US4185140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymeric release agents for electroscopic thermoplastic toners
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1978-04-19
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Granted: 1980-01-22
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Expires: 1998-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Polymeric release agents having functional groups such as carboxy, hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, thioether or mercapto groups are applied to a heated fuser member in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus to form thereon a thermally stable, renewable, self-cleaning layer having excellent toner release properties for conventional electroscopic thermoplastic resin toners. The functional polymeric fluids interact with the fuser member in such a manner as to form a thin, thermally stable interfacial barrier at the surface of the fuser member while leaving an outer film or layer of unreacted release fluid. The interfacial barrier is strongly attached to the fuser member surface and prevents electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner material from contacting the outer surface of the fuser member. The material on the surface of the fuser member is of minimal thickness and thereby represents a minimal thermal barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Strella
- 👤 Donald A. Seanor
- 👤 George R. Imperial
- 👤 Thomas R. Hoffend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31511; Y10T428/31529; Y10T428/31536; Y10T428/31652; Y10T428/31663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A fuser member for an electrostatic reproducing apparatus comprising a heated, metal substrate; a release layer of polymeric fluid, abhesive to electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner of the type having no functional groups thereon, said polymeric fluid having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof which interact with the metal substrate; and an interfacial layer which prevents the electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner from contacting the metal substrate, said interfacial layer formed by the interaction of said metal substrate and the built-in functional groups of the fluid, the polymeric fluid containing built-in functional groups remaining fluid on the surface at temperatures between about 250° F. and 400° F. said interfacial layer being located between the metal substrate and the release layer of polymeric fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fuser member for an electrostatic reproducing apparatus comprising a heated, metal substrate; a release layer of polymeric fluid, abhesive to electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner of the type having no functional groups thereon, said polymeric fluid having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof which interact with the metal substrate; and an interfacial layer which prevents the electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner from contacting the metal substrate, said interfacial layer formed by the interaction of said metal substrate and the built-in functional groups of the fluid, the polymeric fluid containing built-in functional groups remaining fluid on the surface at temperatures between about 250° F. and 400° F. said interfacial layer being located between the metal substrate and the release layer of polymeric fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the metal substrate is a metal capable of forming oxides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, aluminum, titanium, zinc, silver, nickel, and cadmium and oxide-forming alloys thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the interfacial layer is insoluble in the fluid release layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the metal substrate is a metal capable of forming oxides and the release layer polymeric fluid is the type having built-in functional groups, and electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner of the type having no functional groups, applied thereon and softened is displaced from the metal substrate by the action of additional fluid having built-in functional groups applied thereto when the release layer and the interfacial layer are interrupted and the surface of the substrate is exposed to the toner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the polymeric fluid abhesive to electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner and having built-in functional groups which interact with the metal substrate comprises dialkyl siloxane having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, mercapto, isocyanate and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the polymeric fluid abhesive to the electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner and having built-in functional groups which interact with the metal substrate, comprises saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuser member of claim 7 wherein polymeric fluid is polyethylene having built-in functional groups.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuser member of claim 7 wherein the polymeric fluid is polypropylene having built-in functional groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuser member of claim 7 wherein the polymeric fluid is polyisobutylene having built-in functional groups.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuser member of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a solid or liquid at ambient temperature and a liquid at operating temperatures between about 250° F. and 400° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A release agent composition for application to a fuser member having a metal surface for fusing thermoplastic resin toners of the type having no functional groups thereon, in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus comprising a polymeric fluid capable of displacing the electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner, said fluid containing built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof and capable of interacting with the metal surface of the fuser member in said apparatus to provide an interfacial barrier layer to said toner and a low surface energy film to release said toner heated by the fuser member, the polymeric fluid containing built-in functional groups remaining fluid on the surface at temperatures between about 250° F. and 400° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A release agent composition for application to a fuser member having a metal surface for fusing thermoplastic resin toners of the type having no functional groups thereon, in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus comprising a polymeric fluid capable of displacing the electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner, said fluid containing built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof and capable of interacting with the metal surface of the fuser member in said apparatus to provide an interfacial barrier layer to said toner and a low surface energy film to release said toner heated by the fuser member, the polymeric fluid containing built-in functional groups remaining fluid on the surface at temperatures between about 250° F. and 400° F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the surface energy of the polymeric fluid is less than that of the toner at operating temperatures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid reacts with at least one of the metals selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, aluminum, titanium, zinc, silver, nickel and cadmium and oxide-forming alloys thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid comprises at least about 0.2 built-in functional groups per molecule.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid comprises about 0.5 to about 10.0 built-in functional groups per molecule.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the molecular weight of the polymeric fluid is at least about 1,000.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the molecular weight of the polymeric fluid is about 10,000 to about 15,000.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the viscosity of the polymeric fluid is higher than about 20 centipoise at 300° F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the built-in functional groups are substituted on an alkyl moiety of the polymer backbone of the polymeric fluid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The release agent of claim 20 wherein the alkyl moiety is from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid is a dialkyl polysiloxane having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and thioether.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid is polyethylene having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid is polypropylene having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The release agent of claim 12 wherein the polymeric fluid is polyisobutylene having built-in functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, mercapto and combinations thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The release agent of claim 12 further comprising a blend of the polymeric fluid having built-in functional groups and at least one dilution agent which is miscible therewith.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The release agent of claim 26 wherein the dilution agent is polydimethyl siloxane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-21 | 1983-07-23 | 1984-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-21 | 1987-07-23 | 1988-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-21 | 1991-07-23 | 1992-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |