JP6390297B2 - Conveying device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 describes a fixing device 100 including a heating roll 104, a pressure belt 106, a bracket 128, and a lever member 140, as shown in FIG. 8. Patent Document 1 describes that the heating roll 104 is rotatably supported by the bracket 128, and that the pressure belt 106 is rotatably supported by the lever member 140. In Patent Document 1, a cylindrical pin member 132 is inserted into a through hole formed in the bracket 128 and a through hole formed in the lever member 140, so that the lever member 140 is attached to the bracket 128. On the other hand, it is described that relative movement in an arc shape is possible.

JP 2013-61535 A

The present invention, as compared with the conveying apparatus in which the first support and the second support member is fitted in O and notch relatively angular displaceable axially support the conveyance unit for conveying the medium, the first support and An object of the present invention is to provide a transport device in which one of the second supports that is angularly displaced about the axis is less likely to fall over the other.

The transport device according to the first aspect of the present invention transports a medium with a first rotating body rotating around its own axis and a second rotating body pressed against the first rotating body and rotating. And a first support body that is formed in a plate shape having the direction of the own axis as a plate thickness direction, an axis having the plate thickness direction as an axial direction is provided, and supports the first rotating body, A second support body that is formed in a plate shape having the direction of its own axis as a plate thickness direction, a round hole that is rotatably fitted to the shaft, and that supports the second rotary body ; the one of the first support and the second support member, across while covering an edge entire periphery of the round hole in the other, and a limiting portion for limiting the inclination of the direction of the own axis of the one It is equipped with.

The conveying apparatus which concerns on the 2nd aspect of this invention is a conveying apparatus which concerns on a 1st aspect, Comprising : The said axis | shaft protrudes from the said 1st support body in the said plate | board thickness direction, and is integrated with the said 1st support body . Is formed.

The conveying apparatus which concerns on the 3rd aspect of this invention is a conveying apparatus which concerns on a 1st aspect or a 2nd aspect, Comprising : The said 1st support body , the said 2nd support body, and the said restriction | limiting part are said 1st rotary bodies, respectively. The connecting plate is provided at both end portions of the first support body and the other of the first support body and the second support body , and the restricting portions are formed at both ends of the connecting plate.

Transport apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying apparatus from a first aspect according to any one aspect of the third embodiment, a medium to be conveyed, the guide plate for guiding along the transport path of the medium The restricting portion is formed integrally with the guide plate.

Fixing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device using a conveying device according to any one aspect of the fourth embodiment from the first embodiment, to heat the image on the medium the first rotary member An image on the medium is fixed to the medium by using a heating body and the second rotating body as a pressure body that pressurizes the medium.

An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium, and a fifth aspect that fixes the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit to the medium. And a fixing device.

Transport apparatus according to the first embodiment, as compared with the conveying device is fitted with O to notch the first support and the second support relative angular displacement can axially support the conveyance unit for conveying the medium, while angular displacement about the out axis of the first support and the second support member is less likely to fall relative to the other.

Transport apparatus according to the second embodiment, the shaft is fixed to form a round hole in the other one of the first support and the second support member, by fitting the round hole and the shaft, the first support and the second compared support relatively angular displaceable transport device, the number of components is small.

Transport apparatus according to the third embodiment, a limiting unit for limiting the collapse of one of the first support and the second support member, and a connecting plate connecting the other hand, compared to the conveying device is constructed as a separate component The number of parts is small.

The transport device according to the fourth aspect has a smaller number of parts than the transport device in which the guide plate that guides the transported medium along the transport path of the medium and the limiting unit are configured as separate components. .

The fixing device according to the fifth aspect is compared with a fixing device in which a first support body that supports a heating body and a second support body that supports a pressure body are fitted with a shaft and a notch so as to be relatively angularly displaceable. Thus, it is difficult for a fixing defect to occur due to one of the first support body and the second support body being rotated about the axis.

An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect includes a fixing device in which a first support body that supports a heating body and a second support body that supports a pressure body are fitted with a shaft and a notch so as to be relatively angularly displaceable. Compared with the image forming apparatus provided, it is difficult for image formation defects due to fixing defects to occur.

1 is a schematic diagram (a front view (viewed from the front side of the apparatus depth direction)) of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a fixing device constituting the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is sectional drawing by the 3-3 line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the fixing device of the first embodiment (a part of the fixing device of FIG. 3 excluding a heating unit and a pressure unit). FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment (a part of a side plate and a tension spring). FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a part (side plate, movable plate, and tension spring) of the fixing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment (a part of a side plate, a movable plate, a tension spring, and a connecting plate). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the fixing device according to the first embodiment (a part of a side plate, a part of a movable plate, a part of a connecting plate, and a screw). It is sectional drawing which shows a part (a part of side plate, a part of movable plate, a part of connecting plate, and a screw) of the fixing device of 2nd Embodiment.

≪Overview≫
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. Next, the configuration of the fixing device, which is a main part of the first embodiment, will be described. Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow H in the figure is the apparatus height direction, and the apparatus width direction is the direction indicated by the arrow W. In addition, a direction perpendicular to each of the apparatus height direction and the apparatus width direction (shown by an arrow D as appropriate) is defined as an apparatus depth direction.

<< First Embodiment >>
<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a medium storage unit 12, an image forming unit 14, a medium transport unit 16, a fixing device 18, a medium discharge unit 20, and a control device 24. It consists of

[Media compartment]
The medium storage unit 12 has a function of storing the medium P. Here, the toner is an example of a developer. The toner image is an example of a developer image.

[Image forming unit]
The image forming unit 14 has a function of forming a toner image composed of toner on the medium P as described above.

  The image forming unit 14 includes image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K, and a transfer unit 50. Here, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are examples of toner colors.

[Image forming unit]
The image forming unit 40Y includes a photoreceptor 42Y, a charging device 44Y, an exposure device 46Y, and a developing device 48Y. Similarly, the image forming units 40M, 40C, and 40K correspond to the respective colors, and the photoconductors 42M, 42C, and 42K, the charging devices 44M, 44C, and 44K, the exposure devices 46M, 46C, and 46K, and the developing device 48M. , 48C, 48K. Since the image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K have substantially the same configuration except for the toner to be used, in FIG. 1, the reference numerals of the respective parts constituting the image forming units 40M, 40C, and 40K are omitted. Yes. In the following description, the subscripts of the image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K and the members constituting them are omitted when it is not necessary to distinguish the colors.

<Photoconductor>
The photoreceptor 42 has a function of holding a latent image. The photoconductor 42 is rotated about its own axis by a drive source (not shown) along the direction of the arrow in the drawing. Here, “around the own axis” means “about the axis (rotation axis) of the object itself”. In the case of the photoreceptor 42, this means that the axis (rotation axis) of the photoreceptor 42 is the center. In the following, the parts other than the photoconductor 42 have the same meaning with respect to “around the own axis”.

<Charging device>
The charging device 44 has a function of charging the photoreceptor 42.

<Exposure equipment>
The exposure device 46 has a function of emitting exposure light to the charged photoreceptor 42 to form a latent image.

<Developing device>

  The developing device 46 has a function of developing the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 42 as a toner image.

[Transfer unit]
The transfer unit 50 has a function of secondarily transferring the toner image to the medium P after the toner constituting the toner image of each color developed on each photoreceptor 42 is primarily transferred. The transfer unit 50 includes a transfer belt 52, a plurality of primary transfer rolls 54, a drive roll 56, and a secondary transfer roll 58. The transfer unit 50 applies the toner image on the transfer belt 52 to the medium P passing through the nip N1 formed by the transfer belt 52 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the drive roll 56 and the secondary transfer roll 58. It is supposed to be transferred.

[Media transport unit and media discharge unit]
The medium transport unit 16 has a function of transporting the medium P stored in the medium storage unit 12 through the transport path 16 </ b> C to the medium discharge unit 20. The medium transport unit 16 includes a delivery roll 16A and a plurality of transport roll pairs 16B.

[Fixing device]
The fixing device 18 has a function of fixing the toner image (image) formed on the medium P by the image forming unit 14 to the medium P by applying pressure while heating. From another point of view, the fixing device 18 is arranged in the transport path 16C and also has a function as a transport device that transports the medium P. From this point, the fixing device 18 is an example of a transport device. The configuration of the fixing device 18 will be described later.

[Control device]
The control device 24 has a function of controlling the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The above is the description of the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  An image signal transmitted from an external device (a computer as an example) is converted into image data of each color by the control device 24 and output to each exposure device 46.

  Next, the exposure light emitted from each exposure device 46 enters each photoconductor 42 charged by each charging device 44, and a latent image is formed on each photoconductor 42. Next, each latent image is developed as a toner image of each color by each developing device 48. Next, the toner images of the respective colors are primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 52 by the respective primary transfer rolls 54.

  On the other hand, the medium P is conveyed at the timing when the portion of the transfer belt 52 where the toner image is primarily transferred reaches the nip N1, and the toner image is secondarily transferred.

  Next, the medium P on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is conveyed toward the fixing device 18, and the toner image is fixed on the medium P.

  Then, the medium P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the medium discharge unit 20, and the image forming operation is completed.

<Principal part (configuration of fixing device)>
Next, the fixing device 18 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing device 18 includes a heating unit 60, a pressure unit 70, and a support unit 80.

[Heating section]
As shown in FIG. 3, the heating unit 60 includes a heating roll 62, a heat source 64, and a ball bearing 66. Here, the heating roll 62 is an example of a first rotating body and a heating body.

  The heating roll 62 has a function of rotating around its own axis and heating the toner image on the medium P. The heating roll 62 is a cylindrical body. The heating roll 62 includes a base 62A and an elastic body 62B. The base body 62A is a cylindrical body, and elastic bodies 62B are bonded and fixed to portions other than both end portions on the outer peripheral surface of the base body 62A. In addition, the own-axis direction of the heating roll 62 is along the apparatus depth direction.

  The heat source 64 has a function of heating the heating roll 62. The heat source 64 is long and is disposed inside the heating roll 62.

  The ball bearings 66 are fitted on the outer peripheral surfaces of both ends of the base body 62A in the direction of its own axis, and are fixed to the base body 62A. The outer peripheral surface of the ball bearing 66 is fitted into a side plate 82 described later and is fixed to the side plate 82.

[Pressure part]
As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing unit 70 includes a pressing belt 72, a pressing unit 74, and a guide unit (not shown). Here, the pressure belt 72 is an example of a second rotating body and a pressure body.

  The pressure belt 72 has a function of being pressed against the heating roll 62 by a tension spring 84 described later, forming a nip N2 with the heating roll 62, and pressing the medium P with the medium P sandwiched between the nip N2. The pressure belt 72 is an endless belt. The width of the pressure belt 72 (the distance between the openings of the pressure belt 72) is longer than the circumferential length of the pressure belt 72. That is, the pressure belt 72 is long. The longitudinal direction of the pressure belt 72 is arranged along the own axis direction of the heating roll 62.

  The pressing unit 74 has a function of sandwiching the pressure belt 72 with the heating roll 62. Therefore, the pressing portion 74 is disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 72. The pressing portion 74 is long and is disposed along the own axis direction of the heating roll 62.

  The pressing portion 74 includes a fixing member 74A and a rectangular parallelepiped pad 74B. The fixing member 74A is formed with a recess 74A1 facing the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 72. The rectangular parallelepiped pad 74B is fixed in the recess 74A1. A nip N2 is formed at a portion where the rectangular belt 74B fixed to the fixing member 74A sandwiches the pressure belt 72 with the heating roll 62. The pad 74B is configured such that a portion of the pressure belt 72 that forms the nip N2 bites into and is depressed (compressed).

  The guide part has a function of supporting the pressing part 74 and a function of supporting the pressure belt 72 in a rotatable manner. A pair of guide portions are disposed at both ends of the pressure belt 72. And a pair of guide part is supporting the press part 74 in the both ends. Further, the pair of guide portions are fitted inside the opening portions at both ends of the pressure belt 72. A protrusion (not shown) is formed on the guide portion. The guide is fixed to the movable plate 83 by fitting the projection into a notch 100B (see FIG. 2 and the like) of the movable plate 83 described later.

[Supporting part]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support part 80 has a function of supporting the heating part 60 and the pressure part 70.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the support portion 80 includes a side plate 82, a movable plate 83, a tension spring 84, a limiting plate 85, screws 86 and 87, a connecting plate 88, and a guide plate 89. , Including. In addition, a restriction plate 85 and a guide plate 89 are formed on the connecting plate 88. The tension spring 84 includes a main body 84A and hooks 84B provided at both ends of the main body 84A. Here, the side plate 82 is an example of the first support member. Movable plate 83 is an example of the second support member. The limiting plate 85 is an example of a limiting unit. Of the components constituting the support portion 80, the side plate 82, the movable plate 83, the tension spring 84, the limiting plate 85, and the screws 86 and 87 are respectively at both ends of the heating roll 62 in the axial direction. The heating roll 62 is provided on the front side and the back side in the apparatus depth direction.

(Side plate)
The side plate 82 has a function of supporting the heating roll 62. Hereinafter, the side plate 82 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, that is, the side plate 82 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction will be described. The side plate 82 on the near side in the apparatus depth direction and the side plate 82 on the far side in the apparatus depth direction are symmetrical with respect to a virtual plane along the apparatus height direction and the apparatus width direction including the center in the own axis direction of the heating roll 62. (See FIG. 4).

  The side plate 82 has a plate thickness direction arranged along the apparatus depth direction. In other words, the plate thickness direction of the side plate 82 is the own axis direction of the heating roll 62.

  When viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction, the side plate 82 is formed with an arcuate recess 90 that opens upward. And the ball bearing 66 fixed to the edge part of the heating roll 62 is engage | inserted and fixed to the recessed part 90 (refer FIG. 3).

  Further, the side plate 82 is formed with a protruding portion 92 on the left side of the concave portion 90 when viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction. The protruding portion 92 is formed with a through hole 92A. A hook 84B on one end side (lower side) of the tension spring 84 is hooked in the through hole 92A.

  Further, the side plate 82 is provided with a circular protrusion 94 (hereinafter referred to as a shaft 94) formed by drawing on the front side in the apparatus depth direction on the right side of the recess 90 when viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction. Yes. In other words, the shaft 94 protrudes from the side plate 82 in the thickness direction and is integrally formed with the side plate 82. A circular plane is formed on the near side of the shaft 94 in the apparatus depth direction. A through hole 94A is formed in the center of the shaft 94 along the thickness direction.

  Further, a through hole 96 is formed in the side plate 82 on the lower left side of the recess 90 when viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction.

[Movable plate]
The movable plate 83 has a function of supporting the pressure belt 72. Hereinafter, the movable plate 83 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, that is, the movable plate 83 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction will be described. The movable plate 83 on the near side in the apparatus depth direction differs from the movable plate 83 on the far side in the apparatus depth direction on the side overlapping the plate thickness direction of the side plate 82. Otherwise, the configuration is the same (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 9, the movable plate 83 is a plate disposed along the apparatus height direction. The plate thickness of the movable plate 83 is made thinner than the height of the shaft 94 of the side plate 82 (the thickness of the shaft 94 protruding from the side plate 82). The movable plate 83 is disposed so as to overlap the side plate 82 on the front side in the apparatus depth direction. Therefore, the plate thickness direction of the movable plate 83 is the plate thickness direction of the side plate 82, in other words, the own axis direction of the heating roll 62.

  The movable plate 83 includes a bending portion 100, an inverted U-shaped portion 101, and a handle portion 102.

  When viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction, the bending portion 100 is recessed toward the lower left side to form an arc shape. A through hole 100A is formed at one end of the bending portion 100 (the lower right end as viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction). The through hole 100A is a round hole when viewed from the thickness direction. A shaft 94 formed on the side plate 82 is fitted into the through hole 100A, and the bending portion 100 (movable plate 83) is rotatably arranged with respect to the side plate 82 with the shaft 94 as a rotation axis.

  In addition, a notch 100B is formed at the center of the bending portion 100 and opens to the lower left side when viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction. As described above, the protrusions of the guide portions constituting the pressurizing portion 70 are fitted into the notches 100B.

  When viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction, the inverted U-shaped portion 101 is an inverted U-shaped plate having a concave portion 101 </ b> A that opens downward. When viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction, the inverted U-shaped part 101 is connected to the other end of the bending portion 100 (the upper left end as viewed from the front side in the apparatus depth direction). Further, a notch 101B is formed on the upper end surface of the inverted U-shaped portion 101. A hook 84B on the other end side (upper side) of the tension spring 84 is hooked on the notch 101B. A part of the main body 84A of the tension spring 84 is disposed in the recess 101A. As shown in FIG. 3, the notch 101 </ b> B is formed in the inverted U-shaped portion 101 so as to be positioned above the through hole 92 </ b> A of the protruding portion 92 of the side plate 82. And the tension spring 84 is hooked in the notch 101B and the through-hole 92A in the state extended rather than the natural length.

  The handle portion 102 is provided on the opposite side of the inverted U-shaped portion 101 from the side on which the bending portion 100 is provided. The handle portion 102 will be described later.

(Tension spring)
As described above, the tension spring 84 is hooked on the through hole 92 </ b> A of the side plate 82 and the notch 101 </ b> B of the movable plate 83 in a state of extending beyond the natural length. The tension spring 84 pulls the movable plate 83 with respect to the side plate 82. Therefore, the tension spring 84 has a function of rotating the movable plate 83 about the shaft 94 as a rotation axis and pressing the pressure belt 72 against the heating roll 62 when the medium P passes through the nip N2 during the image forming operation. .

[Restriction plate]
The restriction plate 85 has a function of restricting the falling of the movable plate 83 in the apparatus depth direction by sandwiching the movable plate 83 between the side plates 82.

Hereinafter, the limiting plate 85 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, that is, the limiting plate 85 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction will be described. The limiting plate 85 on the front side in the apparatus depth direction differs from the limiting plate 85 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction in the overlapping direction of the movable plate 83 and the winding direction of the female screw. Other than that, the configuration is the same.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the limiting plate 85 is a plate disposed along the apparatus height direction. The limiting plate 85 is disposed so as to overlap the movable plate 83 on the front side in the apparatus depth direction. Therefore, the plate thickness direction of the limiting plate 85 is the plate thickness direction of the movable plate 83, in other words, the self-axis direction of the heating roll 62.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a screw hole 85 </ b> A is formed in the limiting plate 85. Then, a screw 86 inserted into a through hole 94A formed in the shaft 94 from the back side in the apparatus depth direction is tightened in the screw hole 85A on the back side in the apparatus depth direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the limit plate 85 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction covers the entire circumference of the through hole 100A of the movable plate 83 in a state where the screw 86 is tightened in the screw hole 85A. Covering. As a result, the limiting plate 85 restricts the falling of the movable plate 83 in the apparatus depth direction with the side plate 82 sandwiching the movable plate 83.

  Further, as described above, the plate thickness of the movable plate 83 is made thinner than the height of the shaft 94 of the side plate 82. Therefore, even when the screw 86 is tightened in the screw hole 85A of the limiting plate 85, the movable plate 83 can rotate about the shaft 94 as a rotation center.

[Tie plate]
The connecting plate 88 has a function of connecting the pair of side plates 82. The connecting plate 88 is disposed between the pair of side plates 82.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the connecting plate 88 is long. Walls 110 and 112 formed by bending are formed at both ends in the short direction of the connecting plate 88 (both ends in the apparatus width direction).

  Further, two walls are formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 88 (both ends in the apparatus depth direction) by bending at both ends in the short direction. One of these two walls is the aforementioned restriction plate 85. That is, the pair of limiting plates 85 are formed at both ends of the connecting plate 88. In contrast, the other of the two walls is a wall 114. A screw hole 114 </ b> A is formed in the wall 114. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 8, a screw 87 inserted into the through hole 96 of the side plate 82 from the back side in the apparatus depth direction is provided in the screw hole 114 </ b> A on the back side in the apparatus depth direction. It is tightened. A screw 87 inserted into the through hole 96 of the side plate 82 from the front side in the apparatus depth direction is tightened in the screw hole 114A on the front side in the apparatus depth direction (not shown). As a result, the connecting plate 88 connects the pair of side plates 82.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8, the medium P transported by the medium transport unit 16 through the nip N <b> 1 (see FIG. 1) is transferred to the connecting plate 88 on the transport path 16 </ b> C of the medium P. A guide plate 89 is formed along the nip N2. Here, “guide to the nip N2” refers to guiding the front end of the medium P conveyed by the medium conveying unit 16 to reach the nip N2.

  The guide plate 89 is a long plate as shown in FIG. The guide plate 89 is a portion obtained by bending a part of the connecting plate 88 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 88. When viewed from the front side of the apparatus depth direction, the guide plate 89 is inclined at the front end in the apparatus width direction left side, and the front end of the guide plate 89 faces the heating roll 62. 1 and 3, the guide plate 89 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance path 16C in the conveyance direction with respect to the nip N2 and on the opposite side of the heating roll 62 with the medium conveyance path 16C interposed therebetween. Yes. Therefore, the guide plate 89 comes into contact with the front end of the medium P and guides the front end of the medium P to the nip N2 even if the front end of the medium P is displaced from the transport path 16C in the fixing device 18. ing.

  As described above, the limiting plate 85 and the guide plate 89 are formed integrally with the connecting plate 88. From another viewpoint, the guide plate 89 is formed integrally with the limiting plate 85.

[Supplementary information on fixing device configuration]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the fixing device 18 will be supplemented.

<Supplement 1>
The heating roll 62 also has a function as a driving roll. Therefore, a driving source (not shown) is connected to one end side of the heating roll 62 in the axial direction. The heating roll 62 is rotated about its own axis (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3) by driving a drive source by the control device 24. Further, the pressure belt 72 that forms the nip N2 with the heating roll 62 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3 following the heating roll 62 as the heating roll 62 rotates about its own axis. It has become. Therefore, the heating roll 62 and the pressure belt 72 have a function of transporting the medium P along the medium transport path 16C with the medium P sandwiched in the nip N2. Here, a combination of the heating roll 62 and the pressure belt 72 is referred to as a conveyance unit 59.

<Supplement 2>
As described above, the handle portion 102 is provided on the movable plate 83. Incidentally, there is a case where the image forming operation is stopped in a state where the medium P is sandwiched in the nip N2 (see FIG. 3). In this case, the user opens the upper lid of the image forming apparatus 10 (the illustration of the mechanism is omitted), and moves the movable plate 83 upward by holding the handle 102 to heat the pressure belt 72. It can be separated from the roll 62. That is, the user can release the nip N2 and remove the medium P sandwiched between the nips N2. As described above, the handle portion 102 is for releasing the nip N <b> 2 (releasing the contact state between the heating roll 62 and the pressure belt 72) during maintenance of the fixing device 18.

  The above is the detailed configuration of the fixing device.

<Action>
Next, operations of the fixing device 18 and the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, first, the first embodiment will be compared with the comparison form assumed below. Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described without comparing with the comparative embodiment. In the comparative example, when using the parts of the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the description will be made by using the reference numerals and names of the parts as they are.

[Operation compared with comparative form]
In a comparative fixing device (hereinafter referred to as a comparative fixing device), the side plate is not formed with the shaft 94. Instead, a through hole (not shown) is formed in the side plate, and a body portion of a rivet (not shown) is fitted into the through hole and fixed. In the comparative fixing device, the through hole 100A is not formed in the movable plate. Instead, a notch (not shown) is formed in the movable plate. In the comparative fixing device, the limiting plate 85 is not provided, and the movable plate is sandwiched between the head portion of the rivet and the side plate. In addition, the support body is configured such that the notch is fitted to the barrel portion of the rivet and is rotatable about the barrel portion as a rotation axis. Except for this point, the comparative fixing device has the same configuration as the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment. In addition, a comparative image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a comparative image forming apparatus) includes a comparative fixing device. Except for this point, the comparative image forming apparatus has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 10 of the first embodiment.

In the case of the comparative fixing device, since the notch of the support member is fitted into the rivet body, the movable plate has a peripheral surface of the rivet body when the medium P passes through the nip N2 during the image forming operation. It is not configured to rotate around the rotation axis in contact with the entire area.

  Here, a case is considered where the movable plate is inclined in the apparatus depth direction while rotating about the barrel portion of the rivet. In this case, a part of the edge of the notch of the movable plate is in contact with the rivet body, but the edge of the notch is in contact with the body of the rivet across the rivet body as viewed from the device width direction. There may be no notch edge on the opposite side. And the part without the edge part of a notch does not contact the trunk | drum of a rivet and the head of a rivet. In such a case, the movable plate is inclined more than the case where a part of the edge of the notch is in contact with both sides of the rivet body part across the rivet body part.

  If the reciprocating movement in the rotation direction is repeated in a state where the movable plate is tilted in the apparatus depth direction (a state in which the movable plate is largely inclined as described above), the cutout of the movable plate may be tangled with the trunk portion of the rivet. As a result, there is a risk that rotation failure of the movable plate may occur. Then, in the comparative fixing device, the width of the nip N <b> 2 in the rotation direction of the heating roll 62 is not uniform in the own axis direction of the heating roll 62, and there is a possibility that fixing failure occurs. Accordingly, in the comparative image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that an image formation failure due to a fixing failure may occur.

  On the other hand, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the through hole 100 </ b> A of the movable plate 83 is fitted with the shaft 94 of the side plate 82. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the limiting plate 85 covers the entire edge of the through hole 100 </ b> A of the movable plate 83. Therefore, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, when the medium P passes through the nip N2 during the image forming operation, the movable plate 83 that reciprocates in the rotation direction with the shaft 94 as the rotation axis is the peripheral surface of the through hole 100A. It is supported over the entire peripheral surface of the shaft 94 throughout. Here, consider a case where the movable plate 85 is tilted forward in the apparatus depth direction while rotating around the shaft 94 as a rotation axis. In this case, when a part of the edge of the through hole 100A on the back side in the apparatus depth direction is in contact with the peripheral surface of the shaft 94, it is the edge of the through hole 100A on the near side of the apparatus depth direction, as viewed from the apparatus width direction. A part of the opposite side across the screw 86 contacts the peripheral surface of the shaft 94. Even if the movable plate 83 is inclined from any circumferential direction of the through hole 100A, the part of the through hole 100A on the far side of the apparatus depth direction and the part on the opposite side sandwich the shaft 94, It contacts the peripheral surface of the shaft 94. In addition, since the limiting plate 85 covers the entire edge of the through hole 100A of the movable plate 83, the movable plate 83 becomes the limiting plate 85 regardless of the circumferential direction of the through hole 100A. When touching, it becomes harder to tilt (hard to fall). For this reason, the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment is not easily tilted as compared with the comparative fixing device.

  Therefore, according to the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the movable plate 83 is less likely to fall in the direction of the rotation axis than the comparative fixing device. Therefore, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the movable plate 83 is less likely to bite the side plate 82 than the comparative fixing device. Accordingly, the fixing device 18 according to the first embodiment is less likely to cause fixing defects due to galling than the comparative fixing device. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is less likely to cause an image formation defect due to the fixing defect as compared with the comparative image forming apparatus.

  Further, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the rotation shaft for rotating the movable plate 83 relative to the side plate 82 is formed by drawing.

  Therefore, the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment has a smaller number of parts than the comparative fixing device using rivets.

[Operation of limiting plate formed on both ends of connecting plate]
As described above, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the pair of limiting plates 85 are formed at both ends of the connecting plate 88. Therefore, the fixing device 18 according to the first embodiment has a smaller number of parts than the fixing device in which the pair of limiting plates 85 and the connecting plate are configured separately.

[Operation of guide plate formed on connecting plate]
As described above, in the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the guide plate 89 is formed on the connecting plate 88. For this reason, the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment has a smaller number of parts than the fixing device in which the guide plate 89 and the connecting plate are configured separately.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the comparative embodiment, when using the components of the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment, the description will be made by using the symbols and names of the components as they are.

<Configuration>
The fixing device according to the second embodiment includes a side plate 82B, a movable plate 83B, a limiting plate 85B, a screw 86, and a sandwiched portion 120. Here, the side plate 82B is an example of the second support member. Movable plate 83B is an example of the first support member. The limiting plate 85B is an example of a limiting portion. The side plate 82B, the movable plate 83B, the limiting plate 85B, the screw 86, and the sandwiched portion 120 are assembled as shown in FIG. Note that the fixing device of the second embodiment differs from the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment only in the part illustrated in FIG. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment includes the fixing device according to the second embodiment.

[Side board]
The side plate 82B is formed with a circular diaphragm as viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus. As a result, the side plate 82B is formed with a round hole 82B1 at a portion surrounded by a circular diaphragm. A screw hole 82B2 is formed at the center of the circular diaphragm.

[Movable plate]
The movable plate 83B is formed with a circular stop 83B1 (hereinafter referred to as a stop 83B1) as viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus. Here, the diaphragm 83B1 is an example of a shaft. Further, a through hole 83B2 is formed at the center of the diaphragm 83B1 (the center of a circle viewed from the apparatus depth direction).

[Restriction plate]
A through hole 85B1 is formed in the limiting plate 85B. The limiting plate 85B is formed at both ends of a connecting plate (not shown) that connects the pair of side plates 82B.

[Pinch part]
The fixing device according to the second embodiment includes a sandwiched portion 120 that is not included in the fixing device 18 according to the first embodiment. The sandwiched portion 120 is a cylindrical body.

[Relationship with Side Plate 82B, Movable Plate 83B, Limiting Plate 85B, Screw 86, and Pinched Part 120]
Next, the relationship among the side plate 82B, the movable plate 83B, the limiting plate 85B, the screw 86, and the sandwiched portion 120 constituting the fixing device of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The diaphragm 83B1 of the movable plate 83B and the round hole 82B1 of the side plate 82B are fitted together. The movable plate 83B is rotatable with respect to the side plate 82B with the diaphragm 83B1 as a rotation axis. Further, the sandwiched portion 120 is disposed in the through hole 83B2 and the diaphragm 83B1 of the movable plate 83B. Further, the limiting plate 85B is disposed so that the through hole 85B1 of the limiting plate 85B overlaps the hole formed in the inner periphery of the sandwiched portion 120 and the screw hole 82B2 of the side plate 82B. Then, the screw 86 is inserted from the opposite side of the sandwiched portion 120 with the restriction plate 85B interposed therebetween, and is tightened into the screw hole 82B2. As a result, the movable plate 83B is sandwiched between the side plate 82B from one side in the plate thickness direction and the limiting plate 85B from the other side, and is configured to be rotatable about the diaphragm 83B1 as a rotation axis. Further, the restriction plate 85B covers the entire edge of the round hole 82B1 of the side plate 82B when seen through from the plate thickness direction. The sandwiched portion 120 defines the positional relationship between the side plate 82B and the limiting plate 85B so that the movable plate 83B can rotate around the stop 83B1 with the screw 86 tightened in the screw hole 82B2. It has the function to keep in a specified relationship.

  The above is the difference from the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the fixing device of the second embodiment.

<Action>
The operation of the fixing device of the second embodiment is the same as that of the fixing device 18 of the first embodiment. The operation of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 10 of the first embodiment.

  As described above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each embodiment, the example of the present invention has been described as the fixing device 18. However, as long as the apparatus transports the medium P, the present invention may be used as a transport apparatus that transports the medium P in addition to the fixing device 18. For example, a part of the transfer unit 50 in the image forming apparatus 10 may be used as the transfer device of the present invention, and may be used as a transfer device that also has a function of transferring the medium P. In addition to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 10, the apparatus may be used for an apparatus that conveys a sheet material.

  In each embodiment, it has been described that the side plates 82 and 82B support the heating roll 62 and the movable plates 83 and 83B support the pressure belt 72. However, as long as either one is rotatable with respect to the other, the movable plates 83 and 83B may support the heating roll 62, and the side plates 82 and 82B may support the pressure belt 72. In this case, the movable plates 83 and 82B are examples of the first support, and the side plates 82 and 83B are examples of the second support.

  In each embodiment, the pressure belt 72 has been described as an example of a pressure body. However, an example of the pressure member is not limited to the pressure belt 72 as long as it has a function of pressing the toner on the medium P. For example, instead of the pressure belt 72, a configuration like a heating roll 62, in other words, a cylindrical pressure roll may be used.

  In each embodiment, the fixing device 18 is described as constituting the image forming apparatus 10. Further, the fixing device 18 has been described as fixing the toner image on the medium P formed by the image forming unit 14. However, if the fixing device 18 fixes the image on the medium P, the image formed on the medium P by the image forming unit may not be a toner image. For example, the fixing device 18 may be used for fixing an image formed on the medium P by discharging droplets onto the medium P by a droplet discharge device. In this case, the image forming unit is an ink jet type image forming unit, and the image forming apparatus is an ink jet type image forming apparatus. The image forming unit may be an image forming unit of a so-called offset printing apparatus, and the fixing device 18 may be used for fixing an image formed by the image forming unit. In this case, the image forming unit is an offset type image forming unit, and the image forming apparatus is an offset type image forming apparatus. The inkjet image forming unit and the offset image forming unit are examples of the image forming unit. Even in an image forming apparatus including other image forming units, an image is formed on the medium P, and thereafter The image forming apparatus is not particularly limited as long as it is an image forming apparatus that fixes the image on the medium P by heating and pressing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 14 Image forming part 18 Fixing apparatus 18 Fixing apparatus (an example of a conveying apparatus)
59 Conveying unit 62 Heating roll (an example of a first rotating body and a heating body)
72 Pressure belt (example of second rotating body and pressure body)
82 plate (an example of a first support)
82B side plate (one example of the first support member)
82B1 Round hole 83 Movable plate (example of second support)
83B Movable plate (example of second support)
85 Restriction plate (example of restriction part)
85B Restriction plate (an example of restriction part)
88 Connecting plate 89 Guide plate 94 Shaft 100A Through hole (an example of a round hole)
D Device depth direction (example of own axis direction, example of plate thickness direction)
P Medium

Claims (9)

A transport unit that transports the medium with a first rotating body that rotates about its own axis and a second rotating body that is pressed against the first rotating body and rotates;
A first support body provided with a shaft formed as a circular protrusion integrally formed in the direction of the own shaft, and supporting the first rotating body at a predetermined position ;
Are circular holes which are fitted to be rotated relative to the previous SL shaft forming the rotation on the axis with respect to said second rotary member supporting said fixed to a predetermined position the first support member A possible second support ;
A limiting portion that limits one of the first support body and the second support body while covering the entire circumference of the edge of the round hole with the other, and restricting the tilting in the direction of the one of the self-axis,
Conveying device equipped with. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second support is sandwiched between the first support and the restricting portion. The area where the second support and the limiting portion overlap in the direction of the own axis is smaller than the area where the second support and the first support overlap in the direction of the own axis. Conveying device.   The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second support body has a shape without bending in the direction of the own axis. 5. The screw according to claim 3, further comprising a screw that penetrates the first support, the second support, and the limiting portion, wherein the screw head of the screw is inserted in a direction toward the first support. Conveying device. The first support body , the second support body, and the limiting portion are respectively provided at both ends of the first rotating body,
Comprising a connecting plate for connecting the other of said first support or said second support member,
The limiting portion is formed at both ends of the connecting plate.
The conveying apparatus of Claims 1-5 . A guide plate for guiding the medium to be conveyed along the medium conveyance path;
The limiting portion is formed integrally with the guide plate.
The conveyance apparatus in any one of Claims 1-6 . A fixing device using a conveying apparatus according to claim 1 to 7 any one of claims,
Fixing the image on the medium to the medium by using the first rotating body as a heating body for heating an image on the medium and using the second rotating body as a pressurizing body for pressing the medium;
Fixing device. An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium;
The fixing device according to claim 8 , wherein the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit is fixed to the medium.
An image forming apparatus.

Images