JP2002148980A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device which prevent the warming-up time of a rotary member for heat-ray fixation, using an abutting member, from becoming long owing to the abutting member. SOLUTION: The roll-shaped rotary member for heat-ray fixation is formed by providing a cylindrical light-transmissive base which transmits heat rays, a cylindrical light-transmissive elastic layer which transmits heat rays outside the light-transmissive base, and a heat-ray absorbing layer which absorbs heat rays outside the light-transmissive elastic layer; and the abutting member is provided movably which abuts against the rotary member for heat-ray fixation and the abutting member is made to abut after printing operation is started after the warming-up time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus used for image formation such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile, and more particularly to a fixing device capable of quick start and a fixing device capable of quick start. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., a heat roller fixing method using a rubber roller as a fixing heat roller as a device having high technical perfection and stability. However, it is widely used from low-speed machines to high-speed machines, and from monochrome machines to full-color machines.

However, a conventional heat roller fixing type fixing device is disadvantageous in terms of energy saving because it is necessary to heat a fixing heat roller having a large heat capacity when heating a transfer material or toner. There is a problem that it takes time to warm up the fixing device during printing, and the printing time (warming-up time) becomes longer.

In order to solve this problem, a film (heat fixing film) is used, the heat roller is brought to the ultimate thickness of the heat fixing film to reduce the heat capacity, and a temperature controlled heating element (ceramic heater) or induction heating element is used. A heat-fixing film has been proposed and has been used recently, in which a heat-conducting efficiency is greatly improved by directly contacting the heat-fixing film with pressure, and energy saving and a quick start requiring almost no warm-up time are proposed. I have.

Further, as a modification of the heat roller, a transparent substrate is used as a heat ray fixing roller (rotating member for heat ray fixing), and the toner is heated and fixed by irradiating the toner with heat rays from a halogen lamp (heat ray irradiation means) provided inside. A fixing method which does not require a warm-up time and achieves a quick start is disclosed in JP-A-52-106741, JP-A-57-82240, JP-A-57-102736, and JP-A-57-10274.
No. 1 and the like. Further, a light absorbing layer (heat ray absorbing layer) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light transmitting substrate to constitute a heat ray fixing roller (rotating member for heat ray fixing), and a halogen lamp (heat ray) provided inside the cylindrical light transmitting substrate. JP-A-59-65867 discloses a fixing method in which light from the irradiating means is absorbed by a light-absorbing layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of a light-transmitting substrate, and a toner image is fixed by heat of the light-absorbing layer. ing.

However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 52-1067.
In the fixing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 41-41, a method of irradiating heat rays from a halogen lamp (heat ray irradiating means) through a translucent substrate to heat and fix the toner is disclosed.
In the fixing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-65867, a light absorbing layer (heat ray absorbing layer) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a light-transmitting substrate to constitute a heat ray fixing roller (rotating member for heat ray fixing), and a halogen lamp (heat ray irradiation). Means) is to irradiate the heat ray absorbing layer through the translucent substrate to the heat ray absorbing layer and fix the toner by the heat of the heat ray absorbing layer, thereby achieving energy saving and quick start in which the warm-up time is shortened, respectively. However, since the fixing property is poor, the inventors of the present application used a halogen lamp (heat ray irradiating means) and provided a translucent elastic material comprising a rubber material layer between the light transmissive substrate and the light absorbing layer (heat ray absorbing layer). The heat ray fixing roller (rotating member for heat ray fixing) of the soft roller is formed by providing the layer, and the heat ray absorbing layer is heated by the heat ray from the halogen lamp (heat ray irradiating means), and the quick start ( Fast heating) is possible, and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device or fixing device for improving the fixability of the toner image was proposed in JP-A 11-327341 Patent Publication. Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-144925 proposes a method of manufacturing the rotary member for heat ray fixing by integrally molding a light-transmitting elastic layer with a light-transmitting substrate using a mold.

[0007]

However, in the fixing device proposed above, a heat equalizing roller for equalizing the surface temperature of the hot-wire fixing rotary member around the hot-wire fixing rotary member (hot-wire fixing roller). Or, a contact member such as an oil application roller for applying oil to the heat ray fixing rotating member and a cleaning roller for cleaning oil on the heat ray fixing rotating member is used. The overall heat capacity (J / K) including the rotating member for hot-wire fixing (hot-wire fixing roller) and the contact member is increased, and heat is lost to the contact member. There is a problem that the warm-up time of the fixing roller becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the present invention to provide a fixing device which solves the above-mentioned problems and prevents a warm-up time from being lengthened by a contact member in a rotary member for fixing heat rays using a contact member. And

Further, in the image forming apparatus using the fixing device proposed above, the rate of temperature rise of the heat ray absorbing layer on the surface of the heat ray fixing rotating member is higher than linearly proportional to the power supplied to the heat ray fixing rotating member. However, heat flows from the heat-absorbing layer on the surface to the translucent elastic layer using the rubber member inside, and the warm-up time is prolonged. There is a problem that the photoelastic layer is damaged (degraded).

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and prevents the light-transmitting elastic layer of the heat ray fixing rotating member from being damaged and shortens the warm-up time. Aim.

[0011]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material to the transfer material by heating and pressing, wherein the fixing device has a cylindrical shape having a property of transmitting heat rays. A light-transmitting substrate, a cylindrical light-transmitting elastic layer having a light-transmitting property with respect to the heat ray outside the light-transmitting substrate, and a heat ray absorbing the heat ray outside the light-transmitting elastic layer. An absorptive layer is provided to form a roll-shaped rotatable member for fixing heat rays, and a contact member for contacting the rotatable member for fixing heat rays is provided so as to be movable, and the abutment of the contact member is a warm-up time. The fixing device (first invention) is characterized in that the fixing operation is performed after the printing operation is started after the end of the printing operation.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material to the transfer material by applying heat and pressure, wherein the cylinder has a light-transmitting property with respect to heat rays. A transparent translucent substrate, a cylindrical translucent elastic layer having translucency with respect to the heat ray outside the translucent substrate, and absorbing the heat ray outside the translucent elastic layer. A heat-ray absorbing layer to form a heat-fixing roll-shaped rotating member for fixing, and a power-supply changing means for supplying power to the hot-ray fixing rotating member, wherein the image forming is performed when the fixing device warms up. Before the operation of the control system of the apparatus, the input power to the hot-wire fixing rotary member is increased by the input power changing unit, and after the temperature of the hot-wire fixing rotary member rises to a predetermined temperature, the input power changing unit is By the rotation for heat ray fixing While small by changing the power applied to the wood, it is achieved by an image forming apparatus, wherein (second invention) to make the operation of the control system.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the description in this column does not limit the technical scope of the claims and the meaning of terms. Also, the following assertive description in the embodiment of the present invention indicates the best mode, and does not limit the meaning of the terms of the present invention or the technical scope.

An image forming process and respective mechanisms of an embodiment of a fixing device according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration view of a color image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus using a fixing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the fixing device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional configuration diagram of a heat ray fixing rotating member of the fixing device of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a concentration distribution of a heat ray absorbing layer of the heat ray fixing rotating member of the fixing device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outer diameter and a thickness of a light-transmitting substrate of a rotating member for heat ray fixing of the fixing device of FIG. 2.

According to FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 10, which is an image forming body, has a light-transmitting member on the outer periphery of a cylindrical base formed of a light-transmitting member such as glass or light-transmitting acrylic resin. It has a conductive layer and a photoconductor layer of an organic photosensitive layer (OPC).

The photosensitive drum 10 is rotated clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 with the light-transmitting conductive layer grounded by power from a drive source (not shown).

In the present invention, the exposure beam for image exposure is
The photoconductor layer of the photoconductor drum 10, which is the image forming point, only needs to have an exposure light amount of a wavelength that can provide an appropriate contrast with respect to the light attenuation characteristic (photocarrier generation) of the photoconductor layer. . Therefore, the light transmittance of the light-transmitting substrate of the photosensitive drum in the present embodiment does not need to be 100%, and may have a characteristic of absorbing a certain amount of light when transmitting the exposure beam. . The point is that any suitable contrast can be provided. As a material of the light-transmitting substrate, an acrylic resin, particularly one obtained by polymerizing a methyl methacrylate monomer, is preferably used because of its excellent light-transmitting properties, strength, accuracy, surface properties, etc. Various translucent resins such as acryl, fluorine, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate and the like used for the above can be used. Further, as long as it has a light-transmitting property with respect to the exposure light, it may be colored. As the light-transmitting conductive layer, indium tin oxide (I
TO), tin oxide, lead oxide, indium oxide, copper iodide, or a metal thin film of Au, Ag, Ni, Al, or the like that maintains light transmissivity. Reactive deposition method, various sputtering methods, various CV
D method, dip coating method, spray coating method and the like can be used.
Various organic photosensitive layers (OPC) can be used as the photoconductor layer.

The organic photosensitive layer serving as a photosensitive layer of the photoconductor layer includes a charge generation layer (CGL) mainly composed of a charge generation substance (CGM) and a charge transport layer (CTM) mainly composed of a charge transport substance (CTM). And CTL). An organic photosensitive layer having a two-layer structure has high durability as an organic photosensitive layer due to its thick CTL and is suitable for the present invention.
The organic photosensitive layer may have a single layer structure containing a charge generation material (CGM) and a charge transport material (CTM) in one layer. ,
Usually, a binder resin is contained.

A scorotron charger 11 as a charging unit described below and an exposure optical system 1 as an image writing unit
2. The developing device 13 as a developing unit is prepared for an image forming process for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), respectively. Are arranged in the order of Y, M, C, and K with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 10 indicated by the arrow in FIG.

Scorotron charger 11 as charging means
Is mounted so as to face and be close to the photosensitive drum 10 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 10 as an image forming body (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). A control grid (no symbol) maintained at a predetermined potential with respect to the body layer;
As a, for example, a sawtooth electrode is used, and a charging action (in this embodiment, negative charging) is performed by corona discharge having the same polarity as that of the toner, thereby giving a uniform potential to the photosensitive drum 10. As the corona discharge electrode 11a, a wire electrode or a needle electrode may be used.

The exposure optical system 12 for each color is a linear exposure element (LED) in which a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) as light emitting elements of image exposure light are arranged in an array parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum 10. (Not shown) and a selfoc lens (not shown) as an equal-magnification imaging element are configured as an exposure unit attached to a holder. An exposure optical system 1 for each color is placed on a cylindrical holder 20 as an exposure optical system holding member.
2 is mounted and housed inside the substrate of the photosensitive drum 10. Other exposure elements include FL (phosphor emission),
A linear element in which a plurality of light emitting elements such as EL (electroluminescence) and PL (plasma discharge) are arranged in an array is used.

An exposure optical system 12 as an image writing means for each color sets an exposure position on a photosensitive drum 10 between a scorotron charger 11 and a developing unit 13 with respect to the developing unit 13. It is arranged inside the photoconductor drum 10 in a state provided on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the drum 10.

The exposure optical system 12 performs image processing based on image data of each color sent from a separate computer (not shown) and stored in a memory, and then forms an image on a uniformly charged photosensitive drum 10. Exposure is performed to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 10. The emission wavelength of the light-emitting element used in this embodiment is usually 6 for the toners of Y, M, and C, which have high translucency.
The wavelength in the range of 80 to 900 nm is good, but the wavelength may be shorter than this, since the color toner does not have sufficient translucency since image exposure is performed from the back surface.

The developing device 13 as a developing means for each color includes
Inside yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C)
Alternatively, it contains a black (K) two-component (or one-component) developer and is formed of, for example, a cylindrical non-magnetic stainless steel or aluminum material having a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm and an outer diameter of 15 to 25 mm, respectively. And a developing sleeve 13a as a developer carrier.

In the developing area, the developing sleeve 13a is kept in non-contact with the photosensitive drum 10 by a contact roller (not shown) with a predetermined gap, for example, 100 to 1000 μm, between the developing sleeve 13a and the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum 10. At the closest position, it rotates in the forward direction, and at the time of development, an AC voltage AC is superimposed on a DC voltage of the same polarity as the toner (in the present embodiment, a negative polarity) or a DC voltage with respect to the developing sleeve 13a. By applying the developing bias voltage, non-contact reversal development is performed on the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 10. At this time, the precision of the development interval needs to be about 20 μm or less in order to prevent image unevenness.

As described above, the developing unit 13 transfers the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 by the charging by the scorotron charger 11 and the image exposure by the exposure optical system 12 in a non-contact state. Reversal development is performed with toner having the same polarity as the charge polarity of No. 10 (in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum is negatively charged, and the toner has negative polarity).

At the start of image formation, the photosensitive drum 10 is rotated clockwise as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 by starting an image forming body driving motor (not shown), and at the same time, the photosensitive drum 10 is charged by the charging action of the Y scorotron charger 11. Application of a potential to 10 starts. After a potential is applied to the photosensitive drum 10, exposure (image writing) by a first color signal, that is, an electrical signal corresponding to Y image data is started in the Y exposure optical system 12, and the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 is started. By scanning, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow (Y) image of the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer on the surface. This latent image is reversely developed in a non-contact state by the Y developing device 13, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, the photoreceptor drum 10 places an M scorotron charger 11 on the yellow (Y) toner image.
A potential is applied by the charging action of the M exposure optical system 12
Exposure (image writing) is performed using an electrical signal corresponding to the second color signal of m, i.e., magenta (M) image data.
The magenta (M) toner image is formed on the yellow (Y) toner image by non-contact reversal development by the developing device 13.

According to the same process, the cyan (C) toner image corresponding to the third color signal is further obtained by the C scorotron charger 11, the exposure optical system 12, and the developing device 13, and the K scorotron charger 11 , Exposure optical system 1
A black (K) toner image corresponding to the fourth color signal is sequentially superimposed and formed by the second and developing units 13, and a color toner image is formed on the peripheral surface within one rotation of the photosensitive drum 10. You.

As described above, in this embodiment, Y, M,
The exposure of the organic photosensitive layer of the photoconductor drum 10 by the C and K exposure optical systems 12 is performed through a transparent substrate from the inside of the photoconductor drum 10. Therefore, the exposure of the image corresponding to the second, third, and fourth color signals can form an electrostatic latent image without being shielded by the previously formed toner image, which is preferable. Photoconductor drum 1
0 may be exposed from outside.

On the other hand, the recording paper P as a transfer material is sent out from a paper feed cassette 15 as a transfer material storage means by a feed roller (no code), fed by a feed roller (no code), and fed to a timing roller. It is conveyed to 16.

The recording paper P is synchronized with the color toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 10 by the driving of the timing roller 16, and the paper charger 1 as paper charging means is synchronized.
Due to the electrification of 50, the toner is attracted to the conveyor belt 14a and fed to the transfer area. The recording paper P, which is closely transported by the transport belt 14a, is moved around the photosensitive drum 10 by a transfer unit 14c as a transfer unit to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (positive polarity in the present embodiment) is applied in a transfer area. The color toner images on the surface are collectively transferred to the recording paper P.

The recording paper P on which the color toner image has been transferred is
The paper is discharged by a paper separation AC neutralizer 14h as a transfer material separating unit, separated from the transport belt 14a, and transported to the fixing device 17.

The fixing device 17 includes an upper roll-shaped heat-ray fixing roller 17a for fixing a color toner image, and a lower roll-shaped roller provided opposite to the upper heat-ray fixing roller 17a. And a fixing roller 47a as a fixing member.
In the center of the inside of 7a, a halogen lamp 1 that emits heat rays such as infrared rays or far infrared rays including visible light depending on the light source is provided.
71 g, a xenon lamp (not shown), and the like are provided as heat ray irradiation means.

Heat ray fixing roller 17a and fixing roller 47a
The recording paper P is sandwiched by a nip portion N formed between
By applying heat and pressure, the color toner image on the recording paper P is fixed, and the recording paper P is sent by the paper discharge roller 18 and discharged to a tray on the upper portion of the apparatus.

The toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer is transferred to a cleaning blade 19 provided in a cleaning device 19 as an image forming body cleaning means.
Cleaning is performed by a. The photosensitive drum 10 from which the residual toner has been removed is uniformly charged by the scorotron charger 11, and enters the next image forming cycle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 17 is a hot-ray fixing roller 17a as a roll-shaped hot-ray fixing rotating member having an upper elasticity for fixing a toner image on a transfer material.
And a lower fixing roller 47a as a roll-shaped fixing member provided opposite to the upper heat ray fixing roller 17a, and is formed between the elastic heat ray fixing roller 17a and the fixing roller 47a. , Width 5-20mm
The recording paper P is sandwiched between the nip portions N, and the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed by applying heat and pressure. On the hot-wire fixing roller 17a as a roll-shaped hot-wire fixing rotating member provided on the upper side, the fixing separation claw TR3 and the pressing force of each pressing spring SPa are applied in the rotation direction of the hot-wire fixing roller 17a from the position of the nip portion N. Further, a cleaning roller TR1, a heat equalizing roller TR4, an oil application web TR2, and the like are provided as contact members that are pressed and contacted with the heat ray fixing roller 17a. The oil-coated web TR2 as a contact member using a felt member impregnated with oil is pressed against the hot-wire fixing roller 17a by a pressing roller ROa pressed by a pressing spring SPa. Oil is applied to the heat ray fixing roller 17a while being intermittently wound up from the winding roller RMa to the winding roller RMb. Cleaning roller TR1 and heat equalizing roller T as contact members, respectively
R4 is pressed against the heat ray fixing roller 17a by the pressing force of the pressing spring SPa, and is contacted with the heat ray fixing roller 17a.
Is rotated by the rotation of. Cleaning roller TR
1 cleans toner and oil on the peripheral surface of the heat ray fixing roller 17a. Therefore, the heat equalizing roller TR
4, and a temperature sensor TS1, which will be described later, which is a temperature detecting means for measuring the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a, is provided on the peripheral surface of the cleaned heat ray fixing roller 17a between the cleaning roller TR1 and the oil application web TR2. . The transfer material after fixing is separated by the fixing separation claw TR3. Roller T made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel with good thermal conductivity or heat pipe using heat pipe
By R4, the heat generation temperature distribution on the peripheral surface of the heat ray fixing roller 17a heated by the heat ray absorption layer 171b is made uniform.
The heat uniformizing roller TR4 equalizes the temperature unevenness of the heat ray fixing roller 17a in the vertical and horizontal directions due to the passage of the transfer material.

A heat ray fixing roller 17a provided on the upper side and serving as a heat ray fixing rotating member for fixing a toner image on a transfer material includes a cylindrical light transmitting base 171a and an outer side of the light transmitting base 171a. (Transparent elastic layer 171d)
A heat-absorbing layer 171b and a release layer 171c are provided in this order, or as described in detail in FIG. 3 below, a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate 171a and an outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the light-transmitting substrate 171a. ), The light-transmitting elastic layer 171d and the heat ray absorbing layer 1 on the outer side (outer peripheral surface) of the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d.
It is configured as a soft roller having an outer diameter of about 25 to 50 mm, in which a combined layer 171B, which is a heat ray absorbing layer, is provided in that order, integrating the release layer 71b with the release layer 171c.
A halogen lamp 171g or a xenon lamp (not shown) is provided in the center of the translucent substrate 171a as a heat ray irradiating means for emitting heat rays such as infrared rays or far infrared rays including visible light depending on the light source. The heat ray fixing roller 17a as a heat ray fixing rotating member is configured as a highly elastic soft roller as described later. Halogen lamp 1
A heat ray emitted from a 71 g or xenon lamp (not shown) is absorbed by the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B which is a heat ray absorbing layer) to form a roll-shaped heat ray fixing rotating member capable of rapid heating. You.

Further, a fixing roller 47a as a lower roll-shaped fixing member provided opposite to the upper heat ray fixing roller 17a is, for example, a cylindrical metal pipe 471a made of an aluminum material and a metal pipe 471a. For example, a silicon material is used on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 471a made of
40Hs (JIS, A rubber hardness), thickness (wall thickness) 2
It is configured as a soft roller having an outer diameter of about 25 to 50 mm on which a rubber roller 471b made of a thick rubber layer having a thickness of 7 mm is formed. An elastic rubber roller having high heat insulating property is used for the lower roll-shaped fixing member to prevent heat from diffusing from the upper heat ray fixing rotating member to the lower fixing member, and to secure a wide nip width. In addition, the surface of the rubber roller 471b is pressed by the pressing force of the pressing spring SPa, and is driven and rotated by the pressing force of the pressing spring SPa. A heat equalizing roller TR4 is provided, and the heat uniformizing roller TR4 equalizes the heat generation temperature distribution on the peripheral surface of the fixing roller 47a.
As the heat equalizing roller TR4, it is preferable to use a heat pipe that has both heat storage and heat radiation. Further, a halogen lamp 471c as a heat source may be provided in the center of the inside of the metal pipe 471a. Of course, the same configuration as the upper heat ray fixing roller 17a of the present invention may be used for the lower fixing member.

A flat nip portion N is formed between the upper soft roller and the lower soft roller to fix the toner image.

TS1 is a temperature sensor which is a temperature detecting means using, for example, a contact type thermistor for controlling the temperature, which is attached to the upper heat ray fixing roller 17a. TS2 is attached to the lower fixing roller 47a. For example, a temperature sensor using a contact-type thermistor for performing temperature control. As the temperature sensors TS1 and TS2, non-contact type sensors can be used in addition to the contact type.

According to FIG. 3, the configuration of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is such that the thickness (wall thickness) of the cylindrical light-transmitting substrate 171a is 0.5 to 100, as shown in the cross section in FIG. 5mm,
Pyrex (registered trademark) glass having a thickness of preferably 1 to 3 mm and transmitting heat rays such as infrared rays or far infrared rays from a halogen lamp 171 g or a xenon lamp (not shown);
Ceramic materials such as sapphire (Al ₂ O ₃ ) and CaF ₂ (having a thermal conductivity of (5 to 20) × 10 ⁻¹ W / m · K and a specific heat of (0.5 to 2.0) × 10 ³ J / kg · K, specific gravity is 1.
5 to 3.0) are mainly used. Transparent resin using polyimide, polyamide, etc. (Thermal conductivity is (2-4)
× 10 ^-1 W / m · K, specific heat is (1-2) × 10 ³ J / k
g · K, specific gravity of 0.8 to 1.2) and the like can also be used. As described above, the translucent substrate 171a does not have good thermal conductivity.

The light-transmitting elastic layer 171d has a thickness (thickness).
A heat-ray-transmitting silicon rubber layer or fluorine-containing rubber that transmits heat rays (infrared ray or visible ray including visible light depending on the light source) using 0.5 to 5 mm, preferably 1 to 3 mm thick silicon rubber or fluoro rubber, for example. Layer (base layer)
Is formed. For the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d, in order to cope with a high speed, a method of improving the thermal conductivity by mixing a powder of a metal oxide such as silica, alumina or magnesium oxide as a filler into the base layer is adopted. Rate is (1
~ 3) × 10 ^-1 W / m · K, specific heat is (1-2) × 10 ³
A silicon rubber layer or a fluorine rubber layer having J / kg · K and a specific gravity of 0.9 to 1.0 is used. The silicon rubber layer and the fluorine rubber layer are made of a light-transmitting substrate 171a having a thermal conductivity of a glass member.
Since the thermal conductivity is lower than (5 to 20) × 10 ⁻¹ W / m · K, it functions as a heat insulating layer. Increasing the thermal conductivity generally tends to increase the rubber hardness.
Those of Hs become high to nearly 60 Hs (JIS, A rubber hardness). Preferred rubber hardness is 10 to 50 Hs
It is. Most of the translucent elastic layer 171d of the heat ray fixing rotating member is occupied by the base layer, and the amount of compression during pressurization is determined by the rubber hardness of the base layer. Translucent elastic layer 1
The intermediate layer 71d is coated with a fluorine-based rubber, preferably in a thickness of 20 to 300 μm, as an oil-resistant layer to prevent oil swelling. The wavelength of the heat ray passing through the translucent elastic layer 171d is 0.1 to 20 μm, preferably 0.3 to 20 μm.
Since the particle diameter is 3 μm, the filler used as the hardness and thermal conductivity modifier described above has a particle diameter of 1/1 / wavelength of the heat ray.
2, preferably not more than 1/5 and having an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less, preferably 0.1 μm or less, including primary and secondary particles (transmission of infrared or far-infrared light including visible light depending on the light source) The translucent elastic layer 171d may be formed by dispersing fine particles of a metal oxide such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, and calcium carbonate in a resin binder. It is preferable that the average particle diameter including the primary and secondary particles in the layer is 1 μm or less, preferably 0.1 μm or less in order to prevent light scattering and reach the heat ray absorbing layer 171b. By providing the translucent elastic layer 171d, the heat ray fixing roller 17a as a heat ray fixing rotating member is configured as a soft elastic roller.

As the heat ray absorbing layer 171b, the remaining heat rays emitted from the halogen lamp 171g or the xenon lamp (not shown) and absorbed by the light transmitting base 171a and the light transmitting elastic layer 171d are used as the heat transmitting layer 171b. A heat ray fixing rotating member capable of absorbing 90 to 100%, preferably 95 to 100% of heat rays, which is about 100% of the heat rays transmitted through the 171a and the light transmitting elastic layer 171d, by the heat ray absorbing layer 171b and capable of rapid heating. As described above, carbon black, graphite, iron black (Fe
10% by mass of powder such as ₃ O ₄ ), various ferrites and their compounds, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, and red iron oxide (Fe ₂ O ₃ ).
A heat ray absorbing layer 171b having a thickness of 25 to 200 μm, preferably 30 to 150 μm, is formed on the outside (outer peripheral surface) of the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d by spraying or coating. The thermal conductivity of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is
By adding an absorbent such as carbon black, the base layer of the translucent elastic layer 171d (having a thermal conductivity of (3 to 10) ×
(3-100) × 1 higher than 10 ^-1 W / m · K)
It can be set to 0 ^-1 W / m · K. Heat ray absorption layer 1
The specific heat of 71b is (〜2.0) × 10 ³ J / kg · K, and the specific gravity is ０．９0.9. As the heat ray absorbing layer 171b, a metal roller member such as a nickel electroformed roller may be provided with a similar thickness. At this time, it is preferable that the inside (the inner peripheral surface) is subjected to black oxidation treatment in order to absorb heat rays.
If the heat ray absorption rate in the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is lower than about 90%, for example, about 20 to 80%, the heat ray leaks,
When the heat ray fixing roller 17a as a heat ray fixing rotating member is used for forming a monochrome image due to the leaked heat rays, if the black toner adheres to the surface of the heat ray fixing roller 17a at a specific position due to filming or the like, the adhering portion is formed by the leaked heat rays. Then, heat is generated due to heat ray absorption in that portion, and the heat ray absorption layer 171b is damaged. Further, when used for forming a color image, the absorption efficiency of the color toner is generally low, and there is a difference in the absorption efficiency between the color toners, resulting in poor fixing or uneven fixing. Therefore, the remaining heat rays emitted from the halogen lamp 171g or the xenon lamp (not shown) and absorbed by the light-transmitting base 171a and the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d form the light-transmitting base 17
1a and the heat ray absorbing layer 171d so that the heat ray transmitted through the light transmitting elastic layer 171d is completely absorbed by the heat ray absorbing layer 171b.
90-100 which is equivalent to about 100% of the heat ray absorption rate of 1b
%, Preferably 95 to 100%. Thereby, the color toner, which is difficult to fix by heat rays due to different spectral characteristics, is favorably melted. Particularly, in the color image formation in FIG. 1, it is difficult to fix by heat rays due to different spectral characteristics. The superimposed color toner image on the transfer material having a thick toner layer is fused well. Also,
When the thickness of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is less than 25 μm and thin, the heating rate due to the absorption of the heat ray in the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is high, but the heat ray absorbing layer 171b due to local heating by the thin film.
If the thickness of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b exceeds 200 μm, the heat conduction becomes poor or the heat capacity becomes large and rapid heating becomes difficult. By setting the heat ray absorption rate of the heat ray absorption layer 171b to 90 to 100%, which is about 100%, preferably 95 to 100%, or setting the thickness of the heat ray absorption layer 171b to 25 to 200 μm, preferably 30 to 150 μm, Local heat generation in the absorption layer 171b is prevented, and uniform heat generation is performed. Further, the wavelength of the heat ray projected on the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is 0.1 to 20 μm, preferably 0.3 to 3 μm.
Therefore, an adjuster for hardness and thermal conductivity is added as a filler, but the average particle size including primary and secondary particles having a particle size of 、, preferably １ ／ or less of the wavelength of the heat ray is included. Is 1μ
Metals such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, etc. having a heat ray transmission of not more than m, preferably not more than 0.1 μm (depending on the light source, transmitting infrared or far infrared rays including visible light). The heat ray absorbing layer 171b may be formed by dispersing 5 to 50% by mass of oxide fine particles in a resin binder. This allows the heat rays to enter the heat ray absorbing layer 171b and prevent heat generation at the interface. In this way, the heat capacity of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b is reduced so that the temperature rises immediately. Therefore, the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a as a heat ray fixing rotating member is lowered, and the fixing unevenness occurs. To prevent.

Further, a PFA (fluororesin) tube having a thickness of 25 to 75 μm is coated on the outer side (outer peripheral surface) of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b separately from the heat ray absorbing layer 171b to improve the releasability from the toner. Or fluororesin (PFA)
Alternatively, a release layer 171c having a coating of 25 to 75 μm of PTFE) paint and having a thermal conductivity of (3 to 100) × 10 ⁻¹ W / m · K is provided (separation type).

Further, as shown in the cross section in FIG. 3B, carbon black, graphite, iron black (Fe
10% by mass of powder such as ₃ O ₄ ), various ferrites and their compounds, copper oxide, cobalt oxide, and red iron oxide (Fe ₂ O ₃ ).
To the extent, a fluororesin (PF
A or PTFE) mixed into the paint and blended.
The heat ray absorbing layer 171b and the release layer 171c are also used as described above, and the heat ray absorbing layer 171b and the release layer 171c are integrally formed and have a releasing property. It is preferable to form an elastic roll-shaped heat ray fixing rotating member formed outside (outer peripheral surface) of the translucent elastic layer 171d formed outside (outer peripheral surface) of the optical base 171a. Heat ray absorbing layer 171b and release layer 1
The combined layer 171B (hereinafter, simply referred to as a combined layer 171B), which is a heat ray absorbing layer in which the PFA 71c is integrated, is a carbon-containing PFA having a thickness of about 25 to 200 μm.
A tube coated with a (perfluoroalkoxy) tube is preferably used. The layer thickness of the dual-purpose layer 171B can be reduced to 25 to 200 μm by providing a surface layer (a layer for protection) in each of the following embodiments. The thermal conductivity of the dual-purpose layer 171B integrating the heat ray absorbing layer 171b and the release layer 171c is substantially the same as that of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b, and is (3 to 10) × 10 ⁻¹ W / m ·. K. As described above, the light-transmitting substrate 171a is emitted from the halogen lamp 171g or the xenon lamp (not shown).
The heat ray absorptivity of the dual-purpose layer 171B is substantially reduced so that the remaining heat rays absorbed by the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d completely absorb the heat rays transmitted through the light-transmitting substrate 171a and the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d. 90 to 100%, which is 100%, preferably 95 to 100%. When the heat ray absorption rate of the dual-purpose layer 171B is lower than about 90%, for example, about 20 to 80%, the heat ray leaks, and when the heat ray fixing rotary member is used for monochrome image formation due to the leaked heat ray, When black toner adheres to the surface of the heat ray fixing rotating member at a specific position due to, e.g., mining or the like, heat is generated from the adhered portion due to the leaked heat rays, and heat generated by heat ray absorption is further superimposed at that portion, thereby damaging the dual-purpose layer 171B. In addition, when used for forming a color image, the absorption efficiency of the color toner is generally low, and there is a difference in the absorption efficiency between the color toners, resulting in poor fixing or uneven fixing. Therefore, the remaining heat rays emitted from the halogen lamp 171g or the xenon lamp (not shown) and absorbed by the light-transmitting base 171a and the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d form the light-transmitting base 171a and the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d. In order to completely absorb the heat rays transmitted through the heat ray fixing rotating member, the heat ray absorptivity of the dual-purpose layer 171B is about 90% to 100%, preferably about 100%, preferably 9%.
5 to 100%. In addition, local heat generation in the dual-purpose layer 171B is also prevented, and uniform heat generation is performed. The wavelength of the heat ray projected on the dual-purpose layer 171B is 0.1 to 20 μm.
m, preferably 0.3 to 3 μm, so that a filler for adjusting hardness or thermal conductivity is added as a filler. 2
The average particle size including the secondary particles is 1 μm or less, preferably 0.1 μm or less.
Fine particles of metal oxide such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, etc. having a heat ray transmission of 1 μm or less (infrared ray or visible ray including visible light depending on the light source) are used as resin binder. May be used to form the dual-purpose layer 171B.

According to FIG. 4, the heat ray absorbing layer 171 of the heat ray fixing roller 17a as a roll-shaped heat ray fixing rotating member.
b (or a dual-purpose layer 171B which is a heat ray absorbing layer,
When the above-mentioned concentration distribution of the heat ray absorbing member is uniformly provided on the combined use layer 171B as shown by a dotted line (a-1), the heat ray absorption layer 171b (or combined use layer 171B) is provided.
As shown in the curve (b-1), the heat is concentrated on the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) at the boundary, and the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) side Since heat is easily dissipated, it is preferable to provide a concentration distribution and generate heat inside the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) from the viewpoint of dispersing the heat generation distribution. Therefore, as shown by a dotted line (a-2) in the concentration distribution of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B), the interface on the side of the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d that is inscribed has a low concentration and is inclined toward the outer peripheral surface. To the outer surface side (the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171).
1) from the translucent elastic layer 171d side with respect to the thickness t1 of B).
(Position of about / 2 to 3/5) so as to obtain a concentration that absorbs 100% so as to be saturated. Accordingly, the heat generation distribution due to the absorption of the heat rays in the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) is such that the maximum value of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) is from the interface as shown by the curve (b-2). With respect to the thickness t1 of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B), from the side of the light-transmitting elastic layer 171d, 1/3 or more.
It is shifted so that it is located at about 2/5, the outflow of heat is reduced, and in particular, even when the dual-purpose layer 171B is used, there is no effect even if the outer peripheral surface layer is shaved. Further, as shown by a dotted line (a-3), it is preferable to form a saturated layer by providing an inclination, whereby the curve (b-
As shown in 3), the heat generation distribution of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B) has a maximum value near the center of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B), and the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B). 171B) is formed in a parabolic shape having a minimum value at the interface and the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface, so that the outer surface layer is less affected by shaving and has no particular effect of heat outflow. In short, if the absorption is sufficiently performed inside, the influence of the concentration on the outside disappears. There is no influence of shaving. Further, it is also possible to provide the above-mentioned inclination in the concentration distribution and adjust the heat generation distribution by changing the inclination angle.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outer diameter φ of the cylindrical light-transmitting base 171a of the heat ray fixing roller 17a as a roll-shaped heat ray fixing rotating member is 15 to 45 mm.
The thickness t is preferably thicker in terms of strength and thinner in terms of heat capacity. However, due to the relationship between strength and heat capacity, the outer thickness of the cylindrical translucent base 171a is large. Diameter φ
And the thickness (wall thickness) t is 0.02 ≦ t / φ ≦ 0.20, preferably 0.04 ≦ t / φ ≦ 0.10. When the outer diameter φ of the transparent substrate 171a is 40 mm, the thickness t of the transparent substrate 171a is 0.8 mm ≦ t ≦ 8 m.
m, preferably 1.6 mm ≦ t ≦ 4.0 mm. When t / φ is less than 0.02 in the translucent substrate 171a, the strength becomes insufficient, and when t / φ exceeds 0.20, the heat capacity increases and the heating of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is prolonged. Further, even if the translucent substrate 171a is used, it may absorb about 5 to 25% of heat rays depending on the material. Similarly, the translucent elastic layer 171d may have a thickness of 5 to 25 depending on the material.
% Of the heat ray may be absorbed, and it is preferable that the heat ray is thin as long as the strength can be maintained.

The fixing unit (nip) is formed by using the above-mentioned heat ray fixing rotating member in the fixing device 17 described with reference to FIG.
Quick start (rapid heating)
Further, a fixing device capable of fixing the heat can be obtained, and furthermore, the elasticity of the rotating member for heat ray fixing pressurizes the soft fixing portion (nip portion) and the heating of the rotating member for heat ray fixing by the heat ray absorbing layer. The color toners, which are difficult to fix due to heat rays, are satisfactorily melted due to the differences in the heat rays, and quick start (rapid heating) fixing of the color toners becomes possible. Also, an energy saving effect can be obtained.

Embodiment 1 However, in the fixing device proposed above, a heat uniformizing roller for equalizing the surface temperature of the rotating member for hot-wire fixing, a hot-wire fixing roller, and the like are provided around the rotating member for hot-wire fixing (hot-wire fixing roller). Contact members such as an oil application roller for applying oil to the fixing rotating member and a cleaning roller for cleaning the oil on the rotating member for heat ray fixing are used. The overall heat capacity (J / K) including the rotating member (hot-wire fixing roller) and the contact member is increased, and heat is lost to the contact member. The problem that the warm-up time becomes long is caused.

With reference to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, a description will be given of a method of preventing the contact member from lengthening the warm-up time to solve this problem. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fixing device that shortens the warm-up time, and FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a separating unit of a contact member.

According to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, the cleaning roller TR1, the heat uniformizing roller TR4, The oil-coated web TR2 is provided with respective pressing springs SPa as pressing members.
(See FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 6) so as to be movable.
Normally, the contact members such as the cleaning roller TR1, the heat equalizing roller TR4, and the oil-coated web TR2 are pressed against the pressing force of the pressing spring SPa by a separating means as shown in FIG. The heat ray fixing roller 17a is separated (retracted) from the heat ray fixing roller 17a.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the separating means comprises a lever LVa and a solenoid SD, and one end of the lever LVa is connected to the cleaning roller TR1, the heat equalizing roller TR4 and the oil application web TR2. The lever LVa is connected to the center axis PJ1 of the contact member such as the pressing roller ROa to be contacted, and the other end is connected to the solenoid SD. The center axis P is rotated against the pressing force of the pressing spring SPa held by the fixed receiving plate PLa.
J1 is pushed up to separate (retreat) contact members such as the cleaning roller TR1, the heat equalizing roller TR4, and the oil-coated web TR2 from the heat ray fixing roller 17a (the state shown by a dotted line). By bringing the solenoid SD into a non-operating state (non-sucking state), contact members such as the cleaning roller TR1, the heat equalizing roller TR4, and the oil application web TR2 contact the heat ray fixing roller 17a.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A lever LVa provided with a rack LK at the other end of Va and a rack LK at the other end, and a pinion P connected to the rack LK.
N and a drive motor Ma for rotating the pinion PN constitute a separating means, and the rotation of the pinion PN rotated by the drive motor Ma drives and rotates the rack LK, thereby causing the cleaning roller TR1 and the heat equalizing roller TR4 to rotate.
It is also possible to separate (retreat, state shown by a dotted line) and contact the contact members such as the oil-coated web TR2. By controlling the rotation of the driving motor Ma, it is possible to control the strength and separation of the contact pressing force (pressed state) between the contact member and the heat ray fixing roller 17a.

When the contact members such as the cleaning roller TR1, the heat equalizing roller TR4, and the oil-coated web TR2 are brought into contact with the heat ray fixing roller 17a, the printing operation is started after the warming-up time of the fixing device 17 is completed.
This is performed after printing a predetermined number of prints. Immediately after printing, there is no heat leak from the heat ray fixing roller 17a to the abutting member, and there is no problem in the fixing property.
After printing one sheet, the cleaning roller TR1,
Contact members such as the heat equalizing roller TR4 and the oil-coated web TR2 are brought into contact with the heat ray fixing roller 17a. The oil-coated web TR2 may be pre-coated with oil,
The heat equalizing roller TR4 may be brought into contact after the temperature distribution of the heat ray fixing roller 17a becomes large, and the cleaning roller TR1 may be brought into contact with the heat ray fixing roller 17a after the dirt on the heat ray fixing roller 17a increases. At this time, the lower fixing roller 47
The heat equalizing roller TR4 provided at a is also brought into contact and separation.

As described above, when the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is raised, the cleaning roller TR1, the heat uniformizing roller TR
4 and the contact members such as the oil-coated web TR2 are retracted (separated) to prevent heat from flowing to the contact members. This effect can be obtained even when the contact member is brought into contact with the heat ray fixing roller 17a in a weakly pressed state (weakly pressed state). After the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is increased, the heat is released from the heat ray fixing roller 17a due to the pressing and contact of the contact member. However, if the contact member is weakly pressed, the heat ray fixing roller 17a becomes warm. Therefore, the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a does not decrease much. Further, as described above, several prints (5-1)
If the pressing is performed after (0 sheets), the effect is further reduced. The oil-coated web TR2 may be temporarily abutted and separated before the temperature is raised, and may be once applied with oil to the heat ray fixing roller 17a, and may be abutted after a predetermined number of prints (5 to 10) has been completed. . Since the web TR2 is warmed by the residual heat, the temperature of the oil-coated web TR2 does not decrease much.

As described above, it is possible to provide a fixing device in which the warming-up time is reduced in the heat ray fixing rotating member using the contact member.

Embodiment 2 In the image forming apparatus using the fixing device proposed above, the rate of temperature rise of the heat ray absorbing layer on the surface of the heat ray fixing rotating member is linearly proportional to the power supplied to the heat ray fixing rotating member. Although it is faster than the above, heat flows from the surface heat ray absorbing layer to the translucent elastic layer using the rubber member inside, and the warm-up time becomes longer. There is a problem that the light-transmitting elastic layer using is damaged (degraded).

An image forming apparatus for preventing the damage of the translucent elastic layer of the rotating member for fixing heat rays and shortening the warm-up time to solve the above problem will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the distribution of power supplied to the fixing device and the control system of the image forming apparatus, and a temperature rise curve of the heat ray fixing rotating member.
FIG. 10 is a control block diagram relating to input power distribution, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a power input changing means for the hot-wire fixing rotary member, and FIG. It is a figure showing other examples.

According to FIGS. 8 to 10, FIG. 8 shows the distribution of applied power to the fixing device and the control system of the image forming apparatus (vertical axis on the left side) and the temperature rise curve of the rotating member for hot-wire fixing. (The right vertical axis), and the maximum power (total power) (kW) of the image forming apparatus described above is usually 1.
Although the power is set to 5 kW, high power is supplied before the heat of the heat ray absorbing layer 171b (or the dual-purpose layer 171B which is a heat ray absorbing layer) on the surface of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is not conducted to the inside. Since the effect of raising the surface temperature rapidly is higher than applying the power uniformly (since the surface temperature can be increased even if the same energy (power) is applied), the heat ray fixing roller using the supplied power is used. 17
In order to increase the thermal efficiency of a, during the period from when the image forming apparatus starts () to when the predetermined temperature rises (),
As shown by the broken line (a) in FIG. 8, the heat ray fixing roller 17a
Is set to a maximum value (maximum electric power of the heat ray fixing roller 17a), for example, the input electric power is increased to about 1.3 kW to perform preferential heating. The input power changing means is operated through the control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9, and for example, the input power is set to a large value of 1.3 kW to turn on the halogen lamp 171 g as the heat ray irradiation means. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus controls a control system and a communication system through a control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The potential adjustment of step 0), the process adjustment such as toner concentration measurement, etc. are not performed, and the input power is used only for the communication system.
As shown in (1), power of control system and communication system (input power)
Is set to a minimum value of, for example, about 0.1 to 0.2 kW.

For example, the heat ray fixing roller 17a heated with the maximum power of 1.3 kW (the highest value of the input power) has a temperature rising curve shown by a curve (c) in FIG. The temperature rises rapidly and reaches a predetermined temperature Ta of, for example, about 140 to 160 ° C.

For an appropriate fixing temperature Tc of, for example, about 165 to 200 ° C. stored in the ROM of the storage unit in FIG.
When the heat ray fixing roller 17a is lower than the proper fixing temperature Tc,
When the temperature rises to a predetermined temperature Ta stored in the OM (), the input power to the hot-wire fixing roller 17 a is changed by the input power changing means as shown by the broken line (a) in FIG. 0.8k from the maximum input power of 3kW
The power is changed to W to reduce the power, and the input power changing means is operated through the control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9, and the input power is reduced to 0.8 kW to turn on the halogen lamp 171g as the heat ray irradiation means. . On the other hand, the control system and the communication system are controlled through the control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
Along with the power input to the communication system, in order to perform driving such as a main motor and a developing drive, process adjustment such as potential adjustment of an image forming body (photosensitive drum 10) and toner density measurement, etc.
Power is supplied to the control system to operate the control system, and the power supplied to the control system and the communication system is increased from the minimum value of the supplied power of, for example, about 0.1 to 0.2 kW. For example, as shown in FIG.
This state is maintained until warm-up is completed ().

As shown in FIG. 10, the input power changing means includes a changeover switch SWa and a booster VSa. During a period from the start () of the image forming apparatus described with reference to FIG. 8 to the predetermined temperature rise (), the voltage of the input AC power of 100 V is applied to the booster V.
Sa is boosted from 100 V to 150 V, and as described above, the hot-wire fixing roller 17a is set to the highest value (the hot-wire fixing roller 1).
7a), for example, the input power is set to 1.3 kW to perform preferential heating, and the halogen lamp 171g is turned on. At a predetermined temperature rise (), the changeover switch SWa is automatically switched through the control unit shown in FIG. 9 to turn on the halogen lamp 171 g with the low power of about 0.8 kW described above. Thereby, the deterioration of the translucent elastic layer 171d using the rubber member is prevented. As described above, the predetermined temperature T of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is determined by the input power changing unit.
A ratio (change ratio) of the power input to the heat ray fixing roller 17a before the temperature of the heat ray fixing roller 17a is increased to the predetermined temperature Ta with respect to the power input to the heat ray fixing roller 17a after the temperature is increased to a.
Is preferably about 1.3 to 2.0 times.

As described above, the heat ray fixing roller 17a is maintained at a proper fixing temperature Tc of, for example, 165 to 200.degree. The above state is maintained until the warming-up is completed when the rubber material layer (translucent elastic layer 171d) inside the heat ray fixing roller 17a and the lower fixing roller 47a are sufficiently warmed, and the warming-up is completed. In (), print start is enabled.

As described above, the distribution of the applied power and the temperature control of the hot-wire fixing rotary member are performed. As shown in FIG. 11, the applied power changing means includes the inside of the hot-wire fixing roller 17a. For example, a high power halogen lamp HLa that is lit at about 0.8 kW and a low power halogen lamp HLb that is lit at about 0.5 kW may be provided. When the predetermined temperature rises from the start of the described image forming apparatus ()
During this period, the halogen lamp HLa and the halogen lamp HLb are both turned on to increase the temperature rising speed, and from when the predetermined temperature rises () to when the warm-up is completed ().
Until the heating of the heat ray fixing roller 17a (the heat ray fixing roller 17
a) may be controlled.

As described above, the control of the input power to the heat ray fixing rotating member by the input power changing means deteriorates the light transmitting elastic layer of the heat ray fixing rotating member (damages the light transmitting elastic layer). ), It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the warm-up time is reduced.

[0067]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a fixing device in which a warming-up time is reduced in a rotating member for fixing heat rays using a contact member.

According to claims 6 to 8, the translucent elastic layer of the rotatable member for heat ray fixing is degraded by controlling the power supplied to the rotatable member for fixing heat ray by the supplied power changing means. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the warm-up time is reduced without damaging the layer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a color image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus using a fixing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a structure of a fixing device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional configuration diagram of a heat ray fixing rotating member of the fixing device of FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram showing a concentration distribution of a heat ray absorbing layer of a heat ray fixing rotating member of the fixing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the outer diameter and thickness of a light-transmitting substrate of a rotating member for heat ray fixing of the fixing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fixing device in which a warm-up time is reduced.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a separating means of a contact member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the distribution of power supplied to the fixing device and the control system of the image forming apparatus, and a temperature rise curve of the rotating member for heat ray fixing.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram relating to input power distribution.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a means for changing power supplied to a heat ray fixing rotating member.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a means for changing power supplied to a heat ray fixing rotating member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 photoconductor drum 11 scorotron charger 12 exposure optical system 13 developing device 17 fixing device 17a heat ray fixing roller 47a fixing roller 171a light transmitting substrate 171b heat ray absorbing layer 171B dual-purpose layer 171c release layer 171d light transmitting elastic layer 171g, 471c , HLa, HLb Halogen lamp P Recording paper SWa Changeover switch Ta Predetermined temperature Tc Fixing proper temperature TR1 Cleaning roller TR2 Oil-coated web TR4 Heat equalizing roller VSa Booster

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 398 H05B 3/00 335 H05B 3/00 335 G03G 21/00 372 (72) Inventor Tetsu Haneda 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 2H027 DA12 DA46 EA16 ED25 EE04 EE07 EF04 EF06 ZA01 2H033 AA03 AA25 AA30 BA26 BA30 BA43 BA44 BA49 BA56 BB03 BB04 BB05 CA04 3K058 AA02 AA45 AA81 AA86 BA18 CA61 CA91 CE16 DA02 GA06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material to the transfer material by applying heat and pressure, comprising: a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate having a light-transmitting property with respect to heat rays; A roll-shaped heat ray fixing member provided with a cylindrical light-transmitting elastic layer having a light-transmitting property with respect to the heat ray outside the base, and a heat ray absorbing layer absorbing the heat ray outside the light-transmitting elastic layer. Forming a rotatable member, and a movable contact member abutting on the heat ray fixing rotatable member, and the abutting of the abutting member, after the end of the warm-up time, after starting the printing operation. A fixing device characterized by being performed. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a heat equalizing roller for equalizing a surface temperature of the heat ray fixing rotating member. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is an oil application roller for applying oil or toner to the heat ray fixing rotation member. 4. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a cleaning roller for cleaning oil on the heat ray fixing rotating member. 5. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein, after printing a predetermined number of prints, the contact member is brought into contact with the rotating member for heat ray fixing. 6. An image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material to the transfer material by applying heat and pressure, comprising: a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate having a light-transmitting property with respect to heat rays; A cylindrical light-transmitting elastic layer having a light-transmitting property with respect to the heat ray outside the light-transmitting substrate; and a heat-ray absorbing layer absorbing the heat ray outside the light-transmitting elastic layer. Forming a heat-fixing roll member for fixing in the form of a roll, and providing means for changing power supplied to the hot-wire fixing rotary member; and, when warming up the fixing device, controlling the operation of the control system of the image forming apparatus. Before, the input power to the heating ray fixing rotating member by the input power changing means is increased, and after the heating of the heating ray fixing rotating member to a predetermined temperature, the heating power fixing rotating member is changed by the input power changing means. Power input to the An image forming apparatus comprising together, to make the operation of the control system for the small and. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the power input to the heat ray fixing rotary member after the temperature of the heat ray fixing rotary member is raised to the predetermined temperature by the input power changing unit is changed to the predetermined value of the heat ray fixing rotary member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a change ratio of electric power supplied to the heat ray fixing rotating member before the temperature is raised to 1.3 to 2.0 times. 8. The operation of the control system includes an operation of a main motor of the image forming apparatus.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 7.