Fixing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022011699-A1
Application number	US-202117487121-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Mar 28, 2019
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fixing device 9 includes a nozzle unit 9A and an opposite electrode 9B. The nozzle unit 9A sprays a fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The opposite electrode 9B is located at an interval from the nozzle unit 9A. The opposite electrode 9B is applied with a voltage. The opposite electrode 9B has a first flat plate 31 and a plurality of first projections 32. The first flat plate 31 extends in a first direction. The plurality of first projections 32 extends from the first flat plate 31 in a second direction that is a direction facing from the opposite electrode 9B toward the nozzle unit 9A. The plurality of first projections 32 are aligned in the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fixing device provided to fix a toner image on a sheet, and comprising a nozzle unit that sprays a fixing solution to the sheet on which the toner image is formed and an opposite electrode located at an interval from the nozzle unit, a voltage being applied to the opposite electrode,
wherein the opposite electrode comprises:
a first flat plate extending in a first direction; and
a plurality of first projections aligned in the first direction and extending from the first flat plate in a second direction that is a direction facing from the opposite electrode toward the nozzle unit.

2 . The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the nozzle unit comprises:
a housing capable of accommodating the fixing solution; and
a plurality of nozzles provided to discharge the fixing solution in the housing.

3 . The fixing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein a number of the plurality of first projections is larger than a number of the plurality of nozzles.

4 . The fixing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of first projections includes opposite projections that face the nozzles in the second direction and non-opposite projections that do not face the nozzles in the second direction.

5 . The fixing device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the plurality of first projections includes opposite projections that face the nozzles in the second direction and non-opposite projections that do not face the nozzles in the second direction.

6 . The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of first projections is tapered from the first flat plate toward the nozzle unit in the second direction.

7 . The fixing device according to claim 6 ,
wherein each of the plurality of first projections is an isosceles triangle flat plate.

8 . The fixing device according to claim 6 ,
wherein a tip end of each of the plurality of first projections has an arc shape.

9 . The fixing device according to claim 7 ,
wherein a tip end of each of the plurality of first projections has an arc shape.

10 . The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first direction intersects with a third direction that is a direction in which the sheet is conveyed from a photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus toward the fixing device, and the second direction intersects with both the first direction and the third direction.

11 . The fixing device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the photosensitive drum enables to rotate about an axis extending in the first direction.

12 . The fixing device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the opposite electrode further comprises:
a second flat plate located distant from the first flat plate in the third direction and extending in the first direction;
a plurality of second projections aligned in the first direction and extending from the second flat plate toward the nozzle unit in the second direction; and
a connection plate provided to electrically connect the first flat plate and the second flat plate each other.

13 . The fixing device according to claim 11 ,
wherein the opposite electrode further comprises:
a second flat plate located distant from the first flat plate in the third direction and extending in the first direction;
a plurality of second projections aligned in the first direction and extending from the second flat plate toward the nozzle unit in the second direction; and
a connection plate provided to electrically connect the first flat plate and the second flat plate each other.

14 . The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opposite electrode further comprises a connection terminal electrically connected to a power supply of an image forming apparatus and located at one end portion of the opposite electrode in the first direction.

15 . The fixing device according to claim 14 ,
wherein a tip end of each of the plurality of first projections is located between the nozzle unit and the connection terminal in the second direction.

16 . The fixing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame having an accommodation unit capable of accommodating the fixing solution sprayed from the nozzle unit, and having a bottom wall located on an opposite side to the nozzle unit with respect to the opposite electrode in the second direction and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall in the second direction, the opposite electrode being attached to the bottom wall; and an electrode provided to apply a voltage to the opposite electrode, and having a first terminal electrically connected to the opposite electrode inside the accommodation unit and a second terminal located distant from the first terminal and electrically connected to a power supply of an image forming apparatus outside the accommodation unit, wherein the sidewall has an opening, and in a state where the electrode passes through the opening, the electrode is spaced from the sidewall.

17 . The fixing device according to claim 16 ,
wherein a tip end of each of the plurality of first projections is located between the nozzle unit and the first terminal in the second direction.

18 . The fixing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opposite electrode is made of metal.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Takeda Kengo
• Kakigahara Yutaka
• Takahashi Masamitsu
• Murata Satoshi
• Kamiya Masataka

Classifications

• G03G15/2096 Primary

  using a solvent · CPC title

• G03G15/20 Primary

  for fixing, e.g. by using heat · CPC title