US3856461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reproduction machine fuser
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A fuser apparatus for a reproduction or copying machine, the fuser comprising a heated fixing roll and cooperating pressure roll which together form a nip between which the copy material being fused passes. One or more stripper fingers at the fuser exit cooperate with the fuser rolls to prevent the copy material from sticking thereto. To obviate uneven or spot wear on the fuser roll surface, which may result from contact of some operative element, such as the stripper fingers, or a temperature sensor, or from the copy material itself thereagainst, the fuser roll is supported for limited axial displacement relative to the pressure roll. Such fuser roll support is obtained through a movable roll bearing structure, which includes a bearing lock to retain the bearing structure and the fuser roll itself in a selected axial position.
Inventors
- 👤 W Jordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
In a reproduction machine for producing copies of documents, the machine including a fuser for fixing the copy images developed, the fuser having cooperating pressure and heated fusing rolls forming therebetween a nip through which the copies to be fused pass, the improvement comprising: bearing means supporting said fuser roll for rotation, said bearing means being movable in an axial direction to permit said fuser roll to be shifted axially relative to said pressure roll whereby to offset spot wear on the surface of said fuser roll; and locking means for releasably locking said bearing means and said fuser roll in selected position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a reproduction machine for producing copies of documents, the machine including a fuser for fixing the copy images developed, the fuser having cooperating pressure and heated fusing rolls forming therebetween a nip through which the copies to be fused pass, the improvement comprising: bearing means supporting said fuser roll for rotation, said bearing means being movable in an axial direction to permit said fuser roll to be shifted axially relative to said pressure roll whereby to offset spot wear on the surface of said fuser roll; and locking means for releasably locking said bearing means and said fuser roll in selected position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The reproduction machine according to claim 1 in which said reproduction machine includes a frame defining a bearing stop, said bearing means including an outer bearing ring, said bearing ring having at least two grooves in the outer periphery thereof, eAch of said grooves representing a preselected roller position, and lock means engageable with a selected one of said grooves and said stop to retain said bearing ring and said roll in selected axial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a reproduction machine for producing copies of documents, the machine having a fuser for fixing the copy images developed, the fuser having cooperating pressure and heated fusing rolls forming therebetween a nip through which copies to be fused pass, the improvement comprising: a bearing pair adjacent each end of said fusing roll to rotatably journal said roll, frame means for supporting said bearing pair, said bearing pair being axially displaceable relative to said frame means whereby to permit said fusing roll to be moved relative to said pressure roll to present fresh fusing roll surface and reduce uneven wear on said fusing roll, and locking means cooperable with at least one of said bearings comprising said bearing pair and said frame means to lock said fuser roll in selected axial position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a reproduction machine for producing copies of documents, the machine having a fuser for fixing the copy images developed, the fuser having cooperating pressure and heated fusing rolls forming therebetween a nip through which copies to be fused pass, the improvement comprising: a bearing pair adjacent each end of said fusing roll to rotatably journal said roll, frame means for supporting said bearing pair, said bearing pair being axially displaceable relative to said frame means whereby to permit said fusing roll to be moved relative to said pressure roll to present fresh fusing roll surface and reduce uneven wear on said fusing roll, and locking means cooperable with at least one of said bearings comprising said bearing pair and said frame means to lock said fuser roll in selected axial position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The reproduction machine according to claim 3 in which said one bearing is provided with plural stops representing predetermined axial positions of said fusing roll, said locking means comprising a lock element engageable with a selected one of said bearing stops to retain said fusing roll in selected axial position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reproduction machine according to claim 4 in which said locking means is releasable to permit said lock element to be withdrawn and said fusing roll shifted to another position.
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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) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |