JP2016218171A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrally form a full-width cleaning member and an auxiliary cleaning member to reduce the number of components and eliminate the need of individual adjustment of contact pressure.SOLUTION: There is provided a fixing device 17 comprising a contact member 190 in contact with an outer peripheral surface 171d of a fixing member 171, the fixing device including a first cleaning member 181 that is in contact with the full width of the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing member 171 to clean the fixing member, and a second cleaning member 182 that is in contact with an area of the outer peripheral surface 171d in contact with a contact member 190 to clean the cleaning member, wherein the first cleaning member 181 and the second cleaning member 182 are integrally formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention provides a heating member for an unfixed image (specifically, a toner image formed visually) on a recording sheet such as plain paper by an image forming technique such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording, or magnetic photography. The present invention relates to a fixing device that fixes at a fixing nip portion of a fixing member composed of a pressure member, and more particularly, to a fixing device that includes a cleaning unit that collects dirt such as toner and paper dust attached to the fixing member.

  Conventionally, a fixing device including a cleaning unit that collects dirt such as toner and paper dust attached to a fixing member has been disclosed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 includes, as a first embodiment, a cleaning roller 4 as a cleaning member that is rotatably provided in sliding contact with an outer peripheral surface of a fixing sleeve 2 as a heating rotator (patent) Reference 1 of FIG. 1) is disclosed. As a third embodiment, the thermistor 21, which is the temperature detection member 20 slidably in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing sleeve 2, is upstream of the rotation of the fixing sleeve 2, and includes the thermistor 21 and the fixing sleeve 2. A configuration provided with a pad 22 as a cleaning portion integrally attached to the thermistor 21 so that the tip portion is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing sleeve 2 in a gap with the outer peripheral surface (see FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1). ) Is disclosed. In the fourth embodiment, a thermistor as a temperature detection member is interposed between a flexible fixing sleeve 2 as a heating rotator and a cleaning roller 4 as a cleaning member (FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1). Reference).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-74013

  According to the fixing device described in Patent Document 1, the entire outer peripheral surface of the fixing sleeve including the region where the thermistor is in contact is cleaned with one cleaning member. That is, both the area where the thermistor is in contact and the other areas are cleaned by the same cleaning pressure with the same cleaning member, and the contact pressure is adjusted separately for the area where the thermistor is in contact with the other areas. There was a problem that I could not do it.

  On the other hand, in order to adjust the contact pressure between the region where the thermistor is in contact with other regions, the entire width cleaning member for cleaning the entire width of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing sleeve and the region where the thermistor is in contact are cleaned. By separately providing the auxiliary cleaning member to be performed, the contact pressure can be individually adjusted.

  However, this configuration has a problem that the number of parts increases because the full width cleaning member and the auxiliary cleaning member are separately provided, and an installation space for providing the full width cleaning member and the auxiliary cleaning member is also required. In addition, since the full width cleaning member and the auxiliary cleaning member are individually provided, it is necessary to individually adjust the contact pressures, and there is a problem that it takes time to adjust the pressure.

  The present invention was devised to solve such problems, and its purpose is to integrate the full width cleaning member and the auxiliary cleaning member, thereby reducing the number of parts and making individual adjustment of the contact pressure unnecessary. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a fixing device according to the present invention is a fixing device including a contact member that contacts an outer peripheral surface of a fixing member, and performs cleaning by contacting the entire width of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member. A cleaning member, and a second cleaning member that contacts and cleans a region of the outer peripheral surface that contacts the contact member, and the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member are configured integrally. It is a feature. By constructing it integrally, the number of parts and installation space can be reduced, and individual pressure adjustment is not required.

  Further, according to the fixing device of the present invention, a slit may be formed at a connection portion between the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member.

  According to the fixing device of the present invention, the contact pressure of the second cleaning member may be adjusted by the slit.

  According to this configuration, the contact pressure can be individually adjusted with a simple structure called a slit. That is, the contact pressure of the second cleaning member can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the slit.

  According to the fixing device of the present invention, the contact pressure of the second cleaning member is set smaller than the contact pressure of the first cleaning member. More specifically, the contact pressure of the second cleaning member may be set within a range of 50 to 80% with respect to the contact pressure of the first cleaning member.

  According to the fixing device of the present invention, the fixing member includes a heating member and a pressure member that form a fixing nip portion, and the contact member, the first cleaning member, and the second cleaning member are It is good also as a structure provided in any one or both of the heating member and the said pressurization member.

  According to the fixing device of the present invention, a fixing roller or a fixing belt can be used as the heating member, and a pressure roller can be used as the pressure member.

  Further, according to the fixing device of the present invention, the contact member can be a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing member and / or a peeling means for peeling the sheet from the fixing member.

  In addition, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the fixing device having the above-described configuration.

  According to the present invention, by configuring the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member integrally, the number of parts and the installation space can be reduced, and the pressure adjustment of the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member is also integrated. It only needs to be adjusted, and there is no need to make individual adjustments.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device according to the first embodiment when viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the main part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning member of the fixing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a cleaning member of the fixing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fixing device according to a second embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fixing device according to a third embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a fixing device according to a third embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fixing device according to a fourth embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fixing device according to a fifth embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a fixing device according to a fifth embodiment viewed from the front side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning member of a fixing device according to a fifth embodiment. It is the schematic perspective view seen from the front side which shows the structure at the time of applying the cleaning means of the structure which concerns on Embodiment 5 to the pressure roller side. It is the partially expanded schematic plan view which shows the other shape of the slit currently formed in the extended base end part of the 2nd support plate. It is the partially expanded schematic plan view which shows the other shape of the slit currently formed in the extended base end part of the 2nd support plate. It is the partially expanded schematic plan view which shows the other shape of the slit currently formed in the extended base end part of the 2nd support plate. It is the partially expanded schematic plan view which shows the other shape of the slit currently formed in the extended base end part of the 2nd support plate.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 provided with a fixing device 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side.

  The image forming apparatus 100 has a copying function of reading an image of the original G and forming an image on a recording sheet P such as recording paper. The image reading apparatus 200 for reading the image of the original G and an image on the recording sheet P are provided. And a main body 300 of the image forming apparatus 100 for forming the image.

  The main body 300 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet supply unit 310, a sheet conveying unit 320, an image forming unit 330, and a sheet discharge unit 340, and is installed horizontally.

  The image data handled in the image forming unit 330 is data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or a single color (for example, black). This corresponds to the monochrome image used. For this reason, in the image forming unit 330, the photosensitive drum 11, the charger 12, the developing device 14, the intermediate transfer roller 152 and the drum cleaning device 16 in the transfer device 15 form four types of images corresponding to the respective colors. Four image stations are provided, and four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are configured in association with black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and each image station Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd is connected. The members having substantially the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the main body 300 of the image forming apparatus 100, when performing image formation, the photosensitive drum 11 is rotated while the intermediate transfer belt 151 in the transfer apparatus 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow C, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is charged by the charger 12. Are uniformly charged to a predetermined potential, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is exposed by the optical scanning device 13, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is developed by the developing device 14. Is developed to form a toner image (unfixed image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. As a result, a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 11. Thereafter, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is removed and collected by the drum cleaning device 16.

  Subsequently, the toner image of each color formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 11 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 151 by the intermediate transfer roller 152 to which a transfer bias is applied while the intermediate transfer belt 151 is moved in the direction of arrow C. Then, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 151. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151. Thereafter, residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151 is removed and collected by the belt cleaning device 153.

  On the other hand, in the sheet supply unit 310, the recording sheets P stacked on the sheet feed cassette 311 are pulled out from the sheet feed cassette 311 by the sheet supply roller unit 312 and conveyed to the image forming unit 330 through the sheet conveyance path 321 in the sheet conveyance unit 320. To do. The sheet conveyance path 321 is provided with a registration roller 322, each conveyance roller 324, and a discharge roller 325. The registration roller 322 temporarily stops the recording sheet P and aligns the leading end of the recording sheet P. Then, the conveyance of the recording sheet P is started in accordance with the transfer timing of the color toner image in the transfer nip area between the intermediate transfer belt 151 and the transfer roller 154a in the secondary transfer device 154.

  While the recording sheet P conveyed from the sheet supply unit 310 to the image forming unit 330 through the sheet conveyance path 321 in the sheet conveyance unit 320 is sandwiched and conveyed in the transfer nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 151 and the transfer roller 154a, The color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 151 is transferred onto the recording sheet P by the transfer roller 154a to which the transfer bias is applied. Then, the recording sheet P is sandwiched between the fixing roller 171 and the pressure roller 172 of the fixing device 17 and heated and pressed to fix the color toner image on the recording sheet P, and further toward the sheet discharge unit 340. And is discharged to a discharge tray 341 in the sheet discharge unit 340 via a discharge roller 325.

  Further, when image formation is performed not only on the front surface of the recording sheet P but also on the back surface, the recording sheet P having the toner image fixed on the front surface by the fixing device 17 is directed in the reverse direction toward the reverse path 323 by the discharge roller 325. Then, the recording sheet P is turned upside down by the reversing path 323, and the recording sheet P is guided again to the registration roller 322. After fixing, the recording sheet P is discharged to a discharge tray 341 in the sheet discharge unit 340.

  Next, the fixing device 17 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Embodiment 1>
2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device 17 according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the main part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front side. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning unit of the fixing device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a partially enlarged cleaning unit of the fixing device according to the first embodiment.

  The fixing device 17 includes a fixing roller 171 (an example of a fixing member) that fixes a toner image (an unfixed image made of toner T) on the recording sheet P, and a pressure roller 172 (an example of a fixing member) that faces the fixing roller 171. ). The fixing device 17 forms a fixing nip portion N that is a fixing nip region between the fixing roller 171 and the pressure roller 172 in a state where the fixing roller 171 and the pressure roller 172 are pressed against each other. Although not shown, the fixing device 17 further includes a pressing device that acts as a pressing unit that presses the pressure roller 172 toward the fixing roller 171. This pressing device may have a conventionally known configuration, and the description thereof is omitted here. This also applies to the following embodiments.

  In the first embodiment, the fixing roller 171 includes a heat source 174 such as a halogen heater lamp, and the heat source 174 heats the outer peripheral surface (roller surface) 171d of the fixing roller 171.

  Specifically, the fixing roller 171 is provided with a rotating shaft 171a rotatably on a main body frame FL of the fixing device 17 via a bearing (not shown). The fixing roller 171 includes a cylindrical metal core 171b and a surface layer 171c having elasticity (cushioning property and flexibility), and a heat source 174 is provided inside the metal core 171b. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface (roller surface) 171d of the fixing roller 171 is heated by the heat source 174, and the heat of the outer peripheral surface (roller surface) 171d is conducted to the toner T on the recording sheet P. The fixing roller 171 is placed on the recording sheet P while sandwiching the recording sheet P in the fixing nip portion N between the fixing roller 172 and the pressure roller 172 with the recording sheet P interposed therebetween. The toner T is heated and fixed together with the pressure roller 172.

  As the metal core 171b, for example, a material such as a free-cutting steel material (SUM material), a stainless steel material (SUS material), aluminum, iron, copper, or an alloy thereof can be used. Further, as the surface layer 171c, for example, a porous resin material or a foamed resin material can be used. Typical examples of the foamed resin material include foamed rubber such as urethane rubber (foamed urethane) and silicon rubber (foamed silicon).

  On the other hand, the pressure roller 172 has a rotation shaft 172a rotatably provided on the main body frame FL of the fixing device 17 via a bearing (not shown). The pressure roller 172 includes a core metal 172b and a release layer 172c having releasability, and the release layer 172c is provided on the core metal 172b.

  As the core metal 172b, the same material as that of the fixing roller 171 can be used. Further, as the release layer 172c, for example, a fluorine resin such as PFA (a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) can be used.

  In the fixing device 17 having such a configuration, the fixing roller 171 is provided with a contact member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 171 (specifically, the surface of the surface layer 171c) 171d. Specifically, a contact thermistor (hereinafter also simply referred to as a thermistor) 190 that is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller 171 is provided.

  In addition, the fixing roller 171 is provided with a cleaning unit 180 for collecting minute matters such as toner and paper dust attached to the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171.

  The cleaning unit 180 includes a full width cleaning member (first cleaning member) 181 that contacts and cleans the full width of the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 in the width direction X (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2), and the thermistor 190 contacts And an auxiliary cleaning member (second cleaning member) 182 for cleaning in contact with the area to be cleaned.

  In the first embodiment, the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 are integrally formed.

  That is, the cleaning unit 180 includes a single plate-like support 183 for integrally supporting the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182. The support 183 is opposed to the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171, and extends perpendicularly to the width direction X of the first support plate 184 and the first support plate 184 extending over the entire length in the width direction X. A second support plate 185 facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 extending from one side edge portion 184a in the front-rear direction Y toward the front-rear direction Y, and the other end of the first support plate 184 The fixing plate 186 extended from a plurality of locations (in this example, one location at the center and two locations at both ends in the width direction X) of the side edge portion 184b is fixed to the main body frame FL by screwing or the like. It is configured to be fixed.

  Further, the second support plate 185 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 so as to face the region where the thermistor 190 comes into contact. In this example, the thermistor 190 is provided at two positions in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171: a position at one end and a position closer to the center from there. Accordingly, the second support plate 185 is also provided at two locations on one side edge 184a of the first support plate 184 corresponding to these.

  The full width cleaning member 181 is attached and fixed to one surface side of the first support plate 184 (that is, the surface side facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171), and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed to the second support plate 185. Is attached and fixed to one surface side (that is, the surface side facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171).

  Here, examples of the material of the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 include felt and rubber.

  In such a configuration, a pair of slits 187 and 187 are formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185. The slit 187 is formed by cutting in parallel from one side edge portion 184a toward the other side edge portion 184b, and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 to the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 is determined by the cut length. The contact pressure can be adjusted. That is, the support 183 is formed by sheet metal processing or resin molding using a metal material, and the material itself has elasticity. Accordingly, the slit 187 is formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185 to adjust the extended length of the second support plate 185, thereby reducing the contact pressure to the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171. Can be adjusted.

  Here, if only the contact pressure between the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is changed, the distance (stroke) in the Y direction from the fixing portion (the portion to be screwed) 186 a of the fixing plate 186 to the full width cleaning member 181. The distance can be adjusted by simply changing the distance (stroke) in the Y direction from the fixed portion 186a to the auxiliary cleaning member 182. However, if the contact pressure is adjusted only by the stroke, the distance (stroke) in the Y direction from the fixed portion 186a to the auxiliary cleaning member 182 may be increased. In consideration of disposing the cleaning unit 180 in the main body frame FL of the fixing device 17, the distance (stroke) in the Y direction from the fixing portion 186a to the auxiliary cleaning member 182 cannot be made too long. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the contact pressure can be adjusted by forming the slit 187 even if the distance (stroke) in the Y direction from the fixed portion 186a is short.

  Here, in the first embodiment, the contact pressure of the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is set within a range of 50 to 80% with respect to the contact pressure of the full width cleaning member 181. Since the region where the thermistor 190 contacts is originally cleaned by the full width cleaning member 181, the auxiliary cleaning member 182 may be only the auxiliary of the full width cleaning member 181. Therefore, the contact pressure does not need to be the same as the contact pressure of the full width cleaning member 181, and as described above, the contact pressure is set to an arbitrary contact pressure within the range of 50 to 80% with respect to the contact pressure of the full width cleaning member 181. It only has to be.

  Here, the relationship between the second support plate 185 to which the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed and the slit 187 will be described with a specific example.

  In the first embodiment, the support 183 is processed by sheet metal processing, and the plate pressure t is 0.15 mm. Accordingly, the plate pressure t of the second support plate 185 to which the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed is also 0.15 mm. At this plate pressure, as shown in FIG. 5, the width a of the second support plate 185 is 20 mm, and the length from one side edge portion 184a of the first support plate 184 to the front end side edge portion 185a of the second support plate 185. The length b is set to 8 mm, and the length c of the slit 187 is set to 5 mm. That is, in this setting, the ratio is a: b: c = 1: 0.4: 0.25. However, this ratio is merely a specific example. Actually, the ratio of b and c is within a range of a: b: c = 1: 0.2 to 0.5: 0.1 to 0.5. By adjusting the contact pressure of the auxiliary cleaning member 182 with respect to the contact pressure of the full width cleaning member 181, the contact pressure of 50 to 80% can be adjusted. The specific relationship between the second support plate 185 and the slit 187 is the same in the following first to fifth embodiments.

  According to the first embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171 in contact with the thermistor 190 can be cleaned cleanly by the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponding to the position of the thermistor 190. . Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are individually attached, and the installation space around the fixing roller 171 can be easily secured. Furthermore, by configuring the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the trouble of individually adjusting the contact pressure to the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 can be saved.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device 17 according to the second embodiment viewed from the front side.

  In the fixing device 17 according to the first embodiment, the thermistor 190 and the cleaning unit 180 are provided on the fixing roller 171 side. However, in the second embodiment, the thermistor 190 and the cleaning unit 180 are provided on the pressure roller 172 side. It is said. In the second embodiment, the pressure roller 172 includes a heat source 174 such as a halogen heater lamp, and the heat source 174 heats the outer peripheral surface (roller surface) 172d of the pressure roller 172. Accordingly, the thermistor 190 is also disposed on the pressure roller 172 side.

  The configurations of the thermistor 190 and the cleaning means 180 are substantially the same as the configurations of the first embodiment except that their arrangement positions are on the pressure roller 172 side. It shall be attached and only a brief description will be given.

  In other words, the pressure roller 172 is a contact type that is a temperature detecting means that detects the temperature of the pressure roller 172 by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the pressure roller 172 (specifically, the surface of the release layer 172c) 172d. A thermistor 190 is provided. Further, the cleaning means 180 includes the first support plate 184 and the second support plate 185 of the support body 183 facing the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172, and the full width cleaning member 181 has one surface of the first support plate 184. The auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed to one side (that is, the surface facing the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172), and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is one surface side of the second support plate 185 (that is, the outer periphery of the pressure roller 172). It is attached and fixed to the surface facing the surface 172d.

  Although illustration is omitted, also in the second embodiment, the thermistor 190 is located at one end portion in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172 and closer to the center portion thereof. It is provided at two locations. Therefore, the 2nd support plate 185 is also provided in two places of one side edge part of the 1st support plate 184 corresponding to these.

  According to the second embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172 in contact with the thermistor 190 can be cleaned cleanly by the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponding to the position of the thermistor 190. it can. Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are individually attached, and the installation space around the pressure roller 172 can be easily secured. . Further, by configuring the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the trouble of individually adjusting the contact pressure to the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172 can be saved.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device 17 according to the third embodiment as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of main parts of the fixing device according to the third embodiment as viewed from the front side. . The fixing device 17 according to the third embodiment is a belt fixing type fixing device.

  The fixing device 17 includes a plurality of (here, two) rollers including the fixing roller 175 (here, the fixing roller 175 and the heating roller 176), and an endless fixing belt 177 wound around the fixing roller 175 and the heating roller 176. And.

  The fixing device 17 further includes a pressure roller 178. The fixing device 17 is disposed between the fixing belt 177 and the pressure roller 178 with the fixing roller 175 and the pressure roller 178 pressed against each other with the fixing belt 177 interposed therebetween. A fixing nip portion N, which is a fixing nip region, is formed.

  The fixing roller 175 faces the unfixed toner T on the recording sheet P via the fixing belt 177, and the heating roller 176 heats the fixing belt 177.

  Specifically, the fixing roller 175 faces the unfixed toner T on the recording sheet P with the fixing belt 177 interposed, and the fixing belt 177 is interposed with the pressure roller 178. The unfixed toner T is pressed together with the pressure roller 178 so as to face the unfixed toner T on the recording sheet P between the fixing belt 177 and the pressure roller 178.

  The fixing roller 175 has a rotating shaft 175a rotatably provided on the main body frame FL of the fixing device 17 via a bearing (not shown). The fixing roller 175 includes a metal core 175b and an elastic layer 175c having elasticity (cushioning property and flexibility).

  Specifically, the fixing roller 175 is provided with an elastic layer 175c on the outer surface of the core metal 175b. That is, the fixing roller 175 is a roller having an elastic layer 175c formed on the outer surface.

  The metal core 175b is made of a cylindrical (solid) metal core material. As the metal core 175b, for example, a material such as a free-cutting steel material (SUM material), a stainless steel material (SUS material), aluminum, iron, copper, or an alloy thereof can be used.

  As the elastic layer 175c, for example, a porous resin material or a foamed resin material can be used. Typical examples of the foamed resin material include foamed rubber such as urethane rubber (foamed urethane) and silicon rubber (foamed silicon).

  The heating roller 176 has a rotating shaft 176a rotatably provided on the main body frame FL of the fixing device 17 via a bearing (not shown). The heating roller 176 includes a cylindrical cored bar 176b, and a heat source (here, a halogen heater lamp) 179 for heating the heating roller 176 is provided inside the cored bar 176b. As a result, the heating roller 176 is heated by the heat source 179, the heat of the heating roller 176 is conducted to the fixing belt 177, and further, is conducted to the roller surface of the fixing roller 175 via the fixing belt 177 to heat the fixing roller 175. The

  In the fixing belt 177, a synthetic resin material (for example, a fluorine-based resin such as PFA or PTFE) having excellent heat resistance and releasability is formed as a release layer on the surface of a flexible cylindrical substrate. It has a layer structure. In addition, in order to reduce the shifting force (force that shifts in the direction of the rotation axis) of the fixing belt 177, the inner surface of the belt base material may be coated with a fluorine resin or the like.

  The pressure roller 178 has a rotary shaft 178a rotatably provided on the main body frame FL of the fixing device 17 via a bearing (not shown). The pressure roller 178 includes a core metal 178b and a release layer 178c having releasability, and the release layer 178c is provided on the core metal 178b.

  The core metal 178b is made of a hollow cylindrical metal core material. A material similar to that of the fixing roller 175 can be used for the core metal 178b.

  As the release layer 178c, for example, a fluorine-based resin such as PFA (a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) can be used.

  In the fixing device 17 having such a configuration, the fixing belt 177 is provided with a contact member that comes into contact with the belt surface (outer peripheral surface) 177a. Specifically, a contact thermistor (hereinafter also simply referred to as a thermistor) 190 that is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 177 is provided.

  In addition, the fixing belt 177 is provided with a cleaning unit 180 for collecting minute matters such as toner and paper dust attached to the belt surface 177 a of the fixing belt 177. Note that the configuration itself of the cleaning unit 180 is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and therefore the description will be made using the same reference numerals.

  The cleaning unit 180 includes a full width cleaning member (first cleaning member) 181 that contacts and cleans the full width of the belt surface 177a of the fixing belt 177 in the width direction X (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7), and a thermistor 190. And an auxiliary cleaning member (second cleaning member) 182 for cleaning in contact with the area to be cleaned. Also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 are integrally configured.

  That is, the cleaning unit 180 includes a single plate-like support 183 for integrally supporting the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182. The support 183 is opposed to the belt surface 177 a of the fixing belt 177, and extends across the entire length in the width direction X, and is orthogonal to the width direction X of the first support plate 184. A second support plate 185 facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 extending from one side edge portion 184a in the front-rear direction Y toward the front-rear direction Y, and the other end of the first support plate 184 A fixing plate 186 extending from a plurality of locations of the side edge portion 184b (in this example, three locations at the center portion and both end portions in the width direction X) is fixed to the main body frame FL by screwing or the like. ing.

  Further, the second support plate 185 is provided on the belt surface 177 a of the fixing belt 177 so as to face the region where the thermistor 190 contacts. In this example, the thermistor 190 is provided at two positions in the width direction X of the belt surface 177a of the fixing belt 177, that is, the position of one end and the position from the center. Therefore, the 2nd support plate 185 is also provided in two places of one side edge part of the 1st support plate 184 corresponding to these.

  The full width cleaning member 181 is attached and fixed to one surface side of the first support plate 184 (that is, the surface side facing the belt surface 177a of the fixing belt 177), and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed to the second support plate 185. Are attached and fixed to one surface side (that is, the surface side of the fixing belt 177 facing the belt surface 177a).

  Here, as the material of the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182, felt, rubber, and the like can be exemplified as in the first embodiment.

  In such a configuration, a pair of slits 187 and 187 are formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185. The slit 187 is formed by cutting in parallel from one side edge portion 184a toward the other side edge portion 184b, and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 to the belt surface 177a of the fixing belt 177 is formed by the cut length. The contact pressure can be adjusted. That is, the support 183 is formed by sheet metal processing or resin molding using a metal material, and the material itself has elasticity. Accordingly, by forming slits 187 on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185 and adjusting the extended length of the second support plate 185, the contact pressure of the fixing belt 177 to the belt surface 177a is reduced. Can be adjusted.

  Here, also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the contact pressure of the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is set within a range of 50 to 80% with respect to the contact pressure of the full width cleaning member 181. .

  According to the third embodiment, the belt surface 177a of the fixing belt 177 in contact with the thermistor 190 can be cleaned cleanly by the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponding to the position of the thermistor 190. . Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are individually attached, and the installation space around the fixing belt 177 can be easily secured. Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, it is not necessary to individually adjust the contact pressure of the fixing belt 177 to the belt surface 177a.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device 17 according to the fourth embodiment as viewed from the front side.

  In the fixing device 17 according to the third embodiment, the thermistor 190 and the cleaning unit 180 are provided on the fixing belt 177 side. However, in the fourth embodiment, the thermistor 190 and the cleaning unit 180 are provided on the pressure roller 178 side. It is said. In the fourth embodiment, the pressure roller 178 includes a heat source 179 such as a halogen heater lamp, and the heat source 179 heats the outer peripheral surface (roller surface) 178d of the pressure roller 178. Accordingly, the thermistor 190 is also disposed on the pressure roller 178 side.

  The thermistor 190 and the cleaning means 180 are the same as those of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in that the arrangement positions are on the pressure roller 178 side, and therefore the same reference numerals are used for the same members. It shall be attached and only a brief description will be given.

  That is, the pressure roller 178 is a contact type that is a temperature detecting means that detects the temperature of the pressure roller 178 by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the pressure roller 178 (specifically, the surface of the release layer 178c) 178d. A thermistor 190 is provided. Further, the cleaning means 180 includes the first support plate 184 and the second support plate 185 of the support body 183 facing the outer peripheral surface 178 d of the pressure roller 178, and the full width cleaning member 181 has one surface of the first support plate 184. The auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed to one side (that is, the outer surface of the pressure roller 178) (that is, the outer surface of the pressure roller 178). It is attached and fixed to the surface facing the surface 178d.

  Although illustration is omitted, also in the fourth embodiment, the thermistor 190 is located at one end in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 178d of the pressure roller 178 and closer to the center from there. It is provided at two locations. Therefore, the 2nd support plate 185 is also provided in two places of one side edge part of the 1st support plate 184 corresponding to these.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 178d of the pressure roller 178 in contact with the thermistor 190 can be cleaned cleanly by the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponding to the position of the thermistor 190. it can. Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are individually attached, and the installation space around the pressure roller 178 can be easily secured. . Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, it is not necessary to individually adjust the contact pressure to the outer peripheral surface 178d of the pressure roller 178.

<Embodiment 5>
In the first to fourth embodiments, the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is described as being configured to face the region where the thermistor 190 contacts. However, the contact member that contacts the fixing member is not only the thermistor 190 but also the peeling claw. (Peeling means) 195 is also in contact. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, attention is paid to the peeling claw 195, and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is provided facing the area where the peeling claw 195 contacts.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the fixing device 17 according to the fifth embodiment when viewed from the front side, and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view when the main part of the fixing device according to the fifth embodiment is viewed from the front side. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning unit of the fixing device according to the fifth exemplary embodiment.

  That is, on the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171, the recording sheet P that has passed through the fixing nip N is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171 in addition to the contact type thermistor 190 that is a temperature detecting means for detecting temperature. A peeling claw 195 is provided. However, in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral surface 172 d of the pressure roller 172 is provided with a separation claw 195 for separating the recording sheet P that has passed through the fixing nip N from the outer peripheral surface 172 d of the pressure roller 172. In the fifth embodiment, only the peeling claw 195 provided on the fixing roller 171 side is targeted.

  The difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment is only the location where the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is provided, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Briefly, in the fifth embodiment, the cleaning unit 180 is in contact with the entire width in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10). A first cleaning member) 181 and an auxiliary cleaning member (second cleaning member) 182 that contacts and cleans a region where the peeling claw 195 contacts.

  That is, the cleaning unit 180 includes a single plate-like support 183 for integrally supporting the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182. The support 183 is opposed to the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171, and extends perpendicularly to the width direction X of the first support plate 184 and the first support plate 184 extending over the entire length in the width direction X. A second support plate 185 facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 extending from one side edge portion 184a in the front-rear direction Y toward the front-rear direction Y, and the other end of the first support plate 184 The fixing plate 186 extended from a plurality of locations (in this example, one location at the center and two locations at both ends in the width direction X) of the side edge portion 184b is fixed to the main body frame FL by screwing or the like. Mounting is fixed.

  In addition, the second support plate 185 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 so as to face the area where the peeling claw 195 contacts. In this example, as shown in FIG. 11, the peeling claws 195 are provided at a total of four places in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 171 d of the fixing roller 171, that is, two places at the center and two places at both ends in the width direction. It has been. Accordingly, the second support plate 185 is also provided at four locations on one side edge 184a of the first support plate 184 corresponding to these.

  The full width cleaning member 181 is attached and fixed to one surface side of the first support plate 184 (that is, the surface side facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171), and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is fixed to the second support plate 185. Is attached and fixed to one surface side (that is, the surface side facing the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171).

  In such a configuration, also in the fifth embodiment, a pair of slits 187 and 187 are formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185. The configuration of the slit 187 is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the case where the cleaning unit 180 of the present invention is applied to the fixing roller 171 side of the fixing device 17 including the fixing roller 171 and the pressure roller 172 will be described. However, in addition to this, as in the second embodiment, the cleaning unit 180 having the configuration according to the fifth embodiment is provided on the pressure roller 172 side of the fixing device 17 including the fixing roller 171 and the pressure roller 172. You may apply. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, the peeling claw 195 is provided at two locations near the center in the width direction X of the outer peripheral surface 172d of the pressure roller 172, so that the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponds to these. The first support plate 184 is provided at two locations on one side edge.

  As in the third embodiment, the cleaning unit 180 having the configuration according to the fifth embodiment may be applied to the fixing belt 177 side of the fixing device 17 including the fixing belt 177 and the pressure roller 178. As in the fourth embodiment, the cleaning unit 180 having the configuration according to the fifth embodiment may be applied to the pressure roller 178 side of the fixing device 17 including the fixing belt 177 and the pressure roller 178.

  According to the fifth embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171 in contact with the peeling claw 195 is cleaned cleanly by the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 corresponding to the position of the peeling claw 195. Can do. Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are individually attached, and the installation space around the fixing roller 171 can be easily secured. Further, by forming the full width cleaning member 181 and the auxiliary cleaning member 182 integrally, it is not necessary to individually adjust the contact pressure to the outer peripheral surface 171d of the fixing roller 171.

<Embodiment 6>
14A to 14D show an embodiment relating to the shape of the slit 187 formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185. FIG. In the first to fifth embodiments, the slit 187 has a shape that is cut in parallel from one side edge 184a of the first support plate 184 toward the other side edge 184b.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 14A, the pair of slits 187 and 187 formed on both sides of the extending base end portion of the second support plate 185 is changed from one side edge portion 184 a of the first support plate 184 to the other side edge. As it goes to the portion 184b, it is inclined so as to gradually approach each other. That is, the pair of slits 187 and 187 are formed in an eight-letter shape.

  In FIG. 14B, a pair of slits 187 and 187 formed on both sides of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185 are arranged in the direction of each other along one side edge portion 184a of the first support plate 184. It is formed so as to approach (that is, in a straight line).

  Further, the slit 187 shown in FIG. 14C has a predetermined length along one side edge 184 a of the first support plate 184, leaving both side portions of the extended base end portion of the second support plate 185. The shape is notched only (perforated). Here, the shape of the hole of the slit 187 may be a thin groove-shaped hole as illustrated, or may be a hole of various shapes such as a square shape, a circular shape, and an elliptical shape.

  14D has a predetermined length along one side edge 184a of the first support plate 184 from one side of the extending base end portion of the second support plate 185 toward the other side. The shape is cut out.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the auxiliary cleaning member 182 is provided at either one of the location corresponding to the region where the thermistor 190 as the contact member contacts or the location corresponding to the region where the peeling claw 195 contacts. Although it is configured, it may be provided at both the location corresponding to the region where the thermistor 190 contacts and the location corresponding to the region where the peeling claw 195 contacts.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the cleaning unit 180 is provided on either the fixing roller (heating roller) side or the pressure roller side. A cleaning means 180 may be provided on both.

  It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and does not serve as a basis for limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted only by the above-described embodiment, but is defined based on the description of the scope of claims. Moreover, all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to a claim are included.

17 Fixing device 171 Fixing roller (an example of a fixing member)
171a Rotating shaft 171b Core metal 171c Surface layer 171d Outer peripheral surface (roller surface)
172 Pressure roller (an example of a fixing member)
172a Rotating shaft 172b Core metal 172c Release layer 172d Roller surface 173, 174 Heat source 175 Fixing roller 175a Rotating shaft 175b Core metal 175c Elastic layer 176 Heating roller 176a Rotating shaft 176b Core metal 177 Fixing belt 177a Belt surface
178 Pressure roller 178a Rotating shaft 178b Core metal 178c Release layer 178d Outer surface 179 Heat source 180 Cleaning means 181 Full width cleaning member (first cleaning member)
182 Auxiliary cleaning member (second cleaning member)
183 Support body 184 First support plate 184a One side edge 184b The other side edge 185 Second support plate 186 Fixed plate 187 Slit 190 Contact type thermistor (an example of a contact member)
195 Peeling (an example of a contact member)
100 Image forming apparatus 300 Main body FL Main body frame P Recording sheet T Toner

Claims (10)

A fixing device including a contact member that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member,
A first cleaning member that contacts and cleans the entire width of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member;
A second cleaning member that contacts and cleans a region of the outer peripheral surface that contacts the contact member;
The fixing device, wherein the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member are integrally formed. The fixing device according to claim 1,
A fixing device, wherein a slit is formed in a connection portion between the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member. The fixing device according to claim 2,
The fixing device, wherein a contact pressure of the second cleaning member is adjusted by the slit. The fixing device according to claim 3,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a contact pressure of the second cleaning member is smaller than a contact pressure of the first cleaning member. The fixing device according to claim 4,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a contact pressure of the second cleaning member is set in a range of 50 to 80% with respect to a contact pressure of the first cleaning member. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:
The fixing member includes a heating member and a pressure member that form a fixing nip portion, and the contact member, the first cleaning member, and the second cleaning member are any one of the heating member and the pressure member. A fixing device provided on one or both sides. The fixing device according to claim 6, wherein
The fixing device, wherein the heating member is a fixing roller or a fixing belt, and the pressure member is a pressure roller. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the fixing member. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a peeling unit that peels a sheet from the fixing member.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.

Images