EP0433381B1 - Fusing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Fusing apparatus and method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0433381B1
EP0433381B1 EP89910677A EP89910677A EP0433381B1 EP 0433381 B1 EP0433381 B1 EP 0433381B1 EP 89910677 A EP89910677 A EP 89910677A EP 89910677 A EP89910677 A EP 89910677A EP 0433381 B1 EP0433381 B1 EP 0433381B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
fuser element
liquid
substrate
fuser
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP89910677A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0433381A1 (en
Inventor
Benzion Landa
Naseem Yacoub
Hanna Pinhas
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.)
HP Indigo BV
Original Assignee
Indigo BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB888821107A external-priority patent/GB8821107D0/en
Priority claimed from GB888823258A external-priority patent/GB8823258D0/en
Priority claimed from US07/293,431 external-priority patent/US5157238A/en
Application filed by Indigo BV filed Critical Indigo BV
Priority to EP94200756A priority Critical patent/EP0608965B1/en
Publication of EP0433381A1 publication Critical patent/EP0433381A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0433381B1 publication Critical patent/EP0433381B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G13/00—Electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G13/20—Fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • 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
    • G03G15/2053—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
    • 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
    • G03G15/2064—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat combined with pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to imaging apparatus and techniques and more particularly to apparatus and techniques for fusing of images on a substrate.
  • U.S. Patent 4,724,303 includes a survey of the patent literature relating to the use of thermal energy for fixing toner images.
  • the disclosure of U.S. Patent 4,724,303 describes an instant-on fuser including a cylindrical, relatively thin metal cylinder supporting a resistive heating foil or printed circuit secured on the inside surface of the cylinder by a high temperature adhesive.
  • the interior of the cylindrical tube contains ambient air.
  • the heating foil or printed circuit is carried on a fiber glass substrate and the heating element is connected to electrical leads extending through caps on the ends of the cylindrical support.
  • the combined thickness of the cylindrical member, the heating circuit and the adhesive is described as being between 0.125 and 0.25 mm (0.005 and 0.01 inches).
  • U.S. Patent 3,948,214 also describes instant start fusing apparatus.
  • the fuser roll has a cylindrical member made of quartz or other material which transmits radiant energy from a source located on the interior of the cylindrical member.
  • the cylindrical member has a first layer made of elastomeric material which transmits radiant energy.
  • the first layer is covered with a second layer of material which absorbs radiant energy.
  • a third layer of material covers the second layer of heat absorbing material to effect a good toner release characteristic on the fuser roll surface.
  • the fuser roll layers are relatively thin and have an instant start capability to fuse toner images onto support material, such as paper.
  • U.S. Patent 3,471,683 describes a heater roll suitable for use as a fuser roller in which heating is produced by a printed circuit formed into the surface of the roll, which receives electrical power through the roller shaft.
  • U.S. Patent 4,015,027 describes an electrophotographic toner transfer and fusing method wherein a heated image is supported on a roller or belt intermediate transfer medium employed for pressure transfer of dry toner images onto paper.
  • line 29 - column 12 line 38 there appears a detailed discussion of heating of images upon transfer thereof as proposed therein and as taught in the prior art including specifically U.S. Patent 3,591,276 to Byrne.
  • a belt construction characterized in that it has a very low heat capacitance and a thickness of between 15 and about 200 microns (micrometers) is proposed in U.S. Patent 4,015,027.
  • the belt comprises a 50 micron layer of aluminized Kapton having a 25 micron coating of silicon rubber.
  • Another embodiment employs a 12.5 micron layer of stainless steel instead of the Kapton together with a silicon rubber coating.
  • a reflecting layer is incorporated in the belt to reduce heating thereof.
  • the present invention seeks to provide improved fusing apparatus.
  • apparatus for fusing a liquid image onto a substrate including apparatus for providing a liquid image on the substrate, a fuser element urged against the image on the substrate and apparatus for heating the fuser element, characterized in that the liquid image includes carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at elevated temperatures, the fuser element and the apparatus for heating being arranged to heat the liquid image to an elevated temperature at which the particles solvate said carrier liquid but below the melting point of the dry toner particle material such that the image adheres to the substrate.
  • the fuser element and the apparatus for heating are arranged for cooling the fuser element subsequent to heating the liquid image to the elevated temperature such that adhesion of the image to the fuser element is less than the cohesion of the image.
  • apparatus for fusing a liquid image onto a substrate including apparatus for providing a liquid image on the substrate, a fuser element urged against the image on the substrate and apparatus for heating the fuser element, characterized in that the liquid image includes carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at elevated temperatures, wherein the fuser element has a heat capacity sufficient to heat the image to an elevated temperature at which the particles solvate said carrier liquid but below the melting point of the dry toner particle material such that adhesion of the image to the substrate is improved.
  • the heat capacity is low enough to cause substantial cooling of the fuser element during fusing such that the adhesion of the image to the fuser element is less than the cohesion of the image.
  • the elevated temperature is at least the solvation temperature and the cooling of the fuser element cools the fuser element to a temperature below the solvation temperature.
  • the fuser element and the apparatus for heating are operative to increase the viscosity of the image during fusing thereof.
  • the apparatus also includes a backing roller adjacent to the fuser element and apparatus for passing the substrate between the fuser element and the backing roller at a fusing region whereby the fuser element is urged toward the backing roller thereby to apply pressure to the image.
  • the fuser element deforms the backing roller at the fusing region.
  • the fuser element preferably includes end portions having a thin walled cylinder including a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween, the thin walled cylinder having a thickness less than 125 micrometers preferably unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and preferably supported by gas pressure.
  • the cylinder has a thickness of less than 50 micrometers, more preferably less than 30 or 12 micrometers.
  • a method for fusing a liquid image onto a substrate including the steps of providing a liquid image on the substrate, urging a fuser element against the image on the substrate and heating the fuser element, characterized in that the liquid image includes carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at elevated temperatures, the step of heating being operative for heating the liquid image to an elevated temperature at which the particles solvate said carrier liquid but below the melting point of the dry toner particle material such that the image adheres to the substrate.
  • the method includes the step of cooling the fuser element subsequent to heating the liquid image to the elevated temperature such that adhesion of the image to the fuser element is less than the cohesion of the image.
  • a method for fusing a liquid image onto a substrate including the steps of providing a liquid image on the substrate, urging a fuser element against the image on the substrate and heating the fuser element, characterized in that the liquid image includes carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at elevated temperatures, wherein the fuser element has a heat capacity sufficient to heat the image to an elevated temperature at which the particles solvate said carrier liquid but below the melting point of the dry toner particle material such that adhesion of the image to the substrate is improved.
  • the heat capacity is low enough to cause substantial cooling of the fuser element during fusing such that the adhesion of the image to the fuser element is less than the cohesion of the image.
  • the elevated temperature is at least the solvation temperature and the cooling of the fuser element cools the fuser element to a temperature below the solvation temperature.
  • fusing apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and comprising a fuser roller 10 which is operative to fuse an image, such as a toner image 12, on a substrate 14, such as paper.
  • the image bearing substrate 14 moves in a direction indicated by an arrow 16 between fuser roller 10 and a platan roller 18.
  • Toners suitable for the present invention include, but are not limited to, powder toners, toners of the type described in the examples in Published Patent specification GB 2169416A, or liquid toners, comprising pigmented solid particles which solvate at temperatures below the melting point of the solid particles, as well as liquid toners which do not solvate at a temperature below the melting point of the pigmented solid particles therein.
  • the fuser apparatus of Fig. 1 may be used in connection with and form part of imaging apparatus such as an electrostatographic printing machine or alternatively any other suitable type of imaging apparatus.
  • imaging apparatus such as an electrostatographic printing machine or alternatively any other suitable type of imaging apparatus.
  • systems in which the present invention may be employed include electrophotography, electrography, ionography, xero-printing, gravure-like printing and electrostatic printing.
  • FIG. 2A - 5B illustrate four alternative embodiments of fuser rollers constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the fuser roller comprises a thin-walled cylinder 70.
  • Cylinder 70 preferably is formed of two rigid end portions 72 and 74 and a thin cylindrical layer 76 typically coated with a release layer 78.
  • Typical materials and thicknesses are as follows:
  • the layer 76 may be a 10 micron thick film of nickel alloy, such as nickel cobalt or nickel chromium and the release layer may be a 2 micron thick layer of Teflon.
  • the thin cylindrical layer 76 is axially tensioned, as by a spring arrangement 80, sufficient to eliminate most surface irregularities.
  • a suitable tension is 200 Kg/cm2.
  • enhanced rigidity and surface uniformity of the thin-walled cylinder 70 is provided by pneumatically pressurizing the interior of the cylinder, by any suitable pressurized gas.
  • a valve 82 may be provided for this purpose.
  • the thin walled cylinder 70 is heated by the passage of electrical current along layer 76 via conductors 84 and 86, which establish an electrical circuit via end portions 72 and 74.
  • layer 76 must either be or include a layer which is an electrical conductor of suitable characteristics.
  • the electrical power required to provide desired heating of fusing element 70 is relatively low.
  • a heating lamp 90 is disposed interior of a radiation transmissive tube 92, such as a quartz tube. Disposed in generally coaxial surrounding relationship with quartz tube 92 and supported on annular end supports 94 is a fuser layer 96 having formed therein a release layer 98.
  • layers 96 and 98 may be identical to layers 76 and 78 in the embodiment of Figs. 2A and 2B. In such a case tensioning apparatus of the type illustrated in Fig. 2A is preferably employed.
  • the roller 100 is preferably of the thin walled type described above. Heating of the roller 100 is provided externally of the roller by a heating station 102.
  • the heating station 102 employs radiant heaters, which heat the roller by radiation. Alternatively the heating station 102 may heat the roller 100 by conduction through direct contact with the roller.
  • a roller 110 is preferably thin walled. Heating of the roller 110 is provided by an internal radiant heater assembly 112 which is mounted internally of roller 110. Radiant heater 112 comprises an elongate radiative heat source 114 which is associated with a reflector 116, which prevents direct radiation from source 114 from reaching the area at which fusing occurs, thus providing differential heating of roller 110 and permitting cooling of the image during fusing as described hereinabove.
  • the weight of the reflector 116 ensures that when the reflector 116 is pivotably mounted with respect to the roller, they will retain the orientation illustrated notwithstanding rotation of the roller 110.
  • the hot fuser roller has a heat capacity per unit area which is sufficient to heat the toner material to the proper fusing temperature during the contact period, with the effective heat capacity per unit area being such that the thermal transfer to the paper is high enough to reduce the temperature of the roller surface, so that adhesion of the image to that surface is reduced.
  • the thin cylindrical member has an effective heat capacity sufficient to heat the toner material during fusing sufficiently, and then cool itself, before disengagement from the paper-image combination.
  • the fuser roller delivers a measured amount of heat energy while cooling.
  • the particular features of provision of the tensioning and/or pressurizing features of the roller allow for the use of material thin enough to provide this particular amount of heat capacity, and thin enough so that lateral heat transfer is relatively small, without which features the thin walled cylinder would not have the required rigidity.
  • the temperature to which the image must be heated and cooled depends on the characteristics of the material. For solid toners and for non solvating liquid toners this temperature preferably approximates the melting point of the solids, for solvating toners, this temperature preferably approximates the solvation temperature.
  • the solvation temperature is defined as the temperature at which the maximum amount of carrier liquid can be solvated by the toner particles while remaining a solid.
  • the low heat capacity and transverse heat conduction combine to allow the fuser to heat substantially during the relatively long period before the fusing operation, without high heat requirements and without excessive heat transfer to the paper.
  • a fuser element including a thin surface or member which supports the image during transfer, the thin surface having an effective heat capacity which is less than that of the substrate.
  • the thin surface may be a cylindrical surface or any other suitable configuration. Normally, due to its thinness, the thermal conductivity along the surface is sufficiently small such that the thermal mass of the supports, such as end rollers for a cylindrical surface such as that shown in the drawings, may be disregarded.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)
EP89910677A 1988-09-08 1989-09-07 Fusing apparatus and method Expired - Lifetime EP0433381B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94200756A EP0608965B1 (en) 1988-09-08 1989-09-07 Fusing apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8821107 1988-09-08
GB888821107A GB8821107D0 (en) 1988-09-08 1988-09-08 Fusing apparatus
GB8823258 1988-10-04
GB888823258A GB8823258D0 (en) 1988-10-04 1988-10-04 Fusing apparatus
US07/293,431 US5157238A (en) 1988-09-08 1989-01-04 Fusing apparatus and method
US293431 1989-01-04
PCT/NL1989/000066 WO1990002977A2 (en) 1988-09-08 1989-09-07 Fusing apparatus and method

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94200756A Division EP0608965B1 (en) 1988-09-08 1989-09-07 Fusing apparatus
EP94200756.8 Division-Into 1994-03-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0433381A1 EP0433381A1 (en) 1991-06-26
EP0433381B1 true EP0433381B1 (en) 1995-02-01

Family

ID=27264064

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89910677A Expired - Lifetime EP0433381B1 (en) 1988-09-08 1989-09-07 Fusing apparatus and method

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0433381B1 (xx)
JP (1) JP3054162B2 (xx)
DE (2) DE68928572T2 (xx)
HK (2) HK147295A (xx)
WO (1) WO1990002977A2 (xx)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0505030A3 (en) * 1991-03-16 1993-03-17 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Fixing apparatus

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3813516A (en) * 1969-12-29 1974-05-28 Ibm Apparatus for temperature control for a heated rotating cylinder
US3948215A (en) * 1972-03-14 1976-04-06 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Fixing toner images in electrophotography
US4001544A (en) * 1973-11-16 1977-01-04 Wifo Wissenschaftliches Forschungs-Institut A.G. Apparatus for fixing electrophotographic images
JPS52127341A (en) * 1976-04-19 1977-10-25 Canon Inc Fixing device for copying machne for electronic photography
JPS57189170A (en) * 1981-05-18 1982-11-20 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd Thermal roller type fixing device
US4533231A (en) * 1981-08-04 1985-08-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Fixing device
JPS5938772A (ja) * 1982-08-30 1984-03-02 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd 画像形成方法
US4512649A (en) * 1983-10-11 1985-04-23 Eastman Kodak Company Fuser apparatus
JPS60207173A (ja) * 1984-03-30 1985-10-18 Mita Ind Co Ltd 複写機の制御方法
US4653897A (en) * 1984-12-24 1987-03-31 Xerox Corporation Low mass conformable heat and pressure fuser
US4724303A (en) * 1986-08-06 1988-02-09 Xerox Corporation Instant-on fuser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3054162B2 (ja) 2000-06-19
HK147295A (en) 1995-09-22
DE68921005D1 (de) 1995-03-16
DE68921005T2 (de) 1995-08-31
HK1008757A1 (en) 1999-05-14
WO1990002977A3 (en) 1990-04-19
JPH04501921A (ja) 1992-04-02
EP0433381A1 (en) 1991-06-26
WO1990002977A2 (en) 1990-03-22
DE68928572T2 (de) 1998-08-13
DE68928572D1 (de) 1998-03-05

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