Fixing device with condensed LED light

• US 5,436,710 A
• Filed: 02/17/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Tadamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, A. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Royer, William J.
• Application Number:
  US08/197,724
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 355/282, 355/285, 355/290, 219/216, 219/469, 219/470, 219/471, 432/60, 346/160.1
• US Class Current: 399/336
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2007 using radiant heat, e.g. infrared lamps, microwave heaters

Abstract

In the present invention, the fixing device for fixing toner images on a sheet comprises a LED array 1 provided with a plurality of LEDs and a cyrindrical lens 2. The cyrindrical lens 2 is arranged along the LED array 1 to condense the light emitted from the LED array 1 onto the surface of the sheet 3. Therefore, the toner image 8 is fused via heat of the condensed light of the LED array 1 condensed by the cyrindrical lens 2, such that the toner image 8 is fixed onto the surface of the sheet 3.

Claims

1. A fixing device for fixing toner images on a paper comprising:

light-emitting diode array provided with plurality of light-emitting diodes; and

condensing means for condensing the light emitted from said light-emitting diode array onto said toner images on the paper.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes is set in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction and serially connected to a constant-current regulated circuit.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said condensing means is a cylindrical lens constructed by bonding a plurality of individual members in a direction perpendicular to a sheets feeding direction.

4. The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

control means for lighting pulsingly said plurality of light-emitting diodes.

5. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein said control means lights pulsingly said plurality of light-emitting diodes in accordance with a size of a transported sheet.

6. The fixing device according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting means for setting an optionally fixing region, including less then the total number of light-emitting diodes,

wherein said control means light pulsingly only the light-emitting diode corresponding to said optionally fixing region set by said setting means.

7. The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising in proximity to said condensing means;

a reflector for reflecting the light reflected or diffused at the paper.

8. The fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising;

heating means for uniformly heating said paper and said toner images.

9. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein said heating means is a halogen lamp disposed upstream from said light-emitting diode array in a sheet transport direction.

10. A fixing device for fixing toner images on a paper comprising:

a transparent glass roller including a light-emitting diode array provided with a plurality of light-emitting diodes and condensing means for condensing the light emitted from said light-emitting diode array, and

a roller contacting with said transparent glass roller and having a nip portion formed therebetween.

11. The fixing device according to claim 10, wherein said condensing means condenses the light emitted from said light-emitting diode array onto said nip portion.

12. The fixing device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a peel-ply layer on the exterior surface of said transparent glass roller for preventing toner adhesion thereto.

13. A fixing device for fixing toner images on a paper comprising:

light-emitting diode array provided with a plurality of light-emitting diodes;

condensing means for condensing the light emitted from said light-emitted diode array onto said toner images; and

a light-emitting diode head for positioning and fixedly mounting said light-emitting diode array and said condensing means, and for unifying a heat dissipating member or dissipating the heat thereof and a guide member for mounting a body of the fixing device relative to a path of transportation for the paper

14. A fixing device for fixing toner images on a paper, comprising:

means for transporting paper with toner particles adhering thereto;

a first light source above the means for transporting for preliminarily pre-heating the toner particles and paper; and

a second light source of an LED array positioned downstream of the first light source for fusing the toner particles onto the paper.

15. A fixing device for fixing toner images on a paper, comprising:

means for transporting paper with toner particles adhering thereto;

a plurality of LEDs arrayed across the means for transporting paper, including a plurality of LEDs arrayed along and above means for transporting paper;

means for directing the light from the LEDs to the toner particles and paper; and

means for pulsing selective ones of the LEDs in a predetermined order to fuse the toner particles onto the paper.

16. The fixing device according to claim 15 wherein the means for pulsing drives every other LED.

17. The fixing device according to claim 15 further including a reflector member positioned below the plurality of LEDs and above the means for transporting paper to re-reflect light reflected from the paper.

18. The fixing device accordingly to claim 15, wherein the means for directing includes means for condensing the light from the LEDs onto the toner particles.