JP2010217235A - Fixing device and electronic apparatus using the fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

In a fixing method in which toner is fixed on a recording medium such as paper using light, a plurality of semiconductor lasers and a laser array in which the semiconductor lasers are integrated are used, but the intensity distribution is uniform. Required.
Light emitted from light emitting means in which a plurality of laser arrays are arranged in a line is condensed by a cylindrical lens on an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material such as paper. Condensed light collected by the cylindrical lens is moved by relative movement means that moves relative to the recording medium such as paper, and uniformly illuminates the recording body, but the illuminance uniformity of the light emitting means is 10 % Or less.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device and a fixing method, and more particularly, to an optical fixing device that fixes an unfixed toner image recorded on a recording medium by irradiating light, and an electronic apparatus using them.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by heating and fixing the toner on a recording medium by melting and pressing the toner with a heated fixing roller and a pressure roller. The pressure system is generally known.

  In the case of the hot press method, it takes time for the fixing roller to reach a temperature sufficient to melt the toner. In addition, there is a problem that power consumption during standby is large because it is necessary to keep the roller at a constant temperature in order to shorten the rise time even during standby.

  In order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a light fixing method in which light is irradiated to the toner and the toner is fixed on the recording medium by heat generated by the absorption of the light.

  In the case of the photo-fixing method, the heat energy supply source to the toner is a light source such as a laser that can be turned on and off instantaneously. Therefore, power consumption can be expected to be reduced.

  In such an illuminating device for performing photofixing of toner at high speed, since a high output is required, an ordinary single semiconductor laser cannot be used, and generally a laser array in which a plurality of semiconductor lasers are integrated. Is required. However, since the light from a plurality of semiconductor lasers and the light from a plurality of laser arrays in which they are synthesized are independent of each other, the illuminance, which is the intensity of the light source, is non-uniform, so that it can be used for light fixing applications. It is necessary to make it uniform.

  As a countermeasure, there has been proposed a configuration (Patent Document 1) in which light beams from the lasers are made parallel to each other and incident on a uniformizing unit to be uniformed.

  In the conventional configuration, the laser array has a plurality of laser emission sources, and diffused light is emitted from each laser emission source. Each diffused light is collimated only in the array direction by a cylindrical lens array in which a plurality of lens elements are arranged in an array. Each diffused light is collimated by the cylindrical lens array before being mixed with each other by the diffusion.

  The diffused light generally has an intensity distribution represented by a Gaussian distribution, and the intensity distribution does not change greatly even when parallelized. Further, since the lens effect does not occur at the joint between the lens elements, the diffused light passing through the joint is not collimated and becomes unnecessary light. Therefore, the intensity distribution of the lens output light is not uniform.

  In order to make the non-uniform intensity distribution uniform, the lens emission light is further made incident on the intensity distribution uniformizing means. As the intensity distribution uniformizing means, a kaleidoscope, a homogenizer, and a fly-eye lens are used.

  As described above, in the conventional illumination device, since the laser beams are collimated before being mixed, it is necessary to arrange a cylindrical lens array immediately after the laser array. However, the closer the laser emission source and the cylindrical lens array are, the laser There is a problem that high accuracy is required for the relative position between the light emitting source and the lens element, and it is difficult to manufacture and adjust the position of the laser and the lens, and the cost is high and it is impossible to provide a low-cost optical fixing device.

Japanese Patent No. 4059623

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a light fixing device and a light fixing method using a laser beam as a light source, such as a semiconductor laser, the intensity distribution of light emitting means serving as a light source using a simple and inexpensive method. It is to achieve uniformization.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the fixing device of the present invention includes:
A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material such as paper,
A laser array formed by a laser emission source such as at least one semiconductor laser, and further, a light emitting means arranged in a plurality of lines, and
Condensing means such as a lens for condensing the emitted light from the light emitting means on the unfixed toner image;
Relative moving means for moving the condensed light condensed by the light collecting means relative to the recording medium, such as moving the recording medium with a roller, and the like. Uniform illumination on the recording medium of the light emitting means It is characterized by being within 10%.

  By setting the illuminance uniformity, which is the intensity distribution on the recording medium of the light emitting means, within 10%, it is possible to fix an unfixed toner image in a state that can withstand a fixing test without unevenness.

Further, in the fixing device of one embodiment, the laser array is configured by at least one laser light source such as a semiconductor laser arranged in a line,
The following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied.
P = W (1)
Q ≦ D ≦ 10Q (2)
(Where P is the pitch between the laser arrays, W is the full width at half maximum of the beam emitted from one laser array on the recording medium, Q is the pitch between laser emission sources such as semiconductor lasers, and D is the recording medium. (Full width at half maximum in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser emission source such as a semiconductor laser at
By satisfying the above formulas (1) and (2), the illuminance uniformity of the combined light, which is the intensity distribution of the light emitting means on the recording medium, becomes flat, and an unfixed toner image can withstand the fixing test. It can be fixed evenly in a moist state.

  The fixing device according to an embodiment is characterized in that the condensing means such as the lens is a cylindrical lens having a line direction as a generatrix direction.

  Since laser light sources with different optical resonators do not interfere with each other, laser light from the laser array in which the semiconductor lasers of the present invention are integrated or light emitting means in which the laser arrays are integrated interfere to produce speckles or the like. There is no.

  However, if there is an opening or the like in the middle of the optical path, laser light emitted from the same optical resonator may be superimposed by diffraction or the like, and may cause speckle or the like due to interference. Condensing light with a cylindrical lens having the line direction of the present embodiment as the generatrix direction can prevent the presence of an opening in the middle of the optical path, and can prevent the occurrence of speckles.

  The fixing device according to an embodiment further includes a reflection unit configured to superimpose light that is not condensed on the unfixed toner image on the condensed light.

  In this case, it is necessary to be careful not to superimpose laser beams emitted from the same optical resonator while maintaining coherence. However, laser beams that have not been used effectively can be reused, reducing power consumption. Etc. can be realized.

  Also, an electronic apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine according to an embodiment includes the fixing device of the present invention.

  Using a simple and inexpensive method, it is possible to adopt a light fixing method or a light fixing device that achieves uniform intensity distribution of the light emitting means serving as a light source. Low power consumption and standby time of the printer, copying machine, etc. Can be shortened.

  The present invention is a light fixing device and a light fixing method using a laser beam represented by a semiconductor laser represented by a semiconductor laser that can be realized compactly and compactly with a short rise time after power-on. A uniform intensity distribution of the means can be achieved. As a result, a compact and low-cost optical fixing mechanism can be installed in a printer, a copier, etc., and the power consumption of the electronic device can be reduced and the standby time can be shortened.

It is a figure for demonstrating the light emission means of the fixing device in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a fixing device in the first embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the laser array in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the intensity distribution of the synthetic | combination spot of the laser array in 1st Embodiment. It is a system diagram explaining the light emission means and the optical fixing device in the first embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the light emission means and optical fixing apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the laser array in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the light emission means of the fixing device in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the light emission means of the fixing device in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the light emission means of the fixing device in 5th Embodiment.

  In the following description of the embodiments, various limitations are made to implement the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and drawings.

  In the following description of the embodiments, members having the same function and action are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

(First embodiment)
The configuration, manufacturing method and control method of the optical fixing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an illumination device mounted on the optical fixing device, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the optical fixing device.
The illuminating device 10 includes a light emitting means 15 in which a laser array 14 is linearly arranged at an equal interval P in the X direction in the drawing, and a cylindrical lens 18 having a generatrix in the X direction.

  The optical fixing device 50 includes the illumination device 10 and relative moving means 22 such as a roller that moves the recording body 16 such as paper on which an unfixed toner image is formed relative to the illumination device. In the case of the optical fixing method, since the focal position and the like are important, a recording body position stabilizing device 24 for stabilizing the position of the recording body may be provided.

  In the above example, the relative moving means has moved the recording body, but may be configured such that the lighting device 10 side moves.

  The outline | summary of the illuminating device 10 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 1A is a view of the illumination device 10 viewed from the relative movement direction, that is, the Y direction that is the transport direction, and FIG. 1B is a view that is viewed from the X direction that is the direction in which the laser arrays 14 are arranged. FIG. 1C is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a spot of the illuminating device 10, and a diagram showing an intensity distribution of the illuminating device 10 viewed from the X direction and the Y direction.

  The synthesized light Z2 emitted from each laser array 14 reaches the cylindrical lens 18 while diverging.

  The cylindrical lens 18 brings the combined light Z2 into a converged state in the Y direction, which is its child line direction, and the converged combined light Z2 reaches a recording body 16 such as paper on which an unfixed toner image (not shown) is formed. .

  In the X direction of FIG. 1, the cylindrical lens 18 does not change the divergence angle of the synthesized light Z2. Even after passing through the cylindrical lens 18, the combined light Z2 diverges in the X direction and reaches the recording body 16 as the combined light Z3.

  With the above optical path, the spot SP2 irradiated with the combined light Z2 from one laser array on the recording medium 16 has an elliptical shape with the X direction as the major axis.

  Each synthesized light Z2 emitted from each laser array 14 forms each spot SP2 so that its ends overlap in the X direction, and a synthesized spot SP3 is formed on the recording medium 16. As will be described later, the intensity distribution at that time is substantially flat in the X direction.

Next, an outline of the optical fixing device 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The optical fixing device 50 irradiates the recording medium 16 on which an unfixed toner image (not shown) is formed by the irradiation device 10 with laser light. The unfixed toner image absorbs the laser beam and becomes thermal energy, and the unfixed toner image is melted and fixed on the recording body 16, and the toner is fixed and fixed on the recording body 16.
The recording body 16 such as paper is conveyed in the Y direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the X direction, which is the direction in which the laser arrays 14 of the illumination device 10 are arranged. The conveyance is performed by relative movement means 22 such as a conveyance roller.

  Further, the length in the X direction of the combined spot SP3 of the illumination device 10 is set to be larger than that of the recording body 16 so that the entire surface of the recording body 16 can be illuminated by an area having a flat intensity distribution by the conveyance.

  The Z-direction distance L1 between the light emitting means 15 of the illuminating device 10 and the recording body 16 always varies due to vibrations when the recording body 16 is transported, deflection, undulation, floating, etc. of the recording body 16 itself. For this reason, the Z-direction distance L1 is always kept constant by the recording body position stabilizer 24.

  Hereinafter, a detailed embodiment of the laser array 14 will be described.

  A detailed view of the laser array 14 is shown in FIG. In the laser array 14, a plurality of laser emission sources 12 such as semiconductor lasers are arranged at equal intervals Q in the X direction.

  The intensity distribution of the emitted light Z1 emitted from the laser light source 12 is a Gaussian distribution.

  The intensity distribution of the laser array 14 according to the Z-direction distance L1 from the laser emission source 12 to the recording body 16 will be described below.

  In the description, it is assumed that one laser emission source 12 has a full width at half maximum of a spot irradiated on the recording medium 16 as D, and the pitch on the recording medium 16 is the pitch Q of the laser emission source 12 itself.

  FIG. 3B shows a simulation result of the intensity distribution of the recording medium 16 in the X direction when the Z-direction distance L1 is short, for example, when D = 0.5Q.

  The superposition of the intensity distributions SI1 of the single laser emission sources becomes the intensity distribution SI2 of the combined light Z2 of the laser array 14.

  Spots irradiated by the laser light source 12 on the recording medium 16 in the X direction have Gaussian distributions independent from each other, and there is no energy continuity and uniformity is not good.

  However, since the outgoing light Z1 has a divergence, as the Z-direction distance L1 becomes longer, the DSP1, which is the beam diameter in the X direction of the outgoing light Z1, spreads, and the outgoing lights are mixed. That is, as the Z-direction distance L1 becomes longer, the energy continuity in the X direction of the combined light Z2 is developed.

  FIG. 3C shows the intensity distribution SI2 when D = Q, which is a state in which the Z-direction distance L1 is long, with respect to FIG. Compared with the intensity distribution SI1 of the single laser emission source 12, an intensity distribution variation of about 10% of the peak value is observed, but the region where the intensity distribution is flat is widened.

  In the light fixing method, the uniformity of the intensity distribution is important, but ultimately the amount of heat converted from the amount of light is important, not the uniformity of the amount of light. The amount of heat is diffused in the recording medium 16 such as paper. Therefore, if the light amount variation is about 10%, the intensity distribution is practical for light fixing applications.

  The present inventor changed the irradiation condition of the illumination device 10 as shown in Table 1 and conducted an unfixed toner image fixing experiment, and confirmed that there was no problem in fixing quality if the light amount variation was 10% or less. did.

  Specifically, the evaluation was performed by observing the fixing state of black toner having a diameter of about 10 μm using a semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 780 nm as a light source. The irradiation conditions were CW emission control with an energy of 1.3 (J / cm 2), pulse emission control with an irradiation energy of 0.6 (J / cm 2) with a duty ratio of 55%, an irradiation energy of 0.1% with a duty ratio of 15%. This was confirmed by three types of pulse emission control of 4 (J / cm 2).

  The determination of the fixing state was evaluated by pressing a scotch mending tape 810 manufactured by Sumitomo 3M on the high-quality paper as a recording medium against the toner image after fixing and peeling it off.

  Good if no toner is transferred to the tape side. Good, no problem with the toner image on the recording medium. However, if the toner is partially transferred on the tape, the toner image on the recording medium is abnormal. What was seen was marked as x.

  The numerical value of the fluctuation amount in Table 1 indicates the drop rate from the peak value, and 0% indicates a flat state. Although the CW drive is better, it can be confirmed that the fixing is complete if the fluctuation amount is 10% or less in any driving method.

  Further, when the Z-direction distance L1 becomes longer and D = 1.5Q, as shown in FIG. 3D, the intensity distribution SI2 of the combined light Z2 has a completely flat region.

  Further, when the Z-direction distance L1 becomes longer and D = 10Q, the intensity distribution SI2 of the combined light Z2 becomes a Gaussian distribution as shown in FIG.

  Since a plurality of laser emission sources 12 are arranged in the X direction in the laser array 14, the same condition of the synthesized light Z <b> 2 as compared with the intensity distribution SI <b> 1 in the X direction of the spot formed on the recording medium 16 by the single laser emission source 12. The intensity distribution SI2 becomes flat (uniform) in the X direction, and the irradiation area can be widened.

  The advantage of flattening the intensity distribution SI2 is that the intensity distribution of the combined light Z3 obtained by superimposing the combined light Z2 can be easily made uniform.

  Note that at least one laser emission source 12 may be provided in the laser array 14, but by providing a plurality of laser emission sources 12, the amount of light emission required per laser emission source can be reduced as compared with the single laser emission source 12. Therefore, it is possible to provide the lighting device 10 with high illuminance at low cost.

  Further, the configuration in which a plurality of laser emission sources 12 are provided can manufacture the laser emission sources 12 in a lump, so that the illumination device 10 can be provided at low cost. Further, even if one of the laser emission sources 12 breaks down, the light is overlapped, so that a problem that a part of the area is not illuminated does not occur, and a robust system can be provided.

  In the optical fixing device 50, since the recording body 16 as an irradiation object is moved relative to the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, the energy is illuminated on the entire surface of the recording body 16 if the intensity distribution is not uniform in the X direction. It becomes difficult to obtain a uniform amount. Therefore, it is necessary to make the intensity distribution in the X direction of the composite spot SP3 uniform.

  Hereinafter, the intensity distribution SI3 of the combined spot SP3 of the combined spot light emitting means 15 itself will be described.

  Since the laser arrays 14 are arranged in the X direction at equal pitches P, the spots SP2 that the laser arrays 14 irradiate on the recording medium 16 are also arranged in the X direction at the pitch P, and are emitted from the laser array 14. Some synthesized light Z2 has a Gaussian distribution or an intensity distribution in which a part of the intensity distribution is flat. The spot SP2 can be formed using the combined light Z2 from the plurality of laser emission sources 12, and the combined spot SP3 can be formed by combining the spot SP2.

  In the description, the full width at half maximum of the spot SP2 that one laser array 14 irradiates on the recording medium 16 is W. The pitch on the recording medium 16 is referred to as the pitch P because it matches the pitch P of the laser array 14 itself.

  Table 2 shows that when the full width at half maximum D in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser emission source is 1 to 10 times the pitch Q between the laser emission sources on the recording body 16, 5 is a table in which the variation rate of SI3 is examined for each ratio W / P of the full width at half maximum W in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser array and the pitch P between the laser arrays.

  As shown in Table 2, the lower the D / Q ratio, the worse the uniformity of SI3, whether the W / P ratio is larger or smaller than 1. When the intensity distribution SI2 of the laser array 14 is in a range from a Gaussian distribution to a uniform distribution, the combined spot SP3 of the light emitting means 15 on the recording body 16 has the best intensity distribution SI3 when P = W.

  The variation rate of SI3 in Table 2 indicates the ratio of the intensity variation amount to the light intensity of the flat region where the intensity distribution on the peak value side of the SI3 intensity distribution is uniform.

Therefore, in order to obtain the uniform intensity distribution SI3 which is the subject of the present invention in SP3 which is the final synthesis spot, the following expressions (1) and (2) may be satisfied.
P = W (1)
Q ≦ D ≦ 10Q (2)
Where Q is the pitch between laser emission sources such as semiconductor lasers, D is the full width at half maximum in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser emission source such as a semiconductor laser on the recording medium, and P is the pitch between laser arrays. Let W be the full width at half maximum in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser array.

  As described above, the inventor has described the above-described pitch Q between laser emission sources such as semiconductor lasers, full width at half maximum D in the line direction of a beam emitted from one laser emission source such as a semiconductor laser on the recording medium, and pitch between laser arrays. With respect to the relationship between P and the full width at half maximum W in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser array on the recording medium, an intensity distribution was simulated. As a result, the optimum conditions for obtaining the illuminance uniformity required for the optical fixing device were derived.

  As described above, it has been found that a light source having a substantially flat intensity distribution can be manufactured by using a simple and inexpensive method by using a plurality of laser arrays. The optimum conditions will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the full width at half maximum D of the laser emission source 12 on the recording medium 16 is changed to 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, and 2 mm by changing the Z-direction distance L1 in FIGS. It is a figure which shows the result of having simulated how intensity distribution SI3 of synthetic | combination spot SP3 which is intensity distribution of the light emission means 15 changes with the pitch P of. The vertical axis is
For simplification, the simulation was performed in the case where two laser arrays 14 irradiate the recording medium 16.

  The overlap of the spots SP2 of the individual laser arrays 14 becomes a combined spot SP3, and its intensity distribution SI3 is also expressed as a combination of the intensity distribution SI2 of the laser array 14. Even when three or more laser arrays 14 irradiate the recording medium 16, the result is the same.

  FIG. 4A shows the intensity distribution SI3 of the composite spot SP3 when D = Q and W = 0.87P, that is, P = 4.4 mm. At this time, the two SI2 are intensity distributions having a variation of 10% as described above, and are separated from each other, and a uniform intensity distribution is not obtained.

  FIG. 4B shows the intensity distribution SI3 of the composite spot SP3 when D = Q and W = P, that is, P = 3.8 mm. The two intensity distributions SI2 are combined to obtain an intensity distribution SI3 in which only 10% of the intensity distribution of the laser array 14 itself appears.

  FIG. 4C shows the intensity distribution of the combined spot SP3 when D = 1.5Q and W = 0.87P. At this time, the two spots SP2 have the flat intensity distribution SI2 as described above, but are separated from each other, and a uniform intensity distribution is not obtained as SI3.

  FIG. 4D shows the intensity distribution of the combined spot SP3 when D = 1.5Q and W = P. The intensity distributions SI2 of the two spots SP2 are combined to obtain a uniform intensity distribution SI3 of the combined spot SP3. Under all the conditions, the widest flat area of 6.7 mm can be secured at this time, and the fixing energy does not become excessive or deficient depending on the place at the time of photofixing, and the energy can be used effectively.

  FIG. 4E shows the intensity distribution of the composite spot SP3 when D = 10Q and W = 0.56P, that is, P = 6.7 mm. At this time, the two spots SP2 have the Gaussian distribution-like intensity distribution SI2 and are separated from each other, and a uniform intensity distribution is not obtained.

  Finally, FIG. 4F shows the intensity distribution of the combined spot SP3 when D = 10Q and W = P. The intensity distributions SI2 of the two spots SP2 are combined to obtain a uniform intensity distribution SI3 of the combined spot SP3.

  As described above, in Q ≦ D ≦ 10Q, the most uniform intensity distribution of the combined spot SP3 can be obtained when W = P.

  Furthermore, the effect of using a plurality of laser arrays will be described below.

  In order to form an irradiation spot that is long in one direction, such as the synthetic spot SP3 that irradiates all areas in one direction (X direction) of the recording medium 16, a laser array that extends in the X direction is used as follows. There may be problems.

  Since the laser array is usually formed in a batch by the wafer process, if the recording body 16 is paper and the size is A4 or A3, the length of the laser array 14 is about 300 mm, and the laser array itself is difficult to manufacture and is expensive. become.

  Further, since heat generation due to light emission occurs from the entire laser array 14, a problem of heat dissipation also occurs. The cooling device also becomes longer and has a problem of becoming expensive.

  Furthermore, since all the laser emission sources are connected in parallel, the amount of current supplied to the laser array increases to 200 A or more, the control circuit becomes special, and the cost increases.

  By using a laser array divided into a plurality of parts for the above problems, manufacturing is easy and inexpensive. In addition, since the heating element is also divided, it is easy to dissipate heat, and a system using a plurality of small cooling devices can be adopted, resulting in a low price.

Furthermore, since the laser array is divided, it is only necessary to control the current for each laser array, and the amount of current to be controlled can be reduced.
The laser array is formed by at least one laser light source such as a semiconductor laser. That is, the single laser may be regarded as a laser array, the light emitting means 15 may be formed, and the final combined spot SP3 may be formed as the illumination device 10.

  Next, the optical fixing device 50 will be described.

  The light emitted from the light emitting means 15 of the illuminating device 10 is narrowed by the cylindrical lens 18 with respect to the Y direction which is the transport direction. In the transport direction, the intensity distribution is a steep distribution as shown by HI3 in FIG. Become.

  In the Y direction, which is the transport direction, the energy density of the composite spot SP3 increases due to the condensing action of the cylindrical lens 18, so that the toner temperature can be raised to the melting temperature even with a light source with a small light emission amount.

  As a result, even a light source with a small amount of emitted light can be used, so that an inexpensive optical fixing device can be provided.

  The cylindrical lens 18 is not limited in its shape, and is a lens having a spherical surface or an aspheric surface on one side or both sides, or a refractive index distribution lens, and does not act on the X direction, and does not act on the Y direction. As long as it has a lens action on the surface.

  Since laser light sources with different optical resonators do not interfere with each other, laser light from the laser array in which the semiconductor lasers of the present invention are integrated or light emitting means in which the laser arrays are integrated interfere to produce speckles or the like. There is no.

  However, if there is an opening or the like in the middle of the optical path, the laser light emitted from the same optical resonator may be superimposed by diffraction or the like and interfere to generate speckles. Condensing light with a cylindrical lens having the line direction of the present embodiment as the generatrix direction can prevent the presence of an opening in the middle of the optical path, and can prevent the occurrence of speckles.

  However, when the emitted light is narrowed as described above, when the Z-direction distance L1 varies, the diameter of the composite spot SP3 varies in the Y direction, the energy density varies, and the toner does not sufficiently melt and cannot be fixed to the recording medium 16. Challenges arise.

  Further, since the Z-direction distance L1 varies due to vibration of the mounting apparatus itself, vibration due to conveyance of the recording body 16, deflection, undulation, floating, etc. of the recording body 16, an unfixed state may occur.

  Therefore, it is preferable in the optical fixing device 50 to reduce the variation in the Z-direction distance L1 in the region where the illumination device 10 illuminates the recording body 16.

  The recording body position stabilizing device 24 is a device that solves the above problems, and has a structure in which the recording body conveyance path is inclined or an electrostatic force or air pressure is applied to the recording body conveyance path. Float, deflection, swell, etc. can be smoothed.

  The cylindrical lens 18 is desirably set to have a depth of focus larger than the variation amount of the Z-direction distance L <b> 1 suppressed by the recording body position stabilizer 24. Thereby, stable toner fixing can be performed.

  When the depth of focus of the cylindrical lens 18 is increased, the distance from the cylindrical lens 18 to the recording body 16 is increased, leading to an increase in the overall length of the illumination device 10.

  As a solution, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the illumination device 10 by placing a plurality of reflecting mirrors in the optical path and reflecting the light.

  Further, although the intensity distribution of the composite spot SP3 is substantially flat in the X direction, it is necessary to make it uniform in the Y direction which is the transport direction.

  In order to achieve the uniformity, as described in the fixing experiment, the light source is continuously driven or high-speed pulse driving is performed. The pulse drive will be described in detail. In the Y direction, the pulse frequency, the duty ratio, and the conveyance speed may be set so that a part of the region irradiated by the previous pulse irradiation is irradiated again by the next pulse irradiation. preferable.

  The relative moving means 22 is not limited to the transport roller, and any means may be used as long as it transports the recording medium 16, and conversely, it may relatively move the illumination light itself such as a galvano mirror.

  The X direction, which is the direction in which the laser array 14 is arranged, and the Y direction, which is the conveyance direction of the recording body 16, are orthogonal to each other and parallel to the direction of each side of the recording body 16. With this configuration, the conveyance distance when illuminating the entire recording medium 16 can be shortened.

  The direction in which the laser array 14 is arranged and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 3 are not limited to an orthogonal relationship. If they are different, the entire recording body 16 can be illuminated. At this time, the light collection direction by the cylindrical lens 18 is not limited to the Y direction, and may coincide with the transport direction.

  In this apparatus, the recording body 16 is transported and the entire recording body 16 is illuminated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the illumination apparatus 10 may be transported in the Y direction to illuminate the entire recording body 16. That is, it is only necessary to change the relative position of the recording body 16 and the illumination device 10 in the Y direction so that the entire recording body 16 can be illuminated.

  Further, the present invention has been described with reference to the application of fixing an unfixed toner image to the recording medium 16, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied as long as it is fixed, processed, and exposed by illumination from the illumination device 10. Is possible.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, an example of a method for controlling the optical fixing device according to the present embodiment will be described in the case where it is applied to a printing-related electronic device such as a copying machine.

  FIG. 5 shows a system diagram of the control device of the optical fixing device. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the optical fixing device 50 when there is an unfixed toner image in a partial area of the recording medium 16, and FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram viewed from the X direction, which is the direction in which the laser arrays 14 are arranged. FIG. 6C is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a spot of the illuminating device 10 and a diagram showing an intensity distribution of the illuminating device 10 viewed from the X direction and the Y direction.

  The position information of the unfixed toner image on the recording medium 16 when the driving of the light emitting means 15 is controlled based on the toner position information is transmitted to the control device.

  The first-stage control device selects and drives the laser array group 40 at the position where the unfixed toner is irradiated from the obtained toner position information. The composite spot SP3 formed on the recording medium 16 by the laser array group 40 is irradiated on the toner.

  On the other hand, the laser array group 41 that is not at the position where the unfixed toner is irradiated does not emit light and does not consume power.

  By using this control method, energy for fixing can be given only to the area necessary for fixing where unfixed toner exists, so recording such as heat fixing of a conventional heat roller or light fixing of a flash lamp is possible. Compared with a method in which the entire paper is heated and fixed collectively, an optical fixing device with low power consumption can be provided.

  In addition, when a plurality of recording sheets are continuously fixed, the control device creates a space without a recording sheet between the previous recording sheet and the next recording sheet, but the light source does not emit light at that time. Control.

  Further, the control device performs control to immediately stop the light emission of the light source when an error such as a paper jam occurs in order to ensure safety.

  Further, the absorption rate of the laser beam differs depending on the color (type) of the toner, and the light energy required for melting the toner differs. Further, the light energy required for melting the toner varies depending on the thickness (density) of the toner. Therefore, when the toner color information and thickness information are transmitted to the control device, the control device calculates the necessary light energy, and calculates the pulse width, pulse frequency, and recording paper conveyance speed that are optimal for the toner melting conditions. Further, the toner position information is added to drive each light source and the recording paper transport device.

  By using this control method, the irradiation conditions can be optimized according to the toner melting conditions, so that it is possible to provide an optical fixing device having stable fixing quality and low power consumption.

(Second Embodiment)
In order to further flatten the intensity distribution SI2 of the laser array 14, it is only necessary to reduce the amount of light at the central portion and increase the amount of light at the peripheral portion.

  The amount of light at the center of the intensity distribution SI2 is mainly caused by the amount of light emitted from the laser emission source 12 at the center of the laser array 14. Further, the amount of light in the peripheral portion of the intensity distribution SI2 is caused by the amount of light emitted from the laser emission source 12 in the peripheral portion of the laser array 14.

That is, the amount of light emitted from the center portion of the laser array may be reduced and the amount of light at the peripheral portion may be increased. An embodiment of the laser array 14 having such a configuration will be described below.
In the laser array 14 shown in FIG. 7A, the laser emission sources 12 are not provided at regular intervals as in the first embodiment, and the non-emission source 13 is provided in the laser emission source 12. There are features.
The non-light-emitting source 13 is provided so that the density increases as it goes inside the laser array 14. In other words, the laser emission sources 12 that emit light increase toward the outside of the laser array 14, and the amount of emitted light increases.

Therefore, the intensity distribution SI2 of the spot formed on the recording medium 16 by the laser array 14 becomes flatter than the intensity distribution when the laser array emits light at equal intervals, and the irradiation area can be expanded.
The non-light-emitting source 13 is manufactured by a method of wiring that prevents current from flowing through the non-light-emitting source 13 or a method of not preparing a laser light-emitting source in the region of the non-light-emitting source 13 in advance.

  The laser array 14 shown in FIG. 7B is still another embodiment. The difference from the above embodiment is that the laser emission sources 12 are not provided at equal intervals, but are provided such that the density of the laser emission sources 12 increases toward the outside of the laser array 14.

  With this structure, the amount of light at the center of the laser array 14 decreases and the amount of light at the periphery increases, so that the intensity distribution SI2 of the spots formed on the recording medium 16 by the laser array 14 is emitted at equal intervals by the laser array. Compared with the intensity distribution at the time of carrying out, it becomes flatter and an irradiation area can be expanded.

  The above-described two embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this. The laser beam array configured to increase the amount of light emitted from the peripheral portion rather than the central portion of the laser array has the same effect. An effect can be obtained.

  The illumination device 10 and the light fixing device 50 related to the present invention can be realized by using any of the laser arrays described above.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that reflection mirrors 55 are installed on both side surfaces in the X direction of the illumination device.

  FIG. 8A is a view of the illumination device 10 as seen from the relative movement direction, that is, the Y direction as the transport direction, and FIG. 1B is a view as seen from the X direction as the direction in which the laser arrays 14 are arranged. FIG. 8C is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a spot of the illuminating device 10, and a diagram showing an intensity distribution of the illuminating device 10 viewed from the X direction and the Y direction.

  In the illuminating device 10 described in the first embodiment, it is necessary to uniformly illuminate the entire recording body 16, but since the energy intensity at the end in the X direction of the composite spot SP3 is small, a region with a flat intensity distribution is recorded. The composite spot SP3 is designed to be slightly larger than the recording body 16 so that the body 16 can be illuminated.

  For this reason, a part of the outermost spot among the synthesized spots SP3 does not irradiate the recording medium 16, and energy loss occurs.

  On the other hand, in the third embodiment, in the combined light Z2 from the outermost laser array, only the light that is not irradiated on the recording medium 16 is reflected by the reflecting means 55 such as the reflection mirror and superimposed on the combined spot SP3.

  Light that is not condensed on the unfixed toner image can be superimposed on the condensed light, and the intensity distribution SI3 of the combined spot SP3 has a flat area at the end in the X direction.

  However, in the case of this embodiment, when laser light emitted from the same optical resonator is superimposed, speckles or the like may occur, so care must be taken not to superimpose while maintaining coherence.

  According to the present invention, laser light that has not been effectively utilized can be reused, and low power consumption can be realized.

(Fourth embodiment)
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A is a view of the illumination device 10 as viewed from the relative movement direction, that is, the Y direction as the transport direction, and FIG. 9B is a view as viewed from the X direction as the direction in which the laser arrays 14 are arranged. The difference from the first embodiment is that a first cylindrical lens 18 a and a second cylindrical lens 18 b are provided instead of the cylindrical lens 18.

  When the divergence angle of the combined light Z2 of the laser array 14 is small, the distance between the issuing means 15 and the recording body 16 becomes long in order to overlap the combined light.

  Also in the Y direction, the combined light Z2 diverges, so the beam diameter expands. For this reason, a condensing lens in the Y direction needs to have a large diameter, causing problems such as an increase in the length and cost of the apparatus.

  The first cylindrical lens 18a and the second cylindrical lens 18b collimate the synthesized light Z2 in the Y direction. Thereby, the condenser lens in the Y direction is reduced in size, and the effects of downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus are produced.

  The first cylindrical lens 18a and the second cylindrical lens 18b are not limited in shape, but those having no boundary such as aperture limitation in the X direction prevent interference between the same laser beams of the optical resonator. Is preferable.

  Therefore, it is a cylindrical lens having a spherical surface or an aspherical surface on one or both surfaces, or a gradient index lens, or a grating element, which does not act on the lens in the X direction, has no aperture limitation, and the like. Any lens can be used.

(Fifth embodiment)
A fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A is a view of the illumination device 10 as viewed from the relative movement direction, that is, the Y direction as the transport direction, and FIG. 10B is a view as viewed from the X direction as the direction in which the laser arrays 14 are arranged. FIG. 10C is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a spot of the illuminating device 10 and an intensity distribution of the illuminating device 10 viewed from the X direction and the Y direction.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that the cylindrical lens 18 is not provided.

  In the first embodiment, the cylindrical lens 18 is used to increase the energy density in the Y direction and increase the temperature of the irradiated object. However, when the output of the light emitting means 15 is large or the irradiated surface requires a low energy density. In this case, there is no need to increase the energy density, the cylindrical lens 18 is not required, and the cost can be reduced if it is omitted.

  Furthermore, compared with the first embodiment, there is an advantage that the integrated light amount given to the irradiated surface is less likely to change.

  For example, it is preferable to apply the present embodiment when the present invention is applied to an electronic device such as an exposure application using an integrated light amount as an illumination condition.

  According to the present invention, the present invention can be applied to an optical fixing device that fixes toner on recording paper, and it is effective to apply the optical fixing device to an electronic apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a FAX.

  In addition to the optical fixing device, the optical fixing method can be widely used industrially. It can also be applied to an exposure apparatus or the like.

  By applying to the above apparatus, it becomes possible to reduce power consumption compared with the conventional optical fixing apparatus and optical fixing method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Illuminating device 12 Laser emission source 14 Laser array 15 Light emission means 16 Recording body 18 Condensing means (cylindrical lens)
22 Relative moving means 24 Recording medium position stabilizing device 50 Fixing device (optical fixing device)
55 Reflecting means

Claims (5)

A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium,
A light emitting means in which a plurality of laser arrays are arranged in a line;
Condensing means for condensing the emitted light from the light emitting means on the unfixed toner image;
Relative movement means for moving the condensed light collected by the light collecting means relative to the recording medium, and the illuminance uniformity of the light emitting means is within 10%. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the laser array includes at least one laser emission source arranged in a line and satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2).
P = W (1)
Q ≦ D ≦ 10Q (2)
(Where P is the pitch between the laser arrays, W is the full width at half maximum of the beam emitted from one laser array on the recording medium, Q is the pitch between laser emission sources such as semiconductor lasers, and D is the recording medium. (Full width at half maximum in the line direction of the beam emitted from one laser emission source such as a semiconductor laser at   The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the condensing unit is a cylindrical lens having a line direction as a generatrix direction. The light that is not condensed on the unfixed toner image;
The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising reflecting means for superimposing the condensed light.   An electronic apparatus comprising the fixing device according to claim 1.