Fixing device and image forming device having same

A fixing device including fixing belt, a heat source to heat the fixing belt, a rotating member in engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, a nip forming member to pressurize the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating member, and sliding members on both ends of the fixing belt and rotated together with the fixing belt. A rotation center of each of the sliding members is on an upstream side compared to a rotation center of the rotating member along a feeding direction of a printing medium, and a shortest distance between a tangential line of an outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members and the rotation center of the rotating member is equal to or greater than a shortest distance between the fixing nip and the rotation center of the rotating member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2014/006176, filed Jul. 9, 2014, which claims the foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10- 2013- 0132498, filed Nov. 1, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fixing device configured to fix an image onto a printing medium and an image forming apparatus having the fixing device.

BACKGROUND ART

An image forming apparatus forms an image on a printing medium and includes a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multi-function device combining functions of the aforementioned devices, and the like.

An image forming apparatus using electrophotography emits light onto a photosensitive body charged with a predetermined electric potential and then forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive body, to thereby form a visible image by supplying toner onto the electrostatic latent image. The visible image formed on the photosensitive body may be directly transferred to a printing medium or transferred to the printing medium via an intermediate transfer body, and the visible image transferred to the printing medium may be fixed onto the printing medium while being passed through a fixing device.

In general, a belt-type fixing device is equipped with a heat source, a heating member made of a belt, and a pressing member contacting tightly to the heating member to form a fixing nip. When the printing medium to which a toner image is transferred is fed between the heating member and the pressing member, the toner image is fixed onto the printing medium by heat radiating from the heating member and pressure applying to the fixing nip.

A shape of the belt is deformed in the vicinity of the fixing nip by the pressure applied by the pressing member and thus stress due to such a shape deformation of the belt is concentrated on both ends of the belt outside the fixing nip. Also, while the belt is rotating, stress is concentrated on the both ends of the belt due to shake or distortion of a belt rotation shaft. Furthermore, while the belt is rotating, the both ends of the belt may easily undergo abrasion compared to other portions of the belt due to friction between the belt and a structure and the like, which rotatably support the both ends of the belt.

As such, due to stress concentration on the both ends of the belt and friction between the belt and the supporting structure and the like, the both ends of the belt may be more easily damaged than other portions thereof.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

One aspect of the present invention is to disclose a fixing device having an improved durability and an image forming apparatus having the fixing device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fixing device having an improved gloss of an image output on a printing medium and an image forming apparatus having the fixing device.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to disclose an improved fixing device configured to stably separate a printing medium therefrom while the printing medium is passed therethrough, and an image forming apparatus having the improved fixing device.

Technical Solution

A fixing device according to the spirit of the present invention, which is configured to apply heat and pressure to a printing medium, includes a fixing belt arranged to be rotatable, a heat source configured to heat the fixing belt, a rotating member arranged to be in engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, a nip forming member configured to pressurize the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating member, and sliding members arranged on both ends of the fixing belt and rotated together with the fixing belt in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt, wherein a rotation center of each of the sliding members is arranged on an upstream side compared to a rotation center of the rotating member along a feeding direction of the printing medium being fed into the fixing nip, and a shortest distance between a tangential line, which is in parallel with the fixing nip, of an outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members and the rotation center of the rotating member is equal to or greater than a shortest distance between the fixing nip and the rotation center of the rotating member, in the vicinity of the fixing nip.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt, and a support member arranged on an upper portion of the guide member to support the guide member.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt, at least one support member arranged on an upper portion of the guide member to support the guide member, and a friction reducing plate arranged between the fixing belt and the guide member to reduce friction between the fixing belt and the guide member.

At least a portion of the support member may be accommodated on an inner side of the guide member.

A thermal insulation member arranged to cover at least a portion of the nip forming member, thereby preventing heat generated from the heat source from directly radiating to the nip forming member may be further included.

The heat source may be a halogen lamp arranged at an inner side of the fixing belt.

The heat source may be a ceramic heater coupled to a lower surface of the nip forming member.

The heat source may be a planar heating element provided on the fixing belt.

A flange member arranged on the both ends of the fixing belt to support the sliding members in an axial direction of each of the sliding members may be further included.

The flange member may include a rotation supporter configured to rotatably support the sliding members in contact with an inner circumferential surface of each of the sliding members, and a release preventer provided on both sides of the rotation supporter to prevent the sliding members from being released in the axial direction.

A ratio between a circumference of an outer surface of each of the sliding members and a circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt may be equal to or greater than 0.15 and equal to or less than 0.98.

An image forming apparatus according to the spirit of the present invention includes a printing device configured to form an image on a printing medium, and a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the printing medium, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing belt arranged to deliver heat in contact with a surface of the printing medium, a heat source configured to generate heat for heating the fixing belt, a rotating roller arranged to press-contact to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating roller, a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt, at least one support member arranged on an upper portion of the guide member to support the guide member, and sliding members arranged on both ends of the fixing belt and rotated together with the fixing belt in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt, wherein a ratio between a circumference of an outer surface of each of the sliding members and a circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt is equal to or greater than 0.15 and equal to or less than 0.98.

The fixing belt may be divided into a first portion in contact with the sliding members and a second portion in non-contact with the sliding members while the fixing belt is rotating, the fixing nip may be formed between the first portion and the second portion, and a radius of curvature of the first portion may be greater than a radius of curvature of at least a section of the second portion.

A curvature of a section, which is connected to the fixing nip, of the fixing belt may be greater than a curvature of at least a section of the second portion.

A shortest distance between a rotation center of each of the sliding members and an outer circumferential surface of the rotating roller may be equal to or greater than a radius of each of the sliding members.

All regions on an outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members may be arranged at positions equal to or higher than a position of the fixing nip.

A rotation center of each of the sliding members may be arranged at an upstream side compared to a rotation center of the rotating member along a feeding direction of the printing medium being fed into the fixing nip.

A friction reducing plate arranged between the fixing belt and the guide member to reduce friction between the fixing belt and the guide member may be further included.

An image forming apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a printing device configured to form an image on a printing medium, and a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the printing medium, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing belt arranged to deliver heat in contact with a surface of the printing medium, a rotating roller arranged to press-contact to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating roller, and a nip forming member configured to pressurize an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt, wherein a protrusion configured to pressurize the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt toward the rotating roller is provided on a lower surface of the nip forming member.

The protrusion may be positioned inside the fixing nip.

The protrusion may be provided to be adjacent to an outlet side of the fixing nip.

A step portion formed in an upwardly concave shape may be provided on the lower surface of the nip forming member.

The step portion may be formed outside the fixing nip.

The step portion may be positioned to be adjacent to an outlet of the fixing nip.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt, a support member arranged on an upper portion of the guide member to support the guide member, and a friction reducing plate arranged between the fixing belt and the guide member to reduce friction between the fixing belt and the guide member.

The protrusion may be formed on a lower surface of the friction reducing plate.

A step portion formed in an upwardly concave shape may be provided on a lower surface of the friction reducing plate.

The protrusion may be positioned at an outlet side of the fixing nip, and the step portion may be positioned outside an outlet of the fixing nip.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt in contact with the fixing belt, and a support member arranged on an upper portion of the guide member to support the guide member.

The protrusion may be formed on a lower surface of the guide member.

The protrusion may be formed at an outlet side of the fixing nip.

A step portion formed in an upwardly concave shape may be provided on the lower surface of the guide member.

The step portion may be positioned outside an outlet of the fixing nip.

A fixing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to apply heat and pressure to a printing medium, includes a fixing belt arranged to be rotatable, a rotating member arranged to be in engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, and a nip forming member configured to pressurize the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating member, wherein a protrusion is formed on a lower surface of the nip forming member so as to maximize pressure applied to the printing medium at an outlet side of the fixing nip.

A step portion formed in an upwardly concave shape may be provided on the lower surface of the nip forming member positioned outside an outlet of the fixing nip.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt, and a friction reducing plate arranged between the fixing belt and the guide member to reduce friction between the fixing belt and the guide member.

The protrusion and the step portion may be provided on a lower surface of the friction reducing plate.

The nip forming member may include a guide member configured to guide the fixing belt in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt, and the protrusion and the step portion may be provided on a lower surface of the guide member.

A fixing device in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to apply heat and pressure to a printing medium, includes a fixing belt arranged to be rotatable, a heat source configured to heat the fixing belt, a rotating member arranged to be in engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, a nip forming member configured to pressurize the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating member, and a baffle arranged at a downstream side of the fixing nip, wherein a vertical distance between one end of the baffle adjacent to the fixing belt and the fixing nip is equal to or greater than 3 mm and equal to or less than 10 mm.

The one end of the baffle may be arranged closer to the fixing belt than the rotating member on the basis of an imaginary line extending from the fixing nip.

The other end of the baffle may be arranged closer to the rotating member than the fixing belt on the basis of the imaginary line extending from the fixing nip.

The baffle may be provided in a shape extending from the one end of the baffle toward the rotating member.

A shortest distance between the one end of the baffle and the fixing belt may be equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and equal to or less than 3 mm.

Sliding members arranged on both ends of the fixing belt and configured to be rotated together with the fixing belt in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt may be further included.

An image forming apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a printing device configured to form an image on a printing medium, and a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the printing medium, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing belt arranged to deliver heat in contact with a surface of the printing medium, a heat source configured to generate heat for heating the fixing belt, a rotating roller arranged to press-contact to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt, thereby forming a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating roller, a nip forming member configured to pressurize the fixing belt, thereby forming the fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating roller, and a separation member arranged adjacent to the fixing belt and configured to guide a leading edge of the printing medium so as to separate from the fixing belt the leading edge of the printing medium being passed through the fixing nip, wherein one end of the separation member is arranged closer to the fixing belt than the rotating member on the basis of an imaginary line extending from the fixing nip, and the other end of the separation member is arranged closer to the rotating member than the fixing belt on the basis of the imaginary line extending from the fixing nip.

The separation member may be provided to have a shape bending in a reverse direction to a rotation direction of the fixing belt.

A pair of guide ribs configured to guide the printing medium being passed through the separation device may be further included, wherein the other end of the separation device may be arranged between the pair of guide ribs.

Fastening units configured to fasten the separation device to a main body frame may be provided on both ends of the separation device.

An image forming apparatus in accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a printing device configured to form an image on a printing medium, a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the printing medium and having a fixing belt and a rotating roller configured to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the rotating roller, and a separation device arranged at a downstream side of the fixing nip, wherein the separation device is provided to have a shape bending from one end thereof arranged adjacent to the fixing device in a reverse direction to a rotation direction of the fixing belt.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the present invention, stress concentration on the both ends of the fixing belt may be prevented so as to extend the useful life of the fixing belt.

Also, gloss and gloss uniformity of an image to be output on the printing medium may be improved by positioning a peak pressure point at a rear half of a nip where a toner transferred to the printing medium has been most molten.

Further, a wrap-jam phenomenon in which the printing medium is wound around the fixing belt or a pressing roller instead of being separated therefrom while the printing medium is passed through a fixing nip may be prevented.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, an image forming apparatus1includes a main body10, a printing medium feeding device20, a printing device30, a fixing device100, and a printing medium discharge device70.

The main body10forms an external appearance of the image forming apparatus1, and supports a variety of components to be installed therein. The main body10includes a cover (not shown) provided to open and close a portion thereof, and a main body frame (not shown) for internally supporting or fastening the variety of components.

The printing medium feeding device20feeds the printing device30with a printing medium S. The printing medium feeding device20is equipped with a tray22for storing the printing medium S therein, and a pick-up roller24for picking up the printing media stored in the tray22one by one. The printing medium picked up by the pick-up roller24is fed toward the printing device30through a transport roller26.

The printing device30may include an optical scanning device40, a developing device50, and a transfer device60.

The optical scanning device40includes an optical system (not shown) to emit light corresponding to image information of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K colors to the developing device50in response to a print signal.

The developing device50forms a toner image according to the image information input from an external device including a computer and the like. The image forming apparatus1according to the present embodiment is a color image forming apparatus, and thus the developing device50is comprised of four developing devices50Y,50M,50C, and50K, each of which has toner of a color, for example, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, or black K color, different from each other.

Each of the developing devices50Y,50M,50C, and50K may be equipped with a photosensitive body52on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface thereof by the optical scanning device40, a charging roller54for charging the photosensitive body52, a developing roller56for supplying the toner image to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body52, and a supply roller58for supplying the toner to the developing roller56.

The transfer device60transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive body52to the printing medium. The transfer device60may include a transfer belt62for circularly running in contact with each of the photosensitive bodies52, a transfer belt driving roller64for driving the transfer belt62, a tension roller66for maintaining tension of the transfer belt62, and four transfer rollers68for transferring the toner image developed on the photosensitive body52to the printing medium.

The printing medium is attached to the transfer belt62to be transported at the same speed as a running speed of the transfer belt62. At this point, a voltage having polarity opposite to that of the toner attached to each photosensitive body52is applied to each transfer roller68, such that the toner image on each photosensitive body52is transferred onto the printing medium.

The fixing device100fixes the toner image that is transferred by the transfer device60onto the printing medium. Detailed description of the fixing device100will be described later.

Meanwhile, the printing medium discharge device70discharges the printing medium outside the main body10. The printing medium discharge device70includes a discharge roller72, and a pinch roller74disposed opposite to the discharge roller72.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective diagram of the fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional diagram of the fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a width direction of the printing medium S, a width direction of a rotating member110, and a width direction of a fixing belt120are defined to mean the same direction X.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing device100includes the rotating member110, the fixing belt120, a heat source130, a nip forming member140, a thermal insulation member150, sliding members160aand160b, and flange members170aand170b.

The printing medium S to which the toner image has been transferred is passed between the rotating member110and the fixing belt120, and then, at this point, the toner image is fixed onto the printing medium by heat and pressure.

The rotating member110is arranged to be in engagement with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt120to form a fixing nip N between the fixing belt120and the rotating member110. The rotating member110may be comprised of a fixing roller112receiving power from a driving source (not shown) to be rotated.

The fixing roller112has a shaft114made of a metallic material including aluminum, steel, and the like, and an elastic layer116to be elastically deformable to form the fixing nip N between the fixing belt120and the elastic layer116. The elastic layer116is generally formed of a silicone rubber. It is preferable that the elastic layer116have a hardness equal to or greater than 50 and equal to or less than 80 based on the ASKER-C hardness so as to apply a high fixing pressure to the printing medium S in the fixing nip N, and also have a thickness equal to or greater than 3 millimeter (mm) and equal to or less than 6 mm. A release layer (not shown) may be provided on a surface of the elastic layer116to prevent the printing medium from sticking to the fixing roller112.

The fixing belt120rotates in engagement with the fixing roller112to form the fixing nip N together with the fixing roller112, and is heated by the heat source130to deliver heat to the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N. The fixing belt120may be comprised of a single layer made of metal, a heat-resistant polymer, and the like, or may be configured by adding an elastic layer and a protective layer to a base layer formed of metal or a heat-resistant polymer. An inner surface of the fixing belt120may be tinted with a black color or coated so as to facilitate heat absorption.

The heat source130is arranged to directly radiant-heat at least a portion of an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt120. In order to improve a fixing performance, at least two or more heat sources130may be arranged. A halogen lamp may be used as the heat source130.

The nip forming member140pressurizes the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt120to form the fixing nip N between the fixing belt120and the rotating member110. The nip forming member140may be formed of a material having excellent strength including stainless steel, carbon steel, and the like.

The nip forming member140includes a guide member142for guiding the fixing belt120in contact with the inner surface thereof, and a support member144arranged on an upper portion of the guide member142to pressurize and support the guide member142.

Since a bending deformation occurs significantly if the support member144has a low rigidity, the fixing nip N may be not evenly pressurized. Therefore, in order to reduce the bending deformation, the support member144includes a first support member144ahaving an arcuate cross-section and a second support member144bhaving a reverse arcuate cross-section, and the first support member144aand the second support member144bare coupled to each other so as to allow an inside of the first support member144ato accommodate at least a portion of the second support member144b. The first support member144aand the second support member144bmay be formed of a structure having a high cross-sectional area moment of inertia such as an I beam shape, an H beam shape, and the like, besides the arcuate or reverse arcuate cross-section shape.

The guide member142is in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt120to form the fixing nip N, and guides the fixing belt120so as to enable the fixing belt120to run smoothly in the vicinity of the fixing nip N.

The guide member142is provided in a reverse arcuate cross-section shape to accommodate the support member144therein. The thermal insulation member150, which will be described later, is coupled to both lateral sides of the guide member142.

The thermal insulation member150prevents heat generated from the heat source130from directly radiating to the nip forming member140. For this purpose, the thermal insulation member150is formed of an arcuate shape to cover the nip forming member140, and both ends of the thermal insulation member150are respectively coupled to the both lateral sides of the guide member142.

A reflective layer for reflecting heat from the heat source130may be provided on a surface of the thermal insulation member150facing the fixing belt120. The reflective layer may be formed by coating the thermal insulation member150with a reflective material including silver and the like. By forming the reflective layer on the thermal insulation member150as described above, heat radiating to the thermal insulation member150may be reflected toward the fixing belt120to promote heating thereof.

The sliding members160aand160bare respectively arranged on inner surfaces of both ends of the fixing belt120toward an outer side of the fixing nip N to support rotation of the fixing belt120.

The sliding members160aand160bhave a ring shape and are respectively in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt120to rotate together therewith. Therefore, as the sliding members160aand160brotate together with the fixing belt120, an abrasion phenomenon of the fixing belt120, which is made of a softer material than that of the sliding members160aand160b, due to friction is prevented.

A rotation center C1of each of the sliding members160aand160bis arranged at an upstream side compared to a rotation center C2of the rotating member110along a feeding direction P of the printing medium being fed into the fixing nip N. As shown inFIG. 3, an offset occurs between a perpendicular line L1passing through the rotation center C1of each of the sliding members160aand160band a perpendicular line L2passing through the rotation center C2of the rotating member110.

All regions on outer circumferential surfaces of the sliding members160aand160bare arranged at positions equal to or higher than a position of the fixing nip N. As shown inFIG. 3, in the vicinity of the fixing nip N, a shortest distance d1between a tangent line L3, which is in parallel with the fixing nip N, of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band the rotation center C2of the rotating member110is equal to or greater than a shortest distance d2between the fixing nip N and the rotation center C2of the rotating member110. Also, a shortest distance d3between the rotation center C1of each of the sliding members160aand160band an outer circumferential surface of the rotating member110is equal to or greater than a radius r of each of the sliding members160aand160b.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bare diagrams for describing a position relationship between the sliding members and the fixing nip.

As shown inFIG. 4A, when the sliding members160aand160bare arranged so as to position portions of the outer circumferential surfaces thereof at regions lower than the fixing nip N, a bending deformation occurs at the both ends of the fixing belt120in a boundary region H1of the fixing nip N to concentrate stress on the both ends of the fixing belt120, and if the fixing belt120consistently rotates and runs under such a condition, fatigue due to the stress concentration may be accumulated to cause an easy destruction of the both ends of the fixing belt120.

As shown inFIG. 4B, when all regions on the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160bare arranged at positions equal to or higher than a position of the fixing nip N, a bending deformation at the both ends of the fixing belt120is small in the boundary of the fixing nip N such that stress concentration is alleviated, or the bending deformation at the both ends of the fixing belt120does not occur to prevent stress from concentrating.

Also, in order to prevent the fixing belt120from being easily destroyed by the fatigue due to the stress concentration, a ratio between a circumference of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band a circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt may preferably be equal to or greater than 0.15 and equal to or less than 0.98.FIGS. 5A and 5Bare diagrams for describing a relationship between the circumference of an outer surface of each of the sliding members and the circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt.

FIG. 5Aillustrates a shape of the fixing belt120when a ratio between the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band the circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt120is less than 0.15. As shown inFIG. 5A, if the ratio between the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band the circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt120is less than 0.15, a curvature of the fixing belt120at a portion H2in contact with the sliding members160aand160bis increased such that stress is concentrated on portions of the fixing belt120in contact with the sliding members160aand160b. If the fixing belt120consistently rotates and runs under such a condition, fatigue due to the stress concentration may be accumulated to cause an easy destruction of the fixing belt120.

FIG. 5Billustrates a shape of the fixing belt120when a ratio between the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band the circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt120is greater than 0.98. As shown inFIG. 5B, if the ratio between the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of each of the sliding members160aand160band the circumference of the inner surface of the fixing belt120is greater than 0.98, curvatures of the fixing belt120at both boundary regions H3of the fixing nip N are relatively increased such that stress is concentrated on portions of the fixing belt120corresponding to the both boundary regions of the fixing nip N. If the fixing belt120consistently rotates and runs under such a condition, fatigue due to the stress concentration may be accumulated to cause an easy destruction of the fixing belt120.

The flange members170aand170bfor rotatably supporting and preventing the sliding members160aand160bfrom being released in an axial direction X are respectively arranged at the both ends of the fixing belt120. The flange members170aand170bare supported by frames10aand10binside the main body10.

The flange members170aand170binclude rotation supporters172having a cylindrical shape for rotatably supporting the sliding members160aand160bin contact with inner circumferential surfaces thereof, and release preventers174aand174bprovided on both sides of each of the rotation supporters172to prevent the sliding members160aand160bfrom being released in the axial direction X.

The sliding members160aand160bare rotatably supported by the flange members170aand170band the fixing belt120rotates and runs at all times in contact with the sliding members160aand160b, so that a phenomenon of shake or distortion of the fixing belt120is prevented while the fixing belt120is rotating and running.

As shown inFIG. 3, while rotating and running, the fixing belt120is divided into a first portion122in contact with the sliding members160aand160b, and a second portion124in non-contact with the sliding members160aand160b. The first portion122is disposed at an upstream side compared to the second portion124along the feeding direction P of the printing medium being fed into the fixing nip N, the fixing nip N is formed between the first portion122and the second portion124, and a radius of curvature R1of the first portion122is greater than a radius of curvature R2of at least a section of the second portion124.

The fixing nip N extends from the first portion122substantially in a tangential direction thereof without unevenness. The unevenness does not occur at a portion of the fixing belt120where the first portion122and the fixing nip N are connected to each other, such that stress is not concentrated on this portion.

The printing medium S should be naturally separated from the fixing belt120or the rotating member110while being passed through and then escaped from the fixing nip N, so that a separating force equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude should be applied between the fixing belt120and the toner layer on the printing medium S. The separating force between the fixing belt120and the toner layer is related to a curvature of the fixing belt120corresponding to a region where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N. If the curvature of the fixing belt120corresponding to the region where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N is increased, the separating force between the fixing belt120and the toner layer is increased, whereas, if the curvature of the fixing belt120corresponding to the region where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N is decreased, the separating force between the fixing belt120and the toner layer is decreased. Therefore, by increasing the curvature of the fixing belt120corresponding to the region where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N, the printing medium S may be naturally separated from the fixing belt120or the rotating member110.

In order to allow the printing medium S to be escaped from the fixing nip N at a boundary between the fixing nip N and the second portion124and to be naturally separated from the fixing belt120or the rotating member110, a portion of the second portion124connected to the fixing nip N may have a curvature1/R3greater than a curvature1/R2of the other portion of the second portion124.

Hereinafter, other embodiments of the fixing device will be described. The same configurations as the fixing device according to the one embodiment of the present invention described above will be given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional diagram of a fixing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 6, the nip forming member140further includes a friction reducing plate146.

The friction reducing plate146is arranged between the fixing belt120and the guide member142to reduce friction between the fixing belt120and the guide member142while the fixing belt120is rotating and running.

The friction reducing plate146is formed in a reverse arcuate shape to cover the guide member142, and both ends of the friction reducing plate146are coupled to the both lateral sides of the guide member142.

FIG. 7Ais a diagram illustrating utilization of a ceramic heater as the heat source in one embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 7Bis a diagram illustrating utilization of a planar heating element as the heat source in one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 7A, a ceramic heater130aarranged near the fixing nip N to directly heat the fixing belt120being passed through the fixing nip N may be used as the heat source. The ceramic heater130ais coupled to a lower surface of the guide member142.

As shown inFIG. 7B, a planar heating element130bmay be used as the heat source. The planar heating element130bis a kind of an electrical resistor that generates heat when an electric current is supplied. The planar heating element130bis extended along the circumference of the fixing belt120, and is provided to form a layer inside the fixing belt120.

Although not shown in the drawings, an induction heating heater as well as the halogen heater, the ceramic heater, and the planar heating element described above may be used as the heat source.

FIG. 8is a cross-sectional diagram of a fixing device according to still another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 9is a diagram illustrating a part of the fixing device shown inFIG. 8.

With reference toFIGS. 8 and 9, the fixing device100according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes a protrusion147provided in a rear half of the fixing nip N. The protrusion147may be provided on a lower surface of the nip forming member140.

The protrusion147may be formed by downwardly protruding a portion of a lower surface of the friction reducing plate146. In the case that the friction reducing plate146is not provided, the protrusion147may be provided on the lower surface of the guide member142that guides the fixing belt120in contact with the inner surface thereof. Hereinafter, the embodiment with the protrusion147provided on the lower surface of the friction reducing plate146will be described.

If a portion locating at a side where the printing medium S is fed into is referred to as a front half F1of the fixing nip N, and a portion locating at a side where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N is referred to as a rear half F2of the fixing nip N based on a center point F of the fixing nip N, the protrusion147may be formed on the rear half F2of the fixing nip N.

For example, the protrusion147may be formed at a position locating at a distance that is approximately 80% of a total length of the fixing nip N from an inlet side thereof. The protrusion147may be formed to be adjacent to a tailing end of the rear half F2of the fixing nip N so as to pressurize the printing medium S just before the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N.

The printing medium S being passed through between the lower surface of the friction reducing plate146and the rotating member110may be pressurized by the protrusion147just before being escaped from the fixing nip N. The toner of a high temperature, which is sufficiently melted while passing through the fixing nip N, may be pressurized by the protrusion147to be fixed onto the printing medium S.

Before being escaped from the fixing nip N, the printing medium S may be subject to a maximum pressure at a lowest point of the protrusion147. In this way, the toner transferred onto the printing medium S may be subject to the maximum pressure under a most melted state to be fixed onto the printing medium S.

Although the embodiment of which the protrusion147has been formed as one on the lower surface of the friction reducing plate146is shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the protrusion147may be provided as two or more. In the case that the friction reducing plate146is not provided, the protrusion147may be provided on a lower surface of a member, such as the guide member142and the like, for guiding formation of the fixing nip N in contact with the inner surface of the fixing belt120.

In the related art, when being passed through the fixing device100in which the protrusion147is not formed, the printing medium S is subject to a maximum pressure at the center point F of the fixing nip N. When a peak pressure point exists at the center point F of the fixing nip N, the maximum pressure is applied under a state that the toner is not sufficiently softened such that a surface of an image, which is to be formed by the toner being fixed onto the printing medium S, may be not sleek to cause degradation of gloss or gloss uniformity of the image to be formed onto the printing medium S.

In the present invention, the protrusion147is formed on the rear half F2of the fixing nip N such that the maximum pressure may be applied by the protrusion147in a state in which the toner is sufficiently melted. The printing medium S is pressurized in the state in which the toner is sufficiently melted such that a surface of an image output onto the printing medium S may be sleekly formed to improve gloss or gloss uniformity of the output image in comparison with the related art.

FIG. 10Ais a diagram illustrating temperature variation of the toner in the fixing device of the present invention, andFIG. 10Bis a diagram illustrating variation in physical properties of the toner in the fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 10Ais the diagram illustrating the temperature variation of the toner being passed through the fixing nip N, andFIG. 10Bis the diagram illustrating the variation in physical properties of the toner in the fixing nip N. An x-axis represents a length of a portion of an external diameter E of the rotating member110, and a y-axis represents temperature T of the toner. On the x-axis, N1means an inlet of the fixing nip N, and N2means an outlet thereof. The printing medium S is fed into N1of the fixing nip N and then is escaped through N2.

Temperature of the toner is gradually increased between N1and N2. Heat is delivered by the heat source to the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N, and then the temperature of the toner in the form of powder, which has been transferred onto the printing medium S, is gradually increased by the delivered heat as the printing medium S is being transported from N1to N2. The toner is continuously supplied with the heat while being passed through the fixing nip N, so that the toner may have a highest temperature just before being escaped from the fixing nip N during a section thereof.

A complex modulus I1of the toner may be gradually reduced from N1to N2. The complex modulus means a magnitude of elastic energy accumulated in an object or a material, and thus it is a coefficient which is gradually reduced as changing from a solid state to a liquid state. If the toner in a state of powder is supplied with heat while being transported from N1to N2, a state change of the toner occurs from a solid state having a constant shape to a liquid gel state having a non-constant shape such that a complex modulus of the toner is reduced.

Therefore, the temperature of the toner is increased as being transported from the inlet N1of the fixing nip N to the outlet N2thereof and the complex modulus of the toner is reduced such that the toner becomes a state similar to the liquid gel state having a non-constant shape.

FIG. 10Cis a graph showing pressure distribution applied to the printing paper by the fixing device of the present invention.

InFIG. 10C, a graph of pressure applied to the printing medium S in the fixing nip N when the printing medium S is being passed through the fixing device100is shown. An x-axis represents the length of the portion of the external diameter E of the rotating member110, and a y-axis represents a pressure12applied to the printing medium S. On the x-axis, N1represents the inlet of the fixing nip N and N2represents the outlet thereof. The printing medium S is fed into N1of the fixing nip N and then is escaped through N2.

G1is a graph in connection with a conventional fixing device which is not equipped with the protrusion147. G2is a graph in connection with the fixing device100of the present invention, which is equipped with the protrusion147at the rear half of the fixing nip N.

In the conventional fixing device, a printing medium being passed through a fixing nip is subject to a maximum pressure at a center point of the fixing nip. However, in the fixing device100according to the present invention, the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N may be subject to a greater pressure at the rear half of the fixing nip N than the center point thereof.

If a peak point of pressure applied to a printing medium in the conventional fixing device is referred to as A1, and a peak point of pressure applied to the printing medium S in the fixing device100according to the present invention is referred to as A2, A2may be positioned adjacent to N2on the rear half of the fixing nip N in comparison with A1. For example, in the fixing device100according to the present invention, the peak point A2of pressure applied to the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N may be positioned at a point where a lowest point of the protrusion147exists.

In this way, the maximum pressure is applied to the printing medium S by the protrusion147provided on the rear half of the fixing nip N when the toner transferred onto the printing medium S is supplied with heat while being passed through the fixing nip N to become a liquid gel state of a high temperature, such that the toner may be fixed onto the printing medium S. In such a case, a surface of the toner image fixed onto the printing medium S may be sleekly formed to improve gloss and gloss uniformity in comparison with the related art.

FIGS. 11A and 11Bare diagrams for describing gloss of an image output onto the printing paper.

FIG. 11Ashows gloss of an output image with respect to each printing medium resulting from the conventional fixing device equipped without a protrusion, whereasFIG. 11Bshows gloss Gm of an output image with respect to each printing medium S resulting from the fixing device100according to the present invention when other conditions are the same except for the fixing device100.

For example, numerals such as 1, 2, 3, and etc. on an x-axis represent a first printing medium, a second printing medium, a third printing medium, and etc., respectively. Lines shown inFIGS. 11A and 11Bare lines connecting the gloss of the output images with respect to each printing medium.

As can be seen from the drawings, the greater the gloss, the better the gloss of the output image by the toner. The gloss of the printing medium S resulting from the fixing device100according to the present invention may be higher than that of the printing medium resulting from the conventional fixing device.

For example, as shown inFIG. 11A, an average of the gloss of the output images of the printing media resulting from the conventional fixing device may be approximately 11.6. As shown inFIG. 11B, an average of the gloss of the output images of the printing media S resulting from the fixing device100equipped with the protrusion147of the present invention may be approximately 14.7. Therefore, when the fixing device100equipped with the protrusion147of the present invention is adopted, the gloss of the output image of the printing medium S may be improved in comparison with that of the output image resulting from the conventional fixing device.

As such, the protrusion147is formed on the rear half of the fixing nip N to apply the maximum pressure to the printing medium S in a state in which the toner has been melted sufficiently, such that the gloss of the output image of the printing medium S may be increased to enhance quality of the output image.

FIGS. 12A and 12Bare diagrams for describing gloss uniformity of an image output on the printing paper.

FIG. 12Ashows gloss uniformity of an output image with respect to each printing medium resulting from the conventional fixing device, whereasFIG. 12Bshows gloss uniformity of an output image with respect to each printing medium S resulting from the fixing device100according to the present invention when other conditions are the same except for the fixing device100.

For example, numerals such as 1, 2, 3, and etc. on an x-axis represent a first printing medium, a second printing medium, a third printing medium, and etc., respectively. Lines shown inFIGS. 12A and 12Bare lines connecting the gloss uniformity of the output images with respect to each printing medium.

The smaller the gloss uniformity, the sleeker the surface of the output image resulting in forming the gloss evenly. The gloss uniformity of the output image of the printing medium S resulting from the fixing device100equipped with the protrusion147according to the present invention may be better than that of the output image of the printing medium resulting from the conventional fixing device.

For example, as shown inFIG. 12A, an average of the gloss uniformity of the output images resulting from the conventional fixing device may be approximately 4.3. As shown inFIG. 12B, an average of the gloss uniformity of the output images resulting from the fixing device100equipped with the protrusion147of the present invention may be approximately 2.6. Therefore, when the fixing device100equipped with the protrusion147of the present invention is adopted, the gloss uniformity of the output image may be improved in comparison with that of the output image resulting from the conventional fixing device.

As such, the protrusion147is formed on the rear half of the fixing nip N to apply the maximum pressure to the printing medium S in a state in which the toner has been melted sufficiently, such that the gloss uniformity of the output image of the printing medium S may be decreased to enhance quality of the output image.

FIG. 13is a cross-sectional diagram of a fixing device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 14is a diagram illustrating a part of the fixing device shown inFIG. 13.

With reference toFIGS. 13 and 14, the protrusion147and a step portion149may be provided on the lower surface of the nip forming member140of the fixing device100according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The protrusion147is provided on the rear half of the fixing nip N to pressurize the printing medium S. The step portion149may be provided outside the fixing nip N.

The description of the protrusion147disclosed inFIGS. 8 and 9may be similarly applicable to the protrusion147. The protrusion147may be provided on the lower surface of the guide member142or the friction reducing plate146. The maximum pressure is applied to the printing medium S by the protrusion147provided on the rear half of the fixing nip N, such that a high temperature toner being sufficiently melted may be fixed onto the printing medium S. In this way, the gloss and gloss uniformity of the output image may be improved.

The step portion149may be formed on the lower surface of the nip forming member140, which is positioned outside the rear half of the fixing nip N. The lower surface of the friction reducing plate146may be formed to be stepped upwardly, or may be provided in an upwardly concave shape. In the case that the friction reducing plate146is not provided separately, an upwardly stepped shape or an upwardly concave shape may be formed on the guide member142.

Pressure applied by the fixing belt120to the printing medium S may be abruptly reduced at the step portion149. The fixing belt120may be formed to have a downward curve by the protrusion147, and then, may be naturally bended by an outer lateral surface of the nip forming member140after passing through the protrusion147.

With a structure such as an envelope of which two sheets are superposed in a vertical direction and rear halves thereof are connected to each other by means of an adhesive, the printing medium S is subject to a high pressure by the protrusion147. While the printing medium S is transported along with the fixing belt120having a predetermined curvature, an offset due to a movement difference between an upper surface and a lower surface of the printing medium S occurs by pressure applied from the protrusion147. When the offset between the upper surface and the lower surface of the printing medium S occurs, creases may occur on the printing medium.

In order to prevent creases due to an offset from occurring on the printing medium, a difference in movement distance between the upper surface and the lower surface of the printing medium S may be overcome at the step portion149where pressure applied to the printing medium S is low after the printing medium S has been passed through the protrusion147.

In this way, when a printing medium such as an envelope made of a two-layer sheet and having one ends adhered to each other is used, an offset due to a difference in movement distance between an upper surface of the two-layer sheet and a lower surface thereof may be compensated by a high pressure by the protrusion147to allow the printing medium to be transported smoothly.

FIG. 15is a perspective diagram of a fixing device according to still yet another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 16is a cross-sectional diagram of the fixing device shown inFIG. 15.FIG. 17is a graph showing a magnitude of a separating force between the fixing belt and the toner layer according to a vertical distance between the fixing nip N and the fixing belt. InFIG. 17, a horizontal axis represents a vertical distance dk between the fixing nip N and the fixing belt, and a vertical axis represents a magnitude of a separating force Ts between the fixing belt and the toner layer.

As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, the fixing device100includes a baffle180arranged on a downstream side of the fixing nip N. The baffle180is a separating member for guiding a leading edge of the printing medium S so as to separate from the fixing belt120, the leading edge of the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N.

The baffle180includes a main body182provided in a shape bending in a reverse direction to a rotation direction of the fixing belt120, and fastening members184aand184bspaced apart from each other to be provided on both ends of the main body182in a width direction X of the rotating member110. The fastening members184aand184bare coupled to the main body frame (not shown) to fasten the baffle180thereto. One end182aof the main body182is arranged relatively closer to the fixing belt120than the other end182bof the main body182.

The one end182aof the main body182is arranged closer to the fixing belt120than the rotating member110on the basis of an imaginary line Ln extending from the fixing nip N, and the other end182bof the main body182is arranged closer to the rotating member110than the fixing belt120on the basis of the imaginary line Ln extending from the fixing nip N.

In a general belt-type fixing device, there may be a concern about occurrence of a wrap-jam phenomenon in which a printing medium being passed through a fixing nip is rotated together with a fixing belt in a state of attachment thereto instead of separation therefrom to be wound around the fixing belt due to an adhesive property of a toner being melted by heat from a heat source.

As described above, in this embodiment of the present invention, the one end182aof the main body182of the baffle180is arranged closer to the fixing belt120than the rotating member110and the other end182bof the main body182of the baffle180is arranged closer to the rotating member110than the fixing belt120on the basis of the imaginary line Ln extending from the fixing nip N, and the main body182of the baffle180is provided in the shape bending from the one end182ato the other end182bin a reverse direction to a rotation direction of the fixing belt120, such that the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N is stably separated from the fixing belt120by the baffle180to prevent the wrap-jam phenomenon.

While being passed through the fixing nip N to be escaped therefrom, the printing medium S should be naturally separated from the fixing belt120or the rotating member110, and to this end, a separating force equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude should be applied between the fixing belt120and the toner layer T on the printing medium S. The separating force Ts between the fixing belt120and the toner layer T is relatively high in the vicinity of a position where the printing medium S is escaped from the fixing nip N, and in particular, as shown inFIG. 17, the separating force Ts between the toner layer T and a portion120S of the fixing belt120positioned in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm in a vertical direction from the fixing nip N is relatively highest compared to the other portions of the fixing belt120. Therefore, by arranging the one end182aof the baffle180at a position adjacent to the portion120S of the fixing belt120positioned in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm in the vertical direction from the fixing nip N, the printing medium S being passed through the fixing nip N may be more stably separated from the fixing belt120by the baffle180. In other words, the baffle180is arranged to set a vertical distance dv between the one end182aof the baffle180adjacent to the fixing belt120and the fixing nip N to 3 mm to 10 mm.

In order to prevent the fixing belt120from being damaged by the baffle180while the fixing belt120is rotating, the one end182aof the baffle180should be spaced apart at a distance from the surface of the fixing belt120. A shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180should be determined by sufficiently considering properties (a shape, a circumferential length, and a material) of the fixing belt120, temperature of heating the fixing belt120by the heat source130, and the like. For example, if the fixing belt120has an easily expandable property and also is used in a heated environment at a high temperature, the shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180should be set to a relatively long distance. On the contrary, if the fixing belt120has a greater resistance property to expansion and is used in a heated environment at a low temperature, the shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180may be set to a relatively short distance.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the baffle180is arranged to set the shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180to 0.5 mm to 3 mm. If the shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180is less than 0.5 mm, a phenomenon in which the fixing belt120expands to be damaged by the baffle180may occur. Otherwise, if the shortest distance ds between the fixing belt120and the one end182aof the baffle180is greater than 3 mm, the damage due to the expansion of the fixing belt120may be stably prevented but a printing medium separation function of the baffle180may be degraded.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 16, a pair of guide ribs190are arranged between the fixing device100and the printing medium discharge device70. The pair of guide ribs190are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, thereby forming a transport path through which the printing medium S is transported, and guide transportation of the printing medium S between the fixing device100and the printing medium discharge device70.

The other end182bof the baffle180is arranged between the pair of guide ribs190. The printing medium S having been passed through the fixing nip N is stably separated from the fixing belt120by the one end182aof the baffle180, and then is guided between the pair of guide ribs190by the other end182bof the baffle180.

Heretofore, one configuration in which the baffle180is included in the fixing device100has been described, but the baffle180may be configured as a separation device180which is provided in isolation from the fixing device100.

As described above, the present invention has been described in an illustrative manner The terms used herein are intended to describe the present invention and it should not be construed to limit the present invention. Many modifications and variations of the present invention in accordance with the description may be possible. Accordingly, the present invention may be freely implemented within the scope of the claims unless otherwise notes are added.