JP6182128B2 - Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers include a fixing device that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium such as paper.

  For example, a fixing device that includes a fixing belt, a pressure member that presses against the fixing belt to form a fixing nip, a heat source that heats the fixing belt, and a heating stop device that faces the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt is known. (See Patent Document 1). In such a fixing device, when the temperature of the fixing belt is excessively high, the heating stop device is activated to stop the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source.

JP 2013-178472 A

  In the fixing device as described above, if the distance between the fixing belt and the heating stop device is too small, the heating stop device may be operated even though the fixing belt is not overheated. On the other hand, if the facing distance between the fixing belt and the heating stop device is too wide, the fixing belt is heated by the heat source when the heat source goes out of control (when the heat source heats the fixing belt while the fixing belt stops rotating). There is a risk that the timing to stop will be delayed.

  Therefore, the present invention takes the above circumstances into consideration, and the heat source is fixed in a state in which the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped while suppressing the operation of the heating stop device even though the fixing belt is not overheated. It is an object to quickly stop the heating of the fixing belt by a heat source when the belt is heated.

  The fixing device of the present invention includes a fixing belt that is rotatably provided around a rotation shaft, a fixing nip that is pressed against the fixing belt, and a pressure member that is rotatably provided, and an inner diameter side of the fixing belt. And a heat source that heats the fixing belt, a pressing member that presses the fixing belt toward the pressure member, and a fixing member A heating stop device that opposes the outer peripheral surface of the portion closest to the heat source and operates at a predetermined temperature to stop heating of the fixing belt by the heat source, and is the closest to the heat source of the fixing belt A sensor capable of detecting whether or not a facing interval between the portion to be heated and the heating stop device is equal to or less than a predetermined reference interval, and a control unit that outputs a detection result of the sensor, and the fixing belt When the heat source heats the fixing belt in a state where the rotation is stopped, a portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source is deformed by thermal expansion and approaches the heating stop device. The sensor detects that the interval is less than or equal to the interval, and the control unit stops heating the fixing belt by the heat source.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the heat source heats the fixing belt while the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source is brought close to the heating stop device, and the heat source It becomes possible to quickly stop the heating of the fixing belt due to.

  In addition, when the heat source heats the fixing belt while the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source automatically approaches the heating stop device. Therefore, when the heat source heats the fixing belt in a state where the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source and the heating stop device so that the timing for stopping the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source is not delayed. It is not necessary to set the facing interval (hereinafter “the facing interval”) narrow in advance. Accordingly, the facing interval can be set wide, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the heating stop device is activated even though the fixing belt is not overheated.

  Further, when the heat source heats the fixing belt while the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source comes into contact with the heating stop device before the heating stop device is activated. It becomes possible to stop the heating of the fixing belt due to. Along with this, it becomes possible to avoid the operation of the heating stop device as much as possible, and it becomes difficult to cause a situation in which the entire fixing device needs to be replaced with the operation of the heating stop device.

  The sensor includes a light emitting unit that emits sensor light and a light receiving unit that receives the sensor light emitted from the light emitting unit, and emits from the light emitting unit when the facing interval is larger than the reference interval. Sensor light that passes through the facing interval reaches the light receiving unit, and when the facing interval is equal to or less than the reference interval, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting unit is within the fixing belt. It is blocked by the part closest to the heat source and does not have to reach the light receiving part.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to detect whether the facing interval is equal to or less than the reference interval with a simple configuration.

  The fixing device opposes the outer peripheral surface of the upstream end or the downstream end of the fixing belt in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, operates at a predetermined temperature, and stops the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source. When the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction, the fixing belt is deformed and the upstream end or the downstream end of the fixing belt stops the other heating stop. The other heating stop device may be activated in contact with the device.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the fixing belt breaks in the circumferential direction, it becomes possible to operate another heating stop device at an appropriate timing and to quickly stop the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source. .

  The operating temperature of the other heating stop device may be set lower than the operating temperature of the heating stop device.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction rather than the timing when the heating stop device operates when the heat source heats the fixing belt while the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, other heating is performed. It is possible to suppress the timing at which the stop device operates from being delayed.

  The heating stop device may be provided at a position corresponding to a central portion of the fixing belt in the rotation axis direction.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the heat source heats the fixing belt while rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source is surely brought close to the heating stop device. Is possible.

  The fixing device may further include a shape regulating member that is attached to both ends of the fixing belt and regulates the shape of the fixing belt.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the fixing belt due to the pressing force acting on the fixing belt from the pressing member in the pressure state of the fixing device (the state where the fixing nip is formed). Become. Accordingly, when the heat source heats the fixing belt in a state where the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source is easily brought close to the heating stop device.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes any one of the fixing devices described above.

  According to the present invention, the heat source heats the fixing belt in a state where the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped while suppressing the operation of the heating stop device even though the fixing belt is not overheated. In addition, heating of the fixing belt by the heat source can be quickly stopped.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view showing a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control system for a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater heats the fixing belt in a state where the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped in the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction in the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the overall configuration of an electrophotographic printer 1 (image forming apparatus) will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the front side of the sheet in FIG. Arrows Fr, Rr, L, R, U, and Lo appropriately attached to the drawings indicate the front side, rear side, left side, right side, upper side, and lower side of the printer 1, respectively.

  The printer 1 includes a box-shaped printer main body 2, and a paper feed cassette 3 that stores paper (recording medium) is accommodated in a lower portion of the printer main body 2. A paper discharge tray 4 is disposed on the upper surface of the printer main body 2. Is provided. An upper cover 5 is attached to the upper surface of the printer main body 2 so as to be openable and closable on the side of the paper discharge tray 4, and a toner container 6 is stored below the upper cover 5.

  An exposure unit 7 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU) is disposed below the discharge tray 4 above the printer body 2, and an image forming unit 8 is provided below the exposure unit 7. Yes. The image forming unit 8 is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 10, a charger 11, a developing device 12, a transfer roller 13, and a cleaning device are provided. The apparatus 14 is disposed along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 10 (see arrow X in FIG. 1).

  A paper transport path 15 is provided inside the printer main body 2. A paper feed unit 16 is provided at the upstream end of the conveyance path 15, and a transfer unit 17 configured by the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer roller 13 is provided at a middle portion of the conveyance path 15. Is provided with a fixing device 18, and a paper discharge unit 20 is provided at the downstream end of the conveyance path 15. A reverse path 21 for double-sided printing is formed below the transport path 15.

  Next, an image forming operation of the printer 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  When the printer 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized, and initial setting such as temperature setting of the fixing device 18 is executed. When image data is input from a computer or the like connected to the printer 1 and an instruction to start printing is given, an image forming operation is executed as follows.

  First, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is charged by the charger 11, exposure corresponding to the image data is performed on the photosensitive drum 10 by laser light from the exposure device 7 (see the two-dot chain line P in FIG. 1). The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 12 into a toner image with toner.

  On the other hand, the sheet taken out from the sheet cassette 3 by the sheet feeding unit 16 is conveyed to the transfer unit 17 in synchronization with the above-described image forming operation, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 17. Is transcribed. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed downstream in the conveyance path 15 and enters the fixing device 18 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet. The paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 4. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 is collected by the cleaning device 14.

  Next, the fixing device 18 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. An arrow Y in FIG. 2 indicates the sheet conveyance direction. 3 indicates the inner side in the front-rear direction, and the arrow O in FIG. 3 indicates the outer side in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing device 18 includes a fixing belt 22, a pressure roller 23 (pressure member) disposed on the lower side (outside) of the fixing belt 22, and the fixing belt 22. A heater 24 (heat source) disposed on the inner diameter side, a reflection plate 25 (reflection member) disposed on the lower side of the heater 24 on the inner diameter side of the fixing belt 22, and a lower side of the reflection plate 25 on the inner diameter side of the fixing belt 22. A support member 26 arranged on the side, a pressing member 27 arranged below the support member 26 on the inner diameter side of the fixing belt 22, and fixed to both front and rear ends of the support member 26 on the inner diameter side of the fixing belt 22. A cover member 28, a shape regulating member 30 attached to both front and rear ends of the fixing belt 22, a first thermo cut 31 (heating stop device) disposed on the upper side (outside) of the fixing belt 22, and the fixing belt 22 A second thermo-cut 32 is disposed on the left side (outside) (other heating stop device), a sensor 33 arranged on the upper side (outer side) of the fixing belt 22, and a. In FIG. 3, the inside of the fixing belt 22 is seen through.

  The fixing belt 22 has a substantially cylindrical shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The fixing belt 22 is provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis A extending in the front-rear direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is the rotation axis direction of the fixing belt 22. The fixing belt 22 includes a sheet passing area R1 and a non-sheet passing area R2 provided on both front and rear sides of the sheet passing area R1 (outside in the front and rear direction of the sheet passing area R1). The sheet passing area R1 is an area through which the maximum size sheet passes. The non-sheet passing area R2 is an area through which a maximum size sheet does not pass.

  The fixing belt 22 has flexibility and is endless in the circumferential direction. The fixing belt 22 includes, for example, a base material layer 35, an elastic layer 36 provided around the base material layer 35, and a release layer 37 that covers the elastic layer 36. The base material layer 35 of the fixing belt 22 is formed of a metal such as SUS or nickel, for example. The base material layer 35 of the fixing belt 22 may be formed of a resin such as PI (polyimide). The elastic layer 36 of the fixing belt 22 is made of, for example, silicon rubber, and has a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the base material layer 35 of the fixing belt 22. The thickness of the elastic layer 36 of the fixing belt 22 is, for example, 270 μm. The release layer 37 of the fixing belt 22 is formed of, for example, a PFA tube. The thickness of the release layer 37 of the fixing belt 22 is, for example, 20 μm.

  The pressure roller 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The pressure roller 23 is in pressure contact with the fixing belt 22, and a fixing nip 39 is formed between the fixing belt 22 and the pressure roller 23. The pressure roller 23 is rotatably provided.

  The pressure roller 23 includes, for example, a cylindrical core member 40, an elastic layer 41 provided around the core member 40, and a release layer 42 that covers the elastic layer 41. The core material 40 of the pressure roller 23 is made of metal such as iron, for example. The elastic layer 41 of the pressure roller 23 is made of, for example, silicon rubber. The release layer 42 of the pressure roller 23 is formed by, for example, a PFA tube.

  The heater 24 is constituted by, for example, a halogen heater. The heater 24 is disposed in the upper part of the internal space of the fixing belt 22 (the portion on the side away from the pressure roller 23), and is located above the rotation axis A of the fixing belt 22 (on the side away from the pressure roller 23). ). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 is the portion of the fixing belt 22 that is closest to the heater 24.

  The reflector 25 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The reflector 25 is made of a metal such as bright aluminum, for example. The reflection plate 25 is disposed between the heater 24 and the support member 26. The cross section of the reflecting plate 25 has a U-shape that is convex toward the upper side (side away from the pressure roller 23).

  The reflector 25 includes a main body portion 44 provided substantially horizontally, guide portions 45 bent downward from left and right end portions (upstream and downstream ends in the paper transport direction) of the main body portion 44, and It has. The upper surface of the main body 44 is a reflective surface (mirror surface) that faces the heater 24 and reflects radiant heat radiated from the heater 24 toward the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 22.

  The support member 26 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The upper portion of the support member 26 is inserted between the guide portions 45 of the reflection plate 25. The support member 26 supports the reflection plate 25 via the spacer 51, and is not in direct contact with the reflection plate 25. The support member 26 is formed by combining a pair of L-shaped metal plates 52 and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. An engagement protrusion 53 that protrudes downward is provided at the lower right corner of the support member 26. The engagement protrusion 53 is formed by extending one sheet metal 52 downward.

  The pressing member 27 has a flat plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The pressing member 27 is made of a heat resistant resin such as LCP (liquid crystal polymer). An engaging recess 55 is provided at the right end of the upper surface of the pressing member 27. The engagement protrusions 53 of the support member 26 are engaged with the engagement recesses 55. A plurality of bosses 56 protrude from the upper surface of the pressing member 27. The upper end portion of each boss 56 is in contact with the lower surface of the support member 26. With the configuration as described above, the pressing member 27 is supported by the support member 26, and the warping of the pressing member 27 is restricted.

  The right side portion (the portion on the downstream side in the paper transport direction) of the lower surface of the pressing member 27 is the lower side (the pressure roller 23 side) from the left side (upstream side in the paper transport direction) to the right side (downstream side in the paper transport direction). ). The lower surface of the pressing member 27 presses the fixing belt 22 toward the lower side (pressure roller 23 side).

  Each cover member 28 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front. Each cover member 28 has a position in the front-rear direction corresponding to each non-sheet passing region R2 of the fixing belt 22, and has a function of blocking radiant heat from the heater 24 toward each non-sheet passing region R2 of the fixing belt 22. ing.

  Each cover member 28 is bent downward from a curved portion 57 that is curved in an arc shape upward, and from both left and right end portions (upstream and downstream ends in the paper transport direction) of the curved portion 57. And an attachment portion 58. The curved portion 57 is disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 22. The lower end of each attachment portion 58 is attached to the left and right side surfaces of the support member 26.

  Each shape regulating member 30 is arranged on the outer side in the front-rear direction than each cover member 28. Each shape regulating member 30 includes a regulating piece 60 and a ring piece 61 attached to the regulating piece 60.

  The restricting piece 60 of each shape restricting member 30 includes a base portion 62 and a restricting portion 63 that projects from the inner surface of the base portion 62 in the front-rear direction. The restriction piece 60 is provided with a through hole 64 penetrating the base portion 62 and the restriction portion 63 along the front-rear direction, and the heater 24 passes through the through hole 64. The restricting portion 63 is curved in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the through hole 64 and has a substantially downward C-shape. The restricting portion 63 is inserted at both front and rear end portions of the fixing belt 22. Thereby, the shape of the fixing belt 22 is regulated (deformation of the fixing belt 22 is suppressed).

  The ring piece 61 of each shape regulating member 30 has an annular shape. The ring piece 61 is attached to the outer periphery of the restriction portion 63 of the restriction piece 60. The ring piece 61 is disposed outside the front and rear ends of the fixing belt 22 in the front-rear direction, and regulates the meandering (moving outward in the front-rear direction) of the fixing belt 22. The ring piece 61 is disposed on the inner side in the front-rear direction of the base portion 62 of the restriction piece 60, thereby restricting the movement of the ring piece 61 outward in the front-rear direction.

  The first thermo-cut 31 employs, for example, a bimetal method (a method in which a contact is formed by two kinds of metals having different thermal expansion coefficients). The first thermo cut 31 is disposed immediately above the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 (the portion of the fixing belt 22 that is closest to the heater 24) and faces the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22. ing. The first thermocut 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the front-rear direction center portion Z of the sheet passing region R1 of the fixing belt 22 (which also corresponds to the front-rear direction center portion of the entire fixing belt 22).

  The second thermocut 32 employs, for example, a bimetal method. The second thermo-cut 32 is disposed directly beside (equatorial position) of the left end portion 22b (upstream end portion in the sheet conveyance direction) of the fixing belt 22 and faces the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22. doing. Similarly to the first thermocut 31, the second thermocut 32 is located at a position corresponding to the center Z in the front-rear direction of the sheet passing region R1 of the fixing belt 22 (which also corresponds to the center in the front-rear direction of the entire fixing belt 22). Is provided.

  The sensor 33 is an optical sensor such as a PI sensor (Photo Interrupter Sensor), for example, and a light emitting unit 66 that emits sensor light (see arrow L in FIG. 2) and a light receiving unit that receives the sensor light emitted from the light emitting unit 66. 67. Similarly to the first thermocut 31 and the second thermocut 32, the light emitting portion 66 and the light receiving portion 67 of the sensor 33 are arranged in the front-rear direction center Z of the sheet passing region R1 of the fixing belt 22 (Corresponding to the part) and corresponding positions.

  Next, a control system of the fixing device 18 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The fixing device 18 is provided with a control unit 71 (CPU). The control unit 71 is connected to a storage unit 72 configured by a storage device such as a ROM or a RAM. Based on the control program and control data stored in the storage unit 72, the control unit 71 is connected to the fixing device 18. It is configured to control each part.

  The storage unit 72 stores a reference interval S (0 <S) serving as a reference for the opposed interval between the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 and the first thermocut 31. The storage unit 72 includes an operating temperature T1 of the first thermocut 31 (temperature at which the first thermocut 31 stops heating the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24) and an operating temperature T2 of the second thermocut 32 (second thermocut 32). (The temperature at which heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped) is stored. The operating temperature T2 of the second thermocut 32 is set lower than the operating temperature T1 of the first thermocut 31.

  The control unit 71 is connected to a drive source 73 configured by a motor or the like, and the drive source 73 is connected to the pressure roller 23. The drive source 73 rotates the pressure roller 23 based on a signal from the control unit 71.

  The control unit 71 is connected to the sensor 33, and the detection result of the sensor 33 is output to the control unit 71.

  The controller 71 is connected to a power source 74, and the power source 74 is connected to the heater 24. The heater 24 is operated by supplying power from the power source 74 to the heater 24 based on a signal from the control unit 71. In the power supply path from the power source 74 to the heater 24, a first thermo cut 31 and a second thermo cut 32 are provided in series. The first thermo cut 31 is configured to operate at the operating temperature T <b> 1, shut off the supply of power from the power source 74 to the heater 24, and stop the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24. The second thermo-cut 32 is configured to operate at the operating temperature T <b> 2, shut off the supply of power from the power source 74 to the heater 24, and stop the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24.

  In the fixing device 18 configured as described above, when the toner image is fixed on the paper, the pressure roller 23 is rotated by the drive source 73 (see arrow B in FIG. 2). When the pressure roller 23 rotates in this manner, the fixing belt 22 that is in pressure contact with the pressure roller 23 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction to the pressure roller 23 (see arrow C in FIG. 2). When the fixing belt 22 rotates in this way, the fixing belt 22 slides with respect to the pressing member 27.

  Further, when fixing the toner image on the sheet, power is supplied from the power source 74 to the heater 24 to operate the heater 24. When the heater 24 is operated in this way, radiant heat is radiated from the heater 24. A part of the radiant heat radiated from the heater 24 is directly irradiated onto and absorbed by the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 22 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. Further, another part of the radiant heat radiated from the heater 24 is reflected toward the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 22 by the upper surface of the main body 44 of the reflector 25 as shown by an arrow E in FIG. It is absorbed by the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 22. Due to the above operation, the fixing belt 22 is heated by the heater 24. When the sheet passes through the fixing nip 39 in this state, the toner image is heated and melted, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

  Incidentally, in the fixing device 18 configured as described above, even when the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped as the fixing belt 22 stops, the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22 is stopped. May be locally heated by the residual heat of the heater 24 and may overshoot (temperature rise). If the facing distance between the upper end 22a of the fixing belt 22 and the first thermo-cut 31 (hereinafter referred to as the facing distance) is too narrow, the fixing belt 22 is overshot when the upper end 22a of the fixing belt 22 overshoots as described above. There is a possibility that the first thermo-cut 31 will be activated even though the temperature has not increased excessively. Once the first thermocut 31 is activated, it is difficult to restore the first thermocut 31 to the state before the operation, and therefore it is usually necessary to replace the entire fixing device 18.

  In order to avoid such a situation, it is necessary to increase the facing interval. However, if the facing interval is increased, this time, when the heater 24 runs away (when the heater 24 heats the fixing belt 22 with the rotation of the fixing belt 22 stopped), the fixing belt 22 is heated by the heater 24. There is a risk that the timing to stop will be delayed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is quickly stopped even when the heater 24 runs away as follows.

  When the heater 24 is in normal use (when the heater 24 heats the fixing belt 22 while the fixing belt 22 is rotating), the facing interval is larger than the reference interval S. In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor light (see arrow L in FIG. 2) emitted from the light emitting portion 66 of the sensor 33 is in the left-right direction (the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the fixing belt 22). It goes straight along, passes through the said opposing space | interval, and reaches the light-receiving part 67 of the sensor 33. Accordingly, the sensor 33 detects that the facing interval is not equal to or less than the reference interval S, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 71. In this case, the control unit 71 continues heating the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24.

  In contrast, when the heater 24 runs away (when the heater 24 heats the fixing belt 22 with the rotation of the fixing belt 22 stopped), as shown in FIG. Is deformed upward by thermal expansion and approaches the first thermocut 31. Accordingly, the facing interval becomes equal to or less than the reference interval S. In this state, sensor light (see arrow L in FIG. 5) emitted from the light emitting unit 66 of the sensor 33 is blocked by the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 and does not reach the light receiving unit 67 of the sensor 33. Accordingly, the sensor 33 detects that the facing interval is equal to or less than the reference interval S, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 71. In this case, the control unit 71 stops the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24.

  In the event of a runaway of the heater 24, if a situation occurs in which the control unit 71 does not stop heating the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 even if the facing interval becomes equal to or less than the reference interval S, The upper end portion 22 a is further deformed upward due to thermal expansion and comes into contact with the first thermocut 31. Along with this, the temperature of the first thermocut 31 reaches the operating temperature T1, the first thermocut 31 is activated, and the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the heater 24 runs out of control, the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22 is brought close to the first thermo-cut 31 and heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is quickly stopped. It is possible.

  Further, when the heater 24 runs away, the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 automatically approaches the first thermocut 31. For this reason, when the heater 24 runs out of control, it is not necessary to set the facing interval narrow in advance so that the timing for stopping the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is not delayed. Accordingly, the facing interval can be set wide, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the first thermo-cut 31 is activated even though the fixing belt 22 is not overheated.

  Further, when the heater 24 runs away, the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped before the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22 contacts the first thermocut 31 and the first thermocut 31 is activated. Is possible. As a result, the operation of the first thermocut 31 can be avoided as much as possible, and a situation in which the entire fixing device 18 needs to be replaced with the operation of the first thermocut 31 is less likely to occur.

  In the present embodiment, an optical sensor including the light emitting unit 66 and the light receiving unit 67 is used as the sensor 33. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not the facing interval is equal to or less than the reference interval S with a simple configuration.

  Further, when viewed in the front-rear direction (the rotation axis direction of the fixing belt 22), the radiant heat from the heater 24 is most concentrated in the front-rear direction center of the upper end 22a of the fixing belt 22 among the upper end 22a of the fixing belt 22. It's easy to do. For this reason, the amount of deformation due to thermal expansion is the largest in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 in the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first thermo cut 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the central portion in the front-rear direction of the fixing belt 22. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reliably bring the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22 closer to the first thermocut 31 when the heater 24 runs away.

  In addition, shape regulating members 30 that regulate the shape of the fixing belt 22 are attached to both front and rear ends of the fixing belt 22. By adopting such a configuration, the fixing belt 22 is deformed into a horizontally long oval shape by the pressing force acting on the fixing belt 22 from the pressing member 27 in a pressure state of the fixing device 18 (a state where the fixing nip 39 is formed). It is possible to suppress this. Accordingly, when the heater 24 runs away, the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22 is easily brought closer to the first thermo cut 31.

  By the way, in the fixing device 18 configured as described above, when the fixing belt 22 is broken in the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixing belt 22 is deformed into a horizontally long ellipse shape so as to extend in the left-right direction. Along with this, the facing distance between the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 and the first thermo cut 31 becomes wider, and it becomes difficult to bring the upper end portion 22 a of the fixing belt 22 closer to the first thermo cut 31.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the second thermo-cut 32 is disposed so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22. Therefore, when the fixing belt 22 is broken in the circumferential direction and deformed into a horizontally long oval shape, the left end 22b of the fixing belt 22 is deformed to the left (side approaching the second thermo cut 32) and contacts the second thermo cut 32. To do. Accordingly, the temperature of the second thermocut 32 reaches the operating temperature T2, the second thermocut 32 is activated, and the heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped. By adopting such a configuration, when the fixing belt 22 is broken in the circumferential direction, the second thermo-cut 32 is operated at an appropriate timing, and heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is quickly stopped. It becomes possible.

  2 and the like, the first thermocut 31 faces the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion 22a of the fixing belt 22, whereas the second thermocut 32 has a left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22. It faces the outer peripheral surface of the portion (the portion farther from the heater 24 than the upper end portion 22a). For this reason, when the operating temperature T2 of the second thermocut 32 is set to be equal to or higher than the operating temperature T1 of the first thermocut 31, the fixing belt 22 moves in the circumferential direction with respect to the timing at which the first thermocut 31 operates when the heater 24 runs away. There is a risk that the timing at which the second thermo-cut 32 operates will be delayed if it breaks.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the operating temperature T2 of the second thermocut 32 is set lower than the operating temperature T1 of the first thermocut 31 as described above. By adopting such a configuration, the timing at which the second thermo cut 32 operates when the fixing belt 22 breaks in the circumferential direction is later than the timing at which the first thermo cut 31 operates when the heater 24 runs away. It becomes possible to suppress becoming.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the second thermo cut 32 is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22 (the upstream end portion in the sheet conveyance direction) has been described. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the second thermo-cut 32 may be opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion (downstream end portion in the paper transport direction) of the fixing belt 22.

  In the present embodiment, the case where heating of the fixing belt 22 by the heater 24 is stopped by operating the second thermo-cut 32 when the fixing belt 22 is broken in the circumferential direction has been described. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, a sensor (hereinafter referred to as “the sensor”) for detecting whether or not the left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22 has moved beyond the reference movement amount is disposed on the left side. When the sensor detects that the left end portion 22b of the fixing belt 22 has moved to the left or more than the reference movement amount when it is broken in the circumferential direction, the controller 71 causes the heater 24 to heat the fixing belt 22 with the heater 24. It may be stopped. As the sensor, for example, an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit can be used. When the optical sensor is used in this way, the light emitting portion of the sensor is provided at a position corresponding to one end portion (for example, the front end portion) of the fixing belt 22, and the light receiving portion of the sensor is the other end of the fixing belt 22. It is preferable to be provided at a position corresponding to the portion (for example, the rear end portion). By adopting such a configuration, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor travels straight along the front-rear direction (the rotation axis direction of the fixing belt 22), and the other end portion from one end portion of the fixing belt 22 After passing through, the light receiving part of the sensor is reached. Accordingly, regardless of whether the fixing belt 22 is broken in the circumferential direction at any position in the front-rear direction, the circumferential break of the fixing belt 22 can be detected more reliably.

  In the present embodiment, the case where a halogen heater is used as the heater 24 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, a ceramic heater or the like may be used as the heater.

  In this embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is applied to the printer 1 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine. It is also possible.

1 Printer (image forming device)
18 Fixing device 22 Fixing belt 22a Upper end of fixing belt (the part closest to the heater)
22b Left end portion of fixing belt (upstream end portion in sheet conveyance direction)
23 Pressure roller (pressure member)
24 Heater (heat source)
27 pressing member 30 shape regulating member 31 first thermo cut (heating stop device)
32 2nd thermo cut (other heating stop device)
33 Sensor 39 Fixing nip 66 Light emitting part 67 Light receiving part 71 Control part A Rotating shaft (of fixing belt)

Claims (7)

A fixing belt provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis;
A pressure member provided in a rotatable manner to form a fixing nip by pressing against the fixing belt;
A heat source disposed on the inner diameter side of the fixing belt and provided at a position biased with respect to the rotation shaft, and for heating the fixing belt;
A pressing member that presses the fixing belt toward the pressing member;
A heating stop device facing an outer peripheral surface of a portion of the fixing belt closest to the heat source and operating at a predetermined temperature to stop the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source;
A sensor capable of detecting whether or not the facing distance between the portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source and the heating stop device is equal to or less than a predetermined reference interval;
A control unit for outputting a detection result of the sensor,
When the heat source heats the fixing belt while the rotation of the fixing belt is stopped, a portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source is deformed by thermal expansion and approaches the heating stop device, and The fixing device, wherein the sensor detects that the interval is equal to or less than the reference interval, and the control unit stops heating the fixing belt by the heat source. The sensor is
A light emitting unit for emitting sensor light;
A light receiving portion for receiving sensor light emitted from the light emitting portion,
When the facing interval is larger than the reference interval, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting unit reaches the light receiving unit through the facing interval,
When the facing interval is equal to or less than the reference interval, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting unit is blocked by a portion of the fixing belt that is closest to the heat source and does not reach the light receiving unit. The fixing device according to claim 1. Other heating stop that opposes the outer peripheral surface of the upstream end or downstream end of the fixing belt in the recording medium conveyance direction and operates at a predetermined temperature to stop the heating of the fixing belt by the heat source Further comprising a device,
When the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction, the fixing belt is deformed, and the upstream end or the downstream end of the fixing belt contacts the other heating stop device, and the other heating stop is performed. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the device operates.   The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein an operating temperature of the other heating stop device is set lower than an operating temperature of the heating stop device.   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the heating stop device is provided at a position corresponding to a central portion of the fixing belt in the rotation axis direction.   The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a shape regulating member that is attached to both ends of the fixing belt and regulates the shape of the fixing belt.   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.

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