Fusing apparatus

Claim 2

A fusing apparatus for fusing a powder image on a recording sheet, comprising: a housing, said housing including an inlet for introducing a recording sheet having a powdered image thereon into the interior of the housing and an outlet for withdrawing a recording sheet having a fused image thereon from the interior of the housing; a cooling tube within the housing; means sealing fastening said cooling tube to said housing; heating means for fusing the powder image on said recording sheet supported in said cooling tube; and means for circulating a coolant gas, under positive pressure, through said cooling tube whereby coolant flowing through the cooling tube flows around said heating means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cooling tube contains at least one aperture for providing fluid flow communication between the cooling tube and said housing interior to maintain said housing interior at a positive pressure.

Claim 4

The fusing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means is a flash lamp.

Claim 5

The fusing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said housing is comprised of an inner and outer shell, said inner and outer shell being spaced from each other to define an insulating air gap.

Claim 6

A flash fusing apparatus for fusing a powder image on a recording sheet comprising: a housing including a recording sheet inlet at one end thereof and recording sheet outlet at the other end thereof for passing a recording sheet having a powder image thereon into and out of said housing; at least one cooling tube positioned in said housing transverse to the path of a recording sheet from said inlet to said outlet, said cooling tube extending through oppositely aligned apertures in said housing; means for fastening said cooling tube to said housing; a flash lamp for providing heat to fuse the powder image intermediately positioned in said cooling tube; support means for supporting said flash lamp in said cooling tube; and means for circulating cooling air under positive pressure through said cooling tube.

Claim 7

A flash fusing apparatus for fusing a powder image on a recording sheet comprising: a housing including a recording sheet inlet at one end thereof and recording sheet outlet at the other end thereof for passing a recording sheet having a powder image thereon into and out of said housing; at least one cooling tube positioned in said housing transverse to the path of a recording sheet from said inlet to said outlet, said cooling tube extending through oppositely aligned apertures in said housing; means for fastening said cooling tube to said housing; a flash lamp for providing heat to fuse the powder image intermediately positioned in said cooling tube; support means for supporting said flash lamp in said cooling tube; and means for circulating cooling air under positive pressure through said cooling tube.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cooling tube contains at least one aperture for providing fluid flow communication between the cooling tube and said housing interior to maintain said housing interior at a positive pressure.

Claim 9

In combination with an electrostatographic apparatus, a fusing apparatus for fusing a powder image on a recording sheet comprising: a housing including an inlet for introducing a recording sheet having a powder image thereon and an outlet for withdrawing a recording sheet having a fused image thereon; a cooling tube positioned in the housing; means fastening the cooling tube to the housing; a high intensity radiation heating means for fusing the powder image on said recording sheet positioned in said cooling tube; and means for circulating a coolant gas, under positive pressure through said cooling tube, whereby coolant can be circulated through said cooling tube around said high intensity radiation heating means.

Claim 10

In combination with an electrostatographic apparatus, a fusing apparatus for fusing a powder image on a recording sheet comprising: a housing including an inlet for introducing a recording sheet having a powder image thereon and an outlet for withdrawing a recording sheet having a fused image thereon; a cooling tube positioned in the housing; means fastening the cooling tube to the housing; a high intensity radiation heating means for fusing the powder image on said recording sheet positioned in said cooling tube; and means for circulating a coolant gas, under positive pressure through said cooling tube, whereby coolant can be circulated through said cooling tube around said high intensity radiation heating means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 wherein said cooling tube contains at least one aperture for providing fluid flow communication between the cooling tube and said housing interior to maintain said housing interior at a positive pressure.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 wherein said housing is comprised of an inner and outer shell, said inner and outer shell being spaced from each other to define an insulating air gap.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 8 wherein said radiation heating means is a flash lamp.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10 wherein the inlet and outlet are at opposite sides of said housing, said cooling tube and flash lamp supported therein being positioned transverse to the path of a recording sheet from said inlet to said outlet.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 wherein said housing is comprised of an upper and lower section, and fastening means removably connecting said upper and lower sections with the upper and lower sections at opposite sides being spaced from each other to define said inlet and outlet.