US4521095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic copying apparatus including specific toner fusing roll and its method of use
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-09-02
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Granted: 1985-06-04
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Expires: 2003-09-02
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet being made is disclosed herein along with a particular technique for fusing the transferred toner onto the sheet just mentioned. This fusing technique utilizes a fusing roller having an outermost circumferential surface and containing inwardly of this surface a material which undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of the toner. The roller is heated to at least the toner fusing temperature in order to cause the material to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means of storing heat, and thereafter, the roller is caused to engage successive copy sheets carrying transferred toner sufficient to cause the heat from the roller to use the toner thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2053; G03G15/2057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet, an assembly for fusing the transferred toner onto said sheet, said assembly comprising means supporting said copy sheet for movement along a given path, a fusing roll having an outermost circumferential surface, and containing inwardly of said outermost surface a material which undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, means supporting said roll for rotation such that its outermost surface engages the surface of said copy sheet carrying said toner, and means for heating said roll to at least said fusing temperature in order to cause said material to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means for storing heat for use in fusing said toner as the outermost surface of said roll engages said copy sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet, an assembly for fusing the transferred toner onto said sheet, said assembly comprising means supporting said copy sheet for movement along a given path, a fusing roll having an outermost circumferential surface, and containing inwardly of said outermost surface a material which undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, means supporting said roll for rotation such that its outermost surface engages the surface of said copy sheet carrying said toner, and means for heating said roll to at least said fusing temperature in order to cause said material to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means for storing heat for use in fusing said toner as the outermost surface of said roll engages said copy sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said material is of the type which changes from solid to liquid in the endothermic direction and liquid to solid in the exothermic direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said material is contained within said roll in particulate form, the particulate material being dispersed throughout a circumferential layer of said roll radially inward of its outermost surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said circumferential layer is an elastomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said particulate material is a Tin-Lead-Bismuth alloy with a melting point of 176° C. and possessing a heat fusion of 60 calories per cubic centimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet and in which an assembly is used to fuse the transferred toner onto said sheet, a fusing roller forming part of said assembly, said fusing roll comprising a main body having an outermost surface and containing inwardly of said outermost surface a material which undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, whereby when said roll is heated to said fusing temperature in order to fuse said toner onto said sheet said material is caused to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means for storing heat for use in the fusing process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet and in which an assembly is used to fuse the transferred toner onto said sheet, a fusing roller forming part of said assembly, said fusing roll comprising a main body having an outermost surface and containing inwardly of said outermost surface a material which undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, whereby when said roll is heated to said fusing temperature in order to fuse said toner onto said sheet said material is caused to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means for storing heat for use in the fusing process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fusing roll according to claim 6 wherein said material is of the type which changes from solid to liquid in the endothermic direction and liquid to solid in the exothermic direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fusing roll according to claim 7 wherein said material is contained within said roll in particulate form, the particulate material being dispersed throughout a circumferential layer of said roller radially inward of its outermost surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A fusing roll according to claim 8 wherein said circumferential layer is an elastomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fusing roll according to claim 9 wherein said particulate material is a Tin-Lead-Bismuth alloy with a melting point of 176° C. and possessing a heat fusion of 60 calories per cubic centimeter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet being made, a method of fusing the transferred toner onto said sheet, said method comprising the step of supporting said copy sheet for movement along a given path, providing a fusing roll which has an outermost circumferential surface and which contains inwardly of said surface a material that undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, heating said roll to at least said fusing temperature in order to cause said material to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means of storing heat for use in fusing said toner, and transferring heat from said roll to said copy sheet in order to fuse the toner thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an electrophotographic copying apparatus in which heat fusible toner is transferred from its photoconductive drum to one surface of the ultimate copy sheet being made, a method of fusing the transferred toner onto said sheet, said method comprising the step of supporting said copy sheet for movement along a given path, providing a fusing roll which has an outermost circumferential surface and which contains inwardly of said surface a material that undergoes a phase change at approximately the fusing temperature of said toner, heating said roll to at least said fusing temperature in order to cause said material to undergo an endothermic phase change and thereby serve as a means of storing heat for use in fusing said toner, and transferring heat from said roll to said copy sheet in order to fuse the toner thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said material is of the type which changes from solid to liquid in the endothermic direction and liquid to solid in the exothermic direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-03 | 1988-12-03 | 1989-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-03 | 1992-12-03 | 1993-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-03 | 1996-12-03 | 1997-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |