Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve a reuse rate without deteriorating separation performance of a recording material from a rotating body, and reduce an environmental load.SOLUTION: A fixing device 40 has: a separation guide 108 comprising, a leading end part 108a that, when a recording material S passing through a nip part N bumps against it, separates the recording material S from a fixing film 101, and a guiding part 108b that is provided on the downstream side of the leading end part 108a in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, and guides the recording material S separated from the leading end part 108a in the conveyance direction. The leading end part 108a is removably attached to the guiding part 108b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing device that fixes a toner image onto a recording material, and to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, that is provided with the fixing device and is capable of forming an image on a recording material. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a fixing device that heats and melts an unfixed toner image to fix it on a recording material generally uses a roller fixing method in which a pressure roller is pressed against a fixing roller having an internal heater to form a nip portion, and fixing is performed in the nip portion. In recent years, from the viewpoints of quick start and energy saving, a film heating type fixing device has been put to practical use.

[0003] A fixing device of the film heating type forms a fixing nip by sandwiching a fixing film as a heat transfer member between, for example, a ceramic heater as a heating member and a pressure roller as a pressure member. Also, a fixing device of the film heating type introduces a recording material on which an unfixed toner image is formed and carried between the fixing film and the pressure roller of the fixing nip, and sandwiches and conveys the recording material together with the fixing film in the fixing nip. Then, the fixing device of the film heating type applies heat from the ceramic heater to the recording material via the fixing film, and fixes the unfixed toner image to the recording material by the pressure force of the fixing nip.

[0004] At this time, the molten toner has adhesiveness and tries to adhere the recording material to the surface of the fixing film, so one of the technical problems with the film heating type fixing device is that the recording material that has passed through the fixing nip portion gets wrapped around the fixing film.

[0005] One method for solving this problem is to separate the recording material from the fixing film and transport it in a predetermined direction by using a separating member arranged close to the fixing film in a recording material transport area in the longitudinal direction of the fixing film perpendicular to the recording material transport direction. Also, a separating guide has been put into practical use, which separates the recording material from the fixing member by inserting the tip of the separating member between the recording material and the fixing film.

[0006] Although the separation performance of such a separation guide improves as the distance from the fixing film decreases, when the separation guide comes into contact with the fixing film, it will damage the fixing film and cause image defects. Therefore, the separation guide is a part that needs to be positioned at a desired distance from the fixing film, taking into account the tolerance of parts between the fixing film and the separation guide. Patent Document 1 discloses a fixing device in which the separation performance of the recording material from the fixing film is improved by reducing the warp of the separation guide and bringing the separation guide closer to the fixing film.

[0007] In addition, the separation guide used in the fixing device is a part whose tip is struck by the recording material when the recording material is peeled off from the fixing film. Therefore, the tip of the separation guide that comes into contact with the recording material may become worn due to friction with the recording material as the device wears. In addition, foreign matter such as toner or paper powder may accumulate on the tip of the separation guide.

[0008] In recent years, in order to reduce the environmental impact, it has become necessary to increase the proportion of parts that can be reused or recycled by selecting reusable parts or units from used products, and to respond to the realization of a resource-circulating society. A film heating type fixing device is a unit that is replaced several times during the warranty period of an image forming apparatus. Each part of the replaced unit is collected for reuse or recycling, and each part is judged as to whether it can be reused or not. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-054729 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] In conventional fixing devices, the tip of the separation guide, which requires a positional accuracy of several tens of μm, wears as it continues to wear, so that the reused or recycled separation guide is positioned in a direction away from the fixing film. As a result, the conventional fixing device has a problem that the separation performance of the reused or recycled separation guide is deteriorated compared to a new separation guide.

[0011] In addition, foreign matter may accumulate at the tip of the separation guide, which cannot be sufficiently removed even by cleaning. In this way, it is often difficult to reuse the tip of a separation guide that has become worn out or the tip of a separation guide on which foreign matter has accumulated and cannot be sufficiently removed even by cleaning. On the other hand, the parts of the separation guide other than the tip are used under the same conditions as other paper passing guides other than the separation guide in the main body of the device, and are often in a state where they can be reused if the paper passing surface is cleaned.

[0012] However, in the conventional fixing device, in order to prevent deterioration of separation performance due to wear at the tip of the separation guide, or when foreign matter accumulates at the tip of the separation guide, the entire separation guide must be replaced with a new one. As a result, the conventional fixing device has a problem in that it is not possible to effectively utilize resources and to reduce the environmental load.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus that can improve the reuse rate without deteriorating the separation performance of the recording material from the rotating body, thereby making effective use of resources and reducing the environmental impact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The fixing device of the present invention is a fixing device that fixes a toner image onto a recording material, and comprises a rotating body, a rotatable opposing body that forms a nip portion together with the rotating body to clamp and transport the recording material carrying the toner image under pressure, a heating body that heats the rotating body, and a separating member that separates the recording material that has passed through the nip portion from the rotating body, wherein the separating member has a tip portion that separates the recording material from the rotating body by being hit by the recording material that has passed through the nip portion, and a guide portion that is provided downstream of the tip portion in the transport direction of the recording material and guides the recording material separated by the tip portion in the transport direction, and the tip portion is detachable from the guide portion. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the reuse rate without deteriorating the separation performance of the recording material from the rotating body, thereby making effective use of resources and reducing the environmental burden. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a separation guide of the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a separation guide of the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flow diagram showing a procedure for reusing the separation guide of the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a procedure for reusing a separation guide of a conventional fixing device as a comparison with the fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] <Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 500 includes charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, a scanner unit 3, an intermediate transfer film 5, cleaning members 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, and cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d. The image forming apparatus 500 also includes a drive roller 10, a tension roller 11, primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, a feeder 13, a secondary transfer section 15, a pair of registration rollers 17, and a pair of discharge rollers 19. The image forming apparatus 500 also includes a discharge tray 20, a transfer film cleaning device 23, and a fixing device 40.

[0020] The charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, the scanner unit 3, the intermediate transfer film 5, the cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and the secondary transfer section 15 constitute an image forming section.

[0021] The charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d uniformly charge the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of the cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d.

[0022] The scanner unit 3 is disposed below the cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d. The scanner unit 3 irradiates the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, which are charged by the charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, with laser light through a unit opening (not shown). The scanner unit 3 exposes the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d by irradiating them with laser light, thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0023] The intermediate transfer film 5 is stretched by a drive roller 10 and a tension roller 11, and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R in Fig. 2. Four-color toner images formed on the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer film 5 by primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. The intermediate transfer film 5 transports the four-color toner images that have been primarily transferred and superimposed.

[0024] The cleaning members 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d remove the toner remaining on the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d after the toner images formed on the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are transferred onto the intermediate transfer film 5. The cleaning members 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d collect the removed toner into removed toner chambers in the photoconductor drum units 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d.

[0025] The four cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are arranged diagonally in Fig. 1. The cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d each include a photoconductor drum unit 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, and a developing unit 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d.

[0026] The photoconductor drum units 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d include photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0027] The photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are rotated in a direction Q, which is a clockwise direction in Fig. 1, by a driving member not shown. Around the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, cleaning members 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and developing units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are arranged in this order along the rotation direction of the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0028] The developing units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d supply toner to the electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, thereby developing the electrostatic latent images into toner images. The developing units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d include developing rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d, and supply rollers 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d.

[0029] The developing rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d come into contact with the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d to supply the toner agent supplied by the supply rollers 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d to the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0030] The supply rollers 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d come into contact with the developing rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d to supply the toner agent to the developing rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d.

[0031] The driving roller 10 is provided on the inner side of the intermediate transfer film 5, and drives and rotates the intermediate transfer film 5 by a driving force transmitted from a driving source (not shown).

[0032] The tension roller 11 is provided on the inner side of the intermediate transfer film 5 and applies tension to the intermediate transfer film 5 .

[0033] The primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are provided inside the intermediate transfer film 5 and face the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d through the intermediate transfer film 5. A transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d by a bias application means (not shown). For example, when a negatively charged toner agent is used, a positive transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. The primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d primarily transfer the toner images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d onto the intermediate transfer film 5 by applying the transfer bias.

[0034] The feeding device 13 feeds the recording material S to a pair of registration rollers 17. The feeding device 13 includes a feeding roller 8, a separation pad 9, a pair of transport rollers 16, and a feeding cassette .

[0035] The feeding roller 8 is in pressure contact with the uppermost recording material S among the recording materials S stored in the feeding cassette 24, and feeds the recording material S stored in the feeding cassette 24 to the conveying roller pair 16 while rotating.

[0036] The separation pad 9 separates the recording materials S fed by the feeding roller 8 one by one.

[0037] The conveying roller pair 16 conveys the recording material S fed by the feeding roller 8 to the registration roller pair 17 .

[0038] The feeding cassette 24 is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 500. The feeding cassette 24 stores a plurality of recording materials S therein.

[0039] The secondary transfer unit 15 includes a secondary transfer roller 18. In the secondary transfer unit 15, a positive bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 18, whereby the toner image that has been primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer film 5 is secondarily transferred onto the recording material S that is being conveyed by the pair of registration rollers 17. The secondary transfer unit 15 conveys the recording material S, onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred, to the fixing device 40.

[0040] The pair of registration rollers 17 transports the recording material S transported by the pair of transport rollers 16 of the feeding device 13 to the secondary transfer portion 15 in synchronization with the image forming operation.

[0041] The pair of discharge rollers 19 discharges the recording material S conveyed by the fixing device 40 onto a discharge tray 20 .

[0042] The recording material S is discharged onto a discharge tray 20 by a pair of discharge rollers 19 .

[0043] The transfer film cleaning device 23 removes the toner agent remaining on the intermediate transfer film 5 after the secondary transfer to the recording material S by the secondary transfer unit 15 .

[0044] The fixing device 40 is a fixing device of a film heating type and a pressure roller driving type. The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure to the toner image on the recording material S, which is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer unit 15 and is being transported, thereby fixing the toner image onto the recording material S. The fixing device 40 transports the recording material S, on which the toner image has been fixed, to a pair of discharge rollers 19.

[0045] <Configuration of the fixing device> The configuration of the fixing device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0046] 2, FIG. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2(a).

[0047] The fixing device 40 includes a pressure roller 106 , a separation guide 108 , a film unit 111 , a fixing frame 112 , and a bearing member 113 .

[0048] The X direction is the widthwise direction of the film unit 111, the Y direction is the lengthwise direction of the film unit 111, and the Z direction is the direction in which pressure is applied to the film unit 111.

[0049] The pressure roller 106 as the opposing body includes a metal core 106a. The pressure roller 106 includes an elastic material layer that is molded and covered around the core 106a in a concentric and integral roller shape. The pressure roller 106 includes a release layer on the surface around the elastic material layer. The elastic material layer is made of a material having heat resistance, such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, or fluororesin. The release layer is made of a material having good release properties and heat resistance, such as fluororesin, silicone resin, fluorosilicone rubber, fluororubber, silicone rubber, PFA, PTFE, or FEP.

[0050] The pressure roller 106 presses the pressing member 103 of the film unit 111 through the fixing film 101 of the film unit 111 to form a nip portion N between the pressure roller 106 and the fixing film 101. The pressure roller 106 is driven to rotate by a fixing motor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 500.

[0051] The separation guide 108 as a separating member is attached to the fixing frame 112. The separation guide 108 is a member that separates the recording material S, which has passed through the nip portion N and adhered to the fixing film 101, from the fixing film 101. The configuration of the separation guide 108 will be described in detail later.

[0052] The film unit 111 includes a heater 100 , a fixing film 101 , a stay 102 , a pressure contact member 103 , a fixing flange 104 , a thermistor 105 , and a connector 107 .

[0053] The heater 100 as a heating element is fitted into a fitting groove 103a of the pressure contact member 103. The heater 100 is a low-heat capacity heater that heats up with a steep rise characteristic when it receives power from a power supply unit (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 500 via a connector 107. The heater 100 includes a long, thin plate-like ceramic substrate, and an electrically-applied heat generating resistor layer that is formed on the ceramic substrate and is supplied with power, both of which are not shown. The heater 100 heats the fixing film 101.

[0054] The fixing film 101 as a rotating body is a cylindrical, endless, heat-resistant film member that transfers heat to the recording material S, and is loosely fitted around the pressure contact member 103. The film thickness of the fixing film 101 is 100 μm or less, and preferably 50 μm or less and 20 μm or more, in order to reduce the heat capacity and improve the quick start performance. The fixing film 101 is composed of a single layer of PTFE, a single layer of PFA, or a single layer of FEP, or a composite layer in which the outer surface of polyimide, polyamideimide, PEEK, PES, PPS, or the like is coated with PTFE, PFA, FEP, or the like. The fixing film 101 is not limited to the above materials and may be made of metal.

[0055] The fixing film 101 rotates in the direction of arrow J in FIG. 2B following the rotation of the pressure roller 106.

[0056] The stay 102 is provided on the inside of the fixing film 101. The stay 102 is pressed against the back surface of the pressing member 103 opposite to the front surface facing the fixing film 101, thereby ensuring the strength of the pressing member 103 in the longitudinal direction. The stay 102 is a member for correcting the pressing member 103.

[0057] The pressing member 103 is a heat-insulating member having a substantially semicircular cross section with the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the "conveying direction") of the recording material S. The pressing member 103 is made of a relatively flexible resin material with good insulating properties and heat resistance, such as phenol resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyamideimide resin, PEEK resin, PES resin, PPS resin, PFA resin, PTFE resin, or LCP resin.

[0058] The pressure contact member 103 has a fitting groove 103a recessed along the longitudinal direction on the lower surface facing the fixing film 101. The pressure contact member 103, which serves as a backup for the fixing film 101, presses the fixing film 101 against the pressure roller 106 with the fixing film 101 sandwiched therebetween, thereby forming a nip portion N between the fixing film 101 and the pressure roller 106. The pressure contact member 103 has a function of pressing the recording material S together with the pressure roller 106 at the nip portion N, a function of ensuring transport stability during rotation of the fixing film 101, and a function as a holding member for holding the heater 100.

[0059] The fixing flange 104 is fitted into both longitudinal ends of the assembly of the pressure contact member 103 and the stay 102. The fixing flange 104 guides the rotation of the fixing film 101 and regulates the longitudinal movement of the fixing film 101 to prevent the fixing film 101 from slipping out of the fixing device 40 in the longitudinal direction. The fixing flange 104 is biased in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 2(a) by a pressure plate (not shown) attached to the fixing frame 112.

[0060] The thermistor 105 is attached and fixed to the pressing member 103, and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing film 101. The thermistor 105 outputs an electric signal corresponding to the temperature of the inner circumferential surface of the fixing film 101 to a control circuit section (not shown). The thermistor 105 includes a temperature detection element section 105a and a leaf spring section 105b.

[0061] The temperature detection element portion 105 a comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing film 101 to detect the temperature of the inner surface of the fixing film 101 .

[0062] The leaf spring portion 105b has elasticity and biases the temperature detection element portion 105a with a predetermined contact pressure against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing film 101. The leaf spring portion 105b is made of stainless steel and serves as a conductive path for the temperature detection element portion 105a.

[0063] The connector 107 supplies power from a power supply unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 500 to the heater 100 .

[0064] A pressure plate (not shown) for pressing the film unit 111 and the pressure roller 106 against each other via the fixing flange 104 is rotatably attached to the fixing frame 112 .

[0065] The bearing member 113 is made of a heat-resistant resin such as PEEK, PPS, or a liquid crystal polymer, and is provided on the fixing frame 112. The bearing members 113 are provided on both longitudinal ends of the core metal 106a of the pressure roller 106, and rotatably support the core metal 106a.

[0066] In the process of nipping and conveying the recording material S between the fixing film 101 and the pressure roller 106 at the nip portion N, the fixing device 40 having the above configuration applies heat and pressure to the toner image secondarily transferred onto the recording material S to heat and fix the toner image onto the recording material S. At this time, the recording material S is stuck to the surface of the fixing film 101 due to the melting of the toner image, and is separated from the surface of the fixing film 101 by a separation guide 108.

[0067] <Separation guide configuration> The configuration of the separation guide 108 of the fixing device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0068] The separation guide 108 includes a tip portion 108a and a guide portion 108b.

[0069] The tip portion 108a is made of a resin material and is a separate member from the guide portion 108b. The tip portion 108a is detachable from the guide portion 108b. The tip portion 108a is made of a fluororesin such as PFA, PTFE, or ETFE to prevent toner and dirt from adhering to the tip portion 108a. The tip portion 108a is disposed near the fixing film 101 with a gap δ (see FIG. 2(b)) between the tip portion 108a and the fixing film 101. The gap δ is set according to a predetermined standard, and is exemplified as 1.0 mm here. The tip portion 108a is a part that is replaced with a new part at a higher rate than the guide portion 108b. The tip portion 108a is not limited to a configuration in which the entire tip portion 108a is made of a fluororesin, and may be a configuration in which only the surface is coated with a fluororesin.

[0070] The tip portion 108a includes an abutting portion 108a-1, a contact surface 108a-3, a positioning hole 108a-b, and a positioning hole 108a-d.

[0071] The leading edge of the recording material S in the transport direction, which is transported in accordance with the rotation of the fixing film 101, abuts against the abutting portion 108a-1, and the recording material S is separated from the fixing film 101.

[0072] The contact surface 108a-3 is in contact with the contact surface 108b-3 of the guide portion 108b.

[0073] Positioning holes 108a-b as first engagement portions are circular holes, and engage with positioning portions 108b-b of guide portion 108b.

[0074] The positioning holes 108a-d as the first engagement portions are oblong holes, and engage with the positioning portions 108b-d of the guide portion 108b.

[0075] The guide portion 108b is made of a resin material. The guide portion 108b is provided downstream of the tip portion 108a in the transport direction. The guide portion 108b guides the recording material S separated from the fixing film 101 by the tip portion 108a to the downstream side of the nip portion N in the transport direction.

[0076] The guide portion 108b includes a positioning portion 108b-1, a positioning portion 108b-2, a contact surface 108b-3, a positioning portion 108b-b, and a positioning portion 108b-d.

[0077] The positioning portion 108b-1 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction and is attached to the fixing frame 112 to position the separation guide 108.

[0078] The positioning portion 108b-2 is provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction, and is attached to the fixing frame 112 to position the separation guide 108.

[0079] The contact surface 108a-3 of the tip portion 108a contacts the contact surface 108b-3.

[0080] Positioning portions 108b-b as second engaging portions are engaged with positioning holes 108a-b.

[0081] The positioning portions 108b-d as second engaging portions are engaged with the positioning holes 108a-d.

[0082] The separation guide 108 having the above-mentioned configuration is configured such that the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b are fastened together by screws 109 at three locations, namely both ends and the center portion in the longitudinal direction, at approximately equal intervals to form an integrated unit.

[0083] Positioning holes 108a-b of tip portion 108a engage with positioning portions 108b-b of guide portion 108b, thereby positioning tip portion 108a in the Y and Z directions relative to guide portion 108b. Positioning holes 108a-d of tip portion 108a engage with positioning portions 108b-d of guide portion 108b, thereby positioning tip portion 108a in the Z direction relative to guide portion 108b. Furthermore, abutment surface 108b-3 of guide portion 108b abuts against abutment surface 108a-3 of tip portion 108a, thereby positioning tip portion 108a in the X direction relative to guide portion 108b.

[0084] <Operation of the image forming device> The operation of the image forming apparatus 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0085] The image forming apparatus 500 starts an image forming operation and a conveying operation when a main power source (not shown) is turned on.

[0086] First, in an image forming operation, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are uniformly charged by the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d.

[0087] Next, the uniformly charged surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are irradiated with laser light by the scanner unit 3, so that electrostatic latent images are formed.

[0088] Next, toner is supplied by developing units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d to the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d on which the electrostatic latent images have been formed, thereby forming toner images.

[0089] Next, the toner images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer film 5 by primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. For example, when negatively charged toner agents are used, a positive bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, whereby the toner images are primarily transferred in sequence to the same positions on the intermediate transfer film 5. The intermediate transfer film 5 then transports the overlapped four-color toner images to the secondary transfer unit 15.

[0090] Also, in the conveyance operation synchronized with the above image forming operation, the recording material S fed to the registration roller pair 17 by the feeding device 13 is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 15 by the registration roller pair 17. At this time, the feeding device 13 feeds the recording material S by a friction piece separation method in which the separation pad 9 separates the recording materials S one by one along with the rotation of the feeding roller 8 that presses against the uppermost recording material S among the recording materials S stored in the feeding cassette 24.

[0091] Next, a positive bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 18 of the recording material S conveyed from the registration roller pair 17 to the secondary transfer portion 15, whereby the four-color toner images on the intermediate transfer film 5 are secondarily transferred. Then, the recording material S onto which the four-color toner images have been secondarily transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 40 by the secondary transfer portion 15.

[0092] Next, heat and pressure are applied to the recording material S onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred by the fixing device 40, whereby the toner image is fixed.

[0093] Next, the recording material S onto which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 20 by the discharge roller pair 19.

[0094] Also, the toner agent remaining on the intermediate transfer film 5 after the secondary transfer to the recording material S in the secondary transfer portion 15 is removed by the transfer film cleaning device 23. The toner agent removed by the transfer film cleaning device 23 all passes through a waste toner conveyance path (not shown) and is collected by a waste toner collection container.

[0095] When replenishing the recording material S to the feeding cassette 24, the user pulls out the feeding cassette 24 and removes the feeding cassette 24 from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 500. Then, the user sets the recording material S in the removed feeding cassette 24 and inserts the feeding cassette 24 in which the recording material S has been set into the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 500. Thereby, the replenishment of the recording material S to the feeding device 13 is completed.

[0096] <Procedure for Reusing the Separation Guide> A procedure for reusing the separation guide 108 of the fixing device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0097] First, the user checks the number of sheets of paper passed in the paper passing history linked to the fixing device 40 that has been used and collected, and determines whether the number of sheets of paper passed is 1,000,000 or more (S1).

[0098] If the number of sheets passed is 1,000,000 or more (step S1: Yes), the user determines whether the appearance of the guide portion 108b is within a predetermined standard (S2). If the number of sheets passed is 1,000,000 or more, the tip portion 108a of the separation guide 108 may wear due to friction with the recording material S, and the gap δ with the fixing film 101 may deviate from the desired standard. Therefore, in this case, at least the recovered tip portion 108a must be replaced with a new tip portion 108a. The desired standard is exemplified here as 1.0±0.1 mm.

[0099] If the external appearance of the guiding portion 108b does not meet the predetermined standard (step S2: No), the user cleans the guiding portion 108b using a predetermined method (S3).

[0100] Next, the user checks the appearance of the guidance portion 108b again and determines whether the appearance of the guidance portion 108b is within a predetermined standard (S4).

[0101] If the appearance of the guide portion 108b does not meet the predetermined criteria (step S4: No), the user cannot reuse the guide portion 108b, and therefore cannot reuse the entire separation guide 108, and replaces it with a new separation guide 108 (S5). After that, the user completes the reuse procedure.

[0102] The procedure performed in the order of steps S1 to S5 described above is a procedure when both the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b of the separation guide 108 collected from the fixing device 40 cannot be reused and are replaced with a new separation guide 108.

[0103] Furthermore, if the appearance of guide portion 108b is within a predetermined standard in the procedure of step S2 (step S2: Yes), guide portion 108b can be reused as is, and so the user replaces only tip portion 108a, which cannot be reused. Then, the user releases the fastening of tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b with screws 109, and removes tip portion 108a from guide portion 108b (S6).

[0104] Next, the user attaches the new tip portion 108a to the guide portion 108b in use by fastening the new tip portion 108a to the guide portion 108b in use with the screw 109 (S7), and then completes the reuse procedure. At this time, the positioning holes 108a-b of the tip portion 108a are engaged with the positioning portions 108b-b of the guide portion 108b. Also, the positioning holes 108a-d of the tip portion 108a are engaged with the positioning portions 108b-d of the guide portion 108b. This allows the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b to be temporarily fixed, so that the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b can be easily fastened with the screw 109.

[0105] The above procedure of steps S1, S2, S6, and S7 is performed in this order when only the tip portion 108a of the separation guide 108 recovered from the fixing device 40 cannot be reused, and the guide portion 108b is reusable.

[0106] Furthermore, if the user determines in step S4 that the appearance of the guiding portion 108b falls within a predetermined standard (step S4: Yes), the user proceeds to step S6.

[0107] The above procedure of steps S1 to S4, S6, and S7 is carried out in that order when only the tip portion 108a of the separation guide 108 recovered from the fixing device 40 cannot be reused, and the guide portion 108b is reusable.

[0108] On the other hand, if the number of passed sheets is less than 1,000,000 in the procedure of step S1 (step S1: No), the user determines whether the appearance of the leading edge 108a is within a predetermined standard (S8).

[0109] If the appearance of tip portion 108a does not meet the predetermined standard (step S8: No), the user cleans tip portion 108a using a predetermined method (S9).

[0110] Next, the user checks the appearance of tip portion 108a again and determines whether the appearance of tip portion 108a is within a predetermined standard (S10).

[0111] If the appearance of tip portion 108a is within a predetermined standard (step S10: Yes), the user determines whether the appearance of guide portion 108b is within a predetermined standard (S11).

[0112] If the external appearance of the guiding portion 108b does not meet a predetermined standard (step S11: No), the user cleans the guiding portion 108b using a predetermined method (S12).

[0113] Next, the user checks the appearance of the guidance portion 108b again and determines whether the appearance of the guidance portion 108b is within a predetermined standard (S13).

[0114] If the appearance of guide portion 108b does not meet the predetermined criteria (step S13: No), tip portion 108a can be reused as is, so the user replaces only guide portion 108b, which cannot be reused. Then, the user releases the fastening between tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b by screws 109, and removes tip portion 108a from guide portion 108b (S14).

[0115] Next, the user replaces guide portion 108b from which tip portion 108a has been removed with a new guide portion 108b. Then, the user attaches tip portion 108a in use to new guide portion 108b by fastening tip portion 108a in use to new guide portion 108b with screws 109 (S15), and then completes the reuse procedure.

[0116] The above-mentioned procedure of step S1 and steps S8 to S15 is performed in this order when only the guiding portion 108b of the separation guide 108 collected from the fixing device 40 cannot be reused and the tip portion 108a can be reused.

[0117] On the other hand, if the appearance of the tip portion 108a is within the predetermined standard in the procedure of step S8 (step S8: Yes), the user proceeds to the procedure of step S11.

[0118] The above procedure of steps S1, S8 and S11 is carried out in this order when at least the tip portion 108a is reusable.

[0119] Furthermore, if the appearance condition of guide portion 108b falls within a predetermined standard in the procedure of step S11 (step S11: Yes), the user completes the reuse procedure without replacing tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b.

[0120] If the answer is Yes in the procedure of step S11 above, it means that both the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b are reusable.

[0121] Furthermore, if the appearance condition of guide portion 108b falls within a predetermined standard in the procedure of step S13 (step S13: Yes), the user completes the reuse procedure without replacing tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b.

[0122] If the answer is Yes in the procedure of step S13 above, it means that both the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b are reusable.

[0123] Next, as a comparison with the present embodiment, a procedure for reusing the separation guide 1108 of the conventional fixing device 140 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0124] Here, the conventional separation guide 1108 cannot be separated into the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b as in the separation guide 108 of the present embodiment, but is a resin separation guide in which the tip portion 108a and the guide portion 108b are integrally molded. Note that the configuration of the conventional fixing device 140 other than the separation guide 1108 is the same as the configuration of the fixing device 40, and therefore the description and illustration thereof will be omitted. Also, illustration of the conventional separation guide 1108 will be omitted.

[0125] First, the user checks the number of sheets passed in the sheet passing history linked to the fixing device 140 that has been used and collected, and determines whether the number of sheets passed is 1,000,000 or more (S101).

[0126] If the number of sheets passed is 1,000,000 or more (S101: Yes), the separation guide 1108 is not reusable, so the user replaces it with a new separation guide 1108 (S102), and then ends the reuse procedure.

[0127] The procedure performed in the order of steps S101 and S102 above is a procedure in which the separation guide 1108 collected from the fixing device 140 is replaced with a new separation guide 1108 because it cannot be reused.

[0128] On the other hand, if the number of passed sheets is less than 1,000,000 in the procedure of step S101 (S101: No), the user determines whether the appearance of the separation guide 1108 is within a predetermined standard (S103).

[0129] If the appearance of the separation guide 1108 does not meet the predetermined standard (step S103: No), the user cleans the separation guide 1108 using a predetermined method (S104).

[0130] Next, the user checks the appearance of the separation guide 1108 again and determines whether the appearance of the separation guide 1108 is within a predetermined standard (S105).

[0131] If the appearance of the separation guide 1108 does not meet the predetermined criteria (step S105: No), the separation guide 1108 cannot be reused, and the user proceeds to the procedure of step S102.

[0132] The above-mentioned procedure of steps S101, S103 to S105, and S102, in that order, is a procedure for replacing the separation guide 1108 collected from the fixing device 140 with a new separation guide 1108 since the separation guide 1108 cannot be reused.

[0133] Furthermore, if the appearance condition of the separation guide 1108 falls within a predetermined standard (step S103: Yes), the user completes the reuse procedure without replacing the separation guide 1108.

[0134] In the procedure performed in the order of steps S101 and S103, if the answer is Yes in step S103, this is the procedure in which the separation guide 1108 collected from the fixing device 140 is reusable.

[0135] Furthermore, if the appearance condition of the separation guide 1108 falls within a predetermined standard (step S105: Yes), the user completes the reuse procedure without replacing the separation guide 1108.

[0136] In the procedure performed in the order of step S101 and steps S103 to S105, if the answer is Yes in step S105, the procedure is for the case where the separation guide 1108 collected from the fixing device 140 is reusable.

[0137] Thus, in the past, even if only the tip portion of the separation guide 1108 was non-reusable but the other portions were reusable, it was necessary to replace the entire separation guide 1108 with a new separation guide 110.

[0138] In contrast, in the present embodiment, only the tip portion 108a, which is easily worn by paper passage, is replaced with a new one, making it possible to make the guide portion 108b reusable. Also, when it is necessary to replace only the guide portion 108b with a new one, it is possible to make the tip portion 108a reusable. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the reuse rate of used parts, make effective use of resources, and reduce environmental impact.

[0139] In the present embodiment, the tip portion 108a is detachable from the guide portion 108b. This makes it possible to improve the reuse rate without deteriorating the performance of separating the recording material S from the fixing film 101, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize resources and reduce the environmental load.

[0140] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0141] Specifically, in the above embodiment, tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b are fastened together with screws 109, but this is not limited thereto, and tip portion 108a and guide portion 108b can be integrated together by any means other than screws 109, which are detachable from each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 40 Fixing device 100 Heater 101 Fixing film 102 Stay 103 Pressure welding parts 104 Fixing flange 105 Thermistor 106 Pressure roller 107 Connector 108 Separation Guide 108a Tip 108a-1 Butt part 108a-3 Contact surface 108a-b Positioning hole 108a-d Positioning holes 108b Information Department 108b-1 Positioning part 108b-2 Positioning part 108b-3 Contact surface 108b-b Positioning part 108b-d Positioning part 109 Bis 111 Film Unit 112 Fixing Frame 113 Bearing materials 500 Image forming device

Claims

1. A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording material, A rotating body; a rotatable opposing body that, together with the rotating body, forms a nip portion for nipping and conveying a recording material carrying a toner image while applying pressure thereto; A heating body that heats the rotating body; a separating member that separates the recording material that has passed through the nip portion from the rotating body; having The separating member is a leading end portion that is struck by the recording material that has passed through the nip portion to separate the recording material from the rotating body, and a guide portion that is provided downstream of the leading end portion in a recording material conveying direction and that guides the recording material separated by the leading end portion in the conveying direction, The tip portion is The guide portion is detachable from the guide portion. A fixing device comprising:

2. The tip portion is Made of fluororesin.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1,

3. The tip portion is A first engagement portion is provided, The guide unit is a second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion; 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a fixing member having a fixing surface.

4. The fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, an image forming section that causes a recording material to bear a toner image and conveys the recording material bearing the toner image to the fixing device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images