Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha

Tetsuo Kitamura

Osamu Takagi

Satoshi Kinouchi

Kazuhiko Kikuchi

Toshihiro Sone

Yoshinori Tsueda

Hiroshi Nakayama

Yohei Doi

Masanori Takai

Toyoyasu Kusaka

A fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention heats a metal conductive layer of a heat roller using an induction current generating coil. In order to supplement a heat capacity of the heat roller, a press roller having a large heat capacity is heated by a halogen lamp. During a start of activation of an image forming apparatus, when a printer control circuit is started, the supply of electric power to the halogen lamp is started before warming-up is started.

Fixing device for image forming apparatus

In a heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a sleeve is slidable with respect to a supporting roller. Flanges that regulate the sleeve have smooth surfaces, are arranged at gaps apart from a foamed rubber layer of the supporting roller, and freely rotate with respect to the supporting roller. Edges at both ends of the foamed rubber layer of the supporting roller are formed in an R shape and set shorter than the length of a body of the press roller. The sleeve has markings for detecting a state of the heat roller.

Fixing apparatus for image forming apparatus

In a fixing apparatus of an embodiment of the invention, a heat roller forwardly and reversely rotated by a drive motor capable of forwardly and reversely rotating is heated by an induction heating coil also when it is reversely rotated. Further, the roller control temperature of the heat roller by a control system is adjusted according to a time of forward rotation of the heat roller and a time of reverse rotation, or a time when the heat roller and a press roller are separated from each other and a time when they are in contact with each other. Besides, after a specified time has passed since an instruction of reverse rotation or forward rotation by a drive signal, output of the induction heating coil is tuned on.

Temperature control of a fixing apparatus using an induction heating system

A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.

Fixing apparatus of image forming apparatus

A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention controls, using a CPU and a temperature comparator, an inverter circuit that supplies electric power to an induction heating coil and performs temperature control for a heat roller. The CPU adjusts and controls a power value supplied by the inverter circuit. When the adjustment and control of the power value by the CPU is late, the inverter circuit is ON-OFF controlled by the temperature comparator.

Fixing device having an electric power control system to an induction heating coil for image forming apparatus

In a drive detection device for a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a non-paper passing area of a heat roller is formed by a surface where a metal conductive layer is exposed and a surface where a silicon rubber layer is exposed. The drive detection device has an infrared temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the non-paper passing area. When a detection result of the infrared temperature sensor is fluctuated a fixed amount or more in a predetermined time, the drive detection device determines that the heat roller is rotating. Otherwise, the drive detection device determines that the heat roller is not rotating.

Drive detection device for fixing device

A fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a microcomputer that exclusively performs temperature control for the fixing device. The microcomputer periodically calculates electric power that can be supplied to the fixing device. The microcomputer detects the temperature of the fixing device and the temperature in a printer unit and feedback-controls electric power supplied to the fixing device.

A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. The width of the metal belt is made larger than that of the elastic roller. Flanges, each of which regulates a sliding movement of the metal belt by being in contact with an edge of the metal belt, are provided on both sides of a press roller opposite the metal belt.

Fixing apparatus using induction heating system for image forming apparatus

An image formation apparatus is provided for supporting adjustment of the distance between a heat roller and a heating unit for heating the heat roller, thereby supporting adjustment of supplied power to the heating unit. The image formation apparatus includes a heat roller for clamping paper with a toner image formed thereon with a pressurization roller; a heating unit being placed facing the heat roller for heating the heat roller; a power supply unit for supplying power to the heating unit; an acquisition unit for acquiring a power value based on the power supplied from the power supply unit; a comparison unit for making a comparison between the power value acquired by the acquisition unit and a predetermined power value; and a display unit for displaying information concerning adjustment of a distance from the heat roller to the heating unit based on the comparison result of the comparison unit.

Image formation apparatus and heat roller adjustment support method

When a main switchis off, an electricity storage deviceis charged with electric power of a commercial AC power supply. When the main switchis on and warming-up of a fixing unitis necessary, a halogen heaterin a heating rolleris actuated by the electric power of the commercial AC power supplyand a halogen heaterin the heating rolleris actuated by discharge electric power of the electricity storage device

Growing community of inventors

Mishima, Japan

Tetsuo Kitamura