating / fixing device. Therefore, even if the switch 15 malfunctions due to the runaway of the CPU 13, the charge remaining in the capacitor 18 after the rise as shown in FIG. As a result, the power supply from the condenser 18 to the heater 3 is interrupted, and the heater 4 is energized from the commercial power supply 17 so that only the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing temperature control means (CPU 13)
When the fixing temperature cannot be controlled due to a runaway due to the failure of the fixing device, the temperature rise curve becomes gentle after reaching the set temperature, and the temperature of the heating fixing device does not reach the paper (sheet 7) ignition temperature range, thereby ensuring safety. You.

In the conventional heat fixing device which supplies a constant and continuous energy to the heater at the time of startup, as shown in FIG. 5, when the fixing temperature control becomes impossible due to a runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means, the temperature is increased. In some cases, the temperature may rapidly rise to an excessive temperature higher than the paper firing temperature range and fire may occur. However, in the first embodiment, such a problem is eliminated.
An AC load other than the heaters 3 and 4 is energized from the commercial power supply 17, and AC power is supplied from the commercial power supply 17 to a power supply circuit (not shown) to be converted into DC power. It is supplied to the DC load of the forming device.

FIG. 6 shows the whole of the first embodiment. A charging unit 10 is provided around a drum-shaped photosensitive member 101 as an image carrier which is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown).
2. A cleaning unit 103, a developing unit 107 including a developing sleeve 105 as a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 101, and a transfer unit 106 are arranged.

The photoreceptor 101 is uniformly charged by the charging means 102 and then exposed to laser light L from a laser optical system 140 as a writing means (exposure means) to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed by 107 to become a toner image. The toner image on the photoconductor 101 is transferred to a sheet P as described later, and the photoconductor 101 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 103 after the transfer of the toner image. Therefore, the charging means 102 and the laser optical system 1
40 and the developing unit 107 constitute an image forming unit for forming a toner image on the photoconductor 101.

At the lower part of the apparatus, there is provided a paper feeder having a paper feed cassette 110 which is detachable in the direction of arrow a. Sheet P made of paper stored in paper feed cassette 110
Is supported by a middle plate 111 and is pressed against a paper feed roller 113 via an arm 112 by the force of a spring (not shown). The top sheet in the sheet cassette 110 is fed by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 113 and rotated by the sheet feeding roller 113 when a command is issued from a control unit (not shown), and the separation pad 114 prevents double feeding. Then, the sheet is transported to the registration roller pair 115 on the downstream side.

An operation surface is arranged on the right side of the apparatus, and an operation panel 130 protrudes from the upper front surface of the exterior part 131 (the right side on the apparatus in FIG. 6). Further, the paper feed tray 132 is rotatably attached by a pin 133, and
The sheet made of the uppermost sheet in the sheet 32 is fed by a sheet feed roller, and is conveyed to the registration roller pair 115 on the downstream side while preventing double feed by a separation pad. One of the sheets in the sheet cassettes 110 and 132 is selectively fed.

The registration roller pair 115 sends the conveyed sheet P toward the transfer means 106 at a timing synchronized with the image (toner image) on the photosensitive member 101. The transfer unit 106 transfers the image on the photoconductor 101 to the paper P sent from the pair of registration rollers 115,
The sheet P on which the image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 116. As the fixing device 116, the above-described heat fixing device is used, and the toner on the sheet P (the sheet 7) is fixed to the sheet P by heating and pressing.

The fixed paper P from the fixing device 116
Are discharged onto a paper discharge tray 122 from a paper discharge port 121 by a paper discharge roller pair 120 and stacked. In order to correspond to the size of the paper to be discharged, the paper discharge auxiliary tray 125 is slidable in the direction of arrow b. In a case 134 arranged on the left side in the drawing, electric equipment and control devices such as a power supply circuit 135 and a printed board 136 (engine driver board) are housed, and a controller board 137 is also housed.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a heat fixing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, in the heat fixing device according to the first embodiment, an endless belt 8 is used as the fixing member 1, and the endless belt 8 is stretched around at least two support rollers 9 and 10. The pressing roller 2 is pressed against the endless belt 8 with a constant pressing force by a pressing means (not shown). The support roller 9 is heated by the heater 3 disposed therein to heat the endless belt 8, and the auxiliary heating roller 11 is in contact with the surface of the pressure roller 2.

The auxiliary heating roller 11 heats the pressure roller 2 by being heated by the heater 4 disposed inside. The support roller 10 is a driving roller, and rotates the endless belt 8 by being rotationally driven by a driving mechanism (not shown). Sheet 7 such as transfer paper carrying toner 6 is
When the toner 6 passes through the nip portion between the endless belt 8 and the pressure roller 2, the toner 6 is fixed by heating and pressing by the endless belt 8 and the pressure roller 2. The temperature sensor 5 detects the surface temperature of the short belt 8 on the support roller 10.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of a heat fixing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, in the heat fixing device according to the first embodiment, the heater 4 is omitted and only the heater 3 is used. The driver 14 and the switch 15 are controlled by the CPU 13,
During standby, the switch 15 is switched to the commercial power supply 17 side, and the capacitor 18 is charged by the charging device 19.
During use, the switch 15 is switched to the charging device 19 side, and the heater 3
DC current is supplied to the fixing roller 1 so that the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to a set temperature. After the heating and fixing device starts up, the switch 15 is switched to the commercial power supply 17 side, and an alternating current is supplied from the commercial power supply 17 to the heater 3 through the switch 15 and the driver 14.
The power supply to the heater 3 is controlled via the control unit 4 such that the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at a set temperature.

According to the heat fixing devices of the first to third embodiments, it is possible to start up in a short time irrespective of the limit of the commercial power supply, to reduce power consumption,
Further, safety when temperature control is impossible can be ensured.
Here, a questionnaire result is obtained that if the rise time is less than (paper-conveyance time of the fixing device (generally 4 seconds) +2 seconds), the user does not feel waiting, and if the rise time is less than 6 seconds. This would not give the user the feeling of waiting.

Further, the electrostatic energy calculated by (1/2) CV ² is on the order of kJ required for the fixing device without using a (dangerous) high voltage of 1000 V or more, and the capacitor is theoretically unlimited in charge. Since the discharge can be repeated and has a long service life, it is possible to realize maintenance-free operation of the charging device.

Further, it is possible to supply the maximum power to the heat source under the restriction of the capacity of the commercial power supply, it is possible to raise the fixing temperature in a short time, and to reduce or reduce the preheating power of the fixing member or the heating member. It can be unnecessary and power consumption can be reduced. In addition, high-speed startup is possible, and safety when temperature control is impossible can be ensured.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, in the first embodiment, the heater 4 is omitted, the storage battery 21 is used instead of the capacitor 18 as a power storage device, and the CPU 13 switches according to whether the standby mode or the usage mode is in use. 15, the storage battery 21 is connected to the charging device 19 and the load of the primary power supply (the commercial power supply 17) in the image forming apparatus.
Is switched to the DC load (electrical circuit) 20 side other than the load (electric load).

During standby, the switch 15 switches the storage battery 21 to the charging device 19 side, and the charging device 19
7 is converted into DC power and applied to the storage battery 21 to charge the storage battery 21. In use, the switch 15 switches the storage battery 21 to the DC load 20 side,
A DC current flows from the storage battery 21 to the DC load 20.

The CPU 13 controls the heater 3 via the driver 14 based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor 5 so that the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at the set temperature.
To control the energization of Therefore, when starting up,
Electric power is supplied to the heater 3 from the commercial power supply 17 via the driver 14, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to a set temperature.

According to the heat fixing device of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to supply the maximum power to the heat source under the restriction of the capacity of the commercial power supply, and the temperature can be raised to the fixing temperature in a short time. In addition, the preheating power of the fixing member or the heating member can be reduced or made unnecessary, and the power consumption can be reduced. Further, the low voltage and large current from the storage battery can be easily used for driving a DC load.

FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, a small heater 22 for heating a thermostat 23 as a safety device is connected in series with the heater 4 in the first embodiment, and the thermostat 23 is connected in series with the heater 3. . The thermostat 23 may use a safety device such as a thermal fuse.

The thermostat 23 is disposed at a position for detecting the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the roller 1 as a fixing member, and the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 is lower than the upper limit temperature (paper firing temperature range). If the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 becomes higher than the upper limit temperature, the heater is closed, and the power supply to the heater 3 is stopped.

At the time of startup, the small heater 22 is driven by the DC current from the condenser 18 to heat the thermostat 23 to a temperature lower than the upper limit temperature, and due to a control abnormality of the heat fixing device (abnormality of the CPU 13 and the switch 15), the heat fixing device is heated. When the temperature (surface temperature of the fixing members 1 and 8) runs away, the thermostat 23 opens instantaneously, and the temperature of the heat fixing device (the surface temperature of the fixing members 1 and 8) is increased.
Is prevented from exceeding the upper limit temperature.

Since the capacitor 18 is substantially discharged during the rise time, the malfunction of the switch 15 does not cause the small heater 22 to remain lit and the thermostat 23 to malfunction. When the heater 4 is omitted as shown in FIG. 4, the small heater 22 may be connected in series with the capacitor 18 as shown in FIG.

According to the heat fixing device of the fifth embodiment, safety when temperature control is impossible can be ensured.
In the second embodiment, similarly to the fifth embodiment, a small heater 22 for heating a thermostat 23 as a safety device is connected in series with the heater 4, and the thermostat 23 is connected in series with the heater 3. May be.

FIG. 13 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that the safety device generally used, that is, the temperature of the heating / fixing device is detected and turned off when the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature, is turned off. 17 has a thermostat 27 for stopping the power supply to the heater 3, and the thermostat 27 is connected to the thermostat 23.
Is also used.

According to the heat fixing device of the sixth embodiment, it is possible to ensure the safety when the temperature cannot be controlled, as in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, an electric double layer capacitor 28 is used as the capacitor 18 in the first embodiment. As this electric double layer capacitor, for example, one in which a plurality of organic solvent type electric double layer capacitors are connected is used. As shown in FIG. 8, an electric double layer capacitor having a large capacity of the order of [F] or more has been developed.

According to the heat fixing device of the seventh embodiment, the electric double-layer capacitor can in principle be repeatedly charged and discharged indefinitely and has a long service life. The total cost, assuming interim use, is also advantageous. In the second to sixth embodiments, an electric double layer capacitor may be used as the capacitor.

FIG. 15 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the eighth embodiment, an aqueous solution type electric double layer capacitor 29 is used as the capacitor 18 in the first embodiment. The aqueous solution type electric double layer capacitor 29 is, for example, one in which a plurality of electrolytic capacitors are connected.

According to the heat fixing apparatus of the eighth embodiment, since the aqueous double-layer capacitor discharges a large amount of electric power in a particularly short time among the electric double-layer capacitors, it can be started up in a short time. High safety can be ensured when temperature control is impossible, and the environmental load of waste is reduced. In the second to sixth embodiments, an aqueous electric double layer capacitor may be used as the capacitor.

FIG. 16 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment, a proton polymer battery 30 is used in place of the capacitor 18 in the first embodiment. The proton polymer battery 30 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-288717.
JP-A No. 2000-214, which has an electrode containing an electrode active material and a solid electrolyte, in which only the absorption and desorption of protons of the electrode active material are involved in electron transfer associated with the oxidation-reduction reaction of the electrode active material. Can be As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the proton polymer battery is easy to handle because it is easy to instantaneously extract and short-time charge the largest power among dry batteries. Also,
The charge and discharge of the proton polymer battery can be performed tens of thousands of times (about 500 to 1000 times in the case of the conventional secondary battery), and the life is long.

According to the heat fixing device of the ninth embodiment, the instantaneous extraction and the short-time charging of the largest power among the dry batteries are easy and easy to handle, and the power storage device has a long life. In the second to sixth embodiments, a proton polymer battery may be used instead of the capacitor.

FIG. 12 shows a circuit configuration of the tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the tenth embodiment, the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24 in the first embodiment, and an output signal of the potential detection circuit 24 is taken into the CPU 13 via the input circuit 25. .

The temperature sensor 5 detects the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 as a fixing member, and a detection signal from the temperature sensor 5 is sent to the CPU 1 via an input circuit 12.
3 The charging device 19 charges the capacitor 18 by converting AC power from the commercial power supply 17 into DC power and applying the DC power to the capacitor 18 via the driver 26. Here, (fixable temperature−surface temperature of fixing members 1 and 8 during standby) × heat capacity of fixing members 1 and 8 Ｗ number of watts of commercial power supply 17 × rise time + accumulated energy of capacitor 18. The voltage between both ends∝the energy stored in the capacitor 18. Therefore, it is desirable that the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 during standby, the higher the voltage across the capacitor 18.

Based on the input signals from the potential detecting circuit 2 and the temperature sensor 5, the CPU 13 increases the detection voltage (the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18) of the potential detecting circuit 2 as the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 becomes lower. By controlling the driver 26 to be higher, the charged amount of the capacitor 18 is changed according to the fixing temperature during standby. As a result, the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 during standby, the greater the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18, and a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, so that the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18 can be minimized. .

According to the heat fixing apparatus of the tenth embodiment, a substantially constant rise time can always be obtained, and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor can be minimized. In the second, third, fifth, and ninth embodiments, the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24 as in the tenth embodiment. The output signal of the potential detecting circuit 24 is input to the CPU 13 via the input circuit 25, and the temperature sensor 5 detects the fixing roller 1 as a fixing member or the supporting roller 9 as a heating member.
, The detection signal from the temperature sensor 5 is input to the CPU 13 via the input circuit 12, and the charging device 19 converts the AC power from the commercial power supply 17 into the DC power to drive the driver 26. Capacitor 1 through
8, the capacitor 18 is charged,
In U13, the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 or the supporting roller 9 based on the input signals from the potential detection circuit 2 and the temperature sensor 5, the more the detection voltage (voltage across the capacitor 18) of the potential detection circuit 2 becomes. By controlling the driver 26 to be higher, the charge amount of the capacitor 18 may be changed according to the fixing temperature during standby.

FIG. 17 shows a circuit configuration of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In the eleventh embodiment, in the tenth embodiment, the CPU 13 causes the timer 31 to measure the standby time every standby time, and the standby time measured by the timer 31 and the input signal from the potential detection circuit 24 are used. By controlling the driver 26 so that the detection voltage of the potential detection circuit 24 (the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18) becomes higher as the standby time becomes longer, the charged amount of the capacitor 18 is changed according to the standby time. As a result, the longer the standby time, the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18 increases, so that a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 18 is minimized. be able to. In the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fifth to ninth embodiments, the first embodiment
As in the first embodiment, the charged amount of the capacitor 18 may be changed according to the standby time.

FIG. 18 shows a circuit configuration according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In the twelfth embodiment, in the above-described tenth embodiment, a storage battery is used instead of the capacitor 18 as the power storage device with the potential detection circuit 24 and the driver 26 omitted, and the storage battery 32 is charged by the charging device 19 during standby. Is done. The CPU 13 determines that the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 during standby is, the lower the storage battery 3 is based on an input signal from the temperature sensor 5 when the fixing device starts up.
By controlling the driver 26 so that the power release time of the battery 2 becomes longer, the power release time of the storage battery 32 is changed according to the fixing temperature during standby. As a result, the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 during standby is, the longer the power release time of the storage battery 32 is, and a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, so that the power release of the storage battery 32 can be minimized. it can.

FIG. 19 schematically shows a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. The thirteenth embodiment is an image forming apparatus having a copy function and other functions, for example, a printer function and a facsimile function. The copy function, the printer function, and the facsimile function are sequentially performed by an application switching key of an operation unit. It is possible to switch and select. When the copy function is selected, the copy mode is set, when the printer function is selected, the print mode is set, and when the facsimile mode is selected, the facsimile mode is set.

First, the following operation is performed in the copy mode. In an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as ADF) 101, a document bundle in which a document is placed on a document table 102 with its image side up is pressed when a start key on an operation unit is pressed. A document table 105 in which a document is made of a contact glass by a feed roller 103 and a feed belt 104
It is fed to the upper predetermined position. The ADF 101 has a counting function that counts up the number of documents each time the feeding of one document is completed. The original on the contact glass 105
After the image information is read by an image reading device 106 as an image input unit, the image information is discharged onto a sheet discharge table 108 by a feed belt 104 and a discharge roller 107.

Document table 102 is detected by document set detector 109.
When it is detected that the next original is present, the lowermost original on the original platen 102 is similarly fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 105 by the feed roller 103 and the feed belt 104. Is done. After the image information is read by the image reading device 106 on the original on the contact glass 105, the feed belt 104 and the discharge roller 10
7, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge table 108. Here, the feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 7 are driven by a transport motor.

The first sheet feeding device 110, the second sheet feeding device 111, and the third sheet feeding device 112 as sheet feeding means are respectively set to the first tray 113, the second tray 114, and the third tray 115 when selected. A sheet of transfer paper as a transfer material loaded thereon is fed, and the transfer paper is transported by a vertical transport unit 116 to a position where it comes into contact with a photoreceptor 117 as an image carrier. The photoconductor 117 is driven to rotate by a main motor using, for example, a photoconductor drum.

Image data read from a document by the image reading device 106 is converted into optical information by a writing unit 118 as writing means via image processing means (not shown), and the photosensitive drum 117 is charged by a charger (not shown). Writing unit 11 after being charged
Exposure with the light information from 8 forms an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 117 is developed by the developing device 119 to become a toner image.

The transfer belt 120 also serves as a sheet transfer means and a transfer means, and a transfer bias is applied from a power supply.
The transfer paper from the vertical transport unit 116 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 11
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 117 is transferred onto a transfer paper while being conveyed at a constant speed. This transfer paper is transferred to the fixing device 12.
1, the toner image is fixed, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123 by the paper discharge unit 122. Further, the fixing device 12
Reference numeral 1 denotes the same configuration as the fixing device of the first embodiment. The photosensitive drum 117 is cleaned by a cleaning device (not shown) after the transfer of the toner image. here,
Photoconductor drum 117, charger, writing unit 11
8. The developing device 119 and the transfer means constitute an image forming means for forming an image on transfer paper based on image data.

The above operation is an operation for copying an image on one side of a sheet in a normal mode. However, when copying an image on both sides of a transfer sheet in a two-sided mode, each sheet feeding tray 113 is used.
Transfer paper fed from any one of the above-described embodiments, the image is formed on the surface of the transfer paper as described above. The sheet is switched back by 125, turned upside down, and transported to the duplex transport unit 126.

The transfer paper conveyed to the double-sided conveyance unit 126 is conveyed to the vertical conveyance unit 116 by the double-sided conveyance unit 126, and is conveyed by the vertical conveyance unit 116 to a position where it comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 117. The toner image formed above in the same manner as described above is transferred to the back surface, and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 121, thereby forming a two-sided copy. The two-sided copy is discharged to a discharge tray 123 by a discharge unit 122.

When the transfer sheet is inverted and discharged, the transfer sheet which has been switched back and turned upside down by the reversing unit 125 is not conveyed to the double-sided conveying unit 126 but passes through the reversing sheet discharging path 127. Output unit 1
The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123 by the reference numeral 22.

In the print mode, image data from the outside is input to the writing unit 118 instead of the image data from the image processing means, and an image is formed on transfer paper by the image forming means. Further, in the facsimile mode, image data from the image reading unit is transmitted to a partner by a facsimile transmitting / receiving unit (not shown), and image data from the partner is received by the facsimile transmitting / receiving unit instead of the image data from the image processing unit. By being input to the writing unit 118, an image is formed on transfer paper by the above-described image forming means.

When the user is in the copy mode in which the copy function is used in front of the present apparatus, it is necessary to start up momentarily. Therefore, the CPU 13 activates the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 as described above and drives the heater 4 by the power storage device 18 only in the copy mode using the copy function, and in the print mode or the facsimile mode, The drive of the heater 4 by the power storage device 18 is not performed without operating the power storage device 18 by switching 15. Therefore, the number of times of operation of the power storage device 18 can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device 18 and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved. Note that any one of the fixing devices according to the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

In the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, the first
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the print mode is set by the control unit 35 according to a plurality of types of print commands from the computer 34. The plurality of types of print commands include a normal print command for executing the print mode at a normal speed, and a rapid print command for executing the print mode in a shorter time than usual (at a speed faster than usual).

When a normal print command is input from the computer 34 to the control unit 35, the control unit 35 sets a normal print mode, controls the printer function, and operates the printer function at a normal speed. Therefore, instead of the image data from the image processing means, image data from a computer is input to the writing unit 118, and an image is formed on the transfer paper at a normal speed by the image forming means.

When a rapid print command is input from the computer 34 to the control unit 35, the control unit 35 sets the rapid print mode, controls the printer function, and operates in a shorter time than usual (at a faster speed than usual). ) Activate the printer function. Therefore, image data from the computer 34 is input to the writing unit 118 instead of the image data from the image processing means, and an image is formed on the transfer paper at a higher speed than usual by the image forming means.

When a normal print command is input from the computer 34 in response to a signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 switches the power storage device 1 by switching the switch 15.
The heater 4 is not driven by the power storage device 18 without performing the operation of the heater 8. When a rapid print command is input from the computer 34 in response to a signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 activates the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 as described above, and
Is driven. Therefore, the number of times of operation of the power storage device 18 can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device 18 and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved. Note that any one of the fixing devices according to the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

In the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, the first
In the fourth embodiment, a rapid print command is not provided, and a human body detecting means 36 for detecting that a person is near the apparatus is provided as shown in FIG. Control unit 35
Sets the rapid print mode when the human body detecting means 36 detects that there is a person near the apparatus by the input signal from the human body detecting means 36, and controls the printer function so that the printer function is performed in a shorter time than usual. Activate the printer function (at a faster speed than usual). Therefore, image data from the computer 34 is input to the writing unit 118 instead of the image data from the image processing means, and an image is formed on the transfer paper at a speed higher than usual by the image forming means.

The control unit 35 is provided with the human body detecting means 3.
When the human body detecting means 36 does not detect the presence of a person near the apparatus by the input signal from the computer 6, when a normal print command is input from the computer 34, the normal print mode is set and the printer function is controlled. To operate the printer function at a normal speed. Therefore, instead of the image data from the image processing means, the computer 34
Is input to the writing unit 118, and an image is formed on transfer paper at a normal speed by the above-described image forming means.

When the human body detecting means 36 does not detect the presence of a person near the apparatus by the signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 switches the switch 15 when the heat fixing device starts up.
Is not performed, and the driving of the heater 4 by the power storage device 18 is not performed. When the human body detecting means 36 detects that a person is near the apparatus by the signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 switches the switch 15 when the heat fixing device starts up as described above. By operating the device 18, the heater 4 is driven by the power storage device 18. Therefore, the number of times of operation of the power storage device 18 can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device 18 and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved. Note that any one of the fixing devices according to the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

In the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, the first
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24, the output signal of the potential detection circuit 24 is taken into the CPU 13 via the input circuit 25, and The emission current 18 is detected by the current detection circuit 37, and the output signal of the current detection circuit 37 is input to the CPU 13 via the input circuit 38.

The CPU 13 obtains the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 from the detected voltage of the potential detecting circuit 24 and the detected current of the current detecting circuit 37 at predetermined time intervals. 2
It is checked whether or not it has doubled, and when the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 becomes twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor 18, it is determined that the capacitor 18 has reached the end of its life, and a warning is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the operation panel. Or prohibits or cancels the setting of the copy mode by the setting means. Accordingly, a long-life capacitor can be collected and reused if the life of the capacitor has not expired at the time of disposal of the image forming apparatus, so that effective use of resources, reduction of waste, and reduction of cost can be achieved. The first embodiment, the seventh embodiment, and the eighth embodiment
In the embodiment, when the internal resistance of the capacitor becomes twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor as in the sixteenth embodiment, it is determined that the capacitor has reached the end of its life, and a warning is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the operation panel. You may make it.

In the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, the first
In any one of the fourth embodiment and the fifteenth embodiment,
A capacitor 18 is used as a power storage device. As in the sixteenth embodiment, a voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18 is detected by a potential detection circuit 24 as shown in FIG. CPU1 after 25
3, the emission current of the capacitor 18 is detected by the current detection circuit 37, and the output signal of the current detection circuit 37 is input to the CPU 13 via the input circuit 38.

The CPU 13 obtains the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 from the detected voltage of the potential detecting circuit 24 and the detected current of the current detecting circuit 37 at predetermined time intervals. 2
It is checked whether or not it has doubled, and when the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 becomes twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor 18, it is determined that the capacitor 18 has reached the end of its life, and the rapid print mode is prohibited. , The operation (discharge) of the capacitor 18 is prohibited. Accordingly, a long-life capacitor can be collected and reused if the life of the capacitor has not expired at the time of disposal of the image forming apparatus, so that effective use of resources, reduction of waste, and reduction of cost can be achieved.

The eighteenth embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that the date of manufacture is recorded on the capacitor 18 as a power storage device. Therefore, the capacitor 18 can be collected and reused according to the manufacturing time written on the capacitor 18 at the time of discarding the image forming apparatus, and effective use of resources, reduction of waste, and reduction of cost can be achieved. Can be. In the seventh embodiment and the eighth embodiment, the manufacturing time may be written in the capacitor as the power storage device, as in the eighteenth embodiment.

[0103]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to start up in a short time without being bound by the limit of the commercial power supply, to reduce power consumption, and to further enhance safety when temperature control is impossible. Can be secured. According to the invention according to claim 2, it is possible to stand up without feeling the user waiting.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to start up in a short time without being bound by the limit of the commercial power supply, to reduce power consumption, and to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to start up in a short time without being bound by the limit of the commercial power supply, to reduce power consumption, and to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, instantaneous extraction of the largest power and dry charging in a short time are easy and easy to handle, and the power storage device has a long life. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the energy required for the fixing device can be stored irrespective of the (dangerous) high voltage, and the capacitor can theoretically perform unlimited repetition of charge and discharge and has a long life. Maintenance free of the charging device can be realized. According to the invention according to claim 7, since the electric double-layer capacitor has a long life in principle that can be repeatedly charged and discharged indefinitely, a maintenance-free charging device can be realized, and the electric double-layer capacitor can be used for a long time. Total cost is also advantageous.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the aqueous double-layer capacitor discharges a large amount of electric power in a short time among the electric double-layer capacitors, it is possible to start up in a short time and to control the temperature. High safety can be ensured in the event of a failure, and the environmental burden of waste is reduced. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to supply the maximum power to the heat source under the restriction of the capacity of the commercial power supply, and it is possible to raise the fixing temperature in a short period of time. Can reduce or eliminate the need for preheating power, thereby reducing power consumption.

According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible. According to the eleventh aspect, safety when temperature control is impossible can be ensured. According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor can be minimized.

According to the thirteenth aspect, a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor can be minimized. According to the fourteenth aspect, a substantially constant rise time can always be obtained, and the amount of charge stored in the capacitor can be minimized. According to the invention of claim 15, a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, and the power discharge of the storage battery can be minimized. According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to supply the maximum power to the heat source under the restriction of the capacity of the commercial power supply, it is possible to raise the fixing temperature in a short time, and to fix the fixing member or the heating member. Preheating power can be reduced or made unnecessary, and power consumption can be reduced. Further, the low voltage and large current from the storage battery can be easily used for driving a DC load.

According to the seventeenth aspect, it is possible to start at a high speed and to secure safety when temperature control is impossible.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the number of times of operation of the power storage device can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved. According to the invention of claim 19,
The number of operations of the power storage device can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved.

According to the twentieth aspect, the number of times of operation of the power storage device can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved. According to the invention of claim 21,
The number of operations of the power storage device can be reduced to the minimum number, and both the improvement of the life of the power storage device and the convenience (high-speed startup) of the user can be achieved.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, a long-life capacitor can be collected and reused if it has not reached the end of its life at the time of disposal of the image forming apparatus. This makes it possible to effectively use resources and reduce waste. Cost can be reduced.

According to the twenty-third aspect, effective use of resources, reduction of waste, and reduction of cost can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a heat fixing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration when an endless belt is used in the heat fixing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the case where one heater is used in the heat fixing device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a temperature rise curve of the first embodiment and a conventional fixing device when fixing temperature control is impossible.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the whole of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing characteristics of an electric double layer capacitor and various storage batteries.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a first embodiment of the heat fixing device according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration when using a heater.

FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram showing characteristics of a proton polymer battery.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view schematically showing a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a part of a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a part of a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing roller 2 Pressure roller 3, 4 Heater 5 Temperature sensor 8 Endless belt 12 Input circuit 13 CPU 14 Driver 15 Switch 16 Thermostat 17 Commercial power supply 18 Capacitor 19 Charging device 20 DC load 21 Storage battery 22 Small heater 23 Thermostat 24 Potential detection circuit 25 Input circuit 26 Driver

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01M 10/44 H02J 7/00 H H02J 7/00 H05B 3/00 335 H05B 3/00 335 G03G 21/00 372 (72) Inventor Jun Nakato 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H027 DA03 DA12 DA29 DA44 DE03 DE07 DE10 EA12 EA15 EC06 EC14 ED25 EE02 EE07 EE08 EF04 EF06 EF09 EJ18 EK03 EK06 FA30 GA30 GA47 GB07 GB14 HA12 HB05 HB16 HB17 2H033 AA20 AA24 AA30 AA32. CB02 DA07 5H030 AA06 AS00 AS03 BB01 BB09 BB21 BB26 DD12 FF21 FF41 FF52

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device for fixing a toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, a heat source which generates heat by energization, a fixing member or a heating member which is heated by the heat source, and a normal member stored during standby. A power storage device that drives at least one of the heat sources for a predetermined time at the time of start-up with electric power equal to or more than the output power of the commercial power supply, A heat source is driven by the power storage device and the commercial power source simultaneously or at different timings. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device comprises a capacitor, and the heat source is driven by the capacitor and the commercial power supply simultaneously or at different timings. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is within 6 seconds. 4. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said heat source has a first heat source driven by said power storage device and a second heat source driven by said commercial power supply. A switch for switching the power storage device between the charging device side and the first heat source side; and controlling the switch to switch the power storage device to the charging device side during standby and to use the first power storage device during use. A control unit for switching to a heat source side of the fixing device. 5. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a switch for switching the power storage device between the charging device side and the commercial power supply side, and controlling the switch to move the power storage device to the charging device side during standby. A control unit for switching the power storage device to the heat source side when the power storage device is used. 6. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said power storage device is a proton polymer battery. 7. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said power storage device is a capacitor having a capacity of [F] order or more. 8. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is an electric double layer capacitor. 9. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is an aqueous solution type electric double layer capacitor. 10. A fixing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a small heater driven by said power storage device at the time of start-up, and energization of said heat source provided near said small heater when the temperature rises excessively. A fixing device, comprising: a safety device that shuts off. 11. The fixing device according to claim 10, wherein the safety device is a safety device that stops energizing the heat source when the temperature rises. 12. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a charge amount of the power storage device is changed according to a fixing temperature in a standby state. 13. The fixing device according to claim 12, wherein the fixing temperature is detected by temperature detecting means for detecting a surface temperature of the fixing member or the heating member. 14. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a charge amount of said power storage device is changed according to a standby time. 15. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said power storage device comprises a storage battery, and a power release time of said storage battery is changed according to a fixing temperature during standby. 16. A fixing device used in an image forming apparatus for fixing toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressurizing, wherein a heat source which is energized from a commercial power source and generates heat, and a fixing device which is heated by the heat source. A member or a heating member, a storage battery that drives an electric circuit other than the heat source of the image forming apparatus with the stored power, and a charging device that charges the storage battery with power from a commercial power supply. Fixing device 17. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1. Description: 18. An image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device and a copying function according to claim 1, wherein a first mode in which said heat source is driven by said power storage device is set. An image forming apparatus comprising a setting unit, wherein the setting unit can set only in a copy mode. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating source is driven by the power storage device when a print mode for forming an image at a speed higher than usual is set. An image forming apparatus comprising: 20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising human body detecting means for detecting the presence of a person near the apparatus, wherein the human body detecting means detects the presence of a person near the apparatus. An image forming apparatus, wherein the first mode is automatically set by the setting unit and a heat source is driven by the power storage device. 21. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means capable of setting image formation at a higher speed than normal, said image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus, wherein a first mode is automatically set by a setting unit and a heat source is driven by the power storage device. 22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a detecting means for detecting an internal resistance of said capacitor, wherein said detecting means has a double internal resistance of said capacitor. An image forming apparatus which issues a warning or prohibits or cancels the setting of the first mode by the setting means when detecting that the first mode has been reached. 23. An image forming apparatus having a fixing device according to claim 2, wherein a manufacturing time is entered in said power storage device and said power storage device is entered when said image forming device is discarded. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is collected and reused according to time.