JP3944965B2 - Heating device and heating rotating body - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is provided in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and can be used in a fixing device that heats and fixes the image on a recording material holding an unfixed image such as a toner image, and The present invention relates to a heating rotator as one component of the heating device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A fixing device in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine generally includes a heating roller, and a recording material holding an unfixed image such as a toner image is transferred to the heating roller and a backup member (generally, The unfixed image is fixed by heating and pressing on the recording material by passing it while being sandwiched between the pressure roller and the pressure roller.
[0003]
Conventionally, a heating roller such as a halogen lamp heater is built in such a heating roller, and the roller is heated by radiant heat from the heater.
However, with a heating roller that uses a built-in heating heater such as a halogen lamp heater as a heat source, the rate of temperature rise from the start of energization of the heater to the predetermined fixing temperature on the surface of the heating roller is slow, so the power switch of the image forming apparatus is turned on. After that, the preheating time (so-called warm-up time) until the heating roller reaches a predetermined temperature becomes longer, and the apparatus becomes difficult to use.
[0004]
In view of this, a heating roller has been proposed in which a resistance heating element made of a substance that generates heat when the core roller is energized is rotated together with the core roller as a heating roller that requires only a short time to reach a predetermined temperature. This type of heating roller has good electric / heat conversion efficiency, and can quickly raise the surface temperature of the heating roller to a predetermined temperature after the start of energization of the resistance heating element, thereby shortening the preheating time of the heating roller. Can do.
[0005]
In this type of heating roller, in order to energize the resistance heating element, generally, a power receiving member that is electrically connected to the resistance heating element and rotates together with the heating roller, and a power feeding member that is brought into contact with the power receiving member. Is provided, and the resistance heating element is energized through them.
More specifically, a heating roller in which a ring-shaped power receiving member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller so as to rotate integrally with the core roller, and a power supply member is provided so as to contact from the outer peripheral surface side of the power receiving member. Has been proposed.
[0006]
A heating roller is also proposed in which a power supply member is also used as a bearing that rotatably supports the heating roller.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention is a heating device that can be used in a fixing device that heat-fixes an image to a recording material holding an unfixed image, and is a type that supplies power to a resistance heating element provided on a rotating body that rotates and moves a peripheral surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device that can provide a variety of structures and expand the range of structure selection.
[0008]
Moreover, this invention makes it a subject to provide the heating rotary body for the said heating apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
An endless rotating body that rotates and moves a peripheral surface, a resistance heating element that is provided on the peripheral surface of the endless rotating body, generates heat when energized, and is provided in a hollow interior of the endless rotating body, and the resistance heating element A power receiving member electrically connected to the power receiving member, and a power feeding member that contacts the power receiving member and is electrically connected to a power source. Ruka Thermal devices, and
A heating rotator used for a heating device, which is provided on an endless rotator that rotates and moves a peripheral surface, a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized, and is provided on the heating device. A power receiving member provided in a hollow interior of the endless rotating body to be in contact with the power feeding member and electrically connected to the resistance heating element. Heating rotating body I will provide a.
[0010]
The heating device according to the present invention is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or printer, and is a fixing device that heats and fixes the image on a recording material such as paper holding an unfixed image. It can be used as a heating device for heating an unfixed image on a recording material. The heating rotator according to the present invention is one component of such a heating device, and can be used as such a replacement part when it is necessary to replace it due to wear due to long-term use.
[0011]
An example of the endless rotating body is a roller. Such an endless rotator is at least partially hollow. The whole may be hollowed in order to reduce the heat capacity or reduce the weight. When the endless rotating body is, for example, a roller, the roller may have a hollow cylindrical shape. Examples of the endless rotating body include a roller, a flexible film, a sheet, a thin plate and the like made endless.
[0012]
A resistance heating element that generates heat by energization is formed on the peripheral surface (peripheral wall) of the endless rotating body. The resistance heating element is formed on the outer peripheral surface and / or the inner peripheral surface of the endless rotating body. Even if the resistance heating element is formed directly on the peripheral surface of the endless rotating body, the resistance heating element is indirectly endless via an insulator or the like for maintaining electrical insulation between the endless rotating body and the resistance heating element. You may form in the surrounding surface of a cylindrical rotating body. The resistance heating element formed with respect to the peripheral surface of the endless rotator that rotates the peripheral surface rotates integrally with the rotation of the peripheral surface of the endless rotator. In addition, it is preferable to form a release layer made of a fluororesin or the like for preventing adhesion of molten toner on the outermost outer peripheral surface of the endless rotating body.
[0013]
A power receiving member provided in the hollow interior of the endless rotating body is electrically connected to the resistance heating element. A part of the power receiving member may protrude outside the endless rotating body. The power receiving member is made of a conductive material. The power receiving member rotates integrally with the endless rotator as the endless rotator rotates.
In the heating device, the power receiving member is in contact with the power receiving member. Such a power supply member is made of a conductive material, and electrical connection between the power reception member and the power supply member is achieved. A power source is connected to the power supply member. The power feeding member may be directly connected to the power source, or may be indirectly connected to the power source via a contact of a switch or a relay.
[0014]
The heating device includes at least one power receiving member and one power feeding member. A pair of the power receiving member and the power feeding member may be provided in the heating device. The heating device may be provided with the power receiving member and the power feeding member one by one and the power receiving member and the power feeding member conventionally known one by one. Similarly, the heating rotator also includes at least one power receiving member.
[0015]
In addition to the electrical connection function with the power supply member, the power receiving member may have a function as an internal structural member such as increasing the rigidity of the endless rotating body or maintaining its shape. For example, in the case where the endless rotating body is a hollow cylindrical roller, when the roller is thinned to reduce the heat capacity and the rigidity of the roller is reduced, the roller is attached to the power receiving member provided inside the hollow of the roller. It may have a function of maintaining and maintaining the shape and rigidity. When the endless rotating body is composed of an endless film or the like, the power receiving member provided inside the hollow of the film may have a function of holding the film or the like in a predetermined shape.
[0016]
The power receiving member may be provided, for example, in the shape of an internal partition wall of the endless rotating body so as to be exposed to the outside in the rotation axis direction of the endless rotating body. As described above, when the power receiving member is provided in the hollow interior of the endless rotating body in the shape of a wall that partitions the hollow interior, the power receiving member can have a function of increasing the rigidity of the endless rotating body. Thereby, retainability, such as a shape and a dimension, of an endless rotating body can be improved. In this case, the power feeding member may be brought into contact with the exposed portion of the power receiving member from the outside in the rotation axis direction of the endless rotating body.
[0018]
In the heating device, when a pressing device that presses the power feeding member toward the power receiving member is provided, the power feeding member can be stably brought into contact with the rotating power receiving member. As such a pressing device, a device including an elastic body such as a coil spring that pushes the power feeding member toward the power receiving member can be exemplified.
When the area of the surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power feeding member is made larger than the area of the surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power receiving member, occurrence of the following problems can be suppressed. In a heating apparatus having a power receiving member that rotates integrally with an endless rotator and a power supply member that contacts the endless rotating body, particularly when the power supply member is pressed toward the power reception member by a coil spring or the like, endless When the rotating body is rotated so as to rotate and move the peripheral surface of the cylindrical rotating body, the power feeding member may be displaced from the power receiving member. When such a deviation occurs, the power feeding member is unevenly worn, and the life of the power feeding member is extremely shortened. In addition, when the power feeding member wears unevenly, the area of the contact surface between the power feeding member and the power receiving member is reduced accordingly, and a portion where current is concentrated is formed, or the contact resistance is increased. Furthermore, the power supply member may come into contact with the power reception member or come into point contact, and the power supply member may jump (jump) to the power reception member to generate electrical noise. As described above, the problem is that the surface area of the power receiving member for contact with the power feeding member is larger than the surface area of the power feeding member for contact with the power receiving member, and more preferably, It can suppress by arrange | positioning a power feeding member so that the surface for contact with the power receiving member of a power feeding member may contact the substantially center part in the outer contour of the surface for power feeding member of a power receiving member. That is, in this case, even if the endless rotating body is rotated and the surface of the power supply member for contact with the power receiving member is slightly deviated from the predetermined position with respect to the power receiving member, the power supply due to such deviation is performed. The movement of the surface for contact with the power receiving member of the member can remain within the outer contour of the surface for contact with the power feeding member of the power receiving member, and the power feeding member is deviated from the outer contour. Can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to suppress problems such as a decrease in the life of the power supply member, an increase in contact resistance, and jumping of the power supply member, which are caused by uneven wear of the power supply member.
[0019]
The following can be mentioned as a form of the heating apparatus and heating rotary body of this invention when an endless rotary body is a roller.
That is, at least a part of a hollow cylindrical core roller, a resistance heating element that is formed along the outer peripheral surface and / or the inner peripheral surface of the core roller, rotates with the core roller, and generates heat when energized; A heating device that includes a pair of power receiving members that are electrically connected to the resistance heating element, are provided inside the hollow of the core roller, and rotate together with the core roller, and a pair of power supply members that respectively contact the power receiving members. (Heating roller device), and
A cylindrical core roller that is at least partially hollow, a resistance heating element that is formed along an outer peripheral surface and / or an inner peripheral surface of the core roller, rotates with the core roller, and generates heat when energized; and the resistance A heating rotating body (heating roller) provided with a pair of power receiving members that are electrically connected to a heat generating body, are provided inside the hollow of the core roller, and rotate together with the core roller.
[0020]
In the heating roller device and the heating roller, as described above, the power receiving member and the power feeding member may be provided as follows.
For example, the power receiving member may be provided at the end of the core roller in the rotation center axis direction so as to be exposed to the outside in the rotation center axis direction, and be provided inside the core roller in the form of an internal partition wall. In this case, the power supply member may be brought into contact with the power receiving member from the outside in the direction of the center axis of rotation of the core roller.
[0021]
In the heating roller device, as described above, a pressing device including an elastic body such as a coil spring for pressing the power feeding member toward the power receiving member may be provided.
The area of the surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power feeding member is made larger than the area of the surface of the power feeding member for contact with the power receiving member, and more preferably the surface of the power feeding member for contact with the power receiving member However, if the power feeding member is arranged so as to be in contact with the substantially central portion of the outer contour of the surface for contact with the power feeding member of the power receiving member, uneven wear of the power feeding member can be suppressed as described above. .
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a fixing device including a heating device according to the present invention. Such a heating apparatus has the heating rotator according to the present invention.
This fixing device is mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and the toner image is fixed by heating and pressing on a sheet-like recording material holding an unfixed toner image. Available.
[0023]
The fixing device includes a heating device (heating roller device) including a heating roller 1 as a heating rotator and a pressure roller 2 facing the heating roller 1.
The heating roller 1 has a hollow cylindrical core roller 10 as an endless rotating body and is rotatably supported by bearings 31 at both ends thereof. The bearing 31 on the left side in the drawing is supported by the fixing device housing H. A c-ring 311 fitted in a groove 104 formed over the entire circumference on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller 10 is in contact with the outer surface of the left bearing 31, whereby the left bearing 31 is in contact with the housing H. The heating roller 1 is positioned with respect to the left bearing 31.
[0024]
The bearing 31 on the right side in the figure is also supported by the housing H. The ring gear 14 fitted to the core roller 10 is in contact with the outer surface of the right bearing 31. A c-ring 311 fitted in a groove 104 formed over the entire circumference on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller 10 is in contact with the outer end of the gear 14, whereby the right bearing 31 is in contact with the housing H and the ring gear 14. The heating roller 1 is positioned with respect to the right bearing 31.
[0025]
The ring gear 14 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a gear train (not shown), and the heating roller 1 can be driven to rotate by driving the motor. When the heating roller 1 is driven to rotate, its outer peripheral surface rotates.
The pressure roller 2 has shafts 21 provided at both ends thereof rotatably supported by a support member 32, and is pressed toward the heating roller 1 by a spring 321 that contacts the support member 32 from one direction. Yes. The pressure roller 2 rotates following the rotation of the heating roller 1 or following the movement of the recording material passed between the two rollers.
[0026]
The core roller 10 which is the endless rotating body is made of an aluminum alloy in this example. An insulating layer 11 and a layered resistance heating element (hereinafter referred to as resistance heating layer) 12 are sequentially formed on the inner peripheral surface of the core roller 10, and a release layer 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Yes.
The insulating layer 11 is formed between the resistance heating layer 12 and the core roller 10 in order to maintain electrical insulation between them, and is made of a heat-resistant insulating resin polyimide in this example.
[0027]
The resistance heating layer 12 generates Joule heat by energization and is made of a barium titanate ceramic in this example.
When the recording material holding the unfixed toner image passes through the release layer 13 while being sandwiched between the heating roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 opposed to the recording material, the heated toner image is heated by the heating roller 1. In this example, it is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
[0028]
The insulating layer 11, the resistance heating layer 12, and the release layer 13 rotate integrally with the core roller 10.
A power receiving member 15 made of a conductive material is attached to each end of the heating roller 1 in the rotation center axis direction and inside the hollow of the heating roller 1. Although not limited to this, it is fitted on the inner peripheral surface side of the core roller 10 here. The power receiving member 15 is made of brass in this example. Each power receiving member 15 is exposed to the outside at both ends of the core roller 10 in the rotation center axis direction. Each power receiving member 15 has a hat shape having a flat circular top surface 152 in which the rotation center axis of the roller 1 coincides with the center line, and both end portions of the core roller 10 are formed in a wall shape partitioning the hollow interior of the core roller 10. Is provided. Each power receiving member 15 also has a function of increasing the rigidity of the core roller 10 and maintaining its shape. Each power receiving member 15 is bonded and fixed to the resistance heating layer 12 with a conductive adhesive, and is electrically connected to the heating layer 12. The power receiving member 15 rotates integrally with the core roller 10.
[0029]
The flat top surface 152 of each power receiving member 15 exposed at both ends in the rotation center axis direction of the heating roller 1 has a surface 163 of the power supply member 16 made of a conductive material from the outside in the rotation center axis direction of the heating roller 1. Are in surface contact. The power supply member 16 is made of copper-based carbon in this example.
The power supply member 16 on the left side in FIG. 1 is fitted into a recess 411 provided in a resin holder 41 that is screwed to the housing H with a screw S1, and is fed through a hole 411a provided on the roller 1 side of the recess 411. The portion protrudes to face the power receiving member 15 and is in contact with the power receiving member 15 under appropriate pressure by a spring 161 fitted in the recess 411. The right power supply member 16 is also fitted into the recess 421 of the right resin holder 42 screwed to the housing H with the screw S1, partially protrudes from the holder hole 421a, and faces the right power receiving member 15, and the recess. The right power receiving member 15 is in contact with the right power receiving member 15 under an appropriate pressure by a spring 161 fitted to the 421. Each spring 161 is supported at its outer end by terminal plates 33, 33 screwed to the outer end portion of the holder by screws S2. Thus, even if the power receiving member 15 rotates integrally with the heating roller 1, the electrical connection between the power receiving member 15 and the power feeding member 16 is maintained.
[0030]
Each power supply member 16 is electrically connected to a terminal plate 33 made of a conductive material by a lead wire 162.
An electric wire 34 that is connected to one end of a power source 8 (see FIG. 2) and crimped with a crimp terminal 341 is connected to the left terminal plate 33 by fastening the crimp terminal 341 with a screw S3. . Similarly, the right terminal plate 33 is connected to the other end of the power source 8 via a contact of the solid state relay SSR (see FIG. 2), and an electric wire 34 having a crimp terminal 341 crimped to the end thereof is provided. The crimp terminal 341 is fastened and connected by a screw S3. The lower neck portion S31 protruding from the terminal plate 33 of each screw S3 is fitted in the central air core portion of the spring 161.
[0031]
Here, the power receiving member 15 and the power feeding member 16 will be further described. The area of the surface provided for contact with the power feeding member 16 of the power receiving member 15, in this example, the area of the flat circular top surface 152 is the surface of the surface provided for contact with the power receiving member 15 of the power feeding member 16. The area is larger than the area of the circular surface 163 in this example. In this example, the diameter of the circular top surface 152 of the power receiving member 15 is 10 mm, and the diameter of the circular surface 163 of the power feeding member 16 is 8 mm. The power supply member 16 is disposed so that the center of the surface 163 for contact with the power receiving member 15 is aligned with the center of the top surface 152 of the power receiving member 15. As a result, the surface 163 of the power supply member 16 for contact with the power receiving member 15 is inside the outer contour of the surface 152 for contact of the power reception member 15 with the power supply member 16, and is substantially at the center of the surface 152. Surface contact.
[0032]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an energization circuit to the resistance heating layer 12 together with a control unit that controls the energization. In FIG. 2, the power receiving member 15, the power feeding member 16, the lead wire 162, and the like are not shown.
The resistance heating layer 12 can be energized from the power supply 8 by closing the contact of the relay SSR. The relay SSR is connected to a control unit CTR including a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the operation of the entire fixing device, and the contact of the relay SSR is opened and closed by the control unit CTR. The control unit CTR is based on the temperature of the heating roller 1 detected by a thermistor TH (not shown in FIG. 1) that is a temperature detection element in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the release layer 13 of the heating roller 1. The relay SSR is opened and closed. Based on the temperature of the heating roller 1 detected by the thermistor TH, the controller CTR controls the energization of the resistance heating layer 12 to control the heating roller 1 to a predetermined temperature.
[0033]
In addition to the thermistor TH for controlling the temperature of the heating roller 1, a temperature detecting element for preventing the abnormal temperature rise of the heating roller 1 may be provided. If a safety switch that opens and closes based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element is connected in series with the power supply 8 and the relay SSR to the energization circuit for the resistance heating layer 12 shown in FIG. 2, the energization control by the control unit CTR for some reason. Even when the heating roller 1 does not operate normally and the heating roller 1 abnormally heats up, the safety switch can shut off the energizing circuit before the heating roller 1 and its peripheral components are thermally damaged. The temperature detecting element may also be provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 1. As the temperature detection element, for example, a thermistor or a thermocouple can be adopted, and as a safety switch having a temperature detection function, for example, a temperature fuse or a thermostat can be adopted.
[0034]
According to the fixing device described above, the fixing of the toner image onto the recording material holding the unfixed toner image is performed as follows. That is, the contact point of the relay SSR is closed by the control unit CTR, and the resistance heating layer 12 is energized from the power source 8 through the power supply member 16, the power receiving member 15 and the like. The roller 1 is heated from the inner peripheral surface side. By adopting a resistance heating element as a heating source of the heating roller 1, the heating roller 1 quickly rises in temperature. At this time, energization control is performed based on the temperature of the heating roller 1 detected by the thermistor TH, and the heating roller 1 is maintained at a predetermined fixing temperature. Then, the heating roller 1 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) through a gear train connected to the motor, and the recording material is passed between the heating roller 1 having a fixing temperature and the pressure roller 2 that presses the heating roller 1. As a result, the unfixed toner image on the recording material is fixed to the recording material under heat and pressure.
[0035]
In the heating roller device of the present invention, when the heating roller 1 is rotationally driven during image fixing or the like and the power receiving member 15 slides with respect to the power supplying member 16, the center of the surface 163 of the power supplying member 16 is 3, even if the power receiving member 15 is slightly deviated from the center of the surface 152, uneven wear of the power supply member 16 can be prevented for the following reason. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the left feeding member 16 is displaced. As described above, in the heating roller device of the present invention, the area of the surface 152 of the power receiving member 15 is larger than the area of the surface 163 of the power feeding member 16, in other words, in this example, the surface of the power receiving member 15. Since the outer contour of the surface 152 is larger than the outer contour of the surface 163 of the power supply member 16, even if the center of the surface 163 of the power supply member 16 is slightly shifted from the center of the surface 152 of the power receiving member 15, the power supply member 16. The surface 163 of the power receiving member 15 only deviates inside the outer contour of the surface 152 of the power receiving member 15. In addition, since the surface 163 of the power supply member 16 is disposed so as to be in contact with the substantially central portion of the surface 152 of the power reception member 15 in the initial stage, the power supply member 16 is in any direction with respect to the power reception member 15. Even if they deviate, the distance from the outer contour of the surface 163 to the outer contour of the surface 152 is ensured by a certain distance, and the surface 163 of the power supply member deviates to the outside of the outer contour of the surface 152 of the power receiving member 15 accordingly. It is suppressed. Thereby, the partial wear of the electric power feeding member 16 can be prevented. The holder holes 411 a and 421 a provided to allow the power feeding member 16 to face the power receiving member 15 are also suppressed from moving the surface 163 of the power feeding member 16 to the outside of the outer contour of the surface 152 of the power receiving member 15. . Accordingly, the life of the power feeding member 16 can be lengthened accordingly. In addition, electrical noise due to jumping of the power supply member 16 can be reduced.
[0036]
Compared to a conventional heating roller device that includes a ring-shaped power receiving member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller and a power supply member in contact with the outer peripheral surface side of the power receiving member, the heating roller device of the present invention has a power receiving function. Since the sliding speed of the member with respect to the power supply member is slow, it is possible to suppress a jumping phenomenon in which contact between the power supply member and the power receiving member is interrupted, and deterioration due to a temperature increase of these members.
[0037]
In the heating roller device shown in FIG. 1, the heating roller 1 that is a heating rotator and the power supply member 16 can be removed as follows. When the fixing device is used over a long period of time, the heating roller 1 needs to be periodically replaced because the release layer 13 as a contact surface is worn or damaged by a recording material such as paper. The heating roller 1 must be replaced even if the power receiving member 15 is destroyed by heat due to jumping or excessive temperature rise. The power supply member 16 also wears when used for a long time due to sliding with the power receiving member 15, and therefore needs to be replaced periodically.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the screw S <b> 1 is removed, the holder 42 and the power supply member 16 supported by the holder 42 can be removed from the housing H.
When the screw S2 is further removed from the holder 42, the terminal plate 33 and the electric wire 34 attached to the terminal plate 33 can be removed from the holder 42.
Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the power feeding member 16 to which the lead wire 162 is connected can be removed from the holder 42.
[0039]
Further, when the screw S3 is removed from the terminal plate 33, the electric wire 34 with the crimp terminal 341 crimped can be removed from the terminal plate 33.
When removing the heating roller 1, the screw S1 is removed and the holder 42 is removed from the housing H, and then the c-ring 311 is removed from the core roller 10 as shown in FIG. Remove from 10. By performing such an operation at both ends of the heating roller 1, only the heating roller 1 shown in FIG. 7 can be taken out.
[0040]
In the heating roller 1 described above, the resistance heating layer is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the core roller, but may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller or the inner and outer peripheral surfaces.
In addition, the power receiving member is attached to the roller at both ends in the rotation center axis direction of the core roller, and the power feeding member is in contact with the power receiving member from the outside in the rotation center axis direction. For reference, The power receiving member and the power feeding member may be provided as shown in FIG.
[0041]
The heating roller 1 ′ shown in FIG. 8 has a hollow cylindrical core roller 10, and an insulating layer 11 and a resistance heating layer 12 are sequentially formed on the inner peripheral surface of the core roller 10. A release layer 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Further, ring-shaped power receiving members 15 ′ and 15 ′ are provided on the inner peripheral surface side at both ends of the resistance heating layer 12. Each power receiving member 15 ′ has a power feeding member 16 ′ from the inner peripheral surface side. It is pressed and contacted by pressing means (not shown) toward 15 '. The power supply member 16 ′ is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the power receiving member 15 ′ at a surface 161 ′ formed in an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the power receiving member 15 ′.
[0042]
In the heating roller device of FIG. 8, the width of the ring-shaped power receiving member 15 ′ in the direction of the central axis of rotation is larger than the width of the power feeding member 16 ′ in this direction, so that the power receiving member 15 ′ contacts the power feeding member 16 ′. Strictly speaking, a surface that contributes to contact of the power receiving member 15 'with the power feeding member 16' at a certain position of the rotating power receiving member 15 '(this surface is the inner surface of the power receiving member 15'). The area of the peripheral surface is larger than the area of the surface 161 ′ provided for contact with the power receiving member 15 ′ of the power supply member 16 ′, and the surface 161 ′ of the power supply member 16 ′. Is disposed in the approximate center of the surface of the power receiving member 15 'that contributes to the contact, the heating roller 1' is driven to rotate, and the power feeding member 16 'may be slightly displaced from the power receiving member 15'. In particular, the power supply member 16 'rotates the roller. Even if there is a slight deviation in the axial direction, the surface 161 ′ of the power supply member 16 ′ only moves within the outer contour of the surface that contributes to the contact of the power receiving member 15 ′. Thus, uneven wear of the power supply member 16 'can be prevented.
[0043]
Further, in the heating roller device of FIG. 8, since the power feeding member 16 'is disposed inside the hollow of the core roller 10, a power receiving member provided in a ring shape on the outer peripheral surface of the core roller, and an outer periphery on the power receiving member Compared to a conventional heating roller device provided with a power supply member that abuts from the surface side, the entire device can be made compact. Moreover, since the sliding speed of the power receiving member relative to the power feeding member is slower than the conventional one, a jumping phenomenon or the like can be suppressed.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a heating device that can be used in a fixing device that heat-fixes an image to a recording material that holds an unfixed image, and that supplies power to a resistance heating element provided on a rotating body that rotates and moves a peripheral surface It is possible to provide a heating apparatus that can provide a variety of structures and expand the range of selection of structures.
[0045]
Moreover, according to this invention, the heating rotary body for the said heating apparatus can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a fixing device having a heating device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an energization circuit for a resistance heating layer and a control circuit for performing energization control.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a power feeding member is displaced with respect to a power receiving member in the heating device included in the fixing device of FIG. 1;
4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a power supply member and a heating roller are removed from the heating device included in the fixing device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a power supply member and a heating roller are removed from the heating device included in the fixing device of FIG. 1;
6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a heating roller is removed from the heating device included in the fixing device of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of the heating roller in cross section.
FIG. 8 is a view showing another example of a heating roller for reference.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1 'heating roller (heating rotating body)
10 core roller (endless rotating body)
11 Insulating layer
12 Resistance heating layer
13 Release layer
14 Gear
15, 15 'Power receiving member
152 Flat Top Surface of Power Receiving Member 15
16, 16 'feeding member
161 Spring
162 Lead wire
163 Surface of the power supply member 16
2 Pressure roller
21 Shaft of pressure roller 2
31 Bearing of heating roller 1
32 Supporting member for the pressure roller 2
321 Spring
33 Terminal board
34 Electric wire
341 Crimp terminal
41, 42 holder
H Fixing device housing
8 Power supply
SSR relay
S1, S2, S3 screw

Claims (8)

An endless rotating body that rotates and moves the peripheral surface;
A resistance heating element that is provided on the peripheral surface of the endless rotating body and generates heat when energized;
A power receiving member provided inside the hollow endless rotating body and electrically connected to the resistance heating element;
A power supply member that contacts the power receiving member and is electrically connected to a power source;
The power receiving member has a surface for contact with the power feeding member, the power feeding member has a surface for contact with the power receiving member, and each surface is a circular flat surface. The area of the surface for contact with the power supply member is larger than the surface area of the power supply member for contact with the power receiving member, and the power receiving member is provided in the shape of an internal partition wall of the endless rotating body. And the surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power supply member coincides with the rotation center axis of the endless rotating body and is exposed to the outside in the rotation axis direction of the endless rotating body. The power feeding member is located outside the endless rotating body from the outer side in the rotation axis direction of the endless rotating body to the surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power feeding member. A heating device characterized by surface contact at a substantially central portion in the contour .   The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving member also serves as an internal structural member of the endless rotating body. The heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the endless rotating body is a hollow cylindrical roller, and the power receiving member rotates integrally with the roller . The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein a pressing device that presses the power feeding member against the power receiving member is provided . The heating device according to claim 4, wherein the pressing device includes a coil spring that presses the power feeding member toward the power receiving member . It is a heating rotator used in a heating device,
An endless rotating body that rotates and moves the peripheral surface;
A resistance heating element that is provided on the peripheral surface of the endless rotating body and generates heat when energized;
A power receiving member provided in the hollow interior of the endless rotating body for contacting a power feeding member provided in the heating device, and electrically connected to the resistance heating element;
The power receiving member has a surface for contact with the power feeding member, the power feeding member has a surface for contact with the power receiving member, and each of the surfaces is a circular flat surface. The area of the surface for contact with the power feeding member is larger than the area of the surface for contact with the power receiving member of the power feeding member, and the power receiving member is provided in the shape of an internal partition wall of the endless rotating body. The surface of the power receiving member for contact with the power supply member is exposed to the outside in the rotational axis direction of the endless rotating body, the center of which coincides with the rotational center axis of the endless rotating body, It is located outside the endless rotator, and the power supply member is a surface that can be brought into surface contact at the substantially central portion in the outer contour of the surface from the outer side in the rotation axis direction of the endless rotator. Heating rotating body. The heating rotating body according to claim 6, wherein the power receiving member also serves as an internal structural member of the endless rotating body. The heating rotating body according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the endless rotating body is a hollow cylindrical roller, and the power receiving member rotates integrally with the roller .

Images