TWI408521B - Fuser mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuser device, uses with an imaging system, which will set the toner in a recording media, it includes a heating element, a roll pieces to exert pressure, that will set the toner on the recording media, a film, used with the roll clamp the pieces together recorded media, and in the heat of the heating element, so that the toner set records in the media, and a control structure, which with a base case, Base on a set of the first set and second set department. Film with a set of the heating element, a first set and a second set for the department of the loop.

Description

Fixing device

The present invention is a fixing device for use in conjunction with an image system for holding toner on a recording medium, particularly a fixing device that can tension a web through a control structure.

In an electronic developing device such as a laser printer or a photocopier, the fixing device is used to fix the toner coated on the heat conductive film to the paper at an appropriate pressure and temperature.

Please refer to the first figure, which shows a fixing device of an image system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,525,775. The fixing device includes a pressure roller 10a, a film guiding member 13, and a heater 19 disposed on the bottom side of the insulating base 20a. The film guiding member 13 includes a flat bottom portion 14, a front support wall 15, and a rear support wall 16. The front support wall 15 and the rear support wall 16 respectively extend longitudinally and are disposed at both ends of the flat bottom portion 14, and have an arc shape. The heat conductive film 21a is sleeved on the film guiding member 13.

At the time of printing, the pressure roller 10a pivots in the counterclockwise direction and drives the thermally conductive film 21a to rotate in the clockwise direction, thereby driving the sheet P through the fixing region formed between the heater 19 and the pressure roller 10a. At the same time, after the electrodes (not shown) provided on the heater 19 are energized, the heater 19 emits heat and is transferred to the paper P and the toner Ta via the heat conductive film 21a, and is pressurized by the pressure roller 10a. The toner Ta can be melted and fixed on the paper P.

During this printing process, the thermally conductive film 21a is brought into contact with the front support wall 15 in the region B, and a large area of contact causes abrasion of the heating film 21a with respect to the film guiding member 13.

Further, the heat conductive film 21a is subjected to tension only in the region B and the region N, and in the remaining region, the heat conductive film 21a is in a state of tension relaxation. Since the tension of the heat conductive film 21a is not fixed, the movement behavior is unstable, causing the portion thereof to contact the paper P, the dynamic characteristics of entering the fixing area and leaving the fixing area are unstable, thereby affecting the paper P being fixed by the toner. quality. Further, the instability of the contact force between the heat conductive film 21a and the film guiding member 13 causes a collision phenomenon therebetween, and also increases the degree of wear of each other.

The present invention is a fixing device for use with an image system for holding toner on a recording medium, comprising a control structure for controlling the tension of the film to maintain contact between the film and its supporting member. The film maintains a stable operation state during the heating printing process, and improves the image printing quality, so as to solve the problem that the film wear and the film are not fixed due to the tension, thereby affecting the quality of the paper being fixed by the toner.

According to the above concept, the fixing device includes: a heating element; a rolling member for pressing the carbon powder attached to the recording medium; and a medium tape for holding the recording medium together with the roller member and being heated by The heating element fixes the carbon powder on the recording medium; a control structure has a base member, the base member is provided with a first sleeve portion and a second sleeve portion, wherein the heating element, the first The set of parts forms a loop with the second set of parts, and the medium belt is sleeved on the loop.

According to the above concept, the base member is provided with a connecting portion, the second sleeve portion is located between the first sleeve portion and the connecting portion, and the control structure further comprises an elastic member, and the connecting portion and the connecting portion The image system is coupled to apply a force to the base member to control a contact force between the medium tape and the heating element, the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion.

According to the above concept, the elastic member is a spring.

According to the above concept, the first sleeve portion is rotatably provided on the base member.

According to the above concept, the second sleeve portion is rotatably provided on the base member.

According to the above concept, the first sleeve is convexly provided at a free end thereof.

According to the above concept, the second sleeve is convexly provided at a free end thereof.

According to the above concept, the heating element is a halogen tube or a ceramic heater.

In the present invention, the elastic member starts to tension the base member with a certain tension to maintain the contact force between the first sleeve portion, the second sleeve portion and the heat conducting sleeve during the photolithography process. The film maintains a stable operation state during the heating printing process, improves the image printing quality, and reduces the friction between the film and the sleeve portion during the rotation process due to the relatively small contact area between the film and the sleeve portion, thereby reducing the film. Wear.

2, 3, and 4 are a perspective view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the fixing device. The fixing device 10 includes a bracket 20, a heating element 30, a heat conducting sleeve 40, a pressure roller 50, a film 170, and a control structure 60.

The bracket 20 includes two side plates 21 disposed opposite to each other for positioning the heat conducting sleeve 40 and the control structure 60. The side plate 21 has a slot 211 and an inner wall surface 212 (shown in FIG. 5) defining the slot 211.

The heat conducting sleeve 40 is made of an aluminum alloy material and is disposed on the bracket 20 in a hollow strip shape. The heat conducting sleeve 40 is formed in a hollow strip shape, and includes a surrounding wall 41, two positioning surfaces 42, 43 and a contact surface 44. An end surface 45, 46 of the end of the sleeve 40, and an accommodating space 47 defined by the surrounding wall 41, the two positioning surfaces 42, 43 and the contact surface 44. The surrounding wall 41 includes a horizontal abutting surface 411. The two positioning surfaces 42 and 43 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the left and right sides of the surrounding wall 41, and are extended from the middle to both sides; The contact surface 44 connects the two positioning surfaces 42 and 43 and is disposed below the surrounding wall 41. When the heat conducting sleeve 40 is disposed in a film 170, the contact surface 44 abuts against the inner surface of the film 170.

The pressure roller 50 includes two contact portions 51 and a pivot 52. The two contact portions 51 are disposed at two ends of the pivot shaft 52. The pivot shaft 52 is disposed at a near bottom end of the slot 211 of the side plate 21, so that the pressure roller 50 is disposed on the bracket 21, and The rotation of the film 170 is driven by a motor (not shown) while the pressure roller 50 drives the film 170 to rotate.

The heating element 30 can be a halogen tube disposed in the accommodating space 47 of the heat conducting sleeve 40. The heating element 30 includes a tube portion 31 and a second electrode portion 32. The lamp tube portion 31 is elongated in the accommodating space 47. The two electrode portions 32 are respectively disposed at two ends of the lamp tube portion 31 and are exposed outside the heat conducting sleeve 40, and have two power lines. Each of the two electrode portions 32 is coupled to and provides a working power source, so that the lamp tube portion 31 can heat the heat conducting sleeve 40 in a radiant heating manner. The heating element 30 can also be a ceramic heater and is not limited to the design in which the halogen tube is used in this embodiment.

The fixing device 10 further includes a second stopper 70, two upper positioning blocks 80, two lower positioning blocks 90, two top plates 110, two bearings 120, and two elastic members 130. The block 70 includes two contact sides 71, 72, a step surface 73, and two through holes 74, 75. The contact sides 71 and 72 are respectively in contact with the two positioning faces 42 and 43 of the heat conducting sleeve 40, and the longitudinal displacement of the heat conducting sleeve 40 is restricted. The stepped surface 73 is opposite to the end faces 45 and 46 of the heat conducting sleeve 40. The two axial through-holes 74 and 75 are connected to the side plate 21; the upper positioning block 80 includes a horizontal surface disposed on the bottom surface of the positioning block 80. The lower positioning block 90 includes a horizontal abutting surface 91 disposed on the upper surface of the positioning block 90. The top plate 110 includes two through holes 111 and 112 for connecting the top plate 110 to the side plate 21. The bearing 120 includes an inner wall 121 and a contact surface 122. The inner wall 121 is in contact with the contact portion 51 of the pressure roller 50. The contact surface 122 is located on the bottom surface of the bearing 120 and abuts against the slot 211 of the bracket 21; the elastic member 130 is respectively abutted at both ends thereof. The lower positioning block 90 abuts the surface 91 and the compression spring of the upper positioning block 80 contact surface 81 for pressurizing the heat conducting sleeve 40.

As shown in the fourth figure, it is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the fixing device. The control structure 60 includes a base member 141 , a first sleeve portion 142 , a second sleeve portion 143 , and a connecting portion 144 .

The first sleeve portion 142 may be a first support shaft 1421 protruding from the base member 141 or a first support roller 1422 in a rotatable manner. It is disposed on the base member 141. When the first supporting portion 142 is the first supporting roller 1422, the base member 141 is provided with a protruding shaft 1423, and the first supporting roller 1422 is sleeved on the protruding shaft 1423. The second sleeve portion 143 is similar to the first sleeve portion 142, and may be a second support shaft 1431 protruding from the base member 141 or a second support roller 1432 for rotation. The manner is provided on the base member 141. When the second supporting portion 143 is the second supporting roller 1432, the base member 141 is provided with a protruding shaft 1433, and the second supporting roller 1432 is sleeved on the protruding shaft 1433.

Regardless of the above structure, a flange is protruded from the free end of the support shaft or the support roller, and the peripheral diameter of the flange is larger than the circumference of the support shaft or the support roller to prevent the film 170 from slipping during the rotation.

As shown in the fifth figure, it is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the fixing device having a control structure. The second sleeve portion 143 can include a hole 1434 and a shaft 213. The hole 1434 is disposed on the base member 141. The shaft 213 is disposed on the image system and disposed opposite to the hole 1434. The base member 141 is axially disposed on the shaft 213 by the hole 1434. The second sleeve portion 143 can also include a hole 1434 and a roller 1435. The hole 1434 is disposed on the base member 141. The roller 1435 is disposed on the image system and disposed opposite to the hole 1434. The base member 141 is sleeved on the roller 1435 by the hole 1434. When the second sleeve portion 143 includes the hole 1434 and the roller 1435, the roller 1435 can be disposed in the hole 1434, and the outer surface thereof is in contact with the hole 1434; the hole 1434 can also be extended, and the end surface thereof The base member 141 is in contact. The shaft 213 and the roller 1432 protrude from the free end with a flange having a circumference larger than a circumference of the shaft 213 or the roller 1435 itself.

In the fixing device of the present invention, the heating element 30, the first sleeve portion 142 and the second sleeve portion 143 form a set of loops, and the film 170 is sleeved on the loop, that is, in a relaxed state. The heating element 30, the first sleeve portion 142, and the second sleeve portion 143 are sleeved, and the two ends are respectively abutted against the base member 141. However, during the rotation of the film 170, the tension is not fixed, which may cause the motion behavior to be unstable, so that the dynamic characteristics of the paper during the passage through the fixing zone are unstable, thereby affecting the quality of the paper being fixed by the toner. Moreover, the instability of the contact force between the film 170 and the sleeve portions 142, 143 also causes a collision between the two, and also increases the degree of wear of the film 170.

Therefore, as shown in the sixth drawing, it is a cross-sectional view of the fixing device of the preferred embodiment. The control structure 60 further includes an elastic member, which is a spring 150 disposed at the position I, and is disposed in an extended state on the connecting portion 144 of the base member 141 and the image system. Because the spring 150 has a certain tension, one end of the base member 141 near the second sleeve portion 143 is displaced toward the side of a paper feed guide 160, and the base member 141 is opposite to the other end. The displacement (as indicated by the solid arrow in the figure), so that the entire loop is grown, the film 170 is tensioned.

The spring 150 can also be disposed at the position of II. At this time, the base member 141 is adjacent to one end of the second sleeve portion 143, and is displaced from the side facing away from the paper guide rail 160. The base member 141 is opposite thereto. The other end produces a displacement in the opposite direction (as indicated by the hollow arrow in the figure), so that the entire loop is grown, again causing the film 170 to be tensioned.

As shown in the fourth figure, when printing, the pressure roller 50 pivots in a counterclockwise direction and drives the film 170 to rotate in a clockwise direction, thereby driving a sheet of paper (not shown) through the contact surface 44 of the heat conducting sleeve 40. A fixing area formed between the pressure roller 50. During the passage of the paper and the carbon powder, the heat generated by the heating element 30 is transmitted to the film 170 via the heat conducting sleeve 40, and the paper and the carbon powder are heated. When a certain amount of heat is reached, the toner is heated. Melting, at this time, the toner is fixed on the paper by the contact force between the film 170 and the pressure roller 50. During the process, the spring 150 always tensions the base member 141 with a certain tension, and maintains the film 170 during the photocopying process, and the first sleeve portion 142, the second sleeve portion 143, and the heat conducting sleeve. The contact force between 40 is constant, so that the film 170 maintains a stable operation state during the heating printing process, improves the image printing quality, and the contact area of the film 170 with the sleeve portions 142, 143 is relatively small. The friction of the film 170 with the sleeve portions 142, 143 during the rotation is also reduced, and the abrasion of the film 170 is reduced.

The present invention connects the elastic member (i.e., the spring 150) between the base member 141 and the image system, and utilizes the elastic force generated by the deformation to drive the base member 141, thereby tensioning the film 170 to maintain the contact force of the film 170 with the base member 141. Therefore, the film 170 maintains a stable operation state during the heating and printing process, thereby improving the image printing quality.

[study]

10a. . . Pressure roller

13. . . Film guiding element

14. . . Flat bottom

15. . . Front support wall

16. . . Rear support wall

19. . . Heater

20a. . . Insulated base

21a. . . Thermal film

P. . . Paper

Ta. . . Toner

B. . . region

N. . . region

〔this invention〕

10. . . Fixing device

20. . . support

twenty one. . . Side panel

211. . . Slotting

212. . . Inner wall

30. . . Heating element

31. . . Lamp department

32. . . Electrode part

40. . . Thermal conducting sleeve

41. . . Surrounding wall

42, 43. . . Positioning surface

44. . . Contact surfaces

45, 46. . . End face

47. . . Housing space

411. . . Abutment surface

50. . . Pressure roller

51. . . Contact

52. . . Pivot

60. . . Control structure

141. . . Base piece

142. . . First set of departments

1421. . . First support shaft

1422. . . First support roller

1423. . . Projection shaft

143. . . Second set of parts

1431. . . Second support shaft

1432. . . Second support roller

1433. . . Projection shaft

1434. . . hole

213. . . Shaft

1435. . . Wheel

144. . . Connection

70. . . Stoppers

71, 72. . . Contact side

73. . . Step surface

74, 75. . . Through hole

80. . . Upper positioning block

81. . . Contact surfaces

90. . . Lower positioning block

91. . . Abutment surface

110. . . roof

111, 112. . . Through hole

120. . . Bearing

121. . . Inner wall

122. . . Contact surfaces

130. . . Elastic component

150. . . spring

160. . . Paper feed guide

170. . . film

The first figure is a schematic view for explaining a fixing module of the prior art.

The second figure is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the fixing device.

The third figure is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the fixing device.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a fixing module having a control structure according to the present invention; and a fifth perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the fixing module having a control structure according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the fixing device of the preferred embodiment, showing two positions of an elastic member.

twenty one. . . Side panel

30. . . Heating element

40. . . Thermal conducting sleeve

42, 43. . . Positioning surface

44. . . Contact surfaces

45, 46. . . End face

47. . . Housing space

411. . . Abutment surface

50. . . Pressure roller

52. . . Pivot

141. . . Base piece

142. . . First set of departments

1421. . . First support shaft

1422. . . First support roller

1423. . . Projection shaft

143. . . Second set of parts

1431. . . Second support shaft

1432. . . Second support roller

1433. . . Projection shaft

144. . . Connection

81. . . Contact surfaces

91. . . Abutment surface

150. . . spring

170. . . film

Claims (7)

A fixing device for use in conjunction with an image system for holding toner on a recording medium, the fixing device comprising: a heating element; and a rolling member for applying pressure to adhere the toner on the recording medium; a media tape for holding the recording medium together with the roller member, and being heated by the heating element to fix toner on the recording medium; and a control structure having a base member, the base member having a first a set of parts and a second set of parts, wherein the heating element, the first set part and the second set part form a loop, the medium strip is sleeved on the loop; wherein the base a connecting portion is disposed between the first sleeve portion and the connecting portion, and the control structure further includes an elastic member coupled to the connecting portion and the image system for The base member is biased to control the contact force between the medium belt and the heating element, the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a spring. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve portion is rotatably provided on the base member. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the second sleeve portion is rotatably provided on the base member. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve has a flange protruding from a free end thereof. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the second sleeve has a flange protruding from a free end thereof. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the heating element is a halogen lamp or a ceramic heater.