JPH06337611A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the degradation in cleaning capacity by charging-up of a cleaning member of a support, such as driving roller, and to improve the durability and reliability by the fixing device by forming this cleaning member of a conductive member and providing the fixing member with a voltage impressing means or grounding means. CONSTITUTION:The driving roller cleaning member 13 is composed of heat resistant felt consisting of aramid fibers which are formed by mixing conductive fillers, metallic fibers and carbon fibers and have surface resistance of a prescribed range. The charge-up is prevented in long-term use by grounding the driving roller cleaning member 13. The driving roller cleaning member 13 is fixed to a holder 14 consisting of a heat resistant resin or metal, such as SUS. The driving roller cleaning member 13 is pressed to the outside surface of the driving roller 8 to the extent of preventing lowering of the rotating speed of the driving roller 8. As a result, the driving roller cleaning member 13 is not electrostatically charged to a plus polarity even if the worn powder p of a fixing film 7 electrostatically charged to plus and the driving roller cleaning member 13 come into sliding contact with each other. A sufficient cleaning capacity is thus maintained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a film heating type fixing device for applying heat energy to a recording material carrying a visible image (toner image) to be heat-fixed to heat-fix the toner image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a heat roller is known as a means for fixing a visible image on a recording material. However, it consumes a large amount of power and takes a long time to reach a fixing temperature. There was such a drawback. On the other hand, a fixing method using a heat-resistant film that solves this drawback is disclosed in JP-A-63-63
-313182.

The fixing device described in this publication includes a thin heat-resistant film, a drive roller for the film, and a heating element fixedly supported so as to be in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the film. And a pressing member arranged so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the film and come into pressure contact with the heating body via the film.

The film and the pressure member are rotated at the same speed as the conveying speed of the recording material at least during image fixing, and the fixing nip between the heating member and the pressure member formed via the film. By nipping and conveying the recording material between the parts, the visible image on the recording material (unfixed toner image) is given the thermal energy of the heating element to soften and weld the visible image.
Further, by discharging the recording material from the fixing nip portion, the visible image is cooled and solidified to be fixed on the recording material.

However, in this fixing device, abrasion powder on the inner surface of the fixing film sometimes adheres to the surface of the drive roller for driving the fixing film, which causes a problem that the fixing film slips.

Therefore, a driving roller cleaning member for removing the abrasion powder is provided to prevent the fixing film from slipping due to a decrease in the friction coefficient on the surface of the driving roller due to long-term use, thereby improving the durability and reliability of the fixing device. A device has been proposed to improve the performance.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional film heating type fixing device, depending on the materials of the fixing film, the driving roller and the driving roller cleaning member used, as shown in FIG. As described above, the drive roller cleaning member 13 is charged up to the same polarity as the abrasion powder on the inner surface of the fixing film 7, and they repel each other, so that the cleaning ability of the drive roller cleaning member 13 may be reduced.

Further, since the end surface of the drive roller cleaning member 13 on the side of contact with the drive roller 8 is always in contact with the drive roller 8, it is possible to use it for a long time or to raise the temperature by heat transfer from the heating element. The adhesive for fixing the drive roller cleaning member 13 to the drive roller cleaning member holder 14 is deteriorated, and the frictional force between the drive roller 8 and the drive roller cleaning member 13 causes the drive roller cleaning member 13 to move. Thirteen
However, as shown in FIG. 18, the cleaning roller 13 may be peeled off from the end face having the weakest adhesive force, and the drive roller cleaning member 13 may be poorly contacted with the drive roller 8 to reduce the cleaning ability.

Further, as a driving roller cleaning member, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when a brush having straight bristles 13a is used, the bristles 13a are cleaned only by the tips of the bristles, so that the bristles 13a fall over with long-term use as shown in FIG. There was something to do.

As described above, when the cleaning ability of the drive roller cleaning member is reduced due to various causes, the friction coefficient between the drive roller and the fixing film is reduced, and eventually slippage occurs or the fixing film is driven. There was a problem such as stopping. Also, due to the drive failure of this fixing film,
Fixing film caused by improper introduction of the recording material conveyed from the image forming unit side to the fixing nip portion, or by pressing only the fixing nip portion while the fixing film, the pressure member, and the recording material are stopped. However, there is a problem in that the pressure member, the recording material, and the heating body are thermally damaged or the image is deteriorated.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, suppresses the occurrence of defective driving of the fixing film due to the deterioration of the cleaning ability of the driving roller cleaning member, prevents the introduction of the recording material into the fixing nip portion, and the fixing film An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of preventing the pressure member, the recording material, and the heating element from being thermally damaged, and improving durability and reliability.

[0012]

According to the first invention of the present application,
The object is a film member which is stretched around a heating body and a support body with a predetermined tension and is movably provided with an end or an end by the rotation of the support body, and the heating body through the film member. A pressure member arranged so as to come into pressure contact with the support, and a cleaning member arranged so as to come into slidable contact with the support, and an unfixed developer image is formed at the pressure contact portion between the film member and the pressure means. In the fixing device for nipping and carrying the carried recording material, the cleaning member is formed of a conductive member, and is achieved by providing a voltage applying unit or a grounding unit.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, the above-mentioned object is stretched around the heating body and the support body with a predetermined tension, and is arranged so as to be movable endlessly or endlessly by the rotation of the supporter. A film member, a pressurizing means arranged so as to be in pressure contact with the heating body via the film member, a cleaning member arranged so as to be in sliding contact with the support body, and the cleaning member by an adhesive. In a fixing device comprising a holding member for holding, a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image is nipped and conveyed at a pressure contact portion of the film member and a pressure means,
The cleaning member is achieved by arranging the end of the surface that comes into contact with the support so as not to contact the support.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, the above-mentioned object is stretched around the heating body and the support body with a predetermined tension, and is arranged so as to be movable endlessly or endlessly by the rotation of the supporter. A film member, a pressurizing unit arranged so as to come into pressure contact with the heating body via the film member, and a brush-like cleaning member arranged so as to come into sliding contact with the support body, In a fixing device that sandwiches and conveys a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image at a pressure contact portion between a member and a pressing means, the brush-like cleaning member is achieved by the bristles of the brush being formed in a loop shape. To be done.

[0015]

According to the first invention of the present application, the film member stretched around the heating body and the support moves along with the rotation of the support, and from the inner surface of the film member due to the friction with the support. Even if friction powder is generated, the friction powder is removed by the cleaning member that is in sliding contact with the support. At this time, the cleaning member is charged to the same polarity as the friction powder due to the sliding contact with the friction powder, but the cleaning member of the first invention of the present application is formed of a conductive member, and further, the voltage application means or Since the grounding means is provided, the electric charge disappears or the polarity of the friction powder is opposite to that of the friction powder, so that good cleaning ability is maintained without repulsion from the friction powder.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, as in the case of the first invention of the present application, the friction powder is removed by the cleaning member slidably contacting the support body. Since the end of the surface that comes into contact with the support is arranged so that it does not come into contact with the support, no frictional force with the support is generated at the end and cleaning is possible even during long-term use. The member does not come off from the holding member of the cleaning member.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, even when the cleaning member is formed in the shape of a brush, as in the case of the first invention of the present application, the friction powder is removed by the cleaning member in sliding contact with the support. However, in the cleaning member of the third invention of the present application, since the bristles of the brush are formed in a loop shape, even if the bristles fall down after long-term use, the contact state of the cleaning member with respect to the support hardly changes, and good cleaning is performed. Maintain ability.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus including a fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is an optical system moving type, rotating drum type or transfer type electrophotographic copying apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, this is a device in which the platen glass 20 is fixed. Therefore, when the document 19 is placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass 20, the required copying conditions are set, and the copy start key is pressed, the light source 21 having the reflection shade 22 and the first mirror 23 are connected to the platen glass. Along the lower surface of the glass 20, the glass moves from the home position on the left side of the glass to the right side of the glass at a predetermined speed V, and the second mirror 24 and the third mirror 25 move in the same direction at a speed of V / 2. ing.

As a result, the downward image surface of the document 19 placed on the platen glass 20 is illuminated and scanned from the left side to the right side, and the reflected light of the illumination scanning light is formed into the imaging lens 29 and the fixed fourth mirror 26. Image formation exposure (slit exposure) is performed on the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 39 via the fixed fifth mirror 27 and the fixed sixth mirror 28.

On the other hand, the rotatably arranged photosensitive drum 39 is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow when the copy start key is pressed,
Before the exposure, the surface of the photoconductor drum 39 has the primary charger 3
0 is uniformly charged to a positive or negative predetermined potential. Therefore, by performing the above-mentioned exposure on the charged surface, electrostatic latent images having a pattern corresponding to the original image are sequentially formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 39, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. It is visualized as a toner image by the developing roller 32 of the device 31.

Along with such a toner image forming operation, a sheet P, which is a recording material, is fed by a sheet feeding means (not shown).
Is fed to the transfer portion between the photoconductor drum 39 and the transfer charger 34 at a predetermined timing through the guide 33 to receive the transfer corona, and the toner visible image on the photoconductor drum 39 is , Are sequentially transferred to the sheet P.

Then, the sheet P which has passed through the transfer portion
Is a separating means (not shown), for example, the photosensitive drum 39.
The photoconductor drum 3 is separated by a separation belt provided at the end of the photoconductor drum 3.
After being sequentially separated from the 9th surface, the charges of the back surface are discharged by the discharging needle 35, and are introduced into a fixing device 60 described later by the conveyance guide 38 and the guide 18, and after being subjected to toner image fixing, they are taken out of the apparatus as an image formed product. Is discharged.

After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 39 is cleaned by a cleaning plate 37 of the cleaning device 36 to remove dirt such as residual toner, and is repeatedly used for image formation. Furthermore, the moving optical unit (light source 2
1, the reflection shade 22, the first mirror 23, the second mirror 24, and the third mirror 25) return to the initial home position when they arrive at the predetermined end point, and wait until the start of the next copy cycle (this home position). The process of returning to is the back process of the optical system).

Next, the fixing device of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes an endless fixing film, which includes a driving roller 8 on the left side, a driven roller 9 on the right side in FIG. 1, and a linear heating with a low heat capacity arranged below the rollers 8 and 9. It is suspended and stretched between the three members including the body 1. This fixing film 7
Has heat resistance, releasability, durability, etc., and in general, a single-layer or composite-layer film having a total thickness of 100 μm or less, preferably 40 μm or less can be used. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, it is a two-layer constitution film, and the heat-resistant layer 7b as the base layer (base film) of the fixing film 7.
And a release layer 7a laminated on the outer surface of the heat resistant layer 7b (the surface facing the toner image).

For the heat-resistant layer 7b, for example, a highly heat-resistant resin film such as polyimide, polyetheretherketone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, or polyparabanic acid, which has excellent strength and heat resistance, can be used. Further, for the release layer 7a, for example, a fluororesin such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA, EFP, a silicone resin, or the like is preferable. The surface resistance of the fixing film 7 can be reduced by mixing a conductive agent such as carbon black, graphite, or conductive whiskers into the release layer 7a. The contact surface can be prevented from being charged. Further, the release layer 7a is laminated on the heat-resistant layer 7b by adhesion lamination of the release layer film, electrostatic coating (coating) of the release layer material, lamination by a film forming technique such as vapor deposition, CVD, heat-resistant layer material, and the like. It can be performed by forming a two-layer film by co-extruding the release layer material.

Next, the driving roller 8 which supports the fixing film 7 as described above is provided with a surface layer made of silicone rubber having a high friction coefficient and excellent heat resistance in order to drive the fixing film 7 to rotate. It has on a metal cored bar.

The drive roller 8 has the following structure.
A drive roller cleaning member 13 for cleaning the surface of the drive roller is provided, which will be described later.

Similarly to the driving roller 8, the driven roller 9 that supports the fixing film 7 also functions as a tension roller for the fixing film 7 and has an elastic surface layer.

Further, the heating body 1 which is another member for supporting the fixing film 7 has a low heat capacity whose longitudinal direction is the direction intersecting the plane moving direction of the fixing film 7 (the width direction of the fixing film 7). It is made of a linear material, and has a heater substrate 3, an energization heating resistor (heating element) 4, a temperature measuring element 5, a heat-resistant glass layer 6 and the like mounted and held on the heater support 2.

The heater support 2 fixes the heating body 1 to the fixing device 60.
And an image forming apparatus that has heat insulating properties to support heat insulation, high heat resistance, and rigidity. For example, PSS (polyphenylene sulfide), PAI (polyamide imide), P
It can be composed of a high heat resistant resin such as I (polyimide), PEK (polyether ether ketone), liquid crystal polymer, or a composite material of these resins and ceramics, metal, glass or the like.

The heater substrate 3 is a member having heat resistance, insulation, and low heat capacity. For example, the thickness is 1.0 mm and the width is 8.0.
The alumina substrate has a length of 340 mm and a length of 340 mm.

The heating element 4 is the lower surface of the substrate 3 (unfixed film).
7 in the longitudinal direction at the substantially central part (on the side facing 7)
For example, Ag and Pd (silver palladium), Ta Electric resistance such as N
Screen printing of materials with a thickness of 10 μm and width of 1 to 3 mm
By heat-resistant glass 6 as a surface protective layer
Of about 10 μm.

The temperature measuring element 5 has a low heat capacity such as a Pt film coated by screen printing or the like on substantially the center of the upper surface of the substrate 3 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the heating element 4 is provided). It is a lateral temperature resistor. In addition, as the temperature detecting element 5, a thermistor or the like having a low heat capacity may be arranged in contact with the substrate 3.

In the case of the heating element 1 of the present embodiment, the linear or strip heating element 4 is energized from both ends in the longitudinal direction to heat the heating element 4 over substantially the entire length. The energization is 100 V AC, and the energization power is controlled by controlling the energizing phase angle by an energization control circuit (not shown) including a triac according to the detected temperature of the temperature detecting element 5.

A pressing member 10 is attached to the heating body 1 via a fixing film 7 so as to urge the heating member 1 (not shown).
Thus, for example, the contact pressure is applied with a contact pressure of total pressure 4 to 7 kgf to form a fixing nip portion. The pressing member 10 has a rubber elastic layer 12 such as silicone rubber having a good releasability on the shaft 11, and rotates about the shaft 11 in the counterclockwise direction of the conveyance direction of the sheet P and the forward direction. It is like this.

In the fixing device of this embodiment as described above, the fixing film 7 has the same peripheral speed as the conveying speed of the sheet P in the clockwise direction as the driving roller 8 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction by the screen formation start signal. The movement of the driven roller 9 is started, and the driven roller 9 is rotationally driven without twisting, meandering, or speed delay.

Next, the sheet P on which the unfixed toner image Ta is transferred on the upper surface by the above-described image forming operation is guided by the guide 18 and the heating body 1 formed via the fixing film 7. The unfixed toner image Ta that has entered the fixing nip portion of the pressure roller 10 adheres to the lower surface of the fixing film 7 without causing surface deviation, wrinkles, or deviation, and is overlapped with the fixing film 7 in the fixing nip portion. The part passes while receiving a clamping pressure.

Further, at this time, the heating element 1 is electrically heated at a predetermined timing by the image formation start signal, so that the toner image Ta is heated in the fixing nip portion and softened to form a fused image Tb.

Since the fixing film 7 is turned at a steep angle (the bending angle θ is about 45 degrees) at the edge portion S (having a radius of curvature of about 2 mm) having a large curvature of the heater support 2, the fixing film 7 is fixed. The sheet P conveyed through the fixing nip portion while being overlapped with the film 7 has an edge portion S.
At the point of curvature separation from the fixing film 7, the sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection tray. By the time the sheet is ejected, the toner is sufficiently cooled and solidified, so that the toner image Tc completely fixed on the sheet P is formed. It

In the present embodiment, the heat capacity of the heating element 4 and the substrate 3 of the heating element 1 is small, and these are heat-insulated and supported by the heater support 2, so that the fixing nip portion of the heating element 1 is provided. Since the surface temperature rises to a sufficiently high temperature with respect to the melting point of toner (or the temperature at which it can be fixed on the sheet P) in a short time, it is necessary to raise the temperature of the heating element 1 in advance (so-called standby temperature adjustment). In addition, energy saving can be realized and temperature rise inside the machine can be prevented.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a good fixing operation is performed, but conventionally, the driving roller 8 causes frictional dust on the inner surface of the fixing film 7, and the driving roller 8 is used for a long time. There is a problem that the cleaning member is charged up with the same polarity as the wear powder.

Therefore, the drive roller cleaning member 1 of this embodiment is used.
3 is made of an aramid fiber having a surface resistance of 10 ^-2 to 10 ¹⁰ Ω, which is a mixture of conductive filler, metal fiber and carbon fiber.
It is composed of a heat-resistant felt having a thickness of 5 mm and a density of 0.3 to 0.4 g / cm ³ , and the driving roller cleaning member 13 made of this heat-resistant felt is grounded as shown in FIG. It prevents the charge up due to.

The drive roller cleaning member 13 is fixed to a metal holder 14 made of heat resistant resin or SUS, and the drive roller cleaning member 13 is rotated with respect to the outer surface of the drive roller 8. The contact is made so that the speed does not decrease. The drive roller cleaning member 13 includes
Instead of the heat resistant felt, a heat resistant brush using a metal such as the conductive aramid fiber or SUS may be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the abrasion powder p on the inner surface of the fixing film which is positively charged and the driving roller cleaning member 13 are in sliding contact with each other, the driving roller cleaning member 13 is in contact.
It is possible to maintain sufficient cleaning ability without being charged to a positive polarity.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the driving roller cleaning member 13 in the first embodiment is applied with a voltage so as to have a polarity opposite to that of the abrasion powder p on the inner surface of the fixing film as shown in FIG. By doing so, abrasion powder p on the inner surface of the fixing film
Are attracted to the drive roller cleaning member 13 and can maintain the cleaning ability over the drive roller cleaning member 13 in the previous embodiment over a long period of use.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, when the fixing film 7 having the inner surface coated with Teflon is used in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the drive roller cleaning member 13 is configured to be grounded via a varistor. In this case, the abrasion powder p on the inner surface of the fixing film and the drive roller cleaning member 13 have opposite polarities and attract each other, so that a sufficient cleaning ability is maintained. Therefore, during long-term use, the drive roller cleaning member 13 is kept at a predetermined potential or less to prevent the drive roller 8 and the fixing film 7 from leaking due to charge-up of the drive roller cleaning member 13. The performance can be maintained.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first to third embodiments, the driving roller cleaning member 13 is prevented from being charged to the same polarity as the friction powder p, but in the present embodiment, the driving roller cleaning member 1 is used.
It is intended to prevent the peeling of No. 3 from the holder 14.

The drive roller cleaning member 13 of this embodiment is composed of a heat-resistant felt having a thickness of 5 mm and a density of 0.3 to 0.4 g / cm ³ , and as shown in FIGS. The longitudinal end faces A and B of the member 13 on the drive roller contact side and the end faces C and D of the drive roller circumferential direction are arranged so as not to contact the drive roller 8. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the end surface of the drive roller cleaning member 13 from coming off from the drive roller cleaning member holder 14 due to the frictional force between the drive roller 8 and the drive roller cleaning member 13.

The structure of the metal holder 14 and the degree of pressing of the drive roller cleaning member 13 are the same as in the first embodiment.

<Fifth Embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those of the first and fourth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the end surface of the drive roller cleaning member 13 in the fourth embodiment is replaced by the drive roller cleaning member holder 1
4 has a structure in which it is bent and fixed to the side opposite to the drive roller 8. By doing so, the same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

<Sixth Embodiment> Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, Example 1 and Example 4
The same parts as in FIG.

In this embodiment, the end surface of the drive roller cleaning member 13 in the fourth embodiment is replaced by the drive roller cleaning member holder 1
Take the configuration held down by 4. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

<Seventh Embodiment> Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, Example 1 and Example 4
The same parts as in FIG.

In this embodiment, the drive roller cleaning member 13 of the fourth embodiment is wound around a roller-shaped drive roller cleaning member holder 14. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

<Embodiment 8> Next, an embodiment 8 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, Example 1
The same parts as in FIG.

In Examples 1 to 7, a heat-resistant felt or the like was used for the drive roller cleaning member 13 to prevent the felt from being charged to the same polarity as the friction powder p. Is to prevent the fall of bristles when a brush is used for the drive roller cleaning member 13.

As shown in FIG. 12, the drive roller cleaning member 13 of this embodiment uses a highly heat-resistant material such as aramid fiber and has a base cloth 13b having a thickness of 0.5 mm.
As the bristles 13a of the brush, loop height 4mm, 20d /
2F pile yarn is woven with a density of 1550 threads / inch ² , and heat-resistant resin or SU is used as in the above embodiment.
It is fixed to a metal holder 14 such as S.

According to the drive roller cleaning member 13 of the present embodiment, as can be seen from FIGS. 13 and 14 (a view seen from the X direction in FIG. 13), the abrasion powder p on the inner surface of the fixing film is removed from the drive roller 8. Since the side surface of the bristles 13a of the drive roller cleaning member 13 is used for removal, the cleaning ability is high, and even if the bristles fall down after long-term use, the contact state of the drive roller cleaning brush with the drive roller 8 hardly changes. , Its cleaning ability does not deteriorate and can be maintained for a long time.

<Ninth Embodiment> Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, Example 1 and Example 8
The same parts as in FIG.

In this embodiment, the bristles 13a of the drive roller cleaning member 13 in Embodiment 8 are directly woven into the drive roller cleaning member holder 14. By doing so, the base cloth 13b of the drive roller cleaning brush becomes unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced without lowering the cleaning ability, and the drive roller cleaning member 13 can be removed from the drive roller cleaning brush holder 14 together with the base cloth. It does not peel off and cause poor cleaning of the drive roller.

<Embodiment 10> Next, Embodiment 10 of the present invention.
Will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those of the first and eighth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the drive roller cleaning member 13 in the eighth embodiment is woven so that every two loop-shaped bristles 13a cross each other. By doing so, the collapse of the brush portion due to long-term use can be halved, and the cleaning ability can be further improved.

[0069]

As described above, according to the first invention of the present application, the cleaning member for the supporting member such as the driving roller is formed of a conductive member, and the voltage applying unit or the grounding unit is provided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning ability from being deteriorated due to the charge-up of the cleaning member, and to improve the durability and reliability of the fixing device.

According to the second invention of the present application, the cleaning member for the supporting member such as the driving roller is arranged so that the end of the surface contacting the supporting member is not in contact with the supporting member. Can be prevented from peeling off from the holding member, and the durability and reliability of the fixing device can be improved.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, even when a brush-like member is used as the cleaning member for the support member such as the driving roller, the bristles of the brush are formed in a loop shape, so that the cleaning ability of the cleaning member is improved. It is possible to prevent the deterioration and improve the durability and reliability of this type of fixing device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a fixing device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layer structure of a fixing film of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the apparatus of FIG. 1 is attached.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a configuration of a cleaning member in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the relationship between the support body and the cleaning member of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the cleaning member in the fixing device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning member in a fixing device according to an eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a partial side view showing a usage state of the cleaning member of FIG.

14 is a plan view of the cleaning member of FIG. 13 viewed from the X direction.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning member in a fixing device according to a ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cleaning member in the fixing device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a cleaning member for a support in a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing another cleaning member for the support in the conventional fixing device.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing another cleaning member for a support in a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 20 is a partial side view for explaining the change over time of the cleaning member of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Heater 7 Fixing Film (Film Member) 8 Drive Roller (Support) 10 Pressure Roller (Pressure Member) 13 Drive Roller Cleaning Member (Support Support Cleaning Member) 13a Brush Bristles 14 Drive Roller Cleaning Member Holder (Hold) Element)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A film member which is stretched around a heating body and a support body with a predetermined tension and is movably provided with an end or an end by the rotation of the support body, and the heating through the film member. An unfixed developer image is provided at a pressing portion of the film member and the pressing means, the pressing means being arranged so as to be in pressure contact with the body, and a cleaning member being arranged so as to be in slidable contact with the support. In a fixing device for nipping and transporting a recording material carrying a sheet, the cleaning member is formed of a conductive member, and is provided with a voltage applying means or a grounding means. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applying unit is a DC power source having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the friction powder of the film member. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the grounding unit is grounded via a varistor. 4. A film member, which is stretched around a heating body and a support body with a predetermined tension and is movably provided with an end or an end by the rotation of the support body, and the above heating through the film member. A film member, comprising: a pressurizing unit arranged to be in pressure contact with the body; a cleaning member arranged to be in sliding contact with the support; and a holding member for holding the cleaning member with an adhesive. In a fixing device in which a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image is nipped and conveyed at a pressure contact portion of a pressure means, the cleaning member has an end portion of a surface in contact with the support member which is not in contact with the support member. The fixing device is characterized in that 5. A film member, which is stretched around a heating body and a support body with a predetermined tension and is movably provided with an end or an end by the rotation of the support body, and the heating through the film member. A pressurizing means arranged so as to be in pressure contact with the body, and a brush-like cleaning member arranged so as to be in slidable contact with the support, and not fixed at the press contact portion between the film member and the pressurizing means. In a fixing device for nipping and conveying a recording material carrying a developer image, the brush-like cleaning member is characterized in that the bristles of the brush are formed in a loop shape.