JP2005025222A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize quick start and securing safety when temperature control is disabled, in spite of the limit of a commercial power supply. <P>SOLUTION: A fixing device is provided with: heat generating sources 3 and 4 which generate heat by electricity; a fixing member 1 or a heating member being heated by the heat generating sources 3 and 4; a capacitor device 18 which drives at least one of the heat generating sources 3 and 4 for a prescribed time during a rising time using the electric power that is stored during standby and is larger than the output power of a normal commercial power supply 17; and a charging device 19 which charges the capacitor device 18 by the power from the commercial power supply 17. The heat generating sources 3 and 4 are simultaneously driven or driven with different timing by the capacitor device 18 and the commercial power supply 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device that fixes 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 machine.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, a pressure member such as a pressure roller, a pressure belt, or a pressure pad is pressed against a fixing member such as a fixing roller or a fixing belt, and then transferred. 2. Description of the Related Art A heating and fixing device is used that fixes a toner on a sheet by heating and pressing when the sheet such as paper passes between a fixing member and a pressure member. The most common type of heat fixing apparatus is a system that combines heat transfer necessary for fixing by temperature and pressure and conveyance of a sheet by heating a fixing roller from the inner surface with a radiant heater.

  In Patent Document 1, in a fixing device for fixing a visible image transferred on a transfer paper by an electrophotographic process by a heating unit, a first heater driven by an AC power source and a battery charged by a charging unit are driven. The fixing device is provided with a second heater to be provided.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus including a heat fixing device having a pressure roller including a main heater and a sub-heater, and switches between a main power source for heating the main heater and a main power source. A first switching means; a storage battery for heating the sub-heater; a charging means for charging the storage battery; a second switching means for switching the connection between the storage battery and the sub-heater; and the connection between the storage battery and the charging means; The heating heated by the main power source, comprising temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the pressure roller, and control means for controlling the first and second switching means based on the detection result of the temperature detecting means. When the temperature of the roller decreases to the reference temperature associated with the fixing property, the sub heater is heated via the storage battery. On the other hand, when the temperature becomes higher than the reference temperature, the heating of the sub heater is stopped. Imager is described which is characterized in that the the to.

  In Patent Document 3, in a heating device for a fixing device having a heater that generates heat by receiving power supply through a heater driving unit, the heater driving unit is connected to a rechargeable storage battery and a commercial power source. A battery charger for charging the storage battery, wherein the heater includes a main heater that receives power from a commercial power source and an auxiliary heater that receives power from the storage battery. A heating device for a fixing device is provided so as to be switchable between a connection form for forming a charger and a charging circuit, or a connection form for forming the auxiliary heater and a discharge circuit. Are listed.

  In Patent Document 4, in a heating device for a fixing device having a heater that generates heat by receiving power supply, and a heater driving unit that supplies power to the heater, the heater driving unit includes a rechargeable storage battery, A charger that is supplied with power from a commercial power source and charges the storage battery, and the heater includes a main heater that receives power from the commercial power source and an auxiliary heater that receives power from the storage battery, and charges the storage battery Is described when the main heater is turned off.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-150967 JP-A-3-5779 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-36579 JP 2000-98799 A

  In Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, a battery or a storage battery is used to drive the heater, but it is difficult to discharge a large amount of power with a general battery or storage battery. In addition, there is no safety measure at the time of start-up, that is, when the fixing temperature cannot be controlled due to runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means, and the fixing temperature rapidly rises to an excessive temperature. . Moreover, it does not mention using a capacitor | condenser as an electrical storage means.

The heat fixing apparatus has a problem that the heat capacity of the fixing roller is large and the warm-up time is long. For this reason, it is necessary to maintain the surface temperature of the fixing roller near the temperature required for fixing by preheating the fixing roller during standby, and much energy is consumed by preheating the fixing roller when not in use.
However, for example, if the warm-up time is about 5 seconds to 10 seconds or less, there is almost no inconvenience for the user by preheating the fixing roller or by preheating the fixing roller at a very low temperature compared to the conventional apparatus. An image forming apparatus can be used.

  Accordingly, attempts have been made to reduce the heat capacity of the fixing member, and the rise time can be shortened by using a fixing roller having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less. In order to further shorten the rise time, it is sufficient if more electric power can be supplied to the heater for heating the fixing member. However, a general commercial power supply is 100 V, 15 A. It is necessary to supply power to the transport system, the image forming unit, and the control unit. More power than this is used in large image forming apparatuses, but this large image forming apparatus requires power supply work for obtaining large power from a commercial power supply, and the use location is limited.

  In addition, various fixing devices that use a rechargeable battery and aim for a rapid start-up without being limited by the limit of commercial power have been proposed, but by supplying a constant continuous energy to the heater at the start-up, When the fixing temperature control becomes impossible due to a runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means, the fixing temperature rapidly rises to an excessively high temperature, which directly leads to a large risk of ignition and the like.

  The present invention can start up in a short time without being limited by the limit of the commercial power supply, can ensure safety when temperature control is impossible, further reduces power consumption, makes the rise time substantially constant, and charges the power storage device. Providing a fixing device and an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing the amount, achieving both a long service life and user convenience, and reducing costs by effectively using resources and reducing waste The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device that fixes toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, a heat source that generates heat by energization, and a fixing member that is heated by the heat source. Alternatively, a heating member and a power storage device that drives at least one of the heat generation sources for a predetermined time when starting up with power that is equal to or higher than the output power of a normal commercial power source stored during standby, and the power storage device that receives power from the commercial power source And the heat source is driven by the power storage device and the commercial power supply at the same time 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, and the heat source is driven by the capacitor and the commercial power source simultaneously or at different timings.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first or second aspect, 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 source includes a first heat source driven by the power storage device and a second heat source driven by the commercial power source. 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 so that the power storage device is used during use. Control means for switching 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 source side, and controlling the switch to charge the power storage device during standby. Control means for switching to the device side and switching the power storage device to the heat source side during use.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first or second aspect, the power storage device is a proton polymer battery.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the power storage device is a capacitor having a capacity of [F] order or more.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first or second aspect, the power storage device is an electric double layer capacitor.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first or second aspect, the power storage device is an aqueous 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 that is driven by the power storage device when starting up, and the heat source that is provided near the small heater and that is provided in the vicinity of the small heater. And a safety device that cuts off the power supply.

  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 energization of the heat source when the temperature is excessively increased.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the amount of power stored in the power storage device is changed in accordance with 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.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to the first to eleventh aspects, the amount of power stored in the power storage device is changed in accordance with 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 the power discharge time of the storage battery is changed in accordance with the fixing temperature during standby.

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

  An invention according to claim 17 includes the fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having the fixing device according to the first aspect and a copying function, comprising setting means for setting a first mode for driving the heat source by the power storage device. The setting means can be set only in the copy mode.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, when the print mode in which image formation is performed at a speed higher than normal is set, the heat generation source is generated by the power storage device. Is to drive.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the 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 has a person near the apparatus. The first mode is automatically set by the setting means when a heat source is detected, 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, the image forming apparatus has means capable of setting image formation at a higher speed than normal, and the image forming setting at a speed higher than normal is performed by this means. Sometimes, the setting unit automatically sets the first mode and drives the heat source by the power storage device.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second and seventh to ninth aspects, the image forming apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects an internal resistance of the capacitor, and the detection unit includes the internal resistance of the capacitor. Is detected, or the setting of the first mode by the setting means is prohibited or cancelled.

  According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the fixing device according to any of the second and seventh to ninth aspects, a manufacturing time is entered in the power storage device, and the power storage device is entered when the image forming device is discarded. It is collected and reused according to the production time.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to start up in a short time without being limited by the limit of the commercial power source, to reduce power consumption, and to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible. .
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to stand up without making the user feel awaited.

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

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is easy to handle and take out the largest amount of power instantly and charge it for a short time among dry batteries, and the power storage device has a long life.
According to the invention of claim 6, the energy necessary for the fixing device can be stored regardless of the (dangerous) high voltage, and the capacitor can be repeatedly charged and discharged in principle and has a long life. Maintenance-free charging device can be realized.
According to the invention according to claim 7, since the electric double layer capacitor can in principle be unlimitedly charged and discharged repeatedly and has a long life, it is possible to realize maintenance-free of the charging device and to assume a long-term use. The total cost is also advantageous.

According to the invention according to claim 8, since the aqueous electric double layer capacitor discharges a large amount of electric power in a short time among electric double layer capacitors, it can be started up in a short time and is high when temperature control is impossible. Safety can be ensured and the environmental impact of waste is reduced.
According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the maximum power can be supplied to the heat generation source within the capacity restriction of the commercial power supply, and the fixing temperature or the heating member can be raised to a fixable temperature in a short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the preheating power, thereby reducing the power consumption.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 10, the safety | security at the time of temperature control impossible is securable.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 11, the safety | security when temperature control is impossible is securable.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, a substantially constant rise time can always be obtained, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor can be minimized.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a substantially constant rise time can always be obtained, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor can be minimized.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a substantially constant rise time is always obtained, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor can be minimized.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a substantially constant rise time can always be 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 generation source within the capacity restriction of the commercial power source, and it is possible to raise the temperature to the fixable temperature in a short time. Preheating power can be reduced or eliminated, 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 of the present invention, it is possible to start up at a high speed and to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible.

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

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, 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 of the user (high-speed startup) can be achieved.
According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, 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 of the user (high-speed startup) can be achieved.

  According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to collect and reuse a long-life capacitor if the lifetime is not reached when the image forming apparatus is discarded, thereby effectively using resources, reducing waste, and reducing costs. Can be achieved.

  According to the invention of claim 23, it is possible to effectively use resources, reduce waste, and reduce costs.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the heat fixing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the fixing device according to the first embodiment, a pressure roller 2 as a pressure member made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber is pressed against a fixing roller 1 as a fixing member by a pressure unit (not shown) with a constant pressure. It has been. Since the fixing member and the pressure member are generally rollers, the roller is shown in FIG. 2, but one or both of them is not limited to a roller, and an endless belt or the like may be used.

  This heating and fixing device has heaters 3 and 4 as heat generation sources that generate heat when supplied with electric power, and 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 to heat the fixing roller 1 from the inside, and the heater 4 is a sheet-shaped heater that is placed on the upper portion of the fixing roller 1 to heat the fixing roller 1 from the outside. To do.

  The fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 are rotationally driven 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 the sheet 7 such as transfer paper carrying the toner 6 passes through the nip portion between the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2, the toner 6 is fixed by heating and pressure by the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2. The

  FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to the first embodiment. The detection signal from the temperature sensor 5 is taken into the CPU 13 as the 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. Thus, the energization to the heater 3 is controlled via the driver 14 and the energization to the heater 4 is controlled via the switch 15.

  The heater 3 is connected to a commercial power source 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 energization from the commercial power source 17 to the heater 3. The thermostat 16 detects the temperature of the heat fixing device and turns off when the temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature to stop energization from the commercial power source 17 to the heater 3. Instead of the thermostat 16, a safety device such as a thermal fuse may be used.

  The CPU 13 switches the capacitor 18 as the power storage device between the charging device 19 side and the heater 4 side by switching the switch 15 depending on whether it is in standby or in use. During standby, the switch 15 switches the capacitor 18 to the charging device 19 side, and the charging device 19 charges the capacitor 18 by converting AC power from the commercial power supply 17 into DC power and applying it to 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 is started up, the capacitor 18 is discharged to the heater 4 and the heater 4 is driven by a direct current.

  Therefore, at the time of start-up, the heater 3 is driven by the alternating current flowing from the commercial power source 17 through the driver 14 and the heater 4 is driven by the direct current flowing from the capacitor 18, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to the set temperature. After rising, the CPU 13 controls the energization of the heater 3 through the driver 14 so that the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at the set temperature.

  The capacitor 18 is a capacitor having a large capacity equal to or greater than the Farad [F] order. However, the present invention is not limited to this capacitor, and a capacitor in which a large number of electrolytic capacitors are connected or a polyacene redox capacitor may be used. Previously, there was only a capacitor with a capacitance of [μF] or less, but recently, a capacitor having a capacitance larger than the Farad [F] order has been developed (Electronics April 1998 “Special Issue: Exploring the Latest Secondary Battery” See "Technology innovation for new high-capacity power capacitors").

  The amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 is set so as to be substantially discharged within the rise time of the heat fixing device, and is set so as to be substantially discharged within 6 seconds, for example. That is, the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 exceeds the output power of the normal commercial power supply 17 within 6 seconds, for example, within a rise time at a general environmental temperature (room temperature) of about 15 ° C. to 25 ° C. (This discharge does not include a discharge of a small minute current below a predetermined current that is not very effective for heating the heater). Therefore, during use, the capacitor 18 is discharged within the rise time of the heat fixing device, so that even if the switch 15 malfunctions due to the runaway of the CPU 13, as shown in FIG. 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 the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 only rises. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, when the fixing temperature control becomes impossible due to runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means (CPU 13), the temperature rise curve becomes gentle after reaching the set temperature, and the temperature of the heat fixing device becomes the paper temperature. (Seat 7) The ignition temperature range is not reached and safety is ensured.

In the conventional heat fixing apparatus that supplies a constant continuous energy to the heater at the time of start-up, as shown in FIG. 5, when the fixing temperature control becomes impossible due to runaway due to a failure of the fixing temperature control means, the temperature rapidly increases. Although there is a case where the temperature rises to an excessive temperature that is equal to or higher than the ignition temperature range, there is a case where the first embodiment does not.
Further, the 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, and the DC power from the power supply circuit is converted into the image. Supplied to the DC load of the forming device.

  FIG. 6 shows the entirety of the first embodiment. Around the drum-shaped photosensitive member 101 as an image carrier rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive unit (not shown), a charging unit 102, a cleaning unit 103, and a developing unit that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 101 A developing unit 107 including a developing sleeve 105 and a transfer unit 106 are arranged.

  The photosensitive member 101 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 102 and then exposed to a laser beam L from a laser optical system 140 as a writing unit (exposure unit) to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. The toner image on the photosensitive member 101 is transferred to the paper P as described later, and the photosensitive member 101 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 103 after the toner image is transferred. Therefore, the charging unit 102, the laser optical system 140, and the developing unit 107 constitute an image forming unit that forms a toner image on the photosensitive member 101.

  A paper feeding device having a paper feeding cassette 110 that is detachable in the direction of arrow a is provided at the lower part of the device. The sheet P made of paper stored in the paper feed cassette 110 is supported by the intermediate plate 111 and pressed against the paper feed roller 113 via the arm 112 by the force of a spring (not shown). By rotating the paper feed roller 113, the uppermost paper in the paper feed cassette 110 is fed by an instruction from a control unit (not shown) and the paper feed roller 113 rotates, and the separation pad 114 prevents double feed. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the registration roller pair 115 on the downstream side.

  An operation surface is disposed on the right side of the apparatus, and the operation panel 130 protrudes from the upper front surface of the exterior portion 131 (on the right side of the apparatus in FIG. 6). A sheet feed tray 132 is rotatably attached by a pin 133, and the uppermost sheet in the sheet feed tray 132 is fed by a sheet feed roller and is prevented from being double fed by a separation pad. To the registration roller pair 115. One of the sheets in the sheet feeding cassettes 110 and 132 is selectively fed.

  The registration roller pair 115 sends the conveyed paper P toward the transfer unit 106 at a timing so as to synchronize with the image (toner image) on the photosensitive member 101. The transfer unit 106 transfers the image on the photosensitive member 101 to the paper P sent from the registration roller pair 115, and the paper P on which the image is 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 paper P (the sheet 7) is fixed to the paper P by heating and pressing.

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

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a heat fixing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the heat fixing apparatus uses an endless belt 8 as the fixing member 1, and the endless belt 8 is stretched around at least two support rollers 9 and 10. The pressure roller 2 is pressed against the endless belt 8 with a constant pressure by a pressure 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 brought into contact with the surface of the pressure roller 2.

  The auxiliary heating roller 11 is heated by the heater 4 disposed therein to heat the pressure roller 2. The support roller 10 is a drive roller, and rotates the endless belt 8 by being rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown). When the sheet 7 such as transfer paper carrying 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 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 apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, in the heat fixing apparatus in 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, and 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. When in use, the switch 15 is switched to the charging device 19 side, and a direct current is supplied from the capacitor 18 to the heater 3 through the driver 14, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to the set temperature. After the heat fixing device is started 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, and the CPU 13 energizes the heater 3 through the driver 14. Is controlled so that the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at the set temperature.

  According to the heat-fixing apparatus of the first to third embodiments, it is possible to start up in a short time without being limited by the limit of the commercial power source, reduce power consumption, and safety when temperature control is impossible. Can be secured. Here, if the rise time is within the (fixing device paper transport time (generally 4 seconds) + 2 seconds), a questionnaire result indicating that the user does not feel awaited is obtained, and the rise time is within 6 seconds. This will not give the user a feeling of waiting.

In addition, the electrostatic energy calculated by (1/2) CV ² is in the order of kJ required for the fixing device without using a (dangerous) high voltage of 1000 V or more, and the capacitor can repeat unlimited charging and discharging in principle. Since it is possible and has a long life, maintenance-free charging devices can be realized.

  In addition, the maximum power can be supplied to the heat generation source within the capacity limitation of the commercial power supply, the temperature can be raised to the fixing temperature in a short time, and the preheating power of the fixing member or heating member is reduced or unnecessary. Power consumption can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to start up at high speed, and to secure safety when temperature control is impossible.

  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, and the storage battery 21 is used instead of the capacitor 18 as a power storage device, and the CPU 13 switches depending on whether it is in standby or in use. By switching 15, the storage battery 21 is switched to the charging device 19 side and the DC load (electric circuit) 20 side other than the load of the primary power source (load of the commercial power source 17) in the image forming apparatus.

  During standby, the switch 15 switches the storage battery 21 to the charging device 19 side, and the charging device 19 charges the storage battery 21 by converting AC power from the commercial power supply 17 into DC power and applying it to the storage battery 21. In use, the switch 15 switches the storage battery 21 to the DC load 20 side, and a DC current flows from the storage battery 21 to the DC load 20.

  Based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor 5, the CPU 13 controls energization to the heater 3 through the driver 14 so that the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 is maintained at the set temperature. Therefore, at the time of start-up, the heater 3 is energized from the commercial power supply 17 through the driver 14, and the surface temperature of the fixing roller 1 rapidly rises to the set temperature.

  According to the heat fixing apparatus of the fourth embodiment, it becomes possible to supply the maximum power to the heat generation source within the capacity restriction of the commercial power source, and it is possible to raise the fixing temperature to a fixing temperature in a short time. Alternatively, the preheating power of the heating member can be reduced or eliminated, 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 of the 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 a 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 arranged 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 (the paper ignition temperature region and the fixing possible temperature). If the temperature is lower than the predetermined high temperature, it is closed, but if the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 is equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature, it is opened and the energization of the heater 3 is stopped.

  At the time of start-up, the small heater 22 is driven by the direct current from the capacitor 18 to heat the thermostat 23 to a temperature lower than the upper limit temperature, and the temperature of the heat fixing device (abnormality of the CPU 13 or the switch 15) due to control abnormality of the heat fixing device (abnormality of the CPU 13 or switch 15). When the surface temperature of the fixing members 1 and 8 runs away, the thermostat 23 is instantly opened, thereby preventing the temperature of the heat fixing device (the surface temperature of the fixing members 1 and 8) from exceeding the upper limit temperature. .

  Since the capacitor 18 is generally discharged within the rise time, the malfunction of the switch 15 does not cause the small heater 22 to keep on and the thermostat 23 will not 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. 10.

  According to the heat fixing apparatus of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to ensure safety when temperature control is impossible. In the second embodiment, as 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, 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 the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is a commercial power supply that is turned off when the temperature of a safety device, that is, a heat fixing device, generally used in the fifth embodiment is detected and the temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature. A thermostat 27 for stopping energization from the heater 17 to the heater 3 is provided, and the thermostat 23 is also used as the thermostat 23.

  According to the heating and fixing apparatus of the sixth embodiment, safety when temperature control is impossible can be ensured as in the fifth embodiment.

  FIG. 14 shows a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to the 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, a plurality of connected organic solvent type electric double layer capacitors are used. As shown in FIG. 8, an electric double layer capacitor having a large capacity of [F] order or more has been developed.

  According to the heat-fixing device of the seventh embodiment, the electric double layer capacitor can in principle be unlimitedly charged and discharged repeatedly and has a long life. The total cost 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 electric double layer capacitor 29 is used as the capacitor 18 in the first embodiment. As the aqueous electric double layer capacitor 29, for example, a plurality of electrolytic capacitors connected are used.

  According to the heating and fixing apparatus of the eighth embodiment, the aqueous electric double layer capacitor is a high power discharge in a short time especially among the electric double layer capacitors. High safety can be ensured when control is impossible, and the environmental impact 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 the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment, a proton polymer battery 30 is used instead of the capacitor 18 in the first embodiment. The proton polymer battery 30 includes an electrode containing an electrode active material described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-288717, and a solid electrolyte, and the electrode active material is exchanged for an electron exchange accompanying an oxidation-reduction reaction of the electrode active material. Those involving only the adsorption / desorption of protons of substances are used. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the proton polymer battery is easy to handle because it is easy to instantly take out the largest amount of power and charge it for a short time among dry batteries. In addition, the proton polymer battery can be charged and discharged several tens of thousands of times (about 500 to 1000 times in a conventional secondary battery), and has a long life.

  According to the heat-fixing device of the ninth embodiment, it is easy to handle and take out the largest amount of power instantly and charge it for a short time among dry batteries, 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 across the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24 in the first embodiment, and the 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 taken into the CPU 13 via the input circuit 12. The charging device 19 charges the capacitor 18 by converting AC power from the commercial power source 17 into DC power and applying it to the capacitor 18 via the driver 26. Here, (fixable temperature−surface temperature during standby of fixing members 1 and 8) × heat capacity of fixing members 1 and 8８W number of commercial power supply 17 × rise time + accumulated energy of capacitor 18 The voltage between both ends is the accumulated energy of the capacitor 18. Accordingly, it is desirable that the voltage across the capacitor 18 be higher as the surface temperature (fixing temperature) during standby of the fixing roller 1 is lower.

  Based on input signals from the potential detection circuit 2 and the temperature sensor 5, the CPU 13 increases the detection voltage (voltage across the capacitor 18) of the potential detection circuit 2 as the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 decreases. By controlling the driver 26, 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 electricity stored in the capacitor 18, so that a substantially constant rise time can be obtained, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 can be minimized. .

  According to the heat fixing apparatus of the tenth embodiment, a substantially constant rise time can be obtained at all times, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor can be minimized. In the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fifth to ninth embodiments, the voltage across the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24 as in the tenth embodiment. Then, the output signal of the potential detection circuit 24 is taken into the CPU 13 through the input circuit 25, and the temperature sensor 5 detects the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of 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 taken into the CPU 13 via the input circuit 12, the AC power from the commercial power supply 17 is converted into DC power by the charging device 19, and is applied to the capacitor 18 via the driver 26, thereby the capacitor 18. The CPU 13 charges the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 or the support roller 9 according to input signals from the potential detection circuit 2 and the temperature sensor 5. ) Is controlled so that the detection voltage of the potential detection circuit 2 (the voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18) becomes higher, so that the charged amount of the capacitor 18 is changed according to the fixing temperature during standby. May be.

  FIG. 17 shows a circuit configuration of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In the eleventh embodiment, in the tenth embodiment, the CPU 13 causes the timer 31 to count the standby time for each 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 (voltage between both ends of the capacitor 18) becomes higher as the standby time is longer, the charged amount of the capacitor 18 is changed according to the standby time. As a result, the longer the waiting time is, the lower the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller 1 is, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 is increased, so that a substantially constant rise time is always obtained and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 is minimized. be able to. In the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fifth to ninth embodiments, the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor 18 may be changed according to the standby time as in the eleventh embodiment. .

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

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

  First, in the copy mode, the operation is as follows. 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 surface facing upward is placed at the bottom when a start key on the operation unit is pressed. A document is fed to a predetermined position on a document table 105 made of contact glass by a feed roller 103 and a feed belt 104. The ADF 101 has a count function that counts up the number of documents every time a document is fed. The document on the contact glass 105 is discharged onto a sheet discharge table 108 by a feeding belt 104 and a discharge roller 107 after image information is read by an image reading device 106 as an image input unit.

  When the document set detector 109 detects that the next document is present on the document table 102, the lowermost document on the document table 102 is similarly contacted by the feed roller 103 and the feed belt 104. It is fed to a predetermined position on the glass 105. After the image information is read by the image reading device 106, the original on the contact glass 105 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 108 by the feeding belt 104 and the discharge roller 107. Here, the feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 7 are driven by a conveyance motor.

  The first paper feeding device 110, the second paper feeding device 111, and the third paper feeding device 112 as paper feeding means were loaded on the first tray 113, the second tray 114, and the third tray 115, respectively, when selected. A sheet of transfer paper as a transfer material is fed, and this transfer paper is conveyed by the vertical conveyance unit 116 to a position where it abuts on the photoconductor 117 as an image carrier. The photoreceptor 117 is driven to rotate by a main motor using, for example, a photoreceptor drum.

  Image data read from the document by the image reading device 106 is converted into optical information by a writing unit 118 as writing means via an image processing means (not shown), and the photosensitive drum 117 is uniformly charged by a charger (not shown). After that, it is exposed with light information from the writing unit 118 to form 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 conveyance belt 120 serves as a sheet conveyance unit and a transfer unit, and a transfer bias is applied from a power source. The conveyance belt 120 conveys transfer paper from the vertical conveyance unit 116 to the photosensitive drum 117 at a constant speed, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 117. Transfer the image to transfer paper. The transfer paper is fixed with a toner image by a fixing device 121 and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 123 by a paper discharge unit 122. The fixing device 121 is configured in the same manner as the fixing device of the first embodiment. The photosensitive drum 117 is cleaned by a cleaning device (not shown) after the toner image is transferred.
Here, the photosensitive drum 117, the charger, the writing unit 118, the developing device 119, and the transfer unit constitute an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer sheet based on the 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 duplex mode, the sheet feeding trays 113 to 115 are used. The transfer paper that has been fed and on which the image is formed as described above is switched by the paper discharge unit 122 to the double-sided paper feed path 124 side instead of the paper discharge tray 123 side, and is switched back by the reversing unit 125. The front and back sides are reversed and conveyed to the duplex conveying unit 126.

  The transfer paper transported to the double-sided transport unit 126 is transported to the vertical transport unit 116 by the double-sided transport unit 126, transported to a position where it abuts on the photoconductive drum 117 by the vertical transport unit 116, and is transferred onto the photoconductive drum 117. The toner image formed in the same manner as above is transferred to the back surface, and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 121, whereby double-sided copying is performed. This double-sided copy is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123 by the paper discharge unit 122.

  Further, when the transfer paper is reversed and discharged, the transfer paper that is switched back by the reversing unit 125 and turned upside down is not conveyed to the duplex conveying unit 126 but is discharged via the reverse discharge conveyance path 127. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123 by the unit 122.

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 the transfer paper by the image forming means.
Further, in the facsimile mode, the image data from the image reading means is transmitted to the other party by a facsimile transmission / reception unit (not shown), and the image data from the other party is received by the facsimile transmission / reception unit, instead of the image data from the image processing means. By inputting to the writing unit 118, an image is formed on the transfer paper by the above-described image forming means.

  When the user is in a copy mode using the copy function in front of the apparatus, it is necessary to start up instantaneously. Therefore, the CPU 13 operates the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 to drive the heater 4 by the power storage device 18 as described above only in the copy mode using the copy function, and switches the switch in the print mode or the facsimile mode. The operation of the power storage device 18 by switching 15 is not performed, and the heater 4 is not driven by the power storage device 18. Accordingly, the number of operations 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 of the fixing devices in the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

  In the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, in the thirteenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the print mode is set by the control unit 35 by a plurality of types of print commands from the computer 34. The plurality of types of print commands include a normal print command that causes the print mode to be executed at a normal speed, and a rapid print command that is executed in a shorter time (usually faster than normal).

  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. Accordingly, instead of the image data from the image processing means, image data from the 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 a rapid print mode and controls the printer function to make the printer function in a shorter time (at a faster speed than usual). To work. 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 faster speed than usual by the image forming means.

  In response to a signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 does not cause the power storage device 18 to drive the heater 4 without operating the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 when a normal print command is input from the computer 34. In addition, when a rapid print command is input from the computer 34 by the signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 operates the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 as described above, and controls the heater 4 by the power storage device 18. Let the drive do. Therefore, the number of operations 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 of the user (high-speed startup) can be achieved. Note that any of the fixing devices in the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

  In the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, the human body detection means 36 for detecting that there is a person near the apparatus as shown in FIG. 21 without the rapid print command in the fourteenth embodiment is provided. It is done. The control unit 35 sets the rapid print mode when the human body detecting unit 36 detects that there is a person near the apparatus based on an input signal from the human body detecting unit 36, and controls the printer function to control the printer function. Operate the printer function in a short time (faster 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 faster speed than usual by the image forming means.

  In addition, when the human body detection unit 36 does not detect that there is a person near the apparatus based on the input signal from the human body detection unit 36, when the normal print command is input from the computer 34, the control unit 35 The normal print mode is set, the printer function is controlled, and the printer function is operated at a normal speed. 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 normal speed by the image forming means.

  The CPU 13 operates the power storage device 18 by switching the switch 15 when the heat fixing device starts up when the human body detecting unit 36 does not detect the presence of a person near the device by a signal from the control unit 35. Therefore, the heater 4 is not driven by the power storage device 18. Further, when the human body detecting means 36 detects that there is a person in the vicinity of the apparatus by a signal from the control unit 35, the CPU 13 switches the switch 15 by switching the switch 15 when the heat fixing apparatus is started up as described above. The device 18 is operated to drive the heater 4 by the power storage device 18. Therefore, the number of operations 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 of the user (high-speed startup) can be achieved. Note that any of the fixing devices in the second to twelfth embodiments may be used as the fixing device 121.

  In the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, in the thirteenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the voltage across the capacitor 18 is detected by the potential detection circuit 24 and the output signal of the potential detection circuit 24 is input. The current is taken in by the CPU 13 via the circuit 25, the current discharged from the capacitor 18 is detected by the current detection circuit 37, and the output signal of the current detection circuit 37 is taken in by the CPU 13 via the input circuit 38.

  The CPU 13 obtains the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 from the detection voltage of the potential detection circuit 24 and the detection current of the current detection circuit 37 every predetermined time, and the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 is twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor 18. When the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 has doubled the initial internal resistance of the capacitor 18, it is determined that the capacitor 18 has reached the end of life and a warning is given to a display unit (not shown) on the operation panel. Alternatively, the setting of the copy mode by the setting means is prohibited or canceled. Therefore, a long-life capacitor can be collected and reused if the lifetime is not reached when the image forming apparatus is discarded, and resources can be effectively used, waste can be reduced, and costs can be reduced. In the first embodiment, the seventh embodiment, and the eighth embodiment, when the internal resistance of the capacitor is twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor, the lifetime of the capacitor is the same as in the sixteenth embodiment. It may be determined that the value has been reached and a warning (not shown) on the operation panel may be warned.

  In the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, a capacitor 18 is used as a power storage device in either of the fourteenth embodiment or the fifteenth embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 22 as in the sixteenth embodiment. The voltage across 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 discharge current of the capacitor 18 is detected by the current detection circuit 37. Thus, the output signal of the current detection circuit 37 is taken into the CPU 13 via the input circuit 38.

  The CPU 13 obtains the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 from the detection voltage of the potential detection circuit 24 and the detection current of the current detection circuit 37 every predetermined time, and the internal resistance of the capacitor 18 is twice the initial internal resistance of the capacitor 18. 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. Therefore, a long-life capacitor can be collected and reused if the lifetime is not reached when the image forming apparatus is discarded, and resources can be effectively used, waste can be reduced, and costs can be reduced.

  In the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing time is entered in the capacitor 18 as the power storage device in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the capacitor 18 can be collected and reused according to the manufacturing time entered in the capacitor 18 when the image forming apparatus is discarded, and effective use of resources, reduction of waste, and cost reduction are achieved. Can do. In the seventh and eighth embodiments, as in the eighteenth embodiment, the manufacturing time may be entered in a capacitor as a power storage device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the heat fixing apparatus in the same 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure in the case of using an endless belt with the heat fixing apparatus in the said 1st Embodiment. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration when one heater is used in the heat fixing device in the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a temperature rise curve when fixing temperature control is impossible in the first embodiment and the conventional fixing device. It is sectional drawing which shows the whole 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a characteristic view which shows the characteristic of an electric double layer capacitor and various storage batteries. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure at the time of using one heater with the heat fixing apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment. It is a characteristic view which shows the characteristic of a proton polymer battery. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 11th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 12th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the 13th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a part of 14th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a part of 15th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the fixing device in the 16th Embodiment of this 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
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 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

Claims (23)

In a fixing device that fixes toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, a heat source that generates heat by energization, a fixing member or a heating member that is heated by the heat source, and an output of a normal commercial power source that is stored during standby A power storage device that drives at least one of the heat generation sources for a predetermined period of time when the power supply is started up by electric power equal to or higher than electric power; and a charging device that charges the power storage device with electric power from the commercial power supply. The fixing device is driven by the apparatus and the commercial power source simultaneously or at different timings. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device includes a capacitor, and the heat source is driven by the capacitor and the commercial power source simultaneously or at different timings. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is within 6 seconds. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the heat generation source includes a first heat generation source driven by the power storage device and a second heat generation source driven by the commercial power source. A switch for switching between the charging device side and the first heat source side;
And a control unit that controls the switch to switch the power storage device to the charging device side during standby and to switch the power storage device to the first heat source side during use. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is switched between the charging device side and the commercial power source side, and the switch is controlled to switch the power storage device to the charging device side during standby to be used when used. And a control unit that switches the power storage device to the heat source side. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is a proton polymer battery. 5. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is a capacitor having a capacity of [F] order or more. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is an electric double layer capacitor. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device is an aqueous electric double layer capacitor. 4. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a small heater driven by the power storage device at startup and a safety device provided in the vicinity of the small heater to cut off energization of the heat source when the temperature rises. A fixing device comprising: The fixing device according to claim 10, wherein the safety device is a safety device that stops energization of the heat source when the temperature rises. 12. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of electricity stored in the power storage device is changed according to a fixing temperature during standby. 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. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein an amount of electricity stored in the power storage device is changed according to a standby time. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage device includes a storage battery, and the power discharge time of the storage battery is changed according to a fixing temperature during standby. In a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus and fixing a toner on a sheet to the sheet by heating and pressing, a heat source that generates heat when energized from a commercial power source, and a fixing member or a heating member heated by the heat source; A fixing device comprising: a storage battery that drives an electric circuit other than the heat generation 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 source. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1. 17. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1 and a copying function, comprising: a setting unit that sets a first mode in which the heat source is driven by the power storage device. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the setting means can be set only in the copy mode. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is driven by the power storage device when a print mode in which image formation is performed at a speed higher than normal is set. Image forming apparatus. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising human body detecting means for detecting that a person is near the apparatus, and the setting means when the human body detecting means detects that a person is near the apparatus. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the first mode is automatically set by driving the heat source with the power storage device. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means capable of setting image formation at a speed higher than normal, and when the image forming setting at a speed higher than normal is set by this means, the setting means sets the first. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the mode is automatically set and the heat source is driven by the power storage device. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect an internal resistance of the capacitor, wherein the detection unit has doubled the internal resistance of the capacitor. An image forming apparatus which warns when detected or prohibits or cancels the setting of the first mode by the setting means. 10. The image forming apparatus having the fixing device according to claim 2, wherein a manufacturing time is entered in the power storage device, and collected according to the manufacturing time entered in the power storage device when the image forming device is discarded. And an image forming apparatus that is reused.

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