	US 11,698,596 B2
	Fixing device fixing developing agent image to sheet by electrostatically spraying charged fixing solution
Yutaka Kakigahara, Nagoya (JP); Kengo Takeda, Tokai (JP); Jun Mihara, Nagoya (JP); Satoshi Murata, Nagoya (JP); Shinya Yamamoto, Nagoya (JP); Tomoaki Hattori, Nagoya (JP); Kumiko Sakaguchi, Nagoya (JP); Takayuki Higuchi, Anpachi-gun (JP); Tatsuya Ezaka, Kariya (JP); Emi Shimizu, Nagoya (JP); and Kentaro Murayama, Kasugai (JP)
Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi-Ken (JP)
Filed on May 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/319,852.
Application 17/319,852 is a continuation of application No. 16/556,320, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,009,820.
Application 16/556,320 is a continuation of application No. 15/940,106, filed on Mar. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,509,351, issued on Dec. 17, 2019.
Application 15/940,106 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/JP2016/079034, filed on Sep. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 2015-194631 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2015; application No. 2015-194654 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2015; application No. 2015-194754 (JP), filed on Sep. 30, 2015; application No. 2015-253038 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2015; application No. 2015-253388 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2015; application No. 2016-050499 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2016; application No. 2016-050502 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2016; application No. 2016-050505 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2016; application No. 2016-050783 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2016; and application No. 2016-050784 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0263458 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)

CPC G03G 15/2096 (2013.01) [G03G 15/50 (2013.01); G03G 15/20 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A fixing device for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising:

a container for storing the fixing solution;

a plurality of nozzles in communication with the container and for spraying the fixing solution toward the developing agent image;

a potential difference generating portion for generating a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles; and

a controller controlling a voltage applied to the potential difference generating portion, the controller applying voltage to the potential difference generating portion such that the fixing solution is sprayed from the plurality of nozzles before a leading end of the recording sheet reaches a fixing region, wherein the controller is configured to:

set the voltage to a first voltage with which the fixing solution is not sprayed from the plurality of nozzles in a standby state; and

set the voltage to a second voltage higher than the first voltage at a prescribed timing before the leading end of the recording sheet reaches the fixing region in print control.

13. A fixing device for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising:

a container for storing the fixing solution;

a plurality of nozzles in communication with the container and for spraying the fixing solution toward the developing agent image;

a fixing head provided with the plurality of nozzles, the fixing head comprising a plurality of fixing heads arrayed in a widthwise direction of the recording sheet,

wherein the controller is configured to individually control voltages to be applied to the plurality of fixing heads.