JP2011123140A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide such a configuration that wiring, for supplying power to a heating member arranged inside each of a plurality of roll members on which a belt member is stretched, does not disturb the attachment and detachment of the belt member to and from the roll members. <P>SOLUTION: A fixing device includes: a harness whose starting end is connected to a connector for relay connection, and which is wired along the respective axial directions of a fixing roll and an internal heating roll, and whose terminal is connected to one electrode of a halogen heater; a harness whose starting end is connected to a connector for relay connection and terminal is connected to the other electrode of the halogen heater; a connector module 171 and an assembly connector 173, to which the connectors for relay connection connected to the respective harnesses are connected all together and which are for relaying between the harnesses and a power supply part; and a wiring 174 and a holding member 175, which restrict the movements of the connector module 171 and the assembly connector 173 within a previously set area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a fixing device for fixing a toner image using a belt member (fixing belt) stretched by a plurality of roll members each having a heating member such as a heater. It has been known.
For example, Patent Document 1 includes a fixing belt stretched between a fixing roller and a heating roller, and a pressure roller that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt and forms a nip with the fixing belt. A fixing member having a shape with a large curvature at the exit separation surface is provided inside the fixing belt at a position corresponding to the exit separation portion of the nip formed by the fixing roller and the pressure roller via the belt. A fixing device is described.

No. 2003-5565

  An object of the present invention is to realize a configuration in which a wiring for supplying electric power to a heating member disposed inside each of a plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member does not hinder the attachment / detachment of the belt member from the roll member. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a belt member that fixes toner onto a recording material while circulating and moving, a plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member, and a plurality of roll members that are disposed inside the plurality of roll members, A heating member that heats the belt member via the member, and a first relay member connected to the start end, wired along the axial direction of each of the roll members where the heating member is disposed, and the heating member at the end A first electric wire to which one of the electrodes is connected, a second electric wire to which the second relay member is connected to the start end, the other electrode of the heating member is connected to the end, and a plurality of the roll members The first relay member and the second relay member connected to each of the first electric wire and the second electric wire connected to the heating member are collectively connected, and the first electric wire and The second electric wire and the additional A set relay means for relaying between a power supply portion supplying power to the member, a fixing device for, characterized in that a limiting means for limiting in the defined movement of the set relay means advance region.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the first electric wire is wired in a path that passes through a region surrounded by the belt member and reaches one electrode of the heating member. The fixing device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the limiting means is disposed on an annular linear member attached to the collective relay means and a support that rotatably supports the roll member, and the linear member is The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device includes a sandwiching member that is sandwiched.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the restricting means, the linear member can be sandwiched by the sandwiching member by removing the collective relay means from the support. The fixing device described.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit onto a recording material, and a toner image that is transferred onto the recording material. A fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the recording material, and the fixing unit includes a belt member that fixes the toner image to the recording material while being circulated, and a plurality of belt members that stretch the belt member. A roll member, a heating member arranged inside the plurality of roll members, heating the belt member via the roll member, a first relay member connected to a start end, and the heating member arranged A first electric wire wired along the axial direction of each of the roll members and having one electrode of the heating member connected to the terminal end, a second relay member connected to the starting end, and the other end of the heating member to the terminal end Electrode connected A second electric wire, the first electric wire connected to the heating member in the plurality of roll members, and the first relay member and the second relay connected to each of the second electric wires. Collective relay means for connecting the members together and relaying between the first electric wire and the second electric wire and a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the heating member, and the movement of the collective relay means are predetermined. The image forming apparatus is provided with a restricting means for restricting the area.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the first electric wire of the fixing unit is wired in a path that passes through a region surrounded by the belt member and reaches one electrode of the heating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the restricting means of the fixing means is disposed on an annular linear member attached to the collective relay means and a support that rotatably supports the roll member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a sandwiching member that sandwiches the linear member.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the wiring for supplying electric power to the heating member disposed inside each of the plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member realizes a configuration that does not hinder the attachment / detachment of the belt member from the roll member. can do.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the roll member, the belt member, and the wiring for supplying power can be combined into one unit and configured as a single unit that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the movement of the collective relay means can be limited within the inner region of the belt member stretched around the roll member, and the belt member can be easily attached and detached from the roll member.
According to invention of Claim 4, it can suppress that a linear member inhibits the wiring space of the electric wire couple | bonded with an assembly relay means.

According to the invention of claim 5, the wiring for supplying electric power to the heating member disposed inside each of the plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member realizes a configuration that does not hinder the attachment / detachment of the belt member from the roll member. can do.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the roll member, the belt member, and the wiring for supplying power can be combined into one unit and configured as a single unit that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the movement of the collective relay means can be restricted within the inner region of the belt member stretched around the roll member, and the belt member can be easily attached and detached from the roll member.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus to which a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram for describing a configuration of a fixing unit. It is a figure which shows the electric power feeding path | route with respect to the four halogen heaters arrange | positioned inside the internal heating roll in an image forming apparatus back side. It is a figure explaining the wiring for electric power feeding from the inside of an electric power feeding box to the connector for relay connection. It is a figure explaining the wiring for electric power feeding from the inside of an electric power feeding box to the connector for relay connection. It is a figure explaining the wiring for electric power feeding from the inside of an electric power feeding box to the connector for relay connection. It is a figure which shows the electric power feeding path | route with respect to the four halogen heaters arrange | positioned inside the internal heating roll in the image formation apparatus near side. FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram between a power supply unit of the image forming apparatus, three halogen heaters of a fixing roll, and four halogen heaters of an internal heating roll. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating wiring between a power supply unit and a fixing belt module arranged on the image forming apparatus main body side. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the wiring is sandwiched between sandwiching members arranged on the side surface of the support of the fixing belt module. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state when the fixing belt is replaced.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Description of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus 1 to which a fixing device (fixing unit) 60 according to the present embodiment is applied. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called “tandem type” color printer, and controls an image forming unit 10 that forms an image based on image data, operation control of the entire image forming apparatus 1, for example, a personal computer (PC). A main control unit 50 that performs communication with the user, image processing performed on image data, and the like, and a user interface (UI) unit 90 that receives operation input from the user and displays various information to the user. ing.

<Description of Image Forming Unit>
The image forming unit 10 is a functional unit that forms an image by, for example, electrophotography, and includes six image forming units 11C, 11M, 11HC, 11HM, 11Y as an example of toner image forming units arranged in parallel. 11K (hereinafter “image forming unit 11”). Each image forming unit 11 functions as a functional member, for example, a photosensitive drum 12 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and then each color toner image is formed, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is charged with a predetermined potential. A charger 13 that exposes the photosensitive drum 12 charged by the charger 13 based on image data, and development that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 with toner of each color. And a cleaner 16 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 after transfer.
Each developing unit 15 of each image forming unit 11 is connected to toner containers 17C, 17M, 17HC, 17HM, 17Y, and 17K (hereinafter referred to as “toner containers 17”) for storing toners of respective colors by toner transport paths (not shown). ing. Each color toner is supplied from the toner container 17 to the developing device 15 by a supply screw (not shown) provided in the toner conveyance path.

  Each of the image forming units 11 is configured in substantially the same manner except for the toner accommodated in the developing device 15, and each of them is C (cyan) color, M (magenta) color, HC (high chroma cyan) color, and HM (high chroma magenta). Color, Y (yellow), and K (black) toner images are formed. The HC color here is a cyan color having a cyan hue, a hue that is brighter and higher in saturation than the C color, and the HM color has a magenta hue, and M color. It is a magenta color with a brighter color tone and a relatively high saturation.

The image forming unit 10 intermediates the intermediate transfer belt 20 to which the respective color toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 12 of the respective image forming units 11 are transferred and the respective color toner images formed by the respective image forming units 11. A primary transfer roll 21 for transferring (primary transfer) to the transfer belt 20. Furthermore, a secondary transfer roll 22 that batch-transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto a sheet that is a recording material (recording paper), and each color toner that has been secondarily transferred. And a fixing unit 60 as an example of a fixing unit (fixing device) for fixing the image on the sheet.
In addition, the image forming unit 10 cools each color toner image fixed on the sheet by the fixing unit 60 and promotes fixing of the color toner image on the sheet, and the sheet is bent (curled). And a curl correction unit 85 for correcting the above.
In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 20, the primary transfer roll 21, and the secondary transfer roll 22 constitute a transfer unit. Further, an area where the secondary transfer roll 22 is disposed and each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is secondarily transferred to a sheet is hereinafter referred to as a “secondary transfer area Tr”.

<Description of paper transport system>
In addition, the image forming unit 10 feeds out a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) sheet storage containers 40A and 40B that store sheets and a sheet stored in the sheet storage containers 40A and 40B as a sheet transport system. Feeding rolls 41A and 41B, a first transport path R1 for transporting paper from the paper container 40A, and a second transport path R2 for transporting paper from the paper container 40B. Further, the image forming unit 10 includes a third transport path R3 that transports the paper from the paper storage container 40A and the paper storage container 40B toward the secondary transfer region Tr. In addition, the image forming unit 10 conveys the sheet on which the toner image of each color is transferred in the secondary transfer region Tr so as to pass through the fixing unit 60, the cooling unit 80, and the curl correcting unit 85. And a fifth transport path R5 for transporting the sheet from the curl correction unit 85 toward the sheet stacking section 44 provided in the discharge section of the image forming apparatus 1.
From the first conveyance path R1 to the fifth conveyance path R5, conveyance rolls and conveyance belts are arranged along the respective conveyance paths to sequentially convey the fed sheets.

<Description of double-sided conveyance system>
In addition, the image forming unit 10 serves as a double-sided conveyance system in which an intermediate paper storage container 42 that temporarily holds the paper on which the toner images of each color are fixed on the first surface by the fixing unit 60 and the paper from the curl correction unit 85 as intermediate paper. A sixth transport path R6 for transporting toward the storage container 42 and a seventh transport path R7 for transporting the paper stored in the intermediate paper storage container 42 toward the third transport path R3 are provided. Further, the image forming unit 10 is disposed on the downstream side of the curl correction unit 85 in the sheet conveyance direction, and conveys the sheet toward the sheet stacking unit 44 and a sixth conveyance path R5 that conveys the sheet to the intermediate sheet storage container 42. A distribution mechanism unit 43 that selectively distributes the sheet to the path R6 and a feeding roll 45 that feeds the sheet stored in the intermediate sheet storage container 42 toward the seventh transport path R7 are provided.

<Description of image forming operation>
Next, a basic image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
Each of the image forming units 11 of the image forming unit 10 forms toner images of C color, M color, HC color, HM color, Y color, and K color by an electrophotographic process using the above functional members. Each color toner image formed by each image forming unit 11 is primary-transferred sequentially on the intermediate transfer belt 20 by the primary transfer roll 21 to form a composite toner image in which the respective color toners are superimposed. The synthetic toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is conveyed to the secondary transfer region Tr in which the secondary transfer roll 22 is disposed as the intermediate transfer belt 20 moves (in the direction of the arrow).

On the other hand, in the paper transport system, the feeding roll 41 rotates in accordance with the start timing of image formation in each image forming unit 11, and is designated by the UI unit 90 from the paper container 40A and the paper container 40B, for example. The other sheet is fed by the feeding rolls 41A and 41B. The sheet fed by the feeding rolls 41A and 41B is transported along the first transport path R1 or the second transport path R2 and the third transport path R3, and reaches the secondary transfer region Tr.
In the secondary transfer region Tr, the composite toner image held on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is secondarily transferred collectively onto the paper by the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 22.

Thereafter, the sheet on which the composite toner image is transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 20 and conveyed to the fixing unit 60 along the fourth conveyance path R4. The synthesized toner image on the paper transported to the fixing unit 60 is fixed on the paper after being subjected to a fixing process by the fixing unit 60. Then, the sheet on which the fixed image is formed is cooled by the cooling unit 80, and the curl correction unit 85 corrects the bending of the sheet. Thereafter, the paper passing through the curl correction unit 85 is guided by the distribution mechanism unit 43 to the fifth transport path R5 during single-sided printing and transported toward the paper stacking unit 44.
The toner (primary transfer residual toner) adhering to the photosensitive drum 12 after the primary transfer and the toner (secondary transfer residual toner) adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the secondary transfer are respectively cleaner 16, And removed by the belt cleaner 26.

On the other hand, during double-sided printing, the paper on which the fixed image is formed on the first surface of the paper by the above-described process passes through the curl correction unit 85 and is then guided to the sixth transport path R6 by the distribution mechanism unit 43. The sixth transport path R6 is transported toward the intermediate paper storage container. Again, the feeding roll 45 rotates in accordance with the start timing of image formation on the second surface by each image forming unit 11, and the sheet is fed out from the intermediate sheet storage container 42. The sheet fed by the feeding roll 41 is transported along the seventh transport path R7 and the third transport path R3, and reaches the secondary transfer region Tr.
In the secondary transfer region Tr, as in the case of the first surface, the toner images of the respective colors on the second surface held on the intermediate transfer belt 20 are collectively applied to the sheet by the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 22. Second transfer is performed.

Then, the paper on which the toner images are transferred on both sides is fixed by the fixing unit 60 as in the case of the first side, cooled by the cooling unit 80, and further corrected by the curl correction unit 85. Is done. Thereafter, the paper that has passed through the curl correction unit 85 is guided to the fifth transport path R5 by the distribution mechanism unit 43 and transported toward the paper stacking unit 44.
In this way, the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 1 is repeatedly executed for the number of printed sheets.

<Description of fixing unit configuration>
Next, the fixing unit 60 used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment. The fixing unit 60 includes a fixing belt module 61 that heats paper, an external heating roll 613 that heats the fixing belt 610 while stretching the fixing belt 610 provided on the fixing belt module 61 from the outside, and a fixing belt module 61. The main part is comprised with the pressurization roll 62 comprised so that contact / separation was possible.
The fixing belt module 61 rotates while the fixing belt 610 as an example of a belt member that circulates and the fixing belt 610 is stretched, and the fixing belt module 61 and the pressure roll 62 are pressed against each other (contacted while being pressed against each other). ) As an example of a roll member that heats the fixing belt 610 from the inside at the nip portion N that is an area to be heated, and an example of a roll member that heats the fixing belt 610 while stretching the fixing belt 610 from the inside. The internal heating roll 612 is provided. The fixing belt module 61 includes a tension roll 614 that stretches the fixing belt 610 between the fixing roll 611 and the internal heating roll 612 (upstream of the nip portion N), and a downstream region in the nip portion N. A peeling pad 64 as an example of a peeling member disposed in the vicinity of the fixing roll 610 and a tension roll 615 for tensioning the fixing belt 610 on the downstream side of the nip portion N are provided. The fixing belt module 61 is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus 1.

The fixing belt 610 includes, for example, a base layer formed of a polyimide resin, an elastic layer made of silicone rubber laminated on the surface side (outer peripheral surface side) of the base layer, and a PFA coated on the elastic layer. And a release layer made of (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin). Here, the elastic layer is provided in order to improve the image quality especially for color images. That is, the toner image held on the sheet to be fixed is formed by laminating toners of various colors that are powders. Therefore, in order to supply heat uniformly to the entire toner image at the nip portion N, it is preferable that the surface of the fixing belt 610 be deformed following the unevenness of the toner image on the paper.
The fixing roll 611 is a cylindrical roll formed of, for example, aluminum or SUS, and receives a rotational driving force from a driving motor (not shown) and rotates in the arrow direction in the figure. The fixing roll 611 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 150 ° C.) by, for example, three halogen heaters 71 as an example of a heating member arranged inside the fixing roll 611.

The internal heating roll 612 is a cylindrical roll formed of, for example, aluminum or SUS. The internal heating roll 612 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 190 ° C.) by, for example, four halogen heaters 72 as an example of the heating member disposed inside.
The internal heating roll 612 is provided with spring members (not shown) that press the fixing belt 610 from the inside to the outside at both ends, and the tension of the entire fixing belt 610 is set to 15 kgf, for example.
Further, the internal heating roll 612 is provided with a mechanism for controlling the meandering (belt walk) of the fixing belt 610. That is, a belt edge position detection mechanism (not shown) that detects the end position (edge position) of the fixing belt 610 is disposed in the vicinity of the internal heating roll 612. The internal heating roll 612 is provided with a displacement mechanism (not shown) that displaces one end of the internal heating roll 612 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the internal heating roll 612. The displacement mechanism displaces the fixing belt 610 in the axial direction of the internal heating roll 612 by displacing one end of the internal heating roll 612 according to the detection result of the belt edge position detection mechanism. Thereby, the belt walk of the fixing belt 610 is controlled.

  The peeling pad 64 is a block member made of a metal such as SUS or a rigid body such as resin and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section. The fixing roll 611 is fixedly disposed over the entire axial direction of the fixing roll 611 at a position near the downstream side of the area where the pressure roll 62 is pressed against the fixing roll 611 via the fixing belt 610 (hereinafter referred to as “roll nip portion N1”). Has been. The peeling pad 64 has a predetermined load (for example, a nip width of 5 mm along the traveling direction of the fixing belt 610) in a predetermined width region (for example, 5 mm along the traveling direction of the fixing belt 610) via the fixing belt 610. For example, it is installed so as to press uniformly at an average of 10 kgf), and a “peeling pad nip portion N2” connected to the roll nip portion N1 is formed.

Next, the external heating roll 613 is a cylindrical roll formed of, for example, aluminum or SUS. Then, the external heating roll 613 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 190 ° C.) by, for example, three halogen heaters 73 serving as heating sources arranged inside.
As described above, the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the fixing belt 610 is heated by the fixing roll 611, the internal heating roll 612, and the external heating roll 613.

  Next, the pressure roll 62 is formed by laminating an elastic layer made of silicone rubber and a release layer made of a PFA tube in this order from the substrate side, for example, using a cylindrical roll made of aluminum or SUS as a base. ing. The pressure roll 62 is disposed so as to be in contact with and separated from the fixing belt module 61. When the pressure roll 62 is set so as to contact (pressure contact) while pressing the fixing belt module 61, the fixing roll of the fixing belt module 61 is used. As 611 rotates in the direction of the arrow, it follows the fixing roll 611 and rotates in the direction of the arrow.

<Description of the fixing operation in the fixing unit>
Subsequently, a fixing operation in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment will be described.
The sheet on which the composite toner image (unfixed toner image) is electrostatically transferred in the secondary transfer region Tr (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 1 is fixed along the fourth conveyance path R4 (see FIG. 1). It is conveyed toward the nip portion N (see FIG. 2). The unfixed toner image on the paper surface passing through the nip portion N is fixed to the paper mainly by pressure and heat acting on the roll nip portion N1.

  That is, in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, the heat acting on the roll nip portion N1 is mainly supplied by the fixing belt 610. The fixing belt 610 is supplied with heat supplied from the halogen heater 71 arranged inside the fixing roll 611 via the fixing roll 611 and from the halogen heater 72 arranged inside the internal heating roll 612 via the internal heating roll 612. And the heat supplied from the halogen heater 73 disposed inside the external heating roll 613 through the external heating roll 613. As a result, not only the fixing roll 611 but also the internal heating roll 612 and the external heating roll 613 are replenished with heat energy, so that a sufficient amount of heat is secured at the roll nip portion N1 even if the process speed is high. .

In the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, the fixing belt 610 that functions as a direct fixing member can be configured to have a very small heat capacity. In addition, the fixing belt 610 is configured to come into contact with the fixing roll 611 that is a heat supply member, and the internal heating roll 612 and the external heating roll 613 with a wide lap area (large wrap angle). Therefore, since a sufficient amount of heat is supplied from the fixing roll 611, the internal heating roll 612, and the external heating roll 613 in a short period of one rotation of the fixing belt 610, the fixing belt 610 is returned to the necessary fixing temperature in a short time. It becomes possible. Thereby, a predetermined fixing temperature is maintained in the roll nip portion N1.
As a result, in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, the fixing temperature is maintained substantially constant even when the paper is continuously fed at a high speed. In addition, the phenomenon that the fixing temperature drops at the start of the fixing operation at high speed (so-called “temperature droop phenomenon”) is suppressed. In particular, when fixing to thick paper having a large heat capacity, the maintenance of the fixing temperature and the occurrence of temperature droop are suppressed, and furthermore, the fixing temperature is switched halfway according to the type of paper (both the fixing temperature is increased and decreased). Even if necessary, the fixing belt 610 has a small heat capacity, so that the temperature can be easily switched by adjusting the output of the halogen heater 71, and further, the halogen heater 72 and the halogen heater 73.

  In the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, the fixing roll 611 is a hard roll formed of aluminum, SUS, or the like, and the pressure roll 62 is a soft roll that covers an elastic layer. Therefore, in the roll nip portion N1, the fixing roll 611 hardly bends, and the surface of the pressure roll 62 is bent, so that a nip region having a width in the traveling direction of the fixing belt 610 is formed. As described above, in the roll nip portion N1, the fixing roll 611 on the side where the fixing belt 610 is wrapped is hardly deformed. Therefore, the fixing belt 610 passes through the roll nip portion N1 while maintaining the moving speed substantially constant. As a result, the fixing belt 610 is prevented from being wrinkled or distorted at the roll nip portion N1, so that a high-quality fixed image is stably provided.

Subsequently, after passing through the roll nip portion N1, the sheet is conveyed to the peeling pad nip portion N2. The peeling pad nip portion N <b> 2 is configured so that the peeling pad 64 is pressed against the pressure roll 62 and the fixing belt 610 is pressed against the pressure roll 62. Accordingly, the roll nip portion N1 has a curved shape that is convex downward due to the curvature of the fixing roll 611, whereas the peeling pad nip portion N2 has a curved shape that is convex upward due to the curvature of the pressure roll 62. Yes.
Therefore, the traveling direction of the sheet heated and pressed under the curvature of the fixing roll 611 in the roll nip portion N1 is changed to the curvature directed in the opposite direction by the pressure roll 62 in the peeling pad nip portion N2. At that time, a minute micro slip occurs between the toner image on the paper and the surface of the fixing belt 610. As a result, the adhesion between the toner image and the fixing belt 610 is weakened, and a state is formed in which the paper is easily peeled off from the fixing belt 610. As described above, the peeling pad nip portion N2 is also positioned in a preparation process for surely peeling in the final peeling process.

  Since the fixing belt 610 is conveyed so as to be wound around the peeling pad 64 at the exit of the peeling pad nip portion N2, the conveyance direction of the fixing belt 610 changes abruptly there. That is, since the fixing belt 610 moves along the outer surface of the peeling pad 64, the bending of the fixing belt 610 becomes large. Therefore, the paper whose adhesion with the fixing belt 610 is weakened in advance in the peeling pad nip portion N2 is separated from the fixing belt 610 by the stiffness of the paper that the paper itself has.

  The paper separated from the fixing belt 610 is guided in the traveling direction by a peeling guide plate 69 disposed on the downstream side of the peeling pad nip portion N2. The paper guided by the peeling guide plate 69 is then conveyed toward the cooling unit 80 by the paper discharge guide 78 and the paper discharge belt 79, whereby the fixing process in the fixing unit 60 is completed.

<Explanation of wiring to the electrode terminal on the back side of the image forming apparatus of the halogen heater>
Next, wiring for supplying power to the four halogen heaters 72 in the internal heating roll 612 disposed inside the fixing belt 610 will be described. First, wiring to the electrode terminals on the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 of the four halogen heaters 72 arranged inside the internal heating roll 612 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a power supply path for the four halogen heaters 72 arranged inside the internal heating roll 612 on the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 3 (see also FIG. 2), the internal heating roll 612 that rotates and moves in the direction of the arrow while stretching the fixing belt 610 includes four halogen heaters 72 that heat the fixing belt 610 inside. Yes. The internal heating roll 612 includes thermistors 141, 142, and 143 that detect the surface temperature of the internal heating roll 612 in order to control the temperature of the internal heating roll 612 (only the thermistor 141 is shown in FIG. 3), Thermostats 101 and 102 (only the thermostat 102 is shown in FIG. 3) are arranged to cut off the energization to the halogen heater 72 when an abnormal rise in the temperature of the heating roll 612 is detected.

The thermistors 141, 142, 143 and thermostats 101, 102 (see FIG. 4 in the subsequent stage) are disposed on the internal heating roll 612, so that the internal heating roll 612 stretches the fixing belt 610 as shown in FIG. The fixing belt module 61 (see FIG. 2) surrounded by the fixing belt 610, which is an unoccupied region, is disposed in the internal space. The thermostats 101 and 102 are electric components arranged in series in a power supply path between a power supply unit (not shown) arranged in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the halogen heater 72. A power supply path to the heater 72 is set in the internal space of the fixing belt module 61. Therefore, in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, power is supplied along the axial direction (z direction) of the internal heating roll 612 to the internal space side of the fixing belt module 61 of the internal heating roll 612. A box 100 is arranged. Inside the power supply box 100, the thermostat 101, 102, the wiring to the halogen heater 72 to which the thermostat 101, 102 is connected in series, the thermistor 141, 142, 143, and the thermistor 141, 142, 143 The signal line from is arranged.
By providing such a power supply box 100 in a region surrounded by the fixing belt 610, a fixing belt module 61 (see FIG. 2) as one unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 is configured. Further, it is possible to prevent the wiring and the like disposed inside from being directly exposed to heat from the fixing belt 610, the internal heating roll 612, and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the internal heating roll 612, the electrode terminals of each of the four halogen heaters 72 are combined and joined together in connectors 133 and 134. Has been. Then, heater-side electric wires (hereinafter referred to as “heater-side harnesses”) 135 and 136 connected with the connectors 133 and 134 as starting ends, and relay connection connectors 131 and 132 connected to the terminal ends of the heater-side harnesses 135 and 136, respectively. Are connected to the relay connection connectors 121 and 122 (see FIG. 8 in the subsequent stage) connected to the terminal ends of the power supply side wires (hereinafter referred to as “power supply side harnesses”) 104 and 106 wired through the power supply box 100. Has been. Accordingly, the electrode terminals on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the four halogen heaters 72 are connected to the power supply unit on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 via the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 that pass through the power supply box 100.

In the region where the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 wired in the power supply box 100 are out of the power supply box 100 on the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1, the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are on the heater side. The relay connection connectors 131 and 132 are routed while being supported along the wiring support groove 111 formed on the side of the support 110 that rotatably supports the internal heating roll 612 to the position where the relay connection connectors 131 and 132 are disposed.
Note that both end portions of the power supply box 100 are supported by support portions 110a provided on a support body 110 disposed on the back side and the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the connector support portion 120 that supports the relay connection connectors 121 and 122 on the power feeding box 100 side to which the heater side relay connection connectors 131 and 132 are connected is a support body 110 disposed on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1. Is supported by.

<Description of wiring from inside the power supply box to the halogen heater>
Next, FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining wiring for power feeding from the inside of the power feeding box 100 to the four halogen heaters 72. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fixing belt module 61 (see FIG. 2) viewed from the internal space side (−y direction side), and mainly shows the wiring inside the power supply box 100. 5 is a side configuration diagram of the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 as viewed from the −x direction side of FIG. 4, and supports from the power supply box 100 to the relay connection connectors 121 and 122. Wiring on the side of the body 110 is shown. Also, FIG. 6 shows that the relay connection connectors 121 and 122 connected to the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 and the relay connection connectors 131 and 132 connected to the heater side harnesses 135 and 136 are outside the fixing belt module 61. It is the figure which showed the structure connected.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, a common electric wire (hereinafter, “common harness”) 103 connected to a power supply unit (not shown) on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed in front of the image forming apparatus 1 inside the power supply box 100. It enters the inside of the power supply box 100 from the side (z direction side) and is connected to one electrode 101 a of the thermostat 101. A power supply side harness 106 having a thermostat 102 connected in series is connected to one electrode 101a of the thermostat 101 to which the common harness 103 is connected. A power supply side harness 104 is connected to the electrode 101b opposite to the electrode 101a to which the common harness 103 of the thermostat 101 is connected.

Thus, the wiring from the common harness 103 is connected to the power source side harness 104 to which the thermostat 101 is connected and the power source side harness to which the thermostat 102 is connected at one electrode 101a of the thermostat 101 to which the common harness 103 is connected. Branches to 106. Thereby, after branching from the common harness 103 at the electrode 101a, the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are wired in parallel. Thereby, a large current of about 7 to 8 A, for example, from the power supply unit (not shown) is distributed to the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106. As a result, as the thermostats 102 and 104 connected to the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106, those having relatively small withstand currents and inexpensive ones are used.
The internal space of the fixing belt module 61 in which the power supply box 100 is disposed is a region where the temperature is likely to rise due to the fixing belt 61 and the internal heating roll 612 that are heating elements, and further, the fixing roll 611 and the external heating roll 613. . For this purpose, the common harness 103 and the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are made of electric wires having excellent heat resistance (for example, a heat resistant temperature of 210 ° C. or higher).
In addition, the continuous electric wire comprised by the common harness 103, the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106, and the heater side harnesses 135 and 136 is an example of a 1st electric wire.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are supported by the wiring support grooves 111 formed on the side surfaces of the support body 110 outside the power supply box 100, and the side surfaces of the support body 110 are connected to the connector support portions. Directed to 120. The power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 extending from the wiring support groove 111 on the side surface of the support 110 are connected to the relay connection connectors 121 and 122 supported by the connector support 120 through the inside of the connector support 120. The

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the relay connection connectors 121 and 122 to which the power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are connected are disposed in the external space of the fixing belt module 61 where the temperature rise is relatively small. The relay connection connectors 121 and 122 are connected to the relay connection connectors 131 and 132 to which the halogen heater 72 is connected. As a result, the heater-side harnesses 135 and 136 that connect the halogen heater 72 and the relay connection connectors 131 and 132 to both ends are disposed in a space region outside the fixing belt module 61. Accordingly, as the heater-side harnesses 135 and 136, electric wires that are not higher in heat resistance than the power-source side harnesses 104 and 106 disposed in the internal space of the fixing belt module 61 can be used.

  As described above, the wiring of the internal heating roll 612 to the connectors 133 and 134 on the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 is wired from the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 to the inside of the power supply box 100. Common harness 103, power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 branched from common harness 103 and wired in parallel, and connected to thermostats 102 and 104, respectively, and connector for relay connection to which power supply side harnesses 104 and 106 are connected 121, 122, connected to the terminal ends of the heater side harnesses 135, 136, via the relay connection connectors 131, 132 connected to the relay connection connectors 121, 122, and the heater side harnesses 135, 136. It is configured. Thereby, the connection between the power supply unit (not shown) on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 and the connectors 133 and 134 on the back side (−z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 of the internal heating roll 612 is connected to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. On the (z direction side), this is performed by connecting the common harness 103 and the electric wire from the power supply unit.

<Explanation of wiring to electrode terminals on front side of image forming apparatus of halogen heater>
Next, wiring to the electrode terminals on the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1 of the four halogen heaters 72 arranged inside the internal heating roll 612 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a power supply path for the four halogen heaters 72 arranged inside the internal heating roll 612 on the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 7, on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the internal heating roll 612, connectors 137 and 138 are each provided with electrode terminals of four halogen heaters 72. The internal heating roll 612 is connected to electric wires 151, 152, 153, and 154 starting from the electrode terminals of the four halogen heaters 72 (hereinafter, “front side harness”). The front side harnesses 151, 152, 153, and 154 are examples of the second electric wires.
A relay connection connector 161 as an example of a first relay member is connected to the terminal ends of the near side harnesses 151 and 152 extending from the connector 137. Furthermore, a relay connection connector 162 as an example of a first relay member is connected to the terminal ends of the front side harnesses 153 and 154 extending from the connector 138.
In addition, the common harness 103 is extended and wired from the inside of the power supply box 100 on the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1, and a relay connection connector 163 as an example of a second relay member is provided at the end thereof. It is connected.

As described above, in the fixing unit 60 according to the present embodiment, the front side (z direction side) electrode terminal of each of the four halogen heaters 72 of the internal heating roll 612 on the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus 1. Relay connection connectors 161 and 162 that are terminal ends of the connected near-side harnesses 151, 152, 153, and 154 are arranged. Further, a relay connection connector 163 that is a terminal end of the common harness 103 connected to the back (−z direction side) electrode terminal of each of the four halogen heaters 72 of the internal heating roll 612 is disposed.
Accordingly, power is supplied to the four halogen heaters 72 of the internal heating roll 612 between the relay connection connectors 161, 162, and 163 and the electric wires from the power supply unit on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Done by connection.

  It should be noted that wiring is also formed in the fixing roll 611 that includes three halogen heaters 71 that heat the fixing belt 610 and rotates while the fixing belt 610 is stretched, similarly to the internal heating roll 612. As a result, power is supplied to the three halogen heaters 71 of the fixing roll 611 by connecting to the electric wire from the power supply unit on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

<Description of circuit configuration between power supply and halogen heater>
FIG. 8 is a circuit configuration diagram between the power supply unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 and the three halogen heaters 71 of the fixing roll 611 and the four halogen heaters 72 of the internal heating roll 612.
First, the wiring relating to the four halogen heaters 72 (72_1 to 72_4) of the internal heating roll 612 will be described using the circuit configuration diagram of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the common harness 103 to which the relay connection connector 163 connected to the electric wire from the power supply unit on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side is connected on the front side (z direction side: Front) of the image forming apparatus 1. In the power supply box 100 (see FIG. 4), the thermostat 101 is connected to one electrode 101a. A power supply side harness 106 having a thermostat 102 connected in series is connected to one electrode 101a of the thermostat 101 to which the common harness 103 is connected. A power supply side harness 104 is connected to the electrode 101b opposite to the electrode 101a to which the common harness 103 of the thermostat 101 is connected. On the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 (z direction side: Rear), the relay connection connector 121 is connected to the terminal end of the power supply side harness 104, and the relay connection connector 122 is connected to the terminal end of the power supply side harness 106. ing.

  Of the four halogen heaters 72, two halogen heaters 72 </ b> _ <b> 1 and 72 </ b> _ <b> 2 have electrode terminals on the rear side (rear) of the image forming apparatus 1 connected together by a connector 133. Further, the other two halogen heaters 72_3 and 72_4 are connected together by connecting the electrode terminals on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 at the connector 134. Then, on the back side (Rear) of the image forming apparatus 1, the heater side harness 135 is connected with the connector 133 as a starting end, and the heater side harness 136 is connected with the connector 134 as a starting end. A relay connection connector 131 is connected to the end of the heater side harness 135, and a relay connection connector 132 is connected to the end of the heater side harness 136. Then, the relay connection connector 121 and the relay connection connector 131, the relay connection connector 122, and the relay connection connector 132 are connected to the back side (Rear) of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

  On the other hand, the front side harnesses 151 and 152 extending from the electrode terminals on the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1 of the halogen heaters 72_1 and 72_2 are the power sources on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side on the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1 respectively. It is connected to the relay connection connector 161 connected to the electric wire from the section. Further, the front side harnesses 153 and 154 extending from the electrode terminals on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the two halogen heaters 72_3 and 72_4 are connected to the electric wires from the power supply unit on the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1. The relay connection connector 162 is connected.

Next, wiring relating to the three halogen heaters 71 (71_1 to 71_3) of the fixing roll 611 will be described with reference to the circuit configuration diagram of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the common harness 109 to which the relay connection connector 165 connected to the electric wire from the power supply unit is connected on the front side (z direction side: Front) of the image forming apparatus 1 is a power supply for the fixing roll 611. A thermostat 107 and a thermostat 108 are connected in series in the box. A relay connection connector 123 is connected to the end of the common harness 109 on the rear side (Rear) of the image forming apparatus 1.
In addition, the three halogen heaters 71_1, 71_2, 71_3 are connected together by connecting the electrode terminals on the rear side (rear) of the image forming apparatus 1 at the connector 139. The heater harness 144 is connected to the back side (Rear) of the image forming apparatus 1 starting from the connector 139. A relay connection connector 145 is connected to the end of the heater-side harness 144. The relay connection connector 123 and the relay connection connector 145 are connected on the back side (Rear) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, the front side harnesses 155, 156, and 157 extending from the electrode terminals on the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1 of each of the halogen heaters 71_1, 71_2, and 71_3 are connected to the image forming apparatus 1 on the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1. It is connected to a connector for relay connection 164 that is connected to an electric wire from the power supply unit on the main body side.

  As described above, power is supplied to the three halogen heaters 71 (71_1 to 71_3) of the fixing roll 611 and the four halogen heaters 72 (72_1 to 72_4) of the internal heating roll 612 at the front side (Front) of the image forming apparatus 1. The relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, and 165 are connected to the electric wires from the power supply unit on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side.

<Description of circuit configuration between power supply and halogen heater>
Next, wiring between a power supply unit (not shown) disposed on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 and the fixing belt module 61 will be described.
As described above, power is supplied to the three halogen heaters 71 of the fixing roll 611 and the four halogen heaters 72 of the internal heating roll 612 disposed in the fixing belt module 61 on the front side (z direction side) of the image forming apparatus. Via relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, 165.
Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating wiring between the power supply unit disposed on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 and the fixing belt module 61. As shown in FIG. 9, all of the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the fixing belt module 61 are connected to each other by the connector module 171. Connected to the connector. The harness wired from the connector module 171 is configured in one place in the collective connector 173 connected to the power supply unit on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side.
As described above, between the image forming apparatus 1 main body and the fixing belt module 61, all of the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 and the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 are connected. The three halogen heaters 71 of the fixing roll 611 and the four halogens of the internal heating roll 612 are connected by the connector module 171 connected together and the collective connector 173 to which all the harnesses from the connector module 171 are connected together. The heater 72 and the power supply unit on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 are connected.
The connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 constitute collective relay means.

Here, the connector module 171 is attached to the side surface of the support body 110 (front side support body) 110 on the front side (z direction side) of the fixing belt module 61 with one screw 172. Thereby, the connector module 171 is removed from the near side support body 110 only by removing the screw 172.
A power supply connector (not shown) connected to the power supply unit on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the collective connector 173 is attached to the front case side wall 180 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, by pulling out the collective connector 173 to the near side, the collective connector 173 is detached from the power supply side connector.
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 main body is connected to a large number of harnesses (9 on each side of the connector module 171) connected to the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 by the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173. It is summarized in one place on the front side. As a result, the operation for power supply / interruption to the fixing belt module 61 is performed only by attaching and detaching the collective connector 173 to the front housing side wall 180.

In addition, a wire ring 174 as an example of an annular linear member not intended for electrical connection is attached to the collective connector 173. The wire ring 174 is formed by removing the screw 172 to remove the connector module 171 from the front support 110 and pulling the collective connector 173 from the power supply side connector (not shown) of the front case side wall 180. The length is such that it can be sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175 disposed on the side surface of the front support 110. By being configured in such a length, in a state where the connector module 171 is attached to the front support 110 and the collective connector 173 is attached to the front housing side wall 180, the wiring 174 is connected to the connector module 171. It inhibits obstructing the wiring space of the harness connected to.
The wire ring 174 and the sandwiching member 175 constitute limiting means for restricting the movement of the collective relay means (connector module 171 and collective connector 173) within a predetermined area.

When the fixing belt module 61 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 when, for example, the fixing belt 610 is replaced, the connector module 171 is detached from the front support 110 by removing the screw 172, and the collective connector 173 is removed. Is pulled out from the power supply side connector (not shown) of the front housing side wall 180. Then, the wire ring 174 is sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175 disposed on the side surface of the front support 110 of the fixing belt module 61.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the wire ring 174 is sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175 disposed on the side of the front support 110 of the fixing belt module 61. As shown in FIG. 10, the movement of the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 to which a large number of harnesses are connected is restricted by the wire ring 174 being sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175. That is, the movement range of the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 is limited by the length of the wire ring 174 sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11 (showing the state when the fixing belt 610 is replaced), for example, when the fixing belt 610 is replaced, the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 move within the inner region of the fixing belt 610. The range is limited. Accordingly, when the fixing belt 610 is attached to and detached from the fixing belt module 61, inconveniences such as the fixing belt 610 being caught by the connector module 171 or the collective connector 173 are less likely to occur. Thereby, for example, replacement work of the fixing belt 610 is facilitated.

  Thus, when the connector module 171 is detached from the front support 110 and the collective connector 173 is detached from the front housing side wall 180, only a number of harnesses are connected. The position of the collective connector 173 is not constant. In particular, in the large fixing belt module 61, the distance between the fixing roll 611 and the internal heating roll 612 is increased, so that the harness connected to the connector module 171 is also increased. Therefore, when the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 are detached from the front support body 110 and the front case side wall 180, the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 move unstablely over a wide area. easy. In this case, it may take more time than necessary to replace the fixing belt 610, or the fixing belt 610 newly attached by the connector module 171 or the collective connector 173 may be damaged.

Therefore, in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, the connector module 171 and the wiring 174 that restricts the movement range of the collective connector 173 are attached to the collective connector 173. When the fixing belt module 61 including the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the wire ring 174 is sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175 disposed on the side of the support 110 of the fixing belt module 61. Make it. Thereby, in the fixing belt module 61 removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the movement range of the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173 is limited within the inner region of the fixing belt 610. Accordingly, when the fixing belt 610 is attached to and detached from the fixing belt module 61, inconveniences such as the fixing belt 610 being caught by the connector module 171 or the collective connector 173 are less likely to occur, and the replacement work of the fixing belt 610 becomes easy. .
Further, when the harness is brazed to the outside (fixing the shape of the harness), the harness is easily bulged outward by removing the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173. However, the wiring ring 174 of the present embodiment is sandwiched between the sandwiching members 175, so that the harness is prevented from being damaged due to sandwiching with other members.

In the present embodiment, wiring for supplying power to the halogen heater 71 provided on the fixing roll 611 and the halogen heater 72 provided on the internal heating roll 612 has been described. In addition to such power supply wiring, for example, signal line wiring from the thermistors 141, 142, and 143 may be configured similarly. In particular, such a signal line (AC harness) is easily damaged because it is composed of a thin electric wire. Thereby, by restricting the movement range of the signal line by sandwiching the wire ring 174 of the present embodiment in the sandwiching member 175, the signal line is prevented from being damaged due to sandwiching with other members.
At that time, the connector that collects the wirings of the plurality of signal lines is configured separately from the connector (connector module 171) that integrates the wirings for supplying power, from the viewpoint of suppressing noise intrusion into the signal lines. Is preferred.

As described above, in the fixing unit 60 of the present embodiment, power is supplied to the halogen heater 71 provided on the fixing roll 611 and the halogen heater 72 provided on the internal heating roll 612 on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. The connection is performed by connecting the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, and 165 to the electric wires from the power supply unit on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side. In this case, a large number of harnesses connected to the relay connection connectors 161, 162, 163, 164, and 165 are grouped together in one place on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 main body by the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173, respectively. . Furthermore, the collective connector 173 is provided with a wire ring 174 that restricts the movement range of the connector module 171 and the collective connector 173.
Thereby, the efficiency of connection work for supplying power to the fixing belt module 61 is improved. When the fixing belt module 61 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the fixing belt 610 is replaced by sandwiching the wire ring 174 with the sandwiching member 175 disposed on the side surface of the support 110 of the fixing belt module 61. The work is facilitated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 60 ... Fixing unit, 61 ... Fixing belt module, 71, 72, 73 ... Halogen heater, 100 ... Power supply box, 103 ... Common harness, 104, 106 ... Power supply side harness, 121, 122, 131, 132,161,162,163,164,165 ... Connector for relay connection, 135,136 ... Heater side harness, 151,152,153,154 ... Front side harness, 171 ... Connector module, 173 ... Collector connector, 174 ... Wiring 175: sandwiching member, 610: fixing belt, 611: fixing roll, 612: internal heating roll

Claims (7)

A belt member for fixing the toner to the recording material while circulatingly moving;
A plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member;
A heating member that is disposed inside the plurality of roll members and heats the belt member via the roll members;
A first electric wire having a first relay member connected to the start end, wired along the axial direction of each of the roll members where the heating member is disposed, and one electrode of the heating member connected to the terminal end;
A second electric wire having a second relay member connected to the start end and the other electrode of the heating member connected to the end;
The first relay member and the second relay member connected to each of the first electric wire and the second electric wire connected to the heating member in the plurality of roll members are connected together, Collective relay means for relaying between the first electric wire and the second electric wire and a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the heating member;
A fixing device comprising: restriction means for restricting movement of the collective relay means within a predetermined area.   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the first electric wire is wired in a path that passes through a region surrounded by the belt member and reaches one electrode of the heating member.   The restricting means is composed of an annular linear member attached to the collective relay means, and a sandwiching member that is disposed on a support that rotatably supports the roll member and sandwiches the linear member. The fixing device according to claim 2.   The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the restricting unit is configured such that the linear member can be sandwiched by the sandwiching member when the collective relay unit is detached from the support. 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 recording material;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material to the recording material;
The fixing means is
A belt member for fixing the toner image to the recording material while circulatingly moving;
A plurality of roll members that stretch the belt member;
A heating member that is disposed inside the plurality of roll members and heats the belt member via the roll members;
A first electric wire having a first relay member connected to the start end, wired along the axial direction of each of the roll members where the heating member is disposed, and one electrode of the heating member connected to the terminal end;
A second electric wire having a second relay member connected to the start end and the other electrode of the heating member connected to the end;
The first relay member and the second relay member connected to each of the first electric wire and the second electric wire connected to the heating member in the plurality of roll members are connected together, Collective relay means for relaying between the first electric wire and the second electric wire and a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the heating member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: restriction means for restricting movement of the collective relay means within a predetermined area.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first electric wire of the fixing unit is wired in a path that passes through a region surrounded by the belt member and reaches one electrode of the heating member.   The limiting means of the fixing means includes an annular linear member attached to the collective relay means, and a sandwiching member that is disposed on a support that rotatably supports the roll member and sandwiches the linear member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured.

Images