JPH10104974A - Image heating fixing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the whole surface fixation of a recording material of fixed size by changing the feeding interval to a prescribed value according to the temperature state of the core material of an exciting coil when the recording material of fixed size is fed after a recording material of small size is continuously fed. SOLUTION: The core material 12a of an exciting coil 12 used for magnetic induction heating has temperature dependency. In continuous feeding of a small size paper Pn, whether the temperature of the core material 12a reaches a Curie point temperature or not is monitored, and when an instruction to print a fixed size paper in the state where the temperature of the core material 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature, a control is performed to delay the feeding interval between the final small size paper Pn and the first fixed size paper by a proper time for feeding. When the fixing nip part of an image heating fixing device is laid in the state sufficiently heated so that the whole surface fixation of the fixed size paper can be performed, the fixation is performed without providing the feeding interval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus and an electrostatic recording apparatus, and generates an eddy current using electromagnetic induction to heat an unfixed image on a recording material. And an image heating and fixing device for fixing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image heating and fixing apparatus, a contact heating system such as a heat roller system and a film heating system has been widely used. In such an apparatus, a current is applied to a halogen lamp or a heating resistor to generate heat, and the toner image is heated via a roller or a film.

[0003] These are heating systems in which heat is supplied by heat conduction from a heat-generating member to a nip portion through which a recording material passes. In the case of the above-mentioned heating system, heat loss is large in the process of transferring heat. There was a problem that the heat conversion efficiency was poor.

As means for solving the above problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4276, it is proposed that an eddy current is generated in a conductive layer of a fixing film by an alternating magnetic field, and heat is generated by Joule heat. Figure 15 shows the details.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 101 denotes a fixing roller having a cylindrical fixing film 102 having a ferromagnetic conductive layer and a stay 103 for supporting the fixing film 102 so as to be slidable and rotatable. Pressure roller 10
4 are pressed together to form a nip.

[0005] As means for heating the nip portion, a stay is used.
A high-frequency alternating current is applied to an exciting coil 106 wound around a core material 105 made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite, and an alternating magnetic field is generated.
The fixing roller 101 is heated by induction heating by generating eddy current thereon to generate Joule heat.

The pressure roller 104 having elasticity is pressed against the fixing roller 101 by a pressure unit (not shown). At the nip portion between the fixing roller 101 and the pressure roller 104, an unfixed portion on the recording material is fixed. Is heated and pressed to fix the toner image.

As described above, by utilizing the generation of the eddy current, the fixing film 102 as a heating member is directly heated,
The heat generation position can be made closer to the toner, and the energy consumption can be made more efficient than a heat roller or the like using a halogen lamp.

[0008]

However, the core material (ferrite core) of the exciting coil used in the magnetic induction heating method has a temperature dependency, and when the temperature of the core material reaches the Curie point temperature, it rapidly increases. Since the magnetic permeability is reduced and the generated magnetic flux density is reduced, there is a possibility that the heating capacity is reduced and fixing becomes impossible.

For example, in the case where small-sized paper such as an envelope is continuously passed and the fixed-size paper is passed after the temperature of the core material corresponding to the non-paper passing portion exceeds the Curie point temperature,
Insufficient heating of the small-size paper in the non-sheet passing portion may not be able to uniformly heat and fix the entire size of the standard-size paper, which may cause a fixing failure.

[0010] The present invention is to solve the above problems,
The purpose is to feed the fixed-size recording material after the continuous feeding of the small-size recording material, and set the feeding interval to a predetermined value according to the temperature state of the core material of the exciting coil. Image heating to prevent the temperature of the core material from exceeding the Curie point temperature and to enable heat fixing of a fixed-size recording material after continuous feeding of a small-size recording material. It is an object to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device.

[0011]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a fixing nip formed by pressing a fixing member including an exciting coil and an induction heating member and a pressing member by a pressing member. Means for fixing the unfixed image on the recording material as a permanent image by passing the recording material through the unit, and detecting whether the core material of the exciting coil has reached the Curie point temperature or not. The first recording material having a relatively small length in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction is continuously fed to the image heating and fixing means, When feeding a second recording material having a length in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction larger than the length in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording material to the image heating / fixing means, the detecting means Of the excitation coil detected A feeding interval between the first recording material and the second recording material is changed to a predetermined value in accordance with a temperature state of the material. .

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the first recording material (small size recording material) and the second recording material (regular shape) are selected according to the temperature of the core material of the exciting coil. When the first recording material continuously passes and the temperature of the core material corresponding to the non-passing portion exceeds the Curie point temperature by changing the feeding interval with the recording material of the size to a predetermined value. However, before the second recording material enters the fixing nip portion, the temperature of the core material corresponding to the non-passing portion of the first recording material is reduced until the temperature of the core material falls at least below the Curie point. By feeding the second recording material at a predetermined timing after delaying the feeding timing of the first recording material and waiting for the recovery of the heating ability, it is possible to heat and fix uniformly over the entire surface of the second recording material. And fixing defects can be prevented.

When the temperature of the core material of the exciting coil is detected by the value of the current flowing through the exciting coil, the temperature detecting member dedicated to the core material of the exciting coil is not provided, and the temperature of the core material is reduced. It can be detected whether or not the material has reached the Curie point temperature.

When the non-magnetic high heat conductive member is arranged in contact with the core material of the exciting coil in the longitudinal direction, the core material corresponding to the passing portion and the non-passing portion of the first recording material is provided. , The feed interval between the first recording material and the second recording material can be shortened.

Further, when a cooling device for cooling the core material of the exciting coil is provided, the temperature of the core material corresponding to the non-passing portion when the first recording material continuously passes is set to the Curie point temperature or lower. It can be lowered quickly,
The feeding interval between the recording material and the second recording material can be shortened.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of an image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus having the same will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a recording unit and a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus provided with an image heating / fixing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a first embodiment of the image heating / fixing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the excitation coil, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the temperature dependence of the magnetic permeability of the core material, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a case where a small-sized recording material is continuously passed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a temperature rising state of a core material in a non-passing portion. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fixing state when a small-sized recording material is continuously passed and then a fixed-sized recording material is passed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the temperature of each part when a small-sized recording material continuously passes, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a fixing sequence of the image heating fixing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cooling speed of the core material. FIG. 10 shows the time until a recording material of a fixed size can be fixed in the first embodiment. It is a diagram.

First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with an image heat fixing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum serving as an image forming unit, which is an OPC (organic photoconductor:
Organic photoconductive photoreceptor), amorphous selenium (Se),
A photosensitive material such as amorphous silicon (Si) is formed on a cylindrical substrate such as aluminum or nickel.

The photosensitive drum 1 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1, and its surface is first uniformly charged by a charging roller 2 as a charging device. Next, scanning exposure is performed by the laser beam 3 that is ON / OFF controlled according to the image information, and an electrostatic latent image is formed.

This electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized by the developing device 4. As a developing method, a jumping developing method,
Component development method, FEED (Floating Electrode Effect De
development method is used, and image exposure and reversal phenomenon are often used in combination.

The visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is also a conveying means, and the paper or the paper conveyed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 5 at a predetermined timing by a transfer roller 5 as a transfer device. The image is transferred onto a recording material P made of a synthetic resin or the like. At this time, the recording material P is nipped and conveyed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 5 with a constant pressing force.

The recording material P to which the toner image as the unfixed image is transferred is conveyed to the image heating and fixing device 6, where it is heated and pressed to be fixed as a permanent image. On the other hand, the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning device 7.

Next, the configuration of the image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes a fixing roller serving as a fixing member, and reference numeral 9 denotes a pressing roller serving as a pressing member. These rollers 8 and 9 constitute an image heating and fixing unit.

The fixing roller 8 has a cylindrical fixing film 11 serving as an induction heating member slidably rotatable with respect to a stay 10 fixed to the main body of the image heating and fixing device 6. An excitation coil 12 supported by a stay 10 is arranged inside the inside 11 so as to face a fixing nip portion N between the fixing film 11 and the pressure roller 9.

The fixing film 11 is made of a metal, a metal compound or an organic conductor which is an electric conductor of 10 ^-5 to 10 ^-10 Ωm as an induction heating member, and more preferably exhibits ferromagnetism having a high magnetic permeability. Iron (Fe), cobalt (Co),
Metals such as ferrite, nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr), or alloys composed of these
It is formed in a cylindrical shape with a thickness of m to 100 μm. Then, PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl ether copolymer; ethylene tetrafluoride-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene; tetrafluoroethylene resin), FEP ( A heat-resistant resin having good releasability such as a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer; a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer resin) and a silicone resin are mixed or coated alone.

The fixing film 11 is loosely fitted around a stay 10 made of a liquid crystal polymer, a phenol resin or the like with a margin, and the pressure roller 9 pressed and rotated in the direction of arrow b in FIG. The fixing film 11
Is arranged so as to be slidable and rotatable in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 2 with respect to a stay 10 fixed to the image heating and fixing device 6 following the pressure roller 9.

The pressing roller 9 serving as a pressing member includes a core 9a.
An elastic layer 9b formed by foaming a heat-resistant rubber such as silicone rubber or fluorine rubber, or silicone rubber on the outer periphery of the substrate, and a release layer such as PFA, PTFE, or FEP may be formed on the outer surface. .

The pressing roller 9 is sufficiently pressed by a pressing means (not shown) to form a fixing nip portion N necessary for heat fixing in the direction of the fixing roller 8 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pressing roller 9. It is pressurized, and is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 2 by a rotation driving means (not shown) from the longitudinal end of the pressure roller 9 via a cored bar 9a. As a result, the fixing film 11 pressed against the pressure roller 9 is
Is driven by the pressure roller 9 to rotate.

The exciting coil 12 is fixed to the stay 10 on the inner surface side of the fixing film 11, and is arranged at a predetermined distance from the fixing film 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the exciting coil 12 has a core material 12a made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite, and a winding 12b formed of a conductive wire wound around the outer periphery of the core material 12a. At the longitudinal end, it is connected to a power supply 13 having a variable frequency oscillation circuit.

With this, the power supply 13 is supplied with a frequency of 10 kHz to 1 MHz.
z high frequency alternating current, preferably 20 kHz to 800 kHz
The excitation coil 12 generates an alternating magnetic field by applying a high-frequency AC current of z to the winding 12b of the excitation coil 12. At this time, in the ferromagnetic conductive layer of the fixing film 11, an eddy current is generated in a direction that hinders the change in the magnetic field, and this eddy current generates Joule heat according to the skin resistance of the conductive layer of the fixing film 11, The unfixed toner image on the recording material P transported to the fixing nip N is heated and fixed.

The core material 12a has a typical shape generally used for a switching power supply, such as an I type, an E type, and a U type.
There are molds and the like. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an I-shaped core is used, but a core having another shape may be used.

On the fixing film 11 side of the exciting coil 12, a glass layer having a low frictional resistance, PFA, P
A release layer such as TFE may be provided.

On the lower surface of the exciting coil 12 and downstream of the recording material P in the feeding direction, a conductive chip thermistor 14 having a low heat capacity is arranged in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing film 11. Detects the surface temperature of the fixing film 11, and
The detected surface temperature information of the fixing film 11 is sent to a central processing unit (CPU) 15 via an A / D converter (analog / digital converter) (not shown), and based on the temperature information, the CPU 15 Then, the oscillator of the power supply 13 is set to an optimal frequency, and control is performed so that an alternating current of the optimal frequency is applied to the winding 12b of the exciting coil 12. Thereby, the surface temperature of the fixing film 11 is controlled to a predetermined value.

In this embodiment, a 50 μm-thick nickel film is used as the induction heating member of the fixing film 11, and PTFE is 20 μm-thick as a release layer on the outer surface thereof.
Was used.

Further, as the pressure roller 9, a silicone rubber having a thickness of 3 mm is formed on the outer periphery of a core metal 9a having an outer diameter of 14 mm.
Further, a release layer having an outer diameter of 20 mm and a hardness of 45 ° (measured by an Asker-C hardness tester) as a release layer on the outer surface was used.

As described above, it is known that the core material 12a of the exciting coil 12 used in the magnetic induction heating has a temperature dependency. FIG. 4 shows the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability μ of the ferrite used as the core material 12a. As shown in FIG. 4, a core material composed of ferrite
When the temperature T of 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc, the core material
The magnetic permeability μ of 12a sharply decreases.

When the magnetic permeability μ of the core material 12a decreases, the generated magnetic flux density decreases, so that the eddy current in the induction heating member also decreases, and the heat generation decreases. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Small-sized paper P serving as a first recording material having a relatively small length (hereinafter simply referred to as “width”) in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction
n, and after the temperature of the core material 12a1 in the non-sheet passing portion exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc, as shown in FIG. 6, the second cover having a width larger than the width of the small-size paper Pn. When the fixed size paper Pw serving as a recording material is passed, the core material 12a has a relatively large heat capacity and therefore has a low cooling rate, while the induction heating member has a relatively small heat capacity and has a high cooling rate. When 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc,
In some cases, the fixed-size paper Pw is passed.

That is, as shown in FIG.
The temperature of the core material 12a2 in the paper passing portion when paper is continuously passed is regulated at a constant temperature T _S , but the core material in the non-paper passing portion
Since the small-size paper Pn does not pass through the temperature 12a1, the temperature continues to rise without being absorbed, and eventually reaches the Curie point temperature Tc.

In this case, when the fixing nip portion N of the image heating / fixing device 6 is sufficiently warmed, fixing can be performed by preheating. However, when the fixing nip portion N is not sufficiently heated, FIG. As shown in the figure, in the portion where the temperature of the core material 12a1 of the non-paper passing portion exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc, the calorific value is insufficient, and the fixed size paper Pw of the portion corresponding to the core material 12a1 of the non-paper passing portion is not provided. Heat fixing of the above unfixed toner image becomes impossible, and there is a possibility that a fixing defect may occur.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the small-size paper Pn shown in FIG. 5 is continuously passed, it is monitored whether or not the temperature of the core material 12a has reached the Curie point temperature Tc.
With the temperature of 12a exceeding the Curie point temperature Tc,
When a command to print the fixed-size paper Pw is received, the last small-size paper Pn and the first fixed-size paper Pw
Is controlled so that the feeding interval is delayed by an appropriate time.

However, if the entire surface of the fixed-size paper Pw can be fixed in a state where the fixing nip portion N of the image heating / fixing device 6 is sufficiently warmed, the control is performed so as to perform the fixing without leaving the feeding interval. I do.

As a method of monitoring the temperature of the core member 12a, a temperature detecting member such as a thermistor is brought into contact with the core member 12a1 of the non-sheet passing portion to detect the temperature of the core member 12a1 of the non-sheet passing portion. Although a method is also conceivable, in this case, since a dedicated detection means is provided, the cost is increased.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the temperature of the core material 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc, the magnetic permeability μ of the core material 12a sharply decreases (excitation coil inductance decreases), and the excitation coil 12 It is configured to monitor whether the temperature of the core material 12a has exceeded the Curie point temperature Tc by utilizing the flow of a current (overcurrent) that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

That is, in the power supply 13 connected to the winding 12b of the exciting coil 12, the value of the current applied to the winding 12b is detected, and the presence or absence of an overcurrent is detected. A detecting means for detecting whether or not the temperature has reached the point temperature Tc is constituted.

The control method of the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the paper size (paper width) is detected by a paper width sensor or the like (not shown) (step S1), and when the small-sized paper Pn is fed,
The printing operation is performed while the current of the exciting coil 12 is detected inside the power supply 13 at intervals of 0.2 seconds (step S2). At this time, whether or not the temperature of the core material 12a of the exciting coil 12 exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc is detected based on the presence or absence of an overcurrent to the exciting coil 12 (step S3).

In step S3, the exciting coil 12
If no overcurrent to the core material is detected,
If the temperature a does not exceed the Curie point temperature Tc, continuous printing is performed regardless of the paper size detection signal.

On the other hand, when an overcurrent to the exciting coil 12 is detected, that is, when the temperature of the core material 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc, the time from when the Curie point temperature Tc is reached is reached. While the elapsed time t _C is measured by a timer (not shown) or the like (step S4), the size of the paper to be fed next is detected (step S5).

In the step S5, if the detected paper size is the small-size paper Pn, printing is further continuously performed. If the detected paper size is the standard size paper Pw in step S5, step S6
In step S4, the temperature state of the fixing nip N is determined, and if the elapsed time t _C from the time when the temperature of the core material 12a reaches the Curie point temperature Tc is 60 seconds or more in step S4, the fixing nip N is If the elapsed time t _C is less than 60 seconds, it is determined that the fixing nip portion N has not yet been sufficiently heated. Printing is performed after an interval (reducing the throughput).

Further, for the second and subsequent sheets of the standard size paper Pw,
Similarly, the feeding interval is adjusted by measuring the cooling rate of the core material 12a. This cooling rate is
As shown in FIG. 9, after the small-size paper Pn is continuously passed,
After the heating of the image heating fixing device 6 is turned off, the core material 12a
Td until the temperature of the sample becomes below the Curie point temperature Tc
(Time until the overcurrent to the exciting coil 12 is eliminated), and the temperature of the core material 12a can be fixed to the entire surface of the fixed-size paper Pw for each time td that differs depending on the number of continuous sheets passed and the sheet passing time. The time ts (time between paper feeds) until the temperature was reached was measured. The results are shown in Table 1 of FIG.
In this case, fixing was performed under the conditions of a process speed of 94 mm / s, a throughput of 16 ppm, and a temperature control temperature of 170 ° C.

By knowing the time td when the temperature of the core material 12a falls below the Curie point temperature Tc after the small-size paper Pn is continuously passed, the paper feeding interval is set to the time ts shown in Table 1 of FIG. Thus, it was found that the entire size of the fixed size paper Pw can be fixed. Further, with respect to the time tc shown in step S4 in FIG. 8, it was possible to fix the entire size of the standard size paper Pw in 60 seconds.

When the small-size paper Pn is continuously passed and the fixed-size paper Pw is fixed in the case where the above sequence is not actually used and when the above-mentioned sequence is not used, the fixed-size paper Pw is fixed. Whereas the fixing of the entire surface of the paper Pw was impossible, the fixing of the entire surface of the fixed-size paper Pw was possible when the above sequence was used.

From the above results, when feeding the fixed-size paper Pw after the continuous feeding of the small-size paper Pn, it is possible to fix the entire surface of the fixed-size paper Pw by providing a predetermined feeding interval. Was.

Next, the second embodiment of the image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment of the image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a time until a recording material having a fixed size can be fixed in the second embodiment. . The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the core material 12a of the exciting coil 12 has a length corresponding to the length of the core material 12a in the longitudinal direction and has a U-shaped cross section. An aluminum (Al) plate 21 serving as a formed non-magnetic high heat conductive member is abutted and fitted and arranged.

In the above configuration, since the aluminum plate 21 which is a non-magnetic high heat conductive member is disposed in contact with the core member 12a, excessive temperature rise of the core member 12a1 in the non-sheet passing portion is prevented through the aluminum plate 21. As a result, heat can be conducted in the longitudinal direction of the core material 12a, whereby the temperature distribution of the core material 12a can be relaxed more quickly, and the time during which the core material 12a reaches the Curie point temperature Tc can be shortened. Was.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same sheet interval control is performed. Actually, when the aluminum plate 21 is arranged in contact with the longitudinal direction of the core material 12a, the time td from the end of continuous feeding of the small size paper Pn until the core material 12a falls below the Curie point temperature Tc, Table 2 in FIG. 12 shows the result of measuring the time ts until the fixed size paper Pw can be entirely fixed.

As can be seen from Table 2 in FIG. 12, by arranging the aluminum plate 21 in the longitudinal direction of the core material 12a, the small-size paper Pn can be continuously passed through as compared with Table 1 in FIG. It has been found that the time ts until the fixed size paper Pw becomes fixable after the paper is shortened.

According to the above results, the aluminum plate 21 is brought into contact with the core material 12a in the longitudinal direction, so that the core material 12a
Can be alleviated, and the feeding interval of the fixed-size paper Pw after the small-size paper Pn is continuously passed can be made shorter than in the first embodiment.

Next, the third embodiment of the image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment of an image heating and fixing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a time until a recording material having a fixed size can be fixed in the third embodiment. . The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, an air passage 31 having a U-shaped cross section is provided in the peripheral longitudinal direction where the surface of the core material 12a of the exciting coil 12 faces, and one end of the air passage 31 is provided. A cooling device such as a fan (not shown) is provided. When the temperature of the core material 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc due to continuous passing of the small-size paper Pn, the fixed-size paper P
When fixing w, the cooling device such as the fan is operated to cool the core material 12a.

In this embodiment, since the core member 12a is actively cooled, the time during which the temperature of the core member 12a reaches the Curie point temperature Tc is shortened. Even when the paper Pw is passed, the paper feeding interval can be made very short.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same sheet interval control is performed. Actually, when the air path 31 is provided in the longitudinal direction near the core material 12a and a fan is installed,
The results of measuring the time td from the end of continuous feeding of the small-size paper Pn to the time when the core material 12a falls below the Curie point temperature Tc and the time ts from the time when the fixed-size paper Pw can be fixed on the entire surface are shown in the table of FIG. 3 is shown.

As can be seen from Table 3 of FIG. 14, the core material 12a
By providing the fan and the air passage 31 for forcibly cooling the small-size paper Pn, the fixed-size paper Pn is fixed after the small-size paper Pn is continuously passed as compared with Table 1 in FIG. 10 and Table 2 in FIG. It has been found that the time ts before it becomes possible becomes even shorter.

According to the above results, the time when the temperature of the core material 12a exceeds the Curie point temperature Tc is shortened by providing the air passage 31 in the longitudinal direction near the core material 12a and cooling with the cooling fan. The feeding interval of the standard size paper Pw after the continuous passing of the size paper Pn can be further shortened.

Note that the cooling fan of the above-described embodiment may be a fan that sucks and removes warm air around the core material 12a through the air passage 31 to cool it.
Cooling may be performed by blowing cold air on 12a.

[0065]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, the core material of the exciting coil can be used when a small-sized recording material is continuously fed and then a fixed-size recording material is fed. By changing the feeding interval to a predetermined value in accordance with the temperature condition, it is possible to surely fix the entire surface of the recording material having a fixed size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a recording unit and a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus including an image heating and fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of an image heat fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a configuration of an exciting coil.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the temperature dependence of the magnetic permeability of a core material.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a temperature rise state of a core material in a non-passing portion when a small-sized recording material is continuously passed.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which small-sized recording materials are continuously passed through;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a fixing state when a recording material having a fixed size is passed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the temperature of each part when a small-sized recording material continuously passes.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a fixing sequence of the image heat fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cooling rate of a core material.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a time until a recording material having a fixed size becomes fixable in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment of the image heat fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a time until a recording material having a fixed size becomes fixable in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment of the image heat fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a time until a recording material having a fixed size becomes fixable in the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoreceptor drum, 2 ... Charging roller, 3 ... Laser beam, 4 ... Developing device, 5 ... Transfer roller, 6 ... Image heating fixing device, 7 ... Cleaning device, 8 ... Fixing roller, 9 ... Pressure roller, 9a ... core bar, 9b ... elastic layer, 10 ... stay, 11
... Fixing film, 12 ... Exciting coil, 12a, 12a1, 12a2 ...
Core material, 12b ... winding, 13 ... power supply, 14 ... thermistor, 15 ...
CPU, 21: aluminum plate, 31: air path, N: fixing nip, P: recording material, Pn: small size paper, Pw: standard size paper

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording material is passed through a fixing nip portion which is pressed against each other by a fixing member including an excitation coil and an induction heating member and a pressing member, and an unfixed image on the recording material is converted into a permanent image. An image heating and fixing device having an image heating and fixing means for fixing as a reference, and a detecting means for detecting whether or not the core material of the exciting coil has reached the Curie point temperature, wherein a length in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction is After a relatively small first recording material is continuously fed to the image heating and fixing unit, the first recording material is orthogonal to a feeding direction larger than a length of the first recording material in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction. When a second recording material having a length in the direction is fed to the image fixing and heating means, the first recording material depends on the temperature of the core material of the exciting coil detected by the detection means. And the second recording material An image heating fixing apparatus characterized by being configured to change the transmission interval to a predetermined value. 2. The image heating and fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of a core material of said exciting coil is detected by a current value flowing through said exciting coil. 3. The image heating and fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a non-magnetic high heat conductive member is arranged in contact with a longitudinal direction of a core material of the exciting coil. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling device for cooling a core material of said exciting coil. 5. A transport unit for transporting a recording material, an image forming unit for forming an unfixed image on the recording material transported by the transport unit in accordance with image information, and forming the image by the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image heating and fixing device according to claim 1, which fixes an unfixed image.