JP2010078903A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device which prevents occurrence of unevenness in glossiness such that only both ends of a recording medium perpendicular to the direction of conveyance have glossiness higher than the other part when a toner image is fixed to a recording medium made of cardboard or the like, and to provide an image forming apparatus using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The fixing device includes: a pair of fixing members at least one of the which has a heating source and which are disposed so as to be turnable in a state of being brought into pressure-contact with each other; a pressure-contact member that brings the pair of fixing members into pressure-contact with each other; a recognizing means for recognizing the thickness of a member to be fixed; and a pressure-contact force switching means for, when the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognizing means is greater than regular paper, switching pressure-contact force of the pressure-contact member to be smaller than that applied to the regular paper in the process of fixing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

Japanese Patent No. 3802123 JP-A-2-282773

  Conventionally, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3802123 has already been proposed as an image forming apparatus using the fixing device.

  In the multicolor image forming method according to Japanese Patent No. 3802123, in the multicolor image forming method including a step of forming a plurality of colored toner images on a transfer body and heat-fixing the toner images, The step of using heat-fixed particles in which a colorant and 5 to 30% by volume of fine particles are dispersed and mixed in the binder resin has a plurality of means capable of controlling the glossiness. Also included is an aspect in which the means capable of controlling the glossiness is a means for changing at least one condition selected from a fixing speed, a fixing pressure, a fixing temperature, and a fixing area.

  Further, as a technique related to a fixing device that performs the heat fixing step, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-282773 has been proposed.

  A fixing device according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-282773 is a fixing device for an electrophotographic printer that includes a fixing roller having a heat source and a pressure roller that is biased by a spring and presses against the fixing roller. The apparatus has a mechanism for releasing the pressure of the pressure roller of the fixing device by the driving force of the driving motor of the apparatus main body.

  By the way, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that when fixing a toner image on a recording medium made of cardboard or the like, only the both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium have a glossiness higher than that of other parts. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of preventing the occurrence of high gloss unevenness and an image forming apparatus using the same.

In other words, the invention described in claim 1 includes a pair of fixing members at least one of which has a heating source and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member that presses the pair of fixing members together;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
And a pressing force switching unit that switches the pressing force of the pressing member smaller than that when fixing the plain paper when the thickness of the fixing member recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of the plain paper. And a fixing device.

Moreover, the invention described in claim 2 is a rotatable heating member having a heating source therein,
An endless belt-like fixing belt that rotates in contact with the heating member;
A pressure contact member that is disposed inside the fixing belt and presses the fixing belt against the heating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
And a pressing force switching unit that switches the pressing force of the pressing member smaller than that when fixing the plain paper when the thickness of the fixing member recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of the plain paper. And a fixing device.

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is a rotatable heating member having a heating source inside,
An endless belt-like fixing belt that rotates in contact with the heating member;
A pressure contact member that is disposed inside the fixing belt and presses the fixing belt against the heating member;
An urging member that urges the pressure contact member in a direction in pressure contact with the heating member;
A displacement means for displacing the pressure contact member in a direction opposite to a biasing direction of the biasing member;
Drive means for driving the displacement means;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of plain paper, the stop timing of the driving unit is made different from that at the time of fixing plain paper, and both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the member to be fixed And a pressing force switching means for switching the pressing force of the pressing member to be smaller than that at the time of fixing the plain paper so as to suppress uneven glossiness different from that at the central portion.

  The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that a unidirectional driving force transmitting means for transmitting driving force only in one direction is interposed in a part of the driving means. It is a fixing device.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the press contact force switching means switches to an intermediate press contact force that is relatively smaller than the maximum press contact force. Device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the driving unit obtains a driving force from a driving source of the apparatus main body.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 7 is configured such that the one-way driving force transmitting means transmits the driving force when the driving source of the apparatus main body is driven in a direction opposite to the normal rotation direction. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the fixing device is a fixing device.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 8, the pressure contact force switching means switches the pressure contact force of the pressure contact member by controlling the stop timing according to the position of the displacement means driven by the drive means. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing device is a fixing device.

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 9 is a toner image forming means for forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by the toner image forming means onto a fixing member;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the member to be fixed;
The fixing means is
A rotation member and an endless belt-like fixing belt, at least one of which has a heating source and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member disposed inside the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the rotating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than plain paper, the gloss unevenness is prevented from occurring at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the member to be fixed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing force switching unit that switches a pressing force of a pressing member.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of toner image forming means for forming toner images having different colors from each other;
An intermediate transfer body to which a plurality of toner images formed by the plurality of toner image forming means are transferred in a multiple manner;
Transfer means for collectively transferring a plurality of toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a fixing member;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the member to be fixed;
The fixing means is
A rotation member and an endless belt-like fixing belt, at least one of which has a heat source and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member disposed inside the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the rotating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognizing unit is thicker than plain paper, the gloss unevenness is prevented from occurring at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the member to be fixed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing force switching unit that switches a pressing force of a pressing member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent occurrence of gloss unevenness in which only the both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the fixing member in the thick paper mode have higher gloss than the other portions. be able to.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the belt pressure contact type fixing device, one of which is a fixing belt, only the other end portions in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the fixing member in the thick paper mode are the other portions. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven gloss with a higher glossiness.

  Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven glossiness with a simple configuration in which the stop timing of the driving means is different from that in the plain paper mode in the thick paper mode.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the life of the eccentric cam can be extended as compared with the case where an eccentric cam in which a plurality of stop positions are set along the outer circumferential direction is used as the displacement means. It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 5, desired gloss can be imparted to the entire image while preventing occurrence of uneven gloss.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, a driving source dedicated to the fixing device can be made unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 7, the pressure contact force can be adjusted steplessly without complicating the configuration of the apparatus.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the pressure contact force can be adjusted steplessly without complicating the configuration of the apparatus.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 9, in the thick paper mode, only the both end portions in the direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the member to be fixed generate gloss unevenness with higher gloss than the other portions. Therefore, a high-quality image can be formed.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 10, in the thick paper mode, only the both end portions in the direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the member to be fixed are caused to have uneven gloss with higher gloss than the other portions. Therefore, a high-quality color image can be formed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows a so-called tandem full-color printer as an image forming apparatus to which the fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. This full-color printer achieves extremely high productivity while avoiding an increase in the size of the apparatus, and enables printing of about 70 full-colors per minute.

  In FIG. 2, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) as toner image forming units disposed inside a tandem full-color printer main body (not shown). , Black (K) image forming units are shown, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Are arranged in series at predetermined intervals along the horizontal direction.

  These four image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are basically configured in the same manner except for the color of the image to be formed, and are roughly driven at a predetermined speed along the arrow A direction. A photosensitive drum 2 as an image carrier, a charging device 3 composed of a scorotron or a charging roll for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 2, and an image corresponding to each color on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. On the photosensitive drum 2, an image exposure device 4 that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the toner, a developing device 5 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 with a corresponding color toner, and the photosensitive drum 2. The cleaning device 6 is configured to remove residual toner.

  The photosensitive drum 2 is formed by, for example, covering the surface of a conductive cylinder with a photosensitive layer such as an organic photoconductor, and in the direction of arrow A at a rotation speed determined in advance by a driving source (not shown). It is rotationally driven along.

  In the image exposure apparatus 4, as shown in FIG. 2, a laser beam LB modulated according to image data is emitted from the semiconductor laser 7, and the laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser 7 is reflected by a mirror 8. , 9 is irradiated onto the rotary polygon mirror 10 and deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 10, and then scanned and exposed to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 through an unillustrated f-θ lens and mirrors 11 and 12. . An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K.

  The electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are, for example, two-component developing type developing devices 5Y and 5M that contain a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier. 5C and 5K are developed as toner images of respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, a one-component developing type developing device using a one-component developer made of only toner may be used.

  In this embodiment, in order to achieve high productivity (A4 LEF 70 sheets / minute fixing) in the fixing device 25 described later, a toner called “ECO toner” that enables low-temperature fixing compared to a conventional toner is used. ing. As this toner, a toner containing a crystalline resin in a binder resin is used for the purpose of low-temperature fixing. The crystalline binder resin is not particularly limited as long as it is a crystalline resin, and specific examples include crystalline polyester resins and crystalline vinyl resins. A crystalline polyester resin is preferred from the viewpoint of chargeability and adjustment of the melting point within a preferred range. An aliphatic crystalline polyester resin having an appropriate melting point is more preferable.

  Melting | fusing point of the said crystalline polyester resin is 50-120 degreeC, Preferably it is 60-110 degreeC. When the melting point is lower than 50 ° C., the storage stability of the toner and the storage stability of the toner image after fixing become a problem. On the other hand, when the temperature is higher than 120 ° C., sufficient low-temperature fixing cannot be obtained as compared with the conventional toner.

  Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner images of the respective colors are respectively transferred to primary transfer rolls 14Y, 14M, and 14C on an intermediate transfer belt 13 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. , 14K and transferred in a superimposed state. The intermediate transfer belt 13 is hung with a predetermined tension between a drive roll 15, a tension roll 16, a steering roll 17, a backup roll 19 in contact with the power supply roll 18, and an idler roll 20. Rotated by a drive roll 15 that is rotated by a dedicated drive motor with excellent constant speed (not shown), a predetermined value substantially equal to the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K is set along the arrow B direction. It is designed to circulate at a speed.

The intermediate transfer belt 13 is composed of a film-like endless belt in which an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black is contained in a resin such as polyimide or polyamide. Then, the volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer belt 13, for example, 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁴ is set such that [Omega] cm, a thickness, for example, is formed to approximately 0.1 mm.

The primary transfer unit 21 includes a primary transfer roll 14 that is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 2 with the intermediate transfer belt 13 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roll 14 has a shaft and a sponge layer as an elastic layer coated around the shaft. The shaft is a cylindrical bar made of a metal such as iron or stainless steel. The sponge layer is a sponge-like cylindrical roll made of a blend rubber of NBR, SBR, and EPDM blended with a conductive agent such as carbon black and having a volume resistivity of, for example, 10 ^7.5 to 10 ^8.5 Ωcm.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred in multiple onto the intermediate transfer belt 13 are pressed against the backup roll 19 via the intermediate transfer belt 13. The recording sheet P, which is secondarily transferred onto the recording sheet P as a recording medium by the pressing force and electrostatic force by the secondary transfer roll 22 to which the toner images of these colors are transferred, is transported by the transport belt 23 and the transport guide 24. Is conveyed to the fixing device 25. The recording paper P on which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 25, and then a discharge tray (not shown) provided outside the printer body by a discharge roll (not shown). ) Discharged on top.

The secondary transfer unit 26 includes a secondary transfer roll 22 disposed on the toner image carrying surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 13 and a backup roll 19. The backup roll 19 is composed of, for example, a tube of EPDM and NBR blend rubber with carbon dispersed on the surface and EPDM rubber inside. The backup roll 19 is formed so that its surface resistivity is 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □, and the hardness is set to 70 ° (Asker C hardness), for example.

The secondary transfer roll 22 includes a shaft and a sponge layer as an elastic layer coated around the shaft. The shaft is a cylindrical bar made of a metal such as iron or stainless steel. The sponge layer is a sponge-like cylindrical roll formed of a blend rubber of NBR, SBR, and EPDM blended with a conductive agent such as carbon black and having a volume resistivity of 10 ^7.5 to 10 ^8.5 Ωcm.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper (recording medium) P serving as the member to be fixed is of a desired size or material from a paper feed tray 27 disposed inside the printer body. The paper is conveyed to a registration roll 31 through a paper conveyance path 30 including a pair of paper conveyance rollers 29, and is conveyed by the registration roll 31 to a secondary transfer position 26 of the intermediate transfer belt 13 through a conveyance guide 32. .

  As the recording paper P, for example, plain paper is used, but in addition to plain paper, thick paper such as coated paper can also be used. When using thick paper as the recording paper P, the user of the printer The interface specifies the cardboard mode instead of the plain paper mode.

Here, the thick paper refers to a paper having a basis weight indicating a weight (g) per unit area (m ² ) exceeding 105 gsm in an environment of a temperature of 22 degrees and a humidity of 55% RH. Note that the paper having a basis weight of 105 gsm or less is plain paper. In the thick paper mode, the full-color printer includes a recognition unit for recognizing the thickness of the recording medium P. For example, the recognition unit is provided in a user interface, a printer driver, or the paper feed tray 27. And a recognition means for recognizing the type of the recording medium. Examples of the thick paper mode include a first thick paper mode in which the basis weight of the recording paper P is greater than 105 gsm to 128 gsm, a second thick paper mode greater than 128 gsm to 150 gsm, and a third thick paper mode of greater than 150 gsm to 176 gsm. A thick paper mode, a fourth thick paper mode of more than 176 gsm to 220 gsm or less, a fifth thick paper mode of more than 220 gsm to 256 gsm or less, and a sixth thick paper mode of more than 256 gsm to 300 gsm or less. Needless to say, the cardboard mode is not limited to these divisions and the number of modes.

  The transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 13 is removed by a belt cleaning device 33 disposed at a position facing the idler roll 20.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 34 denotes a reference sensor for detecting the reference position of the intermediate transfer belt 13, and reference numeral 35 denotes a pattern detection sensor for detecting a pattern for registration registration formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13. .

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the fixing device 25 used in the full-color printer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 25 according to this embodiment includes a heating roll 42 as a heating member (rotating member) having a heating source 41 inside, and an endless belt-like pressure member (rotating member). ) As a fixing belt 43, a pressure contact member 44 that is disposed inside the fixing belt 43 and presses the fixing belt 43 against the surface of the heating roll 42, and an oil that supplies oil to the inner surface of the fixing belt 43. It is comprised so that the felt member 45 as a supply member may be provided. The heating roll 42 and the fixing belt 43 that are in pressure contact with each other may be provided with a heating source on the fixing belt side. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 46 denotes an exit roll of the fixing device 25.

  The heating roll 42 includes a thin cylindrical cored bar 421 made of iron, stainless steel, aluminum or the like, an elastic layer 422 made of silicon rubber or the like coated on the surface of the cored bar 421, and the elastic It is composed of a release layer 423 having a thickness of about 30 μm made of PFA or the like coated on the surface of the layer 422. A 1200 W halogen lamp 41 is disposed inside the heating roll 42 as a heating source. Further, a temperature sensor 47 is disposed on the surface of the heating roll 41 so as to be in contact (non-sheet passing portion) or non-contact (sheet passing portion). 2 and the energization of the halogen lamp 41 is controlled by the control unit 100 shown in FIG. 2, so that the surface temperature of the heating roll 42 is set to a predetermined temperature (for example, about 175 ° C.). Yes.

  The fixing belt 43 is formed of an endless belt having a thickness of about 75 μm by a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide-imide resin, and a release layer made of PFA or the like is provided on the surface as needed. Provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing belt 43 is rotatably held by belt guide members 48 disposed at both ends in the width direction. The belt guide member 48 is integrally assembled to both end portions of the pressure contact member 44.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure contact member 44 includes belt housings 49 and 50 made of synthetic resin, and a metal belt frame 51 having a rectangular cross section mounted in a state of being fitted to the belt housings 49 and 50. The nip head member 52 for pressing the fixing belt 43 against the heating roll 42 and the pad member 53 attached to the nip head member 52 are mainly configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the belt guide member 48 includes a cylindrical portion 481 having a C-shaped cross section in which upper end portions inserted into both end portions of the fixing belt 43 are notched flat, and An attachment portion 482 provided on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion 481 for attaching the belt guide member 48 to an urging means described later, and two flange portions provided between the cylindrical portion 481 and the attachment portion 482 483 and 484.

  The felt member 45 as the oil supply member is made of, for example, Nomex (trade name), and the felt member 45 is impregnated with oil made of amino Si oil or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the felt member 45 is attached to the back side of the belt frame 50 in a state of being fixed by means such as adhesion.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressure contact member 44 is attached to the arm member 53 via a belt guide member 48, and the base end portion of the arm member 53 rotates around a fulcrum 53b. While being supported movably, the tip end portion thereof is urged so as to press the pressure contact member 44 against the heating roll 42 by a compression spring 54 as urging means. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 55 denotes a synthetic resin film-like sheet member interposed between the fixing belt 43 and the pressure contact member 44. The sheet member 55 is composed of the fixing belt 43, the pressure contact member 44, and the pressure contact member 44. The frictional force between the two is reduced.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 56 denotes a peeling auxiliary member that assists in peeling the recording paper P from the heating roll 42, and the peeling auxiliary member 56 has a direction in which the peeling baffle 57 faces the rotation direction of the heating roll 42 ( It is held by the baffle holder 58 in the state of being close to the heating roll 42 in the counter direction).

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing the nip portion N of the pressure member of the fixing device 25.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pressure contact member 44 includes synthetic resin belt housings 49 and 50, which are upstream of the nip portion N along the belt rotation direction. An upstream belt housing 49 disposed on the side and a downstream belt housing 50 disposed on the downstream side of the nip portion N along the belt rotation direction. The upstream belt housing 49 is disposed over substantially a quarter of the inner periphery of the fixing belt 43, and the outer peripheral surface of the upstream belt housing 49 is the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43. It is configured to form a part of the cylindrical shape along. In addition, the downstream belt housing 50 is disposed over approximately ½ of the inner periphery of the fixing belt 43, and the outer peripheral surface of the downstream belt housing 50 is the inner periphery of the fixing belt 43. One side surface and a lower end surface of the cylindrical shape along the surface are formed.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the upstream belt housing 49 is formed with recesses 491 for mounting the nip head member 52 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Is engaged with a convex portion 521 projecting from the side surface of the nip head member 52. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the nip head member 52 is also biased toward the heating roll 42 by a coil spring 522 accommodated in the accommodation hole 492 of the upstream belt housing 49. Further, at both ends of the upstream belt housing 49 along the longitudinal direction, coupling portions 493 for coupling the belt guide member 48 are provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a shaft portion 523 for supporting the coil spring 522 is provided on the lower surface of the nip head member 52 so as to protrude downward.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the fixing device 25 is rotationally driven by a driving motor M provided exclusively for the fixing device or a driving motor M on the image forming apparatus main body side that drives a full-color printer as a driving source. In this embodiment, the fixing device 25 is driven by a drive motor M on the image forming apparatus main body side. The rotational driving force of the driving motor M is transmitted to a driving gear 60 fixed to one end portion of the heating roll 42 along the axial direction, and the heating roll 42 is rotationally driven at a predetermined rotational speed.

  The driving gear 60 is connected to a driving force transmission unit 70 composed of a plurality of gears, and the rotational driving force transmitted to the driving force transmission unit 70 is transmitted through a shaft 61 to which an outlet roll 46 is attached. And transmitted to the cam mechanism 80 provided at the other end along the axial direction of the heating roll 42. The shaft 61 is disposed in parallel with the rotation axis of the heating roll 42 on the outlet side of the nip portion N of the fixing roll 42.

  The driving force transmission unit 70 includes a first transmission gear 701 that meshes with the drive gear 60, and a third transmission gear 703 that meshes with the first transmission gear 701 via the second transmission gear 702. Yes. The third transmission gear 703 is attached in a state of being fixed to one end portion of the shaft 61.

  Further, the cam mechanism 80 includes a fourth transmission gear 801 attached to the other end of the shaft 61 as shown in FIG. The fourth transmission gear 801 does not transmit driving when the fixing roll 42 or the exit roll shaft 61 rotates in the sheet conveying direction, and transmits driving when rotated in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction (not shown). A one-way clutch is built in, and the motor is rotated in the reverse direction before and after the printing operation to apply or release the pressure contact force of the fixing device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the fourth transmission gear 801 includes an intermediate gear 802a having a relatively large diameter and an intermediate gear having a relatively small diameter that is coaxially fixed to the intermediate gear 802a. Of the first reduction gear 802 composed of 802b, an intermediate gear 802b having a relatively large diameter is engaged. Further, the intermediate gear 802b of the first reduction gear 802 includes an intermediate gear 803a having a relatively large diameter, and an intermediate gear 803b having a relatively small diameter fixed coaxially to the intermediate gear 803a. Among the second reduction gears 803, an intermediate gear 803a having a relatively large diameter is engaged, and a fifth transmission gear is connected to the intermediate gear 803b having a relatively small diameter. 804 is engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fifth transmission gear 804 is attached in a state of being fixed to the end portion of the short shaft 805, and the sixth transmission gear 806 is attached to the other end portion of the shaft 805. The sixth transmission gear 806 meshes with a seventh transmission gear 808 attached to the end of the shaft 807. As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 807 is disposed in parallel with the rotation axis of the heating roll 42 in the vicinity of the exit of the nip portion N of the heating roll 42.

  As shown in FIG. 9, eccentric cams 809 and 810 are attached to the shaft 807 at positions corresponding to both ends along the axial direction of the heating roll 42. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a light shielding plate 812 of an encoder 811 is attached to the end portion of the shaft 807 as detection means for detecting the rotational positions of the eccentric cams 809 and 810. The encoder 811 The rotation position of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 is detected by detecting the slit portion 813 cut out in the fan shape of the light shielding plate 812 by the optical sensor 814.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the eccentric cams 809 and 810 of the cam mechanism portion 80 are in contact with a disc-shaped cam follower 53 a that is rotatably attached to the distal end portion of the arm member 53. By rotating the cams 809 and 810, the tip of the arm member 53 is moved in the vertical direction via the cam follower 53a, and the fixing belt 43 is pressed against the heating roll 42, or the heating roll of the fixing belt 43 is heated. The pressure contact state with respect to 42 is released.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the arm member 53 is normally urged upward by a compression spring 54 as urging means mounted below the tip 531 thereof, and the fixing belt 43 is heated by a heating roll. 42 is in pressure contact. Further, when the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are rotationally driven, the arm member 53 pushes down the distal end portion 531 of the arm member 53 via the cam follower 53 a by the eccentric cams 809 and 810, and the fixing belt 53. The pressure contact state with respect to the heating roll 52 is released.

  The eccentric cams 809 and 810 are formed in the same shape, and as shown in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral surface thereof is formed in a substantially elliptical shape, and the shaft 807 is fixed to one end side of the eccentricity. It is attached in the state. As shown in FIG. 1, the eccentric cams 809 and 810 need to push down the arm member 53 against the urging force of the compression spring 54, and are members to which a relatively large rotational torque acts.

  In addition, the eccentric cams 809 and 810 have a partially arc-shaped neutral position on the outer periphery so that the outer peripheral shape of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 can be adjusted in multiple stages without the elliptical shape of the outer peripheral shape. It is also possible to set a plurality of. However, when configured in this way, it is necessary to form a plurality of arc-shaped neutral positions and a plurality of curved portions connecting these neutral positions on the outer periphery of the eccentric cams 809 and 810. Since it is necessary to set the radius of curvature of the part small, there is a possibility that the load acting as a reaction force of the rotational torque on the eccentric cams 809 and 810 may be excessive, and the life of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 is reduced. There is a fear.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of setting a plurality of arc-shaped neutral positions on the outer circumferences of the eccentric cams 809 and 810, one-way driving force transmission that transmits driving force only in one direction to a part of the driving means. It is comprised so that a means may be interposed.

  As described above, this one-way driving force transmission means is required when the fixing device 25 is driven by the driving motor M on the image forming apparatus main body side. In addition, the elliptical eccentric cams 809 and 810 can also be used to adjust the pressure contact force steplessly.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a one-way clutch 90 is mounted on the second reduction gear 803, and the second reduction gear 803 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the one-way clutch 90. The driving force is transmitted to the transmission gear 804, and the rotation in the direction opposite to the arrow is configured to lock the reduction gear 803 to its fixed shaft. Note that the fixed shaft of the reduction gear 803 is provided in a state of being fixed to the frame.

  With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotational driving force in the positive direction by the driving motor M is transmitted to the shaft 61 and the roller 46 via the driving gear 60 and the driving force transmitting unit 70. Since the one-way clutch is built in the gear 801, the rotational driving force in the forward direction of the driving motor M is not transmitted downstream from the shaft 61.

  Accordingly, in the normal image forming process, the heating roll 42 and the exit roll 46 are driven to rotate, but the eccentric cams 809 and 810 provided downstream of the fifth transmission gear remain stopped. Yes.

  Next, when the driving motor M is rotationally driven in the reverse direction before the start of the printing operation, the rotational driving force of the driving motor M is transmitted to the shaft 61 via the driving gear 60 and the driving force transmitting unit 70. The one-way clutch built in the gear 801 is connected to the shaft 61, and the gear 803 in FIG. At this time, since the one-way clutch 90 built in the gear 803 is attached to the fixed shaft so as to be rotatable, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the fifth transmission gear 804, and the fifth transmission is transmitted. The shaft 807 to which the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are attached is rotationally driven via the gear 804, the sixth transmission gear 806, and the seventh transmission gear 807. As a result, when the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are stopped in the state shown in FIG. 6, the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are separated from the lower end portions of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 by the compression spring 54. A pressure contact force against the heating roll 42 is applied.

  The rotation angles of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are controlled by an encoder 811 provided at an end portion along the axial direction of the shaft 807, as shown in FIG. In the encoder 811, when the light shielding plate 812 rotates with the rotation of the shaft 807 and one end of the slit 813 provided in the light shielding plate 812 passes through the optical sensor 814, a pulse signal is sent to the control unit 100.

  When the control unit 100 detects that one end of the slit 813 of the light shielding plate 812 has passed through the optical sensor 814, the control unit 100 starts measuring time, and when the measurement time becomes equal to a predetermined value, The drive motor M is stopped.

  When the drive motor M is stopped between the uppermost point and the lowermost point of the cam in FIG. 10, the rotational driving force toward the fifth transmission gear 804 via the second reduction gear of the cam mechanism 80 is cut off. An upward biasing force acts on the eccentric cams 809 and 810 via a cam follower 53a provided at the tip of the arm member 53 by the restoring force of the compression spring 54. Then, a rotational driving force along the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 acts on the eccentric cams 809 and 810, and a rotational driving force along the clockwise direction acting on the eccentric cams 809 and 810 is 7, the sixth transmission gear 806, and the fifth transmission gear 805 are transmitted to the second reduction gear 803 as a rotational driving force in the direction opposite to the driving direction.

  However, the intermediate gear 803b of the second reduction gear 803 is provided with a one-way clutch 90 as shown in FIG. 1, and the reverse rotational driving force acting on the second reduction gear 803 is as follows. The one-way clutch 90 acts in the locking direction to the fixed shaft. Therefore, the rotational driving force acting on the second reduction gear can prevent the reverse rotation of the cam by fixing the gear 803 in the reverse rotation direction via the one-way clutch 90.

  As a result, the eccentric cams 809 and 810 maintain a stopped state that is a rotational position when the drive motor M stops.

  The eccentric cams 809 and 810 maintain the stopped state when the drive motor M that rotationally drives the eccentric cams 809 and 810 in the forward direction is stopped.

  Therefore, when the drive motor M is stopped at a desired timing, the arm member 53 can be stopped at a desired rotation position via the eccentric cams 809 and 810, and the fixing belt 43 is pressed against the heating roll 42. Can be controlled steplessly.

  In the above configuration, in the full-color printer using the fixing device according to the present embodiment, the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium when fixing the toner image on the recording medium made of cardboard or the like as follows. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of gloss unevenness having a glossiness higher than that of the other portions only at both end portions.

  That is, in the full-color printer using the fixing device 25 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper P is fed from the paper feed tray 27, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan ( C) After the toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the respective colors of black (K) are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 13, they are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 13. The toner images of each color such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), etc., transferred in a multiple manner are collectively transferred onto the recording paper P by the secondary transfer roll 22.

  The recording paper P on which the toner images of each color such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are transferred is transferred to the fixing device 25 by the conveying belt 23 as shown in FIG. And is fixed by the fixing device 25.

  In the fixing device 25, prior to the start of the printing operation, the controller 100 drives the drive motor M on the printer body side in the direction opposite to the normal image forming direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the rotational driving force in the reverse direction of the driving motor M is transmitted to the cam mechanism portion 80 via the driving gear 60 and the driving force transmitting portion 70 provided at the end of the heating roll 42. The eccentric cams 809 and 810 are driven to rotate.

  At this time, the control unit 100 determines the type of the recording paper P, that is, the recording paper P is a plain paper (plain paper mode) or a thick paper (based on a signal from a recording paper designation button input from a user interface (not shown). Thick paper mode) or thick paper, the first to fifth thick paper modes are determined according to the type (basis weight) of the thick paper, and the drive motor M is moved in the reverse direction according to the thick paper mode. Control for switching the timing for stopping the rotation drive is executed.

  The timing for stopping the rotation of the drive motor M in the reverse direction in accordance with the cardboard mode changes from the first cardboard mode to the fifth cardboard mode, and the arm member 53 by the eccentric cams 809 and 810 is changed. Is set so that the amount of pressing down increases, that is, the pressure contact force decreases.

  In the belt pressure contact type fixing device 25, in order to ensure productivity during fixing, the pressure contact force between the heating roll 42 and the fixing belt 43 is set to be relatively high, and the fixing belt 43 is disposed therein. The pressed pressure contact member 44 is pressed against the heating roll 42, and the rigidity of the pressure contact member 44 is relatively high. When the heating roll 42 and the fixing belt 43 are pressed with the maximum pressure contact force for plain paper, as shown in FIG. In addition, the pressure contact force on both ends along the axial direction of the heating roll 42 tends to be excessive.

  Therefore, according to the study by the present inventors, in the fixing device 25, when a full-color toner image is fixed on the entire surface of the recording paper P made of thick paper such as coated paper, for example, as shown in FIG. It has been found that there is a possibility that gloss unevenness in which only the both ends in the direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording paper P have a glossiness higher than that of the other central portion over the width of about 20 mm from the end may occur. .

  The gloss unevenness generated on the recording paper P is determined by the inventors using A4LEF size OS coated paper (basis weight 157 gsm) as a thick paper, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black. A solid toner image of each color of (K) is superimposed and formed, fixed using the fixing device shown in FIG. 3, and at an incident angle of 60 ° using a gloss meter micro-TRI-gloss manufactured by BYK-Gardner. When measured, the glossiness at the center is 30-40, while the glossiness at both ends is increased to over 50, and the boundary between both ends and the center can be clearly recognized visually. It was found that the change in glossiness is easy to visually recognize.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the uneven glossiness generated on the recording paper P follows the end of the cut recording paper P even when the recording paper P with the rear end cut obliquely is run. It was found that it occurred.

  Therefore, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 100 switches the timing for stopping the rotational driving of the drive motor M in the reverse direction according to the thick paper mode, and this stop timing is the first timing. The amount of pressing of the arm member 53 by the eccentric cams 809 and 810 is increased, that is, the pressure contact force is reduced as the mode is changed from the thick paper mode to the fifth thick paper mode.

  Therefore, in the fixing device 25, when the toner image is fixed on the recording paper P made of thick paper, only the both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper P have a glossiness higher than that of the other portions. Of course, the occurrence of unevenness can be prevented, and sufficient gloss can be imparted to a full color image on the recording paper P, so that a high quality image can be obtained.

Experimental Example Next, the present inventors made a prototype of a full-color printer (DouCentre-II C7500 manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) as shown in FIG. 2, and installed various fixing devices as shown in FIG. An experiment was conducted in which a color image was formed on cardboard, and the glossiness of the color image was confirmed visually.

  The condition of this experiment is that, as an image pattern formed on the recording paper P, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) images are solid images, and the total of the four colors. As the recording paper P, a plurality of types of thick paper having different basis weights are used as the recording paper P, and the difference between the gloss at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper P and the gloss at the center is visually observed. Was confirmed and graded. In addition, if it is grade 3 or less, there is no problem because the difference in gloss is not noticed visually.

  Further, the stop positions of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 were switched according to the elapsed time (delay time) after the end of the slit of the encoder 811 was detected.

  14 to 16 are tables showing the results of the above experimental example.

  As apparent from FIGS. 14 and 15, as the basis weight of the recording paper P increases, the stop positions of the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are delayed, and the pressure contact force of the fixing roll 43 against the heating roll 42 is reduced. It can be seen that the uneven glossiness at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper P can be suppressed and can be made almost inconspicuous.

  FIG. 16 is a chart showing the relationship between the delay time until the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are stopped and the distance L from the reference position to the tip of the arm member 53.

  From FIG. 16, by changing the delay time until the eccentric cams 809 and 810 are stopped, the distance L from the reference position to the tip of the arm member 53, that is, the pressure contact force is linearly along a substantially straight line. It can be seen that it can be controlled.

  The present invention can be widely used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile employing an electrophotographic system, and a fixing device used in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a main part of a fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a so-called tandem full-color printer as an image forming apparatus to which the fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing the fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 4 is a block diagram showing one end of the fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective configuration diagram showing the pressure contact member. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a fixing belt pressing mechanism. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing in detail the pressure contact member of the fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the upstream belt guide member and the nip member. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the fixing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the eccentric cam. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the pressure contact force. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing uneven gloss. FIG. 13 is a chart showing results of experimental examples. FIG. 14 is a chart showing results of experimental examples. FIG. 15 is a chart showing the results of the experimental example. FIG. 16 is a chart showing results of experimental examples.

Explanation of symbols

  25: fixing device, 42: heating roll, 43: fixing belt, 44: pressure contact member, 53: arm member, 54: compression spring, 80: cam mechanism, 809, 810: eccentric cam, 90: one-way clutch, M :Drive motor.

Claims (10)

A pair of fixing members, at least one of which has a heat source, and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member that presses the pair of fixing members together;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
And a pressing force switching unit that switches the pressing force of the pressing member smaller than that when fixing the plain paper when the thickness of the fixing member recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of the plain paper. A fixing device. A rotatable heating member having a heating source therein;
An endless belt-like fixing belt that rotates in contact with the heating member;
A pressure contact member that is disposed inside the fixing belt and presses the fixing belt against the heating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
And a pressing force switching unit that switches the pressing force of the pressing member smaller than that when fixing the plain paper when the thickness of the fixing member recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of the plain paper. A fixing device. A rotatable heating member having a heating source therein;
An endless belt-like fixing belt that rotates in contact with the heating member;
A pressure contact member that is disposed inside the fixing belt and presses the fixing belt against the heating member;
An urging member that urges the pressure contact member in a direction in pressure contact with the heating member;
A displacement means for displacing the pressure contact member in a direction opposite to a biasing direction of the biasing member;
Drive means for driving the displacement means;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than that of plain paper, the stop timing of the driving unit is made different from that at the time of fixing plain paper, and both ends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the member to be fixed A fixing device, comprising: a pressing force switching unit that switches the pressing force of the pressing member to be smaller than that at the time of fixing the plain paper so that uneven glossiness different from that at the center portion is suppressed. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein a unidirectional driving force transmission unit that transmits a driving force in only one direction is interposed in a part of the driving unit. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force switching unit switches to an intermediate pressing force that is relatively smaller than a maximum pressing force. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the driving unit obtains a driving force from a driving source of the apparatus main body. 7. The unidirectional driving force transmission means is configured to transmit a driving force when a driving source of the apparatus main body is driven in a direction opposite to a normal rotation direction. A fixing device according to claim 1. The pressure contact force switching means switches the pressure contact force of the pressure contact member by controlling a stop timing according to a position of a displacement means driven by the drive means. The fixing device according to 1. Toner image forming means for forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by the toner image forming means onto a fixing member;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the member to be fixed;
The fixing means is
A rotation member and an endless belt-like fixing belt, at least one of which has a heating source and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member disposed inside the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the rotating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than plain paper, the gloss unevenness is prevented from occurring at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the member to be fixed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing force switching unit that switches a pressing force of the pressing member. A plurality of toner image forming means for forming toner images of different colors;
An intermediate transfer body to which a plurality of toner images formed by the plurality of toner image forming means are transferred in a multiple manner;
A transfer unit that collectively transfers a plurality of toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a fixing member; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred onto the fixing member;
The fixing means is
A rotation member and an endless belt-like fixing belt, at least one of which has a heating source and is rotatably arranged in a state of being pressed against each other;
A pressure contact member disposed inside the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the rotating member;
Recognition means for recognizing the thickness of the fixing member;
When the thickness of the member to be fixed recognized by the recognition unit is thicker than plain paper, the gloss unevenness is prevented from occurring at both ends in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the member to be fixed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing force switching unit that switches a pressing force of the pressing member.

Images