Fixing device and temperature control method in fixing device
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYoshiaki Okano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fixing device of the present invention has a fixing belt that is brought in contact with a recording medium to heat and fix a developer image formed on the recording medium. Plural supporting rollers support the fixing belt rotatably. Pressing rollers are provided opposing to the supporting rollers via the fixing belt for clamping and conveying the recording medium jointly with the fixing belt. A temperature controller raises the temperature of a heating roller to a second set temperature from a first set temperature after the temperature of the fixing belt drops to a prescribed temperature lower than that in the heating and fixing state, when shifting to the ready state after the heating and fixing state is complete.
Claims12
A fixing device comprising:
- a fixing belt that is brought in contact with a recording medium to heat and fix a developer image formed on the recording medium;
- plural supporting rollers to support the fixing belt rotatably;
- a pressing roller that is arranged opposing to the supporting rollers via the fixing belt to clamp and convey the recording medium jointly with the fixing belt;
- a heating roller to heat the fixing belt by keeping a first set temperature in a heating and fixing state of the developer image by the fixing belt and by keeping a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature in a ready state;
- and
- a temperature controller that raises a temperature of the heating roller from the first set temperature to the second set temperature after the temperature of the fixing belt drops to a prescribed temperature lower than the temperature in the heating and fixing state when shifting to the ready state after the heating and fixing state is completed.
A temperature control method in a fixing device including a fixing belt, a heating roller to heat the fixing belt and a pressing roller arranged opposing to the fixing belt to clamp and convey a recording medium on which a developer image is formed, comprising the steps of:
- keeping the fixing belt at a first set temperature while the developer image is being heated and fixed;
- raising a temperature of the heating roller to a second set temperature from the first set temperature when a temperature of the fixing belt drops to a prescribed temperature lower than that in the heating and fixing after completing the heating and pressure fixing of the developer image;
- and
- keeping the fixing belt at the second set temperature in a ready state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.