JP2007147891A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device having compatibility with one image forming apparatus, and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of loading the fixing device having different power of a heating means or having a different heating method without changing the constitution and control of an image forming apparatus body. <P>SOLUTION: The fixing device 10 is provided with a control device 30. The control device 30 comprises a CPU 31 and an AC control circuit 32. The fixing device 10 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through a connector 23 (of the fixing device 10 side) and a connector 4 (of the image forming apparatus 1 side). Consequently a communication line for transferring communication signals and a power supply line for supplying +5 V and +24 V as power supply for control and AC100 V (200 V) as power supply for the heating means are formed between both the fixing device 10 and the image forming apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a fixing device that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with the fixing device.

  In recent years, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which each device constituting the image forming apparatus is configured to be detachable. With this configuration, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that meets user preferences.

  In such an image forming apparatus, the following is known as an image forming apparatus in which the fixing device is configured to be detachable.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes an image forming apparatus and a fixing unit in which the fixing unit is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. With this configuration, it is possible to mount a fixing unit according to the user's needs in the image forming apparatus.

Also, in Patent Document 2, a heater ON control signal is transmitted between the main body and the fixing device depending on the type of commercial power supply used in a connector that electrically connects the image forming apparatus main body and the fixing device (fixing device). There has been proposed an image forming apparatus configured such that the positions of terminals are made different and pin assignments differ according to the difference. By configuring in this way, when a fixing device different from the voltage specification of the image forming apparatus main body is installed incorrectly, the terminal for transmitting the heater ON control signal is not connected and the heater is not energized. Can be prevented.
JP 2003-280414 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-202656

  However, the conventional technology does not propose any solution for the compatibility of the detachable fixing device. Note that the term “compatibility” as used herein means that a fixing device having a different heating power or heating method operates normally for one image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus and the fixing unit described in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to electrical connections and signals between the image forming apparatus and the fixing unit, and compatibility of the fixing unit is not mentioned.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 has a content that avoids a trouble caused by erroneous attachment of the fixing device by a connector portion of the fixing device connected to the image forming apparatus, and assumes compatibility of the fixing device. Not.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a fixing device having compatibility with one image forming apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a fixing device having a different power and heating method of a heating unit can be mounted without changing the configuration and control of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, wherein the fixing member executes a fixing process, a heating unit that heats the fixing member, and communication with the image forming apparatus. And a control means for controlling the heating of the heating means.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes a fixing member that performs a fixing process, a heating unit that heats the fixing member, and a control unit that performs heating control of the heating unit by communicating with an image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a connection portion that is electrically and communicably connected to the fixing device. Regardless of whether it is the same.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a connection portion that is electrically and communicationally connected to the fixing device, and the connection portion is a type of the heating unit of the fixing device. -It is the same regardless of the method.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the connecting portion can supply the maximum power to the heating unit that requires the maximum power of the fixing device. It is the structure.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the image forming apparatus further comprises a display unit for displaying information, and the apparatus for the fixing device from the control unit of the fixing device. Information is acquired and the apparatus information is displayed on the display means.

  Since the fixing device of the present invention includes the control unit, the communication line and the power supply line can be shared in the connection portion with the image forming apparatus, that is, the connection portion on the image forming apparatus side can be shared. Compatibility can be provided without changing the configuration of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described according to an embodiment.

<Image forming apparatus>
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the entire image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the A direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a touch panel display 2 at a position on the outer surface where it is easy for a user to visually recognize and operate. The touch panel display 2 is a liquid crystal display capable of inputting keys by touching the screen, and plays a role of both information display means for the user and operation input means from the user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the fixing device 10 is detachable. The fixing device 10 is removed by opening the outer cover 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 and pulling out the fixing device 10 toward the front side in FIG. The fixing device 10 is attached by opening the outer surface cover 3 and pushing the fixing device 10 in the depth direction of FIG.

<Fixing device>
Next, the configuration of the fixing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The fixing device 10 of the present embodiment includes a heating roller 11, a pressure roller 12, halogen heaters 13 and 14, a fixing roller 15, a fixing belt 16, a heating roller thermistor 17, and a pressure roller thermistor 18. And an oil application unit 19, an oil supply roller 20, an oil application roller 21, a cleaning roller 22, a connector 23, and a control device 30.

  The heating roller 11 is a roller provided inside the fixing belt 16. The heating roller 11 is heated by a halogen heater 13 as a heating means provided inside the roller.

  The pressure roller 12 is a roller provided to be paired with the fixing belt 16 (fixing roller 15). The pressure roller 12 is heated by a halogen heater 14 as a heating means provided inside the roller.

  The fixing roller 15 is a roller provided inside the fixing belt 16, similarly to the heating roller 11. The fixing roller 15 is provided to be paired with the pressure roller 12.

  The fixing belt 16 is a belt for thermally fixing the toner image 26 transferred onto the recording paper 25 being conveyed. The fixing belt 16 is rotationally driven by the heating roller 11 and the fixing roller 15 described above. The fixing belt 16 is heated by the heating roller 11.

  The heating roller 11, the pressure roller 12, the fixing roller 15, and the fixing belt 16 serve as fixing means.

  The conveyed recording paper 25 passes between the fixing belt 16 and the pressure roller 12. At this time, the surface of the recording paper 25 (the surface on which the toner image 26 is formed) is on the fixing belt 16 side. Further, the back surface of the recording paper 25 is the pressure roller 12 side. By passing between the fixing belt 16 and the pressure roller 12, the toner image 26 on the recording paper 25 is thermally fixed on the recording paper 25.

  The heating roller thermistor 17 measures the temperature change of the heating roller 11. The thermistor is a temperature sensor composed of a temperature-sensitive resistor whose resistance value varies with temperature.

  The pressure roller thermistor 18 measures the temperature change of the pressure roller 12.

  The oil application unit 19 applies oil on the fixing belt 16 so that unfixed toner does not adhere to the fixing belt 16. The oil from the oil application unit 19 is applied onto the fixing belt 16 via the oil supply roller 20 and the oil application roller 21.

  The cleaning roller 22 removes a small amount of toner, paper dust, and the like attached on the fixing belt 16 and cleans the surface of the fixing belt 16.

  A connector 23 as a connection unit connects the fixing device 10 and the image forming apparatus 1 electrically and in communication. When the fixing device 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the connector 23 is joined to the connector 4 (connection portion on the image forming apparatus 1 side) provided on the image forming apparatus 1 side.

  A control device 30 as a control unit is built in the fixing device 10 and controls the fixing device 10. The configuration of the control device 30 will be described in detail later.

  In FIG. 3, the arrows indicate the conveyance direction (conveyance route) of the recording paper 25. That is, the recording paper 25 passes between the fixing belt 16 and the pressure roller 12, is then conveyed by the conveyance roller, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray outside the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the above-described fixing device 10, the heating roller 11 and the pressure roller 12 are heated by using the halogen heaters 13 and 14 as heating means, respectively. However, the heating means is not limited to the halogen heater, for example, IH A coil (Induction Heating Coil) can also be used. FIG. 4 shows the fixing device 10 using an IH coil 24 instead of the halogen heater 13 as a means for heating the heating roller 11.

  Further, in the fixing device 10 described above, heating means such as the halogen heaters 13 and 14 or the IH coil 24 are prepared with different electric powers depending on applications.

<Control device>
Next, the configuration of the control device 30 built in the fixing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control device 30 includes a CPU 31 and an AC control circuit 32.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 is a central part of the control device 30 and performs central processing. Specifically, each part of the fixing device 10 is driven according to a communication signal from the CPU 5 on the image forming apparatus 1 side. Further, a control signal is sent to the AC control circuit 32 based on detection signals from the thermistor 17 for the heating roller and the thermistor 18 for the pressure roller.

  The AC control circuit 32 performs power supply control based on the input of the control signal. More specifically, power supply control to the halogen heaters 13 and 14 is performed based on the input of a control signal from the CPU 31.

  The fixing device 10 and the image forming apparatus 1 are connected via a connector 23 (fixing device 10 side) and a connector 4 (image forming device 1 side). By connecting the connector 23 and the connector 4, a communication line for exchanging communication signals between both devices, and + 5V and + 24V as control power supplies and AC100V (200V) power as heating means power supplies are supplied. A power supply line is formed.

  Note that the connector 4 on the image forming apparatus 1 side corresponds to the power specification of the connector 21 of the fixing device 10 on which the one having the maximum power of the heating means such as the halogen heaters 13 and 14 or the IH coil 24 is mounted (same. I have to). That is, the maximum power can be supplied to the heating means that requires the maximum power.

<AC control circuit>
The AC control circuit 32 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The AC control circuit 32 includes a control unit 33 and triac circuits 34 and 35. The control unit 33 performs ON / OFF control and phase control of the triac circuits 34 and 35 based on a control signal from the CPU 31.

  The triac circuit 34 is a bidirectional thyristor with a gate for the halogen heater 13 that heats the heating roller 11, and the triac circuit 35 is a bidirectional thyristor with a gate for the halogen heater 14 that heats the pressure roller 12. The triac circuits 34 and 35 control the supply of power to the halogen heaters 13 and 14, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 4 described above, when the IH coil 24 is used as the heating means, the AC control circuit 32 is configured as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the AC control circuit 32 of the fixing device 10 using the IH coil 24 as means for heating the heating roller 11 and the IH coil 24 ′ as means for heating the pressure roller 12. As shown in the figure, the operations of the IH coils 24 and 24 'are controlled by inverter drivers 36 and 36', respectively. The inverter drivers 36 and 36 ′ are controlled by the control unit 33.

<Fixing device with different power>
The power of the heating means included in the fixing device 10 may be different. The fixing device 10 having heating means with different electric power can be formed by changing the required electric power of the heating means. It can also be formed by changing the number of heating means provided in the fixing device 10.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the AC control circuit 32 of the fixing device 10 having a plurality of heating means. In the figure, two halogen heaters (13, 13 ') are used as heating means for heating the heating roller 11, and the halogen heaters 13, 13' are controlled by triac circuits 34, 34 ', respectively. . Thus, when there are a plurality of heating means, a heating means control circuit such as a triac circuit 34 or an inverter driver 36 is provided according to the number of heating means.

<Image forming apparatus / control system>
Next, the control system on the image forming apparatus 1 side will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 5 and a power supply unit 6.

  The CPU 5 performs central control of each part of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, a communication signal is transmitted to the CPU 31 of the control device 30 built in the fixing device 10. Note that communication signals are exchanged between the CPU 5 and the CPU 31 via a communication line.

  The power supply unit 6 supplies + 5V and + 24V as control power supplies and AC100V (200V) power supply as heating means power supplies to the fixing device 10 via the power supply line.

<Drive control>
The drive control of the fixing device 10 will be described with reference to the control system of the fixing device 10 and the control system of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIGS.

  When the fixing device 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the connector 23 and the connector 4 are both electrically and communicably connected.

  The CPU 31 of the control device 30 of the fixing device 10 acquires a signal regarding the state (ready / busy) of the image forming apparatus 1 from the CPU 5 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication line. When acquiring a signal that the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is ready, the CPU 31 detects the surface temperatures of the heating roller 11 and the pressure roller 12 using the heating roller thermistor 17 and the pressure roller thermistor 18, respectively. This value is read by the analog port of the CPU 31.

  The CPU 31 sends a control signal to the AC control circuit 32 with reference to the read surface temperature. The control unit 33 of the AC control circuit 32 controls the triac circuits 34 and 35 based on the received control signal, and adjusts the halogen heaters 13 and 14 so that the heating roller 11 and the pressure roller 12 have a predetermined temperature.

  When the heating roller 11 and the pressure roller 12 reach a predetermined temperature, the CPU 31 communicates a signal indicating that the fixing device 10 is in a reload state (a state in which the predetermined temperature has been reached) to the CPU 5 of the image forming apparatus 1. Send over line. When the CPU 5 receives this signal, the image forming apparatus 1 is ready for print output processing.

<Effect>
The AC control circuit 32 differs in its circuit configuration depending on the type of heating means (halogen heater, IH coil) mounted on the fixing device 10 and its power consumption. Since the power supply control is performed based on the input signal, the communication signal between the fixing device and the image forming apparatus is the same. Therefore, the communication line can be shared.

  Further, the connector 4 on the image forming apparatus side 1 is made to correspond to the power specification of the connector 21 of the fixing apparatus 10 on which the heaters having the maximum power of the heating means such as the halogen heaters 13 and 14 or the IH coil 24 are mounted. Since the maximum power can be supplied to the heating means that requires the maximum power, the power supply line can be shared regardless of the power of the heating means of the fixing device 10.

  Therefore, since the fixing device 1 of the present embodiment includes the control device 30 on the fixing device 10 side, the communication line and the power supply line are shared, that is, the connector 4 on the image forming apparatus 1 side is shared. Accordingly, it is possible to mount the interchangeable fixing device 10 without changing the configuration of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 having compatibility with respect to such a fixing device 10 can be realized.

  In addition, since the fixing device 10 having different types of heating means (halogen heater / IH coil) and different heating methods is compatible, the fixing device 10 that matches the user's usability (fast rise time) and the offered price is installed. The image forming apparatus 1 can be realized.

  In addition, since the fixing device 10 having the heating means with different electric power is also compatible, the image forming apparatus 1 equipped with the fixing device 10 suitable for the power situation of the user can be realized.

<Notification of fixing device information>
In the fixing device 10 and the image forming apparatus 1 described above, information on the attached fixing device 10 may be displayed on the touch panel display 2.

  Specifically, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, the CPU 6 of the image forming apparatus 1 sends data such as ID (identification information) and apparatus information of the fixing apparatus 10 from the CPU 31 in the control apparatus 30 of the fixing apparatus 10. And the information is displayed on the touch panel display 2.

  By controlling as described above, it is possible to notify the user of information such as the ID, performance, and type of the fixing device 1 currently installed in the image forming apparatus 1. By this notification, the user can easily recognize the mounted fixing device 10, which can contribute to the convenience of the user.

<Additional notes>
The above-described embodiment is merely an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above description, a halogen heater or an IH coil is used as the heating means, but other heating means may be used.

It is a figure for demonstrating the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device of a fixing device. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of AC control circuit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an AC control circuit of a fixing device using an IH coil. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an AC control circuit of a fixing device having a plurality of halogen heaters. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 4 Connector 5 Control circuit 6 CPU
7 Power supply unit 10 Fixing device 13 Halogen heater 23 Connector 24 IH coil 30 Control device 31 CPU
32 AC control circuit 33 Control unit 34 Triac circuit 36 Inverter driver

Claims (6)

A fixing device configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus,
A fixing member for performing fixing processing;
Heating means for heating the fixing member;
Control means for controlling heating of the heating means in communication with the image forming apparatus;
And a fixing device.   A fixing member that executes a fixing process; a heating unit that heats the fixing member; and a control unit that controls heating of the heating unit by communicating with the image forming apparatus, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus equipped with a fixing device configured as described above. Having a connection part for electrical and communication connection with the fixing device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connecting portion is the same regardless of the power of the heating unit of the fixing device. Having a connection part for electrical and communication connection with the fixing device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connecting portion is the same regardless of a type and a method of the heating unit of the fixing device.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection unit is configured to supply the maximum power to the heating unit that requires the maximum power of the fixing device. Having display means for displaying information;
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein device information about the fixing device is acquired from the control unit of the fixing device, and the device information is displayed on the display unit. .

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