JP4107539B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile having fixing means for fixing a toner image on a toner image carrier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines are devices that require a process of forming an image on a recording medium such as plain paper or OHP film, and are widely adopted because of their high speed, image quality, and cost. There is an electrophotographic method as an image forming method.
In the electrophotographic system, there is a fixing process in which an unfixed toner image is formed on a recording medium, and the unfixed toner image on the recording medium is fixed to the recording medium with heat and pressure. From the aspect, the heat roller method is currently most frequently used.
[0003]
In the heat roller method, a heating roller heated by a heat generating member such as a halogen heater and a pressure roller arranged to face the heating roller are pressed to form a mutual pressure contact portion called a nip portion. In this method, the recording medium is passed between a heating roller and a pressure roller, and an unfixed toner image on the recording medium is fixed to the recording medium with heat and pressure. The heating roller mainly uses a roller made of iron or aluminum, and because of its large heat capacity, a long heating time such as several minutes to several tens of minutes is required to raise the temperature to a fixable temperature of about 180 ° C. There is a defect that it is necessary.
[0004]
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, when the user does not perform image formation, the temperature of the heating roller is maintained at a constant temperature slightly lower than the fixing temperature, so that the temperature rises immediately to the fixing temperature, and the user sets the heating roller. I was trying not to wait for the temperature to rise. That is, even when not in use, the fixing function for fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium to the recording medium is unnecessary and consumes extra energy.
[0005]
However, in recent years, energy conservation regulations have been enacted in each country due to increasing awareness of environmental protection, and in order to reduce power consumption during standby in order to reduce power consumption of the equipment, supply power to the equipment when it is not in use. There has been a demand for zero.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-232839 discloses a heating device having an auxiliary power source in addition to the main power source, but the auxiliary power source does not increase the power supplied from the main power source to the heater for heating the heating roller. Electric power is supplied to a heating element of a different system from the roller heating heater.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-10913 discloses a fixing device for generating a shortened recovery period for returning from a low energy saving mode temperature to a high fixing temperature, using an auxiliary power source in addition to the main power source. Has been. However, in this fixing device, the secondary power source as the auxiliary power source supplies two levels of power from a single power source, and the main purpose is to increase the maximum power supply from the power supply of the main power source. is not.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-282821 describes an image forming apparatus that uses an auxiliary power source in addition to the main power source to perform various functions, and uses a secondary battery, a primary battery, or the like as the auxiliary power source. .
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional image forming apparatus, if energy consumption is reduced to zero during standby, it takes a long time for the heating roller to rise, and the usability of the user deteriorates. For this reason, it is necessary to set it as the structure which raises a heating roller temperature rapidly.
In order to shorten the temperature raising time of the heating roller, it is preferable to increase the input energy per unit time to the heater for heating the heating roller, that is, the electric power. Actually, many high-speed image forming apparatuses having a high image forming speed are compatible with a power supply voltage of 200V. However, in a general office in Japan, the power of the power supply is 100V15A, and in order to cope with the power supply voltage of the image forming apparatus set to 200V, it is necessary to perform a special work on the power supply related part of the installation place of the image forming apparatus. It is not a general solution. Therefore, even if the temperature of the heating roller is increased in a short time, the maximum input energy for the heater for heating the heating roller is determined by the power source.
[0008]
In order to improve this point, it has been proposed to solve the above problem using an auxiliary power source. In other words, by adding the power of the auxiliary power supply to the power of the main power supply, it has been proposed that the power exceeding the maximum input power limited by the main power supply can be supplied to the heater for heating the heating roller. Yes. According to this proposal, it is possible to raise the temperature of the heating roller in a shorter time, and the usability is reduced even if the power supply to the heating roller heating heater is stopped in order to preheat the heating roller during standby. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that can save energy.
[0009]
However, there are some challenges to realizing this proposal. That is, a secondary power source has been disclosed as an auxiliary power source that can be charged so far, and a general lead storage battery and CADNICA battery are used for devices other than the image forming apparatus as the secondary power source. In general, these secondary batteries have the property that the capacity deteriorates and decreases when charging and discharging are repeated many times, and the life is shortened as discharging is performed with a large current. For this reason, in an image forming apparatus using an auxiliary power supply, the life of the auxiliary power supply becomes a big problem in practical use. When the auxiliary power supply is fixedly installed in the apparatus, the short life of the auxiliary power supply is regarded as the apparatus life. turn into. In addition, the secondary battery is mainly configured to have an electrolyte solution inside, but the electrolyte solution leaks to the outside due to performance deterioration, and the components installed around the secondary battery are used as the electrolyte solution. May contaminate and reduce the life of the image forming apparatus.
[0010]
The present invention can raise the temperature of the fixing unit in a shorter time, and even if the power supply to the fixing unit is stopped during standby, the usability is not lowered and energy saving can be achieved and the device can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can extend the time and reduce the influence of leakage of auxiliary power.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1, a fixing means for fixing by heat the toner image on the toner image bearing member to the toner image carrier, main power supply and supplying power to said fixing means , organic auxiliary power for performing auxiliary power supply of the fixing unit, an image forming apparatus having a control means for controlling the power supply to the fixing unit, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of said fixing means The control unit controls power supply from the auxiliary power source to the fixing unit based on a temperature detection signal from the temperature detection unit .
[0012]
The invention according to claim 2, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is one that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 3, detachably in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power supply to the image forming apparatus main body with electrical connection member for electrically coupling with the image forming apparatus main body It is possible.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect , the auxiliary power source includes an electrical coupling member that performs electrical coupling with the main body of the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, it is attached to a cartridge that is detachable.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the auxiliary power source is a secondary power source.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the auxiliary power source is a primary power source.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the auxiliary power source is a capacitor.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a part of an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a fixing device 1 as a fixing unit, (also referred to as a main power supply) mains and 2, an auxiliary power source (also referred to as an auxiliary power unit) 3, a switching unit 4, known image forming apparatus (not shown) 1 is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main body. In the image forming apparatus main body, for example, a drum-shaped photoconductor as an image carrier is rotated by a driving unit and uniformly charged by a charging unit, and then exposed by an exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed by a developing unit to form a toner image.
[0015]
The toner image on the photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet-like recording medium such as plain paper or OHP film supplied from the recording medium supply means by the transfer means, and the recording medium carries the toner image. The toner image on the recording medium is fixed on the recording medium by the fixing unit 1 and the recording medium is discharged. The present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses other than the electrophotographic system, and the image carrier may be a belt-like photoreceptor, a sheet-like photoreceptor, or the like.
[0016]
The fixing unit 1 includes a heating roller 1a as a heating unit and a pressure roller 1b, and a heating element 1c is installed inside the heating roller 1a. The heating element 1c generates heat by the power supplied from the main power supply 2 and the auxiliary power supply 3 via the switching unit 4, and heats the heating roller 1a. The pressure roller 1b is disposed to face the heating roller 1a, and is pressed against the heating roller 1a by a pressing unit (not shown) to form a mutual pressure contact portion called a nip portion with the heating roller 1a.
[0017]
The recording medium as the toner image carrier is passed between the heating roller 1a and the pressure roller 1b as a sheet-like object to be heated. At this time, an unfixed toner image is heated by the heating roller 1a and the pressure roller 1b. And is fixed by pressure. The main power supply 2 is connected to an outlet or the like provided near the installation location of the image forming apparatus, and performs voltage adjustment according to the conditions of the fixing unit 1 and conversion from AC to DC (rectification, etc.). It has a function, converts the AC input input from an outlet or the like into DC, adjusts the voltage, and the like, and supplies it to the heating element 1c via the switching means 4.
[0018]
In this embodiment, the heating element 1c is normally configured such that power is supplied from the main power supply 2 via the switching means 4, but the auxiliary power supply 3 supplies power independently of the main power supply 2. The switching unit 4 can supply power from the auxiliary power source 3 to the heating element 1c. Accordingly, when the fixing unit 1 requires a large amount of power, such as when the heating roller 1a that has been cooled to room temperature during standby is raised to a fixing-possible temperature of about 180 ° C., the power supply voltage and current are limited. In addition to the power from the main power source 2, the power from the auxiliary power source 3 can be used. For this reason, it is possible to realize a fixing unit having a short temperature rising time.
[0019]
Here, the switching means 4 is controlled by a control means (not shown), for example, and is provided with a temperature detection means for detecting the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 1 (surface temperature of the heating roller 1a). The control unit causes the switching unit 4 to cut off the power from the main power source 2 and the auxiliary power source 3 to the heating element 1c when the image forming apparatus does not perform the image forming operation as described above. In addition, when the image forming apparatus performs an image forming operation as described above, the control unit is configured so that the fixing unit 1 requires a large amount of power based on a temperature detection signal from the temperature detection unit (heating) When the difference between the surface temperature of the roller 1a and the fixable temperature of the fixing unit 1 is larger than a predetermined value), the switching means 4 supplies both the power from the main power source 2 and the auxiliary power source 3 to the heating element 1c. When the fixing unit 1 does not require a large amount of power (when the difference between the surface temperature of the heating roller 1a and the fixable temperature of the fixing unit 1 is smaller than a predetermined value), the switching unit 4 is supplied with power from the main power source 2. Power is supplied from the auxiliary power source 3 to the heating element 1c by supplying the heating element 1c.
[0020]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the fixing unit 1 is stabilized after the operation, relatively little power is consumed for heating by the heating element 1c of the heating roller 1a, and the auxiliary power source 3 is turned on when the power of the main power source 2 has a margin. A configuration in which the battery is charged with power from the main power supply 1 is desirable. Therefore, the control means stabilizes after the operation of the fixing unit 1 based on the temperature detection signal from the temperature detection means and consumes relatively little power for heating by the heating element 1c of the heating roller 1a. When there is a margin (when the surface temperature of the heating roller 1a is within a predetermined stable range), the switching unit 4 is caused to supply the power from the main power source 2 to the auxiliary power source 3 as well.
[0021]
Thereby, when a large amount of power is required again, a large amount of energy can be supplied to the heating element 1c using the power from the auxiliary power source 3 together with the power from the main power source 2.
Further, the auxiliary power source 3 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus can be used by replacing the auxiliary power source 3 with a new one even after the auxiliary power source 3 has reached the end of its life.
[0022]
According to this embodiment, the fixing unit 1 as a fixing unit that heats and fixes the toner image on the toner image carrier to the toner image carrier, the main power supply 2 that supplies energy to the fixing unit 1, In an image forming apparatus having an auxiliary power source 3 for supplying auxiliary energy to the fixing unit 1, the auxiliary power source 3 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Even if the power supply to the fixing unit is stopped during standby, the usability is not lowered, energy can be saved, and the usable time can be extended.
[0023]
Figure 4 shows the part of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the above embodiment, a connector 5 as an electrical coupling member for electrically coupling the auxiliary power source 3 and the image forming apparatus main body is provided between the auxiliary power source 3 and the switching means 4 to assist. The power source 3 is connected to the switching unit 4 via the connector 5, and the auxiliary power source 3 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body via the connector 5. The auxiliary power source 3 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body integrally with the connector 5, so that the labor for replacement can be further reduced. Further, the efficiency at the time of assembling the image forming apparatus main body can be increased, which can contribute to a reduction in manufacturing cost.
[0024]
According to this embodiment, in the above embodiment, the auxiliary power source 3 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body together with the connector 5 as an electrical coupling member for electrical connection with the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it is possible to further reduce the labor at the time of replacement, increase the efficiency at the time of manufacturing the device, and contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing cost.
[0025]
FIG. 5 shows a portion of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment , in the other embodiments described above , a cartridge 6 in which the auxiliary power source 3 and the connector 5 are integrated is provided, and the cartridge 6 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Since the auxiliary power source 3 and the connector 5 are integrated with the cartridge 6 in this way, the auxiliary power source 3 can be easily attached and detached, and it takes less time to replace the auxiliary power source. And the manufacturing and replacement cost of the auxiliary power supply can be reduced. Further, the leakage caused by liquid leakage when the auxiliary power source is deteriorated is held by the cartridge, and the influence of the leakage on the image forming apparatus main body can be reduced, so that the minimum damage can be achieved.
[0026]
According to this embodiment, in the other embodiment described above, the auxiliary power source 3 has a connector 5 as an electrical coupling member for electrical coupling with the image forming apparatus body, and the image forming apparatus body. Since it is attached to the cartridge 6 that can be attached to and detached from, it is easy to attach and detach the auxiliary power source, and it takes less time to replace the auxiliary power source, so that the time required for replacing and attaching the auxiliary power source is shortened. Manufacturing and replacement costs can be reduced. Further, the leakage caused by liquid leakage when the auxiliary power source is deteriorated is held by the cartridge, and the influence of the leakage on the image forming apparatus main body can be reduced, so that the minimum damage can be achieved.
[0027]
Other Embodiments of the present invention, in each embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the respective auxiliary power supply 3 is the secondary battery as a secondary power source. The secondary power source can be discharged and charged, and the number of replacements can be reduced, thereby reducing the trouble of replacement. A secondary battery as a secondary power source can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and is desirably integrated with the cartridge 6 together with the electrical connector 5 and the like.
[0028]
The secondary battery may leak when it deteriorates, and the leaked liquid may corrode the main body of the image forming apparatus and shorten the life. However, the leaked liquid is held in the cartridge 6 to form an image. It is possible to prevent the influence to the apparatus main body.
According to this embodiment, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, since the auxiliary power source 3 is a secondary power source, the secondary power source can be discharged and charged, so that the labor for replacement can be reduced. Is possible.
[0029]
Each of the other embodiments of the present invention is a primary battery using the auxiliary power source 3 as a primary power source in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. The primary battery generates power itself and supplies power to the fixing unit 1, but can supply power without waiting for charging. The primary battery has a life when the energy is used up, but can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, so that the life of the image forming apparatus main body can be extended. In addition, since the primary battery can be easily replaced, the process time for replacement and attachment can be shortened, and the manufacturing cost and the maintenance cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the primary battery has a cartridge shape, it is possible to reduce the influence on the image forming apparatus main body when liquid leakage occurs when the primary battery deteriorates.
[0030]
Thus, according to this embodiment, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the auxiliary power source 3 is a primary power source, so that the primary battery generates its own power and supplies the fixing means with power. It is possible to supply power without waiting for charging. In addition, the primary battery has a lifetime when the energy is used up, but since the primary battery can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the life of the image forming apparatus main body can be extended.
[0031]
Other Embodiments of the present invention, in each embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which each auxiliary power source 3 and a capacitor. Unlike a secondary battery, a capacitor does not involve a chemical reaction, and thus has the following excellent characteristics.
[0032]
In the auxiliary power source using a general nickel-cadmium battery as a secondary battery, several hours are required even if rapid charging is performed. On the other hand, since the auxiliary power source using the capacitor can be rapidly charged for about several minutes, the number of times of heating the heating element 1c using the auxiliary power source increases when compared within the same time.
[0033]
Further, since the nickel-cadmium battery has 500 to 1000 charge / discharge cycles, it has a short life as the auxiliary power source 3 for the fixing unit, and there is a problem in replacement labor and cost. On the other hand, an auxiliary power source using a capacitor has a long life, little deterioration due to repeated charging and discharging, and does not require liquid replacement or replenishment like a lead storage battery, and therefore requires little maintenance.
[0034]
Furthermore, the capacitor has superior characteristics such as a shorter charging time, longer life of charge / discharge, less deterioration due to charge / discharge, and no maintenance such as liquid replenishment than the secondary battery. Therefore, when a capacitor is used as an auxiliary power supply, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that requires less maintenance work than when a secondary battery is used as an auxiliary power supply.
As described above, by using the capacitor as the auxiliary power source of the fixing unit, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having higher performance than the secondary battery.
[0035]
According to this embodiment, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, since the auxiliary power supply is a capacitor, the cycle of the maximum power supply using the auxiliary power supply can be shortened, and the labor of maintenance can be greatly reduced. In addition, the function and performance that cannot be achieved with a normal secondary battery due to charging time and lifetime can be exhibited. In addition, since the return from the standby time is quicker, the energy supply to the fixing unit can be stopped during the standby time, and an energy-saving image forming apparatus can be provided. In this case, in an image forming apparatus having an auxiliary power source for supplying auxiliary energy in addition to the main power source as a power source for supplying power to the fixing unit, a normal secondary battery is charged by using a capacitor as the auxiliary power source. Functions and performances that could not be achieved due to time and lifetime can be exhibited. Also, because the charging time is fast, the conventional secondary battery had to be charged for a long time in order to fully demonstrate the performance of the auxiliary power supply. The effect to add is acquired.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, with the above configuration, it is possible to raise the temperature of the fixing unit in a shorter time, and even if the power supply to the fixing unit is stopped during standby. Usability is not reduced, energy can be saved, and the usable time can be extended.
[0037]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the above-described configuration can further reduce the time and effort at the time of replacement, increase the efficiency at the time of manufacturing the device, and contribute to a reduction in manufacturing cost.
[0038]
According to the invention of claim 4 , the above configuration makes it easy to attach and detach the auxiliary power supply, and it does not take time to replace the auxiliary power supply, so that it is possible to shorten the time for replacement and installation of the auxiliary power supply. Manufacturing and replacement costs can be reduced. Further, the leakage caused by liquid leakage when the auxiliary power source is deteriorated is held by the cartridge, and the influence of the leakage on the image forming apparatus main body can be reduced, so that the minimum damage can be achieved.
[0039]
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5 , since the secondary power supply can discharge / charge by the said structure, it is possible to reduce the effort of replacement | exchange.
[0040]
According to the invention of claim 6 , with the above configuration, the primary battery generates power itself and supplies power to the fixing means, but it is possible to supply power without waiting for charging. In addition, the primary battery has a lifetime when the energy is used up, but since the primary battery can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the life of the image forming apparatus main body can be extended.
[0041]
According to the invention of claim 7 , with the above configuration, the cycle of maximum power supply using the auxiliary power supply can be shortened, and maintenance labor can be greatly reduced. Functions and performance that could not be achieved can be exhibited. In addition, since the return from the standby time is quicker, the energy supply to the fixing unit can be stopped during the standby time, and an energy-saving image forming apparatus can be provided. In addition, by using a capacitor as an auxiliary power source, functions and performances that cannot be achieved by a normal secondary battery due to charging time and life can be exhibited. In addition, since the charging time is fast, the effect of adding an auxiliary power source can be obtained by charging for several minutes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing part 2 Main power supply 3 Auxiliary power supply 4 Switching means 5 Connector 6 Cartridge

Claims (7)

Fixing means for heating and fixing the toner image on the toner image carrier to the toner image carrier;
A main power supply for supplying power to said fixing means,
An auxiliary power source for supplying auxiliary power to the fixing unit;
In the image forming apparatus including a control unit that controls power supply to the fixing unit.
A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing means;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit controls power supply from the auxiliary power source to the fixing unit based on a temperature detection signal from the temperature detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body together with an electrical coupling member that electrically couples with the image forming apparatus main body. Image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary power source includes a cartridge that has an electrical coupling member that electrically couples with the image forming apparatus main body, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus which is attached . 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is a secondary power source . 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is a primary power source . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source is a capacitor .

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