EP0000632B1 - Dispositif de fusion à rouleau chauffé pour copieur xérographique - Google Patents

Dispositif de fusion à rouleau chauffé pour copieur xérographique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0000632B1
EP0000632B1 EP19780300139 EP78300139A EP0000632B1 EP 0000632 B1 EP0000632 B1 EP 0000632B1 EP 19780300139 EP19780300139 EP 19780300139 EP 78300139 A EP78300139 A EP 78300139A EP 0000632 B1 EP0000632 B1 EP 0000632B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rolls
axis
pair
roll
link arms
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19780300139
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0000632A1 (fr
Inventor
Earl Garland Edwards
Michael Ray Headrick
Charles Edwin Peterson
Robert Eugene Bishop
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US05/820,272 external-priority patent/US4121089A/en
Priority claimed from US05/826,619 external-priority patent/US4154575A/en
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0000632A1 publication Critical patent/EP0000632A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0000632B1 publication Critical patent/EP0000632B1/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2017—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means
    • G03G15/2032—Retractable heating or pressure unit
    • G03G15/2035—Retractable heating or pressure unit for maintenance purposes, e.g. for removing a jammed sheet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to xerographic copying apparatus and in particular to a hot roll fuser therefor.
  • Hot roll fusers comprise a heatable roll and a back-up roll which, in operation, are brought together to form a fusing nip through which copy sheets carrying toned images are passed to cause fusing of the images to the sheets.
  • Mechanisms for moving the rolls between an open and closed position have been shown in the prior art, as exemplified by U.S. Patent Specification Nos. 3834861 and 3973844. In the former of these specifications, one of the rolls is movable into and out of contact with the other.
  • the movable roll is mounted on pivoting plates, pivotal movement of which is controlled by rotatable cams which engage followers mounted on a bar coupled to the plates. As the cams rotate, the plates are pivoted to effect the movement of the movable roll.
  • the contact pressure of the rolls, when closed, is determined by the cams.
  • a roll opening/closing mechanism employing a solenoid operated multiple linkage arrangement is shown in US Patent Specification No. 3973844. In that system, the extent of movement of the movable roll is controlled by adjustable stops. Thus the contact pressure is determined by the position of one of these stops.
  • the present invention employs a spring toggle arrangement in which the rolls are biassed together by compression springs, so that contact pressure is substantially unaffected by normal wear of the rolls.
  • the movable roll is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, providing a constant centre distance between the pivot and roll access. Drive gearing can, therefore, be mounted between these axes with constant mesh on pivotal movement of the movable roll to achieve minimal backlash.
  • a hot roll fuser for a xerographic copier comprising a heatable roll and a backup roll arranged for relative movement between an open position and a closed position in which the rolls are engaged to form a fusing nip, characterised by a first pair of link arms arranged for pivotal movement about a first common axis and arranged to support respective ends of the axle of one of said rolls to provide arcuate movement thereof about said first common axis, a second pair of link arms arranged respectively adjacent the ends of said one of said rolls for pivotal movement between two predetermined limits about a second axis and having spring mounting means positioned thereon remote from the second axis, and a pair of compression springs positioned respectively at each end of said one of said rolls and coupled between said spring mounting means and said axle, the arrangement being such that when the second pair of link arms is positioned at the first of said two predetermined limits, the axle is positioned on a line running between the second axis and the spring mounting means, and the springs bias
  • FIGURE 1 is a general view of xerographic copier 10 incorporating a fuser assembly 12 which is shown in its extended or pulled-out position in front of the copier.
  • Fuser assembly 12 is slidably supported within copier 10. This is a non-operating position adapted to facilitate inspection, cleaning, repair and/or sheet jam clearance.
  • the slidably supported fusing assembly 12 includes a hot roll 14 and a backup roll 16.
  • hot roll 14 is heated to an accurately controlled temperature by an internal heater 15, as seen in FIGURE 2, and an associated temperature control system which is not shown.
  • Hot roll 14 preferably includes a deformable external surface formed as a thin elastomeric surface. This surface is designed to engage the toned side of a copy sheet, fuse the toner thereon and readily release the sheet with a minimum adherence of residual toner to the hot roll. As is conventional in hot roll fusers, the sheet toned side faces the hot roll.
  • Backup roll 16 is preferably a relatively cool and rigid roll. Both rolls 14 and 16 are circular cylinders and the fusing nip formed thereby defines a line (of some width due to deformation of hot roll 14) parallel to the axis of rolls 14 and 16.
  • the fusing nip formed by rolls 14 and 16 may be opened and closed in synchronism with the arrival and departure of the copy sheet's leading and trailing edges, respectively.
  • This synchronism is achieved by a drum position sensing means which responds to the position of the photoconductor drum and effects opening and closing of the nip by means of a copier control system, all not shown.
  • the fusing nip may continuously remain closed until the trailing end of the last sheet has passed therethrough.
  • FIGURE 2 shows the fusing nip closed.
  • Rigid backup roll 16 is shown to be in contact with resilient hot roll 14, thereby deforming the surface of hot roll 14 so as to form a fusing nip 18 of a certain width, measured in the direction of sheet movement 19.
  • Feed roller 20 cooperating with idler roller 21 continues sheet movement 19 until a copy passing therethrough is free of fusing nip 18 and has passed through fuser exit-way or sheet transport channel 22.
  • hot roll 14 is removably, rotationally mounted on a fixed position axis in mounting blocks 23 which are supported by way of positioning surfaces 24 formed in the ends of a single piece mounting main frame member 26.
  • This main frame member 26 includes a hanger 28 which supports the fuser assembly by way of telescoping rails 30.
  • Frame member 26 also includes rollers 32 which cooperate with a copier frame member to stabilize the fuser assembly position within the copier.
  • roll 16 is rotationally supported, on axle 34, by way of pivoting cradle arms 36 at each end of frame member 26.
  • These cradle arms are pivoted on the frame member at axis 38.
  • Pivot arms 40 at each end of main frame member 26, are pivotably mounted to the frame member by way of pivot 42.
  • Pivot arms 40 have downwardly extending projections 41 which support rollers 44 which cooperate with nip opening and closing cams 46.
  • the other ends of pivot arms 40 have mounted thereon ends 48 of compressible compression springs 50.
  • the other end 52 of compression springs 50 operates on cradle arm 36 to cause arms 36 to rotate clockwise about axis 38, as the fuser nip is closed.
  • compression springs 50 provide controlled pressure to backup roll 16 through axle 34, and consequently the pressure to fusing nip 18 is controlled.
  • the width of fusing nip 18 can also be adjusted by changing the pressure imparted thereto by compression springs 50.
  • Springs 53 positioned between hanger 28 and pivot arms 40, provide a force causing roller 44 to follow cam 46.
  • cams 46 which are rotationally mounted on axis 38. These cams include a low point 54 which, when positioned to cooperate with roller 44, establish a nip-open condition.
  • solenoid 56 is energized and clutch 58, shown in FIGURES 4-6, operates to rotate cams 46, in FIGURE 3, clockwise 235° (counterclockwise if observing FIGURE 4) to the position shown, causing nip 18 to close.
  • pivot arms 40 rotate counterclockwise causing fixed-position pivot 42, compression spring pivot 60 and axle 34 to come into alignment.
  • pivot point 60 does not move over center.
  • Cams 46 rotate on axis 38 as long as clutch member 58 is free to rotate (see FIGURES 5 and 6).
  • solenoid 56 In the de-energized position of solenoid 56, (FIGURE 5) dog 62 is held against rotation by tab 70 on pivoting link 66. Link 66 is pivoted at fixed position pivot 68.
  • solenoid 5.6 When solenoid 5.6 is ' energized, (FIGURE 6) clutch member 58 and cam 46 are driven 235° until dog 62 engages tab 64. Fusing nip 18 is now closed.
  • solenoid 56 is de-energized, link 66 returns to its de-energized position, and clutch member 58 rotates until it is stopped by tab 70. Fusing nip 18 is now opened.
  • FIGURE 4 In the fragmented portion of FIGURE 4, a folded handle 72, for manually removing hot roll 14, is shown.
  • a manually movable, rod-like handle 74 extends the length of the fuser assembly, parallel to axle 34. Opposite ends of this handle are attached to movable links 76 at each end of the fuser assembly.,ln FIGURES 7 and 8 it is seen that these links are pivoted on fixed-position axis 78. Both of the links have a notch 80, and a pivot point 82 for one end of a drive arm 84.
  • links 76 are shown in their operative positions, wherein hot roll 14 detach bar (not shown) and the fuser's output sheet transport channel (not shown) are located closely adjacent the downstream portion of fusing nip 18 (shown closed).
  • links 88 are pivoted on fixed-position axis 90.
  • Each of links 88 has a projection 92 thereon for holding mounting blocks 23 securely within main frame 26.
  • Links 88 carry locking pins 96 which lock links 88 (and the detach bar) in operative position by virtue of an interface at 98 between pin 96 and pivotable links 100.
  • Links 100 are pivoted on fixed-position axis 102.
  • Axle 34 is not a fixed-positioned axle because during nip closure; axle 34 moves a slight distance downward, as represented by arrow 108 in FIGURE 7.
  • links 106 carries a locking pin 110, cooperating with notch 80 formed in links 76.
  • the lower end of links 106 carries lower pivot axis 112 for the end of drive arm 84 that is opposite pivot point 82.
  • two tension springs 114 extend between pins 116 carried by links 76 and pins 118 carried by links 100.
  • the springs provide a closing force between links 76 and links 100, when in jam-clearing position, as in FIGURE 8.
  • springs 114 provide a contacting force between locking pins 96 and pivotable links 100, when in the operating position, as in FIGURE 7.
  • the above-mentioned interface 98 is created by these latter two sets of links.
  • pins 116 on links 76 engage links 100 and cause these links to pivot counterclockwise about their fixed-position axis 102.
  • interface 98 as seen in FIGURE 7, created by contact between pins 98 and pivoted links 100 is broken.
  • handle-actuated links 76 continue to rotate counterclockwise, notches 80 free pins 110.
  • Counterclockwise rotation of links 76 transmits counterclockwise rotation to links 106 by virtue of drive arms 84.
  • pivot axis 112 moves counterclockwise as represented by arrow 120 in FIGURE 7, to its position in FIGURE 8
  • links 106 are pivoted clear of fusing nip 18.
  • surfaces 122 formed thereon engage locking pin 96, causing links 88 to rotate clockwise about their fixed-position axis 90.
  • link 88 has been pivoted clockwise, eliminating the interface between projection 92 on links 88 and mounting blocks 23. Links 88 can now be manually rotated clockwise, as represented by arrow 124 in FIGURE 8, in order that hot roll 14 can be removed from main frame 26.
  • interface 98 locks the detach bar in operative position
  • notch 80 and pin 110 lock the output sheet transport channel in operative position
  • spring 114 maintains interface 98
  • pin 116 lifts link 100 to interrupt interface 98
  • counterclockwise rotation of link 76 frees pin 110 and rotates link 106 by virtue of drive arm 84
  • counterclockwise rotation of link 76 rotates link 88 clockwise as a result of interface with locking pin 96.
  • FIGURE 9 shows the fixed center drives for (1) producing rotation of the fuser's backup roll 16, (2) producing oscillatory movement of the backup roll's scraping blade cleaner 126; and (3) producing rotation of the fuser's paper exit guide transport roller 20.
  • Roller 20 is supported by the exit paper transport guides, and engages the non-toner side of a sheet, as the sheet emerges from fusing nip 18. Additional information pertaining to the handle cleaner 126 appears in IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, Volume 18, No. 2, July 1975, pages 326-327.
  • gear 132 Counterclockwise rotation of backup roll is produced by gear 132 which meshes with continuously driven gear 134.
  • Gear 132 is connected to the backup roll's axle 34 and causes counterclockwise rotation of this roll.
  • gear 132 When the fusing nip is being closed or opened, the backup roll's rotational axle 34 moves in an arc about axis 38.
  • gear 132 merely rolls about its meshing gear 134.
  • Cleaner 126 is supported by double helix lead screw 138.
  • This lead screw is driven in a counterclockwise direction by virtue of gears 140-142 with gear 140 being fixedly mounted on an end of lead screw 138, gear 141 being rotatively mounted on fixed axis 144 and gear 142 being fixedly mounted on axle 34. Since all of these gears are carried by cradle arm 36, a fixed center relationship is maintained during nip opening and closing.
  • links 106 rotate in a counterclockwise direction as discussed above with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. Since link 106 pivots about the backup roll's rotational axle 34, a fixed center is maintained for gears 146, 148 and 150, and gears 146 and 148 merely rotate in a circle about gear 150. Consequently, a constant center distance between the gears is maintained and transport roller 20 is driven with minimum backlash by the gearing.
  • cam follower roller 44 mounted on an extension of pivot arm 40, cooperates with nip opening/closing cam 46 as it is rotated.
  • Cam 46 has high and low dwells with each having a detent to thereby stabilize the position of cam follower roller 44 in both the opened and closed positions.
  • a low detent can be seen at the cam low point 54.
  • cradle arm 36 with one end pivotally mounted on axis 38, pivots its other end, with backup roll 16, in an arc that is clockwise.
  • rolls 14 and 16 are pressed together and fusing nip 18, as seen in FIGURE 3, is established.
  • Rotating from high dwell to low dwell reverses the aforementioned movements until low dwell detent is achieved.
  • rolls 14 and 16 are in their completely open position.
  • a constant center distance is maintained between axle 34 and axis 38, regardless of whether fusing nip 18 is opened or closed.
  • transport roller 20 is driven by gears 146, 148 and 150.
  • Gears 146 and 148 are mounted on link 106 which pivots about the backup roll's axis 34. As a result of this fixed pivot, the center distance between the gears is constant and transport roller 20 is driven with minimum gear backlash.
  • backup roll scraping blade cleaner 126 driven by double helix lead screw 138, traverses back and forth along the length of backup roll 16.
  • Gears 140-142 each of which is mounted on cradle arm 36, provide a driving force to lead screw 138.
  • a benefit resulting from all three gears being mounted on cradle arm 36 is that the distance between the gears is always constant. Additionally, blade contact force as well as blade contact angle of cleaner 126 with backup roll 16 are also constant, regardless of the position of backup roll 16.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)

Claims (6)

1. Station de fusion pour copieur xérographique comportant un rouleau chauffable et un contre-rouleau montés de manière à se déplacer l'un par rapport à l'autre entre une position dite ouverte et une position dite fermée dans laquelle lesdits rouleaux sont mis en contact l'un avec l'autre et forment une zone de fusion, ladite station étant caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend une première paire de bras de liaison (36) disposés de manière à pivoter autour d'un premier axe commun (38) et à soutenir les extrémités respectives de l'axe (34) de l'un desdits rouleaux afin que celui-ci puisse décrire un arc de cercle autour dudit premier axe commun (38), une seconde paire de bras de liaison (40) respectivement disposés à proximité immédiate des extrémités de ce dernier rouleau afin de pouvoir pivoter entre deux limites prédéterminées autour d'un second axe (42) et comportant chacun des moyens d'ancrage de ressort (60) éloignés dudit second axe (42), et une paire de ressorts de compression (50) respectivement disposés à chaque extrémité dudit rouleau et montés entre lesdits moyens d'ancrage (60) et ledit axe (34), l'agencement étant tel que, lorsque la seconde paire de bras de liaison est mise dans une position correspondant à la première des deux limites prédéterminées, l'axe (34) se trouve sur une ligne passant entre le second axe (42) et les moyens d'ancrage de ressort (60), et que les ressorts agissent sur les rouleaux de telle sorte qu'ils soient mis en contact l'un avec l'autre, et qu'ils cessent de l'être lorsque la seconde paire de bras de liaison (40) est mise dans une position correspondant à la seconde des deux limites prédéterminées.
2. Station de fusion selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend en outre une paire de cames (46) montées sur ledit premier axe commun (38) aux extrémités respectives dudit rouleau tournant autour de l'axe (34), et un bras suiveur de came (41) monté sur chacun des bras de liaison de ladite seconde paire (40) dans une position telle que la rotation des cames (46) provoque ledit déplacement de la seconde paire de bras de liaison (40) entre lesdites limites prédéterminées par l'intermédiaire des bras suiveurs de came (41).
3. Station de fusion selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend en outre une vismère (138) montée sur lesdits premiers bras de liaison sur un axe parallèle à l'axe dudit rouleau tournant autour de l'axe (34), ,un dispositif (126) de nettoyage de rouleau monté sur ladite vis-mère de manière à se trouver en contact avec la surface dudit rouleau et se déplaçant axialement le long de ladite surface pendant la rotation de la vis-mère, et des moyens d'entraînement (144) couplés audit rouleau et à ladite vis-mère de manière à ce qu'ils soient simultanément entraînés.
4. Station de fusion selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d-entraînement comprennent des pignons (140, 141, 142) couplés les uns aux autres et montés sur l'un des bras le liaison de la première paire (36).
5. Station de fusion selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en outre en ce que ledit rouleau (16) est le contre-rouleau et possède une surface non-élastique, et en ce que le rouleau chauffable (14) possède une surface élastique.
6. Station de fusion selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que les ressorts de compression (50) sont réglables et permettent de faire varier la force exercée par l'un des rouleaux sur l'autre et vice versa lorsque ceux-ci se trouvent dans ladite position fermée, et, de ce fait, de faire varier la largeur de la zone de fusion.
EP19780300139 1977-07-29 1978-07-10 Dispositif de fusion à rouleau chauffé pour copieur xérographique Expired EP0000632B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/820,272 US4121089A (en) 1977-07-29 1977-07-29 Apparatus for the reversal of a hot roll in a fusing assembly
US826619 1977-08-22
US05/826,619 US4154575A (en) 1977-08-22 1977-08-22 Hot roll fuser roll closure apparatus
US820272 1992-01-14

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0000632A1 EP0000632A1 (fr) 1979-02-07
EP0000632B1 true EP0000632B1 (fr) 1981-06-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19780300139 Expired EP0000632B1 (fr) 1977-07-29 1978-07-10 Dispositif de fusion à rouleau chauffé pour copieur xérographique

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DE (1) DE2860768D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1143429A (fr) * 1979-04-27 1983-03-22 Sukumaran K. Menon Mecanisme d'actionnement pneumatique a ressort pour rouleaux de fusion
DE2943344A1 (de) * 1979-10-26 1981-05-07 Hoechst Ag, 6000 Frankfurt Waermedruckfixiervorrichtung
US4363549A (en) * 1980-04-30 1982-12-14 International Business Machines Corporation Electromechanically operated fuser roll closure
JPS57169777A (en) * 1981-04-13 1982-10-19 Minolta Camera Co Ltd Toner image fixing device
JPH0623872B2 (ja) * 1982-11-30 1994-03-30 三田工業株式会社 静電複写機
JPS59176766A (ja) * 1983-03-28 1984-10-06 Mita Ind Co Ltd トナ−像定着装置
TW473488B (en) 1998-04-30 2002-01-21 Novartis Ag Composite materials, biomedical articles formed thereof and process for their manufacture

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3316836A (en) * 1965-07-26 1967-05-02 Borg Warner Electrostatic printing system having means to make plural copies
US3834861A (en) * 1973-03-21 1974-09-10 Xerox Corp Pressure heated fuser assembly
US3973844A (en) * 1974-05-28 1976-08-10 Xerox Corporation Latching mechanism for the backup roll of a roll fuser employed in a copier apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0000632A1 (fr) 1979-02-07
DE2860768D1 (en) 1981-09-24

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