WO2019230989A1

WO2019230989A1 - Cooling device and image formation system

Info

Publication number: WO2019230989A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/022244
Authority: WO
Inventors: 優樹井上; 吉田　篤史; 計成畑崎; 陽一筑後; 小柳　倫明
Original assignee: キヤノン株式会社
Priority date: 2018-06-01
Filing date: 2019-05-29
Publication date: 2019-12-05

Abstract

An external cooling device 101 is connected to an image formation device 100. The external cooling device 101 improves the ability of cooling a recording material S after having a toner image applied thereto. In this case, it is possible to decrease the temperature of recording materials S stacked in a stacking unit 60 to a given temperature or less that prevents the recording materials S from sticking to each other even when increasing the heat applied to a fixing device 11. It is also possible to increase the number of recording materials stacked in the stacking unit 60. This allows a user to adjust glossiness without paying heed to the sticking of the recording materials S in the stacking unit 60. This also allows a user to forgo frequently removing the recording materials S from the stacking unit 60. That is, the present invention provides an image formation system 1X capable of flexibly handling a variety of types of recording materials S.

Description

Cooling device and image forming system

The present invention relates to a cooling device for expanding a cooling function that can be connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine using an electrophotographic system.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on a recording material such as paper is heated and pressed by a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording material. The fixing of the toner image is performed by the recording material being nipped and conveyed by a fixing roller heated by a heater or the like and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller. Since the recording material is heated when the toner image is fixed, the temperature of the recording material conveyed from the fixing device is likely to be higher than that before fixing. After the toner image is fixed, if the recording material is conveyed at a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature and discharged to the stacking unit, the gloss of the toner image becomes nonuniform or is stacked on the stacking unit. The recording materials may stick to each other with toner. In order to suppress such uneven gloss and sticking of the recording material when stacked, Japanese Patent No. 5272424 discloses that the recording material after fixing the toner image is conveyed from the fixing device to a predetermined temperature or lower. A cooling device is provided for cooling the recording material to be recorded. In the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, one of a pair of conveying belts that sandwich and convey the recording material conveyed from the fixing device is cooled by a heat sink, and the temperature of the recording material is lowered via the cooled conveying belt. ing.

In recent years, image forming devices have high multimedia compatibility and high production capacity that can handle various types of recording materials such as plain paper, thick paper, rough paper (rough paper), uneven paper (embossed paper, etc.), and coated paper. Characteristics (number of images formed per unit time) are required. However, in the case of thick paper, for example, compared to plain paper, heat is transferred from the fixing roller to the recording material and the temperature of the fixing roller is likely to decrease, so that there is a possibility that fixing failure may occur. In order to prevent a fixing failure from occurring on both plain paper and thick paper, a configuration in which the temperature of the fixing roller is increased is considered.

However, when the temperature of the fixing roller is increased, the temperature of the recording material discharged from the fixing device is also increased. At this time, in order to lower the temperature of the recording material (for example, thick paper) that can be higher when discharged to the stacking unit to the same level as that of plain paper, an image forming apparatus provided with a conventional cooling device In some cases, an image forming apparatus having a higher cooling capacity than that is required.

However, conventionally, there has been no image forming system that can meet the needs of users who require higher cooling capacity for an image forming apparatus having a cooling device.

Further, for users who use an image forming apparatus that does not have a cooling device, when using a recording material that requires a high fixing temperature, such as cardboard, the gloss of the toner image becomes uneven, There is a possibility that the recording materials loaded on the loading section stick to each other. In such a user, in order to make the gloss of the toner image uniform and to suppress the sticking of the recording materials stacked on the stacking unit, it is necessary to replace with an image forming apparatus having a cooling device. For this reason, it is not easy for a user who uses an image forming apparatus having no cooling device to improve the cooling performance of the image forming device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling device and an image forming system capable of easily increasing the cooling capacity of the image forming device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a toner image formed by an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material is connected to a device having a fixing device that heats and fixes the toner image on the recording material, and is discharged from the device. A cooling device for cooling a sheet, the receiving port receiving the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus, and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from the receiving port, the sheet received from the receiving port There is provided a cooling device having a transporting unit that transports and a cooling unit that cools a recording material transported by the transporting unit, and a hatred formation system using the same.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the image forming unit.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing an enlarged recording material delivery section.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a connecting member that connects the image forming apparatus and the external cooling device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a recording material cooling device.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram illustrating the control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the temperature changing process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a temperature change screen, where (a) shows the case where the external cooling device is not connected, and (b) shows the case where the external cooling device is connected.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the load amount changing process.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another image forming system.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another image forming system.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another image forming system.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another image forming system.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another image forming system.

<Image forming system>
A schematic configuration of the image forming system according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 </ b> X of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a recording material S, and an external cooling device that cools the recording material S on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 100. 101.
<Image forming apparatus>

The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic tandem type full-color printer. The image forming apparatus 100 includes image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images, respectively. The image forming apparatus 100 records a toner image in accordance with an image signal from a document reading device (not shown) connected to the apparatus main body 100A or an external device such as a personal computer connected to the apparatus main body 100A. S is formed. Examples of the recording material S include various types of sheet materials such as plain paper, thick paper, rough paper, uneven paper, coated paper, plastic film, cloth, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged side by side along the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the apparatus main body 100A (in the apparatus main body). The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched around a plurality of rollers and is configured to travel in the direction of arrow R2. The intermediate transfer belt 8 carries and conveys the toner image that has been primarily transferred. A secondary transfer roller 10 is disposed at a position facing the roller 9 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the intermediate transfer belt 8 in between, and a secondary image that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 to the recording material S. The transfer portion T2 is configured. A fixing device 11 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion T2 in the recording material conveyance direction.

In the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100, a cassette 12 containing a recording material S is disposed. The recording material S is transported from the cassette 12 toward the registration roller 14 by the transport roller 13. Thereafter, the registration roller 14 starts to rotate in synchronization with the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 as described later, whereby the recording material S is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2. Although only one cassette 12 is shown here, a plurality of cassettes 12 may be arranged so that recording materials S of different sizes and thicknesses can be accommodated. The recording material S is selectively conveyed. Further, not only the recording material S accommodated in the cassette 12, but also the recording material S placed on a manual feeding unit (not shown) may be conveyed.

The four image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK included in the image forming apparatus 100 have substantially the same configuration except that development colors are different. Accordingly, here, the image forming unit PK will be described as a representative, and description of the other image forming units will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical photosensitive drum 1 is disposed as a photosensitive member in the image forming unit PK. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in the arrow R1 direction. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a primary transfer roller 5, and a cleaning device 6 are arranged.

A process for forming a full color image, for example, by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. First, when the image forming operation is started, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2. The charging device 2 is, for example, a corona charger that irradiates charged particles accompanying corona discharge to charge the photosensitive drum 1 to a uniform negative dark potential. Next, the photosensitive drum 1 is scanned and exposed with a laser beam L corresponding to the image signal emitted from the exposure device 3. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is visualized by toner (developer) accommodated in the developing device 4 and becomes a visible image.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 at a primary transfer portion T1 configured with the primary transfer roller 5 disposed with the intermediate transfer belt 8 interposed therebetween. At this time, a primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 5. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer is removed by the cleaning device 6.

Such an operation is sequentially performed in each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image forming units PY to PK, and the four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 8. Thereafter, the recording material S accommodated in the cassette 12 is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2 in accordance with the toner image formation timing. Then, by applying a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 10, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is secondarily transferred onto the recording material S all at once.

Next, the recording material is conveyed to the fixing device 11. The fixing device 11 includes a fixing roller 11a that is rotatably arranged, and a pressure roller 11b that rotates while being pressed against the fixing roller 11a. The fixing roller 11a is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, 400 mm / sec) by a drive motor (not shown) while being in pressure contact with the pressure roller 11b. A halogen heater (not shown) is disposed in the fixing roller 11a, and the fixing device 11 can heat the recording material S by raising the surface temperature of the fixing roller 11a by the halogen heater.

The fixing device 11 heats and presses the conveyed recording material S by nipping and conveying the recording material S on which the toner image is formed in the fixing nip T3 formed by the fixing roller 11a and the pressure roller 11b. The toner image is fixed on the recording material S. That is, the toner of the toner image formed on the recording material S by heating and pressurization is melted and mixed, and fixed to the recording material S as a full-color image. In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed. Then, the recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is adsorbed by the conveying device 70, for example, by air, and conveyed to the recording material cooling device 20. The recording material cooling device 20 as an internal cooling device cools the recording material S. The recording material cooling device 20 will be described later (see FIG. 5).

In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 can perform double-sided printing. In the case of single-sided printing, the recording material S cooled by the recording material cooling device 20 passes from the discharge port 100Aa (see FIG. 3) formed in the apparatus main body 100A by the paper discharge roller 15 to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A (outside the apparatus main body). Discharged. The recording material S is discharged from the discharge port 100Aa with the surface side on which the toner image is formed by the fixing device 11 facing upward (so-called face-up paper passing), or the surface side on which the toner image is formed is directed downward. Then, the paper is discharged from the discharge port 100Aa (so-called face-down paper passing).

In the case of duplex printing, the recording material S cooled by the recording material cooling device 20 is conveyed to the duplex reversal conveyance path 600. In the double-side reversal conveyance path 600, the recording material S is reversed so that the front surface and the back surface of the recording material S are switched. The reversed recording material S is conveyed toward the registration roller 14, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2 with the back side not printed by the registration roller 14 facing the intermediate transfer belt 8. In the secondary transfer portion T2, the full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is secondarily transferred collectively to the recording material S (back side). Thereafter, the recording material S is fixed with the toner image by the fixing device 11 and cooled by the recording material cooling device 20, and the cooled recording material S is discharged from the discharge port 100Aa (see FIG. 3).

In the case of the present embodiment, an external cooling device 101 as an external cooling device is connected to the downstream side of the apparatus main body 100A in the sheet conveying direction. Here, each of the external cooling apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a plurality of installation units 800 such as casters and installation legs that are installed on an installation surface such as a floor. The external cooling device 101 is configured to be connectable to the image forming apparatus 100 as one of peripheral devices (referred to as optional units) that can be retrofitted to expand the functions of the image forming apparatus 100. The external cooling device 101 is disposed to cool the recording material S discharged from the discharge port 100Aa of the apparatus main body 100A and to lower the temperature of the recording material S below a predetermined temperature. In this way, by connecting the external cooling device 101 to the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet temperature can be lowered to a predetermined temperature or less even when the temperature does not fall below the predetermined temperature only by the recording material cooling device 20. It becomes. The external cooling device 101 has a recording material cooling device 201 that cools the recording material S. The recording material cooling device 201 will be described later (see FIG. 5).

In addition to the external cooling device 101, the peripheral device includes a stapling device that staples the recording material S, a punching device that punches the recording material S, a binder device that binds the recording material S, and a large amount of recording material. For example, a stacker device capable of loading S can be used. These peripheral units can be appropriately combined and connected, and a plurality of external cooling devices 101 may be connected. The user can easily improve the cooling capacity of the recording material S with respect to the image forming apparatus 100 including the existing recording material cooling device 20 by increasing the number of external cooling devices 101 to be connected. That is, the user can easily improve the cooling capacity of the recording material S relative to the image forming apparatus 100 by connecting a plurality of external cooling apparatuses 101 to the image forming apparatus 100.

The recording material S cooled by the external cooling device 101 is discharged from the external cooling device 101 by the discharge roller 17 and stacked on the stacking unit 60 as a stacking unit. The stacking unit 60 is detachably attached to the external cooling device 101 and the image forming apparatus 100. That is, the stacking unit 60 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100 when the external cooling device 101 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 100. When the external cooling apparatus 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, the user removes the image forming apparatus 100 from the image forming apparatus 100 and replaces it with the external cooling apparatus 101.

The stacking unit 60 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction (vertical direction) with respect to the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101. Therefore, the recording material S can be stacked to a predetermined height by lowering the stacking unit 60 with respect to the discharge port of the external cooling device 101. The stacking unit 60 is provided with a stack detection unit 61 for detecting that the stacked recording materials S have reached a predetermined height. Note that the stack detection unit 61 may be provided on the external cooling device 101 side to detect the position of the stack unit 60 with respect to the apparatus main body, or the stack height of the recording materials S stacked on the stack tray 60. May be detected.

As described above, the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, and the recording material S is delivered from the image forming apparatus 100 to the external cooling device 101. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a delivery unit that delivers the recording material S between the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling device 101. FIG. 4 shows a connecting member that connects the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a pair of discharge guides 41, and the external cooling apparatus 101 is provided with a pair of receiving guides. The pair of discharge guides 41 are arranged above and below at intervals so as to face each other. In addition, the pair of receiving guides 42 are arranged above and below at intervals so as to face each other.

Then, the recording material S discharged from the discharge port 100Aa is guided by the discharge guide 41 and delivered to the receiving port of the external cooling device 101. Here, the most upstream opening in the recording material conveyance direction between the pair of receiving guides 42 is the recording material receiving port of the external cooling device 101. In the case of this embodiment, the discharge guide 41 has a guide portion 41a extending toward the external cooling device 101 side. Since the discharge guide 41 includes the guide portion 41a, the discharge direction of the recording material S discharged from the discharge port 100Aa by the discharge roller 15 is determined. Here, the end upstream of the discharge guide 41 in the conveyance direction of the recording material is used as the discharge port of the image forming apparatus 100, but the downstream end of the discharge guide 41 in the conveyance direction of the recording material is the discharge port of the image forming apparatus 100. It is good.

On the other hand, the receiving guide 42 is formed so that the image forming apparatus 100 side expands in accordance with the shape of the guide portion 41a of the discharge guide 41 so that the discharge guide 41 can enter. Further, the receiving guide 42 is formed with a conveyance path for the recording material S that continues to the delivery roller 16. According to the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 are connected so that the recording material S can be transferred from the image forming apparatus 100 to the external cooling apparatus 101 without being caught.

However, if the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 are simply connected by the discharge guide 41 and the receiving guide 42, for example, the positional displacement between the discharge guide 41 and the receiving guide 42 when receiving an impact. May occur, and the recording material S may not be delivered properly. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to connect the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 so that the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 do not move relative to each other. In order to do so, in this embodiment, the detachable part 51 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided on the image forming apparatus 100 side, while the detachable claw part 52 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided on the external cooling apparatus 101 side. .

The detachable portion 51 is fixedly disposed near the discharge port 100Aa (see FIG. 3) in the side plate portion of the image forming apparatus 100, for example. As described above, by fixing the relative positions of the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling device 101 by the detachable portion 51 and the detachable claw portion 52 in the vicinity of the discharge port 100Aa, the positions of the discharge guide 41 and the receiving guide 42 are shifted. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sheet conveyance abnormality (so-called jam) during the delivery of the sheet, and the delivery of the sheet from the image forming apparatus 100 to the external cooling apparatus 101 can be performed accurately.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the attachment / detachment part 51 has the attachment / detachment axis | shaft 51a extended toward the attachment / detachment nail | claw part 52 side. On the other hand, the attachment / detachment claw portion 52 is formed with an engagement portion 52a that engages with the attachment / detachment shaft 51a when connected. The attaching / detaching claw portion 52 is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the external cooling device 101, swings in the direction of arrow Y shown in FIG. 4, and engages with the attaching / detaching shaft 51a. By connecting the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling device 101 by the attaching / detaching portion 51 and the attaching / detaching claw portion 52, the image forming device 100 and the external cooling device 101 are fixedly arranged so as not to move relative to each other. Such an attaching / detaching portion 51 and attaching / detaching claw portion 52 are not limited to one place. For example, when the attaching / detaching portion 51 and the attaching / detaching claw portion 52 are arranged at two or more places on the front side and the back side in FIG. Since it becomes difficult to move, it is preferable.
<Recording material cooling device>

Next, the recording material cooling device 20 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 and the recording material cooling device 201 provided in the external cooling device 101 will be described with reference to FIG. However, in the present embodiment, the recording material cooling device 20 and the recording material cooling device 201 are cooling devices having the same configuration. Therefore, the recording material cooling device 201 will be described below as an example.

The recording material cooling device 201 has an endless first belt 21 and an endless second belt 25 that sandwiches and conveys the first belt 21 and the recording material S. The recording material cooling device 201 includes a heat sink 30 that cools at least one of the first belt 21 and the second belt 25.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first belt 21 is wound around a plurality of first belt stretching rollers 22a to 22d, and at least one of the first belt stretching rollers 22a to 22d is a drive (not shown). Rotated by part. As a result, the first belt 21 moves in the direction of arrow B in the figure. On the other hand, the second belt 25 is wound around a plurality of second belt stretching rollers 26 a to 26 d and is in contact with the first belt 21. Therefore, the second belt 25 follows the first belt 21 and moves around. Here, the first belt 21 is driven and the second belt 25 is driven by the first belt 21, but the second belt 25 is driven and the first belt 21 is driven by the second belt 25. You may let them. Alternatively, both the first belt 21 and the second belt 25 may be driven.

The recording material S on which the toner image has been fixed is sandwiched between the first belt 21 and the second belt 25, and is conveyed in the conveying direction (the direction of arrow C in the figure) according to these circular movements. At that time, the recording material S passes through the cooling nip T4 formed by the contact between the first belt 21 and the second belt 25. In the case of the present embodiment, the first belt 21 is cooled by the heat sink 30 by bringing the heat sink 30 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first belt 21 in the cooling nip T4. This is because the heat of the first belt 21 is conducted to the heat sink 30 and is radiated by the heat sink 30 when the heat sink 30 comes into contact with the first belt 21.
In order to efficiently cool the recording material S, the heat sink 30 is disposed so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the first belt 21 at a location where the cooling nip T4 is formed. Since the recording material S is cooled through the first belt 21 when passing through the cooling nip T4, even if the toner on the recording material S is in a molten state before coming into contact with the first belt 21, The toner is fixed on the recording material S by being cooled. Thus, by cooling the recording material S at the cooling nip T4 formed by the first belt 21 and the second belt 25, the recording material S can be efficiently cooled through a short conveyance path.

The heat sink 30 is a heat sink formed of a metal such as aluminum. The heat sink 30 conducts heat from the heat receiving portion 30a to the heat radiating portion 30b, a heat receiving portion 30a for contacting the first belt 21 and removing heat from the first belt 21, a heat radiating portion 30b for radiating heat, and the heat receiving portion 30a. A fin base 30c. The heat dissipating part 30b is formed by a plurality of heat dissipating fins in order to increase the contact area with air and promote efficient heat dissipating. For example, the thickness of one of the plurality of radiating fins is set to 1 mm and the height is set to 100 mm, the interval between the plurality of radiating fins is set to 5 mm, and the thickness of the fin base 30c is set to 10 mm. In addition, in order to forcibly cool (heat radiate) the heat sink 30 itself, a cooling fan 40 that blows air toward the heat sink 30 (specifically, the heat radiating portion 30b) is provided. The air volume of the cooling fan 40 is set to 2 m ³ / min, for example. That is, the heat of the recording material S heated by the fixing device 11 passes through the cooling nip T4 formed by the first belt 21 and the second belt 25, and is radiated by the heat sink 30 via the first belt 21. Is done. As a result, the temperature of the recording material S is lowered by passing through the cooling nip T4.

In this embodiment, the cooling fan 40 is a fan that is provided behind the heat sink 30 in FIG. 5 and rotates so that air flows from the front side of the heat sink 30 to the back side. The cooling fan 40 is not limited to this configuration, and may be provided on the front side of the heat sink 30 or may be configured to rotate so that air flows from the back side to the near side of the heat sink 30. The cooling fan 40 may be provided in a plurality instead of one.

The heat sink 30 is brought into contact with the first belt 21 to cool the first belt 21, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second belt 25 may be cooled by making contact with the second belt 25. Alternatively, one heat sink 30 may be brought into contact with each of the first belt 21 and the second belt 25 to cool both belts. However, the heat sink 30 is attached to the first belt 21 or the second belt 25 so as to cool the recording material S on the surface on which the toner image is formed by the fixing device 11 before being discharged from the discharge port 100Aa (see FIG. 3). It is preferable that they are in contact.

In the above description, the cooling device of the belt cooling method in which the recording material is nipped and conveyed by the two conveying belts has been described. It may be a cooling device for nipping and conveying. In this case, the recording material can be conveyed while being cooled by bringing the heat sink 30 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt at the nip portion between the conveying belt and the conveying roller. In the above-described embodiment, the recording material cooling device 20 and the recording material cooling device 201 have the same configuration. However, one is a cooling device that is cooled and conveyed by two conveying belts, and the other is a conveying belt and a conveying roller. It is good also as a cooling device which carries out cooling conveyance by.

The first belt 21 and the second belt 25 are not limited to the heat sink 30 by using a belt cooling fan that blows air toward the belt, a water cooling unit that abuts the pipe through which the cooled liquid is circulated, or the like. You may make it cool.
[Control unit]

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 300. The control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5 and FIG. However, various devices such as a motor and a power source for operating the image forming apparatus 100 are connected to the control unit 300 other than those shown in the drawing, but the illustration and description thereof are omitted here because they are not the gist of the invention.

The control unit 300 performs various controls of the image forming apparatus 100 such as an image forming operation, and includes a CPU 301 (Central Processing Unit), a memory 302 such as a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk device. The memory 302 stores various programs such as an image forming job, various data, and the like. The control unit 300 can execute various programs stored in the memory 302, and can operate the image forming apparatus 100, the external cooling apparatus 101, the stacking unit 60, and the like by executing the various programs. Note that the memory 302 can also temporarily store calculation processing results and the like accompanying the execution of various programs.

The control unit 300 is connected to an operation unit 400, a display unit 401, a cooling unit control unit 402, and a stacking unit control unit 403 via an input / output interface. The operation unit 400 is, for example, an operation panel or an external terminal that accepts execution instructions of various programs and various data inputs by a user (user). The display unit 401 includes a display screen for operation errors of the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101, a menu screen for presenting various executable programs, and a “glossiness setting screen” described later (FIGS. 8A and 8). Various screens such as (see (b)) are appropriately displayed. The display unit 401 is, for example, a liquid crystal screen. Note that a virtual operator may be displayed on the display unit 401 by the control unit 300, and an operation for executing various programs or an operation for inputting various data by a user may be received using the virtual operator. That is, the display unit 401 may have a function of the operation unit 400, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal screen.

The control unit 300 can control the external cooling device 101 by the cooling unit control unit 402. The cooling unit control unit 402 controls the belt driving motor 501 that drives at least one of the first belt stretching rollers 22a to 22d with respect to the recording material cooling device 201, and starts or stops driving the first belt 21. Control the moving speed and so on. Further, the cooling unit control unit 402 controls the fan driving motor 502 that drives the cooling fan 40 with respect to the recording material cooling device 201 to control the start and stop of driving of the cooling fan 40, the air volume, and the like. Further, the control unit 300 controls the stacking unit 60 by the stacking unit control unit 403. The stacking unit control unit 403 controls a motor (not shown) to move the stacking unit 60 in the vertical direction. In the case of the present embodiment, when the stack detection unit 61 detects that the recording material S has reached a predetermined height, the control unit 300 lowers the stack unit 60.

The image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 are electrically connected by an input / output interface (for example, an electric signal line) in addition to the physical connection using the above-described connection member (see FIG. 4). The control unit 300 controls the external cooling device 101 by transmitting and receiving electrical signals through the input / output interface. Therefore, when an electrical signal cannot be transmitted / received between the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 via the input / output interface, the control unit 300 connects the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 to each other. It can be determined that there is no.

The control unit 300 determines that the unit connected to the image forming apparatus 100 is not the other unit (for example, a stacker) that can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 but the external cooling device 101 by the following method. Be identifiable. For example, in the image forming apparatus 100, a position of a connector that is physically and electrically connected is changed for each other unit that can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100. In such a case, the control unit 300 can determine that the connected unit is the external cooling device 101 from the difference in the reception location of the electrical signal serving as the input / output interface. Alternatively, for example, a method of changing the type of response signal that is responded to an electrical signal sent from the image forming apparatus 100 for each other unit that can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 may be used. That is, the external cooling device 101 has a function as an identification unit that outputs identification information indicating that it is the external cooling device 101 as a response signal. In this case, the control unit 300 can determine that the connected unit is the external cooling device 101 from the content of the response signal. Alternatively, for example, a method in which a memory in which identification information is stored in the external cooling device 101 is mounted and the control unit 300 reads the memory identification information via an input / output interface may be used. Further, the control unit 300 can determine whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling device 101 are connected in response to an operation of the operation unit 400 by a user or an on / off operation of a dedicated switch provided in the image forming apparatus 100. May be.

By the way, for example, when a toner image is fixed on a recording material S (thick paper or the like) having a basis weight of 150 to 250 g / m ² or more, the recording material S may not be cooled by the recording material cooling device 20 alone. In this case, when a predetermined number of recording materials S, for example, 100 sheets or more are continuously stacked on the stacking unit, the lower side in the stacking direction depends on the heat accumulated in the stacked recording materials S, the weight of the upper sheet in the stacking direction, and the like. There is a risk that the stacked recording materials S may stick to each other due to the pressure applied to the sheet positioned at the position.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the recording material S after the toner image fixing is cooled using the external cooling device 101 connected to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 100 in the sheet conveying direction. The external cooling device 101 can reduce the temperature of the recording material S so that the temperature does not become lower than the predetermined temperature only by the recording material cooling device 20. If so, the external cooling device 101 can be increased even if the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is increased in order to increase the glossiness of the toner image or to cope with each paper type as compared with the case where the external cooling device 101 is not used. Thus, the temperature of the recording material S can be lowered to a predetermined temperature or lower. Further, if the temperature of the recording material S can be lowered by the external cooling device 101, the recording material S in the stacking unit 60 can be used more than when the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is increased without using the external cooling device 101. Since sticking is less likely to occur, the number of sheets of recording material S of the same basis weight loaded on the stacking unit 60 can be increased. In view of this point, in this embodiment, the settable range of the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is changed according to whether the external cooling device 101 is connected, or the recording material S loaded on the stacking unit 60 with the same basis weight is loaded. The possible number of sheets can be changed. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may be a device that can change both of them depending on whether or not the external cooling device 101 is connected, or may be a device that can change only one of them. This will be described below.

First, the changing process of the settable range of the heating amount will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 300 transmits a predetermined signal to the external cooling device 101 (S1). The controller 300 determines whether a response signal has been received from the external cooling device 101 in response to the transmission of the signal (S2). When the control unit 300 does not receive a response signal from the external cooling device 101 (NO in S2), the control unit 300 determines that the external cooling device 101 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 100, and performs the following steps S3 and S4. Execute. On the other hand, when the control unit 300 receives a response signal from the external cooling device 101 (YES in S2), the control unit 300 determines that the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, and performs the following steps S5 and S6. Execute.

When the external cooling device 101 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 100 (NO in S2), the control unit 300 sets the glossiness setting range to, for example, “−2 to +1” (S3). Then, the control unit 300 displays a “glossiness setting screen” having a setting range of “−2 to +1” on the display unit 401 (S4). Generally, the toner on the recording material S increases in glossiness of the toner after fixing as the heating amount of the fixing device 11 increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, glossiness is employed as an index indicating the heating amount of the fixing device 11.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a “glossiness setting screen” having four stages of setting ranges “−2 to +1”. The “glossiness setting screen” shown in FIG. 8A indicates that the user cannot select the glossiness outside the setting range by, for example, shading display. Here, the configuration is such that the glossiness outside the setting range cannot be input by shading display. However, the glossiness outside the setting range may not be displayed and may not be selected (cannot be set). It is good also as a structure which makes selection impossible (setting impossible) by returning.

The user can set the gloss level within the range of “−2 to +1” by operating the operation unit 400 with reference to this “gloss level setting screen”. That is, when the external cooling device 101 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 100, the cooling effect of the recording material S by the external cooling device 101 cannot be obtained. For this reason, when the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is increased, the recording material S cannot be cooled by the recording material cooling device 20 alone, and the gloss of the toner image may become non-uniform, or the stacked recording materials may stick. . In order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, the glossiness setting range proportional to the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is limited to a range of “−2 to +1”.

On the other hand, when the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 (YES in S2), the control unit 300 sets the glossiness setting range to, for example, “−2 to +4” (S5). Then, the control unit 300 displays a “glossiness setting screen” having seven stages of setting ranges “−2 to +4” on the display unit 401 (S6). FIG. 8B shows an example of a “glossiness setting screen” whose setting range is “−2 to +4”. In the “glossiness setting screen” shown in FIG. 8B, the shaded display regarding the glossiness outside the setting range disappears, indicating that the user can select the glossiness in the range of “−2 to +4”. ing. That is, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, the glossiness setting range is made larger than when the external cooling device 101 is not connected. The user can set the gloss level within the range of “−2 to +4” by operating the operation unit 400 with reference to the “gloss level setting screen”. That is, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, a higher gloss level (that is, a higher fixing temperature) can be selected. In this way, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, the toner image can be fixed to the recording material S by the fixing device 11 at a higher temperature than when the external cooling device 101 is not connected.

In the present embodiment, “glossiness” is used in the display of the above setting screen. However, any display may be used as long as it indicates the setting of the heating amount in the fixing device 11, that is, the temperature control temperature at the time of fixing. "Is not limited to the display. Further, the display at the level of “−2 to +1 (or +4)” has been described as an example, but the temperature control temperature itself at the time of fixing may be set. In this case, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, a higher fixing temperature can be selected than when the external cooling device 101 is not connected.

Next, a process for changing the number of sheets of recording material S that can be stacked in the stacking unit 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the controller 300 transmits a predetermined signal to the external cooling device 101 (S1). The controller 300 determines whether a response signal has been received from the external cooling device 101 in response to the transmission of the signal (S2). When the control unit 300 does not receive a response signal from the external cooling device 101 (NO in S2), the control unit 300 determines that the external cooling device 101 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 100, and sets the lowering amount of the stacking unit 60 to the first amount. A single value is set (S11). On the other hand, when the control unit 300 receives a response signal from the external cooling device 101 (YES in S2), the control unit 300 determines that the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and determines the amount of lowering of the stacking unit 60 by the first amount. A second value larger than the first value is set (S12).

That is, as described above, the stacking unit 60 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the external cooling device 101, and in order to detect that the stacked recording material S has reached a predetermined height. Loading detection unit 61 is provided. When the stacking detection unit 61 detects that the recording material S has reached a predetermined height, the control unit 300 can further stack the recording material S by lowering the stacking unit 60. The lowering amount of the stacking unit 60 is made larger when the external cooling device 101 is connected than when the external cooling device 101 is not connected. By increasing the descending amount of the stacking unit 60, recording is performed when the recording material S having the same basis weight is stacked when the external cooling device 101 is connected, compared to when the external cooling device 101 is not connected. The number of sheets S that can be stacked can be increased.

A greater pressure is applied to the recording material S loaded below the loading unit 60 as the number of recording materials S that can be loaded increases. By applying pressure to the recording material S, if the toner on the recording material S is in a molten state, the recording material S may stick to the recording material S. Therefore, when the external cooling device 101 is not connected, even if the temperature of the recording material S does not fall below a predetermined temperature and the toner is in a molten state, the recording material S is not stuck as much as possible. In addition, it is necessary to suppress the number of sheets of recording material S that can be stacked. On the other hand, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, the recording material S whose temperature has been lowered to a predetermined temperature or lower is stacked on the stacking unit 60, so that the number of sheets that can be stacked with the recording material S is increased. However, the recording material S cannot be stuck. Therefore, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, the number of sheets of the recording material S that can be stacked is made larger than when the external cooling device 101 is not connected.

As described above, in this embodiment, the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 so that the cooling capacity of the recording material S after the toner image fixing can be improved. In this way, even if the heating amount of the fixing device 11 is increased, the temperature of the recording material S stacked on the stacking unit 60 can be lowered to a predetermined temperature or less at which sticking does not occur. The glossiness can be adjusted without worrying about sticking of the recording material S. Further, the number of sheets that can be stacked in the stacking unit 60 can be increased, so that the user does not have to frequently carry out the recording material S from the stacking unit 60. In this way, by connecting the external cooling device 101 that improves the cooling capacity of the recording material S after toner image fixing to the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming system 1X that can flexibly cope with various types of recording materials S is provided. Can provide.
<Other embodiments>

Note that the above-described processing for changing the settable range of heating amount (see FIG. 7) and the number of sheets of recording material S that can be stacked (see FIG. 9) depends on whether or not the external cooling device 101 is connected, regardless of the type of recording material S. Although it changed, it is not restricted to this. For example, even when the external cooling device 101 is connected, it is changed depending on the type of the recording material S, specifically when the basis weight is “150 to 250 g / m ² ” or more. May be.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the settable range of the heating amount (see FIG. 7) and the stackable number of recording materials S (see FIG. 9) are changed according to whether the external cooling device 101 is connected or not is taken as an example. Although described, the following configuration may be adopted. That is, when the external cooling device 101 is connected, the number of images formed per unit time when a plurality of recording materials S having a basis weight equal to or larger than a predetermined basis weight are continuously formed is set as the external cooling device. More than the case where 101 is not connected. When a plurality of recording materials having a basis weight of a predetermined basis weight or more are continuously formed, the recording material S having a first basis weight having a basis weight in the range of “150 to 250 g / m ² ”, for example. This is a case where a job for image formation processing is executed continuously for 800 sheets. There are the following methods for increasing the number of images formed per unit time. For example, the recording material conveyance interval when the external cooling device 101 is connected is smaller than the recording material conveyance interval when the external cooling device 101 is not connected. If the external cooling device 101 is not connected, the recording material S is sufficiently cooled after the recording material S is discharged by widening the recording material conveyance interval, so that the next recording material S is loaded. Sticking can be suppressed. In the case where the external cooling device 101 is connected, the cooling is sufficiently performed even when the interval between the sheets is narrowed, so that productivity can be improved. Further, for example, the same effect can be obtained by a method in which the conveyance speed when the external cooling device 101 is connected is faster than the conveyance speed when the external cooling device 101 is not connected.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the external cooling device 101 is connected to the image forming device 100 having the recording material cooling device 20 therein has been described. For example, as shown in FIG. The external cooling device 101 may be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 that does not have the recording material cooling device 20 inside. As described above, since the external cooling device 101 can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 that does not have the internal cooling device 20, the cooling performance of the image forming apparatus can be easily improved without replacing the image forming apparatus. be able to. Even when recording materials that require a high fixing temperature, such as thick paper, are used, the gloss of the toner image is made uniform and sticking between the recording materials stacked on the stacking unit is suppressed. Can do. In this way, it is possible to easily meet the user's needs for improving the cooling performance of the image forming system 1X.
As another form of the image forming system, as shown in FIG. 11, a sheet processing apparatus 300 is further connected downstream in the recording material conveyance direction with respect to the external cooling apparatus 101 connected to the image forming apparatus 100. It may be configured to. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100, the external cooling apparatus 101, and the sheet processing apparatus 300 are each configured to be installed on an installation surface such as a floor by a plurality of installation units 800. In this configuration, the sheet processing apparatus 300 can execute a binding process on the recording material S by a staple unit (not shown), a punching process on the recording material S by a punch unit (not shown), and the like. Further, the sheet processing apparatus 300 includes a plurality of stacking

trays

60a and 60b on which the recording material S can be stacked, and the stacking height of the recording material S stacked on the stacking

tray

60a or 60b by the

detection sensor

61a or 61b. Alternatively, the number of loaded sheets can be detected. Here, the stacking

trays

60 a and 60 b provided in the sheet processing apparatus 300 are larger in the number or weight of recording materials that can be stacked than the stacking unit 60 provided in the image forming apparatus 100.
As described above, when the sheet processing apparatus 300 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, image formation may be continuously performed on a large number of recording materials S. In such a case, since a large amount of the recording material S is stacked on the stacking

trays

60a and 60b, there is a high possibility that the gloss of the toner image becomes non-uniform or the recording materials stacked on the stacking unit stick to each other. Become. Therefore, the user often demands an improvement in the cooling performance of the image forming apparatus. Even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, since the external cooling device 101 can be connected between the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus 300, sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 are stacked. It can be cooled by the recording material cooling device 201 before being stacked on the

trays

60a and 60b. As a result, it is possible to easily meet the user's needs for improving the cooling performance of the image forming system 1X.

As another form of the image forming system, as shown in FIG. 12, the first casing 100A includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, an intermediate transfer belt 8, and the like. The image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to connect the external cooling device 101 to the image forming apparatus 100 having the fixing device 11 and the recording material cooling device 20 in the second casing 100B of the image forming apparatus 100. And the structure which connects the external cooling device 101 with respect to the image forming apparatus 100 which has such 1st housing | casing 100A and 2nd housing | casing 100B may be sufficient.

Further, as another form of the image forming system, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in an image forming system having a plurality of fixing devices, an external cooling device 101 may be connected to the downstream side of the fixing device. Good. For example, FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration in which the image forming apparatus 100 includes a first fixing device 11 and a second fixing device 111 in the apparatus main body 100A. As described above, by providing a plurality of fixing devices, it is possible to increase the glossiness of an image fixed on the recording material S by the image forming apparatus 100. This is because a large amount of heat can be applied to the recording material S on which the toner image is formed, so that the flatness of the toner image fixed on the recording material S is increased. In addition, by providing a plurality of fixing devices in this way, compared to the case where only the fixing device 11 is provided, the recording material can be printed on the recording material without lowering the conveying speed when conveying a recording material having a large basis weight such as cardboard. It is possible to fix the toner image on the surface. This is because, in the case where only the fixing device 11 is provided, a plurality of fixing devices are used in contrast to a configuration in which the conveyance speed of the recording material S is lowered in order to sufficiently heat the toner image when fixing the toner image on the recording material having a large basis weight. This is because the heat applied to the recording material S can be increased and the recording material S can be sufficiently heated without lowering the conveyance speed.

In the case of the image forming apparatus 100 including the first fixing device 11 and the second fixing device 111 as described above, the recording material S having a temperature higher than that of the image forming apparatus in which only one fixing device is provided on the stacking tray 60. Will be loaded. As a result, there is a high possibility that the gloss of the toner image of the recording material S stacked on the stacking tray 60 becomes non-uniform or the recording materials stacked on the stacking unit stick to each other. Therefore, the user often demands an improvement in the cooling performance of the image forming apparatus 100. Even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, since the external cooling device 101 can be connected to the image forming apparatus 100 having a plurality of fixing devices, sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 can be stacked. The recording material cooling device 201 can cool the recording material before being loaded on the recording material. As a result, it is possible to easily meet the user's needs for improving the cooling performance of the image forming system 1X.

As shown in FIG. 14, the configuration including a plurality of fixing devices is a configuration in which an external fixing device 300 having a second fixing device 111 is newly connected to the outside of the image forming apparatus having the fixing device 11. Also good. Here, the external fixing device 300 can be selectively connected to the image forming apparatus 100 as an option. Such an external fixing device 300 is configured such that the glossiness of the recording material S output from the image forming apparatus 100 and the discharging speed of a large basis weight such as thick paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 (per unit time name). In order to improve the number of recording materials discharged, the image forming apparatus 100 is selectively connected according to the needs of the user. As described above, even when the optional external fixing device 300 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, since the image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of fixing units, it may be required to improve the cooling performance of the image forming apparatus. Even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, since the external cooling device 101 can be connected to the external fixing device 300 on the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction, the cooling performance of the image forming system 1X is improved. It is possible to easily meet the needs of users who seek improvement.

In the description of the above-described embodiment, that the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 are “connected” means that the external cooling apparatus 101 is immediately after the frame of the image forming apparatus 100 as illustrated in FIG. In addition to the configuration in which the housings are connected, the following configuration is also included. For example, a configuration in which another connecting unit for connecting the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 exists between the image forming apparatus 100 and the external cooling apparatus 101 as shown in FIG. 14 is included. The external cooling device 101 is connected to at least the device having the fixing device 11 and is mounted downstream of the fixing device 11 in the transport direction and upstream of the stacking unit on which the product is stacked. Any configuration may be used.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling device and an image forming system that can meet the needs of users who require higher cooling capacity.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the scope of the present invention public, the following claims are attached.

This application claims priority on the basis of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-106498 filed on June 1, 2018 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-094460 filed on May 20, 2019, All the descriptions are incorporated herein.

Claims

A cooling device connected to a device having a fixing device that heats and fixes a toner image formed by an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material to cool the sheet discharged from the device. ,
A receiving port for receiving the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus;
A transport unit that is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium from the receiving port, and transports a sheet received from the receiving port;
And a cooling unit for cooling the recording material conveyed by the conveyance unit.
The transport unit includes a transport belt and a transport section that forms a nip portion between the transport belt and sandwiches and transports the recording material together with the transport belt at the nip portion.
The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit cools the transport belt.
The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the cooling unit includes a heat sink that contacts an inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt.
The heat sink has a contact surface that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt at the nip portion, and a plurality of fins connected to the contact surface,
The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling unit further includes a fan that blows air to the heat sink.
The conveyor belt is a first conveyor belt;
5. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance unit is a second conveyance belt that forms a nip portion together with the first conveyance belt. 6.
The cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the transport unit is a rotatable transport roller that forms a nip portion together with the transport belt.
An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body having a discharge port; and the fixing device that heats and fixes the toner image formed on the recording material to the recording material;
An image forming system comprising: the cooling device according to claim 1 coupled to the image forming device.
The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes an image forming unit that is provided in the apparatus main body and forms a toner image on a recording material.
The image forming apparatus includes an internal cooling unit that is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device in the conveyance direction of the recording material and cools a sheet heated by the fixing device,
The internal cooling unit forms a nip portion between the first internal conveyance belt and the first internal conveyance belt, and a second internal conveyance for nipping and conveying the recording material together with the first internal conveyance belt at the nip portion. The image forming system according to claim 7, further comprising: a belt; and an internal cooling heat sink that cools at least one of the first internal conveyance belt and the second internal conveyance belt.
When the cooling device is connected, the image forming apparatus can fix the toner image on the recording material by the fixing device at a higher temperature than when the cooling device is not connected.
The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system.
The image forming system according to claim 5:
The image forming apparatus includes an operation unit capable of receiving a user setting relating to the glossiness of a toner image formed on a recording material,
In the image forming apparatus, when the cooling device is connected, the gloss of the operation unit is set so that the glossiness of the toner image by the operation unit can be set higher than when the cooling device is not connected. Change the setting range for the degree,
The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system.
It has a stacking unit that can stack the recording material on which the toner image is fixed,
In the image forming apparatus, when the cooling device is connected, more recording materials are stacked on the stacking portion than when the cooling device is not connected in the recording material of the same basis weight. The image forming system according to claim 7.
The fixing device includes a heating unit having a heating source, and a pressurizing unit that can sandwich and convey the recording material together with the heating unit and pressurizes the recording material against the heating unit,
The cooling unit includes a first conveyance belt, a second conveyance belt that forms a nip portion together with the first conveyance belt, and conveys a recording medium together with the first conveyance belt, and a nip portion of the first conveyance belt. A heat sink in contact with the inner peripheral surface,
The first conveyance belt is provided on a side where the heating unit is provided with respect to a conveyance path through which a recording material on which a toner image is fixed by the fixing device is conveyed.
The second conveying belt is provided on a side where the pressure unit is provided with respect to the conveying path, and sandwiches and conveys a recording material on which a toner image is fixed by the fixing device together with the first conveying belt. The image forming system according to any one of claims 7 to 12.