JP2015018206A - Heating apparatus, fixing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating apparatus which improves conversion efficiency for converting vibration energy of a vibration member to thermal energy, a fixing apparatus including the heating apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A heating apparatus includes: a vibrator 1 which brings the vibrator 1 as a vibration member into contact with a surface of a transfer sheet S as a material to be vibrated, to heat the transfer sheet S; and a fixation opposite roller 3. In a surface of the vibrator 1, a horn tip surface 102 is formed which is a vibration-member facing surface facing the surface of the transfer sheet S and partially in contact with the transfer sheet S. The horn tip surface has an irregular shape formed by a tip projection 102a and a tip recess 102b.

Description

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

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimile machines, and copying machines are apparatuses that form images including characters and symbols on recording media such as paper, cloth, and OHP sheets based on image information. In particular, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are widely used in offices because they can form high-definition images on plain paper at high speed. In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the toner on the recording medium is heated at 120 [° C.] to 160 [° C.] to be softened or melted, and the softened or melted toner is pressurized to thereby apply the toner. A thermal fixing method for fixing on a recording medium is widely used. This thermal fixing method is preferably used because it can provide a high fixing speed and high fixed image quality.

  In general, a fixing device of a heat fixing system includes a heating member that includes a heat source such as an infrared heater for heating, and a pressure member that contacts the heating member to form a fixing nip for fixing. By passing a recording medium such as transfer paper onto which a toner image has been transferred through a fixing nip formed by a heating member and a pressure member, the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressing. It has become. In addition, since it takes time to set the heating member to a temperature necessary for fixing, there is also a case where the heating member is continuously energized so that the heating member does not become a certain temperature or less even when the apparatus is not fixed.

  About half or more of the power consumption in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus having such a heat fixing type fixing device is consumed in heating the toner in the fixing device. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of countermeasures for environmental problems in recent years, an image forming apparatus that can save energy by suppressing power consumption is desired. For this reason, there is a demand for energy saving in the fixing device that consumes more than half of the power consumption in the conventional image forming apparatus.

  Patent Documents 1 to 5 disclose a heating device that uses ultrasonic vibration without using a heater as a heating and fixing heating device. These heating devices vibrate a vibration member in contact with the surface of the vibration application target material, thereby heating the vibration application target material and the toner that vibrates through the vibration application target material, and recording the toner using this heat. Fix to the medium. In this heating device, the time required to bring the material to be imparted with vibration and the toner to the required temperature is short, and it is not necessary to energize the apparatus during standby without fixing, leading to a reduction in energy consumption. Further, in this heating device, vibration energy is converted into heat energy by a vibration application target material or toner. For this reason, compared with a heating member using a heat source such as a heater, it is possible to suppress thermal energy from being applied to materials other than the vibration application target material and the toner, and energy efficiency is good, leading to energy reduction.

In a heating apparatus that vibrates a vibration member that is in contact with the surface of a vibration application target material, further energy saving is required by increasing the conversion efficiency when converting vibration energy into heat energy.
The problem of increasing the conversion efficiency for converting such vibration energy into heat energy is not limited to the heating device provided in the fixing device, but the same problem as long as the heating device converts the vibration energy of the vibration member into heat energy and heats it. Occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and an object thereof is to provide a heating device capable of improving the conversion efficiency for converting the vibration energy of the vibration member into heat energy, and the heating device. A fixing device and an image forming apparatus are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 of the present application is directed to a heating device that heats a vibration imparting target material by bringing the vibration member into contact with the surface of the vibration imparting target material to vibrate. The vibration member has a component perpendicular to the surface of the vibration application target material, and the vibration member is in contact with the vibration application target material on the vibration member side facing surface facing the surface of the vibration application target material. The side facing surface has an uneven shape.

  According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency for converting the vibration energy of the vibration member into heat energy.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device according to the embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of a tandem type image forming unit. Explanatory drawing of an experiment example. Explanatory drawing of the horn front end surface from which the extension direction of a front-end | tip recessed part turns into the direction which inclines with respect to the conveyance direction of a transfer paper. The expanded explanatory view of the lower end vicinity of the vibrator which made the cross-sectional shape of the front-end | tip convex part the semicircle shape. The expanded explanatory view of the lower end vicinity of the vibrator which used the cross-sectional shape of the front-end | tip convex part trapezoid. An enlarged explanatory view of a horn tip surface of a vibrator having a tip convex portion in a hemispherical shape and a staggered arrangement, (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a side view. Enlarged explanatory view of the horn tip surface of a vibrator having a downstream flat convex portion on the downstream side of the concave and convex portions arranged in the tip convex zigzag pattern, (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a bottom view. Side view. FIG. 10 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of a fixing unit of the fixing device according to the first exemplary embodiment to which the vibrator illustrated in FIG. 9 is attached. Explanatory drawing of the structure which made the pressure direction magnitude | size small the downstream flat convex part rather than the front-end | tip convex part. The expansion explanatory drawing of the horn front end surface of a vibrator provided with a downstream flat convex part in the downstream of the front convex part formed of the groove | channel extended in the width direction. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a modification. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to an eighth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a ninth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device according to a tenth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a copying machine 500) will be described. The copier 500 described below is an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and the present invention is not limited to this.

First, the basic configuration of the copying machine 500 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the copying machine 500. The copier 500 is a tandem type color image forming apparatus, and includes a printer unit 150 as a toner image forming unit that is a main body of the image forming apparatus, a paper feeding device 200, a scanner 300, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 400. And.

The printer unit 150 is provided with an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer belt 50 at the center. The intermediate transfer belt 50 is stretched around three support rollers, that is, a belt driving roller 14, a cleaning counter roller 15, and a secondary transfer counter roller 16, and can rotate clockwise in FIG. In the vicinity of the cleaning counter roller 15, an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17 that is an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 50 is disposed.
In addition, four image forming units corresponding to toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are provided along the outer stretched surface between the belt driving roller 14 and the cleaning counter roller 15 of the intermediate transfer belt 50. 18 (Y, C, M, K) are juxtaposed. The four image forming units 18 (Y, C, M, K) are arranged in the order of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) from the upstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50. And tandem type image forming unit 120.

  An exposure device 21 is disposed above the tandem type image forming unit 120. The secondary transfer device 22 is disposed on the opposite side (below the intermediate transfer belt 50) to the side where the tandem image forming unit 120 is disposed with the intermediate transfer belt 50 interposed therebetween. In the secondary transfer device 22, a transfer conveyance belt 24 that is an endless belt is stretched around a pair of transfer conveyance support rollers 23, and one of the pair of transfer conveyance support rollers 23 is rotationally driven as a drive roller. The transfer / conveying belt 24 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. Further, the right side transfer conveyance support roller 23 and the secondary transfer counter roller 16 in FIG. 2 are in contact with each other with the intermediate transfer belt 50 and the transfer conveyance belt 24 interposed therebetween. A contact portion with the conveyance belt 24 becomes a secondary transfer nip.

A fixing device 100 for fixing the toner image on the transfer paper S is disposed on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 2) of the transfer paper S that is a recording medium by the secondary transfer device 22 in the printer unit 150. . The fixing device 100 includes a vibrator 1, which will be described in detail later, and a fixing counter roller 3 that holds the transfer sheet S at a contact portion with the vibrator 1.
Below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 100 in the printer unit 150, a reversing device 28 that reverses the transfer paper S when an image is formed on both sides of the transfer paper S is disposed.

  Next, formation of a full color image (color copy) using the copying machine 500 will be described. First, a document is set on the document table 130 of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, or the automatic document feeder 400 is opened and a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300. close up.

  When the user presses the start switch on the operation panel (not shown), when the document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the document is transported and moved onto the contact glass 32, and then the scanner 300 is driven. The first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel. On the other hand, when a document is set on the contact glass 32, the scanner 300 is immediately driven, and the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel. At this time, the light from the light source is irradiated by the first traveling body 33 so that the light is reflected by the document surface, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors in the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34, Light is received by the reading sensor 36 through the imaging lens 35. As a result, a color original (color image) is read and used as black, yellow, magenta, and cyan image information.

  Each image information of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan is transmitted to the exposure device 21, and exposure light corresponding to each image information is directed to each photoreceptor 10 of each image forming unit 18 in the tandem type image forming unit 120. Each is irradiated. As a result, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are formed in each image forming unit 18.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of a tandem type image forming unit 120 including four image forming units 18 (Y, C, M, K). The four image forming units 18 (Y, C, M, and K) have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be used are different from each other. Therefore, in FIG. , K are omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 18 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 10, and a charging device 160 as a charging unit, a developing device 61, and a primary transfer roller as a primary transfer unit around the photoconductor 10. 62, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, a charge removal device 64, and the like.

  As the photosensitive member 10, a drum-shaped member is used in which a photosensitive organic layer is applied to a base tube made of aluminum or the like to form a photosensitive layer. However, an endless belt may be used. Further, as the charging device 160 that uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 10, a device that rotates a charging roller to which a charging bias is applied while contacting the photoconductor 10 is used. As the charging means, a scorotron charger or the like that performs a non-contact charging process on the photoreceptor 10 may be used. The photosensitive member 10 uniformly charged by the charging device 160 is irradiated with the exposure light L by the exposure device 21 based on the image information corresponding to each color, and the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of each color on the surface thereof. Is formed.

  The developing device 61 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 10 using a two-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner. An agitating unit 66 that conveys the two-component developer contained therein and supplies the developer sleeve 65 with stirring, and development that transfers toner of the two-component developer attached to the developing sleeve 65 to the photoreceptor 10. Part 67.

  The stirring unit 66 is provided at a position lower than the developing unit 67, and is provided on the bottom surface of the two conveying screws 68 arranged in parallel to each other, the partition plate 69 provided between the conveying screws 68, and the developing case 70. The toner density sensor 71 and the like are provided.

  The developing unit 67 includes a developing sleeve 65 that faces the photoreceptor 10 through the opening of the developing case 70, a magnet roller 72 that is non-rotatably provided inside the developing sleeve 65, a doctor blade 73 that approaches the developing sleeve 65, and the like. ing. The distance at the closest portion between the doctor blade 73 and the developing sleeve 65 is set to about 500 [μm].

  The developing sleeve 65 has a non-magnetic rotatable sleeve shape. Further, the magnet roller 72 that does not rotate with the developing sleeve 65 has, for example, five magnetic poles N1, S1, N2, S2, and S3 in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 65 from the position of the doctor blade 73. These five magnetic poles act on the two-component developer on the developing sleeve 65 at a predetermined position in the rotational direction. As a result, the two-component developer sent from the stirring unit 66 is attracted and carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 65, and a magnetic brush is formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 65 along the lines of magnetic force.

  The magnetic brush is transported to a developing region facing the photoreceptor 10 after being regulated to an appropriate layer thickness when passing through a position facing the doctor blade 73 as the developing sleeve 65 rotates. The toner is transferred onto the electrostatic latent image due to the potential difference between the developing bias applied to the developing sleeve 65 and the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 and contributes to development. Further, as the developing sleeve 65 rotates, the developing sleeve 65 returns to the developing portion 67 again. In the stirring unit 66, an appropriate amount of toner is supplied to the two-component developer based on the detection result by the toner density sensor 71. The developing means used in the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied may be one that uses a one-component developer that does not contain a magnetic carrier instead of using a two-component developer as in the developing device 61. Good.

  The toner image developed by the developing device 61 and formed on the photoconductor 10 is in contact with the photoconductor 10 via the intermediate transfer belt 50 and a primary transfer roller 62 that forms a primary transfer nip. The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 50 by a primary transfer electric field formed by a potential difference.

  As the photoconductor cleaning device 63, a system that presses the cleaning blade 75 made of polyurethane rubber against the photoconductor 10 is used, but another system may be used. The photoconductor cleaning device 63 employs a cleaning device having a contact conductive fur brush 76 whose outer peripheral surface is brought into contact with the photoconductor 10 to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the drawing for the purpose of improving the cleaning property. A metal electric field roller 77 for applying a bias to the fur brush 76 is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the tip of the scraper 78 is pressed against the electric field roller 77. The toner removed from the electric field roller 77 by the scraper 78 falls on the collecting screw 79 and is collected.

  The photoconductor cleaning device 63 having such a configuration removes residual toner on the photoconductor 10 with a fur brush 76 that rotates in a counter direction with respect to the photoconductor 10. The toner adhering to the fur brush 76 is removed by the electric field roller 77 to which a bias that rotates in contact with the fur brush 76 in the counter direction is applied. The toner adhering to the electric field roller 77 is cleaned by the scraper 78. The toner recovered by the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is brought to one side of the photoconductor cleaning device 63 by the recovery screw 79 and returned to the developing device 61 by the toner recycling device 80 for reuse.

  The static eliminator 64 includes a static elimination lamp or the like, and removes the surface potential of the photoconductor 10 by irradiating light. The surface of the photoreceptor 10 that has been neutralized in this way is uniformly charged by the charging device 160, and then an optical writing process for forming an electrostatic latent image is performed by the exposure device 21.

As described above, the four image forming units 18 (Y, C, M, K) of the tandem type image forming unit 120 generate a single color toner image on the surface of each photoconductor 10 based on the image information of each corresponding color. It can be formed on top.
The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images formed in this manner are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 50 that moves on the surface.
Then, yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 50 to form a color toner image.

On the other hand, in the paper feeding device 200, one of the paper feeding rollers 142 is selectively rotated to feed the transfer paper S from one of the paper feeding cassettes 144 provided in multiple stages in the paper bank 143, and one sheet at a time by the separation roller 145. Separated and sent to the paper feed path 146. Then, the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller 147 and guided to the main body side paper feed path 148 in the printer unit 150, and is abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. Alternatively, the manual sheet feeding roller 51 is rotated to feed the transfer paper S on the manual tray 54, separated one by one by the manual separation roller 52, put into the manual sheet feeding path 53, and abutted against the registration roller 49 in the same manner as described above. Stop.
The registration roller 49 is generally used while being grounded, but may be used in a state where a bias is applied to remove the paper dust of the transfer paper S.

  After the transfer paper S is abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped, the registration roller 49 is rotated in time with the color toner image synthesized on the intermediate transfer belt 50, and the transfer paper is directed toward the secondary transfer nip. S is sent out. A color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 50 is transferred onto the transfer sheet S by a transfer electric field formed between the transfer conveyance support roller 23 on the secondary transfer device 22 side and the secondary transfer counter roller 16 in the secondary transfer nip. Secondary transfer is performed, and a color toner image is carried on the transfer paper S. The transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 50 after passing through the secondary transfer nip is cleaned by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17.

  The transfer sheet S on which the color image is formed is conveyed by the secondary transfer device 22 and sent to the fixing device 100. In the fixing device 100, the color toner image described above is fixed onto the transfer sheet S by applying heat and pressure at the contact portion between the vibrator 1 and the fixing counter roller 3.

  The transfer sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 100 is given a conveying force by the post-fixing conveying roller pair 56 and reaches the position of the switching claw 55. The transfer sheet S is discharged by the discharge roller pair 156 by being switched in the transport direction by the switching claw 55 and stacked on the discharge tray 57. Alternatively, the conveyance direction is switched by the switching claw 55 so that the reversing device 28 is conveyed. Then, the image is reversed by the reversing device 28 and led to a position where it again strikes the registration roller 49, and an image is formed on the back surface at the secondary transfer nip and fixed by the fixing device 100, and then discharged by the discharge roller pair 156. Stacked on the paper tray 57.

[Example 1]
Next, a first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a first embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram of the fixing device 100, and FIG. 1B is a vicinity of the lower end of the vibrator 1 provided in the fixing device 100. FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the horn tip surface 102 which is the lower end surface of the vibrator 1 as viewed from below.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment holds the transfer sheet S between the vibrator 1 that is a vibration member and the fixing unit 9 that is a contact portion between the tip of the vibrator 1. And a fixing counter roller 3 which is a vibration counter member.
An arrow A in FIG. 1 indicates the conveyance direction of the transfer sheet S, and an arrow B in FIG. 1 indicates the vibration direction of the vibrator of the vibrator 1. In addition, a fixing conveyance guide 25 that supports the lower surface of the transfer paper S and guides the conveyance direction of the transfer paper S is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the fixing unit 9 in the conveyance direction of the transfer paper S.

The vibrator 1 is an ultrasonic vibration generating unit that generates ultrasonic vibrations, and a horn unit 101 that transmits longitudinal wave vibrations with an enlarged amplitude is transmitted to an output end face of an ultrasonic vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations. Connection is fixed. The longitudinal direction of the horn tip surface 102 which is the end surface of the horn portion 101 and faces the surface of the fixing facing roller 3 (the front and back direction in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the vertical direction in FIG. 1C) ) Is a dimension corresponding to the width direction of the transfer paper S.
In the fixing device 100, the vibrator 1 and the fixing counter roller 3 constitute a heating device using ultrasonic vibration means.

  In the fixing device 100, the transfer sheet S transported by the transfer transport belt 24 is transported as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. As a result, the transfer sheet S passes through the fixing unit 9 where the tip of the horn unit 101 of the vibrator 1 and the surface of the fixing counter roller 3 are in contact with each other. In the fixing unit 9, the vibrator 1 is arranged so that the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 faces the toner image of unfixed toner made of resin fine particles or the like carried on the transfer paper S. Has been placed. Further, in the fixing unit 9 which is a vibration applying unit that applies vibration when the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 comes into contact with the transfer paper S, the fixing counter roller 3 as a vibration counter member at a position facing the transfer paper S. Is arranged.

In the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the transfer paper S is heated by bringing the vibrator 1 as a vibration member into contact with the surface of the transfer paper S as a vibration application target material and causing it to vibrate. Further, the vibration direction of the vibrator 1 has a component orthogonal to the surface of the material to be given vibration, and the vibrator 1 is transferred to the transfer paper at the horn tip surface 102 which is the vibration member side facing surface facing the surface of the transfer paper S. Contact S. Furthermore, the vibrator 1 has a concavo-convex shape including a tip convex portion 102a and a tip concave portion 102b on the horn tip surface 102.
In FIG. 1, the part which becomes the front-end | tip convex part 102a is shown with the oblique line part for convenience. Here, in the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment, a member that forms the tip convex portion 102 a is not attached to the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1, but a portion that becomes the tip recess 102 b with respect to the horn tip surface 102. An uneven shape is created by providing grooves in

  In the fixing device 100, the vibrator 1 as ultrasonic vibration means is disposed so as to come into contact with the toner image surface carried on the transfer paper S as a recording medium, and the transfer paper S is sandwiched at a position facing the vibrator 1. A fixing counter roller 3 is disposed at the facing position. The vibration of the vibrator 1 is controlled by a control means (not shown). The vibrator 1 is driven at a predetermined frequency, and the horn unit 101 that contacts the transfer paper S vibrates in synchronization with the control signal.

When the transfer sheet S on which the unfixed toner image is formed by the unfixed toner 7 enters the fixing unit 9 that is a vibration applying unit, the transfer sheet S and the toner that forms an image according to the frequency of vibration of the horn unit 101 are combined. The toner is fixed on the transfer paper S by applying pressure. As a result, the toner on the transfer paper S becomes the fixing toner 8 and a fixed image is obtained.
It is known that the vibration energy by the ultrasonic vibration means becomes impact energy or friction energy, and finally a part thereof is converted into heat energy. In a fixing device that applies ultrasonic vibration to a fixing unit by ultrasonic generation means, it is considered that fixing is performed by pressure applied by vibration and heating by friction.

[Experimental example]
When the vibrating member is brought into contact with the vibration application target material and vibrated, the present invention actually makes contact in the opposed region where the vibration member-side facing surface of the vibration member and the surface of the vibration application target material face each other. An experiment was conducted to confirm the relationship between the shape of the part and the heat generation state of the vibration imparted material.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of this experimental example, FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic explanatory diagram of the experimental apparatus, and FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (d) show the respective heat generation states when the conditions are different. The confirmed result is shown. In FIGS. 4B to 4D, the temperature level is schematically indicated by the color intensity, and the dark color indicates that the temperature is high.

In the experimental apparatus shown in FIG. 4A, a vibration facing member 202 made of silicon resin or polypropylene resin is disposed on a base 201 made of a hard material such as steel, and a thermostat as a vibration application target material is further provided thereon. A scale 203 is arranged. The thermoscale 203 is a sheet whose surface color changes when heat is applied. Since the color varies depending on the amount of heat applied, the heat amount distribution can be visually confirmed.
A wire 204 made of a hard material such as steel is disposed on the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 to reproduce the concavo-convex tip convex portion 102a.

  FIGS. 4B to 4D show the relationship between the position of the wire 204 and the heat distribution of the thermoscale 203 when the vibrator 1 is driven under different conditions. FIG. 4B shows the experimental results when silicon resin is used as the vibration facing member 202 and the number of the wires 204 is one, and FIG. 4C shows silicon resin used as the vibration facing member 202. The experimental results for four are shown. FIG. 4D shows an experimental result when polypropylene resin is used as the vibration facing member 202 and the number of the wires 204 is one.

  From comparison between FIG. 4B and FIG. 4D, the material of the vibration facing member 202 is more easily deformable than polypropylene resin (a large amount of deformation when elastically deformed by being pressurized with a certain pressure). It was found that the amount of heat generated was larger when the resin was used. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, it has been found that the vicinity of the wire 204 is at a higher temperature than the part that actually contacts the thermoscale 203. From this, the vicinity of the boundary between the area where pressure is actually applied and the area where pressure is not applied is at the highest temperature on the surface of the object to be subjected to vibration that is pressurized when the vibrating member comes into contact and vibrates. I found. This is thought to be due to the following reasons.

That is, when the vibration member vibrates in a vibration direction having a component orthogonal to the surface of the vibration application target material, the force applied to the vibration application target material by the vibration member side facing surface contacting the vibration application target material repeatedly fluctuates. The vibration application target material is repeatedly deformed. Due to this repeated deformation, the contact position between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the object to be imparted with vibration is repeatedly minutely displaced, and when the contact position is minutely displaced, dynamic friction acts on the contact position to generate frictional heat. .
When the fluctuating force is increased by the vibration, the area where the vibration member is actually contacted and pressed on the surface of the vibration application target material is depressed in the pressurizing direction, and the non-pressurized area is not displaced much. At this time, in the vicinity of the boundary between the pressurized area and the non-pressurized area, tensile deformation occurs so as to form an inclination in accordance with the depression of the pressurized area from the non-pressurized area. And the end of the region that actually contacts and pressurizes the surface of the vibration application target material on the vibration member side facing surface, and the portion that forms the inclination of the surface of the vibration application target material are the contact position at the time of vibration. The amount of displacement becomes larger than other parts.

When the displacement amount of the contact position is large, the relative velocity between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration application target material when the contact position is displaced is increased, and a larger frictional energy is generated. Therefore, it is considered that the vicinity of the boundary between the pressurized area and the non-pressurized area that forms the above-described inclination on the surface of the vibration application target material is higher than the other parts on the surface of the vibration application target material.
Furthermore, in the vicinity of the boundary between the pressurized area forming the slope and the non-pressurized area on the surface of the vibration application target material, tensile deformation occurs so as to form the slope. The amount of deformation is large. The material to which vibration is applied generates frictional heat due to internal friction by repeating minute deformation, and the amount of heat generation due to internal friction increases as the amount of deformation increases, which is considered to be a factor that causes higher temperatures than other parts. .

  Moreover, in the area | region where the vibration member side opposing surface and the surface of a vibration provision object material actually contact, it is possible that the heat which generate | occur | produced in the vibration provision object material is absorbed into a vibration member. It is conceivable that the vibration application target material that is absorbed by the vibration member is less likely to increase in temperature, and that the temperature near the boundary is likely to be higher.

  In addition, compared to the case where polyprolene resin is used for the vibration facing member 202, the amount of heat generated is larger when silicon resin is used. The vibration facing member 202 made of silicon resin has a larger amount of deformation during vibration. It is thought to be because. The reason why the amount of heat generation is larger when a material that easily deforms is used as the vibration facing member 202 is considered to be as follows.

That is, when the vibration member side facing surface pressurizes the vibration application target material, the vibration application target material undergoes compressive deformation and partial bending deformation occurs. At this time, if the vibration facing member is an easily deformable material such as an elastic material, the amount of deformation of the vibration facing member pressed by the vibration member via the vibration application target material increases, and the vibration application target material partially The amount of bending deformation becomes large. As a result, the amount of deformation due to tensile deformation near the boundary on the surface of the vibration imparted material increases, the amount of displacement at the contact position also increases, and the thermal energy of frictional heat due to the displacement of the contact position increases. .
Furthermore, it is considered that the thermal energy of frictional heat due to internal friction of the material to which vibration is applied increases as the amount of deformation due to tensile deformation near the boundary increases.

In addition, when the vibration facing member is deformed by vibration, frictional heat of dynamic friction due to displacement of the contact position is generated between the surface of the vibration application target material on the side in contact with the vibration facing member and the surface of the vibration facing member. Furthermore, frictional heat is generated due to internal friction of the vibration facing member due to deformation of the vibration facing member. And it is thought that the thermal energy of these frictional heats increases when the vibration facing member is a material that is easily deformed.
As described above, the vibration-facing member is more easily deformable material, the dynamic friction between the vibration member and the vibration application target material, the internal friction of the vibration application target material, the dynamic friction between the vibration application target material and the vibration counter member, and the vibration opposition. It is considered that the thermal energy of any frictional heat of internal friction of the member increases.
For the reasons described above, it is considered that the amount of heat generated is larger when a material that is easily deformed is used as the vibration facing member.

  As described above, the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment has the horn tip surface that is the surface facing the transfer sheet S on the surface of the vibrator 1 and a part of the surface facing the transfer sheet S that is in contact with the transfer sheet S. 102 has a concavo-convex shape including a tip convex portion 102a and a tip concave portion 102b. By having such a concavo-convex shape, a region where the horn tip surface 102 is actually brought into contact with the transfer sheet S and pressed is the top surface 102t of the tip convex portion 102a. Thereby, compared with the structure which does not have uneven | corrugated shape, the area | region pressurized to the vibrator 1 in the part facing the horn front end surface 102 on the surface of the transfer paper S which is a vibration provision object, and the area | region which is not pressurized It is possible to increase the ratio of the portion that is in the vicinity of the boundary.

  As described above, since the vicinity of the boundary between the region where pressure is actually applied and the region where pressure is not applied becomes the highest temperature on the surface of the vibration application target material, the ratio of the portion that is in the vicinity of this boundary is increased. As a result, the generated thermal energy increases. Therefore, in the first embodiment in which an uneven shape is provided on the surface of the horn tip surface 102 and the ratio of the portion near the boundary is increased, it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency for converting vibration energy into heat energy. The fixing device 100 including such a heating device can further reduce power consumption and save energy as compared with a conventional fixing device. In addition, the copying machine 500 as an image forming apparatus including the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment reduces the power consumption of the fixing device that accounts for a large proportion of the power consumption of the conventional image forming apparatus, thereby forming an image. The power consumption of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

Further, since the horn tip surface 102 is provided with a concavo-convex shape, only the convex top surface 102t of the horn tip surface 102 comes into contact with the surface of the transfer sheet S. Get smaller. When the pressing force of the vibrator 1 is the same, the smaller the contact area, the higher the pressure of the portion to be pressed, and the convex top surface 102t on the surface of the transfer paper S, which is a vibration application target material, actually comes into contact. The depression in the pressurizing direction of the region to be pressed becomes deep. By deepening the dent, the amount of deformation in the vicinity of the boundary between the pressurized area and the non-pressurized area on the surface of the transfer paper S increases.
By increasing the amount of deformation in the vicinity of the boundary, the end of the convex top surface 102t, which is a region that actually contacts and pressurizes the surface of the vibration application target material on the vibration member side facing surface, and the surface of the vibration application target material The displacement amount of the contact position at the time of vibration with the portion forming the inclination is also increased. For this reason, it is considered that the thermal energy of frictional heat generated during vibration increases due to the displacement of the contact position.
Furthermore, it is considered that the thermal energy of the frictional heat generated during vibration due to the internal friction of the transfer paper S increases as the amount of deformation near the boundary increases.

In addition, the surface of the fixing counter roller 3 having a function as a vibration counter member and having an elastic layer on the surface increases the amount of deformation by increasing the pressure of the portion pressed by the vibrator 1. Accordingly, it is considered that the thermal energy of frictional heat generated during vibration due to the dynamic friction between the transfer sheet S and the fixing counter roller 3 and the internal friction of the elastic layer of the fixing counter roller 3 is also increased.
As described above, it is considered that by providing an uneven shape on the horn tip surface 102, the pressure of the portion to be pressurized increases even if the pressure to be applied is the same, and the thermal energy of frictional heat generated during vibration is also increased. From this point, it is considered that the conversion efficiency for converting vibration energy into heat energy can be improved.

Further, in the region where the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration application target material are actually in contact with each other, the vibration application target material and the vibration counter member are compressed and deformed, and heat is generated by the internal friction of the compression deformation. it seems to do. Even if the surface of the contact surface is not provided with an uneven shape, increasing the pressure applied by the vibrating member increases the amount of compression deformation and increases the thermal energy of frictional heat generated by internal friction. It is done. However, as described above, in the region where the contact surface of the vibration member and the surface of the object to be imparted with vibration are actually in contact with each other, it is considered that heat is absorbed by the vibration member.
Furthermore, in order to increase the pressure applied by the vibration member, it is necessary to configure the device according to the pressure applied, which may increase the manufacturing cost of the component, such as increasing the strength and size of the component. There is sex.

On the other hand, the heating device provided in the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment forms a concavo-convex shape on the horn tip surface 102 that is the vibration member side facing surface, and only the convex top surface 102t is in contact with the transfer paper S. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the loss of heat energy caused by the absorption of heat by the vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, and to improve the conversion efficiency for converting vibration energy into heat energy used for fixing. Conceivable.
Also, by providing the uneven shape, the thermal energy of the heat generated can be increased even if the pressing force of the vibrating member is the same, so heat generation is possible even if the device configuration is not adapted to the pressing force. Heat energy to be increased. Thereby, in order to increase the thermal energy generated by vibration, it is possible to suppress an increase in the strength and size of the component parts of the apparatus, and it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing costs of the parts.

Here, a conventional fixing device using ultrasonic vibration will be described.
Patent Document 8 discloses an image forming apparatus in which toner is plastically deformed by vibration energy of ultrasonic vibration. According to this method, since it is not necessary to always warm the heating roller, it is possible to shorten the warm-up time and to save energy. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 8 has a configuration in which a transfer process and a fixing process are performed simultaneously, and ultrasonic energy (vibration) is applied in a state where toner is squeezed between a photosensitive drum and paper. The toner is plastically deformed by applying stress to the toner by vibration energy of ultrasonic vibration, and is fixed by biting into the fiber bundle of the transfer paper and the gap between them.

Patent Document 8 does not describe heat generation due to ultrasonic vibration, but ultrasonic energy is vibration energy, and this vibration energy becomes impact energy or friction energy, and finally a part of it is thermal energy. Is known to be converted to
Further, in Patent Document 6 and Patent Document 7, ultrasonic vibration is applied to at least one of a pair of rollers forming a fixing nip, and the vibration energy of the ultrasonic vibration is finally converted into thermal energy, whereby toner is used. Describes a device for fixing the toner image onto the transfer paper. Further, Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose an apparatus that applies ultrasonic vibration to a hammer pin and fixes toner for each dot unit.

As described above, an apparatus for fixing toner onto transfer paper using ultrasonic energy (vibration energy) has been proposed. When fixing toner onto transfer paper using ultrasonic energy (vibration energy) in this way, the vibration energy of ultrasonic vibration is converted into thermal energy, and the generated heat melts the resin and fixes it to the recording material. ing.
The generated heat is the frictional heat of the dynamic friction between the surfaces that contact when vibration is transmitted from the vibration member to the vibration application target material, and the vibration application target material and the vibration facing member that supports it are deformed by vibration, It is generated by the frictional heat of internal friction due to the deformation.

In order to increase the heat of friction in order to obtain the amount of heat necessary for fixing, it is conceivable to increase the pressure applied by the vibration member to the vibration application target material. However, in order to increase the pressing force of the vibration member, it is necessary to make the structure strong, and thus problems such as an increase in the size of the device and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the components occur.
Moreover, it is desired to further reduce the power consumption of the heating device that heats the vibration application target material using the vibration member.
Therefore, it becomes a subject to improve the conversion efficiency for converting the vibration energy of the vibration member into heat energy by frictional heat.

In the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment, as described above, the vibration energy of the vibration member is generated by frictional heat by providing a concavo-convex shape on the horn tip surface 102 that is the vibration member side facing surface of the vibrator 1 that is a vibration member. It is possible to improve the conversion efficiency for conversion into thermal energy.
Thereby, in order to obtain a required amount of heat, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the apparatus, an increase in manufacturing costs of parts, and the like, and it is possible to further reduce power consumption for obtaining a necessary amount of heat. .

As shown in FIG. 1C, the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a leading end recess 102b and a leading end recess 102b so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the transfer sheet S indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Forming a groove. Thereby, there is no portion which becomes only the front-end | tip convex part 102a or the front-end | tip recessed part 102b about a conveyance direction in any position in the width direction (direction of the vibration member side opposing surface width W).
The following problems occur when the groove to be the tip recess 102b is formed in parallel to the transport direction, that is, when the tip protrusion 102a or the tip recess 102b is continuous in the transport direction. obtain. That is, if the heating time is short, there is a risk that uneven heating will occur between the contact portion facing only the tip protrusion 102a and the non-contact portion facing only the tip recess 102b. Further, when the vibration application target material is a recording medium such as the transfer paper S, the toner containing the resin is softened and pressed to be fixed on the recording medium, so that fixing unevenness may occur.

  On the other hand, in the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the fixing device 100 has a shape that does not include only the tip convex portion 102a or the tip concave portion 102b in the transport direction. As a result, the surface of the transfer sheet S that has passed through the fixing unit 9 passes through the portion facing the leading end convex portion 102a and the portion facing the leading end concave portion 102b, and the boundary between the pressurized region and the non-pressed region. Will always pass the part. By allowing the transfer paper S to pass through the boundary portion, heating unevenness can be prevented, and fixing without fixing unevenness can be performed.

  In the first embodiment, the horn tip surface 102 comes into contact with the transfer sheet S, and the transfer sheet S and the unfixed toner 7 can be directly vibrated and heated, so that loss of heat energy can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved. I can plan. Further, the number of components can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the vibration application target material is provided separately from the transfer paper S.

  The concavo-convex shape is not limited to a shape in which the extending direction of the leading end concave portion 102 b is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the transfer paper S. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, even if the extending direction of the leading end recess 102b is inclined with respect to the transfer direction of the transfer sheet S, uneven heating can be similarly prevented. .

FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view of the vicinity of the lower end of the vibrator 1 provided in the fixing device 100 in which the cross-sectional shape of the tip convex portion 102a is semicircular.
The tip convex portion 102a on the horn tip surface 102 of the horn portion 101 shown in FIG. 6 has a semicircular cross-sectional shape. That is, it has an R shape with no corners at the tip.
If the tip convex portion 102a has a corner and the corner contacts and pressurizes the vibration application target material, the vibration application target material may be damaged by stress concentration. On the other hand, when the tip convex portion 102a has a shape with no corners, rapid stress concentration can be prevented, and damage to the vibration application target material due to vibration application can be prevented.

Like the tip convex portion 102a shown in FIG. 6, the cross-sectional shape of the tip convex portion 102a desirably has a configuration in which corner portions are excluded. If there is a corner, when the vibration imparting target material is vibrated and heated, the portion on the surface of the vibration imparting target material that comes into contact with the corner is extremely pressurized, which may cause the vibration imparting target material to deteriorate. However, this can be prevented by eliminating the corners.
For example, the tip convex portion 102a can be shaped without a corner by chamfering the tip convex portion 102a shown in FIG.

  On the surface of the vibration imparting target material, the portion where the convex top surface 102t comes into contact generates heat slowly. Further, as described above, the higher the pressure in the contacting portion, the easier it is to generate heat. As shown in FIG. 6, by making the tip convex portion 102a into a cross-sectional shape having a rounded tip, such as a semicircular shape, the pressure to pressurize the surface of the vibration application target material by the tip of the tip convex portion 102a increases. It becomes easy to generate heat. As a result, the heat generation rate can be increased, the conversion efficiency of vibration energy into heat energy can be improved, and the power consumption can be reduced.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view of the vicinity of the lower end of the vibrator 1 provided in the fixing device 100 in which the cross-sectional shape of the tip convex portion 102a is trapezoidal. By making the tip convex portion 102a trapezoidal, the area of the top surface 102t of the convex portion is narrowed, and the pressure to pressurize the surface of the material to which vibration is applied by the tip of the tip convex portion 102a is increased, and heat is easily generated. As a result, the heat generation rate can be increased, the conversion efficiency of vibration energy into heat energy can be improved, and the power consumption can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 provided in the fixing device 100 in which the tip convex portion 102a has a hemispherical shape and the arrangement thereof is a staggered pattern, and FIG. 8 (a) is a front view, FIG. 8 (b) is a bottom view and FIG. 8 (c) is a side view.
By arranging the tip convex portion 102a as shown in FIG. 8, temperature unevenness in the conveyance direction of the vibration application target material can be prevented, and the contact area of the tip convex portion 102a with respect to the vibration application target material can be reduced. It is possible to increase the pressure in the area where the contacts.

  Further, by forming the tip convex portion 102a in a staggered pattern, a region to be pressed on the surface of the vibration application target material as compared with the configuration in which the belt-like tip convex portion 102a as shown in FIG. 1C is formed. And a range of a portion serving as a boundary between the non-pressurized region can be set wide. Thereby, more efficient heating becomes possible.

  The uneven shape formed on the vibration member side facing surface of the vibrator 1 is not limited to the above-described shape, and the uneven shape is formed on the vibration member side facing surface of the vibrator 1 by forming the uneven shape on the vibration member side facing surface. There is an effect that the vibration application target material easily generates heat as compared with the configuration without the above.

FIG. 9 shows that, on the upstream side in the surface movement direction of the vibration imparting target material, the hemispherical tip convex portions 102a are arranged in a staggered pattern in the same manner as in the configuration shown in FIG. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the horn front end surface 102 of the vibrator 1 provided with 102c. 9A is a front view, FIG. 9B is a bottom view, and FIG. 9C is a side view.
In the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the surface constituting the projections and depressions by the tip projections 102a and the tip recesses 102b, the downstream flat projections 102c are provided downstream in the surface movement direction of the vibration application target material. A flat surface 102d is formed.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the fixing unit 9 of the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment to which the vibrator 1 illustrated in FIG. 9 is attached.
As described above, the portion of the transfer paper S, which is the vibration application target material, that generates heat near the boundary between the area that is pressed by the vibrator 1 and the area that is not pressed moves to the downstream side in the transport direction. . The toner can be fixed onto the transfer paper S by heat generated by heat generation and pressurization of the convex portion 102a that forms the unevenness. However, there is an effect that the toner on the transfer sheet S is more firmly fixed by pressurizing the toner heated in the uneven portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the transfer sheet S with the flat surface 102d.
The flat surface 102d is uniform over the entire surface in the width direction orthogonal to the surface movement direction on the surface of the vibration application target material, and the length in the surface movement direction of the vibration application target material is the top surface of the convex portion of the tip convex portion 102a. It is a rectangular plane that is sufficiently longer than 102t. In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, since the tip convex portion 102a has a hemispherical shape, the length of the convex top surface 102t in the surface movement direction is very short. In this case, the length in the surface movement direction of the flat surface 102d is set to be sufficiently longer than the length in the surface movement direction of the contact portion of the tip protrusion 102a with respect to the vibration application target material.

FIG. 11 shows the size (height) in the pressurization direction between the tip convex portion 102a arranged on the upstream side of the horn tip surface 102 and the downstream flat convex portion 102c arranged on the downstream side of the downstream flat convex portion 102c. It is explanatory drawing of the structure made smaller.
When the downstream flat convex portion 102c is large in the pressing direction, that is, the flat surface 102d is closer to the vibration application target material such as the transfer paper S than the leading end of the leading convex portion 102a in the pressing direction. If so, the following problems occur.

  When the size of the downstream flat convex portion 102c in the pressurizing direction is large, the pressure applied by the vibrator 1 to the vibration application target material is increased by the downstream flat convex portion 102c, and is disposed on the upstream side. The pressure applied by the tip convex portion 102a is reduced. The uneven portion provided with the tip convex portion 102a has a large proportion of the portion that is near the boundary between the region that pressurizes the vibrator 1 and the region that does not pressurize the portion facing the horn tip surface 102, and is flat on the downstream side. The conversion efficiency for converting vibration energy into heat energy is higher than that of the convex portion 102c. Therefore, when the applied pressure by the tip convex portion 102a is small, the contact of the tip convex portion 102a with the vibration application target material becomes unstable, and the amount of heat generation may be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the size of the downstream flat convex portion 102c in the pressing direction is reduced, that is, the flat surface 102d vibrates more than the tip of the tip convex portion 102a in the pressing direction. It arrange | positions so that it may become a position away from the provision object material. By adopting such a configuration, the contact of the tip convex portion 102a with the vibration application target material is stabilized, and there is an effect of preventing the heat generation at the uneven portion provided with the upstream tip convex portion 102a from being inhibited. The size of the downstream flat convex portion 102c in the pressurizing direction may be a size that can reliably contact and pressurize the surface of the vibration application target material.

FIG. 12 shows a downstream flat convex portion 102c on the downstream side of the concavo-convex portion where the tip convex portion 102a is formed by forming the groove to be the tip concave portion 102b described with reference to FIG. 1 so as to extend in the width direction. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the horn front end surface 102 provided with.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the downstream flat convex portion 102c and the tip convex portion 102a are common in that the shape is uniform in the width direction perpendicular to the width direction of the surface movement direction of the vibration application target material. However, the length in the width direction of the surface movement direction of the vibration imparting target material is different in that the flat surface 102d of the downstream flat convex portion 102c is sufficiently longer than the convex top surface 102t of the tip convex portion 102a. Accordingly, when the vibration application target material is the transfer paper S, the toner heated in the uneven portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the transfer paper S can be reliably pressed by the flat surface 102d. This has the effect of further strengthening the toner fixing to the toner.

  As the ultrasonic vibration means used for the vibrator 1, various vibrators such as a magnetostrictive vibrator and an electrostrictive vibrator can be used. The vibration frequency applied as the ultrasonic vibration is not particularly limited and is preferably in the range of 20 [kHz] to 1.0 [MHz]. When the frequency is 20 [kHz] or lower, it is a human audible sound range, and when the fixing device 100 is operated, noise is generated to the surroundings. Further, the heat generation interval due to vibration becomes long, and heat dissipation to the surroundings cannot be ignored, and the temperature required for fixing cannot be obtained. Further, at a frequency of 1 [MHz] or more, the amplitude of the vibration tool is reduced, so that the amount of heat generation is reduced, and the temperature necessary for fixing cannot be obtained.

It is preferable that the amplitude of the horn part 101 provided with the part which the vibrator 1 contacts with respect to the vibration application target material is in a range of 0.5 [μm] or more and 15 [μm] or less. When the amplitude is less than 0.5 [μm], the deformation amount of the material to which vibration is applied is small, the thermal energy generated by both frictional heat due to dynamic friction and frictional heat due to internal friction is reduced, and the necessary thermal energy is obtained. There is a risk that it will not be possible. On the other hand, when the amplitude exceeds 15 [μm], there is a risk that the deterioration of the material to which vibration is applied cannot be allowed. When the vibration imparting target material is a recording medium such as the transfer paper S as the vibration imparting target material deterioration, there is a possibility that the quality of the output material may be reduced. As will be described later, the vibration imparting target material is a heat transfer belt. In some cases, there is a risk of shortening the service life due to deterioration.
Since heat generation due to vibration depends on the frequency and amplitude, it is preferable to set appropriately.

A metal material such as aluminum or duralumin is used as the material of the horn unit 101 that includes a portion of the vibrator 1 that contacts the vibration application target material. Furthermore, the horn front end surface 102 which becomes a contact portion is coated with zirconia which is a ceramic member.
Since at least the portion that comes into contact with the vibration application target material is made of a heat insulating material such as zirconia, heat generated by friction due to contact vibration can be suppressed from being transmitted to the horn unit 101, and thus heat loss to the vibration application target material can be suppressed. The effect which prevents is obtained.
Moreover, since the strength of the horn part 101 can be maintained and the loss of vibration transmission can be reduced by using ceramic which is a hard material, there is an effect of suppressing a decrease in heat generation efficiency. In addition, you may comprise the horn part 101 whole as a material with a high heat insulation effect.

  In the fixing device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the vibration member side facing surface width W, which is a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the horn tip surface 102, is set to a length corresponding to the width direction of the transfer sheet S. However, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of vibrators 1 side by side in the width direction, and to be arranged at a position facing a vibration facing member such as the fixing facing roller 3 via a vibration application target material such as a transfer sheet S. If it does, the same effect can be acquired.

In the fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the roller-facing fixing roller 3 is used as the vibration facing member that faces the vibration member. The fixing counter roller 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 1 by a driving source (not shown). Further, the surface of the fixing counter roller 3 is provided with an elastic layer. The elastic layer is preferably in the range of 300 [μm] to 4 [mm] in order to ensure a certain amount of deformation. Since the amount of deformation differs depending on the hardness and thickness of the elastic material, and the amount of heat generation, member life, and the like differ, it is desirable to select the hardness and thickness of the elastic material as appropriate.
In the fixing device 100 of the first embodiment, silicon resin is used as the elastic material for forming the elastic layer of the fixing counter roller 3, but the invention is not limited to this. If the material has elasticity, it is deformed by the vibration of the vibration member and generates heat.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a second embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the second embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the second exemplary embodiment is configured so that the transfer sheet S is held between the vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, the endless fixing belt 2, and the tip of the vibrator 1 via the fixing belt 2. And a fixing counter roller 3 as a member. The fixing belt 2 moves endlessly in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 13 when one of the stretching rollers is rotationally driven as a driving roller.
The fixing device 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the fixing device 100 according to the first embodiment in that the fixing device 100 includes the fixing belt 2, and the other points are the same. Therefore, the description of the common points is omitted.

The vibrator 1 included in the fixing device 100 according to the second embodiment is disposed inside the endless fixing belt 2 and applies vibration to the transfer sheet S and the fixing counter roller 3 via the fixing belt 2. ing. In the fixing device 100 according to the second exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixing counter roller 3 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target materials that increase in temperature when the vibration is applied are the fixing belt 2 and the transfer paper S. The vibrator 1 provided in the fixing device 100 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2 at the fixing unit 9, and the horn tip surface 102, which is the vibration-side facing surface, has a concavo-convex shape as in the first embodiment. Yes.
Further, an elastic layer is provided on the surface of the fixing belt 2 on the side in contact with the transfer paper S, and the transfer paper S is pressure-vibrated through the elastic layer. Since the elastic layer is in close contact with the unfixed toner 7 on the transfer paper S, there is an advantage that the heat generated by the elastic layer is easily transferred to the toner.

Example 3
Next, a third embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a third embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the third embodiment. A fixing device 100 according to the third exemplary embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member and a fixing belt 2, and a vibration facing member that holds the transfer paper S between the front end of the vibrator 1 and the fixing belt 2. As shown, a fixed fixing counter member 301 that does not rotate is provided. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the vibration facing member is a fixed fixing facing member 301 that does not rotate, and the other points are the same. Therefore, the description of the common points is omitted.

The fixing facing member facing the vibrator 1 in the fixing unit 9 is not limited to the rotating roller shape as in the first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, the transfer sheet S that has been transported is transported by the roller-shaped fixing counter roller 3 being rotationally driven. However, as in the third embodiment, since the fixing belt 2 is provided, fixing is performed. The transfer sheet S can be conveyed by moving the belt 2 endlessly. Since the fixed-type fixing facing member 301 includes an elastic layer, the heating effect is the same.
In the fixing device 100 according to the third exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixed-type fixing facing member 301 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that is heated by application of vibration is the fixing belt 2 and the transfer sheet S. is there.

Example 4
Next, a fourth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a fourth embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the fourth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, a fixing belt 2, a fixed-type fixing facing member 301, and an endless fixing facing belt 302. The fixing facing belt 302 moves endlessly in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 15 when one of the stretching rollers is rotationally driven as a driving roller. The fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that a fixing counter belt 302 is sandwiched between the fixed fixing counter member 301 and the fixing belt 2, and the other points are common. Description is omitted.

Since the fixing facing belt 302 that moves endlessly is provided between the fixed fixing facing member 301 that does not rotate and the fixing belt 2, the conveyance of the transfer sheet S is stabilized as compared with the fixing device 100 of the third embodiment. be able to. In addition, since the elastic layer is provided on the surface of the fixing facing belt 302 that is in contact with the transfer sheet S, the heating effect by vibration can be obtained in the same manner.
In the fixing device 100 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixed-type fixing facing member 301 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that is heated by application of vibration is the fixing belt 2, the transfer paper S, and the like. This is a fixing facing belt 302.

Example 5
Next, a fifth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as embodiment 5) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the fifth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment includes a fixing roller that is a vibration facing member that holds the transfer sheet S at a fixing portion 9 that is a contact portion between the vibrator 1 that is a vibrating member and the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1. 210. The fixing roller 210 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 16 when rotational driving is transmitted by a driving source (not shown).

  The fixing device 100 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment includes the same components as those according to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. That is, the fixing roller 210 has the same configuration as the fixing counter roller 3 of the first embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment has a configuration in which the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 is in contact with the surface of the transfer sheet S on the side where an unfixed toner image is carried. On the other hand, the fixing device 100 of the fifth embodiment is different in that the horn tip surface 102 of the vibrator 1 is in contact with the surface of the transfer paper S opposite to the surface on which the unfixed toner image is carried.

The fixing roller 210, which is a vibration facing member, is provided with an elastic layer on the surface that contacts the surface of the transfer sheet S that is conveyed on which the unfixed toner image is carried. When vibration is applied to the transfer sheet S, heat is generated on the surface of the transfer sheet S on the side pressed by the vibrator 1, and the elasticity of the surface of the transfer sheet S on the side in contact with the fixing roller 210 and the elasticity of the fixing roller 210. The layer also generates heat.
Since the unfixed toner 7 comes into contact with the surface of the elastic layer that generates heat and is heated, the heat to the unfixed toner is easily transmitted. For this reason, it becomes possible to fix the toner image on the transfer paper S more efficiently.
Further, since the elastic layer has a heat insulating property, the heat generated on the surface is difficult to be transmitted to the inside, and the loss of heat energy due to the surface heat transmitted to the inside hardly occurs. Since the transfer paper S is heated in contact with the heat-generated surface, efficient heating can be performed.
In the fixing device 100 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixing roller 210 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that is heated by the application of vibration is the transfer paper S.

Example 6
Next, a sixth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a sixth embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the sixth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the sixth exemplary embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member and a fixing roller 210 that is a vibration facing member that holds the transfer sheet S at a fixing unit 9 that is a contact portion between the vibration member 1 and the tip. A fixing belt 2. The fixing belt 2 moves endlessly in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 17 when the fixing roller 210 constituting one of the stretching rollers rotates in the direction of arrow G in FIG.
The fixing device 100 of the sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that the fixing belt 2 that is an endless belt is disposed on the side of the transfer paper S that contacts the surface carrying the unfixed toner image. Since they are common, description of common points is omitted.

In Example 6, since the elastic layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2, heat is generated by applying vibration to the elastic layer. Since the surface on which the elastic layer is formed is in contact with the surface of the transfer paper S carrying the unfixed toner image, there is an advantage that heat generated by the elastic layer is easily transferred to the toner.
In the fixing device 100 according to the sixth exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixing roller 210 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target materials that increase in temperature when the vibration is applied are the fixing belt 2 and the transfer sheet S.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing device 100 according to a modification of the sixth embodiment.
The fixing device 100 shown in FIG. 18 is different from the sixth embodiment in that the vibration facing member that faces the vibrator 1 via the fixing belt 2 that is a vibration application target material is a fixed fixing member 211 that does not rotate. Even in the configuration using the fixed fixing member 211 as the vibration facing member, fixing can be performed in the same manner as the configuration including the fixing roller 210.
In the fixing device 100 of the modified example shown in FIG. 18, the vibrator 1 and the fixed fixing member 211 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that rises in temperature when vibration is applied is the fixing belt 2 and the transfer paper. S.

In the configuration including the fixing belt 2, when the vibration facing member facing the vibration unit 1 and the fixing belt 2 with the fixing unit 9 sandwiching the fixing belt 2 as in the fixing device 100 shown in FIG. 17 is the fixing roller 210, the vibration facing member is used. The fixing roller 210 can be a driving roller.
On the other hand, in the case where the vibration opposing member that faces the vibration unit 1 and the fixing belt 2 in the fixing unit 9 is the fixed fixing member 211 as in the fixing device 100 shown in FIG. A tension roller as a member is a drive roller. In addition, even if it is the structure provided with the fixing roller 210 shown in FIG. 17, it is good also considering the stretching roller other than the fixing roller 210 as a drive roller.

Example 7
Next, a seventh embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a seventh embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the seventh embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the seventh exemplary embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, a fixing belt 2, a fixing roller 210, and a pressure roller 303.
In the seventh embodiment, the vibrator 1 vibrates in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2 at a position other than the fixing unit 9. In addition, a fixed vibration opposing member 212 as a vibration opposing member is provided inside the vibration applying unit 109 where the vibrator 1 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2.
Since Example 7 is common to Example 4 except that the position where the vibrator 1 is arranged is different, description of common points is omitted.

In the fixing device 100 according to the seventh embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the fixed vibration facing member 212 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that is heated by application of vibration is the fixing belt 2.
In the seventh embodiment, the fixing belt 2 is heated by the vibrator 1 and the fixed vibration facing member 212, and the surface of the heated fixing belt 2 is supported by unfixed toner on the transfer sheet S conveyed to the fixing unit 9. It is set as the structure which adheres to the made surface and pressurizes.

The fixing belt 2 is stretched by three stretching rollers, and includes a pressure roller 303 so as to come into pressure contact with the fixing roller 210 which is one of the stretching rollers via the fixing belt 2. The pressure roller 303 and the fixing belt 2 are in contact with each other at the fixing unit 9 to form a fixing nip, and the transfer paper S that passes through the fixing nip is pressed.
The vibrator 1 is disposed so as to face an upstream stretched surface on the upstream side in the endless movement direction of the fixing belt 2 with respect to the fixing unit 9 (fixing nip). A fixed vibration facing member 212 is disposed at a position facing the vibrator 1 with the fixing belt 2 interposed therebetween, and the fixed vibration facing member 212 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2.

  The fixing belt 2 includes an elastic layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof, that is, the surface on the side where the vibrator 1 contacts. When the vibrator 1 vibrates, the surface of the elastic layer of the fixing belt 2 generates heat, and the fixing belt 2 is heated. The heated fixing belt 2 reaches the fixing unit 9 by endless movement and comes into contact with the unfixed toner 7 on the transfer sheet S that has been conveyed. When the heated fixing belt 2 comes into contact, the toner on the transfer paper S is softened by heating and is pressed by the fixing unit 9 in which a fixing nip is formed, thereby being fixed to the transfer paper S.

Since the fixing belt 2 is heated on the upstream side of the fixing unit 9 as in the seventh embodiment, the fixing belt 2 is heated by the vibrator 1 until the heated fixing belt 2 contacts the transfer sheet S. A time for the heat applied by heating to diffuse in the fixing belt 2 is obtained. As described above, the vibrator 1 actually comes into contact with the vibration application target material at the tip of the tip convex portion 102a, and the region where the tip actually comes into contact does not rise so much during vibration. For this reason, by obtaining a time for heat to diffuse in the fixing belt 2 that is a vibration application target material, the tip of the tip convex portion 102a on the surface of the fixing belt 2 is actually contacted and pressed. Heat diffuses. As a result, the temperature unevenness occurs when the area where the tip of the tip convex portion 102a actually contacts and pressurizes on the surface of the fixing belt 2 reaches the fixing section 9. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven fixing.
Further, since the material to which vibration is applied is the fixing belt 2 and the fixing belt 2 is deformed and heated by vibration, it is possible to reliably prevent the transfer paper S from being deteriorated and the quality of the output image from being deteriorated. .

Example 8
Next, an eighth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as an eighth embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the eighth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the ninth embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, a fixing belt 2, a fixing roller 210, and a pressure roller 303. In the eighth embodiment, similarly to the seventh embodiment, the vibrator 1 vibrates in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2 at a position other than the fixing unit 9. Further, this embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in that one of the stretching rollers that stretch the fixing belt 2 is a vibration facing roller 213 as a vibration facing member. Since other points are common to the seventh embodiment, description of common points is omitted.

In the fixing device 100 according to the eighth exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the vibration opposing roller 213 constitute a heating device, and the vibration application target material that is heated by application of vibration is the fixing belt 2.
As shown in FIG. 20, in the fixing device 100 according to the eighth embodiment, among the stretching rollers that stretch the fixing belt 2, the moving direction of the fixing belt 2 with respect to the fixing roller 210 that forms a fixing nip at the fixing unit 9. The tension roller on the upstream side is the vibration facing roller 213. In the fixing device 100 according to the eighth exemplary embodiment, the vibration facing roller 213 is used as both a tension roller of the fixing belt 2 and a vibration facing member that faces the vibrator 1 with the fixing belt 2 interposed therebetween. Yes.
By using the vibration facing member also as a constituent member, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the parts.

Example 9
Next, a ninth embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as a ninth embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the ninth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the ninth embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, a fixing belt 2, a fixing roller 210, and a pressure roller 303. In the ninth embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, the vibrator 1 vibrates by contacting the fixing belt 2 at a position other than the fixing portion 9. Unlike the seventh embodiment in that the arrangement of the vibrator 1 is on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt 2, the other points are the same and the description of the common points is omitted.

In the fixing device 100 of Example 9, the fixing unit 9 (fixing nip) is disposed so as to face the inner tension surface on the upstream side in the moving direction of the fixing belt 2. A fixed vibration facing member 212 is disposed at a position facing the vibrator 1 across the fixing belt 2, and the fixed vibration facing member 212 is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 2.
In the fixing device 100 according to the ninth embodiment, an elastic layer is provided on the surface of the fixed vibration facing member 212 that contacts the fixing belt 2. As a result, the elastic layer surface is easily heated by deformation of the elastic layer, so that the effect that the fixing belt 2 is easily heated can be obtained.

Example 10
Next, a tenth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a tenth embodiment) of the fixing device 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing device 100 according to the tenth embodiment. The fixing device 100 according to the tenth embodiment includes a vibrator 1 that is a vibration member, a heating target roller 214, and a pressure roller 303. In the tenth embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, the vibrator 1 vibrates in contact with the surface of the fixing member at a position other than the fixing portion 9. Unlike the seventh embodiment in that the vibration application target material that is heated when the vibrator 1 comes into contact with the application of vibration is the heating target roller 214, the other points are the same, and the description of the common points is omitted. To do.

The heating target roller 214 included in the fixing device 100 according to the tenth embodiment is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow H in FIG. The pressure roller 303 is in pressure contact with the roller to be heated 214, and a fixing nip is formed by the fixing unit 9 that is the contact portion.
In the fixing device 100 according to the tenth embodiment, the vibrator 1 and the heating target roller 214 constitute a heating device, and the heating target roller 214 also has a function as a vibration application target material that increases in temperature when vibration is applied.

  In the fixing device 100 of Example 10, the fixing unit 9 (fixing nip) is disposed so as to face the upstream surface of the heating target roller 214 in the surface movement direction. Moreover, the surface of the roller to be heated 214 is an elastic layer. Accordingly, the elastic layer is deformed to generate heat on the surface of the elastic layer, and the surface of the roller to be heated 214 is heated. The heated surface portion of the heating target roller 214 reaches the fixing unit 9 by rotation, and comes into contact with the unfixed toner 7 on the transferred transfer paper S. When the surface of the heated heating roller 214 comes into contact, the toner on the transfer paper S is softened by heating and is pressed by the fixing unit 9 in which the fixing nip is formed, thereby being fixed on the transfer paper S. The

As the roller member used in each of the above-described embodiments, a metal roller such as aluminum or iron can be used.
As the elastic material forming the elastic layer, silicone rubber, chloroprene rubber, or the like can be used.
In each of the above-described embodiments, it is preferable to use a metal such as nickel, aluminum, or copper, or a heat resistant resin such as polyimide or polyetheretherketone, as a belt member used in a configuration including an endless belt.

  Further, at least the outermost surface layer of the roller member and the belt member on the side in contact with the toner is preferably a release layer for the purpose of preventing toner offset. As the release layer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene Although it may be composed of a fluorine-based resin such as a copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer (THV), etc., a thinner layer is preferred.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the configuration in which the toner is heated and fixed on the recording medium has been described. However, the resin fine particles fixed on the recording medium are not limited to the toner.

  The toner used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is mainly composed of a resin component, a colorant, a polarity control agent, and the like as conventionally known. The resin fine particles (toner) fixed by the fixing device to which the present invention is applied contain at least a binder resin. In the case of outputting a normal image, the toner contains a colorant, but the fixing device to which the present invention is applied can be used even when fixing resin fine particles that are transparent for purposes such as overcoat.

Examples of the resin component constituting the resin fine particle include heat such as styrene resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, styrene-acrylic copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyester resin, and epoxy resin. Examples thereof include a plastic resin, a thermosetting resin, and a mixture of two or more of these resins.
The resin image fixed by the fixing device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to resin fine particles, and the fixing device to which the present invention is applied can also be used when fixing a resin image or the like formed in a sheet shape. .

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
Heating that heats the vibration application target material by bringing a vibration member such as the vibrator 1 into contact with the surface of the vibration application target material such as the transfer paper S, the fixing belt 2, the fixing counter belt 302, and the heating target roller 214. In the apparatus, a tip convex portion 102a and a tip concave portion 102b are formed on a vibration member side facing surface such as a horn tip surface 102 that is opposed to the surface of the vibration imparting target material on the surface of the vibration member and a part of which is in contact with the vibration imparting target material. It has an uneven shape consisting of
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the vibration member side facing surface that comes into contact with the vibration application target material is obtained by the vibration member vibrating in a vibration direction having a component orthogonal to the surface of the vibration application target material. The force to pressurize the material to be given vibration repeatedly fluctuates. Moreover, the area | region pressurized by the vibration member in the part facing the vibration member side opposing surface on the surface of a vibration provision object material by having uneven | corrugated shape in the vibration member side opposing surface which contacts a vibration provision object material It is possible to increase the ratio of the portion that becomes the boundary between the region and the non-pressurized region. In the above experimental example, the vicinity of the boundary between the region that is actually pressurized and the region that is not pressurized is present on the surface of the vibration application target material that is pressurized when the vibrating member contacts and vibrates. We found that the temperature was the highest. For this reason, as in this aspect, by increasing the proportion of the portion that becomes the boundary, even if the same vibration is applied, the range of the portion that becomes high temperature due to vibration can be widened. It is possible to improve the conversion efficiency for converting energy into heat energy.
(Aspect B)
In the aspect A, the material to be subjected to vibration such as the transfer sheet S, the fixing belt 2, the fixing counter belt 302, and the heating target roller 214 is surface-moved with respect to the position where the vibration member side facing surface such as the horn tip surface 102 contacts. Thus, the position where the vibration member side facing surface contacts on the surface of the vibration imparting target material is displaced, and the concave and convex shapes such as the tip convex portion 102a and the tip concave portion 102b of the vibration member side facing surface are of the vibration imparting target material. Concave portions or convex portions are not continuous in the surface movement direction.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, heating unevenness can be prevented. Therefore, by using the heating device of this aspect for a fixing device, it is possible to perform fixing without fixing unevenness, and thus it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective images due to heating unevenness.
(Aspect C)
In the aspect A or B, the protrusions such as the tip protrusion 102a forming the uneven shape have a semicircular cross-sectional shape.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the pressure at which the convex portion pressurizes the surface of the object to be imparted with vibration is increased and heat is easily generated. Can be prevented, and damage to the material to which vibration is applied can be prevented.
(Aspect D)
In any one of the aspects A to C, a hard heat insulating layer such as zirconia is provided on the convex part such as the tip convex part 102a forming the concavo-convex shape.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, by providing a hard layer such as a hard heat insulating layer on the convex portion, vibration attenuation can be suppressed, and vibration energy for vibrating the vibration member is converted into thermal energy. The conversion efficiency for conversion is improved. Furthermore, by providing a heat insulating layer such as a hard heat insulating layer on the convex portion, it is possible to suppress the transmission of thermal energy converted from vibration energy to the vibration member, and heat generation efficiency is improved.
(Aspect E)
In any one of the aspects A to D, the position to which the vibration imparting target material such as the transfer sheet S, the fixing belt 2, the fixing facing belt 302, and the heating target roller 214 contacts the vibration member side facing surface such as the horn tip surface 102 is in contact. The position of the vibration member side facing surface on the surface of the vibration imparting target material is displaced by moving the surface relative to the surface of the vibration applying target material, and the concave and convex shapes such as the tip convex portion 102a and the tip concave portion 102b on the vibration member side facing surface are configured. The downstream flat surface 102d has a flat surface 102d on the downstream side in the surface movement direction of the vibration imparting target material with respect to the portion provided with a flat surface 102d that does not have a concave portion such as the tip concave portion 102b and the entire surface facing the vibration member. A flat part such as the convex part 102c is provided.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the surface of the vibration imparting target material heated at the portion provided with the uneven shape can be reliably pressed with the flat portion, and there is a problem caused by press unevenness. Occurrence can be prevented. In particular, as in Examples 1 to 6 and the modified example, if the recording medium such as the transfer sheet S is included in the vibration application target material, the resin fine particles such as toner on the recording medium are provided with uneven shapes. It is possible to reliably pressurize the flat portion while being softened by heating. As a result, fixing unevenness due to pressurization unevenness of the softened resin fine particles can be prevented, and the resin fine particles can be reliably fixed to the recording medium.
(Aspect F)
In the aspect of aspect E, the flat portions such as the downstream flat convex portion 102c having the flat surface 102d are located on the transfer paper S, the fixing belt 2, the fixing counter belt 302, and the convex portion such as the convex portion such as the convex portion 102a. It arrange | positions so that it may become a position away from vibration provision object materials, such as the heating object roller 214. FIG.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the flat portion is further away from the vibration application target material than the upstream convex portion, the convex portion forming the concavo-convex shape reliably contacts the vibration application target material. It is possible to prevent the heating efficiency from being lowered due to the provision of the flat portion.
(Aspect G)
In any of the aspects A to F, the vibration imparting target material is a recording medium such as the transfer sheet S carrying resin fine particles such as the unfixed toner 7.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment, the resin fine particles and the recording medium can be directly vibrated and directly heated, so that loss of heat energy can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved. Further, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
(Aspect H)
In any of the aspects A to G, the fixing facing roller 3, the fixed fixing facing member 301, the fixing roller 210, the fixed fixing member 211, the position facing the vibrating member side facing surface such as the horn tip surface 102, and the like. A vibration facing member such as a fixed vibration facing member 212 and a vibration facing roller 213 is provided, and between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member, the transfer sheet S, the fixing belt 2, the fixing facing belt 302, etc. The vibration imparting target material is sandwiched, and the vibration facing member is provided with an elastic layer.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the elastic layer is deformed by vibration and generates heat, the vibration application is held between the surface of the vibration facing member including the elastic layer and the vibration member side facing surface. The target material can be heated with the heat generated in the elastic layer. Furthermore, since the elastic layer has heat insulation properties, it is difficult for heat generated on the surface to be transferred toward the inside, so that loss of heat energy caused by heat transferred to the vibration facing member can be suppressed, and heat generated on the surface can be suppressed. Can be efficiently transmitted to the material to which vibration is applied. Further, if the fixing device includes the heating device of this aspect, the vibration application target material can be heated and fixed even when the entire vibration facing member is not at a high temperature, so that energy saving can be achieved. I can do it.
(Aspect I)
In the aspect G, a vibration facing member such as the fixing roller 210 is provided at a position facing the vibration member side facing surface such as the horn tip surface 102, and the transfer paper S or the like is provided between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member. The vibration facing member is provided with an elastic layer, and the vibration facing member is in contact with the surface of the recording medium carrying resin fine particles such as unfixed toner 7.
According to this, as described in the fifth embodiment, since the resin fine particles are in contact with the surface of the vibration facing member that generates heat and heated, the heat is easily transferred to the resin fine particles. If the fixing device uses the heating device of this aspect, the resin fine particles can be more efficiently fixed to the recording medium.
(Aspect J)
In any of the aspects A to F, the vibration imparting target material is an endless belt such as the fixing belt 2 or the fixing facing belt 302, and the vibration member side facing surface such as the horn tip surface 102 with the endless belt interposed therebetween. Are provided with vibration facing members such as a fixing facing roller 3, a fixed fixing facing member 301, a fixing roller 210, a fixed fixing member 211, a fixed vibration facing member 212, and a vibration facing roller 213. An endless belt is sandwiched between the facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member, and an elastic layer is provided on at least one of the vibration facing member and the endless belt.
According to this, since the elastic layer is deformed by vibration and generates heat as described in the above embodiment, the vibration application target material is generated by the heat generated in the elastic layer included in at least one of the vibration facing member and the endless belt. The endless belt can be heated.
(Aspect K)
In the fixing device such as the fixing device 100 that softens or melts the toner such as the unfixed toner 7 by using the heat generated by the heating unit and fixes the toner on the recording medium such as the transfer paper S, the heating unit includes modes A to J. The heating device of any of the aspects is used.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the conversion efficiency from vibration energy to heat energy in the heating device can be improved, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the fixing device and to save energy. Can be achieved.
(Aspect L)
Toner image forming means such as a printer unit 150 that forms a toner image on a recording medium such as transfer paper S using toner, and the surface of the toner image carrier that carries the toner image transferred to the recording medium, or the toner image An image forming apparatus such as a copier 500 provided with a fixing unit that heats the surface of a recording medium carrying the toner and forms a toner image by softening or melting the toner and fixing the toner image on the recording medium, As the fixing unit, a fixing device such as the fixing device 100 described in the aspect K is used.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, by reducing the power consumption of the fixing device, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the entire image forming apparatus and to save energy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vibrator 2 Fixing belt 3 Fixing opposing roller 7 Unfixed toner 8 Fixing toner 9 Fixing part 10 Photoconductor 14 Belt drive roller 15 Cleaning opposing roller 16 Secondary transfer opposing roller 17 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 18 Image forming unit 21 Exposure device 22 Secondary transfer device 23 Transfer conveyance support roller 24 Transfer conveyance belt 25 Fixing conveyance guide 28 Inversion device 32 Contact glass 33 First traveling body 34 Second traveling body 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 49 Registration roller 50 Intermediate transfer belt 51 Manual feed Paper feed roller 52 Manual separation roller 53 Manual paper feed path 54 Manual feed tray 55 Switching claw 56 Post-fixing transport roller pair 57 Paper discharge tray 61 Development device 62 Primary transfer roller 63 Photoconductor cleaning device 64 Static elimination device 65 Development sleeve 66 Stirrer 67 Development unit 6 Conveying screw 70 Developing case 71 Toner concentration sensor 72 Magnet roller 73 Doctor blade 75 Cleaning blade 76 Fur brush 77 Electric field roller 78 Scraper 79 Recovery screw 80 Toner recycling device 100 Fixing device 101 Horn portion 102 Horn tip surface 102a Tip convex portion 102b Tip recess 102c Downstream flat convex portion 102d Flat surface 102t Protrusive top surface 109 Vibration imparting portion 120 Tandem type image forming portion 130 Document table 142 Paper feed roller 143 Paper bank 144 Paper feed cassette 145 Separating roller 146 Paper feed path 147 Conveying roller 148 Main body Side feeding path 150 Printer unit 156 Discharge roller pair 160 Charging device 200 Paper feeding device 201 Base 202 Vibration facing member 203 Thermoscale 204 Wire 210 Fixing roller 21 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed type fixing member 212 Fixed type vibration facing member 213 Vibration facing roller 214 Heating target roller 300 Scanner 301 Fixed type fixing facing member 302 Fixing facing belt 303 Pressure roller 400 Automatic document feeder 500 Copying machine L Exposure light S Transfer paper W Vibration member side facing surface width

JP 2002-229358 A JP 2012-022016 JP Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-150687 Japanese Patent No. 2798555 JP-A-11-316518 JP-A-4-195179 JP-A-5-224561 JP-A-4-29175

Claims (12)

In a heating apparatus that heats the vibration application target material by bringing the vibration member into contact with the surface of the vibration application target material and causing the vibration member to vibrate,
The vibration direction of the vibration member has a component orthogonal to the surface of the vibration application target material,
The vibration member is in contact with the vibration imparting target material on a vibration member side facing surface facing the surface of the vibration imparting target material, and has an uneven shape on the vibration member side facing surface. The heating device of claim 1,
The vibration imparting target material is configured to displace the position where the vibration member side facing surface contacts on the surface of the vibration imparting target material by moving the surface relative to the position where the vibration member side facing surface contacts.
The heating device, wherein the concave-convex shape of the surface facing the vibration member is such that a concave portion or a convex portion is not continuous in the surface movement direction of the vibration application target material. The heating device according to claim 1 or 2,
The convex part which forms the said uneven | corrugated shape is a semicircular cross-sectional shape, The heating apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the heating apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
A heating apparatus, wherein a hard heat insulating layer is provided on a convex portion forming the uneven shape. In the heating apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The vibration imparting target material is configured to displace the position where the vibration member side facing surface contacts on the surface of the vibration imparting target material by moving the surface relative to the position where the vibration member side facing surface contacts.
There is no concave portion on the downstream side in the surface movement direction of the vibration application target material with respect to the portion provided with the uneven shape on the vibration member side facing surface, and the entire area of the vibration member side facing surface is in contact with the vibration application target material. A heating device comprising a flat portion. The heating device according to claim 5, wherein
The said flat part arrange | positions so that it may become a position away from the said vibration provision object material rather than the said uneven | corrugated shaped convex part. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The heating apparatus, wherein the vibration imparting target material is a recording medium carrying resin fine particles. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A vibration facing member is provided at a position facing the vibration member side facing surface, and the vibration application target material is sandwiched between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member.
A heating apparatus comprising an elastic layer on the vibration facing member. The heating device of claim 7,
A vibration facing member is provided at a position facing the vibration member side facing surface, the recording medium is sandwiched between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member, and an elastic layer is provided on the vibration facing member. Prepared,
The heating device, wherein the vibration facing member is in contact with a surface of the recording medium carrying the resin fine particles. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The vibration imparting target material is an endless belt,
A vibration facing member is provided at a position facing the vibration member side facing surface across the endless belt, and the endless belt is sandwiched between the vibration member side facing surface and the surface of the vibration facing member.
A heating apparatus comprising an elastic layer on at least one of the vibration facing member and the endless belt. In a fixing device that softens or melts toner using heat generated by a heating unit and fixes the toner on a recording medium,
A fixing device using the heating device according to claim 1 as the heating means. Toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording medium using toner;
When the surface of the toner image carrier that carries the toner image to be transferred to the recording medium or the surface of the recording medium that carries the toner image is heated and the toner image is formed, the toner is softened or melted, An image forming apparatus including a fixing unit that fixes a toner image,
An image forming apparatus using the fixing device according to claim 11 as the fixing unit.