CA1053319A - Offset-preventing fuser roll - Google Patents
Offset-preventing fuser rollInfo
- Publication number
- CA1053319A CA1053319A CA212,436A CA212436A CA1053319A CA 1053319 A CA1053319 A CA 1053319A CA 212436 A CA212436 A CA 212436A CA 1053319 A CA1053319 A CA 1053319A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- toner
- layer
- core
- offset
- deformable
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- G03G15/2017—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means
- G03G15/2025—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
Abstract
METAL FOAM UNDER CONFORMABLE SURFACE REPLACEABLE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Fuser apparatus for affixing toner images to a substrate by means of heat and pressure. The apparatus is characterized by a heated fuser roll which is internally heated and has a reservoir of offset preventing material supported by a tubular member com-prising the core or base of the fuser roll. A resilient, low sur-face energy layer of a lesser thickness than the reservoir is ad-hered thereto. The reservoir comprises a porous, thermally con-ductive member through which offset preventing material diffuses during operation of the apparatus. The offset preventing material also diffuses through the resilient layer and forms a thin coating on the surface thereof to form a boundary layer for preventing toner from offsetting to the resilient material.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Fuser apparatus for affixing toner images to a substrate by means of heat and pressure. The apparatus is characterized by a heated fuser roll which is internally heated and has a reservoir of offset preventing material supported by a tubular member com-prising the core or base of the fuser roll. A resilient, low sur-face energy layer of a lesser thickness than the reservoir is ad-hered thereto. The reservoir comprises a porous, thermally con-ductive member through which offset preventing material diffuses during operation of the apparatus. The offset preventing material also diffuses through the resilient layer and forms a thin coating on the surface thereof to form a boundary layer for preventing toner from offsetting to the resilient material.
Description
~135~3~9 . -:
BACKGROUND OF THE ~NVENTION
This invention relates generally to Electrostatography apparatus and, more particularly, to a contact fusing system for fixing electroscopic toner material to a support member.
In the process o~ Electrostatography an image of an original to be copied is typically recorded in the form of a la-tent electrostatic image upon a member with subsequent rendering of the latent image visible by the application of electroscopic marking particles, commonly referred to as toner. The visual image can be either fixed directly upon the member or transferred from the member to a sheet of plain paper or other suitable sub-strate with s~bsequent af~ixing of the image thereto~
In order to permanently affix or fuse electroscopic toner material onto a support member by heat, it is necessary to elevate the temperature of the toner material to a point at which the constituents of the toner material coalesce and become tacky.
This action causes the toner to be absorbed to some extent into the fibers of the support member which, in many instances, con-stituteæ plain paper. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of the toner material occurs causing the toner material to be firmly bonded to the support member. In both the xerographic as well as the electrographic recording arts, the use of thermal energy for fixing toner images onto a support member is old and w~ nown.
One approach to thexmal fusing of electroscopic toner images onto a support has been to pass the support with the toner images thereon between a pair of opposed roller members, at least one of which is heated. During operation of a ~using system of this type, the support member to which the toner images are elec-trostatically adhered is moved through the nip formed between the the rolls with the toner image contacting the heated roll to thereby effect heating of the toner images within the nip. By controlling the heat transferred to the toner, virtually no off-set of the toner particlas from the copy sheet to the fuser roll is experienced under normal conditions. This is because the heat applied to the surface of the roller is insufficlent to raise the temperature of the surface of the xoller above the "hot offset"
temperature of the toner whereat the toner particles in the image areas of the toner would liquify and cause a splitting action in the molten toner to thereby result in "hot offset". Splitting occurs when the cohesive forces holding the viscous toner mass together is less than the adhesive forces tending to offset it to a contacting surface such as a fuser roll.
Occasionally, however, toner particles will be offset to the fuser roll by an insufficient application of heat to the surface thereof (i.e. "cold" offsetting); by imperfections in the properties o~ the surface of the roll; or by the toner particles insufficiently adhering to the copy sheet by the electrostatic forces which normally hold them there. In such a case, toner particle may be transferred to the surface of the fuser roll with subsequent transfer to the backup roll during periods of time whsn no copy paper is in the nip.
Moreover, toner particles can be picked up by the fuser and/or backup roll during fusing of duplex copies or simply from the surroundings of the reproducing apparatus.
One arrangement or minimizing the foregoing problems, particularly that which is commonly referred to as "offsetting"
has been to provide a fuser roll with an outer surface or covering of polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon~ to which a r~least agent such as silicone oil is applied~ the thickness of the Teflon being on the order of several mils and the thickness of the oil being less than 1 micron. Silicone based oils, which l<~ J~ 3 -- ~L05331~ :
possess a relatively low surface energy, have been found to be materials that are suitable for use in the heated fuser roll environment where Teflon* constitutes the outer surface bf the fuser roll. In practice, a thin layer of silicone oil is con-tinuously maintained on the surface of the heated roll to ~ :
thereby form~an interface between the roll surface and the toner images carried on the support material.
In order to supply silicone oil for such purposesj anoil sump or reservoir and associated structures are provided internally of the recording or reproducing apparatus. In addition to increasing the cost of the overall apparatus, the oil applying means requires periodic maintenance. Moreover, `
it is undesirable to have quantities of oil contained in the apparatus due to the possibllity of spLllage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
... .
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus including a fuser member for utilization in fixing toner images to a substrate by pressure and heat comprising: a core; a thermally conductive relatively non-deformable porous layer on said core, said porous layer orm-ing a reservoir containing offset-preventing liquid; a deformable layer carried by said thermally conductive porous layer, said deformable layer comprising a material having a relatively low affinity for the toner fusing said images; said layeræ being capable of allowing passage of said offset-prevent-ing liquid therethrough to form a coating on said deformable layer for preventing offsetting of toner to said def~rmable layer.
By way of supplemental explanation, there may be pro-vided a contact fuser apparatus comprising nip forming roll * trade mark ~ - 4 -'~
. .~ . . . . .
.
\
~i33~
.
structures one of which is internally heated in order to :
elevate the surface temperature thereof to a level necessary ~.
to soften - 4a -i 33~
` toner material forming images ona substrate passed through the nip with the toner images contacting the hea.ted roll structure.
The heated roll structure comprises a rigid, thermally conductive core ha.ving a heating element supported therein. In the preferred embodiment, as set forth hereinafter in greater de-tail, a s~eev,~ fabricated by powdered metal techniques serves as a reservoir for offset preventing liquid and is removably supported by the core. A thin layer of elastomeric material, for example, silicone rubber is adhered to the sleeve which during operation of the fuser a.pparatus is coated with the offset preventing li- '' quid ~y diffusion of the liquid from the reservoir through the thin layer of silicone rubber to thereby form a barrier between the rubber layer and the toner forming the images.
- .~This` invention will'~come more apparent when read in conjunctionlwiæh'ithè ~acompanyi.ng drawings and det~iled ~d'~'~c~ip'~ of~th"e;inve~'ti~n~
DESCRIPTION OF THE DR,~WINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an electro-static reproducing apparatus incorporating the present invention;
Figure 2 is a pictoral front elevational view of a fuser apparatus represe'nting the present invention; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IMVENTION
Referring now to the dra.wings, particularly Figure 1, re-ference character 9 designates a reproducing apparatus employing an image recording drum-like member 10 the outer periphery of which is coated with a suitable photoconductive material 11. One type of photoconductive material is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
, ~33~
BACKGROUND OF THE ~NVENTION
This invention relates generally to Electrostatography apparatus and, more particularly, to a contact fusing system for fixing electroscopic toner material to a support member.
In the process o~ Electrostatography an image of an original to be copied is typically recorded in the form of a la-tent electrostatic image upon a member with subsequent rendering of the latent image visible by the application of electroscopic marking particles, commonly referred to as toner. The visual image can be either fixed directly upon the member or transferred from the member to a sheet of plain paper or other suitable sub-strate with s~bsequent af~ixing of the image thereto~
In order to permanently affix or fuse electroscopic toner material onto a support member by heat, it is necessary to elevate the temperature of the toner material to a point at which the constituents of the toner material coalesce and become tacky.
This action causes the toner to be absorbed to some extent into the fibers of the support member which, in many instances, con-stituteæ plain paper. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of the toner material occurs causing the toner material to be firmly bonded to the support member. In both the xerographic as well as the electrographic recording arts, the use of thermal energy for fixing toner images onto a support member is old and w~ nown.
One approach to thexmal fusing of electroscopic toner images onto a support has been to pass the support with the toner images thereon between a pair of opposed roller members, at least one of which is heated. During operation of a ~using system of this type, the support member to which the toner images are elec-trostatically adhered is moved through the nip formed between the the rolls with the toner image contacting the heated roll to thereby effect heating of the toner images within the nip. By controlling the heat transferred to the toner, virtually no off-set of the toner particlas from the copy sheet to the fuser roll is experienced under normal conditions. This is because the heat applied to the surface of the roller is insufficlent to raise the temperature of the surface of the xoller above the "hot offset"
temperature of the toner whereat the toner particles in the image areas of the toner would liquify and cause a splitting action in the molten toner to thereby result in "hot offset". Splitting occurs when the cohesive forces holding the viscous toner mass together is less than the adhesive forces tending to offset it to a contacting surface such as a fuser roll.
Occasionally, however, toner particles will be offset to the fuser roll by an insufficient application of heat to the surface thereof (i.e. "cold" offsetting); by imperfections in the properties o~ the surface of the roll; or by the toner particles insufficiently adhering to the copy sheet by the electrostatic forces which normally hold them there. In such a case, toner particle may be transferred to the surface of the fuser roll with subsequent transfer to the backup roll during periods of time whsn no copy paper is in the nip.
Moreover, toner particles can be picked up by the fuser and/or backup roll during fusing of duplex copies or simply from the surroundings of the reproducing apparatus.
One arrangement or minimizing the foregoing problems, particularly that which is commonly referred to as "offsetting"
has been to provide a fuser roll with an outer surface or covering of polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon~ to which a r~least agent such as silicone oil is applied~ the thickness of the Teflon being on the order of several mils and the thickness of the oil being less than 1 micron. Silicone based oils, which l<~ J~ 3 -- ~L05331~ :
possess a relatively low surface energy, have been found to be materials that are suitable for use in the heated fuser roll environment where Teflon* constitutes the outer surface bf the fuser roll. In practice, a thin layer of silicone oil is con-tinuously maintained on the surface of the heated roll to ~ :
thereby form~an interface between the roll surface and the toner images carried on the support material.
In order to supply silicone oil for such purposesj anoil sump or reservoir and associated structures are provided internally of the recording or reproducing apparatus. In addition to increasing the cost of the overall apparatus, the oil applying means requires periodic maintenance. Moreover, `
it is undesirable to have quantities of oil contained in the apparatus due to the possibllity of spLllage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
... .
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus including a fuser member for utilization in fixing toner images to a substrate by pressure and heat comprising: a core; a thermally conductive relatively non-deformable porous layer on said core, said porous layer orm-ing a reservoir containing offset-preventing liquid; a deformable layer carried by said thermally conductive porous layer, said deformable layer comprising a material having a relatively low affinity for the toner fusing said images; said layeræ being capable of allowing passage of said offset-prevent-ing liquid therethrough to form a coating on said deformable layer for preventing offsetting of toner to said def~rmable layer.
By way of supplemental explanation, there may be pro-vided a contact fuser apparatus comprising nip forming roll * trade mark ~ - 4 -'~
. .~ . . . . .
.
\
~i33~
.
structures one of which is internally heated in order to :
elevate the surface temperature thereof to a level necessary ~.
to soften - 4a -i 33~
` toner material forming images ona substrate passed through the nip with the toner images contacting the hea.ted roll structure.
The heated roll structure comprises a rigid, thermally conductive core ha.ving a heating element supported therein. In the preferred embodiment, as set forth hereinafter in greater de-tail, a s~eev,~ fabricated by powdered metal techniques serves as a reservoir for offset preventing liquid and is removably supported by the core. A thin layer of elastomeric material, for example, silicone rubber is adhered to the sleeve which during operation of the fuser a.pparatus is coated with the offset preventing li- '' quid ~y diffusion of the liquid from the reservoir through the thin layer of silicone rubber to thereby form a barrier between the rubber layer and the toner forming the images.
- .~This` invention will'~come more apparent when read in conjunctionlwiæh'ithè ~acompanyi.ng drawings and det~iled ~d'~'~c~ip'~ of~th"e;inve~'ti~n~
DESCRIPTION OF THE DR,~WINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an electro-static reproducing apparatus incorporating the present invention;
Figure 2 is a pictoral front elevational view of a fuser apparatus represe'nting the present invention; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IMVENTION
Referring now to the dra.wings, particularly Figure 1, re-ference character 9 designates a reproducing apparatus employing an image recording drum-like member 10 the outer periphery of which is coated with a suitable photoconductive material 11. One type of photoconductive material is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
, ~33~
2,970,906 issued to Bixby in 1961. The drum 10 is suitably-journaled for rotation within a machine frame (not shown) by means of a shaft 12 and rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 13, to bring the image retaining surface thereon past a plurality of Xerographic processing stations~ Suitable drive means (not shown) are provided to power and coordinate the motion of the various co-operating machine components whereby a faithful reproduction of the original input scene information is recorded upon a sheet of final support material such as paper or the like.
Since the practice of xerography is well known in the art, the various processing stations for producing a copy of an original are herein represented in Figure 1 as blocks A
to E. Initially, the drum moves photoconductive surface 11 through a charging station A. At charging station A an elect-rostatic charge is placed uniformly ovex the photoconductive surface 11 of the drum 10 preparatory to imaging. The charging may be provided by a corona generating device of a type des-cribed in U.S. Patent No. 2,836,725 issued to Vyverberg in 1958.
Thereafterr the drum 10 is rotated to exposure station B where the charged photoconductive surface 11 is exposed to a light image of the original input scene information, whereby the charge is selectively dissipated in the light exposed regions to record the original input scene in the form of a latent ele-ctrostatic image. A suitable exposure system may be of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 3,832,057, issued August 27, 1974, D.K. Shogren.
After exposure, drum 10 rotates the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface 11 to development station C, wherein a conventional developer mix is applied to the photoconductive surface 11 of the drum 10 ren-dering the latent image visible. A suitable development station . . . .
` l~S~33~;9 is disclosed in Canadian Patent Application Sexial No. 145,905.
This application describes a magnetic brush development system utilizing a magnetizable developer mix having carrier granules and toner com~rising electrophotographic resin plus colorant from dyes or pigments. A developer mix is continually brought through a directional flux field to form a brush thereof. The electrostatic latent image recorded on photoconductive surface 11 is developed by bringing the brush of developer mix into con-tact there~ith. The developed image on the photoconductive surface 11 is then brought into contact with a sheet of final support material 14 within a transfer station D and the toner image is tra~sferred from the photoconductive surface 11 to the contacting side of the final support sheet 14. The final support material may be plain paper, gummed labels, transpar-encies such as Polycarbonate, Polysulfane and Mylar*, etc., as desired.
After the toner image has been transferred to the sheet of final support material 14, the sheet with the image thereon is advanced to a suitable fuser assembly 15 which fuses the transfer powder image thereto. After the fusing process, the final support material 14 is advanced by a series of rolls ;
16 to a copy paper tray 17 for subsequent removal therefrom by a machine operator.
Although a preponderence of the toner powdex is trans-ferred to the final support material 14, invariably some re-sidual toner remains on the photoconductive surface 11 after the transfer of the toner powder image to the final support material 14. The residual toner particles remaining on the photoconductive surface 11 after the transfer operation are removed from the drum 10 as it moves through cleaning station ! E. Here the residual toner particles are first brought under the influence of a cleaing corona generating device ~not shown) * trade mark .. ~ . .
~L~533~
adapted to neutralize the electrostatic charge rem~inin~ on the toner paxticles. The neutralized toner particles are then .~ .
mechanically cleaned from the photoconductive surface 11 by conventional means as for example, the use of a resiliently beased knife blade as set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,660,~63 issued to Gerbasi in 1972.
The sheets of final support material 1~ processed in the automatic xerographic reproducing device may be stored in the machine within a removable paper cassette 18. A suitable paper cassette is set forth in Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 148,892.
The copier can also have the capability of accepting and processing copying sheets of varying lengths. The length of the copy sheet, of course, being dictated by the size of the oriyinal input scene information recorded on the photocon-ductive surface 11. To this end, the paper cassette 18 is pre-ferably provided with an adjustable feature whereby sheets of varying length and width can be conveniently accommodated therein.
In operation, the cassette 18 is filled with the stack of final support material 19 of pre-selected si.ze and the cassette 18 is inserted into the machine by sliding along .`
a baseplate (nob shown) with guides the cassette 18 into op-erable relationship with a pair of feed rollers 20. When pro-perly positioned in communication with the feed rollers 20 the top sheet of the stack 19 is separated and forwarded from the stack 19 into the transfer station D by means of registration rollers 21.
It is believed that the foregoing description is suf-ficient for purposes of present application to illustrate the general operation of an automatic xerographic copier which can embody the teachings of the present invention.
)53319 The fuser assembly 15 comprises a heated roll struc-ture 31 including a cylindrical core or base member 32 having a conventional heating element 34 disposed internally thereof and extending substantially co-extensive therewith. The core is fabricated from any suitable material capable of readily conducting heat picked up from the heating element 34. To this end, the core 32 preferably is fabricated from copper or a cop-per alloy which is overcoated with a thin layer of aluminum.
A porous layer 36 approximately 0.25 inch thic~ is supported by the core 32 and has affixed thereto a relatively thinner layer 38 (i.e. on the order of 4 mils thick) of defor-mable material. The layer 38 comprises an elastomeric material, for example, cured silicone rubber, however itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other materials may be employed, for example, fluorosilicone rubber or other heat resistant materials that have a low affinity for the types of toners em-ployed in electrostatic recording processes and which are cap-able of diffusing offset preventing liquids therethrough.
The porous layer 36, in the preferred embodiment, com-prises a removable sleeve impregnated with offset preventing ma-terial which is preferably a liquid at room temperature. Suit-able offset preventing materials are silicone or silicone based oils having a ~iscosity on the order of 100 to lOOOcs. Accord-ingly, the sleeve forms a reservoir for the oil which during operation of the fusing apparatus will diffuse outwardly to the surface of the layer 38 to thereby provide a uniform coatiny thereon which acts as a barrier between the layer 38 and the toner materials being fused. While in the preferred embodiment the layer 3Ç comprises a porous sleeve which is removable, other structures may be employed, for example, a porous layer of aluminum or other suitable material could be flame sprayed onto the core 32.
-' :9L0533:~
The sleeve 36 is preferably ~abricated by well known powdered or foamed metal techniques to thereby provide a res-ervoir having the desired porosity, for example, 10-30% by volume. Typical materials, for example, bronze, utilized for the fabrication of the sleeve are selected for their good ther-mal properties. The sleeve 34 may comprise a single member approximately 15 inches in length or a plurality of smaller segments having a combined length of approximately 15 inches.
The core 32 has a cixcumferential flange 40 against which the sleeve 36 abuts when installed on the core. A thread-ed collar 42 disposed adjacent the other end of the core 32 serves to captivate the sleeve 36 thereby retaining it in its operative position. When in position the ends of the sleeve abut the collar 42 as well as the circumferential flange 40.
This abuting relationship precludes flow of oil from the ends of the sleeve. Other methods of captivating the sleeve on the core 32 may be employed, for example a tongue and groove ar-rangement could be provided or conventional fasteners could be employed to fix or assist in fixing the position of the sleeve t on the core.
rrhe fuser assembly 15 further comprises a backup roll structure 44 which cooperates with the fuser roll structure 31 to form a nip 46 through which a copy paper or substrate 48 passes such that toner images 50 thereon contact the fuser roll structure. The backup roll structure may comprise any suitable construction, but preferably comprises a rigid steel core 52 having a layer 54 of silicone rubber thereover with a relatively thinner layer 56 of polytetrafluoroethylene carried thereby.
Means (not shown) for applying a loading force in a conventional manner to the fuser assembly 15 serves to create pressures on the order of 15 to 150 psi average thereby forming `
the nip 46. Also, means (not shown) are provided for separating ,.,:':
- 1 0 - .
~ 1~533~
the rolls 32 and 44 during periods of inoperativeness and for effecting re~èngagement of the rolls during operative periods.
Such means may comprise structures well known in the art or obvious in view of the known art.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skil-led in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents :~
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from ~ .
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
,~ .
,` ~".
.~ . .
:
Since the practice of xerography is well known in the art, the various processing stations for producing a copy of an original are herein represented in Figure 1 as blocks A
to E. Initially, the drum moves photoconductive surface 11 through a charging station A. At charging station A an elect-rostatic charge is placed uniformly ovex the photoconductive surface 11 of the drum 10 preparatory to imaging. The charging may be provided by a corona generating device of a type des-cribed in U.S. Patent No. 2,836,725 issued to Vyverberg in 1958.
Thereafterr the drum 10 is rotated to exposure station B where the charged photoconductive surface 11 is exposed to a light image of the original input scene information, whereby the charge is selectively dissipated in the light exposed regions to record the original input scene in the form of a latent ele-ctrostatic image. A suitable exposure system may be of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 3,832,057, issued August 27, 1974, D.K. Shogren.
After exposure, drum 10 rotates the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface 11 to development station C, wherein a conventional developer mix is applied to the photoconductive surface 11 of the drum 10 ren-dering the latent image visible. A suitable development station . . . .
` l~S~33~;9 is disclosed in Canadian Patent Application Sexial No. 145,905.
This application describes a magnetic brush development system utilizing a magnetizable developer mix having carrier granules and toner com~rising electrophotographic resin plus colorant from dyes or pigments. A developer mix is continually brought through a directional flux field to form a brush thereof. The electrostatic latent image recorded on photoconductive surface 11 is developed by bringing the brush of developer mix into con-tact there~ith. The developed image on the photoconductive surface 11 is then brought into contact with a sheet of final support material 14 within a transfer station D and the toner image is tra~sferred from the photoconductive surface 11 to the contacting side of the final support sheet 14. The final support material may be plain paper, gummed labels, transpar-encies such as Polycarbonate, Polysulfane and Mylar*, etc., as desired.
After the toner image has been transferred to the sheet of final support material 14, the sheet with the image thereon is advanced to a suitable fuser assembly 15 which fuses the transfer powder image thereto. After the fusing process, the final support material 14 is advanced by a series of rolls ;
16 to a copy paper tray 17 for subsequent removal therefrom by a machine operator.
Although a preponderence of the toner powdex is trans-ferred to the final support material 14, invariably some re-sidual toner remains on the photoconductive surface 11 after the transfer of the toner powder image to the final support material 14. The residual toner particles remaining on the photoconductive surface 11 after the transfer operation are removed from the drum 10 as it moves through cleaning station ! E. Here the residual toner particles are first brought under the influence of a cleaing corona generating device ~not shown) * trade mark .. ~ . .
~L~533~
adapted to neutralize the electrostatic charge rem~inin~ on the toner paxticles. The neutralized toner particles are then .~ .
mechanically cleaned from the photoconductive surface 11 by conventional means as for example, the use of a resiliently beased knife blade as set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,660,~63 issued to Gerbasi in 1972.
The sheets of final support material 1~ processed in the automatic xerographic reproducing device may be stored in the machine within a removable paper cassette 18. A suitable paper cassette is set forth in Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 148,892.
The copier can also have the capability of accepting and processing copying sheets of varying lengths. The length of the copy sheet, of course, being dictated by the size of the oriyinal input scene information recorded on the photocon-ductive surface 11. To this end, the paper cassette 18 is pre-ferably provided with an adjustable feature whereby sheets of varying length and width can be conveniently accommodated therein.
In operation, the cassette 18 is filled with the stack of final support material 19 of pre-selected si.ze and the cassette 18 is inserted into the machine by sliding along .`
a baseplate (nob shown) with guides the cassette 18 into op-erable relationship with a pair of feed rollers 20. When pro-perly positioned in communication with the feed rollers 20 the top sheet of the stack 19 is separated and forwarded from the stack 19 into the transfer station D by means of registration rollers 21.
It is believed that the foregoing description is suf-ficient for purposes of present application to illustrate the general operation of an automatic xerographic copier which can embody the teachings of the present invention.
)53319 The fuser assembly 15 comprises a heated roll struc-ture 31 including a cylindrical core or base member 32 having a conventional heating element 34 disposed internally thereof and extending substantially co-extensive therewith. The core is fabricated from any suitable material capable of readily conducting heat picked up from the heating element 34. To this end, the core 32 preferably is fabricated from copper or a cop-per alloy which is overcoated with a thin layer of aluminum.
A porous layer 36 approximately 0.25 inch thic~ is supported by the core 32 and has affixed thereto a relatively thinner layer 38 (i.e. on the order of 4 mils thick) of defor-mable material. The layer 38 comprises an elastomeric material, for example, cured silicone rubber, however itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other materials may be employed, for example, fluorosilicone rubber or other heat resistant materials that have a low affinity for the types of toners em-ployed in electrostatic recording processes and which are cap-able of diffusing offset preventing liquids therethrough.
The porous layer 36, in the preferred embodiment, com-prises a removable sleeve impregnated with offset preventing ma-terial which is preferably a liquid at room temperature. Suit-able offset preventing materials are silicone or silicone based oils having a ~iscosity on the order of 100 to lOOOcs. Accord-ingly, the sleeve forms a reservoir for the oil which during operation of the fusing apparatus will diffuse outwardly to the surface of the layer 38 to thereby provide a uniform coatiny thereon which acts as a barrier between the layer 38 and the toner materials being fused. While in the preferred embodiment the layer 3Ç comprises a porous sleeve which is removable, other structures may be employed, for example, a porous layer of aluminum or other suitable material could be flame sprayed onto the core 32.
-' :9L0533:~
The sleeve 36 is preferably ~abricated by well known powdered or foamed metal techniques to thereby provide a res-ervoir having the desired porosity, for example, 10-30% by volume. Typical materials, for example, bronze, utilized for the fabrication of the sleeve are selected for their good ther-mal properties. The sleeve 34 may comprise a single member approximately 15 inches in length or a plurality of smaller segments having a combined length of approximately 15 inches.
The core 32 has a cixcumferential flange 40 against which the sleeve 36 abuts when installed on the core. A thread-ed collar 42 disposed adjacent the other end of the core 32 serves to captivate the sleeve 36 thereby retaining it in its operative position. When in position the ends of the sleeve abut the collar 42 as well as the circumferential flange 40.
This abuting relationship precludes flow of oil from the ends of the sleeve. Other methods of captivating the sleeve on the core 32 may be employed, for example a tongue and groove ar-rangement could be provided or conventional fasteners could be employed to fix or assist in fixing the position of the sleeve t on the core.
rrhe fuser assembly 15 further comprises a backup roll structure 44 which cooperates with the fuser roll structure 31 to form a nip 46 through which a copy paper or substrate 48 passes such that toner images 50 thereon contact the fuser roll structure. The backup roll structure may comprise any suitable construction, but preferably comprises a rigid steel core 52 having a layer 54 of silicone rubber thereover with a relatively thinner layer 56 of polytetrafluoroethylene carried thereby.
Means (not shown) for applying a loading force in a conventional manner to the fuser assembly 15 serves to create pressures on the order of 15 to 150 psi average thereby forming `
the nip 46. Also, means (not shown) are provided for separating ,.,:':
- 1 0 - .
~ 1~533~
the rolls 32 and 44 during periods of inoperativeness and for effecting re~èngagement of the rolls during operative periods.
Such means may comprise structures well known in the art or obvious in view of the known art.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skil-led in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents :~
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from ~ .
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
,~ .
,` ~".
.~ . .
:
Claims (9)
1. Apparatus including a fuser member for utilization in fixing toner images to a substrate by pressure and heat compris-ing:
a core;
a thermally conductive relatively non-deformable porous layer on said core, said porous layer forming a reservoir contain-ing offset preventing liquid;
a deformable layer carried by said thermally conductive porous layer, said deformable layer comprising a material having a relatively low affinity for the toner fusing said images;
said layers being capable of allowing passage of said offset preventing liquid therethrough to form a coating on said deformable layer for preventing offsetting of toner to said de-formable layer.
a core;
a thermally conductive relatively non-deformable porous layer on said core, said porous layer forming a reservoir contain-ing offset preventing liquid;
a deformable layer carried by said thermally conductive porous layer, said deformable layer comprising a material having a relatively low affinity for the toner fusing said images;
said layers being capable of allowing passage of said offset preventing liquid therethrough to form a coating on said deformable layer for preventing offsetting of toner to said de-formable layer.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said porous layer comprises a removable sleeve structure.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said porous sleeve comprises a powdered metal structure.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said defor-mable layer comprises cured silicone rubber.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said offset preventing liquid comprises silicone oil.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 including means for elevating the surface temperature of said deformable layer to provide sufficient heat for softening toner forming said toner images.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said means for heating said deformable layer is supported internally of said core and said core is thermally conductive.
8. . Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said core comprises a rigid cylinder.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 including a backup roll cooperating with said fuser member to form a nip there-between through which said substrate passes with said toner images forming said fuser member.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US430991A US3902845A (en) | 1973-12-26 | 1973-12-26 | Metal foam under conformable surface replaceable |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1053319A true CA1053319A (en) | 1979-04-24 |
Family
ID=23709962
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA212,436A Expired CA1053319A (en) | 1973-12-26 | 1974-10-28 | Offset-preventing fuser roll |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3902845A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5099156A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1053319A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1484160A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7415830A (en) |
Families Citing this family (27)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5013645U (en) * | 1973-06-01 | 1975-02-13 | ||
| JPS52131730A (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1977-11-04 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | Toner image heat fixing device |
| US4098631A (en) * | 1976-08-18 | 1978-07-04 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method for manufacturing a compliant roller for use in an electrographic apparatus |
| US4149797A (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1979-04-17 | Xerox Corporation | Sleeved organic rubber pressure rolls |
| US4083092A (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1978-04-11 | Xerox Corporation | Sleeved organic rubber pressure rolls |
| JPS5453544A (en) * | 1977-10-06 | 1979-04-26 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Pressure roll for electrophotographic heat and pressure type melt adhering apparatus |
| JPS5648664A (en) * | 1979-09-28 | 1981-05-01 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Fixing roll of copying machine or the like |
| US4373239A (en) * | 1980-02-27 | 1983-02-15 | Xerox Corporation | Fusing member for electrostatographic copiers |
| JPS5749973A (en) * | 1980-09-11 | 1982-03-24 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Manufacture of heat fixing roller of copying machine |
| JPS58149750U (en) * | 1982-03-30 | 1983-10-07 | ヤマウチ株式会社 | Heat fixing roll of electronic copying machine |
| US4501482A (en) * | 1982-07-09 | 1985-02-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Member of compliant material |
| DE3323067A1 (en) * | 1983-06-27 | 1985-01-03 | Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt | ROLLER FIXING DEVICE WITH A PRESSURE ROLLER AND A FIXING ROLLER HEATED FROM THE INSIDE |
| US4518655A (en) * | 1983-11-25 | 1985-05-21 | Xerox Corporation | Fusing member for electrostatographic copiers |
| JPH0623907B2 (en) * | 1984-02-20 | 1994-03-30 | シャープ株式会社 | Fixing roller |
| US4745432A (en) * | 1987-01-30 | 1988-05-17 | Xerox Corporation | Liquid ink fusing system |
| US4731635A (en) * | 1987-02-12 | 1988-03-15 | Xerox Corporation | Liquid ink fusing and carrier removal system |
| US4731636A (en) * | 1987-03-09 | 1988-03-15 | Xerox Corporation | Liquid carrier recovery system |
| US4887340A (en) * | 1987-10-20 | 1989-12-19 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Elastic fixing roller |
| JPH09166935A (en) * | 1995-12-18 | 1997-06-24 | Sharp Corp | Fixing device |
| DE19709672C2 (en) * | 1997-03-11 | 1998-12-24 | Koenig & Bauer Albert Ag | Cylinders for printing machines |
| DE19749228A1 (en) | 1997-11-07 | 1999-06-02 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Semi-finished product with a metal foam core |
| US6393249B1 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-05-21 | Nexpress Solutions Llc | Sleeved rollers for use in a fusing station employing an internally heated fuser roller |
| US6463250B1 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-10-08 | Nexpress Solutions Llc | Externally heated deformable fuser roller |
| US6567641B1 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2003-05-20 | Nexpress Solutions Llc | Sleeved rollers for use in a fusing station employing an externally heated fuser roller |
| DE102004055833A1 (en) * | 2004-11-19 | 2006-05-24 | Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag | Roller for printing machine, has tubular claddings that form upper surface of roller, and closed core provided between tubular claddings, where core is made from expanded material e.g. metal foam, and is designed in tubular shape |
| US8099007B2 (en) * | 2006-11-21 | 2012-01-17 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Fixing apparatus for image forming apparatus |
| DE102011054694A1 (en) * | 2011-10-21 | 2013-04-25 | OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH | Roll for guiding toner image from recording medium to platen roller of e.g. inkjet printer, has pores through which fluids passes upon rotation of roll |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2679572A (en) * | 1952-01-12 | 1954-05-25 | Goodyear Tire & Rubber | Resilient roll |
| US3225419A (en) * | 1963-11-12 | 1965-12-28 | Interchem Corp | Roller for applying fountain solution in lithographic printing |
| US3435500A (en) * | 1964-10-14 | 1969-04-01 | Xerox Corp | Pressure roll and method of manufacturing |
| US3437032A (en) * | 1965-07-01 | 1969-04-08 | Xerox Corp | Heated fuser roll |
| FR1471384A (en) * | 1966-03-09 | 1967-03-03 | Dornbusch & Co | Stamping cylinder for the treatment of webs, in particular webs of thermoplastic material |
| US3514312A (en) * | 1967-07-12 | 1970-05-26 | Barrier Corp The | Process for coating a metal surface |
| US3452181A (en) * | 1967-12-27 | 1969-06-24 | Eastman Kodak Co | Roll fusing device for xerographic material |
| FR1574025A (en) * | 1968-04-03 | 1969-07-11 | ||
| US3731358A (en) * | 1971-05-20 | 1973-05-08 | Addressograph Multigraph | Roll for pressure fusing toner at elevated temperatures |
-
1973
- 1973-12-26 US US430991A patent/US3902845A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1974
- 1974-10-28 CA CA212,436A patent/CA1053319A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-11-19 GB GB49966/74A patent/GB1484160A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-12-03 JP JP49139395A patent/JPS5099156A/ja active Pending
- 1974-12-04 NL NL7415830A patent/NL7415830A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NL7415830A (en) | 1975-04-29 |
| US3902845A (en) | 1975-09-02 |
| GB1484160A (en) | 1977-09-01 |
| JPS5099156A (en) | 1975-08-06 |
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