JP2900604B2 - Image heating device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a recording material that is brought into close contact with a heating body via a heat-resistant film to relatively move the heating body and the heat-resistant film to heat the heating body. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus of a type (film heating type) for applying a recording material via a conductive film.

This apparatus is composed of an image heating and fixing device in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., that is, a resin which can be heated and melted by an appropriate image forming process means such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording and magnetic recording. Recording material (transfer material sheet, electrofax sheet,
An unfixed toner image corresponding to the target image information, formed on the surface of an electrostatic recording sheet, printing paper, etc.) by the indirect (transfer) method or the direct method is permanently attached to the recording material surface carrying the image. The present invention can be used for an image heat fixing device that heats and fixes a fixed image, a device that heats a recording material carrying an image to improve the surface properties (such as gloss), and a device that performs a temporary fixing process.

(Background Art) Conventionally, for example, a heating device for a recording material for fixing an image by heating includes a heating roller maintained at a predetermined temperature and a pressure roller having an elastic layer and pressing against the heating roller. A heat roller method of heating a recording material while nipping and conveying the recording material is often used.

In addition, various systems such as a flash heating system, an open heating system, a hot plate heating system, a belt heating system, and a high frequency heating system are known.

On the other hand, the present applicant has proposed a film heating type heating device as described above in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-313182.

This includes a fixedly supported heating element, a heat-resistant film (or sheet) conveyed (moved and driven) while being opposed to and in pressure contact with the heating element, and a pressing member for bringing the recording material into close contact with the heating element via the film. And an apparatus of a system and configuration in which an unfixed image formed and carried on the surface of the recording material is heated and fixed on the surface of the recording material by applying heat of a heating body to the recording material via a film.

More specifically, a thin heat-resistant film, a driving means for moving the film, a heating element fixedly supported and arranged on one side of the film, and a heating element on the other side A pressure member that is disposed opposite to the heating element and closely adheres the visible image bearing surface of the recording material to be image-fixed to the heating body via the film, and the film is at least at the time of performing image fixing. The recording material to be image-fixed conveyed and introduced between the pressing member is moved in the forward direction at substantially the same speed, and the fixing member is formed by pressing the heating member and the pressing member with the traveling moving film interposed therebetween. By passing through the nip portion as a part, the developed image carrying surface of the recording material is heated by the heating body through the film to apply thermal energy to the developed image (unfixed toner image) to soften / melt. And then the film after passing through the fixing section A heating means or apparatus which is based on that to separate the recording material at the separation point.

In such an apparatus of the film heating system, the use of a heating element and a thin film with a rapid rise in temperature makes it possible to shorten the weight time (quick start).
It has the advantage that various disadvantages of the conventional device can be solved.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In this type of film heating type image heating apparatus,
It is important that the heat-resistant film and the recording material convey and pass through the position of the heating element in a state of being in close contact with each other. That is, if a difference occurs in the conveyance speed between the heat-resistant film and the recording material and the two are slipped, an image on the recording material in contact with the heat-resistant film is disturbed.

Also, the sliding resistance between the heating element and the heat-resistant film can be reduced as much as possible to reduce the device driving torque.
This is important for simplifying the drive system of the device and achieving overall miniaturization, cost reduction, and energy saving of the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image heating apparatus of this kind which satisfies the above requirements.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is an image heating apparatus having the following configuration.

(1) a heating element, a film that slides on the heating element, and a pressure roller that forms a nip with the heating element through the film; the film is driven only by the pressure roller An image heating apparatus in which a recording material carrying an image in the nip is nipped and conveyed, and an image on the recording material is heated by heat from the heating body through the film, wherein the heating body slides on the film. An image heating device comprising a surface provided with a fluororesin.

(2) The heating element according to (1), wherein the heating element has a substrate and a heating element provided on the substrate, and the fluororesin is a surface protection layer for protecting the heating element. Image heating device.

(Operation) In other words, since the fluororesin is provided on the sliding surface of the heating element with the film, the fluororesin has excellent heat resistance and a small surface friction coefficient (excellent slidability). The recording material is conveyed through the position of the heating element in a stable integrated contact state without causing a slip between the two (the conveying speed of the film is slower than the conveying speed of the recording material). A heating process is performed.

In addition, the sliding resistance between the heating element and the film is reduced, the driving torque of the apparatus is reduced, and the driving system of the apparatus is simplified, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size, cost, and energy consumption. It becomes possible.

(Embodiment) The drawings show an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (image heating fixing device 10).
0).

(1) Overall schematic structure of the apparatus 100 FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus 100, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIGS. 3 and 4 are right and left side views of the apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a horizontally long apparatus frame (bottom plate) having an upward channel (groove) in cross section made of sheet metal;
The left side wall plate and the right side wall plate integrally provided with the frame 1 at both left and right end portions thereof are upper covers of the apparatus, and are fitted between the upper end portions of the left and right side wall plates 2 and 3 so that the left and right end portions are formed. The left and right side wall plates 2 and 3 are fixed with screws 5 respectively. It can be removed by loosening the screw 5.

Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote longitudinally-notched elongated holes formed symmetrically in the substantially central surfaces of the left and right side wall plates 2 and 3, and 8 and 9 denote respective elongated holes 6.
7 is a pair of left and right bearing members fitted and engaged with the lower end of the bearing 7.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a film pressing roller (pressing roller, backup roller) serving as a rotating body that drives the film by forming a nip portion between the film and a heating element described later. It consists of a roller part 12 made of a rubber elastic body with good release properties, such as silicone rubber,
Left and right ends of the central shaft 11 are rotatably supported by the left and right bearing members 8 and 9 respectively.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a horizontally long stay made of sheet metal, and an inner surface guide member of a film 21 described later, a heating body 19 and a heat insulating member described later.
Also serves as 20 supporting and reinforcing members.

The stay 13 has a horizontally long flat bottom portion 14 and this bottom portion.
A front wall plate 15 and a rear wall plate 16 having a cross section outwardly curved arc provided by being sequentially raised from both longitudinal sides of 14 respectively, and a pair of right and left protruding outward from both right and left ends of the bottom portion 14 respectively. It has horizontal overhang lugs 17 and 18.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a horizontally long low-heat-capacity linear heating element having a structure to be described later (FIG. 8), which is attached to and supported by a horizontally long heat-insulating member 20. 13 is attached to and supported by the lower surface of the horizontally long bottom surface portion 14 in parallel.

21 is an endless heat-resistant film,
It is externally fitted to the stay 13 including the heat insulating member 20. The inner peripheral length of the endless heat-resistant film 21 and the outer peripheral length of the stay 13 including the heating element 19 and the heat insulating member 20 are larger than the film 21 by, for example, about 3 mm.
9. The circumference of the stay 13 including the heat insulating member 20 is loosely fitted with a margin.

22 and 23 are formed by externally fitting the film 21 to the stay 13 including the heating element 19 and the heat insulating member 20 and then fitting and supporting the horizontally protruding lugs 17 and 18 at the left and right ends of the stay 13 It is a pair of film end regulating flange members.

The inner surface 22 of the flange seat of the pair of left and right flange members 22 and 23
The interval between a and 23a is set slightly larger than the width of the film 21.

Reference numerals 24 and 25 denote horizontal overhang lugs protruding outward from the outer surfaces of the pair of left and right flange members 22 and 23, and the outward horizontal overhang lugs 17 and 18 on the stay 13 side are respectively provided by the flange members 22 and 23.・ 23 horizontal overhang lugs 24 ・ 25
It is fully fitted in the insertion hole provided in the wall thickness of the first member, and firmly supports the left and right flange members 22 and 23.

The assembling of the apparatus is carried out by removing the upper cover 4 from the space between the left and right side walls 2 and 3 and setting the left and right bearing members 8 and 9 on the left and right end portions of the shaft 11 in advance. The left and right bearing members 8 and 9 are fitted into the longitudinal notches 6 and 7 of the left and right side wall plates 2.3 and 3 from the upper end open portions, and the pressure roller 10 is inserted between the left and right side wall plates 2 and 3. The bearing members 8 and 9 are lowered to a position where they can be received by the lower ends of the elongated holes 6 and 7 (drop-down type).

Next, a stay 13, a heating body 19, a heat insulating member 20, a film
21, an intermediate assembly in which the left and right flange members 22 and 23 are pre-assembled in the relationship shown in the figure, with the heating body 19 side facing downward, and the left and right outwardly projecting ends of the heat insulating member 20 and the left and right flange members 22. The 23 horizontal overhang lugs 24 and 25 are fitted into the longitudinal cutout slots 6.7 of the left and right side wall plates 2.3 and 3 from the upper end open portions, and inserted between the left and right side wall plates 2.3 and downward. The heating body 19 is lowered until it is received by hitting the upper surface of the pressure roller 10 previously incorporated with the film 21 interposed therebetween (drop-down type).

The lugs 24 of the left and right flange members 22 and 23 protrude outside the left and right side wall plates 2 and 3 through the elongated holes 6 and 7.
・ Coil springs 26 and 27 are positioned vertically on support lugs provided on the upper surface of the lug, and set vertically, and upper cover 4 is provided on the left and right end sides of upper cover 4. Each of the coil springs 26, 27 is attached to the lug 24, with the overhang lugs 28, 29 corresponding to the upper ends of the set coil springs 26, 27, respectively.
While being compressed between 28, 25, and 29, they are fitted to a predetermined position between the upper end portions of the left and right side wall plates 2, 3 and fixed between the left and right side wall plates 2, 3 with screws 5.

As a result, the stay 13, the heating element 19, the heat insulating member 20, the film 21, and the entire left and right flange members 22 and 23 are pressed downward by the reaction force of the coil springs 26 and 27, and the heating element 19 is pressed.
The pressure roller 10 and the pressure roller 10 are held in a state in which they are pressed almost uniformly across the film 21 with a contact pressure of, for example, a total pressure of 4 to 7 kg.

30 and 31 are fitted to the left and right ends of the heat insulating member 20 protruding through the long holes 6 and 7 outside the left and right side wall plates 2.3 and 3,
This is a connector for supplying power to the heating element 19.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a heated material entrance guide which is mounted on the front wall of the apparatus frame 1 and supports a visible image (powder toner image) Ta as a heated material introduced into the apparatus. 7) is guided between the film 21 and the pressure roller 10 in the nip portion (heat fixing portion) N between the heating body 19 and the pressure roller 10 which are pressed against each other with the film 21 interposed therebetween.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a heated material outlet guide (separation guide) attached to the rear wall of the apparatus frame 1 for discharging the recording material sheet that has passed through the nip portion to a lower discharge roller 34 and an upper pinch roller 38. To the nip.

The discharge roller 34 is rotatably supported at both left and right ends of a shaft 35 between bearings 36 and 37 provided on the left and right side walls 2 and 3. The pinch roller 38 has its shaft 39 received by a hook portion 40 formed by bending a part of the rear wall of the upper cover 4 inward, and is brought into contact with the upper surface of the discharge roller 34 by its own weight and a pressing spring 41. The pinch roller 38 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the discharge roller 34.

G1 is a first gear fixed to the right end of the roller shaft 11 projecting outward from the right side wall plate 3, and G3 is similarly a first gear fixed to the right end of the discharge roller shaft 35 projecting outward from the right side wall plate 3. 3
The gear G2 is a second gear as a relay gear provided by being pivotally attached to the outer surface of the right side wall plate 3. The first gear G1 and the third gear G2 are provided.
Meshing with G3.

The first gear G1 receives a driving force from a driving gear G0 of a driving source mechanism (not shown), and the pressing roller 10 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and in conjunction therewith, the rotating force of the first gear G1 is reduced. The output roller 34 is transmitted to the third gear G3 via the second gear G2, and is also driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

(2) Operation When the endless heat-resistant film 21 is not driven, the heating element 19 and the pressure roller as shown in FIG.
Except for the portion sandwiched between the nip portion N and the portion 10, almost the entire circumference of the remaining portion is tension-free.

When the drive is transmitted from the drive gear G0 of the drive source mechanism to the first gear G1 and the pressure roller 10 is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
Feed force is applied by the frictional force with the rotating pressure roller 10,
The endless heat-resistant film 21 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction A while the inner surface of the film slides on the surface of the heating body 19 at substantially the same rotational speed as the rotational speed of the pressure roller 10.

In the driving state of the film 21, the pulling force f acts on the film portion upstream of the nip portion N in the film rotation direction, so that the film 21 is more than the nip portion N as shown by the solid line in FIG. Contacting the film inner surface guide portion near the nip portion on the upstream side in the film rotation direction, that is, the substantially lower half surface portion of the outwardly curved arc front plate 15 as the film inner surface guide of the stay 13 on which the film 21 is fitted. Then, it rotates while sliding.

As a result, the rotating film 21 is rotated in a state where the tension is applied to the film portion B from the starting point O of the contact sliding portion with the front plate 15 to the nip portion N on the downstream side in the film rotating direction. Thus, wrinkling of at least the film portion surface, that is, the film portion surface B near the recording material sheet entry side of the nip portion N and the film portion of the nip portion N is prevented by the action of the tension.

Then, in the state where the above-described film drive and the energization of the heating element 19 are performed, the recording material sheet P carrying the unfixed toner image Ta as the material to be heated is guided by the entrance guide 32.
When the recording material sheet P is introduced between the rotating film 21 of the nip portion N and the pressure roller 10 in an upward direction, the recording material sheet P comes into close contact with the surface of the film 21 and moves along the nip portion N together with the film 21. The heat energy of the heating element 19 that is in contact with the inner surface of the film at the nip portion N is applied to the recording material sheet P via the film in the process of moving and passing the toner image.
Ta becomes a softened and fused image Tb.

The recording material sheet P that has passed through the nip N is separated from the surface of the film 21 with the toner temperature higher than the glass transition point, guided by the exit guide 33 between the discharge roller 34 and the pinch roller 38, and sent out of the apparatus. . The softened / fused toner image Tb is cooled and solidified while the recording material sheet P exits the nip portion N and leaves the film 21 to reach the discharge roller 34.
Tc and fix.

Recording material sheet P introduced into nip N in the above
As described above, the tension acts on the film portion surface without wrinkles, and the nip portion N moves together with the film 21 in close contact with the film portion 21. Therefore, a situation in which the wrinkled film passes through the nip portion N may occur. This causes no uneven heating and uneven fixing, and no breakage of the film surface.

The film 21 has a part N of its entire circumference both when driven and when driven.
Alternatively, since tension is applied only to BN, that is, when the film 21 is not driven (FIG. 6), the film 21 is substantially free of tension over the entire remaining portion except for the nip portion N. The tension acts only on the nip portion N and the film portion B near the recording material sheet entry side of the nip portion N, and almost the entire remaining circumferential portion is tension-free. Since a short film can be used, the driving torque required for driving the film is small, and the film device configuration, components, and drive system configuration are simplified, downsized, and reduced in cost.

When the film 21 is not driven (FIG. 6), it is also driven (FIG. 7).
As shown in the figure, since tension is applied only to a part N or BN of the entire circumferential length of the film 21 as described above, the film 21 is driven on one side Q (second
(See FIG. 2), or even if a shift to the other side R occurs, the shift force is small.

Therefore, the film 21 is shifted Q or R, and the left edge of the film 21 is pressed against the flange seat inner surface 22a as the film end regulating surface of the left flange member 22, or the right edge is pressed against the flange seat inner surface 23a of the right flange member 23. However, since the film deviating force is small, the rigidity of the film sufficiently overcomes the deviating force, and no damage such as buckling or breakage of the film end occurs. And, since the means for regulating the deviation of the film is sufficient with the simple flange members 22 and 23 as in the apparatus of the present embodiment, the apparatus configuration can be simplified, reduced in size and reduced in cost in this respect, and the apparatus is inexpensive and highly reliable. Can be configured.

As the film deviation regulating means, in addition to the flange members 22 and 23 in the case of the apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, a rib made of a heat-resistant resin is provided at the end of the film 21 in the circumferential direction of the endless film, and the rib is regulated. Is also good.

Further, as the film 21 to be used, as described above, the rigidity can be reduced as much as the biasing force is reduced, so that a thinner film having a smaller heat capacity can be used to improve the thick start property of the device. .

(3) Film 21 Film 21 has a total thickness of 100 μm in order to reduce the heat capacity and improve the quick start property.
m, preferably 40 μm or less, heat resistance of 20 μm or more.
A single layer or composite layer film having releasability, strength, durability and the like can be used.

For example, polyimide / polyetherimide (PEI)
Polyethersulfone (PES) / tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin (PF
A)-Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-Polyparabanic acid (PPA), or PTFE on at least the image contacting surface side of a composite film such as a 20 µm thick polyimide film
(Tetrafluoroethylene resin), fluororesin such as PAF, FEP, etc.
Examples include a silicone resin or the like, and a release coat layer having a thickness of 10 μm to which a conductive material (carbon black, graphite, conductive whisker, etc.) is added.

(4) Heating Body 19 FIGS. 8A and 8B are partially cut-away planes on the surface side (the side facing the heat-resistant film 21) of the heating body 19 attached to the heat insulating member 20, respectively. It is a figure and an expanded cross-sectional view.

The substrate 19a is a member having heat resistance, electrical insulation, low heat capacity, and high thermal conductivity, for example, a thickness of 1 mm, a width of 6 mm, and a length of 240 m.
m alumina substrate.

The heating element 19b is made of, for example, an electric resistance material such as Ag / Pd (silver palladium), Ta ₂ N, RuO ₂ or the like having a thickness of about 10 μm and a width of 1 to 3 mm along a substantially central portion of the surface of the substrate 19a. It is coated by screen printing or the like in a shape or a narrow band.

The first and second power supply electrode portions are formed on the surface of the substrate at both longitudinal ends of the heating element 19b as conductive patterns 19d and 1d.
9e are formed so as to be electrically connected to the ends of the heating elements.

Each of the conductive pattern portions as the first and second power supply electrode portions 19d and 19e is formed by coating by, for example, a screen printing method, and is made of a material having good conductivity, for example, Au (gold) / Ag.
(Silver) and Cu (copper).

The heating element 19b and the first and second power supply electrode portions 19d
The surface of the substrate 19a on which 19e is formed, except for the surface portions on both ends of the substrate where the first and second power supply electrode portions 19d are present,
As the surface protective layer 19c, a fluororesin layer such as PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer resin) PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene resin) is coated with a coating method or a baking method to a thickness of about 10 μm.
m.

The above-described sheet metal horizontal stay as a support is provided via the heat insulating member 20 with the heating body 19 having the above-described configuration with the front side facing outside.
It is mounted and supported on the bottom surface 14 of the thirteen.

In the mounting and supporting state, the left and right ends of the heat insulating member 20 protrude outward from the left and right ends of the stay 13, and the power supply connectors 30 and 31 are fitted to the left and right outwardly protruding portions.

The power supply connectors 30 and 31 include the first and second power supply electrode portions 19.
Electrically conductive to d and 19e respectively, lead wires 30a and 31a respectively
Through a power supply circuit (not shown).

Thereby, the power supply circuit → the lead wire 30a → the first power supply connector 30 → the first electrode portion 19d of the heating element 19 → the heating element 19b →
Second electrode portion 19e → second power supply connector 31 → lead wire 3
Heat is applied to the heating element 19b through the path from 1a to the power supply circuit, and the heating element 19 is in a heating state.

Although not shown in the figure, a low-heat-capacity thermistor or a temperature-detecting element such as a low-heat-capacity temperature measuring resistor such as a Pt film, and a safety element such as a fuse are provided on the back side of the heating element 19.

The heating element 19b of the heating element 19 in this example is energized at a predetermined timing by an image formation start signal to cause the heating element 19b to generate heat over substantially the entire length. The power is supplied at 100 V AC, and the supplied power is controlled by controlling the phase angle to be supplied by a power supply control circuit (not shown) including a triac according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element.

The heating element 19 is energized to the heating element 19b, so that the substrate 19a
Since the entire heat capacity of the heating element 19b and the surface protection layer 19c is small, the surface of the heating element has a required fixing temperature (for example, 140 to 200).
° C).

The heat capacity of the heat-resistant film 21 in contact with the heating element 19 is also small, and the heat energy of the heating element 19 is
The heat transfer is effectively transmitted to the recording material sheet P side in pressure contact with the film through the film, and the image is heated and fixed.

As described above, the surface temperature of the film facing the heating element 19 rises to a sufficiently high temperature relative to the melting point of the toner (or the temperature at which the toner can be fixed to the recording material sheet P) in a short time, so that quick start performance is excellent. In addition, there is no need to raise the temperature of the heating element 19 in advance, that is, so-called standby temperature control, so that energy can be saved and the temperature inside the apparatus can be prevented.

The heat insulating member 20 insulates the heating element 19 to use heat effectively, and has heat insulating property and high heat resistance, for example, PP
High heat resistant resin such as S (polyphenylene sulfide), PAI (polyamide imide), PI (polyimide), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), liquid crystal polymer, etc.

Thus, as described in the above section (action), at least the surface of the heating 19 that slides with the heat-resistant film 21 is made of a surface protective layer 19 made of a fluorine resin having good heat resistance and slidability.
Due to the coating treatment with c, the fluorocarbon resin surface protective layer 19c having a small coefficient of surface friction and excellent heat resistance allows the heating element to face the inner surface of the heat-resistant film 21 on the side opposite to the heating element 19 of the heating element. friction coefficient mu ₁ is reduced in the surface protective layer surface, it increases the friction coefficient mu ₂ of the recording material surface for relatively a surface facing the recording material of the heat-resistant film film outer surface thereby, mu ₁ < μ ₂ . Therefore, the heat-resistant film 21 and the recording material P are conveyed through the position of the heating element in a stable and intimate contact state without causing a slip between the two 21.P, and the recording material is heated without causing image disturbance. You.

The mu ₁ that is reduced, reduction of sliding resistance is reduced device driving torque between the heating member 19 and the heat-resistant film 21 is made, the overall size of the device to simplify the drive system of the apparatus, Cost reduction and energy saving can be achieved.

The surface protective layer 19c made of fluororesin can be formed using a heat-shrinkable tube made of fluororesin.

FIG. 8 (c) shows an example of this, in which a heat-shrinkable fluororesin having an inner circumference that is appropriately larger than the cross-sectional circumference of the heating body substrate 19a having the heating element 19b formed on the surface side. The above-mentioned heating substrate 19a is inserted into a tube (thickness of, for example, about 20 μm), and the tube is thermally contracted in a heating furnace so that the tube is brought into close contact with the entire peripheral surface of the substrate 19a. The sliding surface with the heat-resistant film 21 of 19 becomes a form covered with a surface protective layer 19c made of fluororesin,
The same functions and effects as those of FIGS. 8 (A) and (B) can be obtained.

(5) Example of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus incorporating the image heating and arranging apparatus 100 shown in FIGS.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a laser beam printer using a transfer type electrophotographic process.

The PC is a process cartridge and includes four process devices of a rotating drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, referred to as a drum) 61, a charger 62, a developing device 63, and a cleaning device 64. The process cartridge is detachably attached to and removed from a predetermined position in the apparatus by opening the opening / closing section 65 of the apparatus and opening the inside of the apparatus.

The drum 61 is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in response to the image formation start signal, and the surface of the rotating drum 61 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charger 62. Output from 66. The main scanning exposure is performed by the laser beam 67 modulated according to the time-series electric digital pixel signal of the target image information, so that an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the target image information is sequentially formed on the drum 61 surface. Will be done. The latent image is then developed 63
Is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the recording material sheet P in the paper feed cassette 68 is separated and fed one by one by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 69 and the separation pad 70, and synchronized with the rotation of the drum 61 by the registration roller pair 71 so that the drum 61 The sheet is fed to a pressure nip 73, which is a fixing portion of a transfer roller 72 that is in pressure contact with the transfer roller 72, and the toner image on the drum 1 side is sequentially transferred to the sheet P of the fed recording material.

The recording material sheet P that has passed through the transfer unit 73 is separated from the surface of the drum 61 and introduced into the fixing device 100 by the guide 74, and the unfixed toner image is heated and fixed by the operation and operation of the device 100 described above. The image is output from the outlet 75 as an image formed product (print).

Drum from which recording material sheet P is separated through transfer unit 73
The surface 61 is repeatedly used for image formation after the removal of contaminants such as transfer residual toner by a cleaning device 64.

The image heating apparatus of the present invention can be effectively used not only as the image heating and fixing apparatus of the image forming apparatus of the above-described example, but also as an image surface heating polisher, a hypothetical wearing apparatus, and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, with respect to the film heating type heating device, the position of the heating element can be adjusted in a stable integrated contact state without slip between the heat-resistant film and the recording material. The recording material is heated without being conveyed and causing image disturbance.

In addition, the sliding resistance between the heating element and the heat-resistant film is reduced, the driving torque of the device is reduced, the driving system of the device is simplified, and the overall size, cost, and energy saving of the device are improved. And the intended purpose is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. FIG. 3 is a right side view. FIG. 4 is a left side view. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a film state when the film is not driven. FIG. 7 is the same as above during driving. 8 (A) and 8 (B) are a partially cutaway plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view on the front side of the heating element mounted on the heat insulating member, respectively, and FIG. 8 (C) is an enlarged cross-section of another configuration example. Area view. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus. 19 is a heating element, 19c is a surface protective layer made of a fluororesin, 20
Is a heat insulating material, 21 and 51 are heat resistant films, 13 is a stay, 10
Is a roller as a rotating body.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heating element, a film sliding on the heating element, and a pressure roller forming a nip with the heating element through the film, wherein the film is controlled only by the pressure roller. The image heating apparatus is driven, wherein the recording material carrying the image in the nip is nipped and conveyed, and an image on the recording material is heated by heat from the heating body through the film. An image heating device, wherein a fluororesin is provided on a sliding surface. 2. The heating element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element has a substrate and a heating element provided on the substrate, and the fluororesin is a surface protection layer for protecting the heating element. Image heating equipment.