JPH09101704A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of utilizing the heat of crystallization at the time of maintaining a fixing roller at a fixable temp. when a paper jam or the insufficiency of toners arises or the temp. of this fixing roller is dropped by opening and closing of a main body. SOLUTION: This image forming device has the fixing roller including a phase transition layer to allow the phase transition from an amorphous phase to a crystalline phase on an arbor within the main body, which has an openable/closable main body panel. The image forming device described above has a panel detecting circuit 2 which detects the opening and closing of the main body panel, non-crystallizing means (a heating circuit 3 and a cooling circuit 4) which cause the phase transition of the phase transition layer to the amorphous phase and control means (an operation/display circuit 7, an interface circuit 8, a CPU 9 and a ROM 10) which investigate the number of opening and closing times of the main body panel by the panel detecting circuit 2 in case of the occurrence of at least one of the paper jam and the insufficiency of the toners in the main body and cause the phase transition of the phase transition layer to the amorphous phase by the non-crystallizing means when the number of the opening and closing times attains the value larger than the prescribed value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a fixing roller is provided with a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between crystalline and amorphous.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses include copying machines, facsimiles, printers and the like. FIG. 5 shows an example of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 100 is the main body of the copying machine. When the main switch 110 of the main body 100 is turned on, power supply to the main body 100 is started. This allows
The copier will be able to copy.

When making a copy, the contact glass 120
After the document is placed on it, the operation unit 130 is operated to start copying. At this time, the main body 100 displays the state of copying on the display unit 140. A cassette 150 and a copy receiver 160 are mounted on the main body 100 of the copying machine. The copier uses the paper 1 taken from the cassette 150.
The document is copied on 51, and the copy-completed paper 151 is sent to the copy receiver 160.

During copying, the copying machine uniformly charges the photosensitive member of the photosensitive drum in the developing unit 180 inside the main body panel 170 by the charging section. After this charging, the exposing unit of the exposing unit forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member of the rotating photosensitive drum. For the formed electrostatic latent image,
The toner in the toner bottle 181 is adsorbed to form a toner image. After that, the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred onto the conveyed paper 151 by the transfer unit. Further, the toner transferred onto the paper 151 is heated and melted by passing through the fixing unit 190, and the heated fixing roller 191 in the fixing unit 190 heats the image on the paper 151.
Established in

By the way, the image forming apparatus requires a time for the fixing roller to reach a temperature at which the fixing roller can be fixed when the apparatus is started up, that is, a warm-up time. In order to shorten the warm-up time, the following image forming apparatus using a fixing roller has been proposed.

That is, the fixing unit 190 of the main body 100
The following is used as the fixing roller 191 included in.
The fixing roller 191 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-140823. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing roller 191 includes a cylindrical core metal 191 made of aluminum.
Selenium is injected in a molten state in the gap of A and sealed, and the outer peripheral surface is cut to have a predetermined diameter. Thereby, the phase transition layer 191B is formed. Then, a fluororesin paint is applied on the surface and baked to form a protective layer 191C. Further, the fixing roller 191 includes a heater 191D on the inner wall of the core metal 191A.

As the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191, one or more elements belonging to 3B to 6B of the periodic table are selected and used. Examples of such materials include chalcogen compounds such as selenium-tellurium alloys, germanium-tellurium alloys, indium-selenium alloys, indium-tellurium alloys, antimony-selenium alloys, antimony-tellurium alloys, and chalcogenide compounds.

A copying machine equipped with this fixing roller 191 is
The heater 1 provided on the fixing roller 191 when the apparatus is started up.
Power is supplied to 91D to heat the core metal 191A. Thereby, the core metal 191A itself is heated and the phase transition layer 191B is heated. By this heating, the phase transition layer 191B in the amorphous state releases crystallization heat when reaching the crystallization temperature. Due to this heat of crystallization, the temperature of the fixing roller 191 rapidly rises, and the fixing roller 191
Reaches a temperature at which fixing can be performed in a short time. After that, the copying machine controls the temperature by the normal heat generation of the heater 191D and keeps the fixing roller 191 at a temperature at which the fixing can be performed.

When the copying operation is completed, the main body 100 temporarily supplies a large electric power to the heater 191D to heat the crystalline phase transition layer 191B to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point. After that, when the power is turned off and the fixing roller 191 is cooled, the phase transition layer 191B returns to an amorphous state again. Then, at the next start-up of the device, the phase transition layer 191B can release the heat of crystallization again.

As described above, the fixing roller 191 provided with the phase change layer 191B can repeatedly use the heat of crystallization by repeating melting, cooling and heating of the phase change layer 191B.

[0011]

In the image forming apparatus described above, for example, the copying machine shown in FIG. 5, the high-voltage portion required for charging the photosensitive drum, the paper conveying portion for conveying the paper 151, and the fixing roller 191 are provided. It is equipped with a heat generating part necessary for heating. The main body 100 is covered with an outer wall in order to ensure the safety of the user with respect to the high-power part, the paper carrying part, the heat generating part, and the like.
Further, for maintenance of the main body 100, a main body panel 170 that can open and close one surface of the outer wall is generally used. Then, when the main body panel 170 is opened, the main body 100 automatically stops the power supply for the safety of the user. Further, when the main body panel 170 is closed, the main body 100 restarts power supply.

By the way, when the toner in the toner bottle 181 is insufficient or the paper 151 is jammed (jam), the main body 100 displays them on the display unit 140.
When viewing the display, the user opens the main body panel 170 of the main body 100 when dealing with toner replacement or paper jam.

When the user opens the main body panel 170, the main body 100 stops the power supply. As a result, no electric power is supplied to the heater 191D of the fixing unit 190, so that the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing unit 190 is cooled in a crystalline state. On the other hand, since the main body 100 repeatedly uses the heat of crystallization of the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191, it is required that the phase transition layer 191B is always in an amorphous state after the power supply is stopped. To be done.

However, when the user opens the main body panel 170, the power supply is stopped and the phase transition layer 191B is cooled in a crystalline state. In this case, when the fixing roller 191 is heated to a temperature at which the fixing roller 191 can be fixed, the main body 100 may change the phase change layer 19
There is a problem that the heat of crystallization of 1B cannot be used.

When the user sees the display of the toner shortage or the paper jam and the display is not canceled even after the toner bottle 181 is replaced or the paper jam is removed, the main body 10 is not released.
0 indicates that a service technician is needed. In this case, when the service engineer opens the main body panel 170 to investigate the cause of the abnormality, the power supply is stopped and the phase transition layer 191B is cooled in a crystalline state. After that, when the temperature of the fixing roller 191 can be fixed, the phase change layer 1
There is a problem that the heat of crystallization of 91B cannot be used.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, when paper jam or toner shortage occur, and when the temperature of the fixing roller is lowered by opening and closing the main body panel, when the fixing roller is set to a temperature at which fixing is possible. Another object is to provide an image forming apparatus that can utilize the heat of crystallization.

[0017]

In order to achieve the object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with a fixing roller having a core metal having a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline in a main body. At the same time, in the image forming apparatus having a body panel that can be opened and closed, when a paper jam occurs in the body, the occurrence of the paper jam is displayed, and the number of times the body panel is opened and closed is checked. It is characterized in that the layer undergoes an amorphous phase transition.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a paper jam occurs in the main body, this occurrence is displayed. Then, the number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is examined, and when the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the phase change layer undergoes a phase transition to an amorphous state.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and the main body is provided with an openable and closable main body panel. In the forming apparatus, when the toner shortage occurs in the main body, the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed is checked, and when the number of times the main panel is opened and closed is larger than a predetermined value, the phase change layer undergoes a phase transition to amorphous.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a toner shortage occurs in the main body, this occurrence is displayed. Then, the number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is examined, and when the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the phase change layer undergoes a phase transition to an amorphous state.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and the main body has an openable / closable main body panel. When at least one of a paper jam and a toner shortage occurs in the main body of the forming apparatus, the occurrence is displayed, and the number of times the main body panel is opened / closed is checked. When the number of open / closes exceeds a predetermined value, the phase transition layer becomes amorphous. It is characterized by undergoing a phase transition.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when at least one of a paper jam and a toner shortage occurs in the main body, this occurrence is displayed. And check the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed,
When the number of times of opening and closing is greater than a predetermined value, the phase change layer undergoes a phase transition to amorphous.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and the main body is provided with an openable / closable main body panel. In the forming apparatus, detection means for detecting opening / closing of the main body panel, non-crystallizing means for changing the phase transition layer into an amorphous phase, and occurrence of paper jam in the main body are displayed and the detection means is displayed. The number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is examined by, and when the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, there is provided a control means for changing the phase transition layer to an amorphous phase by the non-crystallizing means.

In the invention of claim 4, when the paper jam occurs in the main body, the control means displays the occurrence of the paper jam.
After that, the control means checks the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed by the detection means. When the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the control means causes the non-crystallizing means to cause the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and the main body is provided with an openable / closable main body panel. In the forming apparatus, detection means for detecting opening / closing of the main body panel, non-crystallizing means for changing the phase transition layer into an amorphous state, and toner shortage in the main body are detected by the detection means. The number of times of opening and closing is checked, and when the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, there is provided a control means for causing the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition by the non-crystallization means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means displays the occurrence of the toner shortage when the toner shortage occurs in the main body. After that, the control means checks the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed by the detection means. When the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the control means causes the non-crystallizing means to cause the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and the main body is provided with an openable / closable main body panel. In the forming apparatus, if at least one of detection means for detecting opening / closing of the main body panel, non-crystallizing means for causing the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition, and paper jam and toner shortage in the main body occur, When the occurrence number is displayed and the number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is checked by the detecting means, and the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the non-crystallizing means has a control means for causing a phase transition of the phase transition layer To do.

In the invention of claim 6, the control means displays the occurrence of the paper jam or the toner shortage when at least one of the paper jam and the toner shortage occurs in the main body. After that, the control means checks the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed by the detection means. When the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the control means causes the non-crystallizing means to cause the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 4, 5 or 6
In the image forming apparatus according to the description, the non-crystallizing means includes a heating unit that heats the phase transition layer to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point, and a cooling unit that cools the phase transition layer heated by the heating unit to make it amorphous. It is characterized by having.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, when the phase change layer is made amorphous, the heating section heats the phase change layer to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point. Then, the cooling unit cools the phase transition layer heated by the heating unit to make it amorphous.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, the control means displays an image which requires inspection work after the phase transition layer is made amorphous. It is characterized by doing.

In the invention of claim 8, the control means displays the occurrence of the paper jam or the toner shortage when at least one of the paper jam and the toner shortage occurs in the main body. After that, the control means checks the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed by the detection means. When the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, the control means causes the non-crystallizing means to cause the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition. After this, the control means gives a display indicating that the inspection work is required.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is applied to the copying machine shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus includes a switch circuit 1, a panel detection circuit 2,
The heating circuit 3, the cooling circuit 4, the jam detection circuit 5, the toner replacement detection circuit 6, the operation / display circuit 7, the interface circuit 8, and the CPU (Central Processing Uni
t) 9, ROM (Read Only Memory) 10, and RAM
(Random Access Memory) 11.

The switch circuit 1 detects ON / OFF of the main switch 110 provided on the side portion of the main body 100. The switch circuit 1 sends a detection signal indicating ON / OFF of the main switch 110 to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8.

The switch circuit 1 comprises a main switch 110.
When is turned on, when a power-off instruction signal is received from the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8, the power supply to the main body 100 is stopped. When the main switch 110 is turned on, the switch circuit 1 passes from the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8 to
When the power-on instruction is further received after receiving the power-off instruction signal, the power supply to the main body 100 is restarted.

The panel detection circuit 2 detects opening / closing of the body panel 170 of the body 100, and sends a detection signal indicating the opening / closing to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8. As the panel detection circuit 2, for example, as shown in FIG.
00 is provided with a switch 210. And the main body panel 1
Push button 21 of switch 210 when 70 is closed
Try to press 1. When the push button 211 is pressed and the switch 210 is turned on, the panel detection circuit 2 uses a signal generated when the switch 210 is turned on as a detection signal.

The following may be used as the panel detection circuit 2. This panel detection circuit includes a piezoelectric element or the like instead of the switch 210. When the body panel 170 is closed, pressure from the body panel 170 is applied to the piezoelectric element,
The piezoelectric element generates a voltage. Further, when the main body panel 170 is opened, no pressure is applied, so that the piezoelectric element does not generate a voltage. The panel detection circuit 2 uses the presence or absence of such a voltage as a detection signal.

When the heating circuit 3 receives a heating signal indicating the melting of the fixing roller 191 from the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8, the heater 1 in the fixing roller 191 is heated.
A large electric power is supplied to 91D to heat the fixing roller 191 and melt the phase transition layer 191B. Also, the heating circuit 3
From the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8,
Upon receiving a heating signal indicating heating of the fixing roller 191, electric power is supplied to the heater 191D of the fixing roller 191 to heat the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed.

In the cooling circuit 4, the heating circuit 3 is the heater 191.
This circuit performs the next control when a cooling signal is received from the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8 after power is supplied to D and the phase transition layer 191B has reached the melting point or higher.
That is, the cooling circuit 4 drives a cooling unit such as a fan provided in the fixing unit 190 to drive the fixing roller 191.
Force cooling.

The cooling circuit 4 may be the following. In this cooling circuit, when the heating circuit 3 supplies a large amount of electric power to the heater 191D and the heating circuit 3 stops supplying electric power after the phase transition layer 191B reaches the melting point or higher, the fixing roller 191 is naturally cooled. Then, the phase transition layer 191B is made amorphous.

The jam detection circuit 5 detects a paper jam generated during copying work. When the jam detection circuit 5 detects a paper jam, the jam detection circuit 5 sends a detection signal indicating the paper jam to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8.

The toner replacement detection circuit 6 is provided in the toner bottle 1
The toner shortage in 81 is detected. Toner replacement detection circuit 6
When detecting the toner shortage, sends a detection signal indicating the toner shortage to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8.

When the operation section 130 is operated for copying, the operation / display circuit 7 sends an operation signal related to this operation to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8. When the operation / display circuit 7 receives various display signals relating to copying from the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8, the operation / display circuit 7 displays this information on the display unit 140. At this time, the information displayed by the operation / display circuit 7 on the display unit 140 includes toner supply, paper jam, and inspection work required by a service engineer.

The interface circuit 8 is provided between the switch circuit 1 and the CPU 9, between the panel detection circuit 2 and the CPU 9,
Between the heating circuit 3 and the CPU 9, between the cooling circuit 4 and the CPU 9, between the jam detection circuit 5 and the CPU 9, between the toner replacement detection circuit 6 and the CPU 9, and the operation / display circuit 7 and C.
Each of the PUs 9 is connected.

The CPU 9 performs the control shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 based on the detection signals from the panel detection circuit 2, the jam detection circuit 5 and the toner replacement detection circuit 6. That is, CPU
9 constantly checks the presence or absence of detection signals from the jam detection circuit 5 and the toner replacement detection circuit 6 (step S1). If there is no detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 and the toner replacement detection circuit 6 in step S1, the CPU 9 repeats the process of step S1.

When the CPU 9 receives a detection signal from at least one of the jam detection circuit 5 and the toner replacement detection circuit 6 in step S1, the operation / display circuit 7 displays a display signal indicating an abnormality in response to the detection signal. Is sent (step S2). For example, when receiving the detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5, the CPU 9 misfeeds (paper jam).
When a detection signal from the toner replacement detection circuit 6 is received, a display signal indicating toner replenishment is sent.

The CPU 9 checks with the detection signal from the panel detection circuit 2 whether or not the user who has seen the display of the abnormality has opened or closed the main body panel 170 (step S3). If there is no detection signal from the panel detection circuit 2 in step S3, the CPU 9 repeats the process of step S3.

The CPU 9 executes the main body panel 1 in step S3.
After the opening / closing of 70 is detected, the presence or absence of a detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6 is checked (step S4). If there is no detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6 in step S4, the CPU
9 determines that the abnormality has been resolved, and cancels the display of the message in step S2 (step S5).

On the other hand, if there is a detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6 in step S4, C
The PU 9 determines that the abnormality is not resolved, and the body panel 1
The number of times of opening and closing 70 is stored in the RAM 11 and the body panel
The number of times of opening and closing of 70 is integrated (step S6). And
When the integrated value stored in the RAM 11 is smaller than the predetermined value, the CPU 9 returns the process to step S3 (step S3).
7). As a result, the CPU 9 continues to accumulate the number of times the main body panel 170 has been opened and closed.

When the integrated value stored in the RAM 11 becomes larger than the predetermined value, the CPU 9 determines that the abnormality has not been resolved despite opening and closing the main body panel 170 a predetermined number of times,
The phase change layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 is made amorphous.

That is, the CPU 9 sends a heating signal for melting the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 to the heating circuit 3 (step S8). After step S8, CP
U9 counts time, and when the count value reaches a preset time, U9 detects completion of melting of the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 (step S).
9). In step S9, when melting is incomplete, CP
U9 returns a process to step S8.

When the completion of melting is detected in step S9, the CPU 9 sends a cooling signal for cooling the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 to the cooling circuit 4 (step S).
10). After step S10, the CPU 9 counts the time, and when the count value reaches the preset time, the CPU 9 detects the completion of cooling of the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 (step S11). The detection of cooling completion may be performed by detecting the temperature of the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191. Step S11
Then, when the cooling is not completed, the CPU 9 returns the process to step S10. When the CPU 9 detects the completion of cooling in step S11, the CPU 9 sends a display signal indicating that the service engineer needs inspection work to the operation / display circuit 7 (step S11).
12).

The CPU 9 has steps S1 to S1.
In addition to the control up to 2, the following control is performed. That is, when the main switch 110 is off, the CPU 9 carries out the processing from step S21 to step S24 shown in FIG. These processes are performed in steps S8 to S11.
Is the same as By these processes, the main switch 1
When turning off 10, the phase change layer 1 of the fixing roller 191
91B is heated, melted, and cooled to form a phase transition layer 191B.
Is made amorphous. This is because the crystallization heat of the phase transition layer 191B is used to bring the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed in a short time.

The main switch 110 has a delay function. That is, when the user operates the main switch 110 to turn it off, the main switch 110 stops the supply of electric power to the main body 100 after the lapse of the delay time. During this delay time, the CPU 9 executes step S21.
~ The processing up to step S24 is performed.

Further, the CPU 9 uses the main switch 110.
After turning on, the detection signal indicating the opening of the main body panel 170,
When received from the panel detection circuit 2, an instruction signal indicating power off is sent to the switch circuit 1. Further, after turning on the main switch 110, the CPU 9 sets the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed, and then sends a heating signal for maintaining this temperature to the heating circuit 3 to maintain the fixing roller 191 at a fixing temperature.

The CPU 9 performs such control.

The ROM 10 stores processing procedures relating to various controls of the CPU 9, and the RAM 11 temporarily stores data calculated by the CPU 9.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

When the user turns on the main switch 110, the detection signal indicating that the switch circuit 1 is turned on is sent to the CPU 9 via the interface circuit 8.

Upon receiving the detection signal from the switch circuit 1, the CPU 9 sends a heating signal indicating heating of the fixing roller 191 to the heating circuit 3. As a result, the fixing roller 191
Phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 when heating
The fixing roller 191 is brought to a temperature at which it can be fixed in a short time by utilizing the heat of crystallization. Thereafter, in step S25, the CPU 9 controls the temperature of the fixing roller 191 by the normal heat generation of the heater 191D, and keeps the main body 100 in a copyable state.

Further, when the user turns off the main switch 110 of the main body 100, the main switch 110 has a delay function, and therefore, after the delay time has elapsed, the power supply to the main body 100 is stopped. During this delay time, C
PU9 processes step S21-step S24. As a result, the image forming apparatus makes the phase transition layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 amorphous. As a result, at the next start-up, the heat of crystallization of the phase transition layer 191B can be used to bring the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed in a short time.

When the image forming apparatus is in a fixable state, if a paper jam or a toner shortage occurs, the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6 detects this and sends a detection signal via the interface circuit 8. Send to CPU9. When the CPU 9 receives the detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6, the CPU 9 proceeds to step S1.
The processing of S2 is performed, and a display signal indicating misfeed or a display signal indicating toner replenishment is sent to the operation / display circuit 7.

After the processing of step S2, the CPU 9 performs the processing of steps S3 and S4. As a result, the CPU 9
Checks the presence or absence of a detection signal from the jam detection circuit 5 or the toner replacement detection circuit 6 to check whether the abnormality has been resolved. When the user eliminates the abnormality by opening and closing the body panel 170 once, the CPU 9 cancels the display of the message of step S2 by the processing of step S5. As a result, the main body 100 is ready for copying.

When the abnormality is not resolved by opening and closing the main body panel 170 once, the CPU 9 executes steps S3 and S3.
Processes S4 and S6. As a result, the body panel 170
The number of times of opening and closing is counted. When the abnormality is resolved by opening and closing the main body panel 170 within a predetermined number of times, the CPU 9 cancels the display of the message of step S2 by the processing of step S5. As a result, the main body 100 is ready for copying.

Furthermore, when the abnormality is not eliminated by opening and closing the main body panel 170 within a predetermined number of times, the CPU 9 performs the processing of steps S8 to S11. The state in which the abnormality cannot be resolved by opening and closing a predetermined number of times is a paper jam or a failure other than toner replacement.
The first phase change layer 191B is heated, melted, and cooled to make the phase change layer 191B amorphous. Thereafter, the CPU 9 causes the operation / display circuit 7 to display the inspection work required by the service engineer in step S12.

As a result, when the service engineer opens the main body panel 170 in order to investigate the cause of the abnormality, the power supply is stopped and the temperature of the fixing roller 191 drops. Then, when the service engineer eliminates the cause of the abnormality and closes the main body panel 170, the CPU 9 sends a heating signal to the heating circuit 3 to bring the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed. At this time, since the phase change layer 191B of the fixing roller 191 is amorphous, the heat of crystallization of the phase change layer 191B can be used to reach a temperature at which fixing can be performed in a short time.

Thus, according to this embodiment,
Even if an abnormality occurs in the main body 100 and the main body panel 170 is opened and closed to lower the temperature of the fixing roller 191, the heat of crystallization can be used to bring the fixing roller 191 to a temperature at which fixing can be performed.

[0068]

As described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 6, after the indication of paper jam or toner replenishment is displayed,
When the main body panel is opened and closed a predetermined number of times, the phase change layer of the fixing roller is heated and melted and cooled. As a result, the phase transition layer of the fixing roller becomes amorphous, so when dealing with paper jams and toner replenishment, when the temperature of the fixing roller decreases due to opening / closing of the main body panel, the fixing roller is set to a temperature at which fixing is possible. At this time, the heat of crystallization of the phase transition layer of the fixing roller can be used.

According to the invention of claim 7, the non-crystallizing means is composed of the heating section and the cooling section. Therefore, the construction of the non-crystallizing means can be simplified.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, after the paper jam or the toner replenishment is displayed, when the main body panel is opened and closed a predetermined number of times, the fixing roller is heated and melted and cooled. As a result, the phase change layer of the fixing roller becomes amorphous. After this,
When the temperature of the fixing roller drops due to the opening and closing of the main body panel, the temperature of the fixing roller is displayed, so the heat of crystallization of the phase transition layer of the fixing roller is used to bring the fixing roller to a temperature at which it can be fixed after the inspection operation. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control by a CPU.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control by a CPU.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control by a CPU.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a copying machine.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a fixing roller.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a panel detection circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Switch Circuit 2 Panel Detection Circuit 3 Heating Circuit 4 Cooling Circuit 5 Jam Detection Circuit 6 Toner Replacement Detection Circuit 7 Operation / Display Circuit 8 Interface Circuit 9 CPU 10 ROM 11 RAM

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location G03G 21/00 386 B41J 29/12 C

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in a main body, and
In the image forming apparatus having a body panel that can be opened and closed, when a paper jam occurs in the main body, the occurrence of the paper jam is displayed, and the number of times the body panel is opened and closed is checked. An image forming apparatus having a phase transition to an amorphous state. 2. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and
In the image forming apparatus having a body panel that can be opened and closed, when toner shortage occurs in the body, the number of times the body panel is opened and closed is checked. An image forming apparatus characterized by transfer. 3. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body,
In an image forming apparatus having a main body panel that can be opened and closed, when at least one of paper jam and toner shortage occurs in the main body, the occurrence is displayed and the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed is checked. An image forming apparatus characterized in that when it becomes large, the phase transition layer undergoes an amorphous phase transition. 4. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase change layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and
In an image forming apparatus having a main body panel that can be opened and closed, a main body includes a detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the main body panel, an amorphization unit that causes the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition, and a paper jam inside the main body. When this occurs, the occurrence is displayed, and the number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is checked by the detecting means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 5. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and
In an image forming apparatus having a main body panel that can be opened and closed, the main body has a detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the main body panel, an amorphization unit that causes the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition, and a toner shortage inside the main body. When the number of times of opening and closing of the main body panel is checked by the detecting means, and the number of times of opening and closing becomes larger than a predetermined value, there is provided a control means for causing the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition by the non-crystallizing means. Image forming apparatus. 6. A fixing roller having a core metal and a phase transition layer capable of phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is provided in the main body, and
In an image forming apparatus having a main body panel that can be opened and closed, a main body includes a detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the main body panel, a non-crystallizing unit that causes the phase transition layer to undergo an amorphous phase transition, and a paper jam inside the main body. When at least one of the toner shortage occurs, this occurrence is displayed, and the number of times the main body panel is opened and closed is detected by the detection means. When the number of times the main panel is opened and closed exceeds a predetermined value, the phase change layer is made amorphous by the non-crystallizing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer control unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the non-crystallizing means comprises a heating section for heating the phase transition layer to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point and a phase transition layer heated by the heating section. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a cooling unit that cools to an amorphous state. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the control means displays an indication that inspection work is required after the phase transition layer is made amorphous. Image forming apparatus.