US3667742A - Fixing arrangement - Google Patents

Fixing arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3667742A
US3667742A US101730A US3667742DA US3667742A US 3667742 A US3667742 A US 3667742A US 101730 A US101730 A US 101730A US 3667742D A US3667742D A US 3667742DA US 3667742 A US3667742 A US 3667742A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
members
shell
shell members
support
roller
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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
US101730A
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English (en)
Inventor
Roman C Kamola
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Xerox Corp
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Xerox Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3667742A publication Critical patent/US3667742A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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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
    • G03G15/2064—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat combined with pressure

Definitions

  • a source of heat energy associated with at least one of the shell members produces a heating of the shell members to an elevated temperature and as the heated shell members are advanced about the roller members in the deformed configuration a support member having unfuscd electroscopic toner images thereon will be advanced therebetween to produce at least a partial melting of the toner images on the support within the extended nip area.
  • This invention relates generally to the aflixing of electroscopic toner material to a support member and more particularly to permanently affixing electroscopic toner material in an image configuration onto a support by the use of heat.
  • first elastically deformable shell member of a generally cylindrical configuration a pair of roller members supported internally of said first shell member in a generally parallel spaced relationship to each other to elastically deform said shell member thereabout into a generally elliptical configuration
  • second elastically deformable shell member of a generally cylindrical configuration a pair of roller members supported internally of said second shell member in a generally parallel spaced relationship to each other to elastically deform said second shell member thereabout into a generally elliptical configuration
  • heat generating means operatively associated with at least one of said shell members for heating said shell member to an
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system in which the fusing arrangement as contemplated by the present invention is particularly adapted for use.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the fusing arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • electroscopic toner images which are to be permanently affixed to a support such as paper are contacted between a pair of members in an extended nip which are heated to a temperature sufficient to produce at least a partial melting of the toner material.
  • a transfer of the thermal energy in the heated members to the toner material occurs.
  • the melted toner material fiows to a certain extent into the fibers of the support material which after cooling readily adheres in a permanent manner to the support material.
  • an original copy to be reproduced is placed on a support tray 10 from-which it is fed into a feed apparatus generally a designated 11.
  • a feed apparatus generally a designated 11.
  • the original is moved on an endless belt 12 driven by motor 13 to pass the optical axis of projection lens system 14 that is illuminated by a projection lamp LMP-l.
  • the image of the original is reflected by mirror 15 through an adjustable objective lens 16 and then reflected by mirror 17 downwardly through a variable slit aperture assembly 18 and onto the surface of a xerographic plate in the form of a drum 19.
  • 'Xerographic drum 19 includes a cylindrical member mounted in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine and is driven in a clockwise direction by a motor 24 at a constant rate that is proportional to the transport rate of the original, whereby the peripheral rate of the drum surface is identical to the rate of movement of the projected radiation image.
  • the drum surface comprises a layer of photoconductive material on a conductive backing that is sensitized to exposure by means of a corona generating device 25 which may be an adaptation of the type disclosed in Vyverberg Pat. No. 2,83 6,725 that is energized from a suitable high potential source.
  • the exposure of the drum to the radiation image discharges the photoconductive layer in the areas struck by radiation, whereby there remains on the drum a latent electrostatic image in image configuration corresponding to the radiation image projected from the original.
  • the electrostatic latent image passes through a developing station 26 at which a two-component developer material 27 which may be of the type disclosed in Walkup, Pat. No. 2,638,- 416, is cascaded over the drum surface by means of developing apparatus 28.
  • developing material is carried up the conveyor 29, driven by suitable drive means from the motor 30, and then released onto chute 31 whereby it is cascaded down over the drum surface.
  • the toner component 32 of the developer that is consumed in developing is stored in dispenser 33 and is dispensed in amounts controlled by gate 34.
  • the xerographic powder image After developing, the xerographic powder image passes a discharge station 41 at which the drum surface is illuminated by lamp LMP-2, whereby residual charges on the non-image areas of the drum surface are completely discharged. Thereafter, the powder image passes through an image transfer station 42 at which the power image is electrostatically transferred to a moving support surface 43 by means of a second corona generating device 44 similar to corona charging device 25', mentioned above.
  • the moving support surface 43 to which the powder image is transferred may be of any convenient type, such as paper, and may be obtained from a supply roll 45, fed over guide roll 46 and over tensioning roll 47, being directed into surface contact with the drum in the immediate vicinity of transfer corona generating device 44.
  • the support surface 43 is separated from the drum surface and guided through the fusing apparatus as contemplated by the present invention generally designated 48, wherein the powder image is permanently affixed thereto. Thereafter, the support surface may be fed over a further'system of guide and tensioning rolls such as 49 and onto a take-up roll '52 that is driven by motor 53.
  • a corona generating device 54 directs electrostatic charge to a residual powder image on the drum surface.
  • the xerographic drum surface passes through a cleaning station 55 at which the surface thereof is brushed by a cleaning brush assembly 56, rotated by a motor 57, whereby residual developing material remaining on the drum surface is removed.
  • the drum surface then passes through a second discharge station 58 at which it is illuminated by fluorescent lamp LMP-3, whereby the drum surface in this region is completely flooded with light to remove any electrostatic charge that may remain thereon.
  • Suitable light traps are provided in the system to prevent any light rays from reaching the drum surface, other than the projected image, during the period of drum travel immediately prior to sensitization by corona generating device 25 until after the drum surface has com pletely passed through the developing station 26.
  • the image bearing support surface 43 carrying the loose powder images is moved through the fusing apparatus in a path accorded by the interrelation of rollers 47 and 49. While the support material 43 with the toner images 90 thereon has been shown and described as being in the form of an elongated web it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the fusing arrangement as contemplated by the present invention is equallyapplicable to the use of support materials in the form of cut sheet stock.
  • the fusing apparatus 48 includes an insulating shell or jacket 60 which surrounds and encloses the active elements of the fusing assembly. Openings 73 and 74 at either side of insulating shell 60 in the direction of support travel permit support member 43 with toner images 90 thereon to pass through the fusing assembly with a minimal loss of heat energy from the active elements of the fusing apparatus.
  • Insulating shell 60 may be composed of any suitable material which has a low conductivity and emissivity of thermal energy.
  • the active elements of fusing apparatus 48 include shell members 61 and 62 and roller members 63-64 and 65-66 respectively associated therewith.
  • Shell members 61 and 62 are preferably formed from any suitable elastically deformable material which has a high conductivity and emissivity of thermal energy. Suitable materials include spring steels, stainless steels or alloys having high fatigue strength.
  • Shell members 61 and 62 in the normal undeformed condition are of a generally cylindrical configuration, the walls of which are thin in relation to the size of the cylinder thus providing a low mass per unit surface area of the shell members.
  • Roller members 63-64 and 6566 are likewise preferably formed from any suitable material which has a high conductivity and emissivity of thermal energy. Suitable materials include heat treated steels, stainless steels or alloys having high fatigue strength. Roller members 63-64 and 65-66 like shell members 61 and 62 are of a generally cylindrical configuration and have wall thicknesses which are relatively thin in relation to the size of the respective cylinders. However, unlike shell members 61 and 62, roller members 63-64 and 6566 are, relatively speaking, rigidly non-deformable about their respective central axes and maintain their general cylindrical configuration under an applied pressure. Shell members 61 and 62 on the other hand are elestically deformable about their respective axes while remaining non-deformable through the dimensional thickness of the respective walls.
  • roller members 63-64 and 6566 are supported internally of the respective shell members 61 and 62 in a generally parallel spaced relationship to each other by any suitable support means which permits rotational movement of the respective roller members about their respective central axes.
  • roller members 63-64 and 6566 may be rotatably journaled at either end thereof in suitable frame plates operatively attached to either end of insulating jacket 60.
  • Roller members 63-64 and 6566 in their mounting arrangement are spaced from each other within the respective shell members 61 and 62 a distance suflicient to elastically deform the respective shell members from the normal cylindrical configurations against the normal elasticity of the shell material into generally elliptical configurations about the respective roller members.
  • iRoller members 63-64 and 6566 in their mounting arrangements are also biased or pressed in directions extending generally along the minor axes of the respective elliptical configurations to further deform at least a portion of the elliptical surface of one of the shell members against at least a portion of the elliptical surface of the other of the shell members to provide an extended nip or area of contact between the shell members 61 and 62 as may be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings.
  • the active elements of the fusing apparatus 48 are heated to an elevated temperature by suitable heat generating means.
  • a source of heat energy such as quartz lamps 67 and 68 are located inwardly of shell members 61 and 62 and extend as do shell members 61 and 72 in the lateral direction a distance sufiicient to encompass the width of support material 43 onto which images are to be fused.
  • Lamps 67 and 68 are operatively connected to a source of electrical energy and are adapted upon energization to produce a heating of shell members 61 and 62 and roller members 63-64 and 6566 to elevated temperatures sufficient to produce at least a partial melting of toner images on support member 43 which are passed through the nip or contact area between shell members 61 and 62.
  • Suitable temperature responsive means such as heat sensor 72 may also be provided to operatively control the enerization of quartz lamps 67 and 68 and thereby maintain the temperature of the active elements of fusing apparatus 48 at a predetermined optimum level. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 only one such sensing element 72 has been illustrated which is supported internally of roller member 64.
  • additional sensing devices such as 72 may also be utilized to operatively control the energization of quartz lamps 67 and 68 to thereby maintain the active elements of fusing apparatus 48 within predetermined operating temperature ranges.
  • shell members 61 and 62 are preferably coated with a thin layer of material such as polytetrafiuoroethylene.
  • This coating of polytetrafiuoroethylene or like material provides a fuser contact surface having a relatively high repellancy for the toner particles as images are passed through the fusing apparatus 48.
  • This polytetrafluoroethylene coating therefore serves to prevent offsetting of the tacky or partially molten images onto shell members 61 and 62 as the images 90 pass through fusing apparatus 48.
  • a light film of a suitable release agent may also be applied to the surfaces of polytetrafluoroethylene coated shell members 61 and 62 to further prevent against offsetting of the toner images 90 onto the surfaces of shell members 61 and 62.
  • a light film of silicon oil for example, may be applied to the surfaces of shell members 61 and 62 by means of belts or ribbons 69 and 70 which are impregnated with the release agent.
  • belts or ribbons 69 and 70 are disposed transversely to the direction of movement of shell members 61 and 62 and support member 43.
  • a film of the release agent from belt members 69 and 70 Will be deposited on the surfaces of shell members 61 and 62.
  • Suitable means may also be provided for indexing belt members 69 and 70 over the surfaces of shell members 61 and 62 to maintain an adequate supply of the release agent to shell members 61 and 62.
  • shell members 61 and 62 are driven in their deformed configuration about roller members 63-64 and 6566 to transport a support member 43 having toner images 90 thereon through the fusing apparatus 48.
  • roller member 65 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by means of a suitable drive arrangement exterior to the insulating shell 60. This may be accomplished by various combinations of gearing, belts, chain, etc. to drive roller member 65 at a predetermined rotational speed.
  • roller member 65 includes a plurality of sprocket teeth 71 which are spaced about the periphery of the roller member 65 to impart movement to shell members 61 and 72.
  • a first set of sprocket teeth 71 are located adjacent one end of roller member 65 and a second set of sprocket teeth 71 are located adjacent the other end thereof.
  • Sprocket teeth 71 on roller member 65 mesh with suitably arranged apertures in roller member 63 to drive roller member 63 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2.
  • Sprocket teeth 71 on roller member 65 also mesh with suitably arranged apertures along the edges of shell members 61 and 72 to provide a positive driving force to shell members 61 and 62 in the directions as shown about idler rollers 64 and 66 respectively.
  • roller member 65 is driven from a source external to the fuser assembly 48
  • shell members 61 and 62 will *be driven about roller members 63-64 and 65-66 respectively to transport support material 43 having unfused electroscopic toner images thereon through the fusing assembly.
  • other equivalent drive arrangements may be employed for driving shell members 61 and 62 about roller members 63-64 and 65-66 in the deformed configuration.
  • the fusing apparatus 48 requires a very short initial warm up time within which the active elements of the fusing apparatus reach optimum fusing temperature. It should also be appreciated that because of the relatively low mass per unit area of the active elements of the fusing apparatus, the fusing apparatus therefore is characterized by a quick thermal response time which enables an accurate control between optimum fusing temperature limits. It should be further appreciated that as a result of the substantially uniform pressure which is exerted within the extended area of contact, an optimum heat transfer relationship is provided which continues over a longer period of time than has heretofore been possible with conventional 'contact fusers. Finally, it will be further appreciated that the fusing apparatus as contemplated by the present invention is ideally adapted for fusing images which are not only placed on one side of the support member but which are also placed on both sides of the support member, in a simultaneous manner.
  • Apparatus for fusing electroscopic toner images onto a support comprising,
  • 'heat generating means operatively associated with at least one of said shell members for heating said shell member to an elevated temperature
  • Apparatus according to claim '1 further including,
  • applicator means for applying a quantity of offset preventing material to the surface of said shell members.
  • said heat generating means including,
  • Apparatus for affixing electroscopic toner images onto a support comprising,
  • a first generally cylindrically shaped thin shelled member formed from a heat conductive material of high elasticity
  • roller members supported for rotation about their respective axes internally of said thin shelled member, said roller members being spaced from each other in a generally parallel relationship to elastically deform said thin shelled member thereabout in a generally elliptical configuration
  • a second generally cylindrically shaped thin shelled member formed from a heat conductive material of high elasticity
  • roller members supported for rotation about their respective axes internally of said thin shelled member, said roller members being spaced from each other in a generally parallel relationship to elastically deform said thin shelled member thereabout in a generally elliptical configuration
  • fmeans operatively associated with said first and said second pairs of roller members for biasing said roller members in. a direction generally along the minor axes of the elliptical configurations of said thin shelled members to further deform at least a portion of the elliptical surface of one of the thin shelled members against at least a portion of the elliptical surface of the other of the thin shelled members to provide an extended nip between said first and said second thin shelled members,
  • heat generating means operatively associated with at least one of said thin shelled members for heating said thin shelled member to an elevated temperature
  • said heat generating means including,
  • a first source of heat energy supported internally of said first thin shelled member adapted when energized to heat said first thin shelled member to an elevated temperature
  • Apparatus according to claim 5 further including,
  • applicator means for applying a quantity of ofiset 10 preventing material to the surface of said thin shelled members.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
US101730A 1970-12-28 1970-12-28 Fixing arrangement Expired - Lifetime US3667742A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10173070A 1970-12-28 1970-12-28

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US3667742A true US3667742A (en) 1972-06-06

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US101730A Expired - Lifetime US3667742A (en) 1970-12-28 1970-12-28 Fixing arrangement

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US3667742A (de)
JP (1) JPS5414507B1 (de)
BE (1) BE777318A (de)
CA (1) CA928766A (de)
DE (1) DE2164287A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2121216A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1368307A (de)
IT (1) IT944393B (de)
NL (1) NL7117809A (de)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3810735A (en) * 1972-12-26 1974-05-14 Xerox Corp Heat fixing apparatus for fusible material
US3825407A (en) * 1971-12-27 1974-07-23 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Heater holding bracket for a heat fixer in a copying machine or the like
US3948215A (en) * 1972-03-14 1976-04-06 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Fixing toner images in electrophotography
US4218499A (en) * 1976-07-30 1980-08-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Method of fixing heat-fusible toner images formed on a web
US4551006A (en) * 1984-06-11 1985-11-05 Eastman Kodak Company Thermal conservation apparatus
EP0295901A2 (de) * 1987-06-16 1988-12-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Bildfixiergerät
US4974015A (en) * 1988-12-30 1990-11-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording medium producing apparatus
US5038710A (en) * 1988-11-18 1991-08-13 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Developer material coating apparatus
US5050531A (en) * 1987-10-09 1991-09-24 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for producing an image recording medium
US5060011A (en) * 1988-04-28 1991-10-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording apparatus
US5300997A (en) * 1987-06-16 1994-04-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing apparatus

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3825407A (en) * 1971-12-27 1974-07-23 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Heater holding bracket for a heat fixer in a copying machine or the like
US3948215A (en) * 1972-03-14 1976-04-06 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Fixing toner images in electrophotography
US3810735A (en) * 1972-12-26 1974-05-14 Xerox Corp Heat fixing apparatus for fusible material
US4218499A (en) * 1976-07-30 1980-08-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Method of fixing heat-fusible toner images formed on a web
US4265198A (en) * 1976-07-30 1981-05-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for fixing heat-fusible toner images formed on a web
US4551006A (en) * 1984-06-11 1985-11-05 Eastman Kodak Company Thermal conservation apparatus
US5149941A (en) * 1987-06-16 1992-09-22 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing apparatus with movable sheet member and detectors
EP0295901A3 (en) * 1987-06-16 1990-09-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha An image fixing apparatus
EP0295901A2 (de) * 1987-06-16 1988-12-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Bildfixiergerät
US5300997A (en) * 1987-06-16 1994-04-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing apparatus
US5343280A (en) * 1987-06-16 1994-08-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing apparatus
US5767484A (en) * 1987-06-16 1998-06-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image fixing heater and image fixing apparatus having same
US5050531A (en) * 1987-10-09 1991-09-24 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for producing an image recording medium
US5060011A (en) * 1988-04-28 1991-10-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording apparatus
US5038710A (en) * 1988-11-18 1991-08-13 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Developer material coating apparatus
US4974015A (en) * 1988-12-30 1990-11-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording medium producing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE777318A (fr) 1972-06-27
GB1368307A (en) 1974-09-25
IT944393B (it) 1973-04-20
JPS5414507B1 (de) 1979-06-07
DE2164287A1 (de) 1972-07-06
CA928766A (en) 1973-06-19
NL7117809A (de) 1972-06-30
FR2121216A5 (de) 1972-08-18

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