JP2019020518A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a fixing device that includes a storage capable of short-range radio communication arranged at an appropriate position and in an appropriate form.SOLUTION: A fixing device has a heat source and conveys a recording medium carrying toner to a nip part formed between a fixing member and a pressure member to fix the toner to the recording medium, and comprises: a storage (storage of RFID tag 110) that can perform writing and reading of predetermined information; a heat insulating member 130 that prevents the storage from being heated; and a reflection member 140 that prevents the storage from receiving heat radiation from the heat source. The heat insulating member 130 is provided between the storage and reflection member 140.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

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

  Various image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system have been devised as image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers, and are well-known techniques. In the image forming process, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier based on image information, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum can be developed with toner as a developer. By visualizing and developing the developed image onto a recording medium (also called paper) by a transfer device to carry the image, and fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium by a fixing device using pressure, heat, or the like It is established.

  It is known that management can be facilitated by providing a storage device (memory) capable of short-range wireless communication in a fixing device provided in an image forming apparatus and storing service information and the like in the storage device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is attached as a storage device capable of short-range wireless communication to a fixing device included in an image forming apparatus.

  Since the fixing device is in a high temperature environment exceeding 100 ° C. during use, the storage device needs to be arranged and arranged with sufficient consideration for its heat resistance. In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses that the RFID is provided at a position below the heat source when the fixing device is mounted, and that a heat insulating member is provided between the RFID and the heat source.

  However, in the fixing device of Patent Document 1, since the RFID is provided near the lower end of the fixing device, if the fixing device is struck or dropped at the time of replacement or the like, the RFID is likely to be damaged. Conceivable. In addition, it is not sufficient to provide sufficient heat resistance simply by providing a heat insulating member between the RFID and the heat source, and there is room for examination on the arrangement position and arrangement form of the storage device in the fixing device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device provided with a storage device capable of short-range wireless communication in an appropriate arrangement position and arrangement form.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fixing device according to the present invention has a heat source, conveys a recording medium carrying toner to a nip portion formed between a fixing member and a pressure member, and supplies the toner. In the fixing device for fixing to the recording medium, a storage device capable of writing and reading predetermined information, a heat insulating member for suppressing heating of the storage device, and the storage device receiving heat radiation from the heat source. A reflection member that suppresses the heat insulation member, and the heat insulation member is provided between the storage device and the reflection member.

  According to the present invention, a storage device capable of short-range wireless communication can be provided in an appropriate arrangement position and arrangement form.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fixing device. It is a schematic diagram of an RFID tag. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the fixing device when viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction. It is explanatory drawing (1) of the installation position of a RFID tag. It is explanatory drawing (2) of the installation position of a RFID tag. It is explanatory drawing of the installation form of a RFID tag.

  Hereinafter, a configuration according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a tandem type color copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The outline and operation of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment is a photosensitive as an image carrier capable of forming an image as an image corresponding to each color separated into yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. It has a tandem structure in which body drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk are juxtaposed. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 has a system in which a sheet feeding unit is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus, an image forming unit is disposed above the image forming unit, a fixing device and a sheet discharging unit are disposed above the image forming unit, and the recording medium P is conveyed vertically upward. In addition, the conveyance path of the recording medium P is short.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has an endless belt in which visible images formed on the respective photoconductive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk can move in the direction of arrow A1 while facing the photoconductive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk. By performing a primary transfer process on an intermediate transfer body (hereinafter referred to as a transfer belt) 11 in which is used, each image is superimposed and transferred, and then a secondary transfer process is performed on the recording medium P. It is designed to be batch transferred.

  Around each photosensitive drum, an apparatus for performing image forming processing is arranged according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum, and the photosensitive drum 20Bk that performs black image formation will be described. The rotation of the photosensitive drum 20Bk is described. A charging device 30Bk, a developing device 40Bk, a primary transfer roller 12Bk, and a cleaning device 50Bk that perform image forming processing are arranged along the direction. The optical writing device 8 is used for writing performed after charging.

  In the superimposing transfer to the transfer belt 11, the visible image formed on each of the photoconductive drums 20 </ b> Y, 20 </ b> C, 20 </ b> M, and 20 </ b> Bk is transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 11 while the transfer belt 11 moves in the A1 direction. As described above, voltage application by the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk disposed to face the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk with the transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween causes the A1 direction upstream. The timing is shifted toward the downstream side.

  The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the A1 direction, and the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk respectively display yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images. It is provided in an image station for forming.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is disposed so as to face four image stations that perform image forming processing for each color and above each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk, and includes a transfer belt 11 and a primary transfer roller 12Y. , 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, and a secondary transfer roller 5 that is disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 and is a transfer roller as a transfer member that is driven by the transfer belt 11 and rotates. A cleaning device 13 disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 to clean the surface of the transfer belt 11, and an optical writing device 8 serving as an optical writing device disposed below the four image stations. have.

  The optical writing device 8 is equipped with a semiconductor laser as a light source, a coupling lens, an fθ lens, a toroidal lens, a folding mirror, a rotating polygonal mirror as a deflecting means, and the like, and each photosensitive drum 20Y, 20C, 20M, Write light Lb corresponding to each color with respect to 20 Bk (in FIG. 1, for convenience, a reference is given only to a black image station, but the same applies to other image stations), and a photoconductor An electrostatic latent image is formed on the drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet feeding device 61 as a sheet feeding cassette on which a recording medium P transported between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk and the transfer belt 11 is stacked, and a sheet feeding device. The transfer section between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk and the transfer belt 11 at a predetermined timing that matches the timing of forming the toner image by the image station with the recording medium P conveyed from the feeding device 61. And a sensor for detecting that the leading edge of the recording medium P has reached the registration roller pair 4.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a fixing device 100 for fixing the toner image on the recording medium P to which the toner image is transferred, and a paper discharge roller 7 for discharging the fixed recording medium P to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. A paper discharge tray 17 that is disposed on the top of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and is loaded with a recording medium P discharged to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 by a paper discharge roller 7; And toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9Bk filled with toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.

  In the single-sided printing mode in which an image is formed on one side of the recording medium P, the recording medium P is discharged from the paper discharge roller 7. In the double-sided printing mode in which an image is formed on both sides of the recording medium P, the paper is discharged. The recording medium P is guided from the roller 7 to the reverse path 80 for duplex printing. The reversing path 80 is provided on the opening / closing cover of the casing of the image forming apparatus 1. The opening / closing cover will be described later.

  In addition to the transfer belt 11 and primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, the transfer belt unit 10 includes an elastic roller 72 and a driven roller 73 around which the transfer belt 11 is wound.

  The driven roller 73 also has a function as a tension urging unit for the transfer belt 11. For this reason, the driven roller 73 is provided with an urging unit using a spring or the like. Such a transfer belt unit 10, the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, the secondary transfer roller 5, and the cleaning device 13 constitute a transfer device 71.

  The sheet feeding device 61 is disposed at the lower part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a feeding roller 3 as a feeding roller that contacts the upper surface of the uppermost recording medium P. 3 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction so that the uppermost recording medium P is fed toward the registration roller pair 4.

  The cleaning device 13 provided in the transfer device 71 has a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade disposed so as to face and contact the transfer belt 11, and removes foreign matters such as residual toner on the transfer belt 11. The transfer belt 11 is cleaned by scraping and removing with a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade. The cleaning device 13 also has discharge means for carrying out and discarding the residual toner removed from the transfer belt 11.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a reader / writer device 90 capable of writing information to the storage device 113 (FIG. 3) of the RFID tag 110 provided in the fixing device 100 and reading the written information. It is provided at 110 communicable positions.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of a color printer using a tandem system in which image forming units that form a plurality of color images are juxtaposed along the belt extending direction. Possible image forming apparatuses are not limited to this method. Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.

(Fixing device)
The fixing device (fixing device 100) according to the present embodiment includes a heat source (halogen heater 102) and a nip portion formed between the fixing member (fixing sleeve 101) and the pressure member (pressure roller 103). Storage device capable of writing and reading predetermined information (storage device of RFID tag 110) in a fixing device that transports a recording medium (recording medium P) carrying toner (toner T) and fixes the toner to the recording medium 113), a heat insulating member (heat insulating member 130) that suppresses heating of the storage device, and a reflective member (reflecting member 140) that suppresses the storage device from receiving heat radiation from the heat source. It is provided between the storage device and the reflecting member. In addition, the code | symbol in embodiment and the example of application are shown in a parenthesis.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the fixing device 100. The configuration and operation of this fixing device will be described with reference to FIG.

  The fixing device 100 includes a pressure roller 103 as a pressure member and a fixing sleeve 101 as a rotatable endless fixing member. Inside the fixing sleeve 101, a nip forming member 106 that forms a nip portion by pressing the pressure roller 103 through the fixing sleeve 101, a stay 107 as a support member that supports a load applied to the nip forming member, and a fixing sleeve 101 A substantially cylindrical heat conduction pipe 108 that is provided on the inner peripheral side and rotatably supports the fixing sleeve 101, a halogen heater 102 that heats the heat conduction pipe 108 and transfers heat to the fixing sleeve 101, and the like. Yes.

  The fixing sleeve 101 is composed of a metal belt such as nickel or SUS or an endless belt (or film) using a resin material such as polyimide. The surface layer of the fixing sleeve 101 has a releasing layer such as a PFA or PTFE layer, and has a releasing property so that toner does not adhere. There may be an elastic layer made of a silicone rubber layer or the like between the base material of the fixing sleeve 101 and the PFA or PTFE layer. When there is no silicone rubber layer, the heat capacity is reduced and the fixability is improved, but when the unfixed image is crushed and fixed, the subtle irregularities on the belt surface are transferred to the image and the image has a crusty skin shape. There may be a problem that the trace remains. In order to improve this, it is necessary to provide a silicone rubber layer of 100 μm or more. Due to the deformation of the silicone rubber layer, subtle irregularities are absorbed and the skin image is improved.

  The nip forming member 106 is a member that slides directly on the inner surface of the fixing sleeve 101 or indirectly through a sliding sheet. For example, the nip forming member 106 is a member obtained by winding fluorine rubber or the like with a PTFE sheet or the like.

  Further, a stay 107 as a support member for supporting the nip portion is provided inside the fixing sleeve 101 to prevent the nip forming member 106 that receives pressure from the pressure roller 103 from being bent, and in the axial direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). ) To obtain a uniform nip width. The stay 107 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, iron, or stainless steel in order to ensure rigidity. The stay 107 is held by flanges or the like at both axial ends.

  The fixing sleeve 101 is rotated by an external roller. In the case of FIG. 2, the pressure roller 103 is rotated by driving means provided on one end side of the pressure roller 103, and the driving force is transmitted to the fixing sleeve 101 at the nip portion, whereby the fixing sleeve 101 rotates. The fixing sleeve 101 rotates while being sandwiched at the nip portion, and travels while being rotated by being guided by the heat conduction pipe 108 at a portion other than the nip portion.

  The halogen heaters 102 are two heaters having different light distributions in the axial direction. In the example of FIG. 2, two heaters are used, but the number of heaters may be one or three or more. The heat source is not limited to the halogen heater 102 as long as it heats the upstream side of the nip portion of the heat conduction pipe 108, and an IH coil, a resistance heating element, a carbon heater, or the like can also be used.

  The pressure roller 103 includes a metal roller 105 and a silicone rubber layer 104 around the metal roller 105, and a release layer (PFA or PTFE layer) is provided on the surface in order to obtain releasability. The pressure roller 103 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a driving source such as a motor provided at one end thereof via a gear. The pressure roller 103 is pressed against the nip forming member 106 by a pressing means such as a spring or a leaf spring, and has a predetermined nip width when the rubber layer is crushed and deformed. . The pressure roller 103 may be a solid roller or a hollow roller, but the hollow roller may have a smaller heat capacity. The pressure roller 103 may have a heating source such as a halogen heater. The silicone rubber layer 104 may be solid rubber, but if there is no heater inside the pressure roller 103, sponge rubber may be used. Sponge rubber is more desirable because it increases heat insulation and makes it difficult for the fixing sleeve 101 to lose heat.

  In the fixing device 100, when the halogen heater 102 generates heat, the heat conduction pipe 108 is heated, and heat is transmitted to the fixing sleeve 101 in contact with the heat conduction pipe 108. In order to efficiently transfer heat from the heat conduction pipe 108 to the fixing sleeve 101, the contact between the heat conduction pipe 108 and the fixing sleeve 101 is important. This is because if the heat conduction pipe 108 and the fixing sleeve 101 are not in contact with each other locally, they are insulated by the air layer, and heat supply to the fixing sleeve 101 is insufficient, so that further heating is required, leading to a reduction in energy saving. . Further, since the heat conduction pipe 108 is overheated, the durability of the coating film on the surface is also affected.

  On the other hand, if the contact property between the heat conduction pipe 108 and the fixing sleeve 101 is increased, the rotational load of the fixing sleeve 101 increases and a slip problem occurs. When the fixing sleeve 101 slips, heat diffusion due to rotation disappears, and local heat supply leads to deterioration of component durability. Further, since the transportability of the recording medium P is deteriorated, there is a possibility that a deviation occurs in the amount of heat supplied and an image quality abnormality such as a fixing defect or a gloss deviation is caused. Therefore, the shape of the heat conduction pipe 108 is an important factor that determines energy saving, durability, and image quality.

  Therefore, in the fixing device 100 according to the present embodiment, the heat conduction pipe 108 is made of a base material such as nickel or SUS, and a fluorine-based sliding coating is applied to the outer peripheral surface in contact with the fixing sleeve 101. The opening of the heat conduction pipe 108 is sandwiched between a fixing plate 109a inside the heat conduction pipe and a fixing plate 109b outside the heat conduction pipe, and the opening size (the outer peripheral length of the heat conduction pipe 108) is regulated. The fixing plates 109a and 109b have a U-shape, and the nip forming member 106 is disposed in the recess of the fixing plate 109b outside the heat conduction pipe.

  The fixing sleeve 101 is nipped between the pressure roller 103 and the nip forming member 106. When the pressure roller 103 is rotationally driven, the fixing sleeve 101 is also rotated by the reaction force of the frictional force. In the present embodiment, in order to prevent overheating of the heat conduction pipe 108 and slipping of the fixing sleeve 101, the relationship between the inner peripheral length L2 of the fixing sleeve 101 and the outer peripheral length L1 of the heat conductive pipe 108 is 0.5 mm ≦ L2−L1 ≦. It is set to 0.9 mm. Further, in order to prevent slipping, the friction resistance is reduced by applying grease to the inner surface of the fixing sleeve 101 and coating the inner surface of the fixing sleeve 101 and the outer surface of the heat conduction pipe 108. Further, the load when the fixing sleeve 101 is pulled and rotated in the tangential direction is desirably 2000 g or less, for example.

  The recording medium P on which an image is formed with the toner T is fixed at the nip portion by the pressure of the pressure roller 103 and the heat of the fixing sleeve 101. The fixing sleeve 101 whose temperature has been lowered by the fixing operation is heated again by the halogen heater 102 and ON / OFF control of the halogen heater 102 is performed so as to be stabilized at the target temperature.

  The configuration of the fixing device 100 is not limited to the above example, and a belt fixing method (a method constituted by a fixing roller, a heating roller, a pressure roller, etc.) or a roller / roller fixing method (a fixing roller, It may be a system composed of a pressure roller or the like.

  Further, as long as the fixing device has a structure in which the fixing sleeve 101 is held in the longitudinal direction, a method of directly heating the inner peripheral surface of the fixing sleeve 101 without using the heat conduction pipe 108 may be used.

(Storage device)
The fixing device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a storage device. This storage device is provided in an RFID tag or an NFC tag using a short-range wireless communication technology such as RFID or NFC (Near field communication).

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the fixing device 100 includes an RFID tag 110 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the RFID tag 110.

  The RFID tag 110 includes, for example, a small semiconductor chip portion (RFID chip) 111 having a size of about 0.4 to 1.0 mm square and an antenna portion (loop antenna) 112 as a communication portion that enables wireless communication with the outside. Has been. One end of the loop antenna 112 is connected to the terminal portion 111a of the semiconductor chip portion 111, and the other end of the loop antenna 112 is connected to the terminal portion 111b of the semiconductor chip portion 111, so that power transmission and communication can be performed by an electromagnetic induction method or the like. Yes. A semiconductor device (memory) 113 is mounted on the semiconductor chip unit 111.

  The storage device 113 stores information such as the lifetime information of the fixing device 100 and the destination of the fixing device 100, and the information stored in the storage device 113 can be read by a reader device. It is possible to write predetermined information in the storage device 113. It should be noted that the reading / writing of information to / from the storage device 113 is performed by the reader / writer device 90 included in the image forming apparatus 1, and the external reader / writer apparatus is not attached to the image forming apparatus 1. It may be due to.

  Next, the arrangement position and arrangement form of the RFID tag 110 in the fixing device 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fixing device 100 as viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams in which a position that is not suitable as an installation position of the RFID tag 110 in the fixing device 100 and a suitable position are added to FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 is viewed from the downstream side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 6 is a side view of the case.

  When the fixing device 100 is driven (when paper is passed), the pressure roller 103 is rotationally driven by the driving means 120 provided on one end side in the axial direction of the pressure roller 103, and the pressure roller 103 is rotationally driven. The fixing sleeve 101 is driven. The drive unit 120 transmits the drive of the motor 121 to the rotation shaft of the pressure roller 103 via a plurality of gears 122. These units are housed in a casing 150 of the fixing device 100. Note that a part of the driving unit 120 may be provided outside the housing 150.

  When the fixing device 100 performs a fixing operation, the surface of the fixing sleeve 101 reaches a predetermined fixing temperature, melts the toner T on the recording medium P, applies pressure to the recording medium P at the nip portion, and applies the toner T to the recording medium P. To fix.

  Here, since the RFID tag 110 is not guaranteed to operate normally in a high temperature environment (for example, 100 ° C. or higher), it is necessary to consider the arrangement position and arrangement form of the RFID tag 110 in the fixing device 100.

  As a condition for the arrangement position, first, it is necessary to set the position away from the heat source (the halogen heater 102 in the example of FIG. 2). In addition, since the warmed air expands and moves to the upper side in the vertical direction in the installation state of the fixing device 100, the upper part in the vertical direction of the fixing device 100 and the downstream side (sheet discharge side) of the nip portion become high temperature. It is not suitable as an installation position of the RFID tag 110. This position is indicated by region A in FIG.

  Further, the upstream side of the nip portion cannot be arranged because it prevents the recording medium P from being conveyed. This position is indicated by region B in FIG. Further, it is not preferable to provide the fixing device 100 near the lower end of the fixing device 100 as disclosed in Patent Document 1 because the RFID tag 110 is easily damaged when the fixing device 100 is replaced. This position is indicated by region C in FIG.

  That is, it can be said that the ranges indicated by the areas A, B, and C in FIG. 6 are not suitable for the arrangement position of the RFID tag 110.

  Further, in the axial direction of the fixing device 100, when the side where the driving unit 120 is disposed (referred to as the driving side) and the side where the driving unit 120 is not disposed (referred to as the non-driving side) are compared, Due to contact, frictional heat and static electricity due to friction are generated. Since static electricity may cause malfunction of the RFID tag 110, it can be said that it is preferable to be on the non-driving side of the RFID tag 110.

  That is, it can be said that the range indicated by the region D in FIG. 5 is also not suitable for the placement position of the RFID tag 110.

  Accordingly, the RFID tag 110 is disposed in the casing 150 of the fixing device 100 on the pressure roller 103 side away from the heat source and on the non-drive side axial region E (indicated by a chain line in FIG. 5). It can be said that the range indicated by (region shown) is most suitable.

  Next, an installation form of the RFID tag 110 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an installation example of the RFID tag 110 in the region E of FIG. In the fixing device 100 according to the present embodiment, two members, that is, a heat insulating member 130 and a reflecting member 140 are provided at an installation position of the RFID tag 110.

  A heat insulating member 130 is provided at the installation position of the RFID tag 110 of the fixing device 100. In order to prevent heat conduction, the heat capacity is increased by using the heat insulating member 130 so as to avoid an increase in temperature. In the example of FIG. 7, it is disposed on a surface that insulates heat from the fixing sleeve 101 when viewed from the RFID tag 110. In addition, the RFID tag 110 is preferably covered with the heat insulating member 130 so that conductive powder, conductive grease, and the like do not adhere to the RFID tag 110. In addition, the RFID tag 110 is preferably sealed using the heat insulating member 130 or the heat insulating member 130 and the housing 150 of the fixing device 100.

  A reflection member 140 is provided at the installation position of the RFID tag 110 of the fixing device 100. The reflection member 140 prevents heat radiation and changes the direction of heat coming from the fixing sleeve 101 side (in the direction of arrow A to arrow B in the figure).

  By disposing the reflection member 140 in this way, heat from the fixing sleeve 101 side can be applied to the pressure roller 103 to assist heating of the pressure roller 103. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the reflecting member 140 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the axial direction of the pressure roller 103 so that heat is directed to the end of the pressure roller 103.

  The characteristic value of the reflective member 140 is defined by three values of reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance. Among these characteristic values, the reflectance and the absorptance are in an inversely proportional relationship. It is preferable to use a reflection member 140 having a high reflectance (low absorptance) characteristic for the device 100. As the reflecting member 140, for example, MIRO, which is a high-performance reflecting plate in which aluminum oxide (reflectance of 85% or more) or high-purity aluminum is vacuum-deposited on the surface of the aluminum and an oxide film is further deposited and subjected to an increased reflection treatment. (ALANOD, visible light total reflectance 95%) is preferably used. By using the reflective member 140 having a high reflectance as described above, it is possible to prevent the vicinity of the RFID tag 110 from becoming a high temperature.

  Here, the reflection member 140 is arranged to prevent heat radiation and prevent the direction of heat. However, if the RFID tag 110 is installed directly or in the vicinity of the reflection member 140 that is a metal member, the magnetic field is disturbed. There is a possibility that it cannot operate normally, and even when there is a metal member between the RFID tag 110 and the reader / writer device, it may not operate normally due to reflection of electromagnetic waves.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the reflection member 140 is not disposed on the outside (housing side) from the RFID tag 110, and the heat insulating member 130 is disposed between the RFID tag 110 and the reflection member 140. . That is, the housing 150, the RFID tag 110, the heat insulating member 130, and the reflecting member 140 are arranged in this order from the housing 150 of the fixing device 100 toward the inside.

  Further, in the case where the reflecting member 140 is disposed only on the non-driving side where the RFID tag 110 is installed in the axial direction of the fixing device 100, temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the pressure roller 103 may occur. However, a temperature difference may occur. Therefore, it is preferable to arrange the reflecting member 140 also at a position on the driving side in the axial direction. Similarly, it is preferable that the reflecting member 140 disposed at the drive side position is also inclined with respect to the axial direction of the pressure roller 103. Thereby, the temperature difference in the axial direction of the pressure roller 103 and the fixing sleeve 101 can be suppressed, and the occurrence of image defects such as uneven gloss can be suppressed.

  The fixing device 100 according to the present embodiment described above includes the RFID tag 110 capable of near field communication in an appropriate arrangement position and arrangement form. That is, in order to install the RFID tag 110 in the fixing device 100, radiation heat to the RFID tag 110 can be prevented by attaching the reflecting member 140, and heat conduction can be suppressed by providing the heat insulating member 130. The temperature around the tag 110 is prevented from becoming a high temperature environment. Further, the heat from the fixing sleeve 101 side is applied to the pressure roller 103 by the reflecting member 140, so that the heating efficiency can be improved and the energy saving performance can be improved.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Feeding roller 4 Registration roller pair 5 Secondary transfer roller 7 Paper discharge roller 8 Optical writing device 9 Toner bottle 10 Transfer belt unit 11 Transfer belt 12 Primary transfer roller 13 Cleaning device 17 Paper discharge tray 20 Photosensitive Body drum 30 charging device 40 developing device 50 cleaning device 61 sheet feeding device 71 transfer device 72 elastic roller 73 driven roller 80 reverse path 90 reader / writer device 100 fixing device 101 fixing sleeve 102 halogen heater 103 pressure roller 104 silicone rubber layer 105 Metal roller 106 Nip forming member 107 Stay 108 Heat conduction pipe 109a, 109b Fixing plate 110 RFID tag 111 Semiconductor chip portion 111a, 111b Terminal portion 112 Loop antenna 113 Storage device (memory)
120 driving means 121 motor 122 gear 130 heat insulating member 140 reflecting member 150 housing

JP 2006-84996 A

Claims (9)

In a fixing device that has a heat source, conveys a recording medium carrying toner to a nip formed between a fixing member and a pressure member, and fixes the toner to the recording medium.
A storage device capable of writing and reading predetermined information;
A heat insulating member for suppressing heating of the storage device;
A reflection member that suppresses the storage device from receiving heat radiation from the heat source, and
The fixing device, wherein the heat insulating member is provided between the storage device and the reflecting member.   The reflection member, the heat insulating member, and the storage device are provided in this order between the heat source in the fixing device and the housing of the fixing device as viewed from the installation position. The fixing device according to claim 1. While having the heat source on the inner periphery of the fixing member,
Driving means for rotationally driving the pressure member is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member, and the fixing member is driven by rotation of the pressure member,
The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device, the heat insulating member, and the reflecting member are provided on a side where the driving unit is not provided in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member.   The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the reflection member is also provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member.   The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the reflection member is provided to be inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the pressure member.   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is covered with the heat insulating member.   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of life information of the fixing device and a destination of the fixing device is stored in the storage device.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a reader / writer device capable of writing information into the storage device and reading information stored in the storage device by short-range wireless communication.