JP6686759B2 - Preheating device, fixing system and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, as a preheating device that preheats the back surface of the recording medium on which the unfixed image is not formed before the continuous recording medium on which the unfixed image such as a toner image is formed is introduced into the fixing device, Are known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a web (continuous recording medium) to which a toner image is transferred at a printing unit is printed on the recording medium before being introduced into a nip portion of a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressure roller. There is shown a preheating device which preheats a back surface on which a toner image is not formed by adhering it to a preheater composed of a preheating plate by air suction so as to pass the preheater.
Patent Document 1 discloses a first printing device that forms an image on a first surface of a web, and a second printing device that is provided at a subsequent stage of the first printing device and forms an image on a second surface of the web. In the double-sided printing system, the pre-heater is arranged on each of the first printing device and the second printing device on the upstream side of the fixing device in the web conveyance direction to perform preheating, or the pre-heater is fed from the first printing device. It is also shown that the web is fed to a second printing device after its front and back sides have been turned upside down by a turning device.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a continuous paper on which a toner image is formed in an image forming unit (a continuous recording medium) is introduced into a toner of the continuous paper before being introduced into a fixing device including a heating roll and a pressure roll. There is shown a pre-heating device that pre-heats while transporting the back side, on which the image is not formed, around a roll having a heater built therein.
Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming system in which a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus are arranged in series, and in both of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus, a continuous paper conveyance direction of a fixing device. The pre-heating device (roll, etc.) is arranged on the upstream side of each to perform pre-heating, and the continuous paper sent from the first image forming device has the front and back surfaces thereof reversed by the reversing device and then the second image formation. It is also shown to be sent to the device.

In addition, when a web (continuous recording medium), which is a long strip-shaped sheet material, is conveyed, the following is used as a turn bar device that adjusts the conveyance state by winding around a turn bar arranged on the conveyance path and discharging the web. It has been known.
In Patent Document 3, a web is carried in and wound around a turn bar arranged at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the traveling direction of the web to reverse the front and back of the web and change and adjust the carry-out position of the web. In a turn bar device for carrying out in a direction orthogonal to the carrying-in direction, a table part in which the turn bar mounted on the base part is arranged so as to be movable in parallel with respect to the traveling direction of the web, and the table part is operated for parallel movement. When the moving means, the detecting means for detecting that the table part has moved to the home position, and the moving adjustment of the table part according to the web width information, the table part is temporarily returned to the home position and then the home position is set. And a control means for controlling the moving means so as to move to the web width adjusting position with reference to the turn bar device. It is shown.

JP, 2009-53288, A JP, 2013-167715, A JP, 2006-219226, A

  According to the present invention, when a back surface of a continuous recording medium on which an unfixed image is formed, on which an unfixed image is not formed, is preheated by a heating rotator such as a heating roll before the fixing process, the discharge from the heating rotator is performed. (EN) A preheating device capable of heating the back surface of a recording medium while suppressing adverse effects of heat on a peripheral portion, a fixing system and an image forming apparatus using the preheating device.

The preheating device of the present invention (A1) is
The unfixed image is formed on the back surface of the recording medium, which is arranged at different positions diagonally intersecting the feeding direction of the continuous recording medium and on which the unfixed image is not formed, before the fixing process. Two first reversing members for reversing the front and back surfaces of the recording medium;
The recording medium is arranged at a position outside the side end portion in the feeding direction, and the back surface of the portion of the recording medium existing between the two first reversing members is passed so as to be wound and is heated in advance before the fixing process. At least one heating rotor,
It is equipped with.

The preheating device of the present invention (A2) is the preheating device of the above invention A1,
Of the two first reversing members, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium at a front side position which is on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium with respect to the upstream first reversing member arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium. Two second reversing members which are arranged at different positions in a state of diagonally intersecting each other and which passes through the back surface of the recording medium and reverses the front and back surfaces of the recording medium;
A relay rotator which is arranged at a position outside the side end portion in the feeding direction of the recording medium and which allows the back surface of the portion of the recording medium existing between the two second reversing members to pass therethrough in a winding manner;
It is equipped with a reversing mechanism.

The preheating device of the present invention (A3) is the preheating device of the above invention A1,
Of the two first reversing members, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium at a front side position which is on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium with respect to the upstream first reversing member arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium. The guide rotating body is arranged so that the axial directions thereof are orthogonal to each other, and the back surface of the recording medium is passed so as to be wound and guided in different directions.

In the fixing system of the invention (B1), a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image by passing through a continuous recording medium having an unfixed image formed thereon, and an upstream side of the fixing device in the feeding direction of the recording medium. A preliminary heating device which is arranged at a side position and which preheats the back surface of the recording medium on which the unfixed image is not formed before the fixing process, wherein the preliminary heating device is a preliminary device according to any one of the above inventions A1 to A3. It is composed of a heating device.
The fixing system according to the invention (B2) is the fixing system according to the invention B1 described above, wherein, of the two first reversing members of the preheating device, the first reversing member on the downstream side is disposed on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium. Is displaceable in a direction adapted to a reference guide position during conveyance of the recording medium in the fixing device.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention (C1), an image forming apparatus that forms an unfixed image on a continuous recording medium and an unfixed image of the recording medium on which the unfixed image is formed by the image forming apparatus are formed. The fixing system according to the invention B1 or B2 described above, in which the unfixed image is fixed before the fixing process is preheated before the fixing process.

  According to the preheating device of the invention A1, when the back surface of the continuous recording medium on which the unfixed image is formed, on which the unfixed image is not formed, is preheated by the heating rotator before the fixing process, the heating rotator. It is possible to heat the back surface of the recording medium while suppressing the exhaust heat from the recording medium from adversely affecting the peripheral portion.

In the preheating device of the invention A2, compared with the case where the reversing mechanism is not provided, an increase in the installation space in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording medium is suppressed, and the back surface of the recording medium is closer to the fixing processing position. It is possible to suppress the temperature decrease before the fixing process by heating at the position.
In the preheating device of the invention A3, the back surface of the recording medium is heated at a position close to the fixing processing position while suppressing an increase in the installation space in the feeding direction of the recording medium as compared with the case where the guide roll is not provided. As a result, the temperature decrease before the fixing process can be suppressed.

According to the fixing system of Invention B1, it is possible to heat the back surface of the recording medium while suppressing the adverse effect of the exhaust heat from the heating rotary member on the peripheral portion in the preheating device. The unfixed image can be fixed in the fixing device.
In the fixing system of the invention B2, compared with the case where the first reversing member on the downstream side of the preheating device is not displaceably provided, the fixing device of the fixing device can be operated without changing the reference guide position during conveyance of the recording medium. The fixing process can be performed as it is.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention C1, it is possible to heat the back surface of the recording medium while suppressing the exhaust heat from the heating rotator from adversely affecting the peripheral portion in the preheating device of the fixing system. The unfixed image on the recording medium can be fixed in the fixing device of the fixing system.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fixing system in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the preheating apparatus in the fixing system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a reversing device in the fixing system of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 2 is viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fixing system in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a preheating device in the fixing system of FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 7 is viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fixing system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 10 is viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fixing system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 13 is viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fixing system according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 15 is viewed from an obliquely upper side. FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the fixing system in FIG. 15 is viewed from the upper side. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the other structural example of the preheating apparatus in the fixing system of FIG.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
1 to 3 show an image forming apparatus and the like according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the entire image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 shows a fixing system included in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows a preliminary heating apparatus included in the image forming apparatus or the fixing system. Arrows with reference numerals X, Y, and Z described in each drawing such as FIG. 1 are orthogonal coordinate axes (directions) indicating the width, height, and depth directions of the three-dimensional space assumed in each drawing.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms an image composed of toner as a developer on a continuous paper 9 as an example of a continuous recording medium wound on a roll.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 supplies a continuous paper 9 with a supply device 11 and a continuous paper 9 supplied from the supply device 11 with a toner image as an example of an unfixed image. A fixing system that forms the image forming apparatus 2 and the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is formed on the image forming apparatus 2 on which the toner image is not formed before heating the toner image before the fixing processing. 4 and a storage device 16 for storing the continuous paper 9 on which the image obtained by the fixing processing by the fixing system 4 is formed.

  The feeding device 11 is a feeding roll 12 for feeding the continuous paper 9 wound in a roll shape, an adjusting mechanism 13 for adjusting the feeding operation of the feeding roll 12, and an image forming device for the continuous paper 9 fed through the adjusting mechanism 13. 2 and a feed roll pair 14 for introduction that feeds the feed roll 2.

The feeding roll 12 is configured to be rotationally driven in the feeding direction by receiving a driving force of a driving device (not shown). The adjusting mechanism 13 is arranged in the direction of gravity between the two transport rolls 13a and 13b, which are arranged in parallel with each other in the transport direction (feeding direction) A of the continuous paper 9 at intervals. It is composed of an elevating roll 13c that moves up and down along with a position detection sensor (not shown) that detects that the elevating roll 13c reaches a specified position in the vertical direction. The continuous paper 9 is supported by the adjusting mechanism 13 in a state of being stretched over the two transport rolls 13a and 13b, and is pulled downward by the elevating roll 13c between the transport rolls 13a and 13b in the substantially gravity direction. After being folded, it is conveyed in a state of being folded back.
The transport roll pair 14 is arranged in a state in which the rotary drive roll and the driven roll are in pressure contact with each other, and the rotary drive roll is driven to rotate in a direction compatible with the transport direction A by receiving the driving force of a drive device (not shown). By doing so, the continuous paper 9 that is sandwiched between the pressure contact portions of the both rolls and is passed is conveyed. The pair of transport rolls 14 is arranged so as to actually exist on the image forming apparatus 2 side.

In the supply device 11, the continuous paper 9 is transported by the transport roll pair 14 when the feeding roll 12 is stopped and the elevating roll 13c of the adjusting mechanism 13 is moving to the lower specified position.
On the other hand, when the continuous paper 9 is conveyed by the pair of conveying rolls 14, the elevating roll 13c starts rising and finally rises to reach the upper prescribed position, and at that stage, the feeding roll 12 is rotationally driven and the continuous paper 9 is conveyed. Take out. Further, when the continuous paper 9 is fed from the feeding roll 12, the elevating roll 13c starts descending and finally descends until it reaches a specified position below, and at that stage, the feeding roll 12 is stopped and the continuous paper 9 is fed out. Suspend. The supply amount of the continuous paper 9 to the image forming apparatus 2 corresponds to the rotational drive amount of the transport roll pair 14.

  As the continuous paper 9, for example, a continuous strip-shaped long member made of a material such as high-quality paper or glassine paper or a material such as polypropylene or a synthetic resin is used. Further, as the continuous paper 9, for example, label paper having a structure in which a surface base material (image forming surface) is provided on a release paper via an adhesive layer is also applied.

The accommodating device 16 includes a winding roll 17 for winding the continuous paper 9 having the image formed thereon, an adjusting mechanism 18 for adjusting the winding operation of the winding roll 17, and the continuous paper 9 having the image formed thereon. And a pair of delivery rolls 19 for delivery to transport the sheet to the adjusting mechanism 18.
The take-up roll 17 is configured to be rotationally driven in the take-up direction by receiving a driving force of a drive device (not shown). The adjusting mechanism 18 is composed of two transport rolls 18a and 18b, an elevating roll 18c, and a detecting unit that detects the upper and lower prescribed positions of the elevating roll 18c, almost like the adjusting mechanism 13 in the supply device 11. The transport roll pair 19 is configured substantially the same as the transport roll pair 14 in the supply device 11. This transport roll pair 19 is also arranged so as to actually exist on the image forming apparatus 2 side as in the case of the transport roll pair 14.

The image forming apparatus 2 uses one of four color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) based on image information input from the outside through various means. This is an apparatus for forming a toner image formed by using all or part of it and transferring it to the continuous paper 9.
The image forming apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment includes four image forming apparatuses 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K that exclusively form toner images of any one of the above four colors (Y, M, C, and K). , An intermediate transfer device 30 that holds the toner images of the respective colors formed by the respective image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K), and finally conveys the toner images to the continuous paper 9 to the secondary transfer position P2, etc. Is equipped with.

Of these, each of the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) includes a photosensitive drum 21 that is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (direction shown by arrow B). Further, in each of the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K), a charging device 22 for charging the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is provided around each photosensitive drum 21, and a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after being charged. An exposure device 23 that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface thereof with light based on image information, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is developed with toner of a developer to form a toner image. A developing device 24 for cleaning and a cleaning device 26 for removing and cleaning unnecessary matters such as toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 are arranged.
Regarding the developing device 24, four developing devices 24Y and 24M that store toner of any one of the above four colors (Y, M, C, K) and develop an electrostatic latent image of a corresponding color by the toner , 24C, 24K.

  Further, the intermediate transfer device 30 is arranged at a position below the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K).

  The intermediate transfer device 30 according to the first embodiment includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow C while passing through a primary transfer position of the photosensitive drum 21 of each image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K). A plurality of support rolls 32A to 32E that rotatably support the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the intermediate transfer belt 31 at the primary transfer position of the photosensitive drum 21 in each image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K). A primary transfer device 33, such as a roll, which presses the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 onto the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 by electrostatically transferring the toner image onto the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31, and the continuous transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31. 9, a secondary transfer device 35 in the form of a roll for secondary transfer by electrostatic action, etc., and a cleaning device for removing and cleaning unnecessary substances such as toner remaining on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31. It is equipped with a 36, and the like.

The support roll 32A is configured as a drive roll, the support roll 32D is configured as a tension applying roll, and the support roll 32E is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll. The secondary transfer device 35 is provided so as to be displaceable so as to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 31 supported by the secondary transfer backup roll 32E. As a result, the secondary transfer device 35 moves to a position in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 31 only during the time when the secondary transfer operation is performed, and moves to a position away from the intermediate transfer belt 31 at other necessary times. It is supposed to do.
The primary transfer position is a position where the photosensitive drum 21 of each image forming device 20 and the primary transfer device 33 face each other (strictly speaking, the position where the photosensitive drum 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 31 contact each other). The secondary transfer position P2 is a position where the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer device 30 and the secondary transfer device 35 face each other and are in contact with each other.

<Fixing system configuration>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing system 4 includes a fixing device 40 for fixing the toner image by passing the continuous paper 9 on which a toner image as an unfixed image is formed, and a fixing device 40. And a pre-heating device 5 that is disposed upstream of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A and that heats the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is not formed before the fixing process.
The fixing system 4 is arranged between (the secondary transfer position P2 of) the image forming apparatus 2 and the accommodation device 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 40 in the fixing system 4 includes at least a heating rotator 41 and a pressure rotator 42. VL1 indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2 is an imaginary straight line that connects the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and a fixing nip FN, which will be described later, which is a fixing processing unit of the fixing device 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 40 according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which a belt-shaped heating rotator 41 and a roll-shaped pressure rotator (pressure roll) 42 are applied. The belt-shaped heating rotator 41 includes an endless heating belt 43 as a heating member, a fixing roll 44 as a pressing member, which is arranged so as to contact with and support an inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 43. The support roll 45, the internal heating roll 46, the second support roll 47, and the outer peripheral surface of the heating belt 43 between the first support roll 45 and the internal heating roll 46 are pressed toward the inner peripheral surface side. And an external heating roll 48 in contact with.
Further, in the fixing device 40, the heating belt 43 of the heating rotator 41 is pressed against the pressure roll 42 at a portion wound around the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roll 44. As a result, the pressure contact portion between the heating belt 43 and the pressure roll 42 is configured as a fixing nip portion FN for heating and pressing the unfixed toner image formed on the continuous paper 9 to perform fixing processing. .

  The heating belt 43 is, for example, a belt base material made of polyimide resin, polyamide-imide resin, or the like, an elastic layer made of silicone rubber or the like laminated on the outer peripheral surface of the belt base material, and loaded on the surface of the elastic body layer. And a release layer made of tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA) or the like.

  The fixing roll 44 is made of a cylindrical member made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by an arrow by a rotational driving means (not shown). The fixing roll 44 has a heating source 49A such as a halogen lamp arranged therein, and the heating source 49A heats the fixing roll 44 so that the surface temperature of the fixing roll 44 becomes a required temperature.

  The internal heating roll 46 is made of a cylindrical member made of metal such as aluminum or stainless, similar to the fixing roll 44. A heating source 49B such as a halogen lamp is disposed inside the internal heating roll 46, and the internal heating roll 46 is heated by the heating source 49B to a required temperature. Further, the internal heating roll 46 is applied with a force by an elastic member such as a spring (not shown) so as to be elastically displaced from the inside of the heating belt 43 toward the outside, so that the heating belt 43 is given a required tension. It has become.

  The external heating roll 48 is made of a cylindrical member made of metal such as aluminum or stainless, similar to the fixing roll 44. A heating source 49C such as a halogen lamp is disposed inside the external heating roll 48, and the external heating roll 48 is heated by the heating source 49C to a required temperature.

  The heating belt 43 is wound around a plurality of rolls and moves so as to circulate so as to rotate, while the fixing belt 44, the external heating roll 48, and the internal heating roll 46 move from the inner peripheral surface side and the outer peripheral surface side. By heating each, the outer peripheral surface of the belt is heated to a required temperature.

  The pressure roll 42 includes a cylindrical roll base material made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, an elastic body layer made of silicone rubber or the like laminated on the outer surface of the roll base material, and laminated on the surface of the elastic body layer. And a release layer made of PFA or the like.

<Configuration of preheating device>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the preheating device 5 is arranged at a different position in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is formed. First reverse members 51 and 52 that pass the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed before the fixing process to reverse the front and back surfaces of the continuous paper 9, and the side end portion 9c of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A. , 9d, and an example of a heating rotator that is preheated before the fixing process by passing the back surface 9b of the portion of the continuous paper 9 existing between the first reversing members 51 and 52 in a winding manner and preheating it. And the heating roll 53 which is.

  The two first reversing members 51 and 52 are cylindrical members formed of a material such as metal. The first reversing member 51 on the upstream side, which is arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9, feeds the continuous paper 9 fed to the first reversing member 51 with its back surface 9 b in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 53. As shown in FIG. Further, the downstream first reversing member 52 arranged on the downstream side in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 has the surface 9 a of the continuous paper 9 fed from the heating roll 53 to the first reversing member 52 of the fixing device 40. The front and back surfaces of the heating rotator 41 (heating belt 43) are reversed so that they are fed in a state of facing each other.

The first reversing members 51 and 52 in the first embodiment are fixedly arranged so as to intersect at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9.
Specifically, the upstream-side first reversing member 51 is arranged in a state of intersecting with a position relatively above the downstream-side first reversing member 52. The first reversing member 51 on the upstream side is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed to the preheating device 5 is introduced from the lower side of the reversing member 51 and then passed through the upper side thereof.
Further, the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side is arranged at a position relatively lower than the first reversing member 51 on the upstream side in a state of intersecting with the first reversing member 51 on the upstream side so as to be substantially orthogonal thereto. Has been done. The first reversing member 52 on the downstream side is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed from the heating roll 53 is introduced from the lower side of the reversing member 52 and then passed through the upper side thereof.
In addition to the above, the first reversing members 51 and 52 may be, for example, members having a semicylindrical shape in which only the portion in contact with the continuous paper 9 has a curved surface with an arcuate cross section. Further, the shapes of the other reversing members described later are the same as those of the first reversing members 51 and 52.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the heating roll 53 is located outside of one of the side ends 9c and 9d (in this example, the side end 9d) in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 by a predetermined distance S1. Is placed at a position of substantially parallel to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9.
The heating roll 53 is composed of a roll base material formed of a material such as metal in a cylindrical shape, and a heating source 54 such as a halogen lamp arranged in the internal space of the roll base material. Further, the heating roll 53 has its roll base material rotatably arranged, and is driven to rotate in response to the movement (conveyance movement) of the continuous paper 9 passing through so as to be wound around the heating roll 53. ing. In the first embodiment, from the viewpoint of reliably heating the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the heating roll 53 is configured to be 180 degrees or more.
However, as for the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the heating roll 53, an angle of 90 degrees or more is effective as compared with an angle of less than 90 degrees. That is, when the winding angle is less than 90 degrees, for example, from the viewpoint of securing the heating length, and before and after the continuous paper 9 is wound around the heating roll 53, the continuous paper 9 is opened at an obtuse angle and the first reversal is performed. The arrangement of the members 51 and 52 becomes difficult, which is disadvantageous in terms of suppressing an increase in the installation space of the preheating device 5. The conditions regarding the winding angle are the same for the heating rotating body such as the heating roll 57 described later.
A dashed-dotted line with a reference symbol E in FIG. 5 and the like indicates a substantially central position (center line) in the width direction of the continuous paper 9 when being fed in the feeding direction A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fixing system 4 peels the continuous paper 9 sent out from the preheating device 5 to the fixing device 40 such that the front surface 9a of the front and back surfaces on which the toner image is formed is upward. Since it is necessary to invert the sheet so that it is in the state of being fed out, the reversing device 6 is arranged upstream of the preheating device 5 in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 and the like, the reversing device 6 is located at the front side position on the upstream side of the upstream first reversing member 51 in the preheating device 5 in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. Two second reversing members 61 and 62 which are arranged at different positions in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of 9 and pass through the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 to reverse the front and back surfaces of the continuous paper 9. The back surface 9b of the portion of the continuous paper 9 which is located outside the side end portions 9c and 9d in the feeding direction A and which exists between the two second reversing members 61 and 62 is wound. And a relay roll 63 which is an example of a relay rotator to be passed through.

  The two second reversing members 61, 62 are cylindrical members formed of a material such as metal. The upstream second reversing member 61 arranged upstream of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A is in a state in which the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 fed to the second reversing member 61 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the relay roll 63. The reverse of the front and back sides is performed as in the case of being sent by. The downstream second reversing member 62 arranged on the downstream side of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A transfers the continuous paper 9 fed from the relay roll 63 to the second reversing member 62 to the upstream second reversing member. The front and back surfaces are reversed so that the front and back surfaces of the paper are sent to 61. The second reversing member 62 according to the first embodiment is configured to reverse the front and back surfaces so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 faces upward.

The second reversing members 61 and 62 in the first embodiment are fixedly arranged so as to intersect with the feed direction A of the continuous paper 9 at an angle of 45 degrees.
Specifically, the upstream-side second reversing member 61 is arranged in a state of intersecting with the position relatively lower than the downstream-side second reversing member 62. The second reversing member 61 on the upstream side allows the continuous paper 9 fed through the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 to be introduced from the upper side of the reversing member 61 and then passed through the lower side thereof. used.
Further, the second reversing member 62 on the downstream side is arranged at a position relatively higher than the second reversing member 61 on the upstream side in a state intersecting with the second reversing member 61 on the upstream side so as to be substantially orthogonal thereto. Has been done. The second reversing member 62 on the downstream side is used to introduce the continuous paper 9 fed from the relay roll 63 from the upper side of the reversing member 62 and then pass through the lower side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the relay roll 63 has an axial position in which the continuous paper 9 has an axial direction at an outer position separated from one of the side ends 9c and 9d in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 by a predetermined distance. 9 is arranged substantially parallel to the feed direction A.
The relay roll 63 is composed of a roll base material formed of a material such as metal into a cylindrical shape. The relay roll 63 is rotatably arranged and is driven to rotate in response to the movement (conveyance movement) of the continuous paper 9 passing around the relay roll 63 so as to be wound around the relay roll 63.

<Image forming operation (including preheating and fixing operation)>
Next, an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 including the preheating device 5 and the like will be described. Here, a case will be described in which a multicolor (full color) image formed by combining the toners of the four colors (Y, M, C, K) is formed.

  First, the image forming apparatus 2 forms a toner image as an unfixed image and transfers the toner image onto the continuous paper 9.

In each of the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K), as shown in FIG. 1, after the peripheral surface of each rotating photosensitive drum 21 is charged by the charging device 22 to have a required polarity and potential. Then, the charged peripheral surface is exposed by the exposure device 23 based on the color components obtained from the (multicolor) image information to form electrostatic latent images of the respective color components. The latent image is developed by the developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K) with the charged toner of the corresponding color and visualized as a toner image of each color.
Subsequently, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) are transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer device 30 by the primary transfer device 33. After being subjected to the transfer action and sequentially subjected to the primary transfer, the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer position P2.
Finally, the toner images primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 are secondarily transferred collectively onto the continuous paper 9 conveyed to the secondary transfer position P2 by the transfer action of the secondary transfer device 35. .

  The continuous paper 9 fed from the supply device 11 is transported by the transport roll pair 14 toward the secondary transfer position P2 in conjunction with the toner image forming operation in the image forming device 2. At this time, in the supply device 11, as described above, when the continuous paper 9 is transported by the transport roll pair 14, the elevating roll 13c in the adjusting mechanism 13 starts to rise from the lower prescribed position and finally reaches the upper prescribed position. And the feeding roll 12 is rotationally driven to feed the continuous paper 9 at that stage. The continuous paper 9 is continuously conveyed during the toner image forming operation, for example.

  Subsequently, the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image has been formed is sent out from the secondary transfer position P2 and conveyed toward the fixing system 4, where preheating and fixing of the toner image are performed.

  In the fixing system 4, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the continuous paper 9 sent from the secondary transfer position P2 is conveyed so as to pass through the reversing device 6, the preheating device 5, and the fixing device 40 in this order. To be done.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the continuous paper 9 is fed to the reversing device 6 with the surface 9a having the toner image formed thereon facing upward, and then the front and back surfaces thereof are reversed. And the rear surface 9b is turned upward, and is fed out from the reversing device 6.

  At this time, in the reversing device 6, the continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are contacted with each other so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is wound around the surface of the second reversing member 61 on the upstream side. Is turned over and is sent toward the relay roll 63. Then, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is contacted so as to be wound from the lower side of the relay roll 63 so that the continuous paper 9 is sent according to the rotation of the relay roll 63, and then returned to the second reversing member 62 on the downstream side. Sent out. Finally, the continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are reversed and the back surface 9b is twisted by 90 degrees by being contacted with the back surface 9b of the second reversing member 62 on the downstream side so that the continuous paper 9 passes obliquely. 9b is sent out from the reversing device 6 in a state of facing upward, and then sent to the preheating device 5 existing on the downstream side.

  Subsequently, the continuous paper 9 reversed by the reversing device 6 is fed to the preheating device 5 with the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed facing upward as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. After that, the back surface 9b is preheated before the fixing process, and the front and back surfaces thereof are inverted and fed from the preheating device 5 with the front surface 9a facing upward.

  At this time, in the preheating device 5, the continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees while being brought into contact with the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 so as to be obliquely wound around the surface of the first reversing member 51 on the upstream side and is passed through. It is sent out toward the heating roll 53 in a state where the back surface is reversed. Thereafter, the continuous paper 9 is contacted so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is wound from the upper side of the heating roll 53, and is fed in accordance with the rotation of the heating roll 53 in the direction shown by the arrow, and then the first reversal of the downstream side. It is sent out so as to be returned to the member 52. Finally, the continuous paper 9 after being heated is twisted 90 degrees while the back surface 9b is contacted with the back surface 9b of the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side so as to be obliquely wound around the front surface, and is passed through. Is turned over and is fed from the preheating device 5 with the surface 9a facing upward, and is fed toward the fixing device 40 existing on the downstream side. In the preheating device 5, the continuous paper 9 is heated by the heating roll 53 from the back surface 9b thereof at a required temperature (for example, a temperature set within a range of 90 to 180 ° C.).

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the continuous paper 9 preheated by the preheating device 5 has its surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and the fixing device 40 ( The toner image is sent to the fixing nip portion FN) to be subjected to the fixing processing of the toner image, and then sent out from the fixing device 40.

  At this time, in the fixing device 40, the continuous paper 9 is introduced and passed through the fixing nip portion FN in a state where the surface 9a of the continuous paper 9 is in contact with the heating belt 43 of the heating rotator 41. As a result, the unfixed toner image on the continuous paper 9 is fixed in the fixing nip portion FN by the fixing process by heating and pressing. In the fixing process of the toner image at the fixing nip portion FN at this time, since the continuous paper 9 is heated in advance by the preheating device 5 from the back surface thereof, the toner image is also heated and starts to be melted in the fixing nip portion. The formal fixing process in the part FN is to be performed, which is faster and more reliable than the case where the preheating is not performed.

  The continuous paper 9 on which the unfixed toner image has been fixed by the fixing system 4 is conveyed toward the accommodating device 16 by the conveying roll pair 19. At this time, in the accommodation device 16, when the continuous paper 9 is transported by the transport roll pair 19, the elevating roll 18c in the adjusting mechanism 18 starts to descend from the upper prescribed position and finally descends to reach the lower prescribed position. At that stage, the winding roll 17 is rotationally driven to wind up the continuous paper 9. As a result, the continuous paper 9 is accommodated.

  By repeating the above operation, a full-color image formed by combining four color toners is continuously formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the fixing system 4 includes the preheating device 5, but the heating roll 53 of the preheating device 5 is arranged outside the side end portion 9d of the continuous paper 9. From the above (see FIG. 5 and the like), the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 can be reliably held while suppressing the exhaust heat of the heating roll 53 from reaching the peripheral portion arranged on the upper side of the heating roll 53 and adversely affecting it. It can be preheated. The peripheral portion is a portion that is likely to be adversely affected by being heated mainly due to the handling of toner. For example, the periphery of the cleaning device 36 of the intermediate transfer belt 31, the developing device 24Y of the image forming device 20Y, and the like. Equipment. In the preheating device 5, the unfixed toner image formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9 in the preheating step contacts the first reversing members 51 and 52 and the heating roll 53 and is disturbed. There is no fear.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 1, since the fixing system 4 has the configuration in which the reversing device 6 is arranged on the upstream side of the preheating device 5, the feeding of the continuous paper 9 is performed as compared with the case where the reversing device 6 is not provided. It is close to the position (fixing nip FN) for fixing the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 while suppressing an increase in the installation space in a direction (for example, a height direction) D (see FIG. 1) orthogonal to the direction A. It is possible to prevent the temperature from being lowered before performing the fixing process by the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 by preheating at the position. As a result, according to the fixing system 4, it becomes possible to satisfactorily fix the toner image on the continuous paper 9 without inducing the fixing failure due to the temperature decrease.

[Second Embodiment]
6 to 8 show an image forming apparatus and the like according to the second embodiment. 6 shows an outline of the entire image forming apparatus, FIG. 7 shows a fixing system included in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 8 shows a preliminary heating apparatus included in the image forming apparatus or the fixing system.

  The image forming apparatus 1B includes a supply device 11, an image forming device 2, a fixing system 4B, and an accommodating device 16 as schematically shown in FIG. 6, and the image forming device according to the first embodiment. When compared with 1, the fixing system 4B has a partially different configuration from the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment, but the other configurations of the supply device 11, the image forming device 2, and the accommodating device 16 are the same. Has become.

  The fixing system 4B according to the second embodiment includes a fixing device 40, a preliminary heating device 5B, and a guide roll 71, as shown in FIGS. Of these, the fixing device 40 has the same configuration as the fixing device 40 (FIG. 2) in the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment.

<Configuration of preheating device>
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the like, the preheating device 5B is arranged at a different position in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is formed, and at a different position. First reverse members 55 and 56 for reversing the front and back surfaces of the continuous paper 9 by passing the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed before the fixing process, and the side end portion 9c of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A. , 9d, an example of a heating rotator which is arranged outside of the continuous paper 9 and which allows the back surface 9b of the portion of the continuous paper 9 existing between the first reversing members 55 and 56 to pass in a winding manner and to be preheated before the fixing process. And a heating roll 57 which is
A chain line VL2 in FIG. 7 is an imaginary straight line that connects the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 in the shortest direction.

  The two first reversing members 55 and 56 have substantially the same configuration as the first reversing members 51 and 52 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, but will be described later on the upstream side of the preheating device 5B. Due to the arrangement of the guide rolls 71, the way of arrangement is slightly different as shown below.

That is, the first reversing members 55 and 56 in the second embodiment are fixedly arranged so as to intersect with the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 at an angle of 45 degrees, but are slightly different in the following points. .
First, the upstream-side first reversing member 55 arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 is located at a position relatively higher than the downstream-side first reversing member 56 arranged on the downstream side thereof. They are arranged in a crossed state. The first reversing member 55 on the upstream side is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed to the preheating device 5B is introduced from the lower side of the reversing member 55 and then passed through the upper side thereof.
On the other hand, the first reversing member 56 on the downstream side is arranged substantially parallel to the first reversing member 55 on the upstream side at a position relatively lower than the first reversing member 55 on the upstream side. And differ in this respect. The first reversing member 56 on the downstream side is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed from the heating roll 57 is introduced from the lower side of the reversing member 56 and then passed through the upper side thereof. As a result, the continuous paper 9 that is inverted and sent out by the first reverse member 56 on the downstream side is fed in the feeding direction of the continuous paper 9 when sent to the first reverse member 55 on the upstream side, as shown in FIG. It is fed in the feeding direction which is the opposite direction to A.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the heating roll 57 is an outer side which is separated from one of the side ends 9c and 9d (the side end 9d in this example) in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 by a predetermined distance S2. Is placed at a position of substantially parallel to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. The distance S2 at this time is the same value as the distance S1 of the heating roll 53 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, but may be set to a different value.
Similar to the heating roll 53 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, the heating roll 57 is arranged in a cylindrical roll base material made of a material such as metal and in the internal space of the roll base material. It is composed of a heating source 58 such as a halogen lamp. Further, like the heating roll 53, the heating roll 57 has its roll base material rotatably arranged, and corresponds to the movement (conveyance movement) of the continuous paper 9 passing through so as to be wound around the heating roll 57. Then, it is driven to rotate. Also in the second embodiment, from the viewpoint of surely heating the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the heating roll 57 is configured to be 180 degrees or more.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fixing system 4B is an example of a guide rotating body that guides the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 in a different direction by winding the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 on the upstream side of the preheating device 5B. A certain guide roll 71 is provided.

  The guide roll 71 is provided at the front side position on the upstream side in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the upstream first reverse member 55 of the two first reverse members 55, 56 in the preheating device 5B. 9 is arranged in a state in which the axial direction is orthogonal to the feed direction A. The guide roll 71 is a cylindrical member made of a material such as metal. Further, the guide roll 71 is rotatably arranged at a position near the fixing device 40 between the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming device 2 and the fixing device 40. The guide roll 71 according to the second embodiment performs the secondary transfer by folding back and passing the continuous paper 9 delivered from the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 in a state where the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is in contact with and wound around. It is used to guide in the direction of returning to the position P2.

<Operation of fixing system>
In this fixing system 4B, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the continuous paper 9 fed from the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 causes the guide roll 71, the preliminary heating device 5B and the fixing device 40 to move. Transported in order.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the continuous paper 9 is fed to the guide roll 71 with the front surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and then the back surface 9b passes so as to wind up. To be made. As a result, the continuous paper 9 is the opposite direction to the feeding direction A when it is fed from the secondary transfer position P2, but is in a different direction such that it is returned to the secondary transfer position P2 again (however, it is a part of the feeding direction A). Will be guided to.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the continuous paper 9 fed so as to be returned to the secondary transfer position P2 by the guide roll 71 has the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed facing upward. After being fed to the preheating device 5B in this state, it is preheated from the back surface 9b before the fixing process, and is fed out from the preheating device 5B with its front and back surfaces inverted and the front surface 9a facing upward.

  At this time, in the preheating device 5B, the continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees while being brought into contact with the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 such that the back surface 9b is obliquely wound around the surface of the first reversing member 55 on the upstream side and is passed through. It is sent out toward the heating roll 57 in a state where the back surface is reversed. Thereafter, the continuous paper 9 is contacted so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is wound from the upper side of the heating roll 57 and is fed in accordance with the rotation of the heating roll 57 in the direction shown by the arrow, and then the first reversal of the downstream side. It is sent out so as to be returned to the member 56. Finally, the continuous paper 9 after being heated is twisted 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are brought into contact with the back surface 9b of the first reversing member 56 on the downstream side so as to be obliquely wound around the front surface of the first reversing member 56. Is turned over and is fed from the preheating device 5B with the front surface 9a facing upward, and is fed toward the fixing device 40 located on the downstream side. In the preheating device 5B, the continuous paper 9 is heated from the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 by the heating roll 57 at a required temperature (for example, a temperature set within a range of 90 to 180 ° C.).

  Finally, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the continuous paper 9 preheated by the preheating device 5B has the surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and the fixing device 40 The toner image is sent to the fixing nip portion FN) to be subjected to the fixing processing of the toner image, and then sent out from the fixing device 40.

  In this image forming apparatus 1B, the fixing system 4B is provided with a preliminary heating device 5B, but the heating roll 57 of the preliminary heating device 5B is arranged outside the side end portion 9d of the continuous paper 9. From the above (see FIG. 9 and the like), the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 can be reliably secured while suppressing the exhaust heat of the heating roll 57 from reaching the peripheral portion arranged on the upper side of the heating roll 57 and adversely affecting it. It can be preheated. Also in the preheating device 5B, the unfixed toner image formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9 in the preheating step is disturbed by coming into contact with the first reversing members 55 and 56 and the heating roll 57. There is no fear that

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 1B, since the fixing system 4B has the configuration in which the guide roll 71 is arranged on the upstream side of the preheating device 5B, the continuous paper 9 is fed as compared with the case where the guide roll 71 is not provided. While suppressing an increase in the installation space (see FIG. 6 and the like) in the direction A, the rear surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is preheated at a position close to the position (fixing nip portion FN) where the fixing process is performed, so that the fixing device 40 is heated. It is possible to prevent the temperature from decreasing before the fixing process by the fixing nip portion FN. As a result, according to the fixing system 4B, it is possible to favorably fix the toner image on the continuous paper 9.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 10 shows a fixing system according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the fixing system 4C according to the third embodiment includes a fixing device 40, a preheating device 5C, a reversing device 6B, a first guide roll 75, and a second guide roll 76. ing.

Of these, the fixing device 40 has the same configuration as the fixing device 40 (FIG. 2) in the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment. The preheating device 5C and the reversing device 6B have the same configurations as the preheating device 5 (FIG. 3 and the like) and the reversing device 6 (FIG. 4 and the like) according to the first embodiment. Further, the first guide roll 75 has the same configuration as the guide roll 71 (FIG. 7 etc.) in the second embodiment.
A chain line VL3 in FIG. 10 is an imaginary straight line that connects the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 in the shortest distance.

When viewed with reference to the first guide roll 75, the second guide roll 76 is guided by the first guide roll 75, returned to the secondary transfer position P2 side again, and passes through the reversing device 6B, whereby With respect to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 so that the reverse side 9b of the reversed continuous paper 9 is passed in a winding manner and finally guided in a different direction toward (the fixing nip portion FN of) the fixing device 40. They are arranged so that their axial directions are orthogonal to each other. The second guide roll 76 is arranged such that the direction of its rotation axis is substantially parallel to the direction of the rotation axis of the first guide roll 75.
Further, when viewed with the preheating device 5C as a reference, the second guide roll 76 is configured to transfer the continuous paper 9 more than the first reversing member 51 on the upstream side of the first reversing members 51 and 52 in the preheating device 5C. It is arranged at a front side position on the upstream side in the feeding direction A.
Further, the second guide roll 76 is a cylindrical member formed of a material such as metal. The second guide roll 76 is rotatably arranged at a position near the secondary transfer position P2 between the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the fixing device 40.

<Operation of fixing system>
In this fixing system 4C, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the continuous paper 9 fed from the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 is the first guide roll 75, the reversing device 6B, and the second guide roll. 76, the preheating device 5C and the fixing device 40 are conveyed in this order. In FIG. 11, the reversing device 6B is omitted.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10 and the like, the continuous paper 9 is fed to the first guide roll 75 with the front surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and then the back surface 9b is wound. Be passed through. As a result, the continuous paper 9 is guided in a different direction, which is exactly opposite to the feeding direction A when it is fed from the secondary transfer position P2 and is returned to the secondary transfer position P2 again.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the continuous paper 9 fed so as to be returned to the secondary transfer position P2 by the first guide roll 75 has the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed, facing upward. After being sent to the reversing device 6B, the front and back surfaces thereof are reversed so that the front surface 9a is directed upward and is sent out from the reversing device 6B.

  At this time, in the reversing device 6B, as in the case of the reversing device 6 in the first embodiment, the continuous paper 9 is contacted so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is obliquely wound around the surface of the second reversing member 61 on the upstream side. And is passed therethrough, it is twisted 90 degrees and is sent out toward the relay roll 63 in a state where the front and back surfaces are inverted. Then, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is contacted so as to be wound from the lower side of the relay roll 63 so that the continuous paper 9 is sent according to the rotation of the relay roll 63, and then returned to the second reversing member 62 on the downstream side. Sent out. Finally, the continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are reversed and the back surface 9b is twisted by 90 degrees by being contacted with the back surface 9b of the second reversing member 62 on the downstream side so that the continuous paper 9 passes obliquely. 9b is directed to the upper side and sent out from the reversing device 6B, and is directed to the second guide roll 76 existing on the downstream side thereof.

  Subsequently, the continuous paper 9 reversed by the reversing device 6B is fed to the second guide roll 76 on the downstream side of the reversing device 6B, and then the back surface 9b is wound, as shown in FIGS. To pass through. As a result, the continuous paper 9 is in the opposite direction to the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 (the original feeding direction A), which is the opposite of the feeding direction when the continuous paper 9 is fed from the first guide roll 75 via the reversing device 6B. ).

  Then, the continuous paper 9 guided by the second guide roll 76 is fed to the preheating device 5C with the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed facing upward, and then the fixing processing is performed from the back surface 9b. It is preheated in advance and is fed from the preheating device 5C in a state where the front and back surfaces thereof are inverted and the front surface 9a is turned upward.

  At this time, in the preheating device 5C, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, etc., the continuous paper 9 has its back surface 9b wound obliquely from below on the surface of the upstream first reversing member 51. By being brought into contact with each other so as to be hung and passed therethrough, it is twisted 90 degrees and is sent out toward the heating roll 53 in a state where the front and back surfaces are inverted. Thereafter, the continuous paper 9 is contacted so that the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is wound from the upper side of the heating roll 53, and is fed in accordance with the rotation of the heating roll 53 in the direction shown by the arrow, and then the first reversal of the downstream side. It is sent out so as to be returned to the member 52. Finally, the heated continuous paper 9 is twisted by 90 degrees by allowing the back surface 9b to contact the front surface of the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side so as to be obliquely wound from below and pass therethrough. At the same time, the front and back surfaces are turned upside down and the front surface 9a is directed upward, and is sent out from the preheating device 5C toward the fixing device 40 located downstream thereof. In the preheating device 5C, the continuous paper 9 is heated by the heating roll 53 from the back surface 9b thereof at a required temperature.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the continuous paper 9 preheated by the preheating device 5C has the fixing device 40 (with the surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward). The toner image is sent to the fixing nip portion FN) to be subjected to the fixing processing of the toner image, and then sent out from the fixing device 40.

  In this fixing system 4C as well, since the heating roll 53 of the preheating device 5C is arranged outside the side edge 9d of the continuous paper 9 by the predetermined distance S3 (see FIG. 11 and the like), the heating roll 53 It is possible to reliably preheat the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 while suppressing the exhaust heat of 53 from reaching the peripheral portion arranged on the upper side of the heating roll 53 and adversely affecting it. Also in this preheating device 5C, the unfixed toner image formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9 in the preheating step contacts the first reversing members 51 and 52 and the heating roll 53. There is no fear of being disturbed. The distance S3 is set to the same value as the distance S1 in the first embodiment, but may be set to a different value.

  Further, in this fixing system 4C, since two guide rolls 75 and 76 and the reversing device 6B are arranged in combination on the upstream side of the preheating device 5C, the guide rolls 75 and 76 are not provided. In comparison with the above, while suppressing the installation space (see FIG. 10 and the like) of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A from increasing, a position close to the position (fixing nip portion FN) where the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is fixed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the temperature from being lowered before being preheated and subjected to the fixing process by the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40. As a result, the fixing system 4C can also satisfactorily fix the toner image on the continuous paper 9.

[Embodiment 4]
12 to 14 show an image forming apparatus and the like according to the fourth embodiment. 12 shows an outline of the entire image forming apparatus, FIG. 13 shows a fixing system included in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 14 shows a preliminary heating apparatus included in the image forming apparatus or the fixing system.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 1C includes a supply device 11, an image forming device 2, a fixing system 4D, and an accommodating device 16, and the image forming device according to the first embodiment. When compared with 1, the fixing system 4D has a partially different configuration from the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment, but the other configurations of the supply device 11, the image forming device 2, and the accommodating device 16 are the same. Has become.

  The fixing system 4D according to the fourth embodiment includes a fixing device 40 and a preliminary heating device 5D, as shown in FIGS. Of these, the fixing device 40 has the same configuration as the fixing device 40 (FIG. 2) in the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment.

<Configuration of preheating device>
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the preheating device 5D is arranged at a different position in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is formed, and at a different position. Two first reversing members 510 and 520 for reversing the front and back surfaces of the continuous paper 9 by passing the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed before the fixing process, and the side end portion 9d of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A. This is an example of a heating rotator which is arranged at an outer position and which allows the back surface 9b of the portion of the continuous paper 9 that is present between the first reversing members 510 and 520 to pass through so as to be wound and to be preheated before the fixing process. And two heating rolls 530A and 530B.
A chain line VL1 in FIG. 13 is an imaginary straight line that connects the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 in the shortest distance.

The two first reversing members 510 and 520 have substantially the same configuration as the first reversing members 51 and 52 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, and with respect to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. They are fixedly arranged so that they intersect at an angle of 45 degrees.
In addition, the two first reversing members 510 and 520 are different from the first reversing members 51 and 52 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment in that the two heating rolls 530A and 530B are arranged. The arrangement is a little different as shown below.
That is, since the two heating rolls 530A and 530B are arranged in a substantially horizontal state, both of the two first reversing members 510 and 520 have the upper end (top) of the above-mentioned image formation as shown in FIG. The secondary transfer position P2 of the device 2 and the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 are arranged at the same height along a virtual straight line VL1 that connects them in the shortest distance, and the height difference with respect to the virtual straight line VL1. There is no state. In this respect, the first reversing members 51 and 52 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment are arranged so that their upper ends have a height difference with respect to the virtual straight line VL1 (FIG. 2).

  Like the heating roll 53 in the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, the two heating rolls 530A and 530B are provided in a cylindrical roll base material made of a material such as a metal and an internal space of the roll base material. It is composed of a heating source 540 such as a halogen lamp arranged. Further, the heating rolls 530A and 530B, like the heating roll 53, have their roll bases rotatably arranged, and the movement of the continuous paper 9 passing so as to be wound around the heating rolls 530A and 530B, respectively. It is adapted to rotate in response to (transportation movement).

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the two heating rolls 530A and 530B are separated by a predetermined distance S4 from one of the side ends 9c and 9d (in this example, the side end 9d) in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. At a position on the outer side that is distant from each other, the axial direction of the continuous paper 9 is obliquely intersected with the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9.
Specifically, the first heating roll 530A arranged on the upstream side in the direction in which the continuous paper 9 is conveyed has an axis with respect to the feeding direction of the continuous paper 9 when it is delivered from the upstream first reversing member 510. The directions are arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees so as to intersect with each other. The first heating roll 530A is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed from the first reversing member 510 is introduced from the lower side thereof, wrapped around the roll peripheral surface, and then fed out from the upper side. At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the first heating roll 530A is about 180 degrees.
Further, the second heating roll 530B arranged on the downstream side of the first heating roll 530A in the conveying direction of the continuous paper 9 has a feeding direction of the continuous paper 9 when fed from the first heating roll 530A. The axial directions are arranged so as to intersect each other at an angle of about 45 degrees, in other words, the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side and the axial directions are parallel to each other. The second heating roll 530B is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed from the first heating roll 530A is introduced from the upper side thereof, wrapped around the roll peripheral surface, and then fed out from the lower side. At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the second heating roll 530B also becomes an angle of about 180 degrees.

<Operation of fixing system>
In this fixing system 4D, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the continuous paper 9 fed from the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 passes through the preliminary heating device 5D and the fixing device 40 in this order. To be transported.

  First, as shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the continuous paper 9 is fed to the preheating device 5D with the front surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and then from the back surface 9b thereof before the fixing process. Is heated in advance, and the front and back surfaces thereof are turned upside down and fed from the preheating device 5D with the front surface 9a facing upward.

At this time, in the preheating device 5D, the continuous paper 9 is passed by contacting the surface 9a of the continuous paper 9 with the surface of the first reversing member 510 on the upstream side so as to be obliquely wound from the upper side thereof, so that the continuous paper 9 is rotated by 90 degrees. In a state where the front and back surfaces are twisted and inverted, the sheet is sent from below the first reversing member 510 toward the first heating roll 530A.
The continuous paper 9 sent out from the first reversing member 510 is sent according to the driven rotation of the first heating roll 530A while being heated by contacting and heating the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 from the lower side of the first heating roll 530A. By this, it is twisted 90 degrees and is fed out from the upper side of the first heating roll 530A toward the second heating roll 530B in a state where the front and back surfaces are inverted. Further, the continuous paper 9 delivered from the first heating roll 530A is heated in contact with the back surface 9b of the second heating roll 530B so as to be wound from above the second heating roll 530B, and is fed in accordance with the driven rotation of the second heating roll 530B. As a result, it is twisted 90 degrees and is fed out from the lower side of the second heating roll 530B toward the first inverting member 520 on the downstream side in a state where the front and back surfaces are inverted.
Finally, the continuous paper 9 after being heated by the two heating rolls 530A and 530B passes with the back surface 9b thereof in contact with the surface of the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side so as to be obliquely wound from the lower side. As a result, it is twisted 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are inverted, and the front surface 9a is fed out from the preheating device 5D with the front surface 9a facing upward, and is fed toward the fixing device 40 existing on the downstream side.
Then, in the preheating device 5D, the continuous paper 9 is heated from the back surface 9b thereof by the two heating rolls 530A and 530B at a required temperature (for example, a temperature set within a range of 90 to 180 ° C.). .

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13, the continuous paper 9 preheated by the preheating device 5D has the surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, (the fixing nip portion of the fixing device 40). After being sent to the FN) and the fixing process of the toner image is performed, the toner image is sent out from the fixing device 40.

  In this image forming apparatus 1C, the fixing system 4D is provided with a preheating device 5D, and the two heating rolls 530A and 530B in the preheating device 5D are both outside the side end portion 9d of the continuous paper 9. (See FIG. 14 and the like). Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1C, it is possible to prevent the exhaust heat of the heating rolls 530A and 530B from reaching the peripheral portions arranged above the heating rolls 530A and 530B and adversely affecting the continuous paper 9 The back surface 9b can be reliably preheated. Incidentally, also in this preheating device 5D, the unfixed toner image formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9 in the preheating step contacts the first reversing members 510, 520 and the heating rolls 530A, 530B. There is no fear of being disturbed.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 1C, since the preheating device 5D in the fixing system 4D has the two heating rolls 530A and 530B disposed between the first reversing members 510 and 520, the preheating by the preheating device 5D is performed. Is performed by winding the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 around the peripheral surfaces of the two heating rolls 530A and 530B at an angle of about 180 degrees and sequentially contacting each other. For this reason, in the preheating by the preheating device 5D, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is brought into contact with the heating rolls 530A and 530B at the peripheral surface regions at an angle of about 180 degrees (total peripheral surface area at about 360 degrees). Since it is performed, for example, as compared with the case of performing preheating with one heating roll 53 like the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to secure a heating time about twice as long. As a result, in the fixing system 4D, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is sufficiently preheated at a position close to the position (fixing nip FN) where the fixing process is performed before the fixing process is performed by the fixing nip FN of the fixing device 40. It is possible to prevent the temperature from decreasing.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1C, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the preheating device 5D in the fixing system 4D has two first reversing members 510 and 520 and two heating rolls 530A and 530B all virtual. Is substantially in line with the straight line VL1 and the height difference is small with respect to the imaginary straight line VL1. Therefore, a direction (for example, a height direction) D orthogonal to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 (see FIG. 12). It is possible to further suppress an increase in the installation space in the reference).

[Fifth Embodiment]
15 to 17 show a fixing system and the like according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15 shows an outline of the entire fixing system, FIG. 16 shows a preheating device provided in the fixing system in a state when viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 17 shows the preheating device and the like.

  The fixing system 4E according to the fifth embodiment includes a fixing device 40 and a preliminary heating device 5E, as shown in FIG. Of these, the fixing device 40 has the same configuration as the fixing device 40 (FIG. 2) in the fixing system 4 according to the first embodiment.

<Configuration of preheating device>
As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the preheating device 5E is arranged at a different position in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 on which the toner image is formed, and at a different position. First reverse member 510, 520 for passing the back surface 9b on which the toner image is not formed before the fixing process to reverse the front and back surfaces of the continuous paper 9, and the side end portion 9d of the continuous paper 9 in the feeding direction A. Is an example of a heating rotator which is arranged at a position on the outer side of and is passed through so as to wind the back surface 9b of the portion of the continuous paper 9 which is present between the first reversing members 510 and 520 and which is heated in advance before the fixing process. It is provided with four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F.
A chain line VL1 in FIG. 15 is an imaginary straight line that connects the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the fixing nip portion FN of the fixing device 40 in the shortest distance.

  The two first reversing members 510 and 520 have substantially the same configuration as the first reversing members 510 and 520 in the preheating device 5D according to the fourth embodiment, and with respect to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. They are fixedly arranged so that they intersect at an angle of 45 degrees.

  Each of the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, 530F is a roll base formed of a material such as metal into a cylindrical shape, like the two heating rolls 530A, 530B in the preheating device 5D according to the fourth embodiment. And a heating source 540 such as a halogen lamp arranged in the inner space of the roll base material. The heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F all have their roll bases rotatably arranged, like the above two heating rolls 530A and 530B, and each heating roll 530C, 530D, 530E, The continuous paper 9 is driven to rotate in response to the movement (conveyance movement) of the continuous paper 9 that passes through so as to be wound around each 530F.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F have their axes at outer positions separated from the side end portion 9d in the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9 by a predetermined distance S5. The sheets are arranged in a state in which the direction is parallel to the feed direction A of the continuous paper 9 and a state in which the continuous paper 9 intersects diagonally.

Specifically, the first heating roll 530C arranged on the most upstream side in the direction in which the continuous paper 9 is conveyed is in a state in which its axial direction exists on the same plane passing through the axis of the first reversing member 510 on the upstream side. And the axial direction thereof is substantially parallel to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. The first heating roll 530C is used so as to introduce the continuous paper 9 fed from the first reversing member 510 from the lower side thereof, wind the continuous paper 9 around the roll circumferential surface, and then vertically feed it from the rear side surface side. . At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the first heating roll 530C is about 90 degrees.
The second heating roll 530D, which is arranged on the downstream side of the first heating roll 530C in the direction in which the continuous paper 9 is conveyed, has a first heating roll whose axial direction is vertically above the first heating roll 530C. The 530C is arranged in a state of existing on the same plane passing through the rotation axis of the 530C, and is also arranged in a state of being inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or the like so that one end is located above the other end. The second heating roll 530D is configured such that the continuous paper 9 fed so as to rise vertically from the first heating roll 530C is introduced from the rear side surface of the second continuous heating roll 530C and then wound around the peripheral surface of the roll. It is used so as to send out (in the direction along the virtual straight line VL1). At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the second heating roll 530D is about 180 degrees.
In addition, the third heating roll 530E, which is arranged on the downstream side of the second heating roll 530D in the direction in which the continuous paper 9 is conveyed, has its axial direction on the same plane that passes through the rotation axis of the second heating roll 530D. In addition to being arranged in a state, one end is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees or the like so as to be located above the other end. The 2nd heating roll 530D and the 3rd heating roll 530E are arrange | positioned in the state which looks like a V shape, when it sees from the front side. The third heating roll 530E introduces the continuous paper 6 fed from the second heating roll 530D so as to move in a substantially horizontal direction while standing in the vertical direction, and introduces the continuous paper 6 from the front side surface thereof, and then winds the continuous paper 6 around the roll peripheral surface. After that, it is used to feed it downward from the rear side surface in a substantially vertical direction. At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the third heating roll 530E is an angle of about 180 degrees.
Furthermore, the fourth heating roll 530F arranged on the most downstream side of the third heating roll 530E in the conveying direction of the continuous paper 9 has the same plane as the axial direction passing through the axis of the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side. And the axial direction thereof is substantially parallel to the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. The fourth heating roll 530F is used so that the continuous paper 9 fed from the third heating roll 530E is introduced from the rear side surface thereof, wrapped around the roll peripheral surface, and then fed substantially horizontally from the lower side thereof. At this time, the winding angle of the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 with respect to the fourth heating roll 530F is about 90 degrees.

<Operation of fixing system>
In this fixing system 4E, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the continuous paper 9 sent from the secondary transfer position P2 of the image forming apparatus 2 passes through the preliminary heating device 5E and the fixing device 40 in this order. To be transported.

  First, as shown in FIG. 16 and the like, the continuous paper 9 is fed to the preheating device 5E with the front surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, and then, from the back surface 9b thereof, before the fixing process. Is heated in advance, and the front and back surfaces thereof are reversed so that the front surface 9a is directed upward and is fed from the preheating device 5E.

At this time, in the preheating device 5E, the continuous paper 9 is passed by contacting the surface 9a of the continuous paper 9 with the surface of the first reversing member 510 on the upstream side so as to be obliquely wound from the upper side thereof, so that the continuous paper 9 is rotated by 90 degrees. In a state in which the front and back surfaces are twisted and inverted, the sheet is sent from below the first reversing member 510 toward the first heating roll 530C.
The continuous paper 9 sent out from the first reversing member 510 is sent according to the driven rotation of the first heating roll 530C while being heated by contacting and heating the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 from the lower side of the first heating roll 530C. As a result, the feeding direction is bent 90 degrees and is fed vertically upward from the rear side surface toward the second heating roll 530D. Subsequently, the continuous paper 9 is fed in accordance with the driven rotation of the second heating roll 530D while being heated while being in contact with the continuous paper 9 so that the back surface 9b is wound from the rear side surface side of the inclined second heating roll 530D. In the state in which the feeding direction is twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are reversed, the feeding is performed substantially horizontally upward toward the third heating roll 530E. Then, the continuous paper 9 is fed in accordance with the driven rotation of the third heating roll 530E while being heated by contacting the back surface 9b of the inclined third heating roll 530E so as to be wound from the front side surface side of the third heating roll 530E. It is fed vertically downward toward the fourth heating roll 530F in a state where the feeding direction is twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are reversed.
Finally, the continuous paper 9 after being sequentially heated by the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F has its back surface 9b obliquely wound around the surface of the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side from the lower side. Are brought into contact with each other and passed through such a manner that they are twisted by 90 degrees and the front and back surfaces are reversed, and the front surface 9a is sent out from the preheating device 5E with the surface 9a facing upward, and toward the fixing device 40 existing downstream thereof. Sent.
In the preheating device 5E, the continuous paper 9 is heated by the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F from the back surface 9b at a required temperature (for example, a temperature set within a range of 90 to 180 ° C.). Each is heated.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 17, the continuous paper 9 preheated by the preheating device 5E has its surface 9a on which the toner image is formed facing upward, (the fixing nip portion of the fixing device 40). After being sent to the FN) and the fixing process of the toner image is performed, the toner image is sent out from the fixing device 40.

  In this image forming apparatus 1C, the fixing system 4E is provided with a preheating device 5E, and the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, 530F in the preheating device 5E are all side edges of the continuous paper 9. It is arranged outside the portion 9d (see FIG. 17 and the like). Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1C, the continuous paper is suppressed while suppressing the exhaust heat of each of the heating rolls 530C to 530F from reaching the peripheral portion arranged on the upper side of the heating rolls 530C to 530F and having an adverse effect. The back surface 9b of 9 can be reliably preheated. Incidentally, also in this preheating device 5E, the unfixed toner image formed on one surface (front surface 9a) of the continuous paper 9 in the preheating step contacts the first reversing members 510 and 520 and the heating rolls 530C to 530F. There is no fear of being disturbed.

Further, in this fixing system 4E, since the preheating device 5E has the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E and 530F arranged between the first reversing members 510 and 520, the preheating by the preheating device 5E is The back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is wound around the peripheral surfaces of the four heating rolls 530C to 530F at angles of about 90 degrees, about 180 degrees, about 180 degrees and about 90 degrees, respectively, and sequentially contacted. Become. Therefore, in the preheating by the preheating device 5E, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is applied to the heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F by a circumferential surface area having angles of about 90 degrees, about 180 degrees, about 180 degrees, and about 90 degrees. Since it is performed by contacting with (a total of one circumferential area and a circumferential surface area of about 180 degrees), for example, when the two heating rolls 530A and 530B preheat as in the preheating device 5D according to the fourth embodiment. It is possible to secure a heating time that is about 1.5 times longer than that of
As a result, in the fixing system 4E, the back surface 9b of the continuous paper 9 is sufficiently preheated at a position close to the position for fixing processing (fixing nip FN) and before the fixing processing by the fixing nip FN of the fixing device 40 is performed. It is possible to further prevent the temperature from decreasing.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 1C, although the preheating device 5E in the fixing system 4E has a configuration in which the four heating rolls 530C, 530D, 530E, and 530F are arranged, The projecting arrangement space can be accommodated in substantially the same arrangement space as in the case where the one heating roll 53 of the preheating device 5 according to the first embodiment is arranged.

[Other Embodiments]
In the first embodiment and the like, the preheating device 5 has a configuration example in which the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side thereof is fixedly arranged in a state of obliquely intersecting the feeding direction A of the continuous paper 9. However, as illustrated representatively in FIG. 18, the downstream first reversing member 52 of the two first reversing members 51 and 52 is used as a reference guide position during conveyance of the continuous paper 9 in the fixing device 40 (for example, the central portion). It may be configured to be displaceable in a direction D (D2 in this example) adapted to guide = CR (Center Registration).
This is because, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is configured, the supply device 11 and the image forming device 2 have side end guides (SR: Side) different from, for example, the central part guide (CR) as the reference guide position during conveyance of the continuous paper 9. Registration) is adopted, while it is effective when the fixing device 40 needs to adopt the one adopting the central portion guide (CR). That is, at this time, it is not necessary to change the transporting reference guide position in the supply device 11 or the image forming device 2 to the central portion guide (CR), and one component in the preheating device 5 (the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side). It is possible to combine with the fixing device 40 which adopts the central portion guide (CR) only by changing the position of ().

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side of the preheating device 5 is arranged at its original position (the position of the first reversing member 52A in the state displaced in the direction of the arrow D1). ), It can be displaced to a suitable arrangement position (the position of the first reversing member 52B which is displaced in the direction of the arrow D2).
As a result, the continuous paper 9A sent by the side edge guide (SR) in the supply device 11 and the image forming device 2 is displaced to the suitable arrangement position in the preheating device 5 and then the first reverse member on the downstream side. When passing through 52B, the continuous paper 9B in the state of being changed from the side edge guide (SR) to the central guide (CR) in the fixing device 40 is delivered. As a result, the continuous paper 9B, which is changed to the central portion guide (CR) and is sent to the fixing device 40, passes through the fixing nip portion FN while being conveyed by the central portion guide (CR) in the fixing device 40, so that it is normal. The fixing process is performed. In FIG. 18, for the sake of convenience, the side end 9c, which is regulated by the continuous paper 9A conveyed by the side end guide (SR), is shown in a state in which the side end 9c is slightly apart from the chain double-dashed line indicating the side end guide (SR). However, actually, the side edge 9c of the continuous paper 9A is conveyed in a state along (substantially coincident with) the two-dot chain line indicating the side edge guide (SR).

  The configuration in which the first reversing member 52 on the downstream side of the preheating device 5 is displaceably provided so as to be adapted to the transporting reference guide position of the continuous paper 9 in the fixing device 40 is the preheating device according to the second to fifth embodiments. The same applies to 5B to 5E. In the case of the preheating device 5B, the first reversing member 56 on the downstream side may be displaceably provided so as to be adapted to the reference guide position of the fixing device 40 when the continuous paper 9 is conveyed. In the case of the preheating devices 5E and 5F, the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side of the preheating devices 5E and 5F may be displaceably provided so as to be adapted to the reference guide position of the fixing device 40 when the continuous paper 9 is conveyed.

In the fixing system 4 (FIG. 2, etc.) according to the first embodiment, if necessary, the relay roll 63 in the reversing device 6 may be configured as a heating roll (for example, in the internal space of the roll base material of the relay roll 63). It is also possible to arrange a heating source).
Further, also in the fixing system 4B (FIG. 7 etc.) according to the second embodiment, the guide roll 71 can be configured as a heating roll, if necessary.
Furthermore, also in the fixing system 4C (FIG. 10 and the like) according to the third embodiment, the relay roll 63 in the reversing device 6B is configured as a heating roll, and at least one of the first guide roll 75 and the second guide roll 76 is used. It is possible to employ one or both of the configuration as a heating roll.

  As described above, when other rolls or the like are configured as the heating rotator in addition to the heating rolls 53 and 57 in the preheating device 5 (5B and 5C), the preheating of the back surface of the continuous paper 9 can be performed more accurately. Can be done well. On the other hand, when there is a possibility that the exhaust heat from the additional heating rotor may adversely affect the heating temperature of the additional heating roll, the heating temperature of the additional heating roll such as the heating roll 53 in the preheating device 5 may be changed. It suffices to set a temperature lower than the heating temperature of No. 1 and deal with it. The heating rotator is not limited to the roll form, and other forms of heating rotator can be applied. Another example of the heating rotator is a belt-shaped heating rotator including a plurality of support rolls around which a heating belt is wound. This form is the same for the guide rotating body such as the guide roll 71.

Further, in the fixing system 4E (FIGS. 15 to 17) according to the fifth embodiment, if necessary, the inclined second heating roll 530D and the third heating roll 530E in the preheating device 5E are configured as reversing members. You may. In this case, one preheating device (5Ea) is established by the upstream first reversing member 510, the first heating roll 530C, and the reversing member (which was the second heating roll 530D), and the remaining ( The preheating device (5Eb) is established by the reversing member, which was the third heating roll 530E), the fourth heating roll 530F, and the first reversing member 520 on the downstream side. Therefore, the preheating device having this configuration can be treated as a preheating device (5Ea + 5Eb) including, for example, two preheating devices (5Ea, 5Eb) connected in series.
Further, in the fourth and fifth embodiments, two heating rolls (530A, 530B) are used as the heating rolls (530A to 530F) arranged between the upstream-side first inversion member 510 and the downstream-side first inversion member 520. And the case of four heating rolls (530C to 530F) have been exemplified, but if necessary, if the continuous paper 9 can be conveyed in a desired state and the back surface 9b thereof is preheated, three heating rolls or Five or more heating rolls may be arranged.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the fixing device 40 in the fixing system 4 is provided with the belt-shaped heating rotary member 41 and the roll-shaped pressing rotary member 42, but the fixing device 40 is not limited to the fixing device 40. A combination of a belt-shaped or roll-shaped heating rotator 41 and a roll-shaped or belt-shaped pressing rotator 42 can be applied.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus 1, as the image forming apparatus 2, a device that forms another multicolor image (the type and number of the image forming device 20 are changed) or a single color image (for example, a monochrome image). The image forming apparatus may include a device that forms the image forming device) (a device that is configured by the image forming device 20K alone) or a device that does not use the intermediate transfer device 30. Further, the supply device 11 and the accommodating device 16 in the image forming apparatus 1 are not limited to those that employ the adjustment mechanisms 13 and 18 illustrated in the first and second embodiments, and other types of mechanisms may be employed. It may be. As a mechanism of another system, for example, while the conveyance amount of the continuous paper 9 is adjusted by the conveyance roll pair 14 of the supply device 11, the conveyance roll pair 19 on the accommodation device 16 side is driven with a constant torque, and the continuous paper 9 is conveyed. Examples of the mechanism include a mechanism of adjusting the tension applied to the. Further, the image forming apparatus may be an apparatus that forms an unfixed image made of a material other than toner.

1, 1B, 1C ... Image forming device 2 ... Image forming device 4, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E ... Fixing system 5, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E ... Preheating device 9 ... Continuous paper (an example of continuous recording medium )
9b ... Back surface 9c, 9d ... Side end 40 ... Fixing device 51, 52, 55, 56, 510, 520 ... First reversing member 52, 56, 520 ... Downstream first reversing member 53, 57, 530A to 530F ... Heating roll (an example of a heating rotor)
61, 62 ... Second reversing member 63 ... Relay roll (an example of a relay rotator)
71, 75, 76 ... Guide roll (an example of a guide rotating body)
A: Transport direction (feed direction)
FN: Fixing nip part (fixing processing part)

Claims (6)

The unfixed image is formed on the back surface of the recording medium, which is arranged at different positions diagonally intersecting the feeding direction of the continuous recording medium and on which the unfixed image is not formed, before the fixing process. Two first reversing members for reversing the front and back surfaces of the recording medium;
The recording medium is arranged at a position outside the side end portion in the feeding direction, and the back surface of the portion of the recording medium existing between the two first reversing members is passed so as to be wound and is heated in advance before the fixing process. At least one heating rotor,
Preheating device equipped with. Of the two first reversing members, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium at a front side position which is on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium with respect to the upstream first reversing member arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium. Two second reversing members which are arranged at different positions in a state of diagonally intersecting each other and which passes through the back surface of the recording medium and reverses the front and back surfaces of the recording medium;
A relay rotator which is arranged at a position outside the side end portion in the feeding direction of the recording medium and which allows the back surface of the portion of the recording medium existing between the two second reversing members to pass therethrough in a winding manner;
The preheating device according to claim 1, further comprising a reversing mechanism configured by.   Of the two first reversing members, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium at a front side position which is on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium with respect to the upstream first reversing member arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium. The preheating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a guide rotating body that is arranged such that the axial directions thereof are orthogonal to each other and that guides the back surface of the recording medium in a different direction by passing the back surface of the recording medium in a winding manner. A fixing device for fixing the unfixed image by passing through a continuous recording medium on which the unfixed image is formed;
A preliminary heating device which is arranged at a position upstream of the fixing device in the feeding direction of the recording medium and which preheats the back surface of the recording medium on which an unfixed image is not formed before the fixing process;
Equipped with
A fixing system in which the preheating device comprises the preheating device according to claim 1.   A direction in which the downstream first reversing member of the two first reversing members of the preheating device, which is arranged on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium, is adapted to the transporting reference guide position of the recording medium in the fixing device. The fixing system according to claim 4, wherein the fixing system is displaceably provided. An image forming apparatus for forming an unfixed image on a continuous recording medium,
6. The fixing according to claim 4, wherein the unfixed image is fixed by the image forming apparatus on the back surface of the recording medium on which the unfixed image is not formed before heating is performed before the fixing process. System,
An image forming apparatus provided with.

Images