JP2011180188A - Fixing heating device and image forming apparatus equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prompt the outside to appropriately repair failures by having a main control section 8 detect the failures of a rotation detection signal even when the determination of the rotation status of a heating section 78 differs between the main control section 8 and an IH control section 90 due to the failures of the rotation detection signal caused by disconnection of a signal line or noise, so that heating by the heating section 78 is stopped by the IH control section 90 in a structure for performing fixing by a dielectric heating system. <P>SOLUTION: The main control section 8 instructs the IH control section 90 to supply current to exciting coils 74 when determining that the heating section 78 is rotated based on the rotation detection signal. Meanwhile, the IH control section 90 determines that the rotation of the heating section 78 is stopped based on the rotation detection signal when the instruction of current supply from the main control section 8 to the exciting coils 74 occurs, and then informs the main control section 8 of the failures of the rotation detection signal without supplying current to the exciting coils 74 while the supply instruction is continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing heating device that fixes a toner image on a sheet by induction heating, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing heating device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals that include a fixing unit that fixes a toner image by an induction heating method have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the induction heating method, current is supplied to the exciting coil, Joule heat is generated by an eddy current generated by the magnetic flux generated from the exciting coil, and the heating unit (for example, a heating roller) is induction heated. Then, the heating unit is rotated and the sheet is conveyed between the heating unit and a pressure unit (for example, a pressure roller), and the toner image is fixed on the sheet by the heat generated by the heating unit.

JP 2004-279661 A

  By the way, in the induction heating type fixing unit, when the heating unit is induction-heated when the rotation of the heating unit is stopped, the temperature of the same part continues to rise in the heating unit. It reaches, melts, deforms and deteriorates. For this reason, it is necessary to control the heating unit to be performed while the heating unit is rotating.

  In addition, when fixing by induction heating, an IH control unit that actually controls the current flowing through the exciting coil and its frequency is mounted on the fixing unit separately from the main control unit that controls the fixing unit and the like. The IH control unit is often used as a module for IH control. In this case, the determination of rotation / stop of the heating unit (hereinafter also referred to as determination of rotation) is performed by both the main control unit and the IH control unit, and the rotation of the heating unit is stopped by at least one control unit. If heating of the heating unit is stopped when it is determined, deterioration of the heating unit due to heating while rotation is stopped can be reliably prevented. That is, it is possible to realize a configuration with less risk of deterioration of the heating unit by determining the rotation of the heating unit in both the main control unit and the IH control unit and applying the protection of the heating unit twice. .

  When the determination of the rotation of the heating unit is performed by both the main control unit and the IH control unit as described above, the rotation detection signal from the sensor that detects the rotation of the heating unit is transmitted to the main control unit and the IH via the signal line. Input to both the control unit. Then, the main control unit and the IH control unit respectively determine the rotation of the heating unit based on the input rotation detection signal.

  At this time, for example, even if the main control unit determines that the heating unit is rotating due to the disconnection of the signal line or the noise included in the rotation detection signal, the IH control unit stops the rotation of the heating unit. It may be judged that In such a case, since the IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped, the heating of the heating unit is stopped.

  However, since the main control unit does not know that the heating of the heating unit is intentionally stopped by the IH control unit, the heating unit is not heated even though it is heated. It recognizes that an abnormality has occurred and displays such an error on the display unit. In such a case, the service person suspects an abnormality in the temperature sensor (thermistor) of the heating unit. However, since there is no abnormality in the temperature sensor, the abnormality is not solved even if the temperature sensor is replaced.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to fix the main control unit due to disconnection of a signal line or abnormality of a rotation detection signal due to noise in a configuration in which fixing is performed by a dielectric heating method. Even when the IH control unit does not agree with the determination of the rotation of the heating unit based on the rotation detection signal, and the heating of the heating unit is stopped by the IH control unit, the main control unit grasps the abnormality of the rotation detection signal, and An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing heating device capable of prompting the outside to make appropriate repairs for abnormalities, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing heating device.

  The fixing heating device of the present invention is a fixing heating device including a main control unit and a fixing unit that is controlled by the main control unit and that fixes a toner image on a sheet by heat generated by a rotating heating unit, The fixing unit controls the supply of current to the exciting coil, thereby detecting the rotation state of the IH control unit that heats the heating unit by induction heating, and the rotation state of the heating unit, and indicates the rotation state. And a rotation detection unit that outputs the IH control unit to the main control unit, and the main control unit determines that the heating unit is rotating based on the rotation detection signal. The IH control unit instructs the current supply to the excitation coil based on the rotation detection signal when there is a current supply instruction from the main control unit to the excitation coil. If it is determined that the rotation of the heating unit has stopped and the supply instruction continues thereafter, the rotation detection signal is abnormal for the main control unit without supplying current to the excitation coil. It is characterized by notifying that.

  According to the above configuration, the rotation detection unit of the fixing unit outputs a rotation detection signal indicating the rotation state of the heating unit to both the IH control unit and the main control unit. Thereby, in each of an IH control part and a main control part, rotation of a heating part can be judged based on said rotation detection signal.

  Here, due to the abnormality of the rotation detection signal, the determination of the rotation of the heating unit based on the rotation detection signal may be different between the main control unit and the IH control unit. For example, when the signal line of the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection unit to the IH control unit is disconnected, even if the main control unit determines that the heating unit is rotating, the IH control unit rotates the heating unit. Judged to be stopped. Further, even if the IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped, the main control unit may erroneously determine that the heating unit is rotating due to the influence of noise included in the rotation detection signal. is there.

  In this regard, in the present invention, the main control unit instructs the IH control unit to supply current to the excitation coil when it is determined that the heating unit is rotating based on the rotation detection signal. The IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped based on the rotation detection signal when the supply instruction is issued from the main control unit, and the supply instruction continues thereafter. Notifies the main control unit that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal without supplying current to the exciting coil.

  Thus, under the state where the judgment of the rotation of the heating unit is different between the main control unit and the IH control unit, no current is supplied to the exciting coil, and the heating unit is not heated. As a result, even if there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal, the heating unit is actually in a rotation stopped state at least regardless of whether the determination of the rotation of the heating unit in the main control unit and the IH control unit based on the rotation detection signal is correct or not. It is possible to prevent deterioration due to melting of the heating part when it is in the area.

  Further, the IH control unit notifies the main control unit that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal when the above supply instruction continues even after determining that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped. . As a result, the main control unit can recognize that the rotation detection signal is abnormal even when the heating unit is not heated even though the supply instruction is given, and appropriate repair for the abnormality is performed. Can be urged to the outside (serviceman or user).

  For example, if the main control unit displays on the display unit of the image forming apparatus that the rotation detection signal is abnormal based on the above recognition, the serviceman suspects that the signal line of the rotation detection signal is broken. It can be repaired, and various parameters (for example, the rotation detection signal input port monitoring period) can be changed to reduce the effects of noise, and measures can be taken quickly. It becomes possible.

  In the fixing heating apparatus of the present invention, the fixing unit further includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the heating unit, and the IH control unit is configured in spite of the main control unit issuing the supply instruction. It is desirable to notify the main controller that the rotation detection signal is abnormal before determining that a low temperature error has occurred because the temperature detected by the temperature detector does not rise above a certain value.

  In this case, before the main control unit detects a low temperature error and suspects an abnormality such as a failure of the temperature detection unit, the main control unit can recognize the abnormality of the rotation detection signal by the notification. Thus, for example, by displaying an error on the display unit, it is possible to provide information to the service person that the rotation detection signal is abnormal, and to take appropriate measures.

  In the fixing heating apparatus of the present invention, each of the main control unit and the IH control unit is based on the number of times that an edge composed of a rising edge or a falling edge of a rotation detection signal output from the rotation detection unit appears within a predetermined time. It is desirable to determine the rotation of the heating unit.

  In determining the rotation of the heating unit based on the rotation detection signal output from the rotation detection unit, the main control unit and the IH control unit determine how many times the pulse edge in the rotation detection signal is within a predetermined time (for example, within 300 msec). The rotation of the heating unit is determined depending on whether it appears. In other words, it is not based on the total number of edges within a predetermined time period, instead of reliably detecting each edge of the rotation detection signal and determining the rotation state of the heating unit in association with rotation and stop. The rotation state of the heating unit is comprehensively determined.

  In the method in which each edge of the rotation detection signal is associated with the rotation and stop of the heating unit, when the frequency of the rotation detection signal increases, the edge of the rotation detection signal may be determined as noise and rotation may not be detected. However, by determining the rotation from the total number of edges within a predetermined time as described above, it is possible to comprehensively determine whether the heating unit is rotating even if the frequency of the rotation detection signal is increased. It becomes possible.

  For example, at a port to which a rotation detection signal is input, whether the input signal is high level or low level is monitored (detected) at a predetermined interval (period) to determine whether the edge of the signal is noise or not. can do. At this time, if the frequency of the rotation detection signal increases, it is necessary to shorten the period. However, by determining the rotation of the heating unit from the total number of edges within a predetermined time, even if the frequency of the rotation detection signal increases, the rotation of the heating unit can be determined without shortening the monitoring period of the input port. can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing of monitoring the input port and determining whether the edge of the signal is noise from becoming heavy in terms of software.

  In the fixing heating apparatus according to the present invention, a cycle for detecting whether the input rotation detection signal is at a high level or a low level at an input port of the main control unit to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection unit is input. The period for detecting whether the input rotation detection signal is high level or low level at the input port of the IH control unit to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection unit is input is the second period. Then, it is desirable that the first period and the second period are different from each other.

  Since the monitoring cycle of the input port is different between the main control unit and the IH control unit, it can be said that there is little possibility that both control units detect the same noise at the same time. As a result, even if the rotation of the heating unit is erroneously detected by one control unit due to the influence of noise, the stop of the rotation of the heating unit can be detected by the other control unit. Can be reliably prevented. That is, it is possible to realize a system that is resistant to noise and reliably prevent deterioration of the heating unit due to heating while rotation is stopped.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention preferably includes the above-described fixing heating apparatus of the present invention. For example, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed by the image forming unit to a sheet, and the toner image that is transferred by the transfer unit. And a fixing heating device for fixing the toner to the paper, the fixing heating device is constituted by the above-described fixing heating device of the present invention. In this case, the above-described effects of the present invention can be obtained in the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays information, and the main control unit detects the abnormality when receiving a notification from the IH control unit that the rotation detection signal is abnormal. It may be configured to display the fact on the display unit.

  In this case, the service person detects rotation based on information displayed on the display unit, such as repairing the signal line of the rotation detection signal or changing various parameter settings to reduce the effects of noise. Appropriate measures can be quickly taken for signal abnormalities.

  According to the present invention, the IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped based on the rotation detection signal when there is an instruction to supply current from the main control unit to the exciting coil, and thereafter When the above supply instruction continues, no current is supplied to the exciting coil and the heating unit is not heated. As a result, heating of the heating unit can be prevented under the condition that the determination of the rotation of the heating unit is different between the main control unit and the IH control unit, and the rotation of the heating unit in the main control unit and the IH control unit is prevented. Regardless of whether the determination is correct or not, deterioration of the heating unit when the heating unit is actually in the rotation stopped state can be prevented at a minimum.

  In addition, even if the IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped, when the above supply instruction is subsequently performed from the main control unit, Notifies that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal. As a result, the main control unit can recognize that the rotation detection signal is abnormal even when the heating unit is not heated even though the supply instruction is given, and appropriate repair for the abnormality is performed. Can be urged to the outside.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating one image forming unit in the multifunction machine. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the said multifunctional device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a fixing unit of the multifunction machine. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the fixing unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration related to fixing control of the multifunction machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement by control of the main control part of the said multifunctional device. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen in the liquid crystal display part of the said multifunctional device. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation by control of an IH control unit of the fixing unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of noise judgment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example in which the edge of the said signal is determined to be noise when the frequency of an input signal is large. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the example which judges noise based on the detection result of 3 times of an input port. It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of judging rotation of a heating part based on the frequency | count of the edge which appears within predetermined time. It is explanatory drawing which shows the preferable form of noise judgment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. Here, as an image forming apparatus, a tandem type color multifunction peripheral that forms an image by an electrophotographic method will be described as an example.

(1. Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a schematic configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating one image forming unit 5 in the multifunction peripheral 100. The multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment includes an operation panel 1 (illustrated by a broken line in FIG. 1) at an upper front portion, a document conveying device 2 at the top, and an image reading unit 3 (scanner) below the document conveying device 2. . In the main body of the multifunction peripheral 100, a paper feed unit 4a, a conveyance path 4b, an image forming unit 5, an intermediate transfer unit 6, a fixing unit 7 and the like are provided.

  The operation panel 1 functions as a setting unit for performing various settings such as settings at the time of printing (for example, the number of sheets and the number of copies) and also has a function as a display unit for displaying various information. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 1 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 1a and a plurality of press buttons. The liquid crystal display unit 1a functions as a setting unit and a display unit, and the press buttons function as a setting unit. ing. Note that the above-mentioned press buttons are a numeric keypad (number keys from 0 to 9, symbol keys such as # and C (clear)), function selection keys (operation mode setting keys such as copy mode and FAX transmission mode), start and reset. Including stop various keys.

  When copying a document, the document transport device 2 automatically and continuously scans the documents stacked on the document placing tray 21 by rotating a plurality of rollers one by one. To the contact glass 30). The document conveying device 2 is provided with a fulcrum on the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and can be lifted. When placing a document on a placement reading contact glass 31 described later, the document conveying device 2 is lifted to place the document. After the placement, the document conveying device 2 is rotated to hold the document.

  The image reading unit 3 reads a document and generates image data. A feed reading contact glass 30 and a placement reading contact glass 31 are provided on the upper surface of the image reading unit 3, and an exposure lamp, a mirror, a lens, an image sensor (for example, CCD), etc. are provided in the image reading unit 3. An optical system member (not shown) is provided. Using these optical members, light is emitted to the original conveyed by the original conveying apparatus 2 or the original on the placement reading contact glass 31, and the output value of each pixel of the image sensor receiving the reflected light of the original is determined. Image data is generated by A / D conversion. The multi-function device 100 can perform printing based on image data obtained by reading (copy function).

  The sheet feeding unit 4a accommodates sheets (sheets) of various sizes (copy sheets, label sheets, etc.) and sizes (A size, B size sheets, etc.), for example. A paper feed roller 41 provided in the paper feed unit 4a is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor, and feeds the paper to the transport path 4b.

  The transport path 4 b constitutes a path for transporting the paper supplied from the paper feed unit 4 a to the discharge tray 42. In addition to the guide plate, the conveyance path 4b includes conveyance roller pairs 43 to 45 (in FIG. 1, the reference numerals are given in order from the upper one) that receive a driving force from a driving unit (not shown) and convey the paper. Is provided. In addition, the conveyance path 4b is provided with a registration roller pair 46 that waits for paper in front of the intermediate transfer unit 6 and sends the paper in time, a discharge roller pair 47 that discharges the paper to the discharge tray 42, and the like.

  The image forming unit 5 is a part that forms a toner image based on image data of an image to be formed, and includes an image forming unit 50 and an exposure device 51. The image forming unit 50 forms an image forming unit for four colors, that is, an image forming unit 50Bk that forms a black image, an image forming unit 50C that forms a cyan image, and a magenta image from the left side of FIG. And an image forming unit 50Y that forms a yellow image. The toner image formed by the image forming unit 5 is temporarily transferred (primary transfer) to an intermediate transfer belt 62 described later, and transferred (secondary transfer) from the intermediate transfer belt 62 to a sheet.

  Here, the details of the image forming units 50Bk to 50Y will be described with reference to FIG. Each of the image forming units 50Bk to 50Y has basically the same configuration except that the color of the toner image to be formed is different. Therefore, FIG. 2 shows only one color of the image forming unit 50. In the following, unless otherwise specified, Bk (black) and Y (yellow) are codes for identifying the colors of the image forming units 5. ), C (cyan), and M (magenta) are omitted.

  First, each photosensitive drum 52 (image carrier) provided in each image forming unit 50 carries a toner image on its peripheral surface. Each photosensitive drum 52 has a photosensitive layer such as amorphous silicon on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum drum, for example, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise at a predetermined process speed by a driving device (not shown).

  Each charging device 53 contacts the charging roller to charge the photosensitive drum 52 with a constant potential. Note that the charging device 53 may be configured by a corona discharge type or a brush. An exposure device 51 (see FIG. 1) below each image forming unit 5 converts an input color-separated image signal into an optical signal by a laser output unit (not shown), and the converted optical signal. Can be output for four colors, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 52 by scanning exposure.

  Each developing device 54 stores toner of a corresponding color. That is, the developing device 54 of the image forming unit 50Bk uses black toner, the developing device 54 of the image forming unit 50Y uses yellow toner, the developing device 54 of the image forming unit 50C uses cyan toner, and the developing device 54M develops. The devices 54 respectively store magenta toner. Each developing device 54 has a developing roller 55 that carries toner. Each developing roller 55 faces each photoconductor drum 52 and supplies toner. Each cleaning device 56 cleans and removes transfer residual toner and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52.

  Returning to FIG. The intermediate transfer unit 6 transfers the image on each photoconductive drum 52 onto the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 4a. That is, the intermediate transfer unit 6 receives the primary transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 52 and performs the secondary transfer on the paper. The intermediate transfer unit 6 includes a primary transfer roller 61 (a total of four rollers 61Bk to 61Y), an intermediate transfer belt 62, a driving roller 63, driven rollers 64 and 65, a secondary transfer roller 66, and a belt cleaning. Device 67.

  Each primary transfer roller 61 is provided to face each photoconductive drum 52 via an endless intermediate transfer belt 62 and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 62. Each primary transfer roller 61 is connected to a transfer bias applying unit (not shown) that applies a transfer voltage in which alternating current and direct current are superimposed, and the toner image on each photosensitive drum 52 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62. Transcript to.

  The intermediate transfer belt 62 is stretched around a primary transfer roller 61, a driving roller 63, and driven rollers 64 and 65, and is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by the rotational driving of the driving roller 63 connected to a driving mechanism such as a motor. Go around. Further, the driving roller 63 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 62 with the secondary transfer roller 66.

  The toner images of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta formed by the image forming units 5 are timed, and are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62 while being superimposed without any deviation. At the time of primary transfer, a transfer bias is applied to each primary transfer roller 61. Then, the superimposed toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 66 to which a predetermined voltage is applied. Residual toner and the like on the intermediate transfer belt 62 after the secondary transfer is removed by the belt cleaning device 67 and collected.

  The fixing unit 7 fixes the second-transferred toner image on the sheet by heat generated by a heating roller 71 (see FIG. 4) described later. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 42, and the image forming process is completed. Details of the fixing unit 7 will be described later.

(2. Hardware configuration of MFP)
Next, a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment has a main control unit 8 on an internal control board. The main control unit 8 is a part that controls each unit of the multifunction peripheral 100 and is provided in the apparatus main body. The main controller 8 is distinguished from an IH controller 90 (see FIG. 6), which will be described later, provided in the fixing unit 7. The main control unit 8 includes a CPU 81 and a storage unit 82 including a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like, and also includes a timing unit 83 that measures various times for control purposes.

  The CPU 81 is a central processing unit, expands a program or data stored in a ROM or the like into a RAM or the like, and controls or performs each part of the multifunction peripheral 100 based on the expanded control program or data.

  The ROM of the storage unit 82 is a program related to the multifunction device 100 such as a startup program at power-on, data related to the system of the multifunction device 100, data related to control of the multifunction device 100, setting data of the multifunction device 100 by the user, and the like. The various data are stored. Then, various programs and data such as a control program, control data, and image data are developed in the RAM of the storage unit 82. The HDD of the storage unit 82 is a large-capacity storage device that stores image data, for example.

  The main control unit 8 is connected to the document conveying device 2, the image reading unit 3, the operation panel 1, the paper feeding unit 4a, and the I / F unit 84, and also includes a conveyance path 4b via a driving unit (not shown). The image forming unit 5, the intermediate transfer unit 6, and the fixing unit 7 are connected to control each unit so that the multifunction peripheral 100 operates appropriately. Note that the drive unit described above is based on an instruction from the main control unit 8 and includes various rotating bodies (for example, a conveyance roller, a photosensitive drum, and the like) included in the conveyance path 4b, the image forming unit 5, the intermediate transfer unit 6, and the fixing unit 7. A transfer motor, a fixing roller, and the like). The fixing unit 7 and the main control unit 8 constitute the fixing heating device 9 of the present invention.

  The I / F unit 84 is an interface for connecting the multifunction device 100 to other devices, and includes a plurality of connectors and sockets. By this I / F unit 84, the multifunction peripheral 100 and a plurality of computers 200 (for example, personal computers) can be communicably connected via a network. Therefore, the multi-function device 100 can perform printing (printer function) based on the image data and instructions transmitted from the computer 200, and transmit the image data obtained by the image reading unit 3 to the computer 200. Yes (scanner function). Further, by providing a modem or the like in the I / F unit 84, it is possible to perform FAX communication with the external FAX apparatus 300 using a public communication line or the like (FAX function). For convenience, FIG. 3 shows only one computer 200 and one FAX apparatus 300.

(3. About the fixing unit)
Next, details of the fixing unit 7 will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the fixing unit 7, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the fixing unit 7. The fixing unit 7 includes a heating roller 71, a fixing roller 72, a heating belt 73, an exciting coil 74, a core 75, an external core 76, and a pressure roller 77. The heating roller 71, the fixing roller 72, the heating belt 73, the core 75, and the pressure roller 77 are provided so that the axial direction (also referred to as the central axis direction or the rotation axis direction) is parallel.

  The heating roller 71 is a rotating rotating body made of, for example, iron, and is heated by induction heating by the exciting coil 74. The heating roller 71 has the axial direction in the paper surface depth direction (direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction, paper width direction) in FIG.

  The fixing roller 72 has, for example, a circumferential surface formed of a sponge-like material and has elasticity, and is provided to face the heating roller 71 through a gap. The fixing roller 72 is rotationally driven by a fixing motor (not shown).

  The heating belt 73 is an endless belt stretched by the heating roller 71 and the fixing roller 72. The heating belt 73 is formed of a thinly stretched metal (for example, nickel) and is heated by induction heating by the exciting coil 74. Since the heating belt 73 circulates by the rotation of the heating roller 71 and the fixing roller 72, it can be said that the heating belt 73 is also a kind of rotating body. That is, in the present embodiment, “rotation” means rotation (rotation symmetry (axisymmetric)) in which a movement locus at one point on the peripheral surface becomes a perfect circle, such as rotation of the heating roller 71 and the fixing roller 72. And the rotation of one point on the peripheral surface deviating from a perfect circle (non-rotationally symmetric (non-axisymmetric) rotation), such as the rotation of the heating belt 73.

  That is, both the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73 can be referred to as a rotating body that rotates, and these constitute a heating unit that is heated by induction heating. For convenience of explanation below, the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73 are collectively referred to as a heating unit 78 when it is not necessary to distinguish between the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73.

  As described above, since the heating belt 73 is stretched between the heating roller 71 and the fixing roller 72, the heat generated by the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73 is conducted to the fixing roller 72. Further, the heating belt 73 is in contact with a sheet conveyed between the pressure roller 77 for fixing the toner image.

  The pressure roller 77 is formed of, for example, a sponge-like material, and is urged by an urging member 79 (for example, a spring) in the direction of the fixing roller 72 while the heating belt 73 is sandwiched between the fixing roller 72. . As a result, the pressure roller 77 is in pressure contact with the heating belt 73, and a fixing nip N is formed.

  In the above configuration, when the driving force of a fixing motor (not shown) is transmitted, when the fixing roller 72 rotates, the heating belt 73 rotates, and the heating roller 71 rotates. Further, the pressure roller 77 also rotates in accordance with the rotation of the fixing roller 72. Then, while rotating the fixing roller 72 and the like, the sheet on which the toner image is transferred enters the fixing nip N and passes through the sheet, and the toner image is heated and pressurized in the fixing nip N, and as a result, the toner image is applied to the sheet. It is fixed. Note that a broken line in FIG. 4 indicates a path along which the sheet is conveyed.

  Next, a configuration for induction heating the heating unit 78 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the exciting coil 74 and the core 75 described above are provided at a position opposite to the fixing roller 72 side with respect to the heating roller 71 and at a position facing the peripheral surface of the heating roller 71. It has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the exciting coil 74 is provided facing the heating unit 78 (the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73) and avoids the gap G between the heating roller 71 and the core 75. Further, it is wound along the axial direction of the heating roller 71. Further, the excitation coil 74 is configured such that the interval between the excitation coils 74 in the direction perpendicular to the facing direction of the core 75 and the heating roller 71 increases from the core 75 side toward the heating roller 71 side (fixing roller 72 side). It is wound along the axial direction of the heating roller 71. As shown in FIG. 5, the exciting coil 74 is composed of a single conducting wire, and an alternating voltage is applied to terminals at both ends of the conducting wire by a drive element 94 (see FIG. 6) described later (a high-frequency current is generated). Supplied).

  The core 75 is a cylindrical or columnar member formed of ferrite, for example, and forms a magnetic path, that is, a path of magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil 74. The outer core 76 is made of ferrite, for example, and forms a magnetic path and prevents magnetic flux from diffusing. The outer core 76 is provided outside the exciting coil 74, that is, on the opposite side to the heating roller 71 with respect to the exciting coil 74.

  In the above configuration, when an AC voltage is applied to the excitation coil 74 and a high-frequency current flows through the excitation coil 74, a magnetic field is formed as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. An eddy current is generated when the magnetic flux passes through the heating belt 73 and the heating roller 71, and the heating belt 73 and the heating roller 71 are heated (inductively heated) by Joule heat generated by the eddy current. By rotating the fixing roller 72 and the like during induction heating, the heat of the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73 is conducted to the fixing roller 72 and further to the pressure roller 77. At the time of fixing, the fixing roller 72 and the like are warmed to about 170 ° C., for example. Therefore, as described above, the toner image can be fixed to the sheet by conveying the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing nip N while rotating the fixing roller 72 and the like.

  As described above, by using ferrite, which is a ferromagnetic material, as the material of the core 75, the magnetic flux of the exciting coil 74 is concentrated near the position facing the heating roller 71, and the magnetic flux is efficiently applied to the heating belt 73 and the heating roller 71. Can be interlinked. In addition, ferrite has a large electrical resistance value, hardly causes eddy current loss, and can efficiently heat the heating belt 73 and the heating roller 71.

(4-1. Hardware configuration related to fixing control)
Next, a hardware configuration related to fixing control will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration relating to fixing control of the multifunction peripheral 100. The fixing unit 7 according to the present embodiment includes an IH (induction heating) control unit 90, a rotation detection sensor 91, and a temperature sensor 92 in addition to the heating roller 71 and the excitation coil 74 described above. It is assumed that the IH control unit 90 and the main control unit 8 described above are communicably connected by communication means such as a bus.

  The IH control unit 90 controls the supply of current to the exciting coil 74 to warm the heating unit 78 by induction heating. The IH control unit 90 includes a controller 93 and a drive element 94.

  The controller 93 is a CPU that determines the rotation state (rotation / stop) of the heating unit 78 based on the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91. The controller 93 is supplied with a signal for instructing ON / OFF of heating of the heating unit 78 and a signal for instructing electric power to be consumed by the fixing unit 7 from the main control unit 8. The controller 93 also has a function as a time measuring unit that measures the duration of the instruction input when a signal that instructs heating ON of the heating unit 78 is input from the main control unit 8.

  The controller 93 drives the drive element 94 only when the controller 93 itself determines that the heating unit 78 is rotating and a signal instructing heating of the heating unit 78 is input from the main control unit 8. Then, the heating unit 78 is heated. In other words, only when the IH control unit 90 and the main control unit 8 determine that the heating unit 78 is rotating, the drive element 94 is driven by the controller 93 and the heating unit 78 is heated. On the other hand, when the controller 93 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped, the controller 93 does not drive the drive element 94 and the heating unit 78 is not heated.

  The drive element 94 is configured by a PWM circuit that is controlled by the controller 93 and supplies a current to the exciting coil 74, and induction-heats the heating unit 78 by supplying the current to the exciting coil 74. Here, the controller 93 described above is connected to the power supply device 85 in the multifunction peripheral 100, and detects the power that is supplied from the drive element 94 to the excitation coil 74 and consumed to warm the heating unit 78. Then, the controller 93 operates the drive element 94 so that the power instructed from the main control unit 8 matches the detected power. That is, the controller 93 calculates the frequency of the (high frequency) current that gives the instructed power, and operates the drive element 94 so that the current having that frequency is supplied to the exciting coil 74. Thus, by controlling the frequency of the current supplied to the exciting coil 74, the power consumption in the fixing unit 7 can be adjusted.

  The rotation detection sensor 91 detects the rotation state of the heating unit 78 and outputs a rotation detection signal indicating the rotation state to both the controller 93 of the IH control unit 90 and the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8. The rotation detection sensor 91 only outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotation state of the heating unit 78, and the above detection signal is input to determine whether or not the heating unit 78 is actually rotating. Controller 93 and CPU 81. That is, the controller 93 and the CPU 81 determine rotation / stop of the heating unit 78 based on the input rotation detection signal. As the rotation detection signal, for example, a pulse signal that becomes a high level when the heating unit 78 rotates and becomes a low level when stopped can be assumed, but an AC waveform may also be used. A method for determining the rotation state based on the rotation detection signal in the controller 93 and the CPU 81 will be described later.

  Here, the rotation detection sensor 91 can be constituted by, for example, a photo interrupter having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other. In this case, the rotation state of the heating roller 71 can be detected by detecting that the light from the light emitting unit is blocked by the gear teeth provided on the rotation shaft of the heating roller 71. The rotation detection sensor 91 may be configured with an encoder.

  The rotation detection sensor 91 may be configured to detect the rotation state of the heating belt 73. In this case, a reflection type photo interrupter (photo reflector) may be used as the rotation detection sensor 91. For example, by marking the end of the heating belt 73 at predetermined intervals along the rotation direction (movement direction), and detecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected by the mark by the light receiving unit, The rotation state of the heating belt 73 can be detected.

  The temperature sensor 92 is a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the heating unit 78, and is formed of, for example, a thermistor. An output (temperature detection signal) from the temperature sensor 92 is input to the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8. Thereby, the CPU 81 can determine whether or not the heating unit 78 is normally heated (whether a low temperature abnormality has occurred).

(4-2. Control by main controller)
Next, control by the main control unit 8 will be described as fixing control with the above configuration. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations under the control of the main control unit 8. When the printing operation is started, the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 rotates the fixing roller 72 by a driving unit (not shown) to rotate the heating unit 78 (the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73). Based on the rotation detection signal from the sensor 91, it is determined whether or not the heating unit 78 is actually rotating (S1).

  When it is determined in S1 that the heating unit 78 is rotating, the CPU 81 instructs the controller 93 of the IH control unit 90 to turn on the heating unit 78, that is, to the excitation coil 74. A signal for instructing supply of current is output (S2), and an instruction signal for power to be consumed by the fixing unit 7 is also output (S3).

  Next, the CPU 81 determines whether or not a notification that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal has been received from the controller 93 of the IH control unit 90 (S4). When the notification is received at S4, the CPU 81 outputs a heating OFF instruction signal to the controller 93 to avoid heating of the heating unit 78 in an abnormal state (S5), as shown in FIG. In addition, an error indicating that the rotation detection signal is abnormal is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 1a as the display unit (S6), and the series of processes is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S1 that the heating unit 78 is not rotating, the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 determines whether or not the rotation stop of the heating unit 78 is abnormal (S7). For example, in S7, the CPU 81 cannot detect the rotation of the heating unit 78 even after a predetermined time has elapsed even though the driving unit is driven to rotate the heating unit 78 by starting the printing operation. In this case, an abnormality due to the disconnection of the signal line of the rotation detection signal input from the rotation detection sensor 91 to the main control unit 8 is suspected, so the CPU 81 instructs the IH control unit 90 to turn on the heating of the heating unit 78. Instead, an error indicating that the signal line is disconnected is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 1a (S8), and the process is terminated.

  In S4, when the notification that the rotation detection signal is abnormal is not received from the IH control unit 90, the processing from S1 is repeated until the print job is completed (S9). If the print job is completed in S9, the series of processing is ended.

(4-3. Control by IH control unit)
Next, fixing control by the IH control unit 90 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations under the control of the IH control unit 90. When the printing operation is started and the heating ON instruction signal and the power instruction signal of the heating unit 78 are input from the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 to the controller 93 of the IH control unit 90 (S11), then the controller 93 judges whether the heating part 78 is rotating based on the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 (S12). If there is no input of both signals in S11, the process is terminated as it is.

  If it is determined in S12 that the heating unit 78 is rotating, the determination that the heating unit 78 is rotating is the same in both the main control unit and the IH control unit 90. The controller 93 calculates a frequency according to the power instructed in S11, drives and controls the drive element 94 so that a current of the frequency is supplied to the exciting coil 74, and heats the heating unit 78 (S13). . Thereafter, the controller 93 determines whether to stop the rotation of the heating unit 78 based on the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 or until an instruction signal for turning off the heating of the heating unit 78 is input from the main control unit 8. The drive element 94 is continuously driven (S14).

  In S <b> 14, when the controller 93 determines that the heating unit 78 has stopped rotating, or when a heating OFF instruction signal is input from the main control unit 8 to the controller 93, the controller 93 uses the drive element 94. The supply of current to the exciting coil 74 is stopped (S15), and the process related to fixing control is terminated. For example, at the end of the print job, the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped along with the rotation stop of the fixing roller 72. In this case, the heating of the heating unit 78 by the supply of the current is stopped.

  On the other hand, when the controller 93 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped based on the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 in S12, the determination of the rotation of the heating unit 78 is the main control unit. 8 and the IH control unit 90 do not agree with each other, the controller 93 does not drive the drive element 94 and stops supplying the current to the exciting coil 74 (S16). That is, in S <b> 16, no current is supplied to the exciting coil 74 by the drive element 94 and the heating unit 78 is not heated.

  Then, within a certain period (for example, 5 seconds) after the controller 93 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped, the heating ON instruction input from the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 is repeated continuously or intermittently. When it is performed (S17), the controller 93 notifies the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal after the fixed period has elapsed (S18), and ends the process. In S17, when the heating ON instruction is not continuously input from the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8, the main control unit 8 notifies the S18 that the heating unit 78 has been determined to stop rotating in the middle. Without processing.

  As described above, the heating unit 78 is heated by the IH control unit 90 only when both the IH control unit 90 and the main control unit 8 determine that the heating unit 78 is rotating (see S11 to S13). . As described above, since the heating of the heating unit 78 is controlled based on the determination of both control units, the heating unit 78 can be protected twice, and the heating unit 78 is melted by the heating while the rotation is stopped. Deterioration can be surely prevented. Further, there is no danger of the heating unit 78 being heated due to a runaway or soft bug of one control unit, and the fixing heating device 9 and thus the multifunction device 100 having a safe configuration can be realized.

  Further, the IH control unit 90 receives a command to turn on the heating unit 78 from the main control unit 8 (when an instruction to supply current to the excitation coil 74 is received), the rotation detection sensor 91 When it is determined that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped based on the rotation detection signal (No in S12), no current is supplied to the exciting coil 74 and the heating unit 78 is not heated (see S16). ).

  For example, when the rotation detection signal is at the low level for a predetermined time and the edge of the signal is not detected for the predetermined time, the IH control unit 90 includes the heating unit 78 including the case where the signal line of the rotation detection signal is disconnected. It can be determined that the rotation of is stopped. Even if the IH control unit 90 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped, if the main control unit 8 determines that the heating unit 78 is rotating, the main control unit 8 There is a possibility that it is erroneously determined that the heating unit 78 is rotating due to the influence of noise included in the rotation detection signal.

  As described above, when the main control unit 8 determines that the heating unit 78 is rotating, the IH control unit 90 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 is stopped. It is considered that the rotation detection signal was abnormal due to wire breakage or noise. Therefore, the worst situation can be prevented by stopping the heating of the heating unit 78 under such an abnormal state. In other words, the rotation of the heating unit 78 is actually stopped, but even when the CPU 81 erroneously determines that the heating unit 78 is rotating due to the influence of noise included in the rotation detection signal, the heating unit 78 is heated. Therefore, melting and deterioration during the rotation stop of the heating unit 78 can be prevented.

  If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 does not rise above a certain value (for example, 100 ° C.) even though the main control unit 8 instructs the current supply to the exciting coil 7, the main control unit 8 can also determine that a low temperature error has occurred due to a failure of the temperature sensor 92. However, if the IH control unit 90 determines that the rotation of the heating unit 78 has stopped, but the current supply instruction from the main control unit 8 to the excitation coil 74 continues, the main control is performed. The unit 8 is notified that the rotation detection signal is abnormal (see S17 and S18). Thereby, the main control unit 8 is not a low-temperature error due to a failure of the temperature sensor 92 of the heating unit 78, even if the heating unit 78 is not heated even though the supply instruction is performed, It is possible to recognize that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal due to the influence of noise, and it is possible to prompt an external service person to perform appropriate repair for the abnormality.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, if the main control unit 8 displays on the liquid crystal display unit 1a as an error display that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal based on the above recognition, the serviceman will display the rotation detection signal. In order to remedy the signal line breakage and repair it, or to reduce the influence of noise, various parameters (such as a port monitoring period described later) used for noise judgment described later are changed, or the main control unit 8 It is possible to take measures such as exchanging the mounted substrate, and it is possible to respond quickly to a failure.

  In order for the main control unit 8 to recognize not the low temperature error but the abnormality of the rotation detection signal, the notification from the IH control unit 90 to the main control unit 8 is performed until the main control unit 8 recognizes the low temperature error. Need to be done. In consideration of this, the IH control unit 90 does not increase the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 beyond a certain value even though the main control unit 8 instructs the supply of current to the exciting coil 7. Therefore, before determining that a low temperature error has occurred, the main control unit 8 is notified that the rotation detection signal is abnormal. That is, the end of the certain period described above is before the time point when the main control unit 8 determines that a low temperature error has occurred.

  When the IH control unit 90 notifies the main control unit 8 at such a timing, the measure against the abnormality of the rotation detection signal is appropriately applied to the service person through the display on the liquid crystal display unit 1a, not the measure against the low temperature error. It is possible to promptly and surely. That is, even when there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal, it is possible to reliably prevent a failure (eg, replacement of the temperature sensor 92) from being determined as a low temperature error.

  From the above, in this embodiment, the IH control unit 90 stops the rotation of the heating unit 78 based on the rotation detection signal when there is an instruction to supply current from the main control unit 8 to the excitation coil 74. If the above supply instruction continues thereafter, the current is not supplied to the exciting coil 74 (while the current is not supplied to the exciting coil 74), and the main control unit 8 is not supplied. Thus, it can be said that the rotation detection signal has been notified of abnormality (see S11, S12, S16 to S18), and it can be said that the above-described effects can be obtained.

(5. About judgment method of rotation of heating unit)
Next, a method for determining the rotation / stop of the heating unit 78 based on the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 in the CPU 81 of the main control unit 8 and the controller 93 of the IH control unit 90 will be described. Note that, as described above, the rotation detection signal is a pulse signal that is at a high level when the heating unit 78 rotates and is at a low level when stopped.

  In general, when judging whether the edge (rising or falling) of a pulse signal input to the CPU is noise, as shown in FIG. 10, the CPU input port is periodically sampled to grasp the voltage. When a high level (or low level) is detected continuously several times (for example, four times), it can be determined that the edge of the signal is not noise. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 11, when the frequency of the signal input to the CPU increases compared to the case of FIG. 10, the high level (or low level) is detected several times (for example, four times) continuously. Therefore, the edge of the signal is determined as noise. This problem can be solved by shortening the monitoring period of the input port. In this case, however, the frequency of interrupts, that is, the frequency of monitoring the input port is increased. Become.

  Therefore, when the input port is regularly monitored, a method of determining whether or not the edge of the signal is noise from the past three detection results is used. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the input port is monitored three times and a high level is detected twice in succession, it is determined that the edge of the signal is not a noise but an edge. Also, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the low level is detected twice consecutively while monitoring the input port three times, it is determined that the edge of the signal is not a noise but an edge. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the input port is monitored three times and the high level or the low level is not continuously detected twice, the edge of the signal is not an edge. It is determined that the noise is low, and it is assumed that the noise level is low three times.

  According to this method, if the monitoring period of the input port is 2.5 msec, for example, it is possible to determine whether or not the edge of a signal having a minimum pulse width of 5 msec is noise and to detect rotation. It becomes possible. However, this alone is not different from simply reducing the number of chattering, and is insufficient as compared with the general noise detection described above.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the main control unit 8 and the IH control unit 90 each of the heating unit 78 based on the number of times the pulse edge in the rotation detection signal output from the rotation detection sensor 91 appears within a predetermined time. Judge rotation / stop. For example, if a signal edge is detected twice or more by the method shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C within 300 msec, it is determined that the heating unit 78 is rotating. In the example of FIG. 13, since the edge of the signal can be detected six times during 300 msec, it can be determined that the heating unit 78 is rotating in this case.

  For example, in a method in which each edge of the rotation detection signal output from the rotation detection sensor 91 is reliably detected and each edge is associated with rotation and stop of the heating unit 78, the rotation detection signal If the frequency increases, the edge may be judged as noise and rotation may not be detected. However, in the present embodiment, instead of reliably detecting each edge of the rotation detection signal and judging the rotation of the heating unit 78 in this way, the total number of edges within a predetermined time is determined. Therefore, the rotation of the heating unit 78 is determined. Thereby, even if the frequency of the rotation detection signal increases, it is possible to comprehensively and easily determine whether or not the heating unit 78 is rotating.

  Further, as described above, even if the frequency of the rotation detection signal is increased by determining the rotation of the heating unit 78 from the total number of edges within a predetermined time of the rotation detection signal, the monitoring cycle of the input port is increased. The rotation of the heating unit 78 can be determined without shortening. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the frequency of interrupts for monitoring the input port and a heavy noise determination process.

  Note that if the predetermined time is too long for counting the number of times the edge appears, it takes time to determine the rotation of the heating unit 78, and the heating is stopped when the heating unit 78 is actually in the rotation stopped state. It is conceivable that the heating part 78 starts to melt after a delay. On the other hand, if the predetermined time is too short, the accuracy of the determination of rotation may decrease. From the above viewpoint, the predetermined time is preferably about 300 to 500 msec.

  Incidentally, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a preferred form of noise determination. For convenience of explanation below, the monitoring periods of the input ports of the main control unit 8 and the IH control unit 90 are defined as a first period and a second period, respectively. In other words, the first period refers to a period for detecting whether the input rotation detection signal is high level or low level at the input port of the main control unit 8 to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 is input. On the other hand, the second cycle refers to a cycle in which whether the input rotation detection signal is high level or low level is detected at the input port of the IH control unit 90 to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection sensor 91 is input.

  In the present embodiment, the first period is set to 2.5 msec, for example, and the second period is set to 1 msec, for example, and these periods are made different from each other. By doing so, the possibility that the main control unit 8 and the IH control unit 90 simultaneously detect the same noise is reduced. That is, in the example of FIG. 14, the IH control unit 90 detects the high level twice in succession even though it is noise, so that the noise is erroneously recognized as an edge. Although the rotation is recognized, the main control unit 8 does not detect the same noise because the monitoring period is different from that of the IH control unit 90. Therefore, the rotation stop of the heating unit 78 is recognized without being affected by noise.

  Thus, even if one controller (IH controller 90 in the above example) erroneously detects the rotation of the heating unit 78 due to the influence of noise, the other controller (main in the above example) is detected. Since the control unit 8) can reliably detect the stop of the rotation of the heating unit 78, it is possible to prevent the heating unit 78 from being heated while the rotation is stopped. That is, a system that is resistant to noise can be realized, and deterioration of the heating unit 78 due to heating while rotation is stopped can be prevented.

  Various parameters such as the predetermined time, which is a period for counting the number of times an edge appears, and the monitoring period (first period, second period) of the input port can be appropriately set and changed by the operation panel 1. is there.

  In the above description, the main control unit 8 is described as being provided outside the fixing unit 7. However, the main control unit 8 is provided in the fixing unit 7, and the main control unit 8 includes an image. You may make it perform control of the whole forming apparatus. In addition to the fixing control, the main control unit 8 may control the entire image forming apparatus or only the fixing unit 7 as in the present embodiment. In this case, a control unit for controlling each unit other than the fixing unit 7 in the image forming apparatus may be provided separately. That is, as long as the toner image fixing control is performed by the fixing heating device 9 including the fixing unit 7 and the main control unit 8, regardless of whether or not the main control unit 8 also controls other parts. The effects described in this embodiment can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, the heating belt 73 is stretched between the heating roller 71 and the fixing roller 72, and heat generated by the heating roller 71 and the heating belt 73 is conducted to the fixing roller 72 to perform fixing. Of course, it is possible to directly fix the image with the heating roller 71 without using the heating belt 73. That is, the heating unit 78 can be configured only by the heating roller 71.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus is configured by the multifunction peripheral 100 has been described. However, the configuration illustrated in the present exemplary embodiment is different from other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and a rotary color printer. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus and a monochrome image forming apparatus.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by induction heating.

1a Liquid crystal display (display)
7 Fixing unit 8 Main control unit 9 Fixing heating device 71 Heating roller (heating unit)
73 Heating belt (heating unit)
74 Excitation coil 78 Heating unit 90 IH control unit 91 Rotation detection sensor (rotation detection unit)
92 Temperature sensor (temperature detector)
100 MFP (image forming device)

Claims (6)

A main control unit;
A fixing heating device including a fixing unit controlled by the main control unit and configured to fix a toner image on a sheet by heat generated by a rotating heating unit;
The fixing unit includes:
An IH control unit for heating the heating unit by induction heating by controlling the supply of current to the exciting coil;
A rotation detection unit that detects a rotation state of the heating unit and outputs a rotation detection signal indicating the rotation state to the IH control unit and the main control unit;
When the main control unit determines that the heating unit is rotating based on the rotation detection signal, the main control unit instructs the IH control unit to supply current to the excitation coil,
The IH control unit determines that the rotation of the heating unit is stopped based on the rotation detection signal when an instruction to supply current to the excitation coil is received from the main control unit, and then the When the supply instruction continues, the fixing heating device is configured to notify the main control unit that the rotation detection signal is abnormal without supplying current to the exciting coil. The fixing unit further includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the heating unit,
Before the IH control unit determines that a low temperature error has occurred because the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit does not exceed a certain value even though the main control unit is instructing the supply, The fixing heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main control unit is notified that there is an abnormality in the rotation detection signal.   The main control unit and the IH control unit respectively rotate the heating unit based on the number of times that an edge composed of a rising edge or a falling edge of a rotation detection signal output from the rotation detection unit appears within a predetermined time. The fixing heating device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing heating device is determined. In the input port of the main control unit to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection unit is input, a cycle for detecting whether the input rotation detection signal is high level or low level is a first cycle,
In the input port of the IH control unit to which the rotation detection signal from the rotation detection unit is input, a cycle for detecting whether the input rotation detection signal is high level or low level is a second cycle.
The fixing heating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first period and the second period are different from each other.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing heating device according to claim 1. A display unit for displaying information;
The said main control part displays the said abnormality on the said display part, when the notification that the said rotation detection signal had abnormality was received from the said IH control part. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

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