JPH07199702A - Heating device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a heat-generating body to be used in common to different power-supply voltages by having plural resistance heat-generating body having different resistance values on an insulating substrate, and selecting and energizing the resistance heat-generating body having resistance values different corresponding to the applies voltage. CONSTITUTION:A 1st resistance heat-generating body 11 for 100-115V and a 2nd resistance heat-generating body 12 for 220-240V are screen-printed on one ceramic substrate 2 to switch to (B) for a contact point Ar by energizing switching devices 13a, 13b according to the input voltage to the resistance heat-generating body on the ceramic substrate 2 or power-supply voltage. The 1st and 2nd resistance heat-generating bodies 11, 12 are thus selected and energized, thereby permitting the use of a heating body 1 in common to the power- supply voltages of 100-115V and 220-240V. On such a case, to make the resistance values of the resistance heat-generating bodies 11 and 12 different to 100-115V and 220-240V, the resistance values of pastes is made different or, if the pastes are of the same resistance value, the width and thickness thereof are to be changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating position together with a film, in which a heat resistant film is brought into contact with a fixedly supported heating member to slide it, and a material to be heated is adhered to the surface of the film opposite to the heating member side. The present invention relates to a heating device of a film heating type, which moves and passes through and heat energy is applied to a material to be heated from a heating body through a film.

Further, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having the heating device as an image heating processing device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A film heating type heating device as described above is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-313182, and an image heating and fixing device in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, printer or fax machine. , Ie electronic photography
Directly on the surface of recording material (electrofax sheet, electrostatic recording sheet, transfer material sheet, printing paper, etc.) using toner made of heat-meltable resin by image forming process means such as electrostatic recording and magnetic recording. Alternatively, it can be utilized as an image forming apparatus that heat-fixes an unfixed toner image corresponding to target image information formed by an indirect method (transfer) as a fixed image on a recording material carrying the image.

Further, it can be used, for example, as an apparatus for heating a recording material carrying an image to modify the surface properties of gloss and the like, an apparatus for post-treatment, etc.

More specifically, a thin heat-resistant film (sheet), a means for moving the film, and a heating element (heater) which is fixedly supported on one side of the film with the film inside. A pressurizing member disposed on the other surface side so as to be opposed to the heating body and closely contacting the toner image bearing surface of the recording material to be image-fixed with the heating body via the film,
At least during image fixing, the film is moved in the forward direction at the same speed as the recording material to be image-fixed, which is conveyed and introduced between the film and the pressure member, and the running moving film is sandwiched between the film and the heating member. The toner image bearing surface of the recording material is heated by the heating body through the film by passing through the fixing nip portion as a fixing portion formed by pressure contact with the pressure member, and thermal energy is applied to the unfixed toner image. This is a film heating type image heating and fixing device which is basically configured to soften and melt the film and then separate the film and the recording material after passing through the fixing portion at a separation point.

The film may be of an endless type so that it can be rotated and driven to be used repeatedly, or it can be used as a device that is used by feeding and running an end-rolled film. The member may be rotationally driven to serve as a film movement driving means.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional model view of the essential part of such an apparatus. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the heating element with the middle part omitted and partially cut away.

1 is a heating element, which has heat resistance, electric insulation,
A heater substrate (ceramic substrate) 2 having a low heat capacity, a resistance heating element layer (current-carrying heating element layer) 3 provided on one surface of the substrate 2 along the longitudinal direction thereof, and a resistance heating element layer forming surface of the substrate 2 are provided. Glass layer 4 as a coated surface protective layer
Etc.

The glass layer 4 surface side of the heating element 1 is a film contact sliding surface, and this glass layer 4 surface side is exposed to the outside to fix and support the heating element 1 to a supporting portion via a heat insulating heating element holder 7. I am allowed.

In the heating element 1, a voltage is applied between the terminal electrode layers (conductive layers) 3a and 3b at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the resistance heating element 3 by the energizing circuit 8 (FIG. 6) so that the resistance heating element 3 generates heat. To raise the temperature.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a temperature detecting element such as a thermistor which is provided in contact with the back surface of the substrate 2 of the heating element 1. The detected temperature information is input to the heating element temperature control system of the energizing circuit 8 to the resistance heating element 3. Is controlled to control the temperature of the heating body to a predetermined temperature.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a safety fuse (temperature fuse) as a thermal protector, which is connected in series to the energization path for the resistance heating element 3 and is provided in contact with the back surface of the substrate 2 of the heating element 1. When the temperature of the heating element 1 rises above a predetermined level, it melts and cuts off the electric power supply to the resistance heating element 3.

Reference numeral 9 is a heat-resistant film of polyimide or the like having a thickness of about 40 μm, and 10 is rotary pressure as a pressure member for pressing the film 9 against the glass layer 4 surface which is the film contact sliding surface of the heating element 1. It's Laura. The film 9 is pressed against the heating body 1 by the pressure roller 10, and is moved in contact with and slides on the surface of the heating body 1 at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow by the driving means or by the rotational driving force of the pressure roller 10.

By energizing the resistance heating element 3, the heating element 1
Is heated to a predetermined temperature and the film 9 is slid on the heating body 1, a recording material P as a material to be heated is placed in a pressure contact nip portion (fixing nip portion) N between the film 9 and the pressure roller 10. By introducing the recording material P, the recording material P comes into close contact with the surface of the film 9 and moves along with the film 9 at the position of the heating body 1, and heat energy is applied to the recording material P from the heating body 1 through the film 9 in the course of the movement. Then, the unfixed toner image t on the recording material P is heated and fused and fixed.

Conventionally, a heat roller system has been generally used as a heat fixing device of an image forming apparatus. this is,
It consists of a fixing roller equipped with a halogen heater inside a metallic roller, and a pressure roller with elasticity. The recording material is introduced and passed through the fixing nip part formed by this pair of rollers to heat and press the toner image. Fix it.

However, in such a heat roller type heat fixing device, since the heat capacity of the roller is large, it takes time (rise time, warm up time, wait time) for the roller to reach a predetermined fixing temperature, and it is quick. In order to use the machine, the temperature must be controlled to a certain temperature even when the machine is not in use.

On the other hand, in the film heating type apparatus as described above, since a low heat capacity heater can be used as the heating element 1, the wait time can be shortened (quick) as compared with the conventional heat roller type apparatus. start)
It also enables quick start and eliminates the need for preheating when not in use, thus saving power in a comprehensive sense. In addition, it is effective because it has the advantage of being able to solve the drawbacks of other heating methods and devices.

[0018]

Problems to be solved by such a film heating type heating apparatus are as follows. That is, the heating element 1 is usually produced by the following process.

.. A resistance heating element 3 (eg, high resistance silver-palladium paste) and end electrodes 3a and 3b are formed on the ceramic substrate 2 as a heater substrate by screen printing or the like.
(Example: low resistance silver palladium paste) is pattern-printed with a thickness of about 10 μm. As the ink, conductive fine particles, an organic binder such as glass frit and ethyl cellulose, and a solvent, which is usually called a "thick film paste", are used.

[0020]. Printed substrate 2 above at 600 ° C
The resistance heating element 3 and the terminal electrode layer 3 are fired at the above high temperature.
Bake a and 3b.

[0021]. After cooling, the resistance heating element 3 of the substrate 2 is covered, a glass paste is printed and adhered, and baked at a high temperature to form a glass layer 4 as a surface protective layer.

.. The temperature detecting element 5, the safety fuse 6 and the like are attached to this to complete the heating element 1.

However, since the power supply voltage is different in each country, the resistance value of the resistance heating element 3 is different.
Two types of heaters for 115V and 220-240V are used, two types of thick film paste are used as resistance heating elements in the manufacturing process, and two types of heating devices are also used as heating devices of the image forming apparatus. It had to be prepared, and it was very complicated to sort, manufacture, transport, store, and assemble.

Therefore, for 100-115V and 220-2
It has been desired that a heating body for 40V and a heating device be commonly used.

The present invention meets this need.
To make it possible to commonly use the heating body or heating device for 00-115V and 220-240V for the image forming apparatus, to select when transporting or assembling the apparatus, or to manage inventory or order. The purpose is to eliminate the problem.

[0026]

The present invention is a heating device and an image forming apparatus characterized by the following configurations.

(1) The film is brought into contact with and slid on a fixedly supported heating body, and a material to be heated is brought into close contact with the surface of the film opposite to the heating body side, and the heating position of the material to be heated is moved together with the film. In a heating device for passing heat energy to a material to be heated through a film from a heating body, the heating body has a plurality of resistance heating elements having different resistance values that generate heat by energization on an insulating substrate, A heating device is characterized in that a resistance heating element having a different resistance value is selected and energized according to a voltage applied to the heating element.

(2) The film is brought into contact with and slid on a fixedly supported heating body, and a material to be heated is brought into close contact with the surface of the film opposite to the heating body side, and the heating position of the material to be heated is moved together with the film. In a heating device that passes heat energy to a material to be heated from a heating body through a film, the heating body has a plurality of resistance heating elements that generate heat when energized on an insulating substrate, and is applied to the heating body. A heating device in which the plurality of resistance heating elements are selected and connected in parallel or in series according to the applied voltage.

(3) The heating device according to (1) or (2), wherein the resistance heating elements of the heating element are laminated via an insulating substrate.

(4) In an image forming apparatus having a heating device for heat-treating a recording material carrying an image, the heating device brings the film into contact with and slides it against a fixedly supported heating body. A heating device for closely contacting a recording material on the opposite surface, moving the recording material together with the film through a heating position to apply heat energy to the recording material from the heating element through the film, wherein the heating element is A plurality of resistance heating elements having different resistance values that generate heat when energized are provided on the insulating substrate, and the resistance heating elements having different resistance values are selected and energized according to the voltage applied to the heating element. Image forming apparatus.

(5) In an image forming apparatus having a heating device for heat-treating a recording material carrying an image, the heating device brings a film into contact with a fixedly supported heating body so that the film is on the heating body side. A heating device for closely contacting a recording material on the opposite surface, moving the recording material together with the film through a heating position to apply heat energy to the recording material from the heating element through the film, wherein the heating element is A plurality of resistance heating elements that generate heat when energized are provided on an insulating substrate, and the plurality of resistance heating elements are selected and connected in parallel or in series according to the voltage applied to the heating elements. Image forming apparatus.

(6) The image forming apparatus as described in (4) or (5) above, wherein the resistance heating element of the heating element is laminated via an insulating substrate.

[0033]

That is, in the film heating type heating device and the image forming apparatus having the heating device, the heating element has a resistance heating element which generates heat when energized on the substrate. On the substrate, for example, 100-115 having different resistance is used.
By providing two types of resistance heating elements for V and 220-240V, it is possible to realize common heating elements.

A heating device or an image forming device is provided with an energization switching device for automatically or manually selecting the two types of resistance heating elements on the substrate according to the input voltage or power supply voltage to the device and energizing them. , 100-115V and 220-2
The device for 100-115V and the device for 220-240 for 100-115V are selected by differently supplying power to the heating body of the device for 40V and selectively energizing the two types of resistance heating elements.
It can be shared with V and can be universalized.

Also, for 100-115V and 220-24
The two types of resistance heating elements are configured by varying the mounting position of the heating element to the device for 0V and for the power feeding portion to the device for 100-115V and 220-240V. It is also possible to select and energize.

.. A heating element, which is a heating means, is disposed inside the heating device, and a plurality of resistance heating elements are provided on the substrate of the heating element. The plurality of resistance heating elements are arranged in parallel according to the input voltage or power supply voltage to the device. Alternatively, a parallel / series switching device for automatically and manually selecting and connecting in series and energizing is provided in the heating device or the image forming device, and the resistance value of the resistance heating element is varied to make the device 100- It can be shared for 115V and 220-240V.

Also, for 100-115V and 220-24
A configuration for changing the mounting position of the heating element to the heating device for 0V, and a power supply unit for the heating device (power supply unit from the image forming apparatus main body to the heating device) for 100-115V and 220-240V. By adopting a different configuration, a plurality of resistance heating elements are connected in parallel or in series to make the resistance variable, and the heating element and the heating device are for 100-115V and 220-2.
Since it can be shared for 40V, universalization can be realized.

As described above, since the heating element and the heating device are shared regardless of the power supply voltage, it is not necessary to classify the heating element or the heating device or the image forming apparatus in each manufacturing process, and the manufacturing and transportation are performed. The complexity of storage and assembly can be eliminated.

Further, by mistake, the heating device for 100V-115V is attached to the image forming device for 220-240V, and the resistance heating element is melted and cut, or conversely, the heating device for 220-240V. Is attached to the image forming apparatus for 100-115V, the problem that the toner image is not fixed can be prevented, and it can be used anywhere in the world.

Particularly, when the heating device has a shorter life than the main body of the image forming apparatus and is used as a replacement part called a heating unit, the image is not fixed by a service person or a general user, and the image is not fixed. Problems such as body disconnection are easily solved, and it is easy to handle in terms of inventory management and distribution such as ordering.

Further, it is very easy to arrange a plurality of resistance heating elements on the ceramic substrate in screen printing, and it is easy to reduce the cost.

[0042]

【Example】

<Example 1> (Fig. 1) Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of Example 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a first resistance heating element 11 for 100-115V and a second resistance heating element 12 for 220-240V are screen-printed on one ceramic substrate 2. , The first and second resistance heating elements 11 are switched by switching the contacts A and B by the energization switching devices 13a and 13b according to an input voltage or a power supply voltage to the resistance heating element on the ceramic substrate 2.・ By selecting 12 and energizing, 100-115V and 220-240-
It is possible to share the heating element 1 with respect to the power source voltage of V.

In order to make the resistance heating elements 11 and 12 different in resistance value between 100-115V and 220-240V, the resistance value of the paste is different, or the width and thickness of the paste are the same if the resistance value is the same. You can change the size.

The switching between the resistance heating elements 11 and 12 is performed by a factory assembler, a service technician, or a general user manually switching the energization switching devices 13a and 13b provided in the heating device or the image forming apparatus. The configuration may be such that the input voltage or the power supply voltage is automatically detected and switched. Further, the resistance heating element to be energized may be selected by selecting the mounting position of the heating element to the heating device according to the power supply voltage.

In practice, the switching levers of the energization switching devices 13a and 13b attached to the heating device are manually switched and fixed by screws.
One type of heating device, for 100-115V and 220-2
It became possible to attach it to two types of image forming devices for 40V, and realized the universalization of the heating device.

The best configuration is to detect the input voltage to the heating device of the power source and automatically switch the energization switching device 13a.
If the configuration is such that 13b operates, the heating device for 100V-115V is mistakenly set to 220-240 as in the conventional case.
The resistance heating element is broken by being attached to the V image forming apparatus, or the 220 to 240 V heating apparatus is attached to the 100 to 115 V image forming apparatus, so that the toner image is not fixed. The problem of can be prevented.

In addition, the same heating device can be connected to the same heating device by setting the power supply pin position on the image forming device main body side for supplying power to the heating body of the heating device according to the power supply voltage.
The resistance heating elements 11 or 12 may be energized when arranged in the 5V or 220-240V image forming apparatus.

<Embodiment 2> (FIG. 2) FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the resistance value of the resistance heating element for 100-115V is 22.
Since it is about ¼ of the resistance value of the resistance heating element for 0-240V, as shown in FIG.
No. 0 and the second resistance heating element 21 are screen-printed on the ceramic substrate 2 and the power supply voltage is set to 100 to 115 by the parallel / series switching devices 22a and 22b.
In the case of V, the parallel / series switching devices 22a and 22b
Is switched to the contact B position, the first and second resistance heating elements 20 and 21 are connected in parallel, and the combined resistance is set to R / 2,
When the power supply voltage is 220-240V, the parallel / series switching devices 22a and 22b are switched to the contact point A position, the first and second resistance heating elements 20 and 21 are connected in series, and the combined resistance is set to 2R. By doing, 100 of the heating element 1
It is possible to realize commonization of -115V and 220-240V.

The first and second resistance heating elements 20 and 21
The parallel / series switching is performed by a factory assembler, a serviceman, or a general user by installing the parallel / series switching device 22a / 22b in the heating device or the image forming apparatus.
May be manually switched, or a parallel / series switching device provided in the heating device or the image forming apparatus main body may detect the input voltage or the power supply voltage and automatically switch.

In practice, one type of heating device is 100-11 by switching the switching lever attached to the heating device manually and fixing it with screws.
It was possible to attach it to two types of image forming apparatus, one for 5V and the other for 220-240V, and it was possible to realize a universal heating device.

In this embodiment, two first and second resistance heating elements 20 and 21 having the same resistance value are used, but resistance heating elements having different resistance values and a plurality of resistance heating elements of three or more resistance values are used. May be used by connecting them in parallel or in series.

Further, the resistance heating elements on the substrate are arranged in parallel by changing the mounting position of the heating element to the heating device according to the power supply voltage or by changing the power supply electrode portion to the heating device of the image forming apparatus main body.・ For the heating device of 100-115V and 220-240, it is possible to connect in series.
It is also possible to realize sharing with V (universal).

<Third Embodiment> (FIGS. 3 and 4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views of a heating body according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the resistance heating elements 11.12, 20.2.
1 is an embodiment of the heating element 1 configured by forming a laminated structure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 without increasing the width dimension.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first for 100-115V
In the heating element 1 in which the resistance heating element 11 and the second resistance heating element 12 for 220-240V are laminated, when the heating element is attached to the heating device, the surface abutting on the film is changed to form a film. When the configuration is such that power is supplied only to the resistance heating body on the contacting side, it is possible to obtain a heating device corresponding to each power supply voltage, and the heating body can be shared regardless of the power supply voltage.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the first resistance heating element 20 and the second resistance 21 are laminated on the ceramic substrate 2, and the surface contacting with the film is covered with the glass layer 4, and the film non-contacting surface. Using the heating element 1 configured to cover the side with the insulating heat insulating member 30, the first and second resistance heating elements 20 and 21 are connected in parallel to the heating device or the image forming apparatus as in the second embodiment. By connecting in parallel and in series according to the power supply voltage by the series switching devices 22a and 22b, the heating element can be shared regardless of the power supply voltage.

As in the present embodiment, the resistance heating elements of the heating element are made to have a plurality of layers, so that the width of the heating element can be reduced and the heating element can be miniaturized.

Further, the temperature detecting element may not be integrated with the heating body but may be brought into contact with the inner wall of the film by itself.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention ,.
A plurality of resistance heating elements having different resistances are arranged in the heating element, and the resistance heating element to be energized is selected by the energization switching device of the heating device or the image forming apparatus according to the power supply voltage.
By disposing a plurality of resistance heating elements on the heating element and changing the total resistance value by the heating device or the parallel / series switching device of the image forming apparatus according to the power supply voltage, the heating element and the heating device are 115V and 220-240V
Since it can be commonly used for the image forming apparatus for use, it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness at the time of sorting at the time of transportation and assembling, inventory management, and ordering.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a heating body according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a heating body according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a heating body of Example 3 (No. 1)

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a heating body of Example 3 (No. 2)

FIG. 5 is a schematic model diagram of a main part of a film heating type heating device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the heating body with an intermediate part omitted and partially cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Heating Body 2 Ceramic Substrate 3 Resistance Heating Element 4 Glass Layer 5 Temperature Sensing Element 7 Holder 8 Energizing Circuit 9 Film 11 100-115V Resistance Heating Element 12 220-240V Resistance Heating Element 13a / 13b Energization Switching Device 20/21 Same Heating element 22a / 22b with parallel resistance value

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Minoru Matsukuma 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Sakai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takayasu Yukinochi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Norio Hashimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Person Masaharu Okubo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A film is brought into contact with and slid on a fixedly supported heating body, and a material to be heated is brought into close contact with the surface of the film opposite to the heating body side, and the material to be heated is moved together with the film at a heating position. In the heating device for applying heat energy from the heating body to the material to be heated through the film, the heating body has a plurality of resistance heating elements having different resistance values that generate heat by energization on the insulating substrate, and A heating device, wherein a resistance heating element having a different resistance value is selected and energized according to a voltage applied to the heating element. 2. A film is brought into contact with and slid on a fixedly supported heating body, a material to be heated is brought into close contact with the surface of the film opposite to the heating body side, and the material to be heated is moved along with the film through a heating position. In the heating device for applying heat energy to the material to be heated through the film from the heating element, the heating element has a plurality of resistance heating elements that generate heat by energization on the insulating substrate, and is applied to the heating element. The heating device is characterized in that the plurality of resistance heating elements are selected and connected in parallel or in series in accordance with the applied voltage. 3. The heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resistance heating element of the heating element is laminated via an insulating substrate. 4. An image forming apparatus having a heating device for heating a recording material carrying an image, wherein the heating device slides the film in contact with a fixedly supported heating member, the film being opposite to the heating member side of the film. Is a heating device for bringing the recording material into close contact with the side surface, moving the recording material together with the film through a heating position to apply heat energy to the recording material from the heating body through the film, and the heating body is an insulating material. A plurality of resistance heating elements having different resistance values that generate heat when energized are provided on the flexible substrate, and the resistance heating elements having different resistance values are selected for energization according to the voltage applied to the heating element. Image forming apparatus. 5. An image forming apparatus having a heating device for heating a recording material carrying an image, wherein the heating device slides a film in contact with a fixedly supported heating member, and the film is opposite to the heating member side of the film. Is a heating device for bringing the recording material into close contact with the side surface, moving the recording material together with the film through a heating position to apply heat energy to the recording material from the heating body through the film, and the heating body is an insulating material. An image characterized in that a plurality of resistance heating elements that generate heat when energized are provided on a flexible substrate, and the plurality of resistance heating elements are selected and connected in parallel or in series according to the voltage applied to the heating element. Forming equipment. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resistance heating element of the heating element is laminated via an insulating substrate.