IL30229A - Contact heat fusing device - Google Patents

Description

Vy Contact heat fusing device RANK XEROX LIMITED This invention relates to a contact heat fusing for fixing a thermoplastic resin material a support A possible application of the invention is to fixing toner material on a support material in a xerographic reproduction Aocording to the invention there is provided a contact heat fusing device for fixing a thermoplastic resin material carried on a support material i im said device Including a a heated roller journaled in the a pair of aupport arms secured to the a second roller in support arms in parallel relation to the heated an actuator arm connected to the support actuator means operatively connected to pivot the support arms from a first position wherein the roller is out of operative relation with the heated to a second position wherein the second roller is in cooperative relation to the heated roller to forward a support material in pressure contact the actuator means pivoting the roller into cooperative relatio with heated roller sufficiently to effect flowing thermoplastic material carried on support material in configuration onl within the pattern in which the material is the peripheral surface of the heated having a coating of an offset preventing means to apply an offset preventing liquid to the preventing material on the heated roller and driving means connected to the heated roller and to the roller to drive the rollers for advancing a support material example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 1 illustrated schematicall a preferred embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus adapted for automatic and incorporatin a heat fuser structed in accordance with this invention 2 is a end view of the heat of the a end view of the heat 4 is a sectional taken along line 4 4 of 5 a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of 6 is top view of the heat fuser with parts broken away to show details of the heat and 7 is view taken along line 7 7 of with parts broken away to show details of the heat Although it forms no part of the subject of there is shown schematicall in 1 a tinuous xerographic for the purpose of illustrating a suitable environment for the heat fuser of the subject of the As shown schematically in the automatic graphic reproducing apparatus comprises xerographic plate 20 including a photoconductive layer or surface on a conductive backing and formed in the shape o a which is on a shaft in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow to cause the drum sequentially to pass a plurality of xerographic xerographic processing stations in the path of movement of the drum surface may be described as A charging at which a uniform eleotrostatio charge is deposited on the layer the graphic An exposure at which a light or radiation pattern of copy to be reproduced is projected onto the drum surface to dissipate the drum charge in the exposed areas thereof and form a latent electrostatic image of copy to be reproducedj A developing at which a xerographic loping material including toner particles havin an static charge opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image are cascaded over the drum whereby the toner particles adhere to the eleotrostatio latent image to form a xerographic powdered imagi in the configuration of the copy being A transfer at which the xerographic powder image ia electrostatically transferred from drum surface to a transfer material or a support and A drum cleaning and discharge at which the drum surface is brushed to remove residual toner particles remaining thereon er image and at which the surface is exposed to a relatively bright light source to effect substantially discharge of any residual electrostatic charge remaining The charging station preferably located as indicated by referenc character As the charging arrange ment includes a oorona charging device 21 which inoludes a energized from a high potential source and are substantially closed within a shielding Next subsequent thereto the path motion of the xerographic drum is an exposure station An optical scanning or projection system is provided to project a flowing image onto the surface of the photoconductlve drum from a stationary The optical scanning or projection assembly comprises a stationary copyboard which consists of a transparent curved platen 22 such for plate or the positioned on the exterior of the is adapted to support a document to be thedooument being uniformly illuminated and arranged in light projecting relation to the moving surface the xerographic Uniform lighting is provided by banks of lamps arranged on opposite sides o the Scanning of the document on the stationary copyboard is accomplished by means of a mirror assembly which is oscillated relative to the copyboard in timed relation to the movement the xerographic The mirror whioh includes an object is mounted below the copyholder to reflect an image of document through a lens 24 onto an image mirror 25 in reflects the image onto the xerographic drum through a slot in a fixed light shield 26 positioned adjacent to the xerographic drum Adjacent to the exposure station is a developing station 0 in which there is positioned a developer apparatus including a casing or housing having a lower or sump portion for accumulating develo er A bucket type conveyor is carry the developing material to the upper part of the developer where it is cascaded over a hopper chute onto the xerographic drum to effect A toner dispenser is to accurately meter toner to the developing material as toner particles are consumed during the developing Positioned next and adjacent to the developing station is the image transfer station which includes a sheet feeding arrangement adapted to feed sheets of support such as paper or the successively to the xerographic drum in with the presentation of the developed image on the drum surface at the transfer sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheet feed device means of vacuum feeders to feed the top of a stack of sheets on a tray to a set of feed rollers 42 for advancement by the feed rollers of the sheet to a paper transpor 4 in conveys the sheet to a sheet registration device 45 positioned adjacent to the graphic The registration device arrests and aligns each Individual sheet of material and then timed relation to the movement of the xerographic advances the sheet material into contact with the xerogaphio drum in registration with a previously formed xerographic powder image on the The transfer of the xerographic powder image from the drum to the sheets of support material is effected by means of a corona transfer device 51 that is located immediately after the line of contact between the support material the rotatin In the effective to tack the support material electrostatically to the drum whereby the support material moves synchrony ously with the drum while in contact Simultaneousl with the tacking the electrostatic field is effective to attract the toner particles comprising the xerographic powder image from the drum surface cause to adhere electrostatically to the surface of the support immediately subsequent to the image transfer there is positioned a stripping apparatus or paper off mechanism 52 for removing the sheets of support material from the drum This which is of the type closed in United States patent specification includes a plurality of small diameter orifices supplied with pressurized aeriform fluid by a suitable pulsator or other The pulsator is adapted to force jets of pressurized aeriform fluid through the outlet orifices into contaot with the surface of the xerographic drum slightly in advance of the sheet of support material to strip the leading edge of the sheet from the drum surface and to direct it onto a endless conveyor 55 whereby the sheet material is carried to a fixing device At the fixing the transferred xerographic powder image on the sheet of support material is permanently fixed or fused thereto as by After the finished is discharged the apparatus at a suitable point collection externally of the apparatus by means of a next and final station in the device is a drum cleaning station having positioned therein a corona preolean graphic drum after transfer by of a rotating brush and a discharge lamp adapted to flood the xerographic drum with light to cause dissipation of any residual electrical charge remaining on the xerographic To remove residual powde from the xerographic there is disposed a cylindrical brush 71 rotatably mounted on a axle and driven by a not For collecting powder particles removed from the xerographic drum by there provided a dust hood 73 that is formed to approximately of the brush ensure thorough cleaning of the a flicking bar 74 is secured to the interior of the dus hood adjacent the edge of the outlet of the dust hood and interfering relation with the ends of the brush bristles whereby dust particles may be dislodged removing dust particles from the brush and dust an exhaust duct 76 is arranged to cover the Outlet of the dust the exhaust duot being connected at its other end to the wall of a filter box 77 attached to the dust A filter bag 7Θ is secured within the filter with the mouth of the filter bag in communication with the exhaust A motor fan connected to the filter produces a flow of air through the filter box drawing air through the area surrounding the graphic and the dust the air entraining powde particles removed from the drum by the brush as the ai flows through the dU3t particles are separated from the air as it flows through the filter bag so that only clean air reaches the Suitable drive means provided to drive the low stress arid which is capable of cold flowing under and which is capable sliding over a in the manner of relationship The cylinder 805 is closed opposite ends by fuser roll caps 807 and which are to the cylinder b A spindle portion of the fuser roll caps are for rot by bearings 811 mounted in plates 801 and Bushings 812 extend through the hollow spindle iportion of the fuser roll One the the one as 3ee in is supported by a bearing cap 813 secured plate 802 thrust washer 814 positioned between the bearing and the retainin The other bushing extends through the hollow spindle portion of roller cap 807 and is secured in position by a set screw in bearing retaining secured to plate Each of the bushings provided ith a suitable aperture to receive a quartz tube 817 which supports a suitable resistance heating The resistance element SI is connected by suitable conductors to a of power such as a commercial 120 60 alternating current outlets A to control the power the resistance Rl is suitabl positioned in thermal relation to J further details concernin the electrical circuit of the fuse connection with the circuit f the xerographic of reference is made to the referenced copending Serial 22618 In the embodiment the f ser 60 driven in timed relation to the speed of the endless conveyor and the conveyor the fuser roll cap is provided with a sprocket are operatively to a common source belt not by which in the portion of the drive for xerographic apparatus shown in extends from the source of power to engage idler sprocket then up idler down to a drive sprocket 705 used to drive conveyor up and around the sprocket 821 of fuser then the chain belt extends around sprocket 704 used to drive the endless oonveyor 5 from the chain belt expends back to the source of With this roller 803 is driven to advance the sheet of support material at a speed equal to the speed of the support material as it delivered to the b the endless conveyor 55 of the xerographic Roll 804 includes shaft 825 covered with a suitable material such as silicone rubber molded to the The shaft 825 is by bearings 827 mounted in support arms 831 and Bushings 833 seoured to the support arms are shoulder threaded into the plate 801 and 802 whereby this assembly is mounted or pivotable about the axis of the shoulder The support arms also a connecting rod 835 extending The connecting rod is positioned to be contacted by a 841 secured to a diaphragm plate 842 as by 843 extending through a washer a diaphragm 845 and the diaphragm plate to threadingly engage the The diaphragm 845 is secured a suitable cavity formed the base plate 10 by means of a retaining ring 846 held in position by screws The cavity in the base plate 10 is connected by a threaded a suitable source f such as a motor driven compressor to vertical movement of the diaphragm which through the contacting the connecting rod pivots the supporting arms to force roller 804 into engagement with roller 803 or with a sheet of support material sandwiched With this the roller when pressure is applied to the is resillently movable away from roller 803 to permit a support material to enter between these The motor driven compressor is suitably connected to electrical circuit of the xerographic apparatus whereby the circuit is energized to advance sheets o material through the xerographic the motor driving the is energized to supply pressured ai to actuate the diaphragm to force roller 804 into contact with roller or a sheet sandwiched The pressure between roller 804 and 803 is mechanically controllable by means of adjusting screws 836 threaded through the turned out portions of the support lock 837 being provided to these adjusting screws the desired As the roller 804 is raised into with roller its upward movement can be limited by contact of these adjusting screws edge portions of plates 801 and When the xerographic electrical circuit is or when sheets are not being advanced through the xerographic the motor driven compressor is not whereby 804 is to its weight and the weight of this entire to pivot out of contact with roller Thus during whe the is not the rollers 80 and 804 are automatically This separation of the Roller 803 driven in timed relation with 804 by gear 851 fixed to shaft 825 engaging gear 822 of roller 80 The otable movement of the support about the of the shoulder bolts is limited by a stop pin 852 extending from plate 801 into interference relation with a support the distance between the center of rollers 804 and if they are moved out of contact with each is so limited that gears 822 and 851 will remain in engagement with each As a sheet of suppor material is advanced between rollers and powder image on the support material will contact the peripheral heated surface of 803 whereby the powder image becomes tackifled in tackified the powder would tend to offset onto roll except that it is partially prevented from doing so by the Teflon coating on this to further prevent even this limited tendency of offset of powder onto the heated contact surface roll an is used to supply a thin film offset preventing such as silicone to the Teflon coating on roll A supply of silicone oi to be applied roller 803 is maintained in an oil pan 861 having as by to opposite ends there of brackets 862 and 8 by means Of which the oil pan is mounted on the plates 801 and At the left as seen in 6 and there is provided a spring 864 secured to this end of the for a to be An applicator generally designated is to convey film of as the applicator roll is rotated i the silicone oil to a wick as a Teflon felt pad secured insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (1)

A contact heat fusing device for fixing a thermoplastic resin carried o a suppor material in said device including a heated roller journaled in the a pair of support arms pivo ally secured to the roller journaled in the support arms in parallel relation th heated an actuator arm connected to the support actuator means operatively connected to pivot the suppor arms from a first position wherein the second roller is out of operation relation with the heated roll to a second position wherein the roller is in cooperative relation to the heated roll to forward a material in pressure contact the pivoting the roller into cooperative relation with roller sufficiently to flowing of resin material carried on support material in image configuration only within the pattern in which the material is the ipheral surface of the heated roller having a coating of an preventine means to apply an offset preventing liquid to the offset preventing material on the heated roller and driving means connected to the heated and to the second to drive the rolls fox advancing a support material A device as claimed in

1. Claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a pressure chamber closed at one end by diaphragm operatively connected to the actuator arm and having at its opposite end conduit means adapted to be connected to a source of A contact heat fusing device as n Claim substantially as hereinbefore described with to the insufficientOCRQuality