JP2002189374A - Fixing cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a long-like web system fixing cleaning device having a high cleaning performance by suppressing the fluctuation of web pressurization and keeping oil supply constant. SOLUTION: The fixing cleaning device provided with a heat roller 1 with a heat source inside, and a pressure roller 2 which is brought into contact with the heat roller 1, and also equipped with a cleaning web device for cleaning the surface of the heat roller 1 in contact with the heat roller 1 and applying the oil on the heat roller 1, is provided with a pressurizing means 7 for pressurizing the web 6 against the roller 1, a winding means 8 for winding the used web 6 and a roller 7-1 for holding and supplying unused web 6, and a pressurizing and supply roller 11 which is brought into press contact with the heat roller 1 is used by the roller 7-1 as a cleaning means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing cleaning device, and more particularly, to a fixing cleaning device having a cleaning web device for cleaning the surface of a heating roller and applying oil.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image obtained by irradiating image information such as original reflected light onto a photosensitive member charged uniformly in advance is transferred from a developing device. A toner image obtained by developing with the supplied toner is transferred onto a recording sheet, and then fixed by applying pressure while heating with a fixing device.
After the transfer of the toner image onto the recording paper, residual toner of the toner image adheres to the surface of the heating roller, which causes an offset. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the residual toner, and various methods have been proposed.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional fixing cleaning web device. An image forming apparatus that fixes a toner image 5 by passing a heating roller 1 having a heat source therein, a pressure roller 2 pressed against the heating roller, and a recording medium 4 holding an unfixed image 3 in a nip portion thereof. And a pressing means 7 for pressing the web against the heating roller, a web 6 for contacting the heating roller and cleaning the deposits on the surface of the heating roller and applying oil for preventing offset, and a used web. And a driving means 9 for the take-up, and a supply roller 10 for holding and sending out an unused web. Although there are various web winding control methods, basically, the web is wound up little by little at intervals of a certain interval. The relationship between the winding direction of the web and the rotation direction of the heating roller has characteristics of forward and reverse, and it is not clear which is better, but in the figure, the web is wound in the reverse direction.

The pressing means usually actually presses the web against the heating roller to create the necessary nip width at the contact.
The pressure roller 7-1 has a rubber layer surface made of heat-resistant low-hardness rubber or urethane foam or silicon, and a pressure spring 7-2 acting on the pressure roller and applying a constant pressing force in the direction of the heating roller. The reason why the pressing roller is used in the cleaning unit is that, compared to the blades, the life and the reduction of the winding load at the time of winding the used web and the reduction of the load on the heating roller due to the contact of the web with the heating roller are to some extent. To form a nip.

[0005]

The conventional web-type fixing cleaning device requires a supply roller for supplying the web and a pressing means for pressing the web against the heating roller, and the space for the unit is large. Also,
There has been a problem that cleaning performance deteriorates due to pressure fluctuations that press the web. Furthermore, the oil supply capacity is low,
There was a problem of oil dripping from the supply roller. As a result, the unit cost is high, and there is a problem in terms of life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention is to provide a web-type fixing cleaning device having a high cleaning performance and a long service life by suppressing fluctuations in web pressure and making oil supply constant. Aim.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a heating roller having a heat source therein, and a pressure roller pressed against the heating roller,
Pressing means for pressing the web against the heating roller, winding means for winding the used web, and a supply roller for holding and supplying the unused web, wherein the supply roller is pressed against the heating roller and the surface of the heating roller is pressed. In a fixing cleaning device provided with a cleaning web device for performing cleaning and oil application, a supply roller is formed of a metal core or a heat-resistant resin from a roller shaft side, and a heat-resistant low-hardness rubber and urethane foam are provided outside the core bar. Or a rubber layer made of silicon, and a web layer that holds an unused web outside the rubber layer.
The fixing cleaning device is used.

According to the present invention, a toner image is fixed by passing a heating roller having a heat source therein, a pressure roller in pressure contact with the heating roller, and a recording medium holding an unfixed image in a nip portion thereof. In the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, at least a web for contacting with the heating roller and performing oil application for cleaning the adhered substance on the surface of the heating roller and preventing offset, and pressing means for pressing the web against the heating roller. A winding roller that has a pressing supply roller also serving as a supply roller that holds and sends out an unused web, and that winds up the used web;
It has a driving means and a supply roller for holding and sending out the unused web. In this roller configuration, when the web is fully wound, the influence of the rubber layer, which is the intermediate layer, is not so affected by the tension of the web winding or the like. Since the hardness is affected by the rubber layer, it is easier to secure the nip of the cleaning section than in the case without the rubber layer. According to the invention, it is possible to reduce the unit space, drop oil from the supply roller, reduce the unit cost, and further improve the cleaning performance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the supply roller includes a metal core or a heat-resistant resin from the roller core side, and a heat-resistant low-hardness rubber, urethane foam, or silicon outside the core metal. The fixing cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: an oil application layer containing silicone oil therein; and a web layer holding an unused web outside the oil application layer. In this roller configuration, in addition to the improvement of the cleaning performance as described above, the oil application performance to the heating roller can be improved by adding the oil holding performance. According to the technical means, the unit space can be reduced, the oil drips from the supply roller, the unit cost can be reduced, and the cleaning performance can be improved.

[0010] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the supply roller is a metal core or a heat-resistant resin from the roller shaft side, an oil application roller outside the metal core, and a supply roller outside the oil application roller. The fixing cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a web layer that holds a web to be used. Originally, an unused web is wrapped around the outer periphery of the oil application roller, which is intended to apply oil to the heating roller to prevent offset. In addition, it is possible to increase the oil applying ability to the heating roller. Although some cost increase is unavoidable due to this, a sufficient effect can be expected in terms of installation space, parts cost, etc. as compared with the conventional cleaning web device + oil application device. According to such technical means, it is possible to reduce unit space, drop oil from the supply roller, reduce unit cost, improve cleaning performance, and further improve oil holding and supply capability.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in the embodiments are not merely intended to limit the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative examples unless otherwise specified. Absent.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fixing cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the present embodiment includes a heating roller 1 having a heat source therein, a pressure roller 2 pressed against the heating roller, and an unfixed image 3 in a nip portion thereof.
In the fixing device of the image forming apparatus for fixing the toner image 5 by passing the recording medium 4 holding the toner image, at least the cleaning device is in contact with the heating roller 1 to clean the deposits on the heating roller surface and apply oil to prevent offset. And a pressing means for pressing the web 6 against the heating roller 1 and a pressing / supplying roller 11 also serving as a supplying roller for holding and sending out the unused web. Winding roller 8 for winding
And its driving means 9 and a supply roller for holding and sending out an unused web.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fixing cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Next, the function and operation of each unit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Web tip 6-1
Is fixed to a take-up roller 8 shaft attached to the web side plate 12 or the like with a double-sided tape or the like, and is driven by a driving means 9 composed of a small DC motor or a stepping motor and a gear train. The web is wound up by rotating. The pressing supply roller 11 on the side for supplying the web is also rotatably attached to the web side plate 12 or the like by concentric feeding by the web. A one-way clutch, a ratchet or the like is provided as a brake 13 for applying a load and a means 14 for preventing reverse rotation of the pressing roller shaft, and measures are taken to prevent the web from being pulled out excessively.

The pressure supply roller 11 is a heating roller 1
Is pressed by a pressing spring 7-2 in the direction of, and the nip portion formed there cleans the heating roller 1 and applies the oil impregnated in the web. As described above, the main purpose of this oil is to prevent offset of the heating roller 1, and therefore oil such as silicone oil having good releasability to electrostatic recording type toner is used. The oil amount, viscosity, material, and other oils are selected according to the fixing temperature, the unit temperature, and the oil holding capacity of the web material. Further, the oil application function can be performed by another application configuration without impregnating the web with the oil. However, even in that case, the oil impregnation function may be used in combination with the web impregnation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the features of the pressure supply roller of the present invention. As a basis of the present invention, in the conventional fixing cleaning web device [FIG. 3B], the pressing roller 7-1, the winding roller 8, the supply roller 1
In the present embodiment [FIG. 3 (a)], the pressing roller 7-
The greatest feature is that the pressure supply roller 11 has the functions of the supply roller 1 and the supply roller 10. It is also very effective against oil 6-2 dripping from the supply roller, which has been a weakness of most web devices hitherto.
This is because even if the oil 6-2 drips from the roller due to the decrease in the oil viscosity due to heating or the transfer of the oil in the roller, the place where the oil drips is on the heating roller.
Moreover, the oil is evenly spread at the nip at the portion, which is the same as when the oil is applied a little extra, and it goes without saying that there is almost no problem due to oil dripping.

[0016] Accordingly, even if the oil drips from the supply roller, there is almost no influence on the outside of the unit, and there is no need to provide an oil absorbing material or an oil reservoir. Although there is a product having functions of a take-up roller and a pressing roller as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-220921, since the position of the drive shaft is not fixed, additional components such as a coupling are required, and cost is reduced. There is a problem that the merit hardly appears and the roller surface on the winding side is difficult to be uniform due to dust and winding wrinkles. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

FIG. 4 shows a pressing and supplying roller 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a change caused by use of a web.
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the pressure supply roller is not particularly specified, but there is basically a metal core or a heat-resistant resin from the shaft core side, and a web layer holding an unused web outside the core metal. Roller. This is a configuration in which the cost merit is sufficient when the cleaning performance is not so required in a low-speed machine or the like. However,
The weak point of this configuration is that as the web is consumed as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the outer diameter of the pressure supply roller 11 becomes smaller and approaches the center of the heating roller, so that cleaning is performed. The nip of the portion gradually decreases, and the pressing force of the pressing spring 7-2 gradually decreases.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a pressure supply roller for further improving the cleaning performance. A metal core 11-1 made of metal or heat-resistant resin from the core side, a heat-resistant rubber layer 11-2 made of heat-resistant low-hardness rubber or foamed urethane and silicon on the outside, and a web layer holding an unused web on the outside. This is a pressure supply roller constituted by 11-3. In this roller configuration, in the state where the web is fully wound (a), the web layer is not much affected by the rubber layer as the intermediate layer due to the web winding tension or the like, but as the web is consumed (b) In the case where there is no rubber layer, it is affected by the low hardness rubber layer which is the intermediate layer.
Compared with [(c) and (d)], it is easier to secure the nip of the cleaning unit.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a pressure supply roller for further improving the oil application performance. Metal core 11-1 made of metal or heat-resistant resin from the core side, oil coating on the outside made of heat-resistant low-hardness rubber or urethane foam or silicone, and containing, holding, and supplying silicone oil This is a pressing / supply roller composed of a layer 11-4 and a web layer 11-3 for holding an unused web outside the layer. In this roller configuration, as described above, in addition to the improvement in the cleaning performance, the oil holding performance is added, so that the oil application ability to the heating roller can be improved.

FIG. 7 shows a press-supply roller of the present embodiment, in which an unused web is wound around the outer periphery of an oil application roller 15, which is intended to apply oil to a heating roller to prevent offset. The presence of the attached material has a significant effect of particularly improving the holding function against evaporation of oil and the like, and makes it possible to increase the ability of applying oil to the heating roller. Although this will inevitably increase the cost a little, conventional cleaning web equipment
+ Compared to an oil application device, sufficient effects can be expected in terms of installation space, parts cost, etc.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the roller components can be omitted according to the first aspect, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, by providing a rubber layer below the web layer, a stable nip can be secured to the end of the web, so that cleaning performance can be improved.

According to the second aspect, since roller components can be omitted, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, by having an oil holding and supplying function inside the pressing roller, a stable nip can be secured to the end of the web, and the improvement of oil supply capacity, which is one of the weak points of the cleaning web device, is achieved by reducing the number of parts In addition, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, since roller components can be omitted, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Also, by having an oil holding and supplying function inside the pressing roller, it is possible to secure a stable nip to the end of the web, and further improve the oil supply and holding capacity, which is one of the weaknesses of the cleaning web device. By reducing the number of parts, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fixing cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixing cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating characteristics of a pressing and supplying roller of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a change due to the use of a web of a pressing supply roller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a pressure supply roller for further improving the cleaning performance of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a pressure supply roller for further improving the oil application performance of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a pressure supply roller using the oil application roller of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a fixing cleaning web device in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 heating roller 2 pressure roller 3 unfixed image 4 recording medium 5 toner image 6 web 6-1 web tip 6-2 oil 7 pressing means 7-1 pressing roller 7-2 pressing spring 8 take-up roller 9 driving means 11 Pressure supply roller 11-1 Core metal 11-2 Rubber layer 11-3 Web layer 11-4 Coating layer 12 Web side plate 13 Brake 14 Reverse rotation preventing means 15 Oil coating roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A heating roller having a heat source therein, a pressing roller having a pressure roller in pressure contact with the heating roller, a pressing means for pressing a web against the heating roller, a winding means for winding a used web, and A fixing roller provided with a supply roller for holding and supplying a used web, wherein the supply roller is in pressure contact with the heating roller and a cleaning web device for cleaning the surface of the heating roller and applying oil; A metal bar made of metal or heat-resistant resin, a rubber layer made of heat-resistant low-hardness rubber, urethane foam or silicon on the outside of the metal core, and a web holding an unused web outside the rubber layer. And a fixing layer. 2. A supply roller comprising: a metal core or a heat-resistant resin; and a heat-resistant low-hardness rubber, urethane foam, or silicone oil-containing silicone oil on the outside of the metal core. 2. The fixing cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a web layer for holding an unused web outside the oil coating layer. 3. A supply roller, in which a supply roller is provided from a roller shaft side, a metal core or a heat-resistant resin, an oil application roller outside the metal core, and a web layer holding an unused web outside the oil application roller. The fixing cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing cleaning device comprises: