JPH06202518A - Fixing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the property of supplied releasing agent constant at a position near a fixing roller and to always uniformly the releasing agent by providing a heating means keeping the temperature in the neighborhood of a releasing agent coated blade or a releasing agent coating member brought into contact with the fixing roller constant. CONSTITUTION:The surface of the fixing roller 1 is coated with the releasing agent by a coating roller 12. The roller 12 is coated with oil by bringing it into contact with a felt impregnated with silicone oil in an oil bank 6 or a wick 5 made of porous fluororesin. The tip part of a regulation blade 11 whose root is fixed is made to press-contact with the roller 12 and the coating quantity is regulated by an angle formed by a tangent line at the contact point of the blade 11 with the roller 12 or the pressure set of the blade 11. At this time, the surface of the blade 11 is provided with a heater 13 as a heating source and the silicone oil is previously heated. Due to that, since the viscosity of the oil is always kept to a regulated value, the coating quantity of the oil is not fluctuated by the change of the temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image carried on a transfer material through a predetermined process on the transfer material, and a fixing device having a release agent coating means. And a multicolor image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on a latent electrostatic image bearing member by using developing devices of a plurality of colors.

[0002]

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

"Conventional Example 1" Conventionally, a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-10314 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-3489.
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-242242, by applying a release agent such as silicone oil to the fixing roller, the offset phenomenon in which the unfixed toner on the transfer material adheres to the fixing roller is prevented. is there.

[Problem 1] However, the above-mentioned conventional example 1 has the following drawbacks because the amount of the release agent adhered to the coating roller or the fixing roller changes depending on the temperature of the release agent. (1) The temperature of the release agent rises due to continuous use for a long period of time, the viscosity decreases, the amount of release agent applied to the coating roller or the fixing roller decreases, and the unfixed toner on the transfer material transfers to the fixing roller. There is an offset phenomenon or deterioration of the fixing roller. (2) When the supply amount of the release agent is further reduced, coating unevenness of the release agent occurs, and when the transfer material such as OHP is fixed, the above coating unevenness is directly projected and the image quality deteriorates. . (3) If the amount of the release agent when the temperature rises sufficiently is defined in order to solve the above (1) and (2), the amount of the release agent attached increases at the initial startup, and the amount attached to the OHP accordingly. Also increases, and when handling OHP after printing, the hands become sticky or the surroundings are soiled with a release agent. (4) When attempting to perform double-sided printing on plain paper, the release agent that has adhered during the first fixing process adheres to the image bearing member such as the photosensitive drum during the next image formation, resulting in deterioration of image quality, shortening of the life of the photosensitive drum, etc. Was invited.

According to the present invention, the release agent supplied to the fixing device is kept close to the fixing roller at a constant property so that the release agent can be applied under the same conditions. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device in which the release agent is always applied uniformly.

"Prior Art Example 2" As a fixing device of this type, a transfer is carried by a fixing roller 1 having a heater 3 as shown in FIG. 5 and a pressure roller 2 in pressure contact with the fixing roller 1. There is an apparatus that holds and conveys a material to fix it. In FIG. 5, the fixing roller 1 has the heating silicon rubber 1a on the aluminum core metal 1b, and the pressure roller 2 has the pressure silicon rubber 2a on the aluminum core metal 2b. The cleaning web 7 pressed by the sponge roller 15 is in contact with the fixing roller 1. The cleaning web 7 is wound around the take-up roller 17 and the take-up roller 16. The fixing roller 1 is provided with an application roller 12 for applying a release agent (hereinafter referred to as oil), and the application roller 12 is in contact with a scooping roller 18, and the oil 21 in the oil reservoir 6 is partially covered by the scooping roller 18. using. The regulating blade 11 in contact with the coating roller 12 regulates the amount of oil transferred from the coating roller 12 to the fixing roller 1. The lower end of the suction pipe 22 of the pump 23 is immersed in the oil 21 in the oil tank 25.
The discharge pipe 24 is open in the oil reservoir 6. In the above description, the oil pump 23 is a pump that can pump the oil 21 from the oil tank 25 and can return the oil 21 to the oil tank 25 by forward and reverse rotation, for example, a gear pump.

The procedure for applying oil to the surface of the fixing roller 1 is as follows. First, the pump 23 pumps the oil sucked from the oil tank 25 through the suction pipe 22 to the oil reservoir 6 through the discharge pipe 24, and then the pumping roller. The oil adhering to the surface of the scooping roller 18 is rotated by rotating the coating roller 12 and the coating roller 12.
It is possible to perform stable oil application on the surface of the fixing roller 1 by transferring the necessary amount of the oil transferred to the surface of the application roller 12 by the regulating blade 11 to the surface of the fixing roller 1.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is difficult to secure a sufficient capacity of the oil reservoir due to the limitation of the apparatus size. (1) The apparatus is not used on a horizontal table, or the apparatus is moved when the apparatus is moved. Oil spills from the oil sump when tilted. (2) When the liquid level of the oil is too low, sufficient coating cannot be performed, and when the liquid level is too high, the oil overflows beyond the wall of the container, so it is necessary to control the liquid level at an intermediate position between the two.
As the container becomes shallower, the width of the upper and lower liquid levels becomes narrower, which makes it difficult to control. (3) Since the number of parts is large and it is close to the fixing roller to be heated, a large amount of heat resistant material is used, resulting in high cost. There is a problem such as.

To solve the above problem, a fixing device having an oil applying means as shown in FIG. 2 can be considered.

In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 represent the same members, but the pumping roller and the oil reservoir are abolished, and the pressing position of the regulating blade 11 is shifted toward the fixing roller 1. A nozzle 26 is newly provided on the surface of the coating roller 12 for uniformly dropping the oil in the roller axial direction. As a procedure for applying oil to the surface of the fixing roller 1, the pump 23 immediately moves the oil tank 25 to the nozzle 26 immediately before the transfer material is conveyed and fixing is started.
The conveyance of the oil 21 is started, and when the fixing is completed, the conveyance is stopped. During this time, the oil dropped on the coating roller 12 is leveled by the regulation blade 11 to the amount required for coating, and is coated on the fixing roller 1. However, even with such a configuration, once the oil has been conveyed to the nozzle 26, the oil that has not been used for fixing remains in the nozzle 26 and spontaneously falls out of the nozzle 26 while being left for a long time, or when the apparatus is used. There is a risk that the remaining oil will contaminate the inside of the device if vibration can be applied to the whole.

[Problem 2] The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, as an oil applying method for a fixing device having a mechanism for applying oil, an applying method is used in which a roller is used after pumping oil once into an oil reservoir. The following points occur in. (1) The oil spills when the device is tilted. (2) It is necessary to control the oil level very delicately for stable application. (3) The number of parts is large and the material cost is high.

"Prior Art Example 3" As a fixing device of this type of image forming apparatus, a fixing roller 1 having a heater 3 as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 and a pressure roller 2 in pressure contact with the fixing roller 1 are used. There is a device that carries and fixes a transfer material carrying a toner image. 21 and 22, the fixing roller 1 includes a heating silicon rubber 1a, an aluminum core metal 1b,
The pressure roller 2 has a silicon rubber 2a for pressure on the aluminum cored bar 2b. The cleaning web 7 is pressed against the fixing roller 1 by the sponge roller 15 and is in contact therewith. The cleaning web 7 wound around the feeding roller 17 is wound around the winding roller 16. The oil applying roller 12 is in contact with the fixing roller 1 in a use state. The oil regulating blade 11 and the pumping roller 18 are in contact with the roller 12, and the pumping roller 18 is immersed in the silicone oil 21 in the oil reservoir 6. The oil 21 in the oil tank 25 is sucked by the pump 23 through the suction pipe 22 and sent to the oil sump 6 by the discharge pipe 24. The unnecessary oil tray 29 is provided below the pressure roller 2, and the oil cleaning blade 31 is in contact with the pressure roller 2.
The thermistor 4 detects the temperature of the fixing roller 1 and controls the heater 3 with a temperature control circuit. The fixing unit frame 33 is fitted to the guide rail 32 provided on the apparatus main body 30. In the above configuration, the pair of fixing rollers 1 and 2
And a portion in which the peripheral members thereof are held by the fixing unit frame 33 is a fixing unit which is made into a cartridge,
A system from the oil applying roller 12 to the oil tank 25 is an oil applying device section provided on the device main body 30 side.

In the above structure, the fixing unit is pressed against the oil applying device along the guide rail 32 and mounted.

As a procedure for applying the oil 21 to the surface of the fixing roller 1, first, an oil tank 25 is used by a pump 23.
After pumping the appropriate amount of oil 21 from the oil reservoir 6 to the oil reservoir 6,
By rotating the drawing roller 18 and the applying roller 12, the oil 21 adhering to the surface of the drawing roller 8 is transferred to the surface of the applying roller 12, and the adhering oil 21 on the surface of the applying roller 12 is allowed to pass only a necessary amount by the regulating blade 11. Thus, stable oil application can be performed on the surface of the fixing roller 1.

On the other hand, in the above structure, when the fixing unit and the oil applying device are connected, the oil application becomes uneven due to the pressing condition of the fixing roller and the applying roller.
Since there is a danger that the rollers will not be driven properly, the oil applying device is incorporated in the fixing unit so that a general user can easily set or replace the fixing unit as shown in FIG. And configurations such as 24 are contemplated. In the configuration of FIG. 23, the fixing roller 1 and the applying roller 12 are set in advance, and the user sets the fixing unit along the guide rail 32, and the drive transmission gear and the electrical connection connector (both not shown) are set. All you have to do is make the connection.

However, the following problems still remain in the above conventional example. (1) Oil is spilled from the oil reservoir when the device is not used on a horizontal table or when the entire device is tilted when moving the device. (2) When replacing the fixing unit, there is a danger that the oil left inside the fixing unit may stain the user's hand, desk, or the like. (3) Since the coating device is built in, the volume and weight of the fixing device unit increase, and the user's labor for handling the fixing device unit becomes too large. (4) Similarly, the number of parts of the fuser unit increases,
High cost. (5) Similarly, the processing load of the used fixing unit is increased. (Increase of Dust, Complicated Recycling Work) "Problem 3" The problem to be solved by the present invention is as an oil application method for a fixing device having a device for applying oil, in which oil is first pumped to an oil reservoir and then the roller is applied. The following points are caused by using the method of coating with a coating device and incorporating the coating device in the fixing unit. (1) Contamination inside the device due to oil when the device is moved. (2) There is a risk that the user will get oil stains when the user replaces the fixing unit. (3) Increase in user's labor when handling the unit due to increase in volume and weight of the fuser unit. (4) High cost of the fixing unit. (5) Increased processing load on the used fixing unit.

"Prior Art Example 4" In recent years, the desktop printer market has been remarkably developed, and electrophotographic laser beam printers are rapidly becoming popular due to their high image quality and high speed.

With the advancement of technology, miniaturization and price reduction have been advanced, and many products for personal use have been introduced. Given the increasing demand for digital color copiers, it can be said that the development of small color laser beam printers is imminent. Two-color laser beam printers have already been commercialized.

In the color image forming apparatus, a process of transferring a recorded image formed by charging, exposing and developing on an image carrier onto a transfer material is repeated a plurality of times to form a superimposed image of a plurality of colors on the transfer material. There is a method of forming a color image to obtain a color image, which has been put to practical use with the configuration described in DSA 2607727, JP-A-50-50935 and the like.

FIG. 35 shows a conventional example of a color image forming apparatus. As shown in the figure, a roller charger 63 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 61 in the entire apparatus, and a plurality of developing devices 64a, 64b, 64b are provided on the right side of the photosensitive drum 61.
64c and 64d are carried by a rotatable support body 60, and each developing device 64 is mounted on the same cylinder centered on the support body rotation shaft 65.
a, 64b, 64c, 64d are set. A transfer material (not shown) is held on the left side of the photosensitive drum 61.
A fixing roller 1 having a function of transferring the upper image onto a transfer material (not shown) is arranged. With the above configuration,
The photosensitive drum 61 is moved to 100 m by a driving unit (not shown).
It is driven in the direction of the arrow shown at the peripheral speed of m / sec. The photosensitive drum 61 is constructed by coating a photoconductor made of an organic photoconductor (OPC) on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 40 mm. The OPC is A-Si or Cd.
It may be S, Se, or the like.

Next, a polygonal mirror 69, a lens 71, and a folding mirror 72, which are rotationally driven by a laser diode 67 and a high-speed motor 68, which constitute an exposure device, are arranged in the upper part of the apparatus main body, and the roller charging is performed. In the container 63, a DC voltage of -700 V and an AC voltage of Vpp (peak-to-peak): -2000 V are superposed at an AC frequency of 1000 Hz, and are uniformly charged to approximately -700 V.

First, when a signal according to the image pattern is input to the laser diode 67 for each color of the image, the laser light is irradiated to the photosensitive drum 61 through the optical path 73,
The surface potential of the photosensitive drum 61 is set to about −100V. When the photosensitive drum 61 moves in the direction of the arrow, the developing device 64 (64a,
64b, 64c, 64d) is visualized as a toner image by the developing device. On the other hand, in synchronization with the image on the photosensitive drum 61, the transfer material is fed from the transfer material cassette 74 by the pickup roller 75 and reaches the transfer roller 66. The transfer roller 66 is such that the elastic layer 20 having a thickness of 2 mm is wound around the metal cylinder 19 having a diameter of 156 mm so that the transfer material is attracted to the transfer roller 66.
The elastic layer formed by winding 0 μm PVDF 21 and rotating in the arrow direction at substantially the same speed as the photosensitive drum 61 was urethane foam made by Inoac. This transfer roller 6
When the above-mentioned transfer material is supplied to 6, the transfer material is held by the gripper 76, and the above-mentioned toner image on the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 66 by a power source (not shown).
It is transferred onto the transfer material by the voltage between them. At the same time, the charge is injected into the transfer material so that the transfer material 66 is attracted to the transfer roller 66.
If necessary, a voltage may be applied between the transfer roller 66 and the suction roller 77 to pre-suck it.

The above steps are carried out by the developing units 64a, 64b, 64.
By sequentially using magenta, cyan, yellow, and black by sequentially using c and 64d, toner images of a plurality of colors are formed on the transfer material. This transfer material is peeled from the transfer roller 66 by the static eliminator 62 and the separation claw 78, and is welded and fixed by a conventionally known fixing device 100 for heating and pressurization to obtain a color image. The fixing device 100 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 36, the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 rotate in pressure contact with each other. The heating required for fixing is applied by the heaters 3 and 3 ′ such as halogen heaters inside each roller, and the roller temperature is detected by the resistance value change of the thermistor (not shown) contacting the roller surface or the core metal material, and the temperature is adjusted. I do. The silicone oil 21 in the oil reservoir 6 is transferred from the scooping roller 18 used for this oil 21 to the coating roller 12, and the coating amount is regulated by the regulation blade 11 on the coating roller 12, and then the coating roller 12 comes into contact with it. Is applied to the surface of the fixing roller 1.

The transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 61 is cleaned by a cleaning device 79 such as a known fur brush or blade means. Further, the toner on the transfer roller 66 is also preferably cleaned by a transfer roller cleaning device 80 such as a fur brush or a web, if necessary.

Although it is not technically difficult to realize a full-color laser beam printer as in the case of the conventional example 4 described above, how to design a compact and low-priced system configuration is a color laser beam. It can be said that there is a key point in commercializing a printer. In addition, what is important is that the device configuration is much more complicated than that of a conventional monochrome device, and therefore, consideration for simple maintenance for the user is required more than ever.

By the way, a fixing roller used in a color printer has a drawback that it has lower durability than a fixing roller used in a monochrome printer. As a reason for this, first of all, the pigment / dye contained in the color toner permeates the surface of the fixing roller and the releasability of the fixing roller deteriorates, resulting in offset. Secondly, the color toner has a sharp melt property so that good color mixture and OHP transparency can be obtained. In order to improve the releasability between the melted toner and the transfer roller, the color toner is much more than the monochrome printer. Need silicone oil. However, due to the large amount of this silicone oil, as shown in FIG. 37, a crack is formed near the interface of the core metal 1b of the silicone rubber 1a layer of the fixing roller 1 and the silicone oil is accumulated, and the silicone rubber 1a layer is partially denoted by reference numeral 1a-. The expansion as shown in 1 causes an offset and a transfer material conveyance abnormality. Therefore,
The fixing device of the color printer is replaced more frequently than the monochrome fixing device and requires easy maintenance.

[Problem 4] However, the conventional fixing device can be replaced only by a person who has undergone a special technical training such as a service person, and it is beyond the control of an amateur. Especially, the fixing device of a color printer having a more complicated structure and heavy weight is most replaced. Further, in a color printer that uses a large amount of silicone oil, even a serviceman is likely to spill the silicone oil, which may cause problems such as oil contamination in the printer and stains on the hands.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and is easy to attach / detach or is easily attachable / detachable, and at the same time, the release agent can be treated.

[0028]

A first aspect of the present invention is provided with a fixing roller to be heated and a pressure roller in pressure contact with the fixing roller, and supplies a releasing agent having a viscosity change on the surface of the fixing roller with a temperature change. , In a fixing device that performs fixing by passing an unfixed transfer material between both nips, a release agent applying blade that contacts a release agent applying member that applies a release agent to a fixing roller or a release agent applying that contacts a fixing roller The fixing device is provided with a heating unit that keeps the vicinity of the member at a constant temperature.

A second aspect of the present invention is provided with a fixing roller to be heated and a pressure roller which is brought into pressure contact with the fixing roller, supplies a releasing agent to the surface of the fixing roller, and passes the unfixed transfer material between both nips. In a fixing device for fixing, between a release agent regulating member in contact with a release agent applying member and a release agent applying member in contact with a fixing roller, or between a release agent regulating member and a fixing roller in contact with a fixing roller, or a release agent. The fixing device is characterized in that an AC electric field is applied between the agent applying member and the fixing roller.

A third aspect of the present invention is a nozzle for dropping the releasing agent on the surface of the fixing roller or the surface of the applying roller as a releasing agent applying means for applying the releasing agent on the surface of the fixing roller. Release agent transport means for transporting the release agent from the release agent storage tank to this nozzle, and a release agent for evenly leveling the release agent dropped on the surface of the fixing roller on the surface of the fixing roller. In a fixing device characterized by having an agent leveling member, the releasing agent conveying means has a bidirectional conveying ability, and after the releasing agent is conveyed to the nozzle at the time of fixing, the next fixing step. The fixing device is characterized in that the release agent transporting means is rotated in the reverse direction and the release agent remaining in the nozzles is transported to the release agent storage tank and collected when the time to Is.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the fixed time until the release agent conveying means is reversed is Tw, and the fixing interval time during continuous fixing is Ts, the fixed time is such that Tw> Ts. The fixing device according to the third aspect is characterized in that Tw is set.

A fifth aspect of the present invention has a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a release agent in the nozzle, and determines the speed at which the release agent is conveyed with and without the release agent. The fixing method according to the third aspect, wherein the fixing agent is changed, and particularly when there is no releasing agent, the amount of the releasing agent conveyed is increased until the nozzle is filled with the releasing agent compared to during fixing. It is a device.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is provided with a release agent shielding means for preventing the release agent from spontaneously dropping from the nozzle and adhering to other members, and the release agent is turned off when the apparatus is powered off or unfixed. The fixing device according to the third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the releasing agent shielding means is actuated so that the releasing agent shielding means is released only when the power is turned on or at the time of fixing.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a releasing agent applying means for applying a releasing agent to the surface of the fixing roller, a releasing agent storage tank, and a releasing agent storage tank from the releasing agent applying means to the releasing agent Provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus is a release agent transport means for transporting the agent,
Another fixing member is made into a cartridge, and a transfer material sheet passing window, a release agent replenishing window, a release agent discharging window, and a connection window for the release agent applying means are provided in the cartridge, and the release agent is provided in each window. An image forming apparatus having a fixing device equipped with a fixing cartridge, characterized in that shutters capable of blocking the agent are respectively provided, and each shutter is set to be closed when the cartridge is a single body and to be opened when the cartridge is mounted. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the release agent applying means is housed in an isolation container which is isolated from other members inside the apparatus, and the isolation container has an opening for connection with the cartridge. The shutter according to the seventh invention is characterized in that a shutter for opening and closing the connection opening is provided, and the shutter is opened only when the cartridge is mounted so that the release agent can be applied. It is a forming device.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a nozzle for dropping the release agent onto the surface of the fixing roller is used as the release agent applying means, and the nozzle is dropped onto the surface of the fixing roller on the cartridge side. The image forming apparatus according to the seventh invention or the eighth invention, further comprising a release agent leveling member for uniformly leveling the release agent on the surface of the fixing roller.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, an applying roller having a releasing agent regulating blade is used as the releasing agent leveling member, and the dropping position of the releasing agent is sandwiched between the applying roller and the regulating blade. The image forming apparatus according to the ninth invention is characterized in that the area is formed.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a release agent replenishing window provided in the cartridge is connected to a main body side release agent replenishing hole when the cartridge is mounted, and the release agent is releasable when the release agent is replenished. From the agent replenishing hole, through the releasing agent replenishing window, through the releasing agent conveying path provided inside the cartridge, and from the releasing agent discharge window through the releasing agent intake window on the upper surface of the releasing agent storage tank. The image forming apparatus according to the seventh invention, wherein the image forming apparatus is supplied to the release agent storage tank, and the release agent storage tank does not have an opening other than the release agent intake window. .

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the release agent intake window is provided with a stopper having a weight having an upper portion outside the window and a lower portion having a valve inside the window. It is set so that it can move up and down according to the movement, and that the stopper is opened by the weight when the entire apparatus is horizontal, and the stopper causes the release agent intake window by the weight when the entire apparatus falls over 180 degrees. The image forming apparatus according to the eleventh invention is characterized in that the image forming apparatus is set so as to close.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the filling capacity when the release agent is filled in the release agent storage tank is V _0, and the inside of the tank when the release agent storage tank is held horizontally The height from the bottom surface to the lower end of the mold release agent intake window is H ₁ , the liquid open surface height of the mold release agent after filling the mold release agent is h ₁ , and the mold release agent storage tank is inverted 90 degrees back and forth. In this case, the height from the bottom surface inside the tank to the lower end of the release agent intake window is H ₂ , the liquid surface level of the release agent at this time is h ₂ , and the release agent storage tank is set to 90 When the height from the inner bottom surface to the lower end of the release agent intake window when inverted once is H ₃ , and the height of the liquid release surface of the release agent at this time is h ₃ , each height is _{H 1> h 1, H 2} > the image forming according to h _2, H _3> h ₃ and to decide the shape and loading V ₀ which release agent reservoir such that the twelfth invention, wherein It is the location.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, at least the fixing roller, the cleaning means for the fixing roller, and the fixing frame are unitized so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body, and the unit has a movable handle capable of holding the unit. And a handle for activating another member that is provided as a fixing device and must be excluded when the fixing device unit is removed by the movement of the handle and an interlocking means between the other member. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a container unit.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a release agent applying unit for applying a release agent to the fixing roller is provided on the apparatus main body side of the image forming apparatus so as to be capable of coming into contact with the fixing roller. A first feature is that interlocking means is provided between the coating units to move between the position where the release agent coating unit contacts the fixing roller and the position where the releasing agent coating unit is retracted to the outside of the fixing unit.
4 is an image forming apparatus according to the invention.

In the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the bottom of the fixing frame is a reservoir for the release agent, and a valve for discharging the release agent is provided at the bottom of the fixing frame. The image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth invention is characterized in that an interlocking device capable of opening and closing the valve is provided therebetween.

In the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the fixing unit is divided into an upper unit including a fixing roller and a lower unit including a pressure roller, the lower unit is fixed to the apparatus main body, and the upper unit is related to the apparatus main body. Fixed detachably,
The image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth invention is characterized in that the interlocking means separates the pressure roller from the fixing roller.

In the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, at least the fixing roller, the cleaning means for the fixing roller, and the fixing frame are detachably unitized into the main body of the apparatus, and the fixing unit is attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a movable paper discharge device is provided within the locus of movement, and the paper discharge device can be retracted outside the locus of movement for attachment / detachment to / from the fixing unit main body.

[0046]

[Examples] Examples 1 to 5 correspond to the problem 1.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

The fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 rotate in pressure contact with each other. The required heat is applied by the halogen heaters 3 and 3'provided in the center of each, and the surface temperature of the pressure roller 2 is detected by the change in the resistance value of the thermistor 4 in contact with the pressure roller 2 to control the current. I'm in the tone.

The surface of the fixing roller 1 is coated with a release agent by the coating roller 12. (Hereinafter referred to as silicone oil or simply oil) Silicon oil 21 in the oil reservoir 6
The wick 5 made of felt or porous fluororesin impregnated with is contacted with the wick 5 to apply oil to the application roller 12. The tip of the regulation blade 11 having the root firmly fixed to the coating roller 12 is pressed against the tangent line at the contact point of the regulation blade 11 with the coating roller 12, or regulated to a prescribed coating amount by setting the pressure of the regulation blade 12. To be done. At this time, a heater 13 as a heating source is provided on the surface of the regulation blade 11 to preheat the silicone oil. As a result, the oil viscosity is always maintained at the specified value, and therefore the oil application amount does not change due to temperature changes. Further, if the temperature of the blade 11 is detected by the temperature detecting thermistor 14 and the current side of the heater 13 is specified based on the detection result, more stable coating can be obtained.

The transfer material supporting the unfixed image rushes into the nip along the fixing inlet guide 8, is pressed and heated by the surface of the fixing roller 1 on which the smooth oil layer is formed, is fixed, and is fixed to the conveyance guide 8 '. Is discharged along the line. The surface of the fixing roller 1 having been fixed is rubbed by the cleaning web 7 by rotation to remove the offset toner, and then oil is applied again. The constitution of the fixing roller 1 is made up of the thicknesses (from several to several tens of μm) of multi-colored toner of a single color to four colors
In order to comply with m), an elastic layer of several tens of μ is attached to the core shaft of aluminum, etc.
It is necessary to provide m or more. If the elasticity is low, unfixed portions of the toner may not be fixed or the toner may be crushed, resulting in a decrease in resolution. The material is RTV or LTV type liquid silicone rubber of phenyl type or dimethyl type, which has elasticity. Especially, RTV has a high affinity with silicone oil and is easy to apply oil. It is also possible to use RTV and LTV for the surface layer, and to provide a heat resistant HTV for the lower layer to prevent a heat deterioration and peeling of the back surface of the surface layer.

The surface is made of PFA or PTF with a size of several tens of μm.
An E-coat tube may be provided. Since the pressure roller 2 may have a smaller elasticity than the fixing roller 1, the pressure roller 2 may be simplified so that only an aluminum core shaft may be provided with HTV, fluororubber or the like, and PFA coating or the like is performed on the surface to prevent oil swelling. Anything is fine.

Regarding the material of the oil, the dimethyl type among the silicone oils that is generally used at present is well known, for example, the product model KF-96 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. is well known. Viscosity of tens of thousands cs or less can be used, but considering the permeability of wick 5, it is several thousand c
Those of s or less are preferable. Those of several tens of cs or less have high volatility, easily contaminate the charging wire in the machine, have a low flash point, and have a safety problem.

In the experiment, the surface layer of the fixing roller 1 was RTV.
The surface layer of the pressure roller 2 was LTV. The toner used is the manufacturer Canon Co., Ltd. Color copier Model name CLC-
200 is a sharp melt toner.

The fixing temperature is in the range of 120 to 180 ° C., the ripple is within ± 3 ° C., and the roller peripheral speed is 10 to 90 mm / s.
The range was ec. The oil used was 300 cs of KF-96 (described above).

The wick 5 is made of felt and the coating roller 1 is used.
A filter cover made of porous fluororesin or the like is provided on the contact surface with 2 to stabilize the oil application state and the application amount. Further, since the regulating blade 11 is constantly kept at 200 ° C. by the heater 13 and the thermistor 14, the oil viscosity in the vicinity of the regulating blade is kept at 100 cs, so that stable coating can be always performed. Further, even if new oil (oil having a low temperature) is added to the oil reservoir 6, the temperature in the vicinity of the regulation blade 11 is constant, so that uniform oil application can always be performed.

The coating roller 12 may be a metal roller made of aluminum or the like, or a surface of a metal roller provided with a layer of silicon rubber or fluororesin.

[Embodiment 2] In FIG. 1, the regulating blade 1
The thermistor 14 may be omitted by performing 1 by self-controlled heat generation prevention.

[Embodiment 3] Referring to FIG.
Is made of metal and the regulating blade 11 is made of a resistor, so that the coating roller 12 and the regulating blade 1
It is also possible to directly apply a voltage between the two.

[Embodiment 4] By applying an alternating electric field to the voltage applied between the coating roller 12 and the regulating blade 11 as in Embodiment 3, the above oil can be applied more evenly and uniformly.

The frequency of the AC electric field is 50 to 6 commercial frequencies.
It is possible to choose in the range from 0 Hz to 10 KHz or higher.

[Embodiment 5] Fixing roller 1 and coating roller 1
Even if an AC electric field was applied between the two, even coating was possible.

Further, the above explanation is made on the oil application regulating blade 1.
As described in 1, the same effect can be obtained by heating the felt as long as it is a method of directly supplying oil to the fixing roller 1 with a felt or the like. There is no problem even when the application roller is removed and the regulating blade 11 is directly brought into contact with the fixing roller 1 to apply oil.

Examples 6 to 9 correspond to the problem 2.

[Sixth Embodiment] A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the apparatus sectional view of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. First, the outline of the operation of the entire fixing device is as follows. At step 1 when the power of the entire image forming apparatus is turned on, the heater 3 of the fixing device is turned on and left for a certain period of time, and then the rollers 1 and 2 are rotated to include peripheral members including the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2. At the same time, the temperature is raised to a temperature required for fixing, the rotation is stopped once the fixing roller 1 reaches the target temperature, and the temperature is kept at 10 ° C. lower than the actual fixing temperature. In such a state, oil is applied by the following procedure according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 to complete the fixing. First, the standby state is held until the fixing start signal is input, and after the fixing start signal is input in step 2, the output of the heater 3 is increased in step 3 so that the temperature of the fixing roller 1 rises by 10 ° C. At 4, the rollers 1 and 2 start to rotate. In the meantime, in the oil application system, the presence or absence of oil in the nozzle 26 is confirmed by an oil detecting means (not shown in FIG. 2) provided around the nozzle 26, and if there is no oil in step 5, then in step 6 The oil is rapidly conveyed to the nozzle 26, and the conveyance is continued until it is confirmed by the detecting means in Step 7 that the oil is sufficiently present in the nozzle 26. The oil conveyance speed at this time is controlled so that the time required for the fixing roller 1 to be sufficiently prepared and the oil conveyance end time coincide with each other. Next, at step 8 when the nozzle 26 is sufficiently filled with oil, the oil required for coating is conveyed at an appropriate speed so as to be uniformly coated on the transfer material. Start dripping to start fixing to the transfer material (for example, when it is desired to apply 20 mg of oil per A4 size paper in the size of Japanese Industrial Standard Paper in 4 seconds, the oil conveyance speed is 5 mg / sec. ). Next, after the fixing is completed in step 10, the oil conveyance is stopped in step 11, and the waiting time Tw is counted at the same time as the next fixing start signal is input (step 12). If the waiting time Tw is shorter than the fixing interval time Ts at the time of continuous fixing in step 13, the state is kept as it is for the next fixing operation, and if it is longer than Ts, the oil conveying means is reversed in step 14. The oil in the nozzle is conveyed and collected in the oil tank 25, and the reverse conveyance is continued until the oil 21 in the nozzle 26 is exhausted. When the presence or absence of oil in the nozzle is detected in step 15, the power is turned off at the time of step 16 when the oil is exhausted, or when the power is not turned off, the process returns to the fixing start signal standby state of step 2 to perform fixing. Prepare for operation.

By controlling the oil applying device according to the above flow, it is possible to prevent the oil from dripping from the nozzle and soiling the inside of the device during non-fixing.

[Seventh Embodiment] A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the apparatus sectional view of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the steps up to receiving the fixing signal are the same as those of the flowchart of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, an emergency battery (not shown) is charged when the power of the apparatus is turned on. The capacity is sufficient to supplement the electric power required to drive the oil 21 in the nozzle 26 and collect it in the oil tank 25. At the same time when the power of the device is turned off, the pump 23 is driven in the reverse direction using this battery. It is set to rotate. Under such conditions, if the oil transfer is controlled along the flow shown in FIG.
Even if the power of the device is turned off in any state after the oil has been transferred into the device 6, the oil 21 in the nozzle 26 is rapidly reverse-transferred by the operation of the emergency battery according to the step 20 of the judgment of the power-off inserted between the steps. The device can now be stopped after it has been emptied, and the nozzle 26
It is possible to stop the device after emptying the oil 21 therein, and prevent the oil 21 from dripping from the nozzle 26 and polluting the inside of the device.

[Embodiment 8] Embodiment 8 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the apparatus cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 and the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 6, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same members, and a nozzle isolation container 27 and an oil shutter 28 that are newly provided with openings 27a are provided. An oil shutter 28 provided as a release agent shielding means can open and close the opening 27a in response to an electric signal by using a solenoid. The nozzle isolation container 27 accommodates the nozzle 26, and a part of the container 26 is an oil tank 25. Transport path 27 to the entrance
b is formed, and when the oil shutter 28 closes the opening 27a just below the mouth of the nozzle 26, the oil 21 that has fallen into the nozzle isolation container 27 is collected in the oil tank 25 along the transport path 27b. It has become.

With such a configuration, oil is applied and the fixing is completed in the following procedure according to the flowchart of FIG. After the power is turned on in step 101, the standby state is held until the fixing start signal is input in step 102.
In step 103 when the fixing start signal is input, the output of the heater 3 is raised so that the temperature of the fixing roller rises by 10 ° C.
At the same time, in step 104, the rotation of the rollers 1 and 2 is started. In the meantime, in the oil application system, in step 106, the presence or absence of the oil 21 in the nozzle 26 is confirmed by the oil detecting means (not shown in FIG. 6) provided around the nozzle 26. In 107, the oil 21 is rapidly conveyed to the nozzle 26, and the conveyance is continued until it is confirmed in Step 108 that the oil 21 is sufficiently present in the nozzle 26 by the detection means. The transport speed of the oil 21 at this time is controlled so that the time required for the preparation of the fixing roller 1 to be sufficiently prepared coincides with the time when the transport of the oil 21 ends. Step 10 after completing the above control
A signal is sent to the solenoid at time 9 to open the oil shutter 28. Next, in step 110, the oil necessary for coating is transferred at an appropriate speed so that the oil is uniformly applied to the transfer material, and is dropped from the nozzle 26 in step 111 to start fixing on the transfer material (for example, When it is desired to apply 20 mg of oil per A4 sheet in 4 seconds, the oil feeding speed is 5 mg / sec). Next step 1
After the fixing is completed at 12, the oil 21 is prepared at step 113.
Is stopped, and the waiting time Tw is counted at the same time in step 114 while waiting until the next fixing start signal is input. If the waiting time Tw is shorter than the fixing interval time Ts at the time of continuous fixing, it stands by for the next fixing operation as it is, and if Tw becomes longer than Ts, it is judged that a signal is sent to the solenoid in step 115. Done in
In the latter case, the process proceeds to step 116 and the oil shutter 2
Close 8. In step 117, the power is turned off to finish, or if the power is not turned off, the process returns to the fixing start signal standby state and it is determined whether or not to prepare for the next fixing operation.

By controlling the oil applying device according to the above flow, it is possible to prevent the oil from dripping from the nozzle and soiling the inside of the device during non-fixing.

[Ninth Embodiment] A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the apparatus sectional view of FIG. 6 and the flowchart of FIG. First, in the cross section of the apparatus of FIG. 6, the oil shutter 28 is always set in a closing direction by a spring (not shown) in this embodiment, and is opened by a solenoid only when necessary in response to an electric signal. Therefore, the oil shutter 28 is always closed when the power is turned off. Under such a condition, if the oil transfer is controlled along the flow shown in FIG. 8, the oil shutter will be turned off regardless of the state in which the power supply of the device is turned off after the oil 21 is once transferred into the nozzle 26. 28 is operated by a spring, the tip of the nozzle is sealed, and even if oil 21 drips from the nozzle 26, unnecessary oil 21 travels through the nozzle isolation container 27 and is collected in the oil tank 25. Does not pollute the inside.

Examples 10 to 13 correspond to the problem 3.

Example 10 FIGS. 9 and 10 show Example 10 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the constituent elements having the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 21 and 22 indicate the same members, and in this embodiment, the pumping roller and the oil sump container on the side of the fixing unit, which is made into a cartridge, are eliminated and the regulating blade 11 is pushed. The contact position is displaced toward the fixing roller 1. In addition to these in the fuser unit,
An oil leakage prevention shutter 35 for preventing oil leakage is newly provided at each opening such as the oil supply pipe 34, the transfer material sheet passing window 37, the oil supply window 36, and the oil discharge window 38. On the apparatus main body side, a nozzle 26 for uniformly dropping the oil 21 on the surface of the application roller 12 on the fixing unit side in the roller axial direction, and the oil 21 to this nozzle 26.
Suction pipe 22, pump 2 as a transporting means for transporting
3. A discharge pipe 24 is provided, and an isolation container 27 is provided for isolating the nozzle 26 from the outlet of the inner oil tank 25 of these coating device parts from peripheral members. An oil intake window 39 is opened in the center of the upper surface of the oil tank 25, and a plug 42 with a weight is provided in the oil intake window 39, which has the function of opening and closing the opening according to the direction of gravity.
The opening 27a corresponding to the tip of the nozzle of the isolation container 27
An oil leakage prevention shutter 35 is also provided in the oil intake window 39 of the oil tank 25. The connection between the application device section on the apparatus main body side and the application roller section on the fixing device unit side is provided on the fixing device unit side as shown in FIG. 10 by inserting the fixing device unit in the direction of arrow (c) shown in FIG. At the same time that the tip of the nozzle isolation container 27 pushes away the oil shutoff valve 44 of the application means intake port 43, the oil leakage prevention shutter 35 immediately below the nozzle 26 also opens in the direction of the arrow by the action of a pawl (not shown), and the nozzle 26 is applied. This is realized by allowing the oil 21 to drip to the side. The connection at this time may be non-contact, and the setting position may be within the range sandwiched by the application roller 12 and the regulation blade 11. Therefore, much more accurate work is required as compared with the conventional method of pressing the rollers against each other. Instead, even a general user can set or replace the fixing unit. In the above steps, all the other oil leakage prevention shutters 35 are set to be closed by springs (not shown) in the state of FIG. 9, and are fully opened by being pushed away by the claws (not shown) in the state of FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cartridge-type fixing unit mounted, and by pushing the fixing unit from the state shown in FIG. 11 along the guide rail 32, an oil leakage prevention shutter that closes the oil supply window 36 on the upper right side 35 is opened in the front direction by a claw (not shown) provided on the main body side, and the oil leakage prevention shutter 35 of the transfer material sheet passing window 37 at the center of the fixing unit is provided with a shutter opening / closing piece 49 provided on the side of the fixing unit. When the fixing unit is pushed in by the shutter opening / closing inclined guide rail 45 provided on the side surface portion, the shutter opening / closing piece 49 rises along the inclined guide rail 45 and is used for the transfer paper passing window connected to the shutter opening / closing piece 49. The oil leakage prevention shutter 35 also opens upward at the same time.

FIG. 10 shows how to replenish the oil.
In this state, an oil bottle (not shown) is set in the oil replenishing hole 46 on the upper surface of the main body, and the oil is poured into the oil replenishing pipe 34 to pass through the inner wall 33a of the fixing unit frame 33 protecting the pressure roller 2. The oil is transmitted and sent from the oil discharge window 38 to the oil intake window 39 on the oil tank 25 side, and is collectively stored in the oil tank 25. Further, the unnecessary oil transferred from the fixing roller 1 to the pressure roller 2 at each fixing operation other than the oil replenishment is supported by the elastic bracket 31a which is in contact with the pressure roller 2 as shown in FIG. It is scraped off by the oil cleaning blade 31 fixed to the member 31b, discharged downward from the central part of the roller along the edge of the supporting member 31a below the blade, and from the oil intake port 39 in the central part of the oil tank 25 to the inside of the oil tank 25. It is supposed to be collected.

The external appearance of the oil tank 25 is as shown in FIG. 13, and its longitudinal sectional view and longitudinal sectional view are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively. The weight 42a and the stopper 42 with the valve 42a shown in each drawing are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 15, when the device is kept horizontal, the spherical weight portion 42a descends downward, and a gap between the plug 42 and the oil intake window 39 is caused by a support member (not shown) provided in the oil intake port 39. Is kept as it is made. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, if the entire device falls over 180 degrees, the plug 4
2, the weight 42a is lowered and the upper valve 42b is also lowered,
Since it acts so as to close the oil intake window 39, there is no concern that the oil 21 will spill outside. In addition, when the entire device falls 90 degrees in the front-back and left-right directions,
If the oil open surface is set lower than the height H ₂ or H ₃ from the bottom surface of the inner wall of the oil tank 25 to the lower end of the oil intake window 39 like 7 and 18, the oil may spill. There is no. That is, H ₁ > h ₁ , H ₂ > h ₂ , H ₃ > h ₃ including in the horizontal state of FIG. 14, provided that the height from the bottom of the oil tank 25 when H _{1 is} upright to the lower end of the oil intake window 39, h ₁ Height from the bottom of the oil tank 25 to the liquid open surface of the oil 21 when standing upright H ₂ Height from the bottom of the oil tank 25 to the lower end of the oil intake window 39 when tilted 90 degrees back and forth 90 h ₂ ° Height from the bottom of the oil tank 25 to the open surface of the oil 21 when tilted H ₃ Left and right 90 ° Height from the bottom of the oil tank 25 to the lower end of the oil intake window 39 when tilted h ₃ Left and right The shape of the oil tank 25 and the oil 21 so that the height from the bottom surface of the oil tank 25 to the liquid open surface of the oil 21 when tilted 90 °
The storage capacity V ₀ may be set.

By using the fixing unit and the oil applying device set as described above, it is possible to realize a fixing cartridge which can be easily replaced by the user without causing oil spill, and at the same time, the cost can be kept low. it can.

It should be noted that, in the configuration of FIG. 9, by increasing the transport accuracy of the pump 23 and increasing the uniformity of the oil drop amount of the coating roller 12 of the nozzle 26 in the longitudinal direction,
It is also possible to eliminate the oil regulation blade as described above and further simplify the configuration.

[Embodiment 11] FIG. 25 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
It represents 1. In the present embodiment, the components having the same reference numerals as in FIG. 10 indicate the same members, and in this embodiment, the leveling blade 51 is used as the leveling member instead of the coating roller.
Is used. The blade 51 is pressed against the surface of the fixing roller 1 so that the oil 21 dropped from the nozzle 26 onto the surface of the fixing roller 1 is evenly leveled in the roller axial direction. The procedure for applying oil to the surface of the fixing roller 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the rotating operation of the applying roller is not performed.
The same as 0, and even when the oil supply becomes excessive, the oil 2 on the transfer material passage area is the same as in the tenth embodiment.
The risk of dropping 1 is extremely small. However, when using a belly pad as the pressing method of the leveling blade 51, in order to prevent the blade tip from separating from the fixing roller 1 and causing oil dripping from the blade tip, the blade tip is lined on the surface of the fixing roller 1. It is necessary to set them so that they are in contact with each other, and more desirably, the contact position between the leveling blade 51 and the fixing roller 1 is set above the center horizontal line of the fixing roller 1. When the durability of the fixing roller 1 is emphasized, there is a method of providing a fluorine resin layer on the surface of the leveling blade 51 in order to reduce the friction between the leveling blade 51 and the fixing roller 1. When it is important to finely control the amount, there is a method of providing fluororubber on the surface of the leveling blade 51.

Embodiment 12 FIGS. 27 and 28 show Embodiment 12 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 indicate the same members. In this embodiment, the coating roller, the scooping roller, the oil reservoir and the regulating blade are eliminated, and the oil dropping position of the nozzle 26 is changed to the cleaning web. 7 and the sponge roller 15, and more preferably, the cleaning web 7 is set in a region where the cleaning web 7 is in contact with the surface of the fixing roller 1.
The sponge roller 15 is also used as an oil leveling member. In this configuration, particularly when the amount of oil absorbed by the sponge roller 15 affects the amount of oil applied, a silicone rubber roller may be used instead of the sponge roller 15 like the application roller.

Example 13 FIGS. 29 and 30 show Example 13 of the present invention. In this embodiment, FIG.
In the present embodiment, the thermistor 4 is newly attached to the nozzle isolation container 27 on the main body side, and the thermistor 4 is attached to the fixing roller 1 when the fixing unit is attached as shown in FIG. It is set to be pressed against the surface. With such a configuration, it is possible to further reduce the number of parts on the fixing unit side.

Examples 14 to 16 correspond to the problem 4.

[Example 14] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 31 shows a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3
Reference numeral 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fixing device and the paper discharge unit. The parts corresponding to those of the fixing device shown in FIG. 36 have the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. After the transfer is completed by a transfer roller (not shown), the transfer material P is fixed to the fixing device 10
It is fixed at 0, and is supported and conveyed by the paper discharge roller 81. The flapper 82 changes the conveying direction of the transfer material P, and is for ejecting the transfer material P with the recording surface or the non-recording surface facing upward. In the illustrated state, the transfer material is conveyed with the recording surface facing upward and is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 84. On the contrary, when the flapper 82 is tilted, the transfer material P is directed upward after passing through the paper discharge roller 81, and is conveyed by the conveyance guide 86.
The sheet is conveyed along the final sheet ejection roller 87, and is ejected and stacked so that the recording surface is the upper surface. Here, the case where the non-recording surface faces the upper surface on the tray is referred to as face-down, and the case where the recording surface faces the upper surface is referred to as face-up in the following specification. Further, a discharge guide 86 for discharging the face down, a final discharge roller 87 and the like are unitized together with the exterior, and the face down unit 91 is the unit shaft 8
Rotate around 8 as the center of rotation. The face-down unit 91 extends from the sheet discharge side to the upper surface of the fixing unit 92. The fixing device 100 includes a fixing unit 92 in which the fixing roller 1, the pressure roller 2, the cleaning web 7 and the like are housed in the fixing frame 33 and an oil application unit 93.
Composed of. Further, a grip 94 for exchanging the fixing device unit 92 is provided on the upper surface of the fixing device unit 92, and when exchanging the fixing device unit 92, the user has a grip 94.
You can grab and exchange. Further, on both side surfaces of the fixing device unit 92 parallel to the paper surface of the drawing, there are a slider arm 95 and a connecting rod 96 interlocking with the handle 94, and the oil application unit 93 can be moved. Slipper arm 9
5 is a long hole 9 in which a pin 101 implanted in a handle 94 slides.
5a is provided. The central part of the slider arm 95 is attached to the main body of the apparatus by a support shaft 97. A long hole 95 is provided at the end of the slider arm 95 opposite to the side where the handle 94 is joined.
b is provided, a pin 102 sliding in the elongated hole 95b is planted at one end of the connecting rod 96, and the other end of the connecting rod 96 is connected to the side surface of the oil reservoir 6 of the oil application unit 93 by the pin 103. The oil reservoir 6 is slidably engaged with the guide rails 104 provided on the apparatus main body side on both sides of the oil application unit 93, and the oil application unit 93 is directed in the arrow B direction and the direction opposite to the B direction.
Is free to move. The fixing unit frame 33 is provided with an opening 105 through which the oil application unit 93 can enter and exit. A support member 99 is integrally provided on the handle 94, and the support member 99 is movable in the lateral direction in FIG. 31 in a guide groove (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the fixing unit frame 33.

A method of replacing the fixing unit of this embodiment having the above structure will be described. When the cleaning web 7 is exhausted or after fixing a predetermined number of sheets, the fixing time of the fixing unit 92 is detected in the main body and the user is notified of the replacement time. Then, the face down unit 91 is attached to the unit shaft 8
The fixing unit 92 is rotated counterclockwise about the center of the fixing unit 8 so that the fixing unit 92 can be pulled out upward. Subsequently, when the handle 94 is moved from the (A) position in the direction of arrow A in the drawing, the pin 10
1, 102 rotate by sliding in the long holes 95a, 95b, respectively, and the slider arm 95 connected to the handle 94 supports the support shaft 97.
The pin 102 is rotated about the center of the arrow to move the pin 102 to the right in the figure. The oil applying unit 93 includes a connecting rod 96 and a pin 102.
And is guided by the guide rail 104 in the direction of arrow B in conjunction with the handle 94 that has moved in the direction of arrow A, and moves away from the inside of the fixing unit 92 through the opening 105 to the outside. The oil application unit 93 has much more durability than the fixing roller 1, the pressure roller 2, and the cleaning web 7. According to the study by the present inventor, 150,000 to 200,000 sheets of A4 size transfer material with a full body life have been studied. Was able to maintain its characteristics. The handle 94 is the fixing unit 9
2 can be suspended while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. The handle 94 moves to the position (a), and the pin 101 goes out from the long hole 95a and separates from the slider arm 95. After the handle 94 is separated from the slider arm 95, the handle 94 is fixed to the fixing unit frame 33 by a not-shown locking mechanism provided in the fixing unit 92 on the support member 99 of the handle 94, and the handle 94 is lifted in the direction of arrow C. By fixing unit 9
2 can be pulled out from the device body.

When mounting the replaced fixing unit 92, after inserting the fixing unit 92 into the main body of the apparatus, the handle 9
4 is released from the fixing device frame 33, the support member 99 of the handle 94 is engaged with the slider arm 95 at the (a) position, and the handle 94 is moved again to the (a) position in the direction opposite to the arrow A. By doing so, the operation opposite to the above is performed, and the slider arm 95 rotates clockwise around the support shaft 97, and the connecting rod 96
The oil application unit 93 can be located in the fixing device unit 92 because it is moved to the left in the figure.

As described above, by moving the grip of the fixing unit in this embodiment, it is possible to replace only the member having poor durability while leaving the oil application unit inside the apparatus main body. The cost of parts can be reduced.

[Embodiment 15] FIGS. 32 and 33 show Embodiment 15 of the present invention. 32 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fixing device and the paper discharge unit, and FIG. 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device unit and the oil pan. The symbols corresponding to the parts corresponding to the fixing device and the paper discharge unit shown in FIG. The detailed description is omitted by making the same.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the drain oil 210 of the silicone oil as the release agent in the fixing unit 92 can be discharged in association with the handle 94. A support member 99 is provided immediately below the handle 94, and the handle 94 is fixed to the fuser unit 92 when the fuser unit 92 is pulled out. Further, the handle 94 is provided in advance so that the fixing device unit 92 can be suspended while the substantially horizontal state is maintained even if the amount of the drained oil 210 varies.

One end of a lever 107 is loosely pivotally attached to the support member 99 by a pin 106, and the other end of the lever 107 pivotally attached in the middle by a support shaft 108 on the side surface 33 of the fixing unit frame is the upper end of a rod 109. Is connected to the pin 111. The bottom of the fixing unit frame 33 collects the drain oil 210, and a cock 112 is attached to the drain oil discharge port of the bottom, and the lower end of the rod 109 is connected so that the cock 112 can be opened and closed.

When this handle 94 is pushed in the direction of arrow D in the figure,
The lever 107 connected to the support member 99 has the support shaft 1
It rotates about 08 as the center of rotation. As a result, the rod 109 connected to the lever 107 and the pin 111 moves in the direction of arrow E, the cock 112 connected to the rod 109 opens, and the drain oil 210 is discharged. Handle 94 after draining the oil
It is possible to take out the fixing unit 92 by closing the cock 112 again by lifting up. As shown in FIG. 33, the removed waste oil is transferred to the fixing unit 9
2 is received by an oil pan 113 arranged below, and is collected by a drain oil recovery bottle 114.

In the embodiment described above, it is possible to remove the drained oil from the inside of the fixing device unit by using the handle provided on the fixing device unit, and it is possible to prevent the oil leakage when replacing the fixing device unit. Have.
The oil application unit can be separated from the inside of the fixing unit by the above method. In addition, the lever 107 and the rod 109 in the present embodiment are processed by the same method.
It is also possible to remove the residual oil in the oil application unit together with the drain oil 210 by interlocking with one of the two.

[Embodiment 16] FIG. 34 shows an embodiment 16 of the present invention.
Indicates. FIG. 34 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fixing unit and the discharging unit. The parts corresponding to the fixing unit and the discharging unit shown in FIG. 31 have the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the fixing unit 92
Is separated into an upper unit 92A containing the fixing roller 1 and the cleaning web 7 and a lower unit 92B containing the pressure roller 2, and only the upper unit 92A is replaced by the operation of the handle 94. As described above, the fixing device of the color image forming apparatus is strongly influenced by the toner, and the deterioration of the fixing roller appears more markedly than that of the pressure roller. Therefore, only the fixing roller, which frequently deteriorates, and the cleaning web, which is a consumable item, are replaced.

The fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 are pressed by a compression spring 121 which presses a guide member pressure roller shaft support 117 which is composed of a bearing and a guide member which guides the bearing in the vertical direction. The frame 33B of the lower unit 92B is fixed to the apparatus main body, and the frame 33A of the upper unit 92A is removably fixed to the lower frame 33B or the apparatus main body. The pressure roller 2 is the shaft support 1
17 is vertically guided by a guide member (not shown),
As shown in the figure, the lower unit 92 is in the downward position.
It can be locked to the B frame 33B or the apparatus main body. A shutter arm 124 of a shutter 123 is fixed to the side surface of the frame 33A of the upper unit 92A with a pin 122.
A stopper 3 of the apparatus body is urged by a spring (not shown) force counterclockwise around the pin 122.

On the handle 94 provided on the upper portion of the upper unit 92A, a connecting rod 118 capable of pressing the shaft supporting portion 117 of the pressure roller 2 in the lower unit 92B is attached. When the unit is replaced, by pushing the handle 94, the pressure roller shaft support portion 117 is pushed down by the lower end of the connecting rod 118 against the compression spring 121, and the pressure roller 2 and the fixing roller 1 are separated from each other. This pressed down pressure roller 2 is a lower unit 9
2B or locking member (not shown) provided in the main body of the device
And is kept separated from the fixing roller 1. Next, when the upper unit 92A is unfixed to the main body of the apparatus and the handle 94 is lifted, the upper unit 92A is suspended by the support member 99 so that it can be separated from the main body of the apparatus. Further, when the upper unit 92A is separated from the apparatus main body, the upper unit 92A
The shutter 123 provided in A rotates around the pin 122 by the spring force to the position of reference numeral 123 'in conjunction with the separating operation,
The lower portion of the upper unit 92A is covered to prevent the fixing roller 1 from being exposed. The oil application unit may remain contained in the upper unit 92A, but it is preferable to separate it from the upper unit 92A and retract it in the apparatus main body by the method described above. In the above-described embodiment, the pressure roller and the fixing roller can be separated from each other by utilizing the operation of the handle, and the cost of consumables can be reduced. Further, by separating the fixing device unit, the weight of the replacement part can be reduced, and since the replacement part does not need to be replaced while containing a large amount of oil, the replacement becomes easy. Further, by providing the shutter, the user does not directly touch the fixing roller.

[0096]

【The invention's effect】

"Effect 1" The first invention of the present invention is a release agent that uses a release agent whose viscosity changes with temperature by heating the release agent application regulation blade or the vicinity of the release agent application member to a constant temperature. The amount of application is constant, toner offset is prevented, the fixing roller has a long life, and stickiness due to excessive release agent of OHP can be reduced, and the amount of release agent is the smallest in the past. The consumption of the release agent also fluctuated due to the limitation of the amount, but since the minimum amount can be stably supplied, the consumption of the release agent can be reduced to 1/2 to 1/4.

A second aspect of the present invention is between a releasing agent regulating member in contact with a releasing agent applying member and a releasing agent applying member in contact with a fixing roller, or between a releasing agent regulating member in contact with a fixing roller and a fixing roller. Alternatively, by applying an AC electric field between the release agent applying member and the fixing roller, there is an effect that the release agent can be heated without providing a heating member.

[Effect 2] As described above, the operation method of the fixing device having the release agent applying means for applying the release agent to the surface of the fixing roller of the third and fourth inventions of the present invention is As the agent applying means, a nozzle for dropping a releasing agent onto the surface of the fixing roller or the surface of the applying roller, a releasing agent applying means for supplying the releasing agent to the nozzle, and a releasing agent dropped on the surface of the fixing roller. In a device having a release agent leveling member for evenly leveling the agent on the surface of the fixing roller, a means capable of carrying both agents is used as the release agent transporting means, and the release agent transporting means is reversed when coating is not necessary. By emptying the release agent in the nozzle by transporting it, unnecessary release agent is prevented from leaking and the inside of the device is not polluted.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the same as the first aspect of the present invention, which has a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the release agent in the nozzle, and the release agent is used with and without the release agent. The speed at which the release agent is conveyed is changed, and particularly when there is no release agent, the delivery amount of the release agent is increased from that during fixing until the release agent is filled in the nozzle. Since the release agent is sent to the nozzle during the warm-up after the power is turned on, the warm-up time is not extended, and an appropriate amount of the release agent is sent to the nozzle during the fixing operation.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is provided with a release agent shielding means for separating the nozzle tip portion from the surroundings when necessary, and operates so as to isolate the nozzle tip portion from the surroundings when application is not necessary. Even if unnecessary release agent leaks, the surrounding members are not contaminated.

[Effect 3] In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the releasing agent is applied to the surface of the fixing roller, the releasing agent applying means, the releasing agent storage tank, and the releasing agent applying tank to the releasing agent applying means. A release agent transporting means for transporting the release agent is provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus, and another fixing member is made into a cartridge, and a transfer material sheet passing window, a release agent replenishing window and a release agent discharging window are provided in the cartridge. And a connection window with the release agent applying means is provided, and each window is provided with a shutter capable of blocking the release agent.Each shutter is closed when the cartridge is a single unit and is opened when the cartridge is mounted. It is possible to realize a fixing cartridge that can be easily replaced by the user without causing the release agent to spill, and at the same time, the cost can be kept low, which is also advantageous in disposal after use.

In the eighth aspect of the present invention, the releasing agent applying means is stored in the isolation container in the seventh aspect, and the shutter for opening and closing the opening is provided at the opening connected to the fixing cartridge. It is possible to prevent the release agent from leaking from the release agent applying device section when the release agent is removed from the apparatus main body.

The ninth invention of the present invention is the same as the seventh or eighth invention, in the case where a nozzle for dropping the release agent onto the fixing roller and a release agent leveling member dropped on the surface of the fixing roller are provided. The constituent members of the mold application section are simplified and the cost is reduced.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is the coating roller having a release agent regulating blade as a release agent leveling member according to the ninth aspect, wherein the dropping position of the release agent is the coating roller and the regulating blade. Since there is a release agent retained in the application roller from the area sandwiched between the two, the amount of the release agent applied from the nozzle can be averaged and supplied to the fixing roller.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the release agent replenishing window provided in the cartridge is connected to the main body side release agent replenishing hole when the cartridge is mounted, and the release agent replenishing window is provided when the release agent is replenished. From the release agent replenishment hole, through the release agent replenishment window, through the release agent transport path provided inside the cartridge, the agent is taken in from the release agent discharge window on the upper surface of the release agent storage tank. Since the release agent is supplied through the window to the release agent storage tank and the release agent storage tank has no opening other than the release agent intake window, the supply of the release agent is extremely high. It is easy and the release agent does not spill around and get dirty.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the release agent intake window is provided with a stopper having a weight having an upper portion outside the window and a valve having a lower portion inside the window. The stopper can be moved up and down according to the movement of the weight, and the stopper is set to open by the weight when the entire apparatus is horizontally placed, and the stopper releases the stopper by the weight when the entire apparatus falls over 180 degrees. Since it is set to close the mold agent intake window, you can tip the release agent reservoir tank,
The release agent will not leak even if it is placed upside down by mistake.

In the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the filling capacity when the release agent is filled in the release agent storage tank is V ₀ , and the release agent is separated from the bottom surface inside the tank when the release agent storage tank is held horizontally. When the height to the lower end of the mold agent intake window is H ₁ , the liquid open surface height of the mold release agent after filling with the mold release agent is h ₁ , and the mold release agent storage tank is inverted 90 degrees back and forth. The height from the bottom of the inside of the tank to the lower end of the release agent intake window was H ₂ , the open surface level of the release agent at this time was h ₂ , and the release agent storage tank was inverted 90 degrees to the left and right. In this case, when the height from the inner bottom surface to the lower end of the mold release agent intake window is H ₃ , and the liquid open surface height of the mold release agent at this time is h ₃ , each height is H ₁ > h ₁ , H ₂ > h ₂ , H
_Since the shape and the filling amount V ₀ of the release agent storage tank are determined so that ₃ > h ₃ , the release agent leaks regardless of the orientation of the release agent storage tank when the release agent storage tank is turned inside out. Never.

[Effect 4] In the fourteenth invention of the present invention, at least the fixing roller, the cleaning means for the fixing roller, and the fixing device frame are unitized to the main body of the apparatus in a detachable manner, and the unit can hold the unit. Since a movable handle is provided, and the movement of the handle is provided with a handle for activating another member which is provided as a fixing device and must be removed when the fixing device unit is removed, and an interlocking means between the other member are provided. When removing the fixing device unit, it is possible to operate other members provided as the fixing device, and the fixing device unit can be removed mainly by the operation of the handle, and the fixing device can be easily replaced. It becomes possible to exchange.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect, a release agent applying unit for applying a release agent to the fixing roller is provided on the apparatus main body side of the image forming apparatus so as to be capable of coming into contact with the fixing roller. , Since the interlocking means is provided between the handle and the release agent applying unit, it moves between the position where the release agent applying unit is in contact with the fixing roller and the position where the release agent applying unit is retracted to the outside of the fixing device unit. It is not necessary to remove the unit each time the fixing device unit is removed, and when the fixing device unit is removed, the release agent is not spilled and the surroundings are not soiled.

The sixteenth invention of the present invention is the fourteenth invention, wherein the bottom of the fixing frame is a reservoir of the releasing agent, and a valve for discharging the releasing agent is provided at the bottom of the fixing frame. Therefore, since the interlocking means for opening and closing the valve is provided between the handle and this valve, when the fixing device unit is removed, the release agent is not spilled and the surroundings are soiled.

In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect, the fixing unit is divided into an upper unit including a fixing roller and a lower unit including a pressure roller, and the lower unit is fixed to the main body of the apparatus. Is fixed to the main body of the apparatus in a detachable manner, and the interlocking means separates the pressure roller from the fixing roller.Therefore, when removing the upper unit of the fixing unit, the pressure applied between the fixing roller and the pressure roller in advance. Can be released and only the upper unit can be easily removed. Since the upper unit is a member having a relatively short life and is mainly mounted with the fixing roller and its cleaning member, only the member that needs to be replaced can be removed, and only the lightweight upper unit can be removed, which facilitates the work.

In an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, at least the fixing roller, the fixing roller cleaning means, and the fixing frame are detachably unitized to the main body of the apparatus, and the attaching / detaching movement of the fixing unit with respect to the main body of the apparatus is performed around the fixing unit. A movable paper discharge device is provided within the locus of No. 1, and it is decided that this paper discharge device can be retracted from the locus of the attachment / detachment movement to / from the fixing unit unit main body. Although the fixing unit could not be removed, the fixing unit can be removed immediately by moving the fixing unit as a unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fixing device according to first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fixing device used in Examples 6 and 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an oil application device showing Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an oil application device showing Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device of Conventional Example 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device used in Examples 8 and 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an oil application device showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an oil application device showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fixing device before mounting a fixing device unit according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device after mounting the fixing device unit according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fixing unit used in Example 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an oil cleaning blade for a pressure roller used in Example 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of an oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front sectional view of an oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention is inverted by 180 degrees.

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention is inverted 90 degrees in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the oil tank used in Example 10 of the present invention is tilted 90 degrees in the left-right direction.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device before mounting a fixing device unit, which is a simplified version of the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fixing device after mounting a fixing device unit, which is a simplified version of the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a device of the related art 3 before mounting a fixing unit.

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus after the fixing unit is mounted in Conventional Example 3.

FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another example of Conventional Example 3 before the fixing unit is attached.

FIG. 24 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another example of the conventional example 3 after the fixing unit is mounted.

FIG. 25 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fixing device before mounting a fixing device unit according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device after mounting the fixing device unit according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device before mounting the fixing device unit according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device after mounting the fixing device unit according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device before mounting the fixing device unit according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fixing device after mounting the fixing device unit according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a vertical cross-sectional view of Embodiment 14 of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a vertical cross-sectional view of Embodiment 15 of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining drainage oil removal.

FIG. 34 is a vertical cross-sectional view of Embodiment 16 of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional color printer.

FIG. 36 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device of Conventional Example 4.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view with a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating deformation of the fixing roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fixing Roller 2 Pressure Roller 3 Heater 6 Oil Reservoir 11 Regulation Blade 12 Application Roller 13 Heater 14 Thermistor 23 Pump 25 Oil Tank 26 Nozzle 28 Oil Shutter 35 Oil Leakage Shutter 41 Oil Cutoff Valve 51 Leveling Blade 64 Photosensitive Drum 92 Fixing Unit 93 Oil coating unit 94 Handle

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Moto Kato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Masami Takeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Within the corporation

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A fixing roller that is heated and a pressure roller that presses against the fixing roller are provided, and a release agent having a viscosity change according to temperature change is supplied to the surface of the fixing roller, and an unfixed transfer material is passed between both nips. In a fixing device that performs fixing by means of a fixing device, a releasing agent coating blade that contacts the releasing agent coating member that applies the releasing agent to the fixing roller or a heating unit that maintains a constant temperature in the vicinity of the releasing agent coating member that contacts the fixing roller is provided. A fixing device characterized by the above. 2. A fixing roller which is heated and a pressure roller which is pressed against the fixing roller are provided, and a release agent is supplied to the surface of the fixing roller.
In a fixing device that performs fixing by passing an unfixed transfer material between both nips, a release agent regulating member in contact with a release agent applying member and a release agent applying member in contact with a fixing roller, or a release agent in contact with a fixing roller. A fixing device characterized in that an AC electric field is applied between the mold agent regulating member and the fixing roller, or between the release agent applying member and the fixing roller. 3. A nozzle for dropping the releasing agent onto the surface of the fixing roller or the surface of the applying roller as a releasing agent applying means for applying the releasing agent onto the surface of the fixing roller, and a releasing agent storage tank. It has a releasing agent conveying means for conveying the releasing agent to the nozzle, and a releasing agent leveling member for evenly leveling the releasing agent dropped on the fixing roller surface on the fixing roller surface. In the fixing device characterized in that,
The release agent transporting means has a bidirectional transporting capability, and after transporting the release agent to the nozzle during fixing, when the time until the next fixing step exceeds a certain time, the release agent is released. A fixing device characterized in that the agent transfer means is reversed to transfer and recover the release agent remaining in the nozzle to a release agent storage tank. 4. The fixed time until the release agent conveying means is reversed is Tw, and the fixing interval time during continuous fixing is Ts.
The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the fixed time Tw is set so that Tw> Ts. 5. A detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a release agent in the nozzle, wherein the speed at which the release agent is conveyed is changed depending on whether the release agent is present or absent. 4. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein when there is no developer, the amount of the release agent conveyed is increased until the nozzle is filled with the release agent as compared with that during fixing. 6. A release agent shielding means for preventing the release agent from naturally falling from the nozzle and adhering to other members,
4. The release agent shielding means operates when the power of the apparatus is turned off or not fixed, and the release agent shielding means is released only when the power is turned on or fixed. Fixing device. 7. A mold releasing agent applying means for applying a mold releasing agent to the surface of a fixing roller, a mold releasing agent reservoir, and a mold releasing means for conveying the mold releasing agent from the mold releasing agent reservoir to the mold releasing agent applying means. The agent conveying means is provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus, the other fixing member is made into a cartridge, and the transfer material sheet passing window, the releasing agent replenishing window, the releasing agent discharging window, and the releasing agent applying means are provided in the cartridge. And a shutter that can block the release agent is further provided in each window, and each shutter is set to be closed when the cartridge is a single body and open when the cartridge is mounted. An image forming apparatus having a fixing device including a fixing cartridge. 8. The release agent applying means is housed in an isolation container which is isolated from other members inside the apparatus, and the isolation container has an opening for connection with the cartridge and an opening / closing opening for connection. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a shutter for opening the shutter, the shutter being opened only when the cartridge is mounted so that the release agent can be applied. 9. A nozzle for dropping the release agent on the surface of the fixing roller is used as the release agent applying means,
The release agent leveling member for uniformly leveling the release agent dropped on the surface of the fixing roller on the surface of the fixing roller is provided on the cartridge side. Image forming device. 10. A coating roller having a release agent regulating blade is used as the release agent leveling member, and a dropping position of the release agent is set to an area sandwiched between the coating roller and the regulating blade. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9. 11. A release agent replenishing window provided in the cartridge is connected to a main body side release agent replenishing hole when the cartridge is mounted, and the release agent is replenished from the release agent replenishing hole when the release agent is replenished. Through the release agent replenishing window to the release agent transport path provided inside the cartridge, and from the release agent discharge window to the release agent storage tank through the release agent intake window on the upper surface of the release agent storage tank. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the release agent storage tank does not have an opening other than the release agent intake window so as to be supplied. 12. The release agent intake window is provided with a stopper having a weight having an upper portion outside the window and a valve having a lower portion inside the window, and the stopper moves up and down according to the movement of the weight. When the whole device is horizontal, the weight is set to open the stopper, and the whole device is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the stopper is set so that the stopper closes the release agent intake window when a weight is turned over. 13. The mold releasing agent is filled from the bottom surface inside the tank when the mold releasing agent storage tank is filled horizontally with the mold releasing agent storage tank having a filling volume of V _0. The height to the lower end of the intake window is H ₁ , the liquid level of the release agent after filling with the release agent is h ₁ , and the inside of the release agent storage tank when the release agent storage tank is inverted 90 degrees back and forth. When the height from the bottom surface to the lower end of the release agent intake window is H ₂ , the height of the liquid release surface of the release agent at this time is h ₂ , and the release agent storage tank is inverted 90 degrees to the left and right. The height from the inner bottom surface to the lower end of the mold release agent intake window is H ₃ , and the height of the liquid release surface of the mold release agent at this time is h.
₃ to time, characterized in that each height decided _{H 1> h 1, H 2} > h 2, H 3> h 3 shape and fill volume V ₀ which release agent reservoir such that The image forming apparatus according to claim 12. 14. A fixing roller, a cleaning means for the fixing roller, and a fixing frame are unitized to be attachable / detachable to / from the apparatus main body, and the unit is provided with a movable handle capable of holding the unit. A fixing device unit is provided, which is provided with a handle for operating other members that are provided as a fixing device and must be excluded when the fixing device unit is removed by the movement of the handle, and an interlocking means between the other members. An image forming apparatus equipped with a fixing device. 15. A release agent applying unit for applying a release agent to the fixing roller is provided on the apparatus main body side of the image forming apparatus so as to be separable from and in contact with the fixing roller, and a release agent is provided between the handle and the release agent applying unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising interlocking means for moving the agent applying unit between a position in contact with the fixing roller and a position in which the agent applying unit is retracted to the outside of the fixing device unit. 16. The bottom of the fixing frame is a reservoir for the release agent, and a valve for discharging the release agent is provided at the bottom of the fixing frame, and the valve can be opened and closed between the handle and this valve. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising interlocking means. 17. A fixing unit is divided into an upper unit including a fixing roller and a lower unit including a pressure roller, the lower unit is fixed to the apparatus main body, and the upper unit is detachably fixed to the apparatus main body. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the interlocking unit separates the pressure roller from the fixing roller. 18. At least a fixing roller, a fixing roller cleaning means, and a fixing frame are detachably unitized to the main body of the apparatus, and moved around the fixing unit within the locus of the attaching / detaching movement of the fixing unit to the main body of the apparatus. An image forming apparatus, which is provided with a sheet discharge device capable of discharging the sheet, and the sheet discharge device can be retracted out of a locus of attachment / detachment movement to / from the fixing unit unit main body.