Heating device and heated material utilization device

Abstract

To provide a heating device, and the like capable of suppressing asymmetrical temperature unevenness in the axial direction of a heating roller provided with a resistance heating layer, as compared with the case where a motive power receiving component is installed that receives rotational motive power transmitted to the heating roll or the case where a complementary component is not installed that has almost the same heat capacity as the motive power receiving component.SOLUTION: The heating device comprises: a heating roll having a resistance heating layer that generates heat by current conduction; a support member for supporting a processing part subjected to heat treatment; a belt which is arranged around at least the heating roll and the support member and moves around; and a pressure rotor that rotates pressing a sheet-like object to be heated that is subjected to heat treatment, against the processing part composed of an outer circumferential portion of the belt that is supported by the support member so as to cause the sheet-like object to be heated to pass through the processing part. No motive power receiving component to receive transmitted rotational motive power is installed to the heating roll.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating device and an apparatus for utilizing an object to be heated. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a fixing device that fixes an image onto a recording material, the fixing device having a heating rotor with a heat-generating layer and a pressure member that forms a nip portion with the heating rotor, the heating rotor having a plurality of low-resistance layers that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction in a recording material transport area of ​​the heat-generating layer so as not to come into contact with each other, and each of the plurality of low-resistance layers has a volume resistivity lower than that of the heat-generating layer and extends in the circumferential direction of the heat-generating layer.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a heat-generating fixing roll having a resistance heating element on the inner surface of a cylindrical core metal via an electrical insulating layer, in which the electrical insulating layer is made of a water-repellent resin, and the core metal, the electrical insulating layer, and the resistance heating element are arranged in close contact with each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-10020 A (Claim 25, Figures 1-3, etc.) [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-142834 A (Claim 1, Figure 1, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention provides a heating device and a heated object utilization device that can suppress asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of a heating roll provided with a resistive heating layer, compared to when a power receiving component that receives the rotational power transmitted to the heating roll is installed or when a complementary component having approximately the same heat capacity as the power receiving component is not installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention (1) has a resistance heating layer that generates heat when electricity is applied. Rotate A heating roll for heating the substrate; a plurality of power supply connectors arranged at both ends of the resistance heating layer and supplying power to the resistance heating layer, and a plurality of bearings each provided on an inner side of the plurality of power supply connectors in an axial direction of the heating roll; The apparatus includes a support member for supporting a processing section in which a heat treatment is performed, a belt that is rotated while being wound around at least the heating roll and the support member, and a pressurizing rotor that rotates to press an object to be heated through a processing section formed of an outer peripheral surface portion of the belt that is supported by the support member, A power receiving part for receiving the rotational power to be transmitted is attached to the heating roll. figure, The plurality of bearings are provided adjacent to the plurality of power supply connectors in the axial direction of the heating roll. It is a heating device.

[0007] The present invention (2) is the heating device according to the above-mentioned invention (1), wherein the power receiving component is attached to the pressure rotating body. The present invention (3) is the heating device according to the above invention (1), further comprising a support roll for supporting the belt from its inside, and the power receiving part is attached to the support roll. The present invention (4) is a heating device according to any one of the above inventions (1) to (3), wherein the resistance heating layer is arranged so that the distances from both ends of the resistance heating layer to both ends in the axial direction of the heating roll are equal to each other.

[0010] Also , This invention ( 5 ) is provided with a conveying means for conveying a sheet-shaped object to be heated, and a heating device for heating the object to be heated conveyed by the conveying means, The heating device is any one of the above inventions (1) to ( 4 ) is a heating device that utilizes a heated object.

[0011] This invention ( 6 ) is the above invention ( 5 In the apparatus utilizing an object to be heated described above, the heating device is a fixing device that fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium, which is a sheet-shaped object to be heated. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the above invention (1), asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of a heating roll provided with a resistance heating layer can be suppressed compared to the case where a power receiving component is attached to receive the rotational power transmitted to the heating roll.

[0013] According to the above aspect (2), the belt can be rotated while suppressing asymmetric temperature unevenness in the heating roll, as compared with the case where a power receiving part is attached to the heating roll. According to the above aspect (3), the belt can be rotated while suppressing asymmetric temperature unevenness in the heating roll, compared to a case in which no power receiving part is attached to the pressure rotating body. According to the above aspect (4), asymmetric temperature unevenness in the heating roll can be more easily suppressed than in the case where the resistance heating layer is provided so that the distances from both ends of the resistance heating layer to both ends in the axial direction of the heating roll are different.

[0015] The above invention ( 5 ) can suppress asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll in the heating device, and can suppress the occurrence of asymmetric heating unevenness in the heated object caused by the asymmetric temperature unevenness of the heating roll. The above invention ( 6 According to the above, asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll in the fixing device can be suppressed, and the occurrence of fixing unevenness caused by the asymmetric temperature unevenness of the heating roll can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus which is an example of an apparatus utilizing an object to be heated according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a fixing device which is an example of a heating device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3 is a schematic diagram of a part of the fixing device in FIG. 2. [Figure 4]FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating roll, and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Diagram 5] (A) is a schematic diagram of a part of a heating roll, and (B) is a schematic diagram of a comparative heating roll. [Figure 6] 13 is a schematic diagram of a fixing device which is another example of a heating device according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a heating and drying device which is another example of a heating device and an apparatus utilizing an object to be heated according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] First embodiment. Fig. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 1A as an example of the device 1 utilizing an object to be heated according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a fixing device 5A as an example of the heating device 5 according to the first embodiment.

[0019] The apparatus 1 for utilizing an object to be heated is an apparatus that utilizes a sheet-shaped object to be heated 9. The heating device 5 is an apparatus that at least heats the sheet-shaped object to be heated 9. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow X in the drawings is the width direction of the device, the direction indicated by the arrow Y is the height direction of the device, and the direction indicated by the arrow Z is the depth direction of the device perpendicular to the width and height directions. The circle at the intersection of the arrows X and Z in the drawings indicates that the arrow Z, which is the depth direction of the device, faces downward perpendicular to the drawing.

[0020] <Heated object utilization device> An image forming apparatus 1A, which is an example of an apparatus 1 utilizing an object to be heated, is an apparatus that forms an image made of a powder developer on a recording medium 9A, which is an example of a sheet-like object to be heated 9, and then heats the recording medium 9A to form an image. 1, this image forming apparatus 1A has a housing 10 having a required external shape, and is configured by arranging an image forming device 2, a medium supplying device 4, a medium conveying device 45, a fixing device 5A, etc. in the internal space of the housing 10. The dashed dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicate the main conveying path when a recording medium 9A is conveyed by the medium conveying device 45 inside the housing 10.

[0021] The image forming device 2 is a device that forms a toner image composed of toner as a developer and transfers it to a recording medium 9A. The image forming device 2 is configured as a device that employs an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method, and is configured by arranging devices such as a charging device 22, an exposure device 23, a developing device 24, a transfer device 25, and a cleaning device 26 around a photosensitive drum 21 that rotates in the direction indicated by arrow A.

[0022] Among these, the photosensitive drum 21 is an example of an image holding means, and is a photosensitive body in the form of a drum having an image forming surface and a photosensitive layer that becomes the image holding surface. The charging device 22 is a device that charges the outer peripheral surface (image forming surface) of the photosensitive drum 21 to a required surface potential. The charging device 22 is configured to include a charging member in the form of, for example, a roll that is brought into contact with the image forming surface of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and is supplied with a charging current.

[0023] The exposure device 23 is a device that exposes the charged outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure device 23 operates by receiving an image signal generated by performing required processing on image information input from the outside by an image processing means (not shown). The image information is information related to the image to be formed, such as characters, figures, photographs, patterns, etc. The development device 24 is a device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with a developer (toner) of a corresponding predetermined color (e.g., black) to visualize it as a monochromatic toner image.

[0024] Next, the transfer device 25 is a device that electrostatically transfers the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to the recording medium 9A. This transfer device 25 is configured to include a transfer member in the form of a roll or the like that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and is supplied with a transfer current. The cleaning device 26 is a device that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by removing unnecessary toner, paper powder, and other unnecessary matters that adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. In the image forming apparatus 2, the portion where the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer device 25 face each other is the transfer position TP where the toner image is transferred.

[0025] The medium supplying device 4 is a device that stores and sends out the recording medium 9A to be supplied to the transfer position TP in the image forming device 2. This medium supplying device 4 is configured by arranging devices such as one or more storage bodies 41 that store the recording media 9A and one or more delivery devices 43 that send out the recording media 9A one by one. Furthermore, the recording medium 9A is not particularly limited as long as it is a sheet-like recording medium that can be transported by the medium transport device 45 inside the housing 10 and to which a toner image can be transferred and thermally fixed, and there are no particular restrictions on the material, shape, etc. In this image forming apparatus 1A, recording media such as plain paper, coated paper, film, foil, sheet-like cloth, etc. cut to a predetermined size, or a recording medium such as an envelope, etc. are used as the recording medium 9A.

[0026] The medium conveying device 45 is an example of a conveying means for conveying a heated object 9 such as a recording medium 9A, and in this image forming apparatus 1A, it is configured as a device for conveying the recording medium 9A to each required location within the housing 10. The medium conveying device 45 is disposed within the housing 10 so as to form a supply path for conveying the recording medium 9A from the medium supply device 4 to the transfer position TP in the image forming device 2, an intermediate path for conveying the recording medium 9A from the transfer position TP in the image forming device 2 to the fixing device 5A, and a discharge path for conveying the recording medium 9A from the fixing device 5A to a discharge port 12 provided on a side portion or the like of the housing 10. Specifically, the medium conveying device 45 is configured by arranging a pair of conveying rolls 46 (46a to 46d) for sandwiching and conveying the recording medium 9A, guide passage members 47 for forming a conveying space for guiding the recording medium 9A to its destination, and the like, in required positions and in required quantities.

[0027] The fixing device 5A, which is an example of the heating device 5, is a device that applies heat and pressure to fix an unfixed toner image transferred at the transfer position TP of the image forming device 2 onto the recording medium 9A. The fixing device 5A is configured by arranging devices such as a heating rotor 51 and a pressure rotor 61 in the internal space of a housing 50 in which an inlet 50a and an outlet 50b for the recording medium 9A are provided. In addition, in the fixing device 5A, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heating rotor 51 and the pressure rotor 61 are arranged to rotate in contact with each other, and are configured as a fixing processing unit FN that heats and pressurizes the recording medium 9A and toner image that pass through the contact area. The fixing device 5A will be described in detail later.

[0028] In the image forming apparatus 1A, an image is formed, for example, in the following manner.

[0029] That is, in the image forming apparatus 1A, when a control means (not shown) receives a command for an operation of forming an image, the image forming device 2 performs a charging operation, an exposing operation, a developing operation and a transferring operation, while the medium supply device 4 performs an operation of feeding out the required recording medium 9A and transporting it to the transfer position TP by the supply path of the medium conveying device 45. As a result, a toner image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 21, while the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 9A supplied from the medium supply device 4 to the transfer position TP via the medium transport device 45. At this time, the recording medium 9A to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 21 while being sandwiched between the rotating photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer device 25, and then is sent toward the heating device 5 via the relay path of the medium transport device 45.

[0030] 2, in the fixing device 5A of the image forming apparatus 1A, the recording medium 9A onto which the toner image 92 has been transferred is introduced into and passed through the fixing processing section FN at the contact portion between the heating rotator 51 and the pressure rotator 61. As a result, in the fixing device 5A, the unfixed toner image 92 on the recording medium 9A is heated under pressure, melted and fixed to the recording medium 9A. After fixing, the recording medium 9A is ejected from the housing 50 while sandwiched between the heating rotor 51 and the pressure rotor 61 in the fixing device 5A, then transported to the ejection outlet 12 by the ejection path of the media transport device 45, and finally sent by the transport roll 46d to an ejection storage section (not shown) provided in part of the housing 10, where it is stored.

[0031] Through the above series of operations, the basic image forming operation for forming a monochromatic image on one side of one sheet of recording medium 9A is completed.

[0032] <Heating device> Next, the fixing device 5A will be described in detail.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2, 3, etc., the fixing device 5A of the first embodiment is configured by using a heating unit 52 in a belt-nip form as the heating rotor 51, while using a pressure roll 62 in a roll form as the pressure rotor 61.

[0034] The heating unit 52 is unitized and mainly includes a heating roll 53, a supporting member 54, a fixing belt 55, an adjustment supporting roll 56, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating roll 53 is a roll body having a laminated structure in which an electrical insulating layer 532, a resistance heating layer 533 which generates heat when electricity is applied, and a surface layer 534 are provided in this order on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical roll base material 531.

[0035] The roll base material 531 is a cylinder having a thickness of about 0.2 to 1.0 mm and made of a metal material such as aluminum or iron. The electrical insulating layer 532 is an insulating film made of an insulating material such as polyimide or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The resistive heating layer 533 is a layer that generates heat when electricity is applied, and is a layer or film made of a material such as silver palladium, gold palladium, a carbon metal filler mixture, etc. This resistive heating layer 533 is formed by a mold pouring coating method, for example, from the viewpoint of making the layer thickness uniform. Moreover, the resistive heating layer 533 is adapted to be energized via electrode layers 535 provided at both ends in the axial direction of the roll. The surface layer 534 has good thermal conductivity and a protective function for protecting the resistance heating layer 533. Moreover, the surface layer 534 is preferably a layer having a tack force for transmitting the rotational force to the fixing belt 55 and wettability with respect to a lubricant described later, and from this viewpoint, is made of a material with low releasability (for example, polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), etc.).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the heating roll 53 is rotatably attached at both ends of the roll base 531 to the upper side surface of the housing 50 via bearings 65 such as bearings. Further, the heating roll 53 has power supply connectors 58A, 58B attached to both ends of the shaft portion made of the roll base material 531 protruding outside the bearing 65. The power supply connectors 58A, 58B have a power supply ring (not shown) disposed inside a cylindrical insulating cover, and the power supply ring is electrically connected to the electrode layer 535 formed on both ends of the heating roll 53. The power supply connectors 58A, 58B are connected to the power supply device 17, and the required current and the like are supplied from the power supply device 17 when heating is required.

[0037] The fixing belt 55 is heated by the heating roll 53, and comes into contact with the surface of the recording medium 9A onto which the toner image 92 has been transferred in the fixing processing section FN to perform heating. The fixing belt 55 is an endless heat-conducting belt having flexibility and heat resistance, and is, for example, a belt having a layered structure in which an elastic layer made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber and a release layer made of a resin material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are formed in this order on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical belt base material made of a synthetic resin such as polyimide or polyamide. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing belt 55 is adapted to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow C while being wound around a support member 54 and an adjustable support roll 56.

[0038] The support member 54 is a member that supports and forms the fixing processing section FN that is disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 55 and performs the heat treatment. The fixing processing section FN is a processing section for heat fixing that is formed on the outer peripheral surface portion of the fixing belt 55 that is supported by the support member 54. This support member 54 is configured as a structure in which a hollow plate-shaped support main body is disposed in a state of extending parallel to the axial direction of the heating roll 53, and a pad member is attached to the surface of the support main body that comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 55B. In addition, the support member 54 is disposed by fixing the ends of the support main body, which protrude outward from both ends of the fixing belt 55, to the side surfaces of the housing 50 or the like.

[0039] The adjustment support roll 56 is a roll that maintains the fixing belt 55 in a desired shape while applying a required tension to the wound state of the fixing belt 55, and adjusts the state of the fixing belt 55 so as to stabilize the state of its rotation and running.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 52 also includes a lubricant applicator 57 for applying a lubricant to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt 55 and a temperature sensor 59 for measuring the surface temperature of the heating roll 53 . 3, the heating unit 52 measures the surface temperatures of the multiple regions by arranging multiple temperature sensors 59a to 59d at predetermined locations (for example, the central region and the regions at both ends) in the axial direction of the heating roll 53, and transmits the measurement results to the control device 15. The control device 15 also controls the operation of the power supply device 17, such as the output, to adjust the heating state.

[0041] On the other hand, the pressure roll 62 is a roll body having a structure in which an elastic release layer 622 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a columnar or cylindrical roll base material 621 as shown in FIG. 2, the pressure roll 62 is rotatably attached to the lower side surface of the housing 50 via bearings 66 attached to shafts 623 protruding from both ends of the roll base 621 at a position facing the support member 54. The pressure roll 62 is attached so that the bearings 66 can be displaced in directions approaching and moving away from the support member 54, and a predetermined pressure toward the support member 54 is applied to the bearings 66 by a biasing member such as a spring (not shown), so that the fixing belt 55 is pressed against the support member 54 (its pad member) with a predetermined pressure to pass through.

[0042] In this fixing device 5A, when it is time to perform a fixing operation, the resistance heating layer 533 of the heating roll 53 in the heating unit 52 generates heat when electricity is applied and begins to heat the heating roll 53 to keep it at the required temperature, the pressure roll 62 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow B, and the fixing belt 55 begins to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow C. As a result, the fixing device 5A rotates so that the fixing belt 55 passes through the fixing processing section FN while being heated by the heating roll 53, and thus becomes ready for the fixing operation.

[0043] In addition, in the fixing device 5A, as shown in FIG. 3, a power receiving part 67 for receiving the rotational power transmitted when the fixing operation or the like is performed is not attached to the heating roll 53.

[0044] As a result, in the fixing device 5A, the occurrence of asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53 is suppressed. In contrast, when a power receiving part 67 represented by a metal gear 67A or the like is attached to one end of the heating roll 53 (actually the roll base material 531 or shaft), the heat capacity of the power receiving part 67 of the gear 67A promotes heat dissipation at that one end of the heating roll 53, lowering the surface temperature, which may result in asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53. In other words, in this case, the surface temperature distribution in the axial direction of the heat generating region when the resistance heating layer 533 of the heating roll 53 generates heat and is heated is such that the surface temperature of the heat generating region near the one end where the power receiving part 67 is attached is relatively lower than the surface temperature of the heat generating region near the other end.

[0045] However, in this fixing device 5, the heating roll 53 is no longer affected by the thermal capacity of the power receiving part 67, and therefore the occurrence of the above-mentioned asymmetric temperature unevenness that occurs when the power receiving part 67 is attached to one end of the heating roll 53 is suppressed. In addition, the asymmetric temperature unevenness may induce asymmetric fixing unevenness in the axial direction due to the asymmetric temperature unevenness, but the occurrence of the asymmetric fixing unevenness is also suppressed. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1A to which the fixing device 5A is applied, it is possible to form a good image in which the fixing unevenness caused by the asymmetric temperature unevenness in the fixing device 5A is suppressed.

[0046] In the fixing device 5A, since the above-mentioned configuration of the power receiving part 67 is adopted, as shown in FIG. Pressurization roll 62 The one shaft portion 623 is attached to the rear side in the device depth direction Z. Gear 67A of power receiving part 67 attached to one end of this pressure roll 62 is configured to receive rotational power from a drive device (not shown) arranged within housing 10 of image forming apparatus 1A via final transmission gear 18.

[0047] Therefore, in the fixing device 5A, when it is time to perform a fixing operation, etc., as illustrated in Figure 2, the pressure roll 62 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B, and the rotational force of this pressure roll 62 is transmitted to the fixing belt 55 with which it comes into contact at the fixing processing section FN, causing the fixing belt 55 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow C.

[0048] Furthermore, in this fixing device 5A, as shown in FIG. 5(A), the distances La1, Lb1 from both ends 533c, 533d of the resistance heating layer 533 to both ends 531c, 531d of the roll base material 531 in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the heating roll 53 are set to be the same (La1=Lb1).

[0049] As a result, in the fixing device 5A, compared to the heating roll 530 in which the distances La2, Lb2 from the ends 533c, 533d of the resistive heating layer 533 to the ends 531c, 531d of the roll substrate 531 in the axial direction of the heating roll 53 are different (for example, La2>Lb2) as illustrated in Figure 5(B), the heat dissipation at the ends of the roll substrate 531 where the resistive heating layer 533 is not present is approximately the same, making it easier to suppress the above-mentioned asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53.

[0050] Second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a fixing device 5B which is another example of the heating device 5 according to the second embodiment.

[0051] The fixing device 5B according to the second embodiment differs from the fixing device 5A according to the first embodiment in that a power receiving part 67 is attached to one end of the heating roll 53, and a complementary part 70 having approximately the same heat capacity as the power receiving part 67 is attached to the other end, but otherwise has the same configuration. Therefore, in the following explanation and drawings, the same components that are in common are denoted by the same reference numerals used in the first embodiment, and their explanation will be omitted unless necessary.

[0052] 6, in the fixing device 5B, a gear 67B as a power receiving part 67 is attached to one end of the heating roll 53 at the rear end of the roll base material 531. Specifically, the gear 67B is attached to a portion of the rear end of the roll base material 531 that is between the bearing 65 and the power supply connector 58A. Gear 67B of power receiving part 67 attached to one end of this heating roll 53 is configured to receive rotational power from a drive device (not shown) arranged within the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1A via a final transmission gear 18.

[0053] 6, in the fixing device 5B, a complementary part 70 having approximately the same heat capacity as that of the gear 67B is attached to the front end of the roll base 531, which is the other end of the heating roll 53. The complementary part 70 is preferably made of the same material and shape as the power receiving parts 67 such as the gear 67B. The complementary part 70 is attached to a portion of the rear end of the roll base 531 between the bearing 65 and the power supply connector 58B so as to be attached in the same position as the gear 67B.

[0054] In this fixing device 5B, when it is time to perform a fixing operation, etc., the resistance heating layer 533 of the heating roll 53 in the heating unit 52 generates heat when electricity is applied, and begins to heat the heating roll 53 to keep it at the required temperature, and as the heating roll 53 begins to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow C, the fixing belt 55 also rotates in the direction indicated by arrow C, and in the fixing processing unit FN, the rotational force of the fixing belt 55 is transmitted to the pressure roll 62, which begins to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B. As a result, the fixing device 5B rotates so that the fixing belt 55 passes through the fixing processing section FN while being rotationally driven and heated by the heating roll 53, and is ready for the fixing operation.

[0055] In the fixing device 5B, the surface temperature drops at the end of the roll base 531 on the side where the gear 67B of the power receiving part 67 of the heating roll 53 is attached, because the heat capacity of the gear 67B promotes heat dissipation at the one end, but because the complementary part 70 is attached to the end of the roll base 531 that is the other end of the heating roll 53, the heat capacity of the complementary part 70 promotes heat dissipation at the other end, and the surface temperature drops. This results in a substantially uniform temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53. Furthermore, in the fixing device 5B, similarly to the fixing device 5A according to the first embodiment, the distances La1, Lb1 from both ends 533c, 533d in the axial direction of the resistance heating layer 533 to both ends 531c, 531d of the roll base material 531 in the axial direction of the heating roll 53 are set to be the same (see FIG. 5(A)). As a result, in the fixing device 5B as well, for the same reason as in the fixing device 5A according to the first embodiment, it becomes easier to suppress the asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53.

[0056] Therefore, in the fixing device 5B, the asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53 is suppressed, compared to when the heating roll 53 is not equipped with the complementary component 70 having approximately the same heat capacity as the power receiving component 67. Furthermore, in this fixing device 5B, if there is asymmetric temperature unevenness in the heating roll 53, there is a risk that asymmetric fixing unevenness in the axial direction will be induced due to the asymmetric temperature unevenness, but the occurrence of such asymmetric fixing unevenness is also suppressed.

[0057] Third embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a heating device 5C which is yet another example of the heating device 5 according to the third embodiment, and a heating and drying device 1B which is another example of the apparatus 1 utilizing an object to be heated that uses the heating device 5C. Heating device 5C according to the third embodiment is different from fixing device 5A according to the first embodiment and fixing device 5B according to the second embodiment in that fixing belt 55 is replaced with heating belt 55B, but otherwise has the same configuration. Therefore, in the following description and drawings, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted unless necessary.

[0058] In this heating device 5C, a belt having good thermal conductivity is applied as the heating belt 55B, and for example, a belt made of a cylindrical belt base material made of a synthetic resin such as polyimide, polyamide, etc. Note that the fixing belt 55 may be used as the heating belt 55B. In the heating device 5C, a portion where the portion of the heating belt 55B supported by the supporting member 54 and the pressure roll 62 are in pressure contact with each other is configured as a drying processing portion DN where the heating and drying processing is performed.

[0059] The heating and drying apparatus 1B using this heating apparatus 5C includes a sheet conveying apparatus 45B that conveys a sheet-like object 9B that needs to be heated and dried as the object 9 to be heated and dried through a drying processing section DN of the heating apparatus 5C. The sheet conveying apparatus 45B is composed of a pair of conveying rolls 48, a guide member 49, etc. Examples of the sheet-like object 9B include the above-mentioned recording medium 9A.

[0060] This heating device 5C also suppresses the occurrence of asymmetric temperature unevenness in the axial direction of the heating roll 53. Therefore, the occurrence of asymmetric heating and drying unevenness caused by the asymmetric temperature unevenness is also suppressed. As a result, the heating and drying apparatus 1B can perform good heating and drying on the sheet-like material 9B while suppressing the occurrence of asymmetric heating and drying unevenness caused by the asymmetric temperature unevenness of the heating roll 53 in the heating apparatus 5C.

[0061] Variations. The present invention is not limited to the configuration examples exemplified in the above-described embodiments, but also includes, for example, the following modified examples.

[0062] In the fixing devices 5A and 5B and the heating device 5C, it is possible to omit the adjustment support roll 56 in the heating unit 52. Also, the pressure rotating body 61 may be, for example, a pressure rotating body in a belt-nip form, instead of the roll-form pressure roll 62. Furthermore, the power receiving part 67 may be a pulley or the like that receives a timing belt for driving transmission.

[0063] In addition, in the first embodiment, etc., a configuration example of image forming apparatus 1A that forms a monochrome image has been shown, but it may also be an apparatus that forms a multi-color image by combining toner of multiple colors, and there are no particular limitations on its type, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...Heated object utilization device 1A...Image forming device (an example of a device using a heated object) 1B...Heat drying device (an example of a device that uses heated objects) 5,5C…Heating device 5A, 5B... Fixing device (an example of a heating device) 9 …Sheet-shaped heated object 9A…Recording medium (an example of a sheet-shaped object to be heated) 9B...Sheet-like object (an example of a sheet-like object to be heated) 53…Heated roll 54...Support member 55...Fuser belt (an example of a belt) 55B…Heating belt (an example of a belt) 61...Pressurizing rotor 62...Pressure roll (an example of a pressure rotating body) 67...Power receiving parts 67A, 67B... Gear (an example of a power receiving part) 70…Supplementary parts 533...Resistance heating layer FN: Fixing processing section (an example of a processing section) DN: Drying processing section (an example of a processing section)

Claims

1. a rotating heating roll having a resistance heating layer that generates heat when electricity is applied; a plurality of power supply connectors arranged at both ends of the resistance heating layer and supplying power to each of the power supply connectors; a plurality of bearings provided on an inner side of the plurality of power supply connectors in an axial direction of the heating roll; A support member for supporting a processing section where a heat treatment is performed; a belt that is rotated at least around the heating roll and the support member; A pressurizing rotor that rotates to press an object to be heat-treated against a processing section formed of an outer peripheral surface section of the belt supported by the support member, and passes the object through the processing section; Equipped with The heating roll is not provided with a power receiving part for receiving the rotational power to be transmitted, The heating device, wherein the plurality of bearings are provided adjacent to the plurality of power supply connectors in the axial direction of the heating roll.

2. 2. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving part is attached to the pressure rotating body.

3. 2. The heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a support roll for supporting said belt from an inside thereof, said power receiving part being attached to said support roll.

4. 4. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance heating layer is provided such that distances from both ends of the resistance heating layer to both ends in the axial direction of the heating roll are equal to each other.

5. A conveying means for conveying a sheet-shaped heated object; A heating device that heats the object to be heated that is transported by the transport means; Equipped with An apparatus for utilizing an object to be heated, comprising the heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The heated object utilization device according to claim 5, wherein the heating device is a fixing device that fixes an unfixed image onto a recording medium which is a sheet-shaped heated object.

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