JP3797014B2 - Fixing device - Google Patents

Fixing device Download PDF

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Publication number
JP3797014B2
JP3797014B2 JP11067799A JP11067799A JP3797014B2 JP 3797014 B2 JP3797014 B2 JP 3797014B2 JP 11067799 A JP11067799 A JP 11067799A JP 11067799 A JP11067799 A JP 11067799A JP 3797014 B2 JP3797014 B2 JP 3797014B2
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Prior art keywords
nip
recording material
pressure
fixing
width
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JP11067799A
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JP2000305403A (en
Inventor
泰造 大西
祥史 小鷺
英詞 林
哲 米田
貴 山田
正典 村上
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Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc
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Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc
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  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)

Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、未定着画像を保持した記録材をニップを通しながら加熱により定着処理する定着装置に関するものである。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
例えば、電子写真方式を採用する画像形成装置では、像担持体としての感光体上の潜像をトナー現像して顕像化し、顕像化したトナー画像を直接または中間転写体を介して記録材上に静電転写し、この静電転写を受けて未定着なトナー画像を保持した記録材を加熱部材とこれに圧接させた加圧部材とが形成するニップ部に送り込んで両部材間で挟持搬送しながら、前記未定着なトナー画像を加熱および加圧して定着処理し画像を最終し上げしている。
【0003】
ところで、記録材を挟持搬送する速度が一定としたときのニップの幅は、前記定着処理のための加熱、加圧時間に比例し、主としてトナーの種類やモノクロ画像かカラー画像かの違いに応じて設定されている。カラー画像は3色または4色のトナー画像を溶融させて合成し、かつモノクロ画像よりも高い光沢を得るために、モノクロ画像の場合よりも大きなニップ幅に設定される。
【0004】
必要なニップの幅は加熱部材および加圧部材の少なくとも一方の表面をゴム系の弾性体で形成して、双方が圧接する部分での弾性変形によって得ている。このため、カラー画像を定着する場合の弾性体層はモノクロ画像を定着する場合のそれよりソフトなものに設定されることが多い。
【0005】
一方、記録材の厚みが異なると前記ニップの幅は設定値から外れ、定着特性が変化する。また、記録材の材質の違いによっても定着特性は異なる。また、モノクロ画像用のトナーどうし、あるいはカラー画像用のトナーどうしでもその種類によっては定着特性が異なる。
【0006】
加熱部材の温度調節によってこれらの違いに対応するのでは、熱制御の応答性が悪く実用できない。そこで、従来、予め設定した複数の装置使用モードに応じて加熱部材および加圧部材の圧接力を複数段階に切り替えられるようにした定着器が提供されている。
【0007】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、近時ではさらなる高画質化が望まれるなか、記録材の種類やトナーの種類、望まれる画質などが多様化していて、上記従来の定着器では対応できなくなってきている。特に、加熱部材の定着処理による熱消費に基づく表面温度の変化、雰囲気温度の変化による定着温度の変化、記録材自体の定着処理直前の温度の変化など、連続な、あるいは微細な変化にも対応してさらなる高画質化を図るのは困難である。しかも、上記従来の定着器で環境条件などに応じて定着条件を切り替えるのに、それが定着処理の途中で行われると、切り替えが段階的なため画質に影響しかねない。
【0008】
本発明の目的は、定着条件としての記録材の搬送速度に変化があっても、設定通りに良好かつ安定して定着処理できる定着装置を提供することにある。
【0009】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記のような目的を達成するために、本発明の定着装置は、未定着な画像を保持した記録材にその画像を加熱定着させるものにおいて、前記未定着な画像を加熱するための加熱部材と、前記加熱部材との間で前記記録材を挟持搬送するニップを形成するために、前記加熱部材に圧接して設けられる加圧部材と、前記ニップの記録材の搬送方向における幅を無段階に変更するニップ幅変更手段と、前記ニップ幅変更手段の変更動作を制御する制御手段と、を備え、検知手段により検知された記録材の搬送速度の変化情報に基づきニップ幅変更手段の変更動作を制御することを主たる特徴としている。
【0010】
このような構成では、加熱部材および加圧部材間の記録材を挟持搬送しながら加熱、加圧して定着処理するニップの幅が、ニップ幅変更手段によって、それの変更動作を制御する制御手段を通じた加熱部材と加圧部材との圧接力などの無段階な調整で無段階に変更できるので、定着条件、特に、記録材の搬送速度の連続した、あるいは微細な条件変化に即応したニップ幅に調整して自在に対応し、設定通りに良好かつ安定な定着処理を達成することができる。しかも、定着処理途中でのニップ幅の調整もそれが無段階になされるので画質に影響しにくく問題はない。
【0013】
本発明のそれ以上の目的および特徴は、以下の詳細な説明および図面によって明らかになる。本発明の各特徴は、それ単独で、あるいは可能な限り種々な組み合わせで複合して用いることができる。
【0014】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下本発明の実施の形態についてその実施例とともに図1〜図8を参照しながら詳細に説明し、本発明の理解に供する。
【0015】
本実施の形態は、主として樹脂製の粉体トナーを用いて感光体上の静電潜像を現像して顕像化し、顕像化したトナー画像を記録材上に静電転写し、転写された記録材上の未定着なトナー画像を加熱、加圧して定着処理する場合の一例である。しかし、本発明はこれに限られることはなく、粉体や液体などの各種のトナーを用いて記録材上に未定着な画像として間接にまたは直接にモノクロ画像や合成画像、カラー画像などが形成される各種の場合に適用して有効である。
【0016】
本実施の形態は図1に示すように、未定着な画像1を保持した記録材2にその画像1を加熱定着させるのに、前記未定着な画像1を加熱するための加熱部材3と、この加熱部材3との間で前記記録材2を挟持搬送するニップ4を形成するために、前記加熱部材3に圧接して設けられる加圧部材5とを備え、上記の目的を達成するため特に、前記ニップ4の記録材2の搬送方向における幅Bを無段階に変更するニップ幅変更手段6を設けてある。
【0017】
加熱部材3と加圧部材5とは一方を他方に圧接させれば足り、場合によっては双方を可動にして圧接させてもよい。加熱部材3および加圧部材5の双方が単なる回転ローラで、少なくとも一方の表面をニップ4の必要幅Bを得るための弾性材料で形成されればよい。本実施の形態では、加熱部材3は定着のための加熱に定着ベルト7を用いている。加圧部材5には加圧ローラ11単体を用いている。定着ベルト7は加熱ローラ8と記録材2の未定着な画面2aの側に位置する上ローラ9とで張設して加熱ローラ8により内側から加熱する。上ローラ9は定着ベルト7を内側からバックアップして加圧ローラ11との圧接に供し相互間にニップ4を形成し、そこに供給される記録材2を前記ニップ4で加圧し挟持搬送しながら加熱されている定着ベルト7によって加熱して定着処理をする。図に示す実施例では加圧ローラ11の側をモータ51で駆動してこれに定着ベルト7および上ローラ9を従動させることにより、定着ベルト7などに無理が生じないようにしている。
【0018】
図1、図2に示す実施例では定着ベルト7はニッケル材料を電鋳法によりベルト形態に形成したもので40μm程度の厚みのものの表面に200〜300μm程度のシリコンゴムをコーティングしたものとしてある。定着ベルト7は各部の熱容量が小さいので加熱ローラ8によって加熱される熱量はほぼ一定しているし、定着処理によって大半が消費される。従って、定着処理時の温度は加熱ローラ8によって定着ベルト7を加熱するときの温度によって精度よく制御できる。そこで、加熱ローラ8にハロゲンランプなどの加熱源12を収容して加熱ローラ8を加熱し、そのときの加熱ローラ8の表面温度をサーミスタ13によりモニタすることで、加熱ローラ8の表面温度を制御するようにしている。
【0019】
加熱ローラ8はアルミニウムの筒状基材の表面にPTFE(四フッ化エチレン)またはPFA(パーフロロアルコキシとPTFAの共重合体)をコーティングしたものとしてある。上ローラ9は金属基材の表面にスポンジゴム層を設けたソフトローラとしてあり、加圧ローラ11との間の弾性変形によって前記必要な幅Bのニップ4を形成するのに寄与する。これに対応して加圧ローラ11は金属基材の表面にテフロン樹脂層を持つハードローラや、金属基材の表面に弾性層を複数層コーティングしたソフトローラである。加圧ローラ11がソフトローラの場合、加圧ローラ11の表面もまた弾性層であるのでソフトローラである上ローラ9にバックアップされ、かつ表面が弾性層である定着ベルトと協働して記録材2を滑りなく安定して挟持搬送することができる。
【0020】
加圧ローラ11にも加熱源14を内蔵して定着のための加熱に寄与するようにしてあり、その表面温度がサーミスタ15によりモニタされ制御される。定着ベルト7には、カラー画像定着のための光沢度制御と粘性の大きなトナーの離型性向上のために、オイル塗布機構16が設けられている。オイル塗布機構16は図2に示すように一例としてオイルを含浸した素材の表面を紙などで覆ったオイル塗布ローラ17と、オイル塗布ローラ17から供給されるオイルを双方間でならしながら定着ベルト7の表面に移行させて塗布するドナーローラ18、およびドナーローラ18の表面を紙などの表面でクリーニングするクリーニングローラ19で構成されている。
【0021】
図2に示すように、加熱部材3およびオイル塗布機構16は画像形成装置本体に固定される定着フレーム21に装備したのに対し、加圧部材5は定着フレーム21に定着処理時の加圧のための支点軸22によりヒンジ連結された加圧レバー23に装備され、定着フレーム21と加圧レバー23との間に働かせた図1に示す圧接ばね24の付勢によって加圧ローラ11を上ローラ9に圧接させるようにしてある。なお、上ローラ9は定着フレーム21上に固定され、サーミスタ13を保持するセンサホルダ25を支持ブロック26上でばね27によって加熱ローラ8側に押圧してサーミスタ13を加熱ロータ8の表面に圧接させるようにしてある。大きな厚みの異常な通過物に対して下ローラ9は後方に退避でき破損などしないようにされている。サーミスタ15はばね板28により支持して加圧ローラ11の表面に圧接させられている。記録材2は普通紙や薄紙、葉書、封筒、OHP用の樹脂シートなどがある。これらは厚みの違いだけでも定着時の熱消費量が違い定着特性に影響する。
【0022】
本実施の形態のニップ幅変更手段6は圧接ばね24のばね力を無段階に調整して前記ニップ4の幅Bを無段階に変更できるようにする。このため図1に示すように、定着フレーム21上に圧接調整レバー31が軸32により回動できるように支持され、圧接調整レバー31の一端に連結したシャフト33上のばね座34と加圧レバー23の受圧部23aとの間に働かせ、圧接調整レバー31の回動位置をその他端のセクタギヤ35に噛み合う駆動ギヤ36を介してモータ37により無段階に変位させて、圧接ばね24が加圧ローラ11を上ローラ9に圧接させるばね力を無段階に調整し、圧接ばね24のばね力により形成される前記ニップ4の幅Bを無段階に変更できるようにする。このニップ4の幅Bの無段階な変更のためにモータ37を制御手段38により制御する。モータ37はその種類によって駆動ギヤ36と直結でもよいが無段階調整が容易なように減速機構39を介して連結すればよい。
【0023】
図3に示すように、加熱部材3および加圧部材5の基準圧接位置を、圧接調整レバー31側の信号部31aと定着フレーム21側のフォトインタラプタ41などのセンサの組合わせにより、圧接調整レバー31が前記基準圧接位置に対応した回動位置にあるかどうかを検出して判定し、制御手段38は先ずノーマルな基準圧接状態になるようにモータ37を駆動し、これを基準に加圧側あるいは離間側にモータ37を駆動して種々な圧接状態を無段階な変化で得ていく。
【0024】
加熱部材3および加圧部材5の加圧負荷が大きいのに対応して、定着フレーム21の左右両側に圧接調整レバー31を軸32で支持して設け、それらのセクタギヤ35に噛み合う一対の駆動ギヤ36を定着フレーム21に軸受42によって軸受した駆動シャフト43により連結することにより、左右一対の圧接調整レバー31とそれと加圧レバー23の左右との間に働かせた左右一対の圧接ばね24とで、加圧ローラ11を上ローラ9に対し左右均等に安定して圧接させられるようにしてある。これに対応してモータ37からの駆動力は図3に示すように、一方の駆動ギヤ36に減速機構39などを連結すればよい。
【0025】
基準圧接位置によるニップ4の基準幅B0からの幅Bの調整は、例えば、モータ37の駆動の時間とそのときの圧接調整レバー31の駆動方向と、ニップ4の幅Bとの図4に示すような関係から制御できる。駆動方向はモータ37の正逆方向の駆動の選択により行うのが簡単であるが、駆動方向切り替え機構を用いて行ってもよい。また、モータ37やこれの駆動による圧接調整レバー31の回転角度、回動量とニップ4の幅Bとの図5に示すような関係によっても制御できる。この方式はモータ37の駆動時間によっては制御が安定しない場合に有効であり、具体的には、モータ37や駆動ギヤ36、圧接調整レバー31、加圧レバー23などに連動するパルス円盤などを回転検知手段に利用して実現できる。また、制御手段38がパルス通電によってモータ37を駆動制御するステッピングモータなどである場合の、入力パルス数とニップ4の幅Bとの図6に示すような関係によっても制御できる。さらに、加圧ローラ11を駆動する部材の駆動トルクを検知し、この駆動トルクとニップ4の幅Bとの図7に示すような関係からも制御できる。
【0026】
以上のように本実施の形態では、加熱部材3および加圧部材5間の記録材2を挟持搬送しながら加熱、加圧して定着処理するニップ4の幅Bが、ニップ幅変更手段6によって、それの変更動作を制御する制御手段38を通じた加熱部材3と加圧部材5との圧接力の無段階な調整などで無段階に変更されるので、定着条件、例えば、加熱部材3の温度、画像についての所望の光沢度、記録材2の厚み、材質、記録材2の搬送速度、雰囲気温度、前記ニップ4への突入前の記録材2の温度、定着モード、記録材2上の未定着な画像1の白/黒比など画像の状態、などの連続した、あるいは微細な条件変化、あるいは種々な条件設定の違いなどの少なくとも1つから必要に応じ全てに亘って即応したニップ幅Bに調整して自在に対応し、設定通りに良好かつ安定な定着処理を達成することができる。しかも、定着処理途中でのニップ幅Bの調整もそれが無段階になされるので画質に影響しにくく問題はない。
【0027】
加熱部材3および加圧部材5の温度は温度センサとしての前記サーミスタ13、15によって検知でき、記録材2の厚みは例えばニップ4を通過するときの加熱部材3および加圧部材5による挟持搬送を行うモータの駆動電流の変化から制御手段38の内部機能などを利用して検知でき、搬送速度は記録材2の所定距離の通過速度や搬送に連動したエンコーダの回転や移動などから制御手段38の内部機能を利用して検知でき、雰囲気温度や突入前の記録材2の温度は図1に示すサーミスタ52、53などの温度センサで検知でき、記録材2上の未定着な画像の情報はデジタル方式の画像形成における各頁ごとに対応した画像信号IMなどから制御手段38の内部機能などを利用してそれぞれ自動的に検知することができ、このような検知結果の変化に基づいた制御手段38によるニップ幅Bの無段階な変更制御によって各種の定着条件の変化に自動でリアルタイムに対応することができる。また、所望の光沢度、記録材2の厚み、搬送速度、定着モードなどは操作パネル54などからのユーザーの入力手段による入力によって設定されるもので、これらもそのような設定情報から制御手段38の内部機能などを利用して自動的に検知し各種設定にリアルタイムに対応することができる。図1にそのような制御を行う制御系を制御手段38を中心にして示してある。
【0028】
以上のような定着を行う画像形成では、連続印字、両面印字、モノクロ印字、カラー印字などの様々なプリントモードが設定され、これらも定着モードと併せ定着特性に影響するので、制御手段38の内部機能などでこれらを検知してニップ4の幅Bの制御に反映するのが好適である。
【0029】
なお、本実施の形態では、予め設定されたニップ幅変更手段6の駆動に関する回転角度や回動量、パルス通電する場合の入力周波数、駆動トルクに対する圧接力ないしはニップ幅Bなどにより、ニップ幅Bを変更するための駆動を行う場合を示したが、逐次ニップ4の幅Bを検知し、この検知結果に基づきデータを補正することにより、定着装置の定着特性の個々のバラツキを格段に小さくすることができ、より一層定着精度が向上する。また、逐次ニップ4の幅Bを検知する方法として、具体的には、加圧ローラ11の駆動部材の駆動トルクあるいは回転数を検知する手段を設け、記録材2のニップ4への突入時、あるいは排出時、あるいはその両方でのトルク、あるいは回転数の変化によりニップ4の幅Bを算出する方法がある。
【0030】
以下、図8を参照して、加熱部材3および加圧部材5が記録材2を挟持搬送しているモータの駆動電流をモニタし、モニタしている駆動電流の記録材2がニップ4を通過するときの変化から、ニップ4の幅B、あるいは記録材2の厚みや長さを判定する具体的な手法について説明する。
【0031】
図8の(a)は記録材2がニップ4を通過するときの前記モータの駆動電流をモニタしたものであり、これをローパスフィルタ処理や平均化処理により駆動電流の振動的な変化を除去すると、図8の(b)に示すような電流変化となる。もっとも、ローパスフィルタ処理や平均化処理は、記録材2がニップ4を通過しているときとその前後での駆動電流の変化を消去しない極く短い時間単位で処理するのは勿論である。
【0032】
図8の(b)における駆動電流の変化点▲1▼から▲9▼は、図8の(c)における記録材2が加熱部材3と加圧部材5とのニップ4に対する通過直前の▲1▼の状態から、ニップ4を抜けた直後の▲9▼の状態までに対応している。従って、図8の(b)の▲2▼〜▲4▼までの電流の変化、▲6▼〜▲8▼までの電流変化は、記録材2の先端および後端がニップ4の幅Bを通過している間に対応し、その間の電流変化の大きさIhが記録材2の厚みに比例しているので、モニタ電流の変化の立上がり、あるいは立下がり時点の電流変化の大きさIhから記録材2の厚みを制御手段38の内部機能などを利用して自動的に判定し検知することができる。また、図8の(b)の▲2▼〜▲8▼までは記録材2の先端がニップ4に突入してから後端がニップ4を抜けるまでの間に相当し、その間の経過時間と搬送速度とからニップ4を通過した記録材2の搬送方向のサイズを制御手段38の内部機能などを利用して自動的に検知することができる。
【0033】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、上記の説明から明らかなように、加熱部材および加圧部材間の記録材を挟持搬送しながら加熱、加圧して定着処理するニップの幅が、ニップ幅変更手段によって、それの変更動作を制御する制御手段を通じた加熱部材と加圧部材との圧接力の無段階な調整などで無段階に変更されるので、記録材の搬送速度の連続した、あるいは微細な条件変化、あるいは種々な条件設定の違いに即応したニップ幅に調整して自在に対応し、設定通りに良好かつ安定な定着処理を達成することができる。しかも、定着処理途中でのニップ幅の調整もそれが無段階になされるので画質に影響しにくく問題はない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】本発明の代表的な一実施の形態に係る1つの実施例を示す定着装置の全体構成図である。
【図2】図1の装置の内部構造を示す断面図である。
【図3】図2のニップ幅変更手段の構成図である。
【図4】挟持搬送を駆動するモータの駆動時間とニップ幅の関係を示すグラフである。
【図5】挟持搬送を駆動するモータの回転角度や回動量とニップ幅の関係を示すグラフである。
【図6】挟持搬送を駆動するモータをパルス通電するときの入力パルスとニップ幅の関係を示すグラフである。
【図7】挟持搬送を駆動する駆動手段の駆動トルクとニップ幅の関係を示すグラフである。
【図8】挟持搬送を駆動するモータの記録材がニップを通るときの駆動電流の変化からニップ幅や記録材の厚みなどを検出する場合の説明図で、その(a)は駆動電流の変化を示すグラフ、その(b)は(a)の電流変化をローパスフィルタ処理または平均化処理した場合の電流変化を示すグラフ、その(c)は記録材がニップを通過する直前から通過した直後までの状態を示す状態図である。
【符号の説明】
1 未定着な画像
2 記録材
3 加熱部材
4 ニップ
5 加圧部材
6 ニップ幅変更手段
13、15、52、53 サーミスタ
21 定着フレーム
22 支点軸
23 加圧レバー
24 圧接ばね
37、51 モータ
31 圧接調整レバー
36 駆動ギヤ
38 制御手段
B 幅
Ih 電流変化の大きさ
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fixing equipment for fixing by heat while passing the nip the recording material bearing the unfixed image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system, a latent image on a photoconductor as an image carrier is developed with toner and visualized, and the visualized toner image is recorded directly or via an intermediate transfer member. The recording material which has been electrostatically transferred onto the surface and holds the unfixed toner image after receiving the electrostatic transfer is fed into a nip formed by a heating member and a pressure member pressed against the recording material, and is sandwiched between the two members While being conveyed, the unfixed toner image is heated and pressed to fix it, and the image is finalized.
[0003]
By the way, the width of the nip when the speed of nipping and conveying the recording material is constant is proportional to the heating and pressurizing time for the fixing process, and mainly depends on the type of toner and the difference between the monochrome image and the color image. Is set. The color image is synthesized by melting three or four color toner images, and is set to a larger nip width than that for a monochrome image in order to obtain a higher gloss than a monochrome image.
[0004]
The necessary nip width is obtained by forming at least one surface of the heating member and the pressure member with a rubber-based elastic body and elastically deforming at a portion where both are pressed. Therefore, the elastic layer for fixing a color image is often set to be softer than that for fixing a monochrome image.
[0005]
On the other hand, if the thickness of the recording material is different, the nip width deviates from the set value and the fixing characteristics change. Also, the fixing characteristics vary depending on the material of the recording material. Also, the fixing characteristics differ depending on the type of toner for monochrome images or toner for color images.
[0006]
Corresponding to these differences by adjusting the temperature of the heating member is not practical due to poor thermal control response. Therefore, conventionally, there has been provided a fixing device in which the pressing force of the heating member and the pressure member can be switched in a plurality of stages according to a plurality of preset device use modes.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with the recent demand for higher image quality, the types of recording materials, types of toner, desired image quality, and the like are diversifying, and the conventional fixing device cannot cope with them. In particular, it can handle continuous or fine changes such as changes in surface temperature due to heat consumption due to heat treatment of heating members, changes in fixing temperature due to changes in ambient temperature, and changes in temperature immediately before fixing processing of the recording material itself. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve higher image quality. In addition, when the conventional fixing device switches the fixing condition according to the environmental condition or the like, if it is performed in the middle of the fixing process, the switching is stepwise, which may affect the image quality.
[0008]
An object of the present invention, even if there is a change in the transport speed of the recording material as a constant Chakujoken is to provide a fixing device capable of fixing process satisfactory and stable setting as.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the fixing device of the present invention includes a heating member for heating the unfixed image, in which the recording material holding the unfixed image is heated and fixed. In order to form a nip for nipping and conveying the recording material with the heating member, a pressure member provided in pressure contact with the heating member and a width in the conveyance direction of the recording material of the nip are steplessly A nip width changing means for changing, and a control means for controlling the changing operation of the nip width changing means, and the changing operation of the nip width changing means based on the change information of the conveyance speed of the recording material detected by the detecting means. The main feature is control.
[0010]
In such a configuration, the width of the nip to be fixed by heating and pressurizing while sandwiching and conveying the recording material between the heating member and the pressure member is controlled by the control means for controlling the changing operation by the nip width changing means. and can be changed steplessly stepless adjustment of such pressure contact force between the heating member and the pressure member, the fixing condition, in particular, a continuous conveying speed of the record material, or nip width that meet the fine conditions change Therefore, it is possible to achieve a fixing process that is good and stable as set. In addition, the adjustment of the nip width during the fixing process is performed in a stepless manner, so that there is no problem because it hardly affects the image quality.
[0013]
Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings. Each feature of the present invention can be used alone or in combination in various combinations as much as possible.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 together with the examples thereof for understanding of the present invention.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is developed and visualized mainly using resin powder toner, and the visualized toner image is electrostatically transferred onto a recording material and transferred. This is an example of a case where an unfixed toner image on a recording material is fixed by heating and pressing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a monochrome image, a composite image, a color image, or the like is formed indirectly or directly as an unfixed image on a recording material using various toners such as powder and liquid. It is effective when applied to various cases.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a heating member 3 for heating the unfixed image 1 in order to heat-fix the image 1 on a recording material 2 holding the unfixed image 1; In order to form the nip 4 for nipping and transporting the recording material 2 between the heating member 3 and the pressing member 5 provided in pressure contact with the heating member 3, in order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, A nip width changing means 6 for changing the width B of the nip 4 in the conveying direction of the recording material 2 steplessly is provided.
[0017]
It is sufficient that one of the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 is in pressure contact with the other, and in some cases, both of them may be moved in pressure contact. Both the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 may be simply rotating rollers, and at least one surface may be formed of an elastic material for obtaining the necessary width B of the nip 4. In the present embodiment, the heating member 3 uses a fixing belt 7 for heating for fixing. The pressure member 5 is a single pressure roller 11. The fixing belt 7 is stretched by a heating roller 8 and an upper roller 9 positioned on the unfixed screen 2 a side of the recording material 2 and is heated from the inside by the heating roller 8. The upper roller 9 backs up the fixing belt 7 from the inside and is brought into pressure contact with the pressure roller 11 to form a nip 4 therebetween. The recording material 2 supplied thereto is pressed by the nip 4 while being nipped and conveyed. The fixing process is performed by heating with the heated fixing belt 7. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the pressure roller 11 side is driven by a motor 51, and the fixing belt 7 and the upper roller 9 are driven by this, so that the fixing belt 7 and the like are not forced.
[0018]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing belt 7 is formed by forming a nickel material into a belt shape by an electroforming method, and having a thickness of about 40 μm coated with silicon rubber of about 200 to 300 μm. Since the heat capacity of each part of the fixing belt 7 is small, the amount of heat heated by the heating roller 8 is substantially constant, and most of the heat is consumed by the fixing process. Accordingly, the temperature during the fixing process can be accurately controlled by the temperature when the fixing belt 7 is heated by the heating roller 8. Therefore, a heating source 12 such as a halogen lamp is accommodated in the heating roller 8 to heat the heating roller 8, and the surface temperature of the heating roller 8 at that time is monitored by the thermistor 13, thereby controlling the surface temperature of the heating roller 8. Like to do.
[0019]
The heating roller 8 is formed by coating the surface of an aluminum cylindrical base material with PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene) or PFA (a copolymer of perfluoroalkoxy and PTFA). The upper roller 9 is a soft roller in which a sponge rubber layer is provided on the surface of a metal substrate, and contributes to forming the nip 4 having the necessary width B by elastic deformation with the pressure roller 11. Correspondingly, the pressure roller 11 is a hard roller having a Teflon resin layer on the surface of a metal substrate or a soft roller having a plurality of elastic layers coated on the surface of the metal substrate. When the pressure roller 11 is a soft roller, the surface of the pressure roller 11 is also an elastic layer, so it is backed up by the upper roller 9 that is a soft roller, and the recording material cooperates with the fixing belt whose surface is an elastic layer. 2 can be stably nipped and conveyed without slipping.
[0020]
The pressure roller 11 also includes a heating source 14 so as to contribute to heating for fixing, and its surface temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermistor 15. The fixing belt 7 is provided with an oil application mechanism 16 in order to control glossiness for fixing a color image and to improve releasability of toner having a large viscosity. As shown in FIG. 2, the oil application mechanism 16 includes an oil application roller 17 in which the surface of a material impregnated with oil is covered with paper or the like, and a fixing belt while leveling the oil supplied from the oil application roller 17 between the two. 7 is formed by a donor roller 18 that is applied by being transferred to the surface 7 and a cleaning roller 19 that cleans the surface of the donor roller 18 with a surface such as paper.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the heating member 3 and the oil application mechanism 16 are mounted on the fixing frame 21 fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus, whereas the pressure member 5 applies pressure to the fixing frame 21 during the fixing process. The pressure roller 11 is mounted on a pressure lever 23 hinged by a fulcrum shaft 22 for the upper roller of the pressure roller 11 by the urging of the pressure contact spring 24 shown in FIG. No. 9 is pressed. The upper roller 9 is fixed on the fixing frame 21, and the sensor holder 25 holding the thermistor 13 is pressed against the heating roller 8 by the spring 27 on the support block 26 to press the thermistor 13 against the surface of the heating rotor 8. It is like that. The lower roller 9 can be retracted rearward against an abnormal passing object having a large thickness so as not to be damaged. The thermistor 15 is supported by a spring plate 28 and is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the pressure roller 11. Examples of the recording material 2 include plain paper, thin paper, postcards, envelopes, and resin sheets for OHP. These differ in heat consumption at the time of fixing only by differences in thickness, and affect the fixing characteristics.
[0022]
The nip width changing means 6 of the present embodiment adjusts the spring force of the pressure spring 24 steplessly so that the width B of the nip 4 can be changed steplessly. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressure adjustment lever 31 is supported on the fixing frame 21 so as to be rotatable by a shaft 32, and a spring seat 34 and a pressure lever on a shaft 33 connected to one end of the pressure adjustment lever 31. 23, the pressure adjusting spring 31 is moved steplessly by a motor 37 via a drive gear 36 that meshes with the sector gear 35 at the other end. The spring force that presses 11 to the upper roller 9 is adjusted steplessly so that the width B of the nip 4 formed by the spring force of the pressure spring 24 can be changed steplessly. The motor 37 is controlled by the control means 38 in order to change the width B of the nip 4 steplessly. The motor 37 may be directly connected to the drive gear 36 depending on the type, but may be connected via a speed reduction mechanism 39 so that stepless adjustment is easy.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3, the reference pressure contact position of the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 is determined by combining a signal unit 31 a on the pressure contact adjustment lever 31 side with a sensor such as a photo interrupter 41 on the fixing frame 21 side. The control means 38 first drives the motor 37 so as to be in the normal reference pressure contact state, and the pressure side or the reference side is determined as a reference. The motor 37 is driven to the separation side, and various pressure contact states are obtained in a stepless change.
[0024]
Corresponding to the large pressure load on the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5, a pair of drive gears that are provided on the left and right sides of the fixing frame 21 by supporting the pressure contact adjusting levers 31 with shafts 32 and mesh with the sector gears 35. 36 is connected to the fixing frame 21 by a drive shaft 43 that is supported by a bearing 42, so that a pair of left and right press contact adjusting levers 31 and a pair of left and right press contact springs 24 acted between the left and right press levers 23, The pressure roller 11 can be brought into pressure contact with the upper roller 9 evenly and stably. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the driving force from the motor 37 may be connected to one drive gear 36 with a speed reduction mechanism 39 or the like.
[0025]
The adjustment of the width B from the reference width B0 of the nip 4 by the reference pressure contact position is shown in FIG. 4 for example of the driving time of the motor 37, the drive direction of the pressure contact adjusting lever 31 at that time, and the width B of the nip 4 It can be controlled from such a relationship. The driving direction can be easily performed by selecting driving in the forward / reverse direction of the motor 37, but may be performed using a driving direction switching mechanism. Further, it can be controlled by the relationship as shown in FIG. 5 between the rotation angle and rotation amount of the motor 37 and the pressure adjusting lever 31 driven by the motor 37 and the width B of the nip 4. This method is effective when the control is not stable depending on the driving time of the motor 37. Specifically, the motor 37, the driving gear 36, the pressure contact adjusting lever 31, the pressure lever 23, and the like are rotated. It can be realized by using it as a detection means. Further, when the control means 38 is a stepping motor or the like that drives and controls the motor 37 by pulse energization, it can also be controlled by the relationship between the number of input pulses and the width B of the nip 4 as shown in FIG. Further, the driving torque of the member that drives the pressure roller 11 is detected, and control can be performed from the relationship between the driving torque and the width B of the nip 4 as shown in FIG.
[0026]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the width B of the nip 4 that is heated and pressed while the recording material 2 between the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 is nipped and conveyed is fixed by the nip width changing unit 6. Since it is changed steplessly by, for example, stepless adjustment of the pressure contact force between the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 through the control means 38 for controlling the changing operation, fixing conditions such as the temperature of the heating member 3, The desired glossiness of the image, the thickness of the recording material 2, the material, the conveyance speed of the recording material 2, the ambient temperature, the temperature of the recording material 2 before entering the nip 4, the fixing mode, and the unfixed on the recording material 2 The nip width B can be adjusted promptly over all necessary from at least one of continuous or fine condition changes such as the white / black ratio of the image 1 or the like, or various condition setting differences. Adjust to your liking and follow the settings It is possible to achieve good and stable fixing. In addition, the adjustment of the nip width B during the fixing process is performed in a stepless manner, so that it is difficult to affect the image quality and there is no problem.
[0027]
The temperature of the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 can be detected by the thermistors 13 and 15 as temperature sensors, and the thickness of the recording material 2 is, for example, nipped and conveyed by the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 when passing through the nip 4. The change in the driving current of the motor to be performed can be detected by using the internal function of the control means 38, and the conveyance speed of the control means 38 is determined from the passing speed of the recording material 2 at a predetermined distance and the rotation and movement of the encoder linked to the conveyance. It can be detected using an internal function, and the ambient temperature and the temperature of the recording material 2 before entering can be detected by a temperature sensor such as the thermistors 52 and 53 shown in FIG. 1, and information on an unfixed image on the recording material 2 is digital. Can be detected automatically using the internal function of the control means 38 from the image signal IM corresponding to each page in the image formation of the system. It can be the stepless change control of the nip width B of the control unit 38 based on a change corresponding to the real time automatically change various fixing conditions. Further, the desired glossiness, the thickness of the recording material 2, the conveyance speed, the fixing mode, and the like are set by the user input means from the operation panel 54 or the like, and these are also controlled from such setting information by the control means 38. Can be detected automatically using the internal functions of, and various settings can be handled in real time. FIG. 1 shows a control system for performing such control with the control means 38 as the center.
[0028]
In the image formation for fixing as described above, various print modes such as continuous printing, double-sided printing, monochrome printing, and color printing are set. These also affect the fixing characteristics together with the fixing mode. It is preferable that these are detected by function and reflected in the control of the width B of the nip 4.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the nip width B is set based on the rotation angle and rotation amount relating to the driving of the nip width changing means 6 set in advance, the input frequency in the case of pulse energization, the pressing force against the driving torque or the nip width B, etc. Although the drive for changing is shown, the width B of the nip 4 is sequentially detected, and the data is corrected based on the detection result, thereby greatly reducing individual variations in the fixing characteristics of the fixing device. And the fixing accuracy is further improved. Further, as a method of detecting the width B of the sequential nip 4, specifically, means for detecting the driving torque or the rotational speed of the driving member of the pressure roller 11 is provided, and when the recording material 2 enters the nip 4, Alternatively, there is a method in which the width B of the nip 4 is calculated based on the torque at the time of discharging or both, or the change in the rotational speed.
[0030]
Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 8, the heating member 3 and the pressure member 5 monitor the driving current of the motor that sandwiches and conveys the recording material 2, and the recording material 2 of the monitored driving current passes through the nip 4. A specific method for determining the width B of the nip 4 or the thickness and length of the recording material 2 from the change when the recording is performed will be described.
[0031]
FIG. 8A is a monitor of the driving current of the motor when the recording material 2 passes through the nip 4. When this is removed, a vibration change in the driving current is removed by low-pass filter processing or averaging processing. The current changes as shown in FIG. Of course, the low-pass filter process and the averaging process are performed in a very short time unit that does not erase the change in the drive current when the recording material 2 passes through the nip 4 and before and after that.
[0032]
The change points (1) to (9) of the drive current in (b) of FIG. 8 correspond to (1) immediately before the recording material 2 in FIG. 8 (c) passes through the nip 4 between the heating member 3 and the pressing member 5. It corresponds from the state of ▼ to the state of (9) immediately after passing through the nip 4. Accordingly, the current change from (2) to (4) in FIG. 8B and the current change from (6) to (8) are the same as the width B of the nip 4 at the front and rear ends of the recording material 2. Since the magnitude Ih of the current change during this period is proportional to the thickness of the recording material 2, recording is performed from the magnitude Ih of the rise or fall of the monitor current change. The thickness of the material 2 can be automatically determined and detected using an internal function of the control means 38 or the like. Also, (2) to (8) in FIG. 8B correspond to the period from when the leading edge of the recording material 2 enters the nip 4 to when the trailing edge passes through the nip 4, and the elapsed time therebetween. The size in the conveyance direction of the recording material 2 that has passed through the nip 4 can be automatically detected from the conveyance speed by using an internal function of the control means 38 or the like.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, the width of the nip for fixing by heating and pressing while sandwiching and conveying the recording material between the heating member and the pressure member is adjusted by the nip width changing means. Since it is changed steplessly, such as by stepless adjustment of the pressure contact force between the heating member and the pressure member through the control means that controls the change operation of the recording material , the recording material conveyance speed is changed continuously or finely, Alternatively, it is possible to adjust the nip width corresponding to the difference of various condition settings and to cope with it freely, and to achieve good and stable fixing processing as set. In addition, the adjustment of the nip width during the fixing process is performed in a stepless manner, so that there is no problem because it hardly affects the image quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a fixing device showing an example according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a nip width changing unit in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a driving time of a motor for driving nipping and conveying and a nip width.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the rotation angle and rotation amount of a motor for driving nipping and conveying and the nip width.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between an input pulse and a nip width when pulse energization is performed on a motor that drives nipping and conveying.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a driving torque of a driving unit that drives nipping conveyance and a nip width.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram in the case of detecting a nip width, a thickness of a recording material, and the like from a change in driving current when a recording material of a motor for driving nipping passes through a nip, and (a) shows a change in driving current. (B) is a graph showing the current change when the current change of (a) is low pass filtered or averaged, and (c) is from immediately before the recording material passes through the nip to immediately after it passes. It is a state diagram which shows the state of.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unfixed image 2 Recording material 3 Heating member 4 Nip 5 Pressure member 6 Nip width changing means 13, 15, 52, 53 Thermistor 21 Fixing frame 22 Supporting shaft 23 Pressure lever 24 Pressure springs 37, 51 Motor 31 Pressure adjustment Lever 36 Drive gear 38 Control means B Width Ih Magnitude of current change

Claims (2)

未定着な画像を保持した記録材にその画像を加熱定着させる定着装置において、
前記未定着な画像を加熱するための加熱部材と、
前記加熱部材との間で前記記録材を挟持搬送するニップを形成するために、前記加熱部材に圧接して設けられる加圧部材と、
前記ニップの記録材の搬送方向における幅を無段階に変更するニップ幅変更手段と、
前記ニップ幅変更手段の変更動作を制御する制御手段と、を備え、
検知手段により検知された記録材の搬送速度の変化情報に基づきニップ幅変更手段の変更動作を制御することを特徴とする定着装置。
In a fixing device that heats and fixes an image to a recording material holding an unfixed image,
A heating member for heating the unfixed image;
A pressure member provided in pressure contact with the heating member to form a nip for nipping and conveying the recording material with the heating member;
A nip width changing means for steplessly changing the width of the nip in the conveyance direction of the recording material;
Control means for controlling the changing operation of the nip width changing means,
Fixing device and controls the operation of changing the nip width changing means based on the change information of the transport speed of the detected recording material by detecting means.
ニップ幅変更手段は、加圧部材と加熱部材との圧接力を無段階に調整してニップの幅を変更する請求項1に記載の定着装置。  The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the nip width changing unit adjusts the pressure contact force between the pressure member and the heating member steplessly to change the nip width.
JP11067799A 1999-04-19 1999-04-19 Fixing device Expired - Fee Related JP3797014B2 (en)

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JP4765456B2 (en) * 2005-07-21 2011-09-07 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Image forming apparatus
KR20090022446A (en) * 2007-08-30 2009-03-04 삼성전자주식회사 Fusing unit and image forming apparatus including the same
JP4706718B2 (en) * 2008-05-12 2011-06-22 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Image forming apparatus
JP5386858B2 (en) * 2008-06-03 2014-01-15 株式会社リコー Image forming apparatus
US8358959B2 (en) 2009-03-05 2013-01-22 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
JP2010204510A (en) * 2009-03-05 2010-09-16 Ricoh Co Ltd Fixing device and image forming apparatus
JP6780383B2 (en) * 2015-11-24 2020-11-04 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Conveyor device and image forming device

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