JP2010286790A - Fixing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Fixing device and image forming apparatus Download PDF

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JP2010286790A
JP2010286790A JP2009142626A JP2009142626A JP2010286790A JP 2010286790 A JP2010286790 A JP 2010286790A JP 2009142626 A JP2009142626 A JP 2009142626A JP 2009142626 A JP2009142626 A JP 2009142626A JP 2010286790 A JP2010286790 A JP 2010286790A
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fixing
fixing device
pressure
image forming
stages
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Masaki Murashima
正樹 村島
Hironori Takahashi
裕徳 高橋
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Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
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Kyocera Mita Corp
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device, switching fixing pressure to two or more levels depending on a record medium, detecting at which level the fixing pressure is with a small number of parts, and reducing assembling man-hour and the cause of failure; and to provide an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The fixing device is capable of switching fixing pressure to two or more levels by an electric driving source, and includes a detecting means for detecting at which level the fixing pressure is among two or more levels. The detecting means includes: a member to be detected, showing all of two or more levels; and one sensor for detecting the member to be detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、普通紙や封筒等記録媒体によってトナーを定着させるための定着圧を切り替えることができる定着装置及びこれを備える画像形成装置に関するものである。   The present invention relates to a fixing device capable of switching a fixing pressure for fixing toner by a recording medium such as plain paper or an envelope, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

一般に、電子写真方式による複写機、プリンタ、ファクシミリ等の画像形成装置においては、画像形成部において像担持体である感光体ドラム上又は中間転写体である中間転写ベルト上に形成されたトナー画像が用紙等の記録媒体に転写され、これに熱と圧力を加えて記録媒体に定着させる定着装置が用いられる。   In general, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, printer, or facsimile, a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum as an image carrier or an intermediate transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member in an image forming unit. A fixing device is used which is transferred to a recording medium such as paper and fixed on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure thereto.

定着装置は、内部にヒーター等の熱源を有し所定の温度に加熱されたヒートローラと、ヒートローラに対向配置されたプレスローラと、テンションローラを備えており、プレスローラとテンションローラには無端状の定着ベルトが巻きかけられている。
このような定着装置では、定着ベルトはプレスローラによってヒートローラへ押圧されるとともに、テンションローラにてテンションがかけられ、自身の張力によってもヒートローラへ圧接する。
ヒートローラと定着ベルトで記録媒体をニップしプレスローラで押圧することにより、加熱と加圧を行い、記録媒体にトナー画像を定着させる。
The fixing device includes a heat roller having a heat source such as a heater inside and heated to a predetermined temperature, a press roller disposed opposite to the heat roller, and a tension roller. The press roller and the tension roller are endless. -Shaped fixing belt is wound around.
In such a fixing device, the fixing belt is pressed against the heat roller by the press roller, is tensioned by the tension roller, and is pressed against the heat roller by its own tension.
A recording medium is nipped by a heat roller and a fixing belt and pressed by a press roller, thereby heating and pressing to fix a toner image on the recording medium.

ここで、定着装置にてトナー画像を定着させる記録媒体は、普通紙だけでなく厚紙や封筒等、様々なものが存在する。
ところが厚紙のように分厚いものは普通紙に比べ熱を伝え難いため、普通紙と同じ定着条件(圧力、温度、時間)では定着し難く、封筒は折曲げ部や貼り合せるための重ね合せ部を有しており厚さが一様でなく、普通紙と同等の定着圧を加えると、しわが発生するといった問題がある。
Here, there are various recording media for fixing the toner image by the fixing device, such as not only plain paper but also cardboard and envelopes.
However, thick paper, such as thick paper, is harder to transfer heat than plain paper, so it is difficult to fix under the same fixing conditions (pressure, temperature, time) as plain paper, and the envelope has a folded part and a laminated part for bonding. However, if the fixing pressure is equal to that of plain paper, wrinkles occur.

これを解決するために、厚紙定着時には定着圧を上げ、封筒定着時には定着圧を下げる
といった定着圧の切り替えが可能な定着装置(例えば、特許文献1,2参照)が提案されている。
In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed a fixing device (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2) capable of switching the fixing pressure such that the fixing pressure is increased during thick paper fixing and the fixing pressure is decreased during envelope fixing.

ここで、これら定着圧を切り替え可能な定着装置では、印字率の高い普通紙への定着時に定着圧が低いと定着性が悪くなり定着不良を起こしたり、封筒定着時に定着圧が高いとしわが発生したりするといった問題があるため、定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知する必要があった。
しかし、定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知するためには、各段階の数のセンサ等の検知手段が必要であり、部品点数が多く組み立て工数や故障発生原因が増えるといった問題があった。
Here, with these fixing devices that can switch the fixing pressure, if the fixing pressure is low when fixing on plain paper with a high printing rate, the fixing property will deteriorate and fixing will be poor, or wrinkles will occur if the fixing pressure is high during envelope fixing. Therefore, it is necessary to detect which stage the fixing pressure is in.
However, in order to detect which stage the fixing pressure is in, detection means such as the number of sensors in each stage is required, and there is a problem that the number of parts is large and the number of assembly steps and causes of failure increase. .

特開2004−279702号公報JP 2004-279702 A 特開2006−337439号公報JP 2006-337439 A

本発明が解決しようとする課題は、上記の問題を鑑み、記録媒体によって定着圧を2以上の段階に切り替え可能な定着装置であって、少ない部品点数で定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知でき、組み立て工数や故障発生原因を低減できる定着装置及び画像形成装置を提供することである。   In view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a fixing device in which the fixing pressure can be switched between two or more stages depending on the recording medium, and which stage the fixing pressure is in with a small number of parts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus that can detect and reduce assembly man-hours and causes of failure.

請求項1に係る発明は、定着圧を電動の駆動源により2以上の段階に切り替え可能な定着装置であって、前記定着圧が前記2以上の段階の何れの段階であるのかを検知する検知手段を備え、該検知手段は、前記2以上の段階を全て示す被検知部材と、該被検知部材を検知する1つのセンサからなることを特徴とする定着装置に関する。   The invention according to claim 1 is a fixing device in which the fixing pressure can be switched between two or more stages by an electric drive source, and detecting which of the two or more stages is detected. And a detection unit comprising a detected member that indicates all of the two or more stages and a single sensor that detects the detected member.

請求項2に係る発明は、装置の起動時に、前記定着圧が前記2以上の段階の何れの段階であるかの検出が行われることを特徴とする請求項1に記載の定着装置に関する。   According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fixing device according to the first aspect, wherein at the time of starting the apparatus, detection is made as to which of the two or more stages the fixing pressure is.

請求項3に係る発明は、前記被検知部材は、前記駆動源によって前記定着圧が切り替えられるとともに動作し、前記検出は、前記検知部材を行程端まで動作させて、前記駆動源に過電流が流れることを確認することにより行われることを特徴とする請求項2に記載の定着装置に関する。   According to a third aspect of the present invention, the detected member is operated while the fixing pressure is switched by the driving source, and the detection is performed by operating the detecting member to a stroke end so that an overcurrent is generated in the driving source. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device is performed by confirming the flow.

請求項4に係る発明は、請求項1乃至3の何れかに記載の定着装置を備える画像形成装置に関する。   A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including the fixing device according to any one of the first to third aspects.

請求項1に係る発明によれば、定着圧を電動の駆動源により2以上の段階に切り替え可能な定着装置であって、定着圧が2以上の段階の何れの段階であるのかを検知する検知手段を備え、該検知手段は、2以上の段階を全て示す被検知部材と、該被検知部材を検知する1つのセンサからなることにより、少ない部品点数で定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知できる。そのため普通紙定着時に定着不良を起こしたり、封筒定着時にしわを発生させたりすることがない。また、組み立て工数や故障発生原因を低減できる。   According to the first aspect of the invention, the fixing device is capable of switching the fixing pressure to two or more stages by an electric drive source, and detects whether the fixing pressure is in two or more stages. The detection means comprises a detected member that shows all two or more stages and a single sensor that detects the detected member, thereby determining which stage the fixing pressure is in with a small number of parts. Can be detected. Therefore, no fixing failure occurs when fixing plain paper, and no wrinkles occur when fixing envelopes. In addition, assembly man-hours and causes of failure can be reduced.

請求項2に係る発明によれば、装置の起動時に、定着圧が2以上の段階の何れの段階であるかの検出が行われることにより、電源オフ時に定着圧が何れの段階であっても、起動時に定着圧を確認できるので、普通紙定着時に定着不良を起こしたり、封筒定着時にしわを発生させたりすることがない。   According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the start of the apparatus, the fixing pressure is detected in any of two or more stages, so that the fixing pressure is at any stage when the power is turned off. Since the fixing pressure can be confirmed at the time of start-up, fixing failure does not occur when fixing plain paper, and wrinkles do not occur when fixing envelopes.

請求項3に係る発明によれば、被検知部材は、駆動源によって定着圧が切り替えられるとともに動作し、検出は、検知部材を行程端まで動作させて、駆動源に過電流が流れることを確認することにより行われることにより、センサ等の部品を特に追加することなく、起動時に定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検出できる。   According to the invention of claim 3, the detected member is operated while the fixing pressure is switched by the driving source, and the detection is performed by operating the detecting member to the end of the stroke to confirm that an overcurrent flows to the driving source. By doing so, it is possible to detect which stage the fixing pressure is at the time of startup without particularly adding parts such as a sensor.

請求項4に係る発明によれば、請求項1乃至3の何れかに記載の定着装置を備えることにより、記録媒体によって定着圧を2以上の段階に切り替え可能な画像形成装置であって、少ない部品点数で定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知でき、組み立て工数や故障発生原因を低減できる画像形成装置とすることができる。   According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there are few image forming apparatuses that are provided with the fixing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, and that can switch the fixing pressure between two or more stages by a recording medium. It is possible to detect which stage the fixing pressure is in based on the number of parts, and the image forming apparatus can reduce the number of assembly steps and the cause of failure.

一般的な定着装置の概略断面図である。1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a general fixing device. 本発明に係る定着装置の斜視図である。1 is a perspective view of a fixing device according to the present invention. 本発明に係る定着装置の定着圧切り替えの動作を説明するための部分斜視図である。FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view for explaining an operation of switching the fixing pressure of the fixing device according to the present invention. 本発明に係る定着装置の検知手段の動作を説明するための側面視概略断面図である。FIG. 5 is a schematic side sectional view for explaining the operation of the detection means of the fixing device according to the present invention. 本発明に係る定着装置の起動時における定着圧検出動作を説明するための側面視概略断面図である。FIG. 5 is a schematic side sectional view for explaining the fixing pressure detection operation at the time of starting the fixing device according to the present invention. 本発明に係る画像形成装置の概略断面図である。1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

以下、本発明に係る定着装置及び画像形成装置の好適な実施形態について、図面を参照しつつ説明する。
図1は一般的な定着装置の概略断面図であり、本発明はこの定着装置(1)に付加構成を備えたものである。図2に示す斜視図は本発明に係る定着装置の一実施形態である。
Preferred embodiments of a fixing device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a general fixing device, and the present invention includes an additional structure in the fixing device (1). The perspective view shown in FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a fixing device according to the present invention.

本発明に係る定着装置(1)は図1に示すように、熱源として内部にヒーター(111)を有するヒートローラ(11)と、ヒートローラ(11)に圧接されるプレスローラ(12)と、プレスローラ(12)に巻き掛けられヒートローラ(11)に押圧される定着ベルト(13)と、定着ベルト(13)のテンションを調整するテンションローラ(14)及び送出ローラ対(15)を備えている。   As shown in FIG. 1, a fixing device (1) according to the present invention includes a heat roller (11) having a heater (111) inside as a heat source, a press roller (12) pressed against the heat roller (11), A fixing belt (13) wound around a press roller (12) and pressed against a heat roller (11), a tension roller (14) for adjusting the tension of the fixing belt (13), and a delivery roller pair (15) are provided. Yes.

定着装置(1)は、トナー画像が転写された紙や封筒等の記録媒体をヒートローラ(11)と定着ベルト(13)で形成されるニップ部(N)にてニップし、ヒータ(111)によって昇温されたヒートローラ(11)で加熱し、プレスローラ(12)で定着ベルト(13)を押圧して加圧することで用紙にトナーを定着させる。トナーが定着された記録媒体を、送出ローラ対(15)によって次工程へと送出する。   The fixing device (1) nips a recording medium such as paper or an envelope onto which a toner image is transferred at a nip (N) formed by a heat roller (11) and a fixing belt (13), and a heater (111). The toner is fixed on the sheet by heating with the heat roller (11) heated by the pressure and pressing the pressurizing belt (13) with the press roller (12) and applying pressure. The recording medium on which the toner has been fixed is sent to the next process by the sending roller pair (15).

定着装置(1)は、図2に示すように調整バネ(141)を備え、その付勢力をテンションローラ(14)に加えることで定着ベルト(13)のテンションを調整している。
また、図2に示すように加圧バネ(121)を備える。加圧バネ(121)は、その付勢力によってプレスローラ(12)に押圧力を与える。
なお、本実施形態では加圧バネ(121)及び調整バネ(141)は何れも圧縮バネとしているが、これに限定されるものではない。
The fixing device (1) includes an adjustment spring (141) as shown in FIG. 2, and adjusts the tension of the fixing belt (13) by applying the biasing force to the tension roller (14).
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, a pressure spring (121) is provided. The pressure spring (121) applies a pressing force to the press roller (12) by its urging force.
In this embodiment, the pressure spring (121) and the adjustment spring (141) are both compression springs, but are not limited thereto.

定着装置(1)は図2に示すように、加圧バネ(121)及び調整バネ(141)の付勢力を切り替えてプレスローラ(12)の押圧力及び定着ベルト(13)のテンションを切り替えることができる切替手段(16)を備えている。
切替手段(16)は、モータ等の駆動源(図示略)に接続され回転する駆動軸(161)、駆動軸(161)によって回転させられるカム(162)、カム(162)によって上下動させられるブラケット(163)、ブラケット(163)にリンクするブラケット(164)等で構成される。
これらの動作について、図3を用いて説明する。
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device (1) switches the urging force of the pressure spring (121) and the adjustment spring (141) to switch the pressing force of the press roller (12) and the tension of the fixing belt (13). The switching means (16) which can do is provided.
The switching means (16) is connected to a drive source (not shown) such as a motor and rotated, a cam (162) rotated by the drive shaft (161), and moved up and down by the cam (162). A bracket (163), a bracket (164) linked to the bracket (163), and the like are included.
These operations will be described with reference to FIG.

図3は、切替手段(16)の動作を説明するための定着装置(1)の部分斜視図であり、プレスローラ(12)及び定着ベルト(13)を省略した図である。
図3(a)は記録媒体が普通紙である時の状態を示し、図3(b)は記録媒体が封筒である時の状態を示す。
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the fixing device (1) for explaining the operation of the switching means (16), in which the press roller (12) and the fixing belt (13) are omitted.
3A shows a state when the recording medium is plain paper, and FIG. 3B shows a state when the recording medium is an envelope.

記録媒体が普通紙である場合、図3(a)に示すように、カム(162)はブラケット(163)に接触しない位置にあり、ブラケット(163)は加圧バネ(121)によって下方に押されている。ブラケット(163)にリンクしてブラケット(164)も下方に引っ張られ、これに支持されるプレスローラ(12)(図3では省略)はヒートローラ(11)へ押圧される。   When the recording medium is plain paper, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cam (162) is in a position not in contact with the bracket (163), and the bracket (163) is pushed downward by the pressure spring (121). Has been. The bracket (164) is also pulled downward by linking to the bracket (163), and the press roller (12) (not shown in FIG. 3) supported by the bracket (164) is pressed against the heat roller (11).

この時、ブラケット(163)によって調整バネ(141)も下方に押され、調整バネ(141)は圧縮されるので、その付勢力により定着ベルト(13)(図3では省略)のテンションは大きくなる。   At this time, the adjustment spring (141) is also pushed downward by the bracket (163), and the adjustment spring (141) is compressed. Therefore, the tension of the fixing belt (13) (not shown in FIG. 3) is increased by the biasing force. .

一方、記録媒体が封筒である場合、図3(b)に示すように、駆動軸(161)によってカム(162)が回転され、カム(162)によってブラケット(163)が上方へ押し上げられる。ブラケット(164)もこれにリンクして上方へ押し上げられるので、これに支持されるプレスローラ(12)のヒートローラ(11)への押圧力は緩和する。   On the other hand, when the recording medium is an envelope, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cam (162) is rotated by the drive shaft (161), and the bracket (163) is pushed upward by the cam (162). Since the bracket (164) is also linked and pushed upward, the pressing force of the press roller (12) supported on the heat roller (11) is relaxed.

この時、調整バネ(141)の圧縮も緩和され、付勢力も小さくなり定着ベルト(13)のテンションは小さくなる。   At this time, the compression of the adjustment spring (141) is relaxed, the urging force is reduced, and the tension of the fixing belt (13) is reduced.

上記したように、記録媒体が普通紙である場合と封筒である場合とで、切替手段(16)によってプレスローラ(12)の押圧力と定着ベルト(13)のテンションを切り替えて定着圧を切り替えるので、印字率の高い普通紙の定着時に定着不良を起こすことなく、封筒定着時に封筒の重ね合せ部にしわを発生させない。
なお、本実施形態では切替手段(16)はカム機構を用いたものとしているが、これに限定されるものではない。
また、本実施形態では、切替手段(16)による切り替えは普通紙定着時と封筒定着時の2段階としているが、これに限定されるものではなく、普通紙定着時より定着圧を高くする厚紙定着時等の段階を含め3段階以上に切り替え可能であっても良い。
As described above, the fixing pressure is switched by switching the pressing force of the press roller (12) and the tension of the fixing belt (13) by the switching means (16) depending on whether the recording medium is plain paper or an envelope. Therefore, no fixing failure occurs when fixing plain paper having a high printing rate, and wrinkles are not generated in the overlapping portion of the envelope when fixing the envelope.
In the present embodiment, the switching means (16) uses a cam mechanism, but is not limited to this.
In this embodiment, the switching by the switching means (16) is performed in two stages, that is, when fixing plain paper and when fixing envelopes. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be possible to switch to three or more stages including stages such as fixing.

本発明に係る定着装置(1)は、図2に示すように切替手段(16)による定着圧の切り替えを検知する検知手段(17)を備える。
検知手段(17)は、1つのセンサ(171)と、これに検知される被検知部を2個有する被検知部材(172)を備えている。
なお、本実施形態では上記したように切り替えは2段階なので被検知部は2個であるが、3段階の切り替えの場合は3個、n段階の切り替えの場合にはn個の被検知部を有する。
本実施形態において、センサ(171)は、遮光時オンのフォトセンサを採用しているが、これに限定されるものではなく、通光時オンのフォトセンサでも良いし、ファイバセンサ等であっても良い。
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device (1) according to the present invention includes a detecting means (17) for detecting switching of the fixing pressure by the switching means (16).
The detection means (17) includes a sensor (171) and a detected member (172) having two detected portions detected by the sensor (171).
In the present embodiment, since the switching is in two stages as described above, the number of detected parts is two. However, in the case of switching in three stages, three parts are detected, and in the case of switching in n stages, n detected parts are selected. Have.
In the present embodiment, the sensor (171) employs a photosensor that is on when light is blocked, but is not limited thereto, and may be a photosensor that is on when light is passed, or a fiber sensor or the like. Also good.

被検知部材(172)は、駆動軸(161)に取着されており、切替手段(16)のカム(162)の回転に伴って回転する。   The detected member (172) is attached to the drive shaft (161), and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the cam (162) of the switching means (16).

図4は検知手段(17)の動作を説明するための図で、図4(a)は記録媒体が普通紙である時の状態を示し、図4(b)は記録媒体が封筒である時の状態を示す。
また、図5は定着装置(1)の起動時における定着圧検出動作を説明するための図である。
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the detection means (17). FIG. 4 (a) shows a state when the recording medium is plain paper, and FIG. 4 (b) shows a state when the recording medium is an envelope. Indicates the state.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the fixing pressure detection operation when the fixing device (1) is started.

図4(a)に示すように、記録媒体が普通紙である時には被検知部(172a)がセンサ(171)を遮光しセンサ(171)がオン状態になっている。
ここから記録媒体を封筒に切り替える時には、モータ等の駆動源(図示略)によって駆動軸(161)が回転させられ、それに伴ってカム(162)が回転し定着圧が切り替わる。
この時、被検知部材(172)は図示時計回りに回転し、一旦センサ(171)がオフとなった後、図4(b)に示すように被検知部(172b)がセンサ(171)を遮光してセンサ(171)が再びオンとなる。
センサ(171)がオフ‐オンすることによって、駆動源(図示略)は停止する。
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the recording medium is plain paper, the detected portion (172a) shields the sensor (171) and the sensor (171) is turned on.
When the recording medium is switched from this to the envelope, the drive shaft (161) is rotated by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor, and the cam (162) is rotated accordingly, and the fixing pressure is switched.
At this time, the detected member (172) rotates clockwise as shown in the drawing, and once the sensor (171) is turned off, the detected portion (172b) moves the sensor (171) as shown in FIG. 4 (b). The light is shielded and the sensor (171) is turned on again.
When the sensor (171) is turned off and on, the drive source (not shown) is stopped.

上記のようにセンサ(171)がオフ‐オンすることで定着圧の切り替えを確認するので、1つのセンサで定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知でき、部品点数を減らすことができる。そのため、組み立て工数や故障発生原因を低減できる。   As described above, the switching of the fixing pressure is confirmed when the sensor (171) is turned on and off, so it is possible to detect which stage the fixing pressure is in by one sensor, and to reduce the number of parts. Therefore, the assembly man-hour and the cause of failure can be reduced.

センサ(171)が1つであるので、定着装置(1)の電源を切った後、再び起動した時には、センサ(171)がオン又はオフの状態にあるだけで、どの段階の定着圧か分からない。
そこで、図5に示すように、装置起動時には被検知部材(172)を行程端まで動作させ、駆動源に過電流が流れることを確認することにより、起動時の定着圧がどの段階であるかを検出することが好ましい。
本実施形態では、被検知部材(172)の行程端をフレーム(F)に被検知部材が接触する位置とし、被検知部材(172)をさらにフレーム(F)に押し付けようとすることで駆動源に過電流を発生させているが、特にこれに限定されるものではない。
Since there is only one sensor (171), when the fixing device (1) is turned off and then restarted, the sensor (171) is only in the on or off state, and it can be determined from which fixing pressure level. Absent.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the apparatus is activated, the detected member (172) is moved to the end of the stroke, and by confirming that an overcurrent flows to the drive source, what stage is the fixing pressure at the time of activation? Is preferably detected.
In the present embodiment, the stroke end of the detected member (172) is set to a position where the detected member comes into contact with the frame (F), and the detected member (172) is further pressed against the frame (F). However, the present invention is not limited to this.

本発明に係る定着装置(1)は、複写機、プリンタ、ファクシミリ等の画像形成装置に適用することができる。
本実施形態では、画像形成装置(100)として図6に示すようにプリンタを例に挙げている。
The fixing device (1) according to the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.
In the present embodiment, a printer is taken as an example of the image forming apparatus (100) as shown in FIG.

画像形成装置(100)は、定着装置(1)を備えることにより、記録媒体によって定着圧を2以上の段階に切り替え可能であって、少ない部品点数で定着圧が何れの段階にあるのかを検知でき、組み立て工数や故障発生原因を低減できる画像形成装置とすることができる。   Since the image forming apparatus (100) includes the fixing device (1), the fixing pressure can be switched to two or more stages depending on the recording medium, and the fixing pressure is detected with a small number of parts. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can reduce the number of assembly steps and the cause of failure.

本発明は、加熱及び加圧によってトナーを定着させる定着装置、及び当該定着装置を備えた複写機、プリンタ、ファクシミリ等の電子写真方式の画像形成装置やその他の印刷機等に対して好適に利用されるものである。   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitably used for a fixing device that fixes toner by heating and pressing, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile equipped with the fixing device, and other printing machines. It is what is done.

1 定着装置
16 切替手段
17 検知手段
171 センサ
172 被検知部材
100 画像形成装置
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing device 16 Switching means 17 Detection means 171 Sensor 172 Detected member 100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (4)

定着圧を電動の駆動源により2以上の段階に切り替え可能な定着装置であって、
前記定着圧が前記2以上の段階の何れの段階であるのかを検知する検知手段を備え、
該検知手段は、前記2以上の段階を全て示す被検知部材と、該被検知部材を検知する1つのセンサからなることを特徴とする定着装置。
A fixing device in which the fixing pressure can be switched between two or more stages by an electric drive source,
A detecting means for detecting which of the two or more stages the fixing pressure is;
The fixing device includes a detected member that indicates all of the two or more stages and a single sensor that detects the detected member.
装置の起動時に、前記定着圧が前記2以上の段階の何れの段階であるかの検出が行われることを特徴とする請求項1に記載の定着装置。   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein at the time of starting the device, detection is made as to which of the two or more stages the fixing pressure is. 前記被検知部材は、前記駆動源によって前記定着圧が切り替えられるとともに動作し、
前記検出は、前記検知部材を行程端まで動作させて、前記駆動源に過電流が流れることを確認することにより行われることを特徴とする請求項2に記載の定着装置。
The detected member operates while the fixing pressure is switched by the driving source,
The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the detection is performed by operating the detection member to a stroke end and confirming that an overcurrent flows to the drive source.
請求項1乃至3の何れかに記載の定着装置を備える画像形成装置。   An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.
JP2009142626A 2009-06-15 2009-06-15 Fixing device and image forming apparatus Pending JP2010286790A (en)

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