JP2003098939A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of any problem such as mutual sticking of transfer papers which have become high in temperature after fixing. SOLUTION: In the device, the cooling control of a heat pipe and abutting condition of the heat pipe to the transfer paper are varied according to the temperature of the transfer paper after going through the heat pipe.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer paper cooling device in an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, a toner image carried on a transfer sheet is heated and pressed by a heating roller and a pressure roller of a fixing device to fix the toner image, and thus the toner image is carried out from the fixing device. Since the transfer paper usually has a high temperature, the temperature of the components in the transport path is increased to cause deformation or destruction, and in the post-treatment process of the transfer paper,
There is such a problem that the toner on the transfer paper is remelted and the toner image is peeled off (paper discharge adhesion), and the toner image is adhered to the conveying means to cause stains and scratches.

In order to solve such a problem, a transfer sheet cooling device as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 186447/1985 has been proposed, which is shown in FIG. In this transfer paper cooling device, 1 is a fixing roller having a built-in heater 5, 2 is a pressure roller, and 4 is a conveying means. The conveying means 4 includes a pair of conveying rollers 6, a conveying belt 7, and a heat pipe 8. have. In such a transfer paper cooling device, when the toner image 10 carried on the transfer paper 9 is heated and pressed by the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 of the fixing device to be fixed, and is conveyed by the conveying means 4. The transfer paper 9 is cooled by the heat pipe 8. The transporting means 4 may be one in which a roller having a surface layer made of an elastic body is provided instead of the transporting belt 7.

Further, as a means for improving the cooling efficiency of recording paper, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-119489. In this, a temperature detecting device is brought into contact with the heat pipe 8, and the air volume of a fan for cooling the heat pipe is controlled by the temperature.

[0005]

The transfer sheet cooling device in such an image forming apparatus can solve the above problems. However, various media such as thin paper, plain paper, thick paper, and film have different heat capacities. Therefore, since the change in the paper temperature after passing through the heat pipe 8 is different, the recording paper may be overcooled or insufficiently cooled. Furthermore, even with the same medium, mat,
When the gloss mode or the like is used, the fixing conditions (fixing roller temperature and speed) are different, and the recording paper temperature after fixing is changed.

The temperature of the recording paper after passing through the heat pipe can also change greatly depending on the fixing conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer paper cooling device which solves the problems of the conventional transfer paper cooling device as described above and does not cause problems such as paper discharge adhesion to various media. There is.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides: (1) transporting means in which a cooling medium is arranged in a transfer paper transporting path;
In a transfer paper cooling device provided with a temperature detecting means for detecting the transfer paper temperature after the cooling medium, the cooling control of the transfer means and the cooling medium is changed according to the transfer paper temperature. (2) Conveying means in which a cooling medium is arranged in the transfer paper conveying path,
In a transfer paper cooling device provided with a temperature detecting means for detecting the transfer paper temperature after the cooling medium, the cooling medium is allowed to intervene in the conveying means according to the transfer paper temperature, and the intervention amount of the cooling medium corresponding to the temperature of the transfer paper. It is characterized by changing the.

[0009]

With the above-described structure of the present invention, the temperature rise of the transfer paper can be suppressed by controlling the cooling of the conveying means and the heat pipe or changing the penetration amount of the heat pipe according to the temperature of the transfer paper after the heat pipe. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the re-melting of the toner such as the discharge paper adhesion.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, the same parts as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat pipe 8 has a plurality of fins 11 attached to its shaft end portion as shown in FIG.
1, a cover 12 is provided so as to surround 1, and a fan 13 that cools the heat pipe 8 is provided in the cover 12.

In such an embodiment, the transfer paper is cooled in the same manner as the conventional one, but at that time, the fan 13 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and liquid such as ethyl alcohol, or A refrigerant composed of a gas such as air is supplied to the heat pipe 8 to be cooled, and as a result, the temperature rise of the conveying means 4 including the heat pipe 8 is suppressed,
The temperature of the conveying means 4 is always maintained properly and good cooling efficiency can be obtained.

After passing through the heat pipe, a transfer paper temperature detecting means 14 is arranged.

The rotation speed of the fan 13 is controlled by the temperature of the transfer paper detected by the temperature detecting means 14, and the cooling temperature of the heat pipe 8 by the fan 13 is adjusted by this, and as a result, the conveying means including the heat pipe 8 is controlled. The temperature rise of 4 is suppressed, the temperature of the conveying means 4 is always kept properly, and good cooling efficiency can be obtained.

The transfer paper temperature detecting means may be installed, for example, in the paper discharge tray section and monitor the temperature of the transfer paper loaded.

(Embodiment 2) In FIG. 3, at the contact portion between the heat pipe 8 and the conveyor belt 7, the conveyor belt 7 is provided.
An elastic pressure roller 17 is provided on the back surface of the conveyor belt, and when the degree of cooling of the pressure roller 17 is adjusted by a control means (not shown) to increase the cooling degree, the degree of pressure of the pressure roller 17 is increased to increase the conveyance belt. When increasing the contact pressure of 7 and decreasing the cooling degree, the pressing degree of the pressing roller 17 is reduced to decrease the contact pressure of the conveyor belt 7, and thus the temperature of the conveying means 4 is reduced. Always hold properly.

According to each of the above-described embodiments, when the transfer paper temperature is suppressed to a low level, a control program is set and stored such that the control means (not shown) changes the suppression amount stepwise, and the image is formed. Usage conditions (environment,
It is preferable that the cooling temperature is automatically selected and executed according to the type of paper), and the conditions for this automatic selection can be exchanged by the user or service person.

In the present embodiment, the conveyor unit 4 is of the belt type as an example, but it may be a roller instead of a belt.

[0018]

The present invention is as described above, and in the transfer paper cooling device in which the heat pipe is arranged in the transfer paper transport path and the recording paper temperature detecting means after passing through the heat pipe is provided,
By monitoring the temperature of the transfer paper and changing the cooling condition or the contact condition of the heat pipe, the paper temperature can be controlled more appropriately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a heat pipe and a conveyor belt.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer paper cooling device, comprising: a transfer device in which a cooling medium is arranged in a transfer paper transfer path; and a temperature detection device for detecting the transfer paper temperature after the cooling medium. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that cooling control of a cooling medium is changed. 2. A transfer paper cooling device, comprising: a transfer means for arranging a cooling medium in a transfer paper transfer path; and a temperature detection means for detecting the transfer paper temperature after the cooling medium. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an intervention amount of a cooling medium is changed depending on a temperature of a transfer sheet by interposing a conveyance means.