Fixing device and image forming apparatus

In an image forming apparatus having a fixing rotor (22) that is driven to rotate and fixes an image by heating a recording paper while conveying the paper pressurized against the rotor, an excitation coil (24) that is provided extending in an axial direction along the fixing rotor (22) and causes induction heating by applying an alternating magnetic field to the fixing rotor (22), and a demagnetizing coil (25) that is provided superposed on an end of the excitation coil (24) and is able to partially diminish a magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil (24), by making the shape of the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil (25) and overlaps the excitation coil (24) has an asymmetrical shape have no axis of symmetry in the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed, a trouble due to overheating and defective fixing due to a shortage in the generation of heat can be reduced even when a plurality of kinds of recording papers of slightly different sizes are used.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention is based on Patent Application No. 2006-286086 filed in Japan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.

In an electrophotographic system image forming apparatus, a fixing device that fixes a toner by heating a recording paper while pressurizing the paper against a fixing roller (fixing rotor) is employed. In a conventional fixing device, the fixing roller is heated throughout the entire length thereof. When fixing a recording paper of a narrow width, the recording paper is not brought in contact with ends of the fixing roller, and heat is not consumed. Therefore, it has sometimes been the case where the temperature of the ends of the fixing roller has abnormally risen when recording papers of a narrow width have been continuously fixed.

Particularly, in a fixing unit that causes induction heating by applying an alternating magnetic field to the fixing roller by means of an excitation coil, it is general to shorten the warmup time by reducing the thermal capacity of the fixing roller for a reduction in energy consumption. The recording papers to be fixed include large-size and small-size ones. In this kind of fixing unit, a temperature rise of a portion where the recording paper does not consume heat becomes significant when small-size recording papers of an identical width are continuously fixed, and this has sometimes caused a problem that a rise in the iron core temperature of the excitation coil is caused, resulting in making the heat generation in a portion through which the recording paper passes become unstable and incurring the deterioration of the excitation coil.

Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 9, U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,619 describes an invention that includes a demagnetizing coil32placed overlapping an excitation coil31through which the recording paper does not pass when a recording paper of a narrow width is fixed by a fixing roller. In the fixing device, a current that cancels a change in the magnetic flux caused by the excitation coil31flows through the demagnetizing coil32when the loop of the demagnetizing coil32is closed, by which the alternating magnetic field at an end where the recording paper does not pass is diminished, allowing the heat value of the fixing roller to be partially reduced.

FIG. 10shows the distribution of the heat value in the axial direction of the fixing roller ofFIG. 9. It can be understood that, although a virtually uniform generation of heat is observed since there is no demagnetizing effect in a state in which the demagnetizing coil is open as shown in the figure, the generation of heat in the portion where the demagnetizing coil is located largely drops when the demagnetizing coil is closed.

However, it is difficult to make the region through which the small-size recording paper passes coincide with an end of the demagnetizing coil in the conventional induction heating type fixing device. For example, if a distance between the end of the region through which the small-size recording paper passes and the end of the demagnetizing coil is excessively apart, there is a defect of the occurrence of the deterioration of the fixing roller due to the excessive temperature rise thereof as a consequence of a high generation of heat of the fixing roller and a temperature rise in the region through which the small-size recording paper passes. Conversely, if the distance between the end of the region through which the small-size recording paper passes and the end of the demagnetizing coil is excessively overlapped, there is a defect of the occurrence of defective fixing, irregular luster and offset as a consequence of a low generation of heat of the fixing roller and a fall in the temperature of the region through which the small-size recording paper passes. That is, a trouble due to overheating or the defective fixing due to a shortage in the generation of heat is to occur unless the transitional portion of the heat value coincides with the end of the recording paper.

If the fixing device is designed so that the end of the demagnetizing coil coincides with the region through which the end of the paper passes in order to avoid the inconvenience described above, a shift in the position of the paper to be conveyed tends to occur every apparatus, and the trouble described above has still occurred. Furthermore, it is possible to provide demagnetizing coils dividedly in multiplicity for the recording papers of which the paper widths largely differ as in the case of, for example, A4-size paper and A3-size paper. However, the demagnetizing coil cannot be divided for the recording papers of which the paper widths slightly differ as in the case of, for example, A4-size paper and B5-size paper or letter-size paper, meaning that proper management has not been achieved in actuality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of reducing the trouble due to overheating and the defective fixing due to a shortage in the generation of heat even when a plurality of kinds of recording papers of slightly different sizes are used.

In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a fixing device having a fixing rotor that is driven to rotate and fixes a toner image by heating a recording paper while conveying the paper pressurized against the rotor, an excitation coil that is provided extending in the axial direction along the fixing rotor and causes induction heating by applying an alternating magnetic field to the fixing rotor, and a demagnetizing coil that is provided superposed on an end of the excitation coil and is able to partially diminish the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, in which the shape of the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil and overlaps the excitation coil does not have an axis of symmetry in the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed.

According to the construction, the shape of the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil and is superposed on the end side of the excitation coil and the shape of the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil and overlaps the center side of the excitation coil are made asymmetrical, by which the number of magnetic fluxes that the demagnetizing coil diminish can be made different between the end side and the center side of the excitation coil. If the number of magnetic fluxes diminished by the demagnetizing coil on the center side is decreased, the heat value of the fixing rotor can be gently changed depending on the positions. Therefore, the range in the width of applicable recording paper between the width of the recording paper in which the defective fixing is caused by the shortage in the generation of heat due to the effect of the demagnetizing coil and the width of the recording paper in which the demagnetizing coil takes an insufficient effect and part of the fixing rotor abnormally overheats can be widened.

Moreover, if the demagnetizing coil has the number of magnetic fluxes for diminishment monotonously decreasing from the end of the excitation coil toward the center of the excitation coil in the fixing device of the present invention, the heat value of the fixing rotor can be monotonously increased gently from the end of the excitation coil toward the center of the excitation coil, and the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be widened.

Moreover, if the width of the demagnetizing coil monotonously reduced from the end of the excitation coil toward the center of the excitation coil in the fixing device of the present invention, the effect of diminishing the magnetic fluxes can be gradually reduced, and the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be widened.

Moreover, if the demagnetizing coil is made asymmetrical back and forth in the direction of rotation of the fixing rotor in the fixing device of the present invention, it is easy to make a change in the effect of the demagnetizing coil, and the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be widened.

Moreover, if the demagnetizing coil is wound in a wedge-like shape in the fixing device of the present invention, the heat value of the fixing rotor can be monotonously increased linearly from the end of the excitation coil toward the center of the excitation coil, by which the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be widened, and it is easy to estimate the range in the designing stage.

Moreover, if the demagnetizing coil is arranged inclined with respect to the excitation coil in the fixing device of the present invention, the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil and protrudes from the excitation coil takes no effect, and only the portion of the demagnetizing coil overlapping the excitation coil becomes an effective portion that diminishes the magnetic fluxes. Therefore, the heat value of the fixing rotor can be gently changed.

Moreover, if demagnetizing coils are provided at both ends of the fixing rotor in the fixing device of the present invention, the heat value of the fixing rotor can be made appropriate in the image forming apparatus in which the recording paper is made to pass while being aligned centered in the widthwise direction. If the demagnetizing coils at both ends have an identical shape, no cost increase results since a common die can be used. Furthermore, if the demagnetizing coils are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center of the excitation coil, the construction contributes to the downsizing of the apparatus since the retention structures of the demagnetizing coils at both ends are hard to interfere with each other.

Moreover, if the demagnetizing coil is provided rotationally movable or parallel displaceable with respect to the excitation coil in the fixing device of the present invention, the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be further expanded by increasing and decreasing the effective portion of the demagnetizing coil overlapping the excitation coil.

Moreover, another aspect of the fixing device of the present invention is an induction heating type fixing device that fixes a toner image on the recording paper while conveying the recording paper. The fixing device includes a fixing rotor formed of a conductive material, a pressurizing member that is provided in contact with the fixing rotor and temporarily holds the conveyed recording paper between the member and the fixing rotor, an excitation coil that is formed by winding a conductive wire a plurality of turns forming a layer and is provided along the fixing rotor in order to inductively heat the fixing rotor, and a demagnetizing coil that is placed along the excitation coil in the proximity of an end of the fixing rotor and induces a counter electromotive force in a direction in which the magnetic flux thereof is cancelled by the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, the excitation coil having a parallel portion parallel to the axis of the fixing rotor, the demagnetizing coil having an inclined portion obliquely extending with respect to the axis of the fixing rotor, and the inclined portion of the demagnetizing coil being arranged in a relation that the inclined portion is gradually apart from the parallel portion of the excitation coil as getting closer to the center of the fixing roller.

Moreover, in the fixing device of the present aspect, the inclined portion of the demagnetizing coil may be linear.

Moreover, the fixing device of the present aspect may have a structure in which the excitation coil is constructed of two parallel portions parallel to the axis of the fixing rotor, two side portions extending in a direction perpendicular to the parallel portions of the excitation coil, and four bent portions that connect the parallel portions with the side portions, the demagnetizing coil is constructed of one parallel portion parallel to the axis of the fixing rotor, one side portion extending from one end of the parallel portion of the demagnetizing coil in the direction perpendicular to the parallel portion of the demagnetizing coil, an inclined portion extending from the other end of the parallel portion of the demagnetizing coil toward the tip end of the side portion of the demagnetizing coil, and three bent portions that connect the parallel portion, the side portion and the inclined portion together, the parallel portion of the demagnetizing coil is superposed on the parallel portion of the demagnetizing coil, the side portion of the demagnetizing coil is superposed on the side portion of the excitation coil, and the inclined portion of the demagnetizing coil is placed in an upper space located between the two parallel portions of the excitation coil.

Moreover, in the fixing device of the present aspect, the demagnetizing coils may be arranged in the proximities of both ends of the fixing rotor.

Moreover, in the fixing device of the present embodiment, the two demagnetizing coils may be arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center of the fixing rotor.

As described above, according to the present invention, by making the portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil and overlaps the excitation coil have an asymmetric shape that includes no axis of symmetry in the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed, the heat value of the fixing rotor is gently changed in the axial direction, and the range in the width of the applicable recording paper can be widened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows an image forming apparatus1of the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus1has four developing units2that form images with yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners, a transfer belt3, a primary transfer roller4that transfers each of the toner images formed by the developing units2onto the transfer belt3by an electrostatic force, a secondary transfer roller5that transfers the toner image that has been transferred to the transfer belt3onto a recording paper S by an electrostatic force, a fixing unit6that fixes the toner image by heating the recording paper S, and four toner cartridges7that supply yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners to the developing units2.

Each of the developing units2has a rotational drum-shaped photoreceptor8, an electric charger9that electrically charges the photoreceptor8, an exposure unit10that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged photoreceptor8to light, a developing unit11that forms a toner image by making a toner T adhere to the electrostatic latent image, and a cleaner12that scrapes the toner off the surface of the photoreceptor8.

The transfer belt3is wound around a driving roller13driven by a motor (not shown), a driven roller14and a tension roller15that gives a tension and is rotated in the direction of arrow by the driving roller13. Moreover, the image forming apparatus1has a cleaner unit16that removes the toner remaining on the surface of the transfer belt3.

The recording papers S are supplied to a paper feeding section17and fed one by one by a feeding roller18, conveyed to the secondary transfer roller5by a conveyance roller19and discharged through the fixing unit6to a paper discharge section21by a paper discharge roller20.

The fixing device6has a fixing roller (fixing rotor)22that is driven to rotate and made of a conductive material, a pressure roller (pressure contact member)23that is pressurized against the fixing roller22and forms a nip to hold the recording paper S, an excitation coil24that causes induction heating by applying an alternating magnetic field to the fixing roller22, and a demagnetizing coil25that is provided partially overlapping the excitation coil24.

FIG. 2schematically shows the fixing roller22, the excitation coil24and the demagnetizing coil25of the fixing device6. The fixing roller22is formed of a metal pipe whose surface is coated with a resin and driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown).

The excitation coil24is formed of a conductive wire wound a plurality of turns in a virtually rectangular parallelepiped shape forming a layer and is constructed of two parallel portions24aparallel to the axis of the fixing roller22, side portions24bextending in a direction perpendicular to the parallel portions24a, and four bent portions24cthat connect the parallel portions24aand the side portions24btogether. The coil is provided extending along the fixing roller22in the axial direction of the fixing roller22. Moreover, the excitation coil24is connected to a high-frequency power circuit (not shown) and generates an alternating magnetic field by a applying high-frequency current, the alternating magnetic field being applied to the fixing roller22. In the fixing roller22to which the alternating magnetic field is applied, an eddy current internally flows in a direction in which the magnetic flux change is canceled, and heat is generated by the occurrence of Joule loss. That is, the excitation coil24is able to cause induction heating in the fixing roller22.

The demagnetizing coils25are provided overlapping both ends of the excitation coil24and formed into a wedge-like shape of a right-angled triangle of which two sides are virtually superposed on the excitation coil24. In concrete, the demagnetizing coil25has one parallel portion25aparallel to the axis of the fixing roller22, one side portion25bextending in a direction perpendicular to the parallel portion25afrom one end of the parallel portion25a, an inclined portion25cextending from the other end of the parallel portion25atoward the tip end of the side portion25b, and three bent portions25dthat connect the parallel portion25a, the side portion25band the inclined portion25ctogether.

The two demagnetizing coils25provided at both ends of the excitation coil24have an identical shape and are arranged point-symmetrically (rotationally symmetrical at an angle of 180°) with respect to the center of the excitation coil24. In detail, the parallel portion25aof each demagnetizing coil25is superposed on the parallel portion24aof the excitation coil24, the side portion25bof the demagnetizing coil25is superposed on the side portion24bof the excitation coil24, and the inclined portion25cof the demagnetizing coil25is arranged in an upper space located between the two parallel portions24aof the excitation coil24. That is, the inclined portion25cof the demagnetizing coil25is arranged obliquely with respect to the axis of the fixing roller22in a relation that the inclined portion is gradually apart from the parallel portion24aof the excitation coil24(getting closer to the parallel portion24aon the opposite side) as getting closer to the center of the fixing roller22. The demagnetizing coils25can each open and close the loop thereof by means of a switch (not shown).

If the demagnetizing coil25is closed, an induction current flows through the demagnetizing coil25so as to cancel the change in the magnetic flux that penetrates the demagnetizing coil25when the excitation coil24generates an alternating magnetic field. As a result, the demagnetizing coil25reduces the alternating magnetic field applied to both ends of the fixing roller22and suppresses the generation of heat at both ends of the fixing roller22.

FIG. 3shows the distribution of the heat value in the axial direction of the fixing coil22. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents a distance in a direction directed from the center of the fixing roller22toward the end of the fixing roller22in the lengthwise direction, and the vertical axis represents the ratio of the heat value in each position when the heat value in the center is assumed to be one. The figure shows the distribution of the heat value in the case where the demagnetizing coil of the conventional type wound in a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose short side and long side have the same lengths as those of the demagnetizing coil25in addition to the case where the demagnetizing coil25is closed and the case where the demagnetizing coil25is opened to be nullified.

The demagnetizing coil25is wound asymmetrically dependently on the end side and the center side of the excitation coil24unlike the conventional demagnetizing coil. Therefore, the number of magnetic fluxes of the alternating magnetic field diminished by the demagnetizing coil25can be varied dependently on the end side and the center side of the excitation coil24, and the degree of reduction in the heat value can be reduced on the center side. The above is because the inclined portion25cof the demagnetizing coil25is arranged so as to be gradually apart from the parallel portion24aof the excitation coil24located just below it as getting closer to the center of fixing coil25, and therefore, the effect of canceling the magnetic flux of the excitation coil24by the demagnetizing coil25is also gradually reduced as getting closer to the center side.

In particular, the number of magnetic fluxes of the demagnetizing coil25for diminishment becomes decreased as the width in the direction of rotation of the fixing roller22becomes narrower depending on the position in the axial direction. Therefore, if the width is monotonously reduced as in the present embodiment, the number of magnetic fluxes for diminishment is monotonously decreased.

When the demagnetizing coil25is closed as shown inFIG. 3, the heat value of the fixing roller22is gradually reduced toward its end. Since the demagnetizing coil25of the present embodiment is formed in a triangular shape, the effect of diminishing the magnetic fluxes of the excitation coil24is linearly changed, and the heat value of the fixing roller22is reduced linearly and gently toward its end.

With this arrangement, inFIG. 3, assuming that the heat value (ratio) causing an overheating state in the absence of the recording paper is 0.9 and the heat value (ratio) causing defective fixing in the presence of the recording paper is 0.8, then a distance (continuously usable range) between a position where a trouble occurs as a consequence of the overheating state unless heat is consumed by the recording paper S and a position where the toner cannot be fixed due to a shortage in the quantity of heat becomes longer in the present embodiment than in the conventional case when fixing is continuously carried out. That is, the fixing unit6has a wide tolerance range in the width of the recording papers S that can be continuously fixed when the demagnetizing coil25is closed.

The continuous usable range changes depending on the thermal capacity of the recording paper S, the environmental temperature and so on. Therefore, it is noted that the range shown in the figure is a mere illustration. Moreover, if the number of the recording papers S to be fixed is small, there is no obstacle in fixing the recording papers S of a width outside the range.

Moreover, since the demagnetizing coils25of the present embodiment are the coils of an identical shape wound in a right-angled triangle shape that is asymmetrical back and forth in a direction of rotation of the fixing roller22, the coils can be formed by a common die. Moreover, by virtue of the mutually reversed arrangement, the structures for supporting the two demagnetizing coils25do not interfere with each other, and the demagnetizing coils25can easily be fixed without enlarging the fixing structure. Furthermore, by virtue of the mutually reversed arrangement of the two demagnetizing coils25, it becomes possible to arrange the two demagnetizing coils25so that the coils partially overlap in the axial direction of the fixing roller22and adjust the delicate heat value distribution in the axial direction.

With regard to the shape of the demagnetizing coil25, the coil may be wound in a wedge-like shape of an isosceles triangle such that only the side portion25bis superposed on the excitation coil24and the remaining two sides serve as inclined portions25cthat are oblique with respect to the parallel portions24aof the excitation coil24like the demagnetizing coil25of the second embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 4. Also, in the present embodiment, the effect of diminishing the magnetic fluxes that the excitation coil24forms by the demagnetizing coil25linearly changes in the axial direction, and a heat generation characteristic of the fixing roller22virtually equivalent to the one ofFIG. 3can be obtained.

If the inclined portions25cof the demagnetizing coils25are constituted of curves, the gradient of the heat value can freely be set.

Moreover, with regard to the shape of the demagnetizing coil25, the coil may have a shape quite different from a triangle, and it is acceptable to provide a point of inflection for the change in the width so as to provide a local maximum point and a local minimum point of the heat value according to the desired distribution of the heat value of the fixing roller22like the demagnetizing coils25of the third embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 5. In other words, the change in the width of the demagnetizing coil25is not necessarily be monotonously reduced toward the center of the excitation coil24, and the change in the width of the demagnetizing coil25may be reduced in stages by providing partway a portion parallel to the excitation coil24.

Furthermore, it is also possible that the demagnetizing coil25of the present invention is constituted of only free-form curves.

Moreover, as the demagnetizing coil25of the fourth embodiment shown inFIG. 6, according to the present invention, by arranging a rectangular demagnetizing coil25inclinedly with respect to the excitation coil24so that the coil largely overlaps the excitation coil24on the end side and do not largely overlap the excitation coil24on the center side, a portion that belongs to the demagnetizing coil25and overlaps the excitation coil24, i.e., the effective region of the demagnetizing coil25may be gradually reduced from the end toward the center of the demagnetizing coil25.

Also, with this arrangement, the diminishing rate of the magnetic fluxes of the excitation coil24by the demagnetizing coil25can be gently changed, and the heat value of the fixing roller22is gently changed in the axial direction, allowing the recording papers S of a variety of widths to be stably fixed.

Moreover, it is acceptable to make the demagnetizing coil25pivotable around a pivot axis26provided in the proximity of the end of the excitation coil24in the present embodiment, allowing the angle of inclination to the excitation coil22to be adjustable. With this arrangement, the range in the width of the paper that can be continuously fixed can be changed, and this makes it possible to carry out optimal operation for the recording papers S of a wider variety of sizes.

Moreover, according to the present invention, like the fifth embodiment shown inFIG. 7and the sixth embodiment shown inFIG. 8, it is acceptable to change the configuration of the overlapping portions of the demagnetizing coil25and the excitation coil24by making the demagnetizing coil25to be parallel displaceable in the axial direction of the fixing roller22or in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the fixing roller22.

In each of the embodiments, the range in which the heat value of the fixing roller22is linearly reduced moves parallel in the axial direction by the movement of the demagnetizing coil25. As a result, the range in the width of the recording paper S that can be continuously fixed can be selected.

When the conventional demagnetizing coil of a narrow width of transition of the heat value is moved in the axial direction, the demagnetizing coil needs to be finely moved in accordance with the size of the applied recording paper S. However, in the present embodiment, by grouping the sizes of recording papers S into several groups and determining the position of the demagnetizing coil25for each group, recording papers S of all sizes become able to be continuously fixed. Moreover, only positioning the demagnetizing coil25by means of, for example, a simple mechanism that can select between two positions can cope with the recording papers S of a wide variety of paper widths.

As described above, the present invention is characterized in that the tolerance range in the width of the recording paper S that can be continuously fixed is widened by gently changing the effective width of the demagnetizing coil25in the axial direction of the fixing roller22.

Although the demagnetizing coils25are arranged overlapping both ends of the excitation coil24in the illustrated embodiments, it is proper to provide the demagnetizing coil25at only one end of the excitation coil24when the recording papers S have their edges aligned laterally to either the right-hand end or the left-hand end in the direction in which the recording papers S pass.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is noted that various modifications and corrections are apparent to those skilled in this art. It should be appreciated that such modifications and corrections are included within the scope of the appended claims unless they depart from the scope of the present invention.