JP2009186601A - Fixing device controller and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress temperature lowering of a fixing roller with an easy constitution and simple control. <P>SOLUTION: In shown by a solid line in the figure, a fixation control target temperature in the standby state after the start-up is set as 150°C, when a printing command is given, the target temperature is changed to 170°C. Thus, a fixation heater is continuously turned on for a prescribed time (about two seconds in this embodiment) just before the sheet enters a fixation nip. Accordingly, the sheet enters the fixation nip in the state where the temperature of the fixing roller tends to increase, then, good fixation can be obtained even just after the start-up. Further, the standby temperature can be maintained with less power, and thus, energy-saving can be achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device control device and an image forming apparatus having a fixing roller and a pressure roller.

Japanese Patent No. 3004877

  In fixing devices, thin fixing rollers are widely used in order to shorten the warm-up time. However, a thin fixing roller has a small heat capacity, and a temperature drop of the fixing roller occurs immediately after the start-up when the heat storage of the pressure roller is insufficient. As a countermeasure, it has been proposed to increase the fixing control temperature during paper passing, but it is known that damage to the fixing roller due to repeated thermal stress is large.

  In Patent Document 1, in a standby state where a print command is awaited, the energization to the fixing heater is interrupted, and the energization is started by the input of the print command. An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a predetermined power smaller than the maximum power supplied to the heater at the time of formation is supplied to the heater.

  However, in the conventional fixing control apparatuses including those described in Patent Document 1, the fixing heater is not always turned on when the sheet enters the fixing nip, and the heater is turned off (that is, the fixing roller temperature is lowered). When the paper enters the fixing nip in a state where the temperature of the fixing roller is low, the temperature of the fixing roller is greatly decreased.

  The present invention provides a fixing control apparatus and an image forming apparatus that solve the above-described problems in the conventional fixing control apparatus and image forming apparatus, and that can suppress a temperature drop of the fixing roller with a simple configuration and simple control. This is the issue.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, the fixing roller having a fixing roller heated by a heating unit and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. In a fixing device control apparatus for fixing an image by allowing a recording medium carrying an image to pass therethrough, a control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the start-up of the fixing device is T1 (° C.), and the fixing device is mounted. When the control target temperature of the fixing roller during the print job in the image forming apparatus is T2 (° C.), T1 <T2 is set, and when the print command instructing the start of the print job is received Regardless of the heating state of the heating unit, the print command is set so that the heating unit is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. Wherein the control target temperature of the fixing roller by Shin be solved by changing from T1 to the T2.

  Further, the time from the start of paper feeding until the paper reaches the fixing nip is d (seconds), and the average temperature of the fixing roller in the above d seconds from the temperature T1 to T2 when the rated voltage is supplied to the fixing device. When the gradient is G (° C./second), it is preferable that G · d ≦ T2-T1 is satisfied.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing roller formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, the fixing roller having a fixing roller heated by a heating unit and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. In a control device for a fixing device for fixing an image by passing a recording medium carrying an image in a nip, a control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the fixing device is started is T1 (° C.), and the fixing device When the control target temperature of the fixing roller in the print job in the mounted image forming apparatus is T2 (° C.), T1 <T2 is set, and from the start of paper feeding until the paper reaches the fixing nip. The average temperature gradient of the fixing roller during the d seconds from the temperature T1 to the temperature T2 when the rated voltage is supplied to the fixing device is d (seconds) G (° C./second). ) Is set so as to satisfy G · d ≦ T2−T1, and the recording medium is set regardless of the heating state of the heating unit at the time of receiving a print command instructing the start of the print job. The problem is solved by changing the control target temperature of the fixing roller from T1 to T2 by receiving the print command so that the heating means is energized for a predetermined time immediately before entering the fixing nip. .

Preferably, the heating means is a halogen heater, and the energized state of the heating means is lighting of the halogen heater.
Further, it is preferable that the heating unit is controlled to have an intermediate target temperature T3 where T1 <T3 <T2 and the fixing roller temperature becomes the intermediate target temperature T3 for a predetermined time after the end of the print job.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved by an image forming apparatus including the fixing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
In the case where the paper feeding is started after waiting for the preparatory operation in the image forming apparatus after the print command, it is preferable to change the control target temperature of the fixing roller from T1 to T2 when the preparatory operation is completed.

Further, it is preferable that the preparatory operation is a stable operation of a drive source that drives a rotary polygon mirror included in the exposure apparatus.
Further, it is preferable that the preparation operation is a process control for controlling the image forming conditions by detecting the density of the reference image.

Further, it is preferable that the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 at the timing of sheet feeding from the registration means.
Further, it is preferable that the value of T1 can be changed according to the input voltage supplied to the image forming apparatus.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing roller formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, the fixing roller having a fixing roller heated by a heating unit and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. In an image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing an image by passing a recording medium carrying an image in a nip, a control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the fixing device is started is T1 (° C.), and the fixing is performed. When the control target temperature of the fixing roller in the print job in the image forming apparatus to which the apparatus is mounted is T2 (° C.), T1 <T2 is set, and a print command for instructing the start of the print job is received. Regardless of the heating state of the heating means at that time, the heating means is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. When the print command is received, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2, and after the print command, the paper is fed after the stable operation of the drive source that drives the rotary polygon mirror included in the exposure device. In the case of starting, the problem is solved by changing the control target temperature of the fixing roller from the T1 to the T2 when the driving source stably operates.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing roller formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, the fixing roller having a fixing roller heated by a heating unit and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. In an image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing an image by passing a recording medium carrying an image in a nip, a control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the fixing device is started is T1 (° C.), and the fixing is performed. When the control target temperature of the fixing roller in the print job in the image forming apparatus to which the apparatus is mounted is T2 (° C.), T1 <T2 is set, and a print command for instructing the start of the print job is received. Regardless of the heating state of the heating means at that time, the heating means is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. When the print command is received, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2, and after the print command, the process control for detecting the density of the reference image and controlling the image forming conditions is waited for. When starting the paper feeding, the problem is solved by changing the control target temperature of the fixing roller from T1 to T2 when the process control is completed.

  According to the fixing control device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by performing fixing control at a control target temperature lower than that during a job during standby after the fixing device is started up, good fixing property can be obtained even immediately after starting up. . In addition, the standby temperature can be maintained with less power, and energy saving can be realized. Furthermore, the repeated heat load is reduced and the margin of the fixing roller against thermal fatigue is increased. In addition, the fixing control only needs to change the target temperature, and the control load does not increase.

  According to the configuration of claim 2 or claim 3, the heating unit is not de-energized when the first sheet after the print command is issued enters the fixing nip under any sheet passing condition. The sheet can enter the fixing nip while the heating means is energized.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even in the case of a fixing device using a halogen heater as a heating means, good fixability can be obtained immediately after startup. In addition, the standby temperature can be maintained with less power, and energy saving can be realized.

  According to the configuration of claim 5, the heating unit has an intermediate target temperature T3 where T1 <T3 <T2, and the fixing roller temperature becomes the intermediate target temperature T3 for a predetermined time after the end of the print job. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a rapid temperature drop of the fixing roller and make a transition from the print job to the standby mode while maintaining a uniform temperature distribution.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, even when the start of paper feeding is delayed after waiting for the preparatory operation in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from being lowered and to obtain good fixability.
According to the configuration of the eighth aspect, even when the feed start is delayed after the stable operation of the drive source for driving the rotary polygon mirror, the fixing roller can be prevented from lowering the temperature and good fixability can be obtained.

According to the configuration of the ninth aspect, even when the start of paper feeding is delayed after completion of the process control, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from being lowered and to obtain good fixability.
According to the configuration of claim 10, even when paper is fed from different paper feed trays, the temperature change of the fixing roller is the same until the paper enters the fixing nip from the registration roller, and the difference in fixing quality due to the difference in paper feeding source This makes it possible to stably obtain a good output image.

  According to the configuration of the eleventh aspect, the value of the control target temperature T1 during standby can be changed according to the supplied input voltage. Therefore, the fixing roller temperature when the sheet enters the fixing nip is secured to prevent fixing failure. be able to.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the twelfth aspect, good fixability can be obtained even immediately after the start-up. Even when the start of paper feeding is delayed after waiting for the stable operation of the drive source for driving the rotary polygon mirror, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from being lowered and to obtain good fixability.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the thirteenth aspect, good fixability can be obtained even immediately after the start-up. Even when the start of paper feeding is delayed after completion of the process control, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from being lowered and to obtain good fixability.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device control device according to the present invention. In the copying apparatus 100 shown in this figure, an image forming unit 1 is disposed at the center, and a paper feeding unit 2 is disposed below the image forming unit 1. The paper feed unit 2 includes a paper feed tray 21 at each stage. A reading unit 3 for reading a document is disposed above the image forming unit 1. A paper discharge storage unit 4 is formed on the left side of the image forming unit 1, and a sheet on which an image is formed is discharged and stored.

  An image forming unit 6 is disposed in the image forming unit 1, and around a photosensitive drum 61 that is an image carrier, a charger 62 that performs charging processing on the surface of the photosensitive member, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member. A developing device 63 that visualizes an image, a cleaning device 64 that removes and collects toner remaining on the photoreceptor, and the like are disposed. Above the image forming unit 6, an exposure device 7 for irradiating image information onto the surface of the photosensitive member with laser light is disposed. A transfer device 65 for transferring a toner image formed on the photoconductor 61 onto a sheet is disposed under the photoconductor drum 61. At the side of the transfer device 65, there is disposed a fixing device 50 for fixing the toner image by applying heat and pressure to the toner transferred onto the paper through a pair of rollers. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 50 is discharged to the discharge storage unit 4 by the discharge roller 66.

  In the paper feed unit 2, unused paper is stored in the paper feed tray 21, and the bottom plate 24 that is rotatably supported raises the uppermost paper to a position where the pickup roller 25 can abut. As the paper feed roller 26 rotates, the uppermost paper is fed out from the paper feed tray 21 and conveyed to the registration roller 23. The registration roller 23 is controlled so as to start rotation at a timing so that the conveyance of the paper is temporarily stopped and the positional relationship between the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 and the front end of the paper is a predetermined position.

  In the reading unit 3, in order to read and scan a document placed on the contact glass 31, the reading traveling bodies 32 and 33 including a document illumination light source and a mirror reciprocate. Image information scanned by the reading traveling bodies 32 and 33 is read as an image signal into a CCD 35 installed behind the lens 34. The read image signal is digitized and image processed by an image processing unit (not shown). In the image forming unit 1, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 by light emission of a laser diode (not shown) in the exposure device 7 based on the image signal processed by the image processing unit. Scanning light from the LD is guided to the photoreceptor through the polygon mirror 71 and the lens. An automatic document feeder 30 that automatically feeds a document is attached above the reading unit 3.

  At the time of double-sided printing, the sheet after fixing is branched by the branching unit 68, the sheet is reversed by the reversing duplex unit 9 and conveyed to the registration roller 23, the sheet skew is corrected by the registration roller 23, and the back image It leads to formation operation.

  The image forming apparatus of the present example exchanges image information of an original with a remote place by a control unit (not shown) in addition to a function as a so-called digital copier, which reads and digitizes an original and copies it onto a sheet as described above. This is a multifunction machine having a facsimile function and a so-called printer function for printing image information handled by a computer on paper.

  An operation panel (not shown) of the copying apparatus 100 is provided with a numeric keypad, a start key (enter key), an application switching key, and the like in addition to a liquid crystal display configured as a touch panel. The numeric keypad is used for various settings. The start key is a key for instructing the start of copying. Paper specification, density setting, copy magnification setting, and the like are performed using a touch panel of a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part configuration of the fixing device 50.
As shown in this figure, the fixing device 50 of this example is a heat rule type fixing device having a fixing roller 51 and a pressure roller 52. The fixing roller 51 is a thin-walled roller that quickly warms up, and includes two fixing heaters 53 (for example, halogen heaters) having different heat generation areas in the cored bar. Further, thermistors 55a and 55b as temperature detecting means are arranged in contact with or close to the outer periphery of the roller. The thermistors 55a and 55b are arranged at the center and the vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction of the roller so as to correspond to the heat generation area of the heater 53, respectively. The heater 53 is controlled in heat generation based on the detection outputs of the thermistors 55a and 55b. The pressure roller 52 has an elastic layer on the core metal.

  FIG. 3 is a chart and graph showing the lighting state of the fixing heater and the change in the temperature of the fixing roller due to the comparison between the invention and the conventional example. In the charts and graphs shown in the figure, the solid line is related to the present invention, and the one-dot chain line is the conventional example.

  First, a conventional example will be described. In the conventional example, on / off of the heater is controlled at one set temperature (control target temperature) 170 ° C., the overshoot at the start-up is large, and the heater turn-off time after the roller temperature reaches 170 ° C. is long. Become. Also, the temperature drop after overshoot is a sharp curve. When using a thin fixing roller with a small heat capacity, the start-up is fast, but immediately after the start-up, the pressure roller (which has a larger heat capacity than the fixing roller) does not store enough heat. It gets bigger. Also, since the heater turn-off time after the roller temperature reaches the set temperature is long, the heater is often turned off when the paper enters the fixing nip, and the heat is taken away by the paper. The temperature of the roller will decrease. Therefore, a sufficient fixing quality cannot be obtained immediately after the start-up.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the fixing set temperature (control target temperature) during a print job (during operations related to printing after the print command) is set to 170 ° C., and the fixing set temperature (control target temperature) during standby (non-job) is set. ) Is set to 150 ° C., and the fixing heater is controlled to be turned on / off by two fixing set temperatures. In this example, the reload temperature (rise temperature) is set to 150 ° C., which is the same as the set temperature during standby (the reload temperature is not limited to this, and can be set as appropriate). When the print command is issued, the fixing set temperature is changed to 170 ° C. When the fixing set temperature is changed from 150 ° C. to 170 ° C. by the print command, the heater is always turned on regardless of the heater lighting state at the time when the print command is turned on, and a predetermined time immediately before the sheet enters the fixing nip. During this period (about 2 seconds in this embodiment), the fixing heater continues to be lit. As a result, the sheet enters the fixing nip while the fixing roller temperature tends to rise. In this embodiment, since the set temperature during standby is set lower than that during the job, the overshoot is reduced and the time when the fixing heater is off after the start-up is also shortened. As a result, in the fixing device of this embodiment, it is possible to perform reliable fixing even immediately after the start-up, and good fixing quality can be obtained.

  During a print job, the fixing heater is turned on / off at the fixing set temperature of 170 ° C. When the print job is completed, the printer enters a standby state, and the fixing set temperature is returned to 150 ° C. In this embodiment, the print command is issued when a start key (enter key) is pressed on an operation panel (not shown) of the copying apparatus.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the fixing device is on standby after the startup, the fixing heater can be controlled to generate heat at a lower fixing set temperature than during the job, so that a good fixability can be obtained even immediately after the startup. . Further, since the fixing setting temperature at the time of standby is set lower than that during the job, the absolute value of the temperature difference from the outside air temperature is reduced, so that the heat radiation to the outside of the fixing device is mitigated. Further, since the set temperature is low, it is possible to maintain the standby temperature with less power, and energy saving can be realized. In this example, it was confirmed through experiments that the power consumption during standby can be reduced by about 14% compared to the case where the present invention is not applied. Furthermore, when the set temperature during standby is lowered, the repeated heat load is reduced, and the margin of the fixing roller against thermal fatigue is also increased. In addition, the fixing control only needs to change the set temperature, and the actual heater ON / OFF is performed based on the output from the temperature detecting means, so that the control load does not increase.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the copying apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of (four in this example) paper feed trays 21 in the paper feed unit 2. Among the four-stage sheet feeding trays, the time from when the sheet feeding is started from the bottom sheet feeding tray until the leading edge of the sheet reaches the nip of the fixing device 50 is 4 seconds (other sheet feeding trays). 4 seconds or less when paper is fed from the tray). During this time, the average temperature gradient of the central portion of the fixing roller 51 (the central portion in the roller longitudinal direction on the roller surface) is 4.5 ° C./second (the temperature gradient immediately after the heater is turned on is close to 0, and becomes a constant gradient over time. Approach). Therefore, in this embodiment, the temperature of the fixing roller that rises from the start of feeding from the lowermost sheet feeding tray until the leading edge of the sheet reaches the nip of the fixing device is 4.5 (° C./second)× 4 (seconds) = 16 ° C. This numerical value of 16 ° C. is smaller than 170 ° C.−150 ° C. = 20 ° C., which is the difference in fixing set temperature. Therefore, in the copying apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the paper is fed from any paper feed tray under any paper feeding conditions. Even in this case, the fixing heater is not turned off when the paper enters the fixing nip, and it is possible to obtain good fixability because the paper is passed with the heater turned on. Also, good fixability can be realized with simple control.

Here, the fixing setting temperature during standby is T1 (° C.), the fixing setting temperature during the job is T2 (° C.), the time from the start of paper feeding until the paper reaches the fixing nip is d (seconds), and the fixing device When the average temperature gradient of the fixing roller in the d seconds from the temperature T1 to T2 when the rated voltage is supplied is G (° C./second),
G · d ≦ T2-T1
By satisfying the conditions, the fixing heater does not turn off when the first sheet after the print command is issued enters the fixing nip under any sheet passing condition. It is possible to enter the fixing nip.

  By the way, in a method in which scanning light widely used as an exposure apparatus is guided to a photosensitive member via a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) and exposure is performed, printing preparation is performed in an energy saving mode in which the polygon motor is stopped. Even if the drive of the polygon motor is started by a request (issued by key input such as paper size and density designation from the operation panel etc.), the print command (input that actually instructs printing by pressing the start key) ), The rotation of the polygon motor may not be stable, and therefore, there is a control that delays the start of paper feed for a predetermined time from the print command (hereinafter referred to as paper feed delay control). Therefore, it is preferable to change the fixing set temperature in accordance with this paper feed delay control.

  FIG. 4 compares the operation when the fixing set temperature is changed corresponding to the paper feed delay control and when it is not applied when the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus adopting the paper feed delay control. It is a graph for demonstrating.

  In FIG. 4, the change in the fixing roller temperature when the fixing setting temperature is changed from 150 ° C. to 170 ° C. simultaneously with the print command is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In this control, when a print command is issued at time t1, the fixing set temperature is changed, and the fixing roller temperature rises like a two-dot chain line. Since the sheet feeding starts at t2 after 2 seconds after the polygon motor is stabilized, the fixing roller temperature reaches 170 ° C. before the time t3 when the sheet enters the fixing nip, and the fixing heater is turned off. As a result, the sheet enters the nip with the temperature of the fixing roller lowered.

  On the other hand, in the control indicated by the solid line in the figure, the fixing set temperature is not changed at the same time as the print command, but after the print command is issued, the fixing set temperature is set at time t2 after waiting for the same 2 seconds as the paper feed delay. Change from 150 ° C to 170 ° C. As a result, at time t3 when the fed paper enters the fixing nip, the fixing roller temperature has not yet reached 170 ° C., the heater is turned on, and the paper is allowed to pass while the fixing roller temperature is increasing. be able to. That is, the first sheet can be fixed at a higher temperature than the control indicated by the two-dot chain line, and more reliable fixing can be performed.

Next, control for changing the fixing set temperature change timing corresponding to the process control will be described.
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process control that creates a reference pattern (patch image) on a photoreceptor, detects the image density, and controls the image forming conditions based on the result to adjust the image density. (Pro-con) is performed. In general, process control is performed when the apparatus is started up or whenever a predetermined number of sheets are printed.

  Here, when performing process control after the print command, if the fixing set temperature is changed from the standby set temperature to the set temperature during the job at the same time as the print command, the actual paper will be removed by executing the process control. When the fixing heater is turned off when entering the fixing nip, the fixing roller temperature may be lowered. Therefore, when process control is performed, it is preferable to delay the fixing set temperature change timing.

Control for delaying the fixing set temperature change timing corresponding to this process control will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 5, the change in the fixing roller temperature when the fixing set temperature is changed from 150 ° C. to 170 ° C. simultaneously with the print command is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In this control, when a print command is issued at time t1, the fixing set temperature is changed, and the fixing roller temperature rises like a two-dot chain line. Since the paper feed is started at t2 after 2 seconds from the end of the process control, the fixing roller temperature reaches 170 ° C. before the time t3 when the paper enters the fixing nip, and the fixing heater is turned off. As a result, the sheet enters the nip with the temperature of the fixing roller lowered.

  On the other hand, the control indicated by the solid line in the figure does not change the fixing set temperature at the same time as the print command, but waits for the end of process control after the print command is issued. Change to 170 ° C. As a result, at time t3 when the fed paper enters the fixing nip, the fixing roller temperature has not yet reached 170 ° C., the heater is turned on, and the paper is allowed to pass while the fixing roller temperature is increasing. be able to. That is, the first sheet can be fixed at a higher temperature than the control indicated by the two-dot chain line, and more reliable fixing can be performed.

Next, a description will be given of the control in which the fixing set temperature is changed in accordance with the sheet delivery timing from the registration roller.
In an apparatus configuration including a plurality of stages of paper feed trays such as the copying apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, the paper transport time from each paper feed tray to the registration roller is different for each tray. Therefore, when the fixing set temperature is changed at the same time as the print command, the fixing roller temperature when the paper enters the fixing nip may differ depending on the tray as the paper source.

  Therefore, by controlling so as to change the fixing set temperature in accordance with the paper delivery timing from the registration roller, the fixing roller temperature when the paper enters the fixing nip is set to the same temperature regardless of the tray of the paper supply source. be able to. That is, since the time from when the paper is fed from the registration roller to the fixing nip is the same regardless of the tray of the paper supply source, the fixing setting temperature is changed in accordance with the paper feeding timing at the registration roller ( By changing the temperature from 150 ° C. to 170 ° C., the temperature change of the fixing roller is the same until the paper enters the fixing nip from the registration roller regardless of the paper feed tray. By this control, it is possible to eliminate a difference in fixing quality due to a difference in paper source and stably obtain a good output image.

Next, a case where the fixing set temperature during standby is changed according to the input voltage will be described.
The voltage supplied to the image forming apparatus varies depending on the region or installation environment and may be less than the rating. For example, when the actual input voltage is 90 V (the rated voltage is 100 V), the temperature increase gradient of the fixing roller after changing the fixing setting temperature is smaller than that when 100 V is supplied, and the sheet is fixed to the fixing nip. As a result, the fixing roller temperature at the time of entering the printer is lower than that at the rated voltage. Therefore, it is preferable to change the fixing set temperature during standby according to the actual input voltage.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for conceptually explaining a change in the fixing roller temperature when the fixing setting temperature during standby is changed according to the input voltage. In this figure, the curve indicated by the solid line is for the case where a rated voltage of 100 V is input. In this case, the standby set temperature is 150 ° C., the set temperature is changed to 170 ° C. by the print command, the fixing roller temperature rises, and the sheet enters the nip.

  A curve indicated by a broken line in the figure shows a case where the actual input voltage is less than the rated value (about 90%), and shows a case where the standby set temperature is set to 160 ° C. The set temperature during the job remains at 170 ° C. In this case, since the set temperature during standby is as high as 160 ° C. (higher than 150 ° C. at the rated time), even when the temperature rise gradient after the set temperature change by the print command is smaller than the rated temperature, when the paper enters the nip The fixing roller temperature can be secured (high temperature can be set), and a good output image can be obtained by preventing the fixing failure.

  The change of the fixing setting temperature during standby is assumed to be changed by a service person when the image forming apparatus is installed.

Next, control according to the temperature distribution in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the fixing roller will be described.
In a configuration in which the fixing roller includes two heaters having different light emitting areas (one has a light emitting area at the center in the axial direction of the roller and the other has a light emitting area at both ends). Usually, two temperature sensors (for example, thermistors) are provided, and the temperature at the center of the roller is seen by one sensor, and the temperature at the end of the roller is seen by another sensor. Here, it is assumed that a sensor for detecting the temperature of the roller end is disposed on the back side of the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, an air flow is generated inside the main body by a fan or the like, and the amount of heat generated in the fixing device is transferred. Therefore, temperature deviation also occurs in the fixing roller. After transitioning to the non-sheet passing state after continuous sheet passing, the front side (front side of the apparatus) of the fixing roller is easily cooled by the fan. For this reason, when the temperature at the end of the fixing roller is viewed by a sensor on the back side of the apparatus, when the temperature at the end of the roller drops to the set temperature during standby, the temperature at the end of the roller on the near side exceeds that. It will be reduced.

  Therefore, when the fixing set temperature is returned after continuous paper feeding, the set temperature is set to Tm between T2 and T1 (T1 <Tm <T2) instead of returning from the set temperature T2 during the job to the standby set temperature T1. By changing and controlling the heat generation of the fixing heater for a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent a rapid temperature drop on one side in the axial direction of the fixing roller, which is preferable.

  For example, the standby set temperature T1 = 150 ° C., the job set temperature T2 = 170 ° C., and the intermediate set temperature Tm = 160 ° C., and the fixing heater is turned on / off for a predetermined time, for example, 1 minute. This prevents a rapid temperature drop on one side in the fixing roller axial direction, and makes it possible to shift from the print job to the standby mode while maintaining a uniform temperature distribution.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heating unit of the fixing device is not limited to a fixing heater such as a halogen heater, and any heating unit such as an induction heating unit may be employed. Further, the location of the heating means is not limited to the inside of the roller, but can be arranged outside the roller. Further, the fixing roller may have an elastic layer. The pressure roller may include a heating unit.

Further, numerical values such as the standby set temperature, the set temperature during the print job, or the intermediate set temperature are examples, and can be set to appropriate values.
The configuration of each part of the image forming apparatus is also arbitrary, and the present invention can be applied not only to a monochrome apparatus but also to a multicolor machine or a full color image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus is not limited to a copying machine, but may be a printer or a facsimile, or a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions. In the case of a printer or facsimile, as an alternative to the print command by pressing the start key in the copying machine as the timing for changing the fixing set temperature, for example, the expansion end timing of the print information received from the external device by the printer, the reception in the facsimile An appropriate timing such as an end timing can be set.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus including a fixing device control device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a main configuration of the fixing device. The lighting state of the fixing heater and the temperature change of the fixing roller caused thereby are shown by comparing the one according to the present invention with the conventional example. 7 is a graph for comparing and explaining the operation when the fixing set temperature is changed corresponding to the paper feed delay control and when it is not. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining control for delaying a fixing set temperature change timing in correspondence with process control. FIG. 6 is a diagram for conceptually explaining a change in fixing roller temperature when the fixing setting temperature during standby is changed according to an input voltage.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part 2 Paper feed part 7 Exposure apparatus 23 Registration roller 50 Fixing apparatus 51 Fixing roller 52 Pressure roller 53 Fixing heater 55 Thermistor 61 Photosensitive drum 71 Polygon mirror 100 Copying apparatus T1 Standing fixing control target temperature T2 During job Fixing control target temperature

Claims (13)

A fixing roller heated by a heating unit; and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. A recording medium carrying an image is passed through a fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller. In the control device of the fixing device that fixes the image,
The control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the start-up of the fixing device is T1 (° C.), and the control target temperature of the fixing roller during a print job in the image forming apparatus to which the fixing device is mounted is T2 (° C.). When T1 <T2,
Regardless of the heating state of the heating unit at the time of receiving a print command instructing the start of the print job, the heating unit is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. In addition, the fixing control device is characterized in that the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 upon receipt of the print command. The time from the start of paper feeding until the paper reaches the fixing nip is d (seconds), and the average temperature gradient of the fixing roller in the d seconds from the temperature T1 to T2 when the rated voltage is supplied to the fixing device. When G (° C / sec)
G · d ≦ T2-T1
The fixing control device according to claim 1, wherein: A fixing roller heated by a heating unit; and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. A recording medium carrying an image is passed through a fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller. In the control device of the fixing device that fixes the image,
The control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the start-up of the fixing device is T1 (° C.), and the control target temperature of the fixing roller during a print job in the image forming apparatus to which the fixing device is mounted is T2 (° C.). When T1 <T2 is set,
The time from the start of paper feeding until the paper reaches the fixing nip is d (seconds), and the average temperature gradient of the fixing roller in the d seconds from the temperature T1 to T2 when the rated voltage is supplied to the fixing device. When G (° C./second) is set, G · d ≦ T2-T1 is satisfied.
Regardless of the heating state of the heating unit at the time of receiving a print command instructing the start of the print job, the heating unit is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. In addition, the fixing control device is characterized in that the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 upon receipt of the print command.   The fixing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a halogen heater, and the energized state of the heating unit is lighting of the halogen heater.   It has an intermediate target temperature T3 where T1 <T3 <T2, and controls the heating means so that the fixing roller temperature becomes the intermediate target temperature T3 for a predetermined time after the end of the print job. The fixing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing control device according to claim 1.   When the paper feeding is started after waiting for a preparatory operation in the image forming apparatus after the print command, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 when the preparatory operation is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the preparatory operation is a stable operation of a drive source that drives a rotary polygon mirror included in the exposure apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the preparatory operation is a process control for controlling the image forming condition by detecting a density of a reference image.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from the T1 to the T2 at a paper feeding timing from a registration unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the value of T <b> 1 can be changed in accordance with an input voltage supplied to the image forming apparatus. A fixing roller heated by a heating unit; and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. A recording medium carrying an image is passed through a fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller. In an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device for fixing an image,
The control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the start-up of the fixing device is T1 (° C.), and the control target temperature of the fixing roller during a print job in the image forming apparatus to which the fixing device is mounted is T2 (° C.). When T1 <T2,
Regardless of the heating state of the heating unit at the time of receiving a print command instructing the start of the print job, the heating unit is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. In addition, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 by receiving the print command,
When the sheet feeding is started after waiting for the stable operation of the drive source that drives the rotary polygon mirror included in the exposure apparatus after the print command, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 when the drive source is stably operated. The image forming apparatus is changed to T2. A fixing roller heated by a heating unit; and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. A recording medium carrying an image is passed through a fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller. In an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device for fixing an image,
The control target temperature of the fixing roller during standby after the start-up of the fixing device is T1 (° C.), and the control target temperature of the fixing roller during a print job in the image forming apparatus to which the fixing device is mounted is T2 (° C.). When T1 <T2,
Regardless of the heating state of the heating unit at the time of receiving a print command instructing the start of the print job, the heating unit is energized for a predetermined time immediately before the recording medium enters the fixing nip. In addition, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is changed from T1 to T2 by receiving the print command,
After starting the printing command, when the process control for detecting the density of the reference image and controlling the image forming condition is started and the paper feeding is started, the control target temperature of the fixing roller is set at the time when the process control is completed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is changed from T1 to T2.

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