JPH09190107A - Fixing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately attain printing operation even in the case glass switching is performed. SOLUTION: Gloss setting is performed by a gloss setting circuit when command for setting gloss is received (S1), and fixing temperature T corresponding to the set gloss is set by a fixing temperature setting circuit (S2). Next, the temperature (t) of a fixing roller detected by a temperature detecting circuit is compared with the set temperature T (S3), and when the temperature(t) of the fixing roller is lower than the set temperature T, whether printing command is inputted to a CPU from a host computer or not is checked. A fixing speed (v) by which aimed gloss can be obtained with respect to the temperature (t') of the fixing roller at the time is calculated (S8) when the printing command is inputted. As a recording material is carried to the fixing device, the speed of the motor is controlled by a driving speed controlling circuit, and a process speed is held to the speed (v) so as to perform fixing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to gloss control and fixing control of a fixing device and an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is a color image forming apparatus as an apparatus requiring image density control. This type of color image forming apparatus forms a superposed image of a plurality of colors on a recording material by repeating a process of transferring a recording image formed by charging, exposing and developing on a photosensitive drum onto a recording material a plurality of times. I'm getting a color image. A conventional technique will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the color image forming apparatus. As shown in the drawing, the photosensitive drum 1 is arranged at the center of the apparatus. This photosensitive drum 1 has a diameter of 40 m.
The organic photoconductor (O
It is constructed by applying a photoconductor consisting of PC).
C may be A-Si, CdS, Se or the like. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 is driven by a driving means (not shown) at a peripheral speed of 100 mm / sec in the direction of the arrow shown.

A roller charger 3 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 1. The roller charger 3 has a DC voltage of -700V and an AC frequency of 700Hz.
An alternating voltage of pp (peak to peak) -1500V is superimposed, and the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged to approximately -700V.

On the other hand, above the inside of the apparatus main body, a laser diode 11 constituting an exposure apparatus and a high speed motor 12 are provided.
A polygonal mirror 13 driven to rotate by a lens 14, a lens 14,
The folding mirror 15 is arranged, and the laser diode 1
When a signal according to magenta image information is input to 1,
The laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 1 through the optical path 16, and the portion of the photosensitive drum 1 where the laser light is irradiated is substantially −
It becomes 100V. In this way, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

Further, on the right side of the photosensitive drum 1, a plurality of toners and a toner accommodating portion and a developing means for developing are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus which is replaced when the consumption of the stored toner is completed. Developing cartridges 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are carried by a rotatable support body, and the developing opening surface 5 of each developing cartridge 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is formed on the same cylinder centered on the support body rotation shaft 9.
a, 5b, 5c and 5d are set and arranged. Therefore, when the photosensitive drum 1 advances in the direction of the arrow, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the developing cartridge 4a containing magenta toner.
Is visualized by

On the left side of the photosensitive drum 1, there is arranged a transfer drum 10 which carries a transfer paper 31 as a recording material and has a function of transferring an image on the photosensitive drum 1 onto the transfer paper 31. The transfer paper 31 is fed from the transfer paper cassette 17 by the pickup roller 18 in synchronization with the image on the drum 1, and is adsorbed to the transfer drum 10. The transfer drum 10 is configured by winding a 2 mm thick elastic layer 20 around a metal cylinder 19 having a diameter of 156 mm, and further winding a 100 μm thick PVDF 21 around the elastic layer 20, and at substantially the same speed as the photosensitive drum 1 in the arrow direction. Rotate to.
The elastic layer 20 was made of urethane foam made by Inoac.

When the above-mentioned transfer paper 31 is supplied to the transfer drum 10, the transfer paper 31 is held by the gripper 22, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 1 by a high voltage power source (not shown). It is transferred onto the transfer paper 31 by the voltage between the drums 10. Transfer paper 31 at the same time
The charge is injected into the transfer drum 10 to be adsorbed to the transfer drum 10, but a voltage may be applied between the adsorbing rollers 23 to adsorb in advance if necessary.

By performing the same processing for cyan, yellow and black in the above steps, it is possible to form toner images of a plurality of colors on the transfer paper 31.

Then, the transfer paper 3 on which the color image is formed
1 is separated from the transfer drum 10 by the separation charger 2 and the separation claw 24, and is further fused and fixed by a conventionally known fixing device 25 that performs heating and pressurization to obtain a color image, and the transfer paper on the photosensitive drum 1 is obtained. The toner remaining without being transferred to the cleaning device is cleaned by a cleaning device 26 such as a known fur brush or blade means. The toner on the transfer drum 10 is also cleaned by the fur brush 28 and the transfer drum cleaning device 27, and is cleaned by the fur brush 28 and the transfer drum cleaning device 27 even after the image density control is performed on the transfer drum 10.

A humidity sensor 30 measures the temperature and humidity in the apparatus to check the moisture absorption state of the transfer paper 31 stored in the machine. A system control unit 49 of the printer performs sequence control of the printer and communication with the controller circuit and the fixing device control unit 33. A fixing device controller 33 controls the fixing operation under the system controller 49. Reference numeral 34 is a controller circuit, which is a circuit for converting and developing dot data based on code information from a host computer 35. The controller circuit includes an interface circuit (not shown) for communicating with a host computer, a memory (not shown) for storing image signals, an arithmetic circuit (not shown), and the like.

Next, the conventional fixing control by switching the gloss will be described. When a gloss switching command is input from an external device or the like, the fixing control unit 33 sets gloss in the gloss setting circuit, and the gloss setting circuit sets the fixing temperature corresponding to the gloss setting in the fixing temperature setting circuit. Then, while comparing the output from the fixing temperature setting circuit and the output from the fixing roller temperature detection circuit with the comparison circuit, the heating pattern generating circuit is operated and the heating drive circuit is driven to heat the heater to heat the fixing roller. . In other words, the temperature is controlled by controlling the heating by the heater until the output from the fixing roller temperature detection circuit becomes equal to or higher than the output of the fixing temperature setting circuit, so other operations are performed until the fixing roller temperature reaches the set fixing temperature. The fixing operation becomes possible and the printing is started only when the temperature becomes a predetermined temperature and becomes a predetermined temperature.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, in order to obtain an output with a desired gloss, it is necessary to control the heating drive of the heater until the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature, and it takes a long time before starting printing. It sometimes took time.

In particular, in a structure in which a fixing roller having a large rubber thickness and a large diameter used in a color electrophotographic printer or the like is used and a heater with low power consumption or a heater is mounted only on the fixing roller as an energy saving measure, the fixing roller is desired. It may take a long time to heat the heater to reach the fixing temperature required to obtain the desired gloss, and the user must wait even after the user wants to print immediately after setting the gloss switching. There was an occasion.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can immediately perform a printing operation even when gloss switching is performed.

[0015]

According to the first invention of the present application, the above object is to provide a fixing member which conveys a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image, and a fixing member which generates heat to generate heat. A heater that heats the unfixed developer image and the recording material through or directly, a heater heating unit that heats and drives the heater, and a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the fixing unit by the heating drive of the heater, Based on the temperature information from the temperature detecting means, the heater heating means is controlled to change the fixing temperature so as to correspond to the selected gloss and a temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the fixing portion at a predetermined fixing temperature. In a fixing device having a fixing temperature changing unit and a speed control unit for controlling driving of a fixing member at a predetermined fixing speed, a fixing speed changing unit for changing the fixing speed so as to correspond to a selected gloss, and the fixing unit. Gloss switching means for selectively performing a temperature control having a fixing temperature changed by the temperature changing means as a target temperature or a speed control having a fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means as a target speed to obtain a desired gloss. It is achieved by having.

According to a second invention of the present application, the above-mentioned object is temperature control in which the target temperature is the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means in the first invention, and the fixing speed is changed. The selection of the speed control with the fixing speed changed by the means as the target speed is achieved by being performed based on the temperature information by the temperature detection means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application,
The object is a fixing member that conveys a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image, a heater that generates heat by energization, and heats the unfixed developer image and the recording material through the fixing member or directly. A heater heating unit that heats and drives the heater, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the fixing unit due to the heating drive of the heater, and the heater heating unit that is controlled based on the temperature information from the temperature detection unit, and the fixing unit. A temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of a predetermined fixing temperature, and a fixing temperature changing means for changing the fixing temperature so as to correspond to the selected gloss,
In an image forming apparatus having a speed control means for controlling driving of a fixing member at a predetermined fixing speed, a fixing speed changing means for changing the fixing speed so as to correspond to a selected gloss and a fixing temperature changing means for changing the fixing speed. By providing a gloss switching means for selectively performing a temperature control with the fixing temperature as a target temperature or a speed control with the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means as a target speed to obtain a desired gloss. To be achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the object is to control the fixing speed in the third aspect of the invention such that the target temperature is the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means, and the fixing speed is changed. The selection of the speed control with the fixing speed changed by the means as the target speed is achieved by being performed based on the temperature information by the temperature detection means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request.

Further, according to the fifth invention of the present application,
The above-mentioned object is, in the above-mentioned third invention or fourth invention,
A means for displaying the time until reaching the changed fixing temperature calculated by the gloss switching means based on the temperature rise rate, and an input means for selecting whether to switch the gloss by temperature control or speed control. The gloss switching means is achieved by obtaining a desired gloss by either temperature control or speed control based on the selection information from the input means.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the gloss switching means controls the temperature so that the target temperature is the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means, and the fixing speed is changed by the fixing speed changing means. Since the speed control with the speed as the target speed is selectively performed, even when it takes a long time to reach the fixing temperature, the fixing is immediately performed and the desired gloss can be obtained by performing the speed control. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, temperature control in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is set as a target temperature and the fixing speed changing means changes the temperature control. The speed control with the fixing speed as the target speed is selected based on the temperature information by the temperature detecting means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request, so that the optimum fixing operation and gloss control are performed depending on the situation. .

Further, according to the third invention of the present application,
The gloss switching means selectively performs temperature control with the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means as the target temperature and speed control with the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means as the target speed. Even when it takes a long time to reach the temperature, the fixing is immediately performed and the desired gloss is obtained by performing the speed control.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, temperature control is performed in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is set as a target temperature, and the fixing speed is changed by the fixing speed changing means. The speed control with the fixing speed as the target speed is selected based on the temperature information by the temperature detecting means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request, so that the optimum fixing operation and gloss control are performed depending on the situation. .

Further, according to the fifth invention of the present application,
In the third invention or the fourth invention, the gloss switching unit calculates the time until the fixing temperature after the change is reached based on the temperature increase rate, and displays the time by the displaying unit. If, based on this display, it is selected whether the gloss is switched by temperature control or speed control, the gloss switching means performs either temperature control or speed control based on the selection information from the input means. , The proper fixing operation and gloss control according to the user's request are performed.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 35 denotes a fixing roller temperature detecting circuit which is a temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller which is a fixing member,
It consists of a thermistor. An A / D converter 36 converts an analog signal output from the fixing roller temperature detection circuit 35 into a digital signal. A gloss setting circuit 37 sets gloss by inputting a gloss switching command from a host computer, a system control unit (not shown) of the printer, and an I / F circuit 38 and a CPU 39 as gloss switching means. A fixing temperature setting circuit 40 sets a fixing temperature corresponding to the gloss set by the gloss setting circuit 37. As described above, in the present embodiment, the gloss setting circuit 37 and the fixing temperature setting circuit 40.
This constitutes a fixing temperature changing means.

A selection circuit 41 selects either the fixing temperature set by the CPU 39 or the fixing temperature set by the fixing temperature setting circuit 40. Reference numeral 42 is a comparison circuit serving as a temperature control means, which compares the data from the A / D converter 36 with the data from the selection circuit 41, and compares if the data from the A / D converter 36 is less than the data from the selection circuit 41. The circuit 42 outputs a signal to the heating pattern generation circuit 43 to perform the heating operation. If the data from the A / D converter 36 is greater than or equal to the data from the selection circuit 41, the heating operation is stopped. Reference numeral 43 denotes a heating pattern generation circuit, which outputs a heating pattern signal to the heating drive circuit 44 in response to a signal from the comparison circuit 42. The heating drive circuit 44 controls the supply of AC power (not shown) to the heater 45 based on the heating pattern signal. As described above, in the present embodiment, the heating pattern generating circuit 43 and the heating drive circuit 44 constitute a heater heating means.

Reference numeral 46 is a drive speed control circuit which is a speed control means and controls the speed of the motor 47 based on a signal from the CPU 39 to control the speed of the fixing operation. The motor 47 and the drive speed control circuit 46 are, for example, pulse motors,
The pulse generation is controlled to control the speed. Therefore, the CPU 39 also functions as a fixing speed changing unit.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a ROM which is a memory for reading out a sequence program relating to the fixing operation, a data output from the A / D converter 36 and a table for converting the temperature.

3 and 4 are graphs showing the relationship between gloss and fixing temperature, and gloss and fixing speed. When the fixing speed v is constant, the degree of gloss after fixing is small when the fixing temperature is low, and is high when the fixing temperature is high.
It has the property of increasing at a later time. In the control range of each parameter, the lower limit is a constant temperature offset (LO), the upper limit is a high temperature offset (HO) at the fixing temperature, and the lower limit is a low temperature offset speed (HSO) at the fixing speed.
Since the upper limit is the high temperature offset speed (LSO) and the fixability is restricted, the gloss can be controlled in this section.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the fixing temperature needs to be raised to obtain the set gloss, the heating control for raising the fixing temperature is required when the printing operation needs to be executed immediately. The desired gloss was obtained by decreasing the fixing speed without performing the above.

Next, gloss control of the fixing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when a command for setting the gloss is received, the CPU 39 outputs a command for switching the gloss to the gloss setting circuit 37, the gloss is set in the gloss setting circuit 37 (step S1), and the set gloss is set. Is set in the fixing temperature setting circuit 40 (step S2). As a result, the selection circuit 41 has the setting temperature T from the fixing temperature setting circuit 40 and the CPU
Although the set temperature from 39 is output, the set temperature T from the fixing temperature setting circuit 40 is selected, and the set temperature T is output to the comparison circuit 42. Then, in the comparison circuit 42, the set temperature T is compared with the temperature t of the fixing roller output via the A / D converter 36 (step S
3) If the temperature t has already reached the set temperature T,
A normal fixing operation is performed (step S4).

However, the fixing roller temperature t and the set temperature T
(Step S5), if the temperature t of the fixing roller is higher than the set temperature T, heating control for turning off the heater is performed (step S7), and if the temperature t of the fixing roller is lower than the set temperature T, Checks whether or not a print / fixing command is input from the host computer to the CPU 39 (step S6), and if the print / fixing command is not input, performs heating control to turn on the heater so as to reach the set temperature T. (Step S7).

On the other hand, if a print / fix command is input, the CPU 39 detects the fixing roller temperature t'at that time from the fixing roller temperature detection circuit 35 via the A / D converter 36, and this temperature t When the value is', the fixing speed v capable of obtaining the target gloss is calculated (step S8).
Then, as the recording material carrying the unfixed image is conveyed to the fixing device, the CPU 39 accesses the drive speed control circuit 46 to control the speed of the motor 47 to fix the process speed (peripheral speed of the fixing roller). The fixing is performed while maintaining the speed v (step S9).

As described above, according to this embodiment, after the gloss is set, the printing and fixing operation commands are issued while the fixing roller is heated to the fixing temperature corresponding to the set gloss. In such a case, it is possible to control the gloss to a desired level by reducing the fixing speed, and it is possible to perform fixing without waiting time.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention. After the gloss switching setting is made from the host computer (step S
21), the fixing roller temperature t from the fixing roller temperature detection circuit
Is detected (step S22), the fixing roller temperature t is compared with the fixing set temperature T corresponding to the set gloss (step S23), and if the fixing roller temperature t is lower than the fixing set temperature T, the fixing set temperature reaching time is determined. A prediction calculation is performed (step S24). Then, the predicted result is output to the outside by an external display circuit or a host computer (step S25), and the user waits until the fixing roller reaches the fixing set temperature, or the fixing speed is reduced without consumption for consumption. The user is prompted to select and input whether to perform the fixing operation in the power saving mode (fixing energy saving mode) (step S26). When the fixing energy saving mode is selected, the fixing speed v with respect to the fixing set temperature T is calculated (step S2
7) The fixing speed v is controlled by the motor speed control, and the fixing operation is performed with a predetermined gloss (step S28). on the other hand,
If the fixing energy saving mode is not selected, heating control is performed until the fixing roller temperature t reaches the fixing set temperature T, and the fixing operation is performed by normal gloss control. (Steps S29, S
30, S31).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the gloss is set, the time until the fixing roller reaches the fixing temperature according to the set gloss is predicted, and the gloss control by the fixing speed control is performed for the user. By selecting it, the power consumption associated with heating can be reduced, and fixing can be performed without waiting time.

(Third Embodiment) The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When a gloss switching command is sent from the host computer to the printer, the controller circuit stores the image signal to be continuously transmitted in the memory, and the image signal stored in the memory is further expanded by the arithmetic circuit. Therefore, even if the time to reach the fixing set temperature is shorter than this development time, it is necessary to wait until the end of the development time. However, if the time to reach the fixing set temperature is longer than this development time, By performing such speed control, it is possible to shorten the time from the gloss switching to the start of the fixing operation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the controller circuit predicts the expansion time and the CPU
By utilizing the transmission to 39, the development time is compared with the arrival time to the fixing set temperature, and the speed control is performed.

That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the image signal development time transmitted from the controller circuit is detected before the temperature of the fixing roller is detected (step S43) after the gloss setting (step S41). Only when ta is recognized (step S42) and when the fixing set temperature reaching time tb is longer than the image signal development predicted time ta, the fixing reaching time tb is notified to prompt the input of selection ( Steps S46 to S48)
Is different from the second embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, when the predicted time until the fixing temperature corresponding to the set gloss is set after the gloss is set is shorter than the predicted time until the development of the image signal in the controller circuit is finished, Heat to the fixing temperature,
If the length is long, it is possible to perform quick fixing by performing gloss control by fixing speed control.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the fixing device of the type using the fixing roller as the fixing member and the image forming apparatus equipped with the fixing device has been described. JP-A-313182, JP-A-2-157878, and JP-A-4-44075-44.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 083, etc., a heat source is attached to one side of a heat-resistant film and a recording material is closely attached to the other side, and the recording material is moved along with the film to record the heat energy of the heat source through the film. The present invention can be applied to a material and a fixing device that applies a toner image on the recording material, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.

[0043]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present application is described.
According to the invention, the gloss switching means selectively performs the temperature control in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is the target temperature and the speed control in which the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means is the target speed. Therefore, even when it takes a long time to reach the fixing temperature, by performing the speed control, it is possible to obtain a desired gloss while performing quick fixing without waiting time. Moreover, the power consumption associated with heating can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, temperature control is performed in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is used as a target temperature, and the temperature is changed by the fixing speed changing means. The speed control with the fixing speed as the target speed is selected on the basis of the temperature information by the temperature detecting means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request. Therefore, the optimum fixing operation and gloss control should be performed according to the situation. You can

Further, according to the third invention of the present application,
The gloss switching means selectively performs temperature control with the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means as the target temperature and speed control with the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means as the target speed. Even when it takes a long time to reach the temperature, by performing the speed control, it is possible to obtain a desired gloss while performing quick fixing without waiting time. Moreover, the power consumption associated with heating can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, temperature control in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is used as a target temperature and the fixing speed changing means changes the temperature control. The speed control with the fixing speed as the target speed is selected on the basis of the temperature information by the temperature detecting means and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request. Therefore, the optimum fixing operation and gloss control should be performed according to the situation. You can

Further, according to the fifth invention of the present application,
In the third invention or the fourth invention, the gloss switching unit calculates the time until the fixing temperature after the change is reached based on the temperature increase rate, and displays the time by the displaying unit. If, based on this display, it is selected whether the gloss is switched by temperature control or speed control, the gloss switching means performs either temperature control or speed control based on the selection information from the input means. It is possible to perform appropriate fixing operation and gloss control according to the user's request.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between gloss and a fixing temperature according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between gloss and a fixing speed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an apparatus for explaining a conventional example.

[Description of Reference Signs] 35 fixing roller temperature detection circuit (temperature detection means) 37 gloss setting circuit (fixing temperature changing means) 39 CPU (fixing speed changing means, gloss switching means) 40 fixing temperature setting circuit (fixing temperature changing means) 42 Comparison circuit (temperature control means) 43 Heating pattern generation circuit (heater heating means) 44 Heating drive circuit (heater heating means) 45 Heater 46 Drive speed control circuit (speed control means)

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/00 376 G03G 21/00 372

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fixing member which conveys a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image, and a heater which generates heat when energized and heats the unfixed developer image and the recording material directly or through the fixing member. A heater heating means for heating and driving the heater; a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing portion by the heater heating driving; and a heater heating means for controlling the fixing based on temperature information from the temperature detecting means. Temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the portion at a predetermined fixing temperature, fixing temperature changing means for changing the fixing temperature so as to correspond to the selected gloss, and speed control means for controlling the fixing member drive at a predetermined fixing speed. In a fixing device having: a fixing speed changing unit that changes the fixing speed so as to correspond to a selected gloss; and a temperature control that sets the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing unit as a target temperature. Or a gloss switching unit for selectively performing speed control with the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing unit as a target speed to obtain a desired gloss. 2. The temperature detecting means selects between the temperature control in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is the target temperature and the speed control in which the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means is the target speed. The process is performed based on the temperature information and the presence / absence information of the fixing operation start request.
3. The fixing device according to claim 1. 3. A fixing member which conveys a recording material carrying an unfixed developer image, and a heater which generates heat when energized and heats the unfixed developer image and the recording material directly or through the fixing member. A heater heating means for heating and driving the heater; a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing portion by the heater heating driving; and a heater heating means for controlling the fixing based on temperature information from the temperature detecting means. Temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of the portion at a predetermined fixing temperature, fixing temperature changing means for changing the fixing temperature so as to correspond to the selected gloss, and speed control means for controlling the fixing member drive at a predetermined fixing speed. And a fixing speed changing unit that changes the fixing speed so as to correspond to the selected gloss, and a temperature that uses the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing unit as a target temperature. And a gloss switching unit that selectively performs speed control with a target speed set to the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing unit to obtain a desired gloss. 4. The temperature detecting means selects between the temperature control in which the fixing temperature changed by the fixing temperature changing means is the target temperature and the speed control in which the fixing speed changed by the fixing speed changing means is the target speed. 4. The process is performed based on temperature information and information about presence / absence of a fixing operation start request.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A means for displaying the time until reaching the changed fixing temperature calculated by the gloss switching means on the basis of the temperature rise rate, and whether the gloss switching is performed by temperature control or speed control is selected. The image according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the gloss switching means obtains a desired gloss by either temperature control or speed control based on selection information from the input means. Forming equipment.