US4192229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1978-09-28
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Granted: 1980-03-11
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Expires: 1998-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for fixing toner image on a toner image supporting member in electrophotographic copying machine is disclosed. The fixing apparatus includes three rotary rollers which are in contact with each other under the action of pressing means. One of the three rollers has a smaller diameter than the other two rollers. Two rollers with which the toner image supporting member comes into contact are disposed in such a manner that the axes of the two rollers intersect each other and the portion at which the two rollers contact each other or are closest to each other forms a straight line relative to the direction of roller axis. According to one embodiment of the invention, the remaining one roller with which the supporting member does not contact, is formed as a crown roller, that is, a roller which has its largest diameter at the middle portion of the roller.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruo Tsunoi
- 👤 Teruo Morikawa
- 👤 Katsuhiko Yamada
- 👤 Kenji Ohkawara
- 👤 Atsushi Kubota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2092; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/20; G03G2215/2003; G03G2215/2058; G03G2215/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; said first, second and third rollers being inclined with respect to the direction of conveyance of the supporting member at different angles to make those parts of said first and second rollers which are in contact with the supporting member when the supporting member is pressed therebetween substantially rectilinear substantially in the direction of the axes of the rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; said first, second and third rollers being inclined with respect to the direction of conveyance of the supporting member at different angles to make those parts of said first and second rollers which are in contact with the supporting member when the supporting member is pressed therebetween substantially rectilinear substantially in the direction of the axes of the rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first, second and third rollers are so disposed that at any axial cross-section the centers of said three rollers lie substantially along a line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first roller is movable in the direction of said line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fixing apparatus according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first, second and third rollers are so supported as to directly contact each other and are brought into a pressure contact relation by pressing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A fixing apparatus according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first and third rollers are in direct contact and said first and second rollers are so supported as to provide a space therebetween at least at the portion where said toner image supporting member contacts with said first and second rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the size of said space is smaller than the thickness of said toner image supporting member deformed during fixing and larger than the maximum particle size of toner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second roller has flanges at both end portions which has a diameter larger than that of the central portion at which said toner image supporting member contacts with said second roller so that said central portion of said second roller is spaced from said first roller by said flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for applying lubricant to said flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third rollers are made from hard material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second and third rollers are made from the same material and have different diameters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third roller is of such shape that its diameter varies from either end to the middle portion of said roller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member, said first roller having a diameter smaller than that of said second roller; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller and having a diameter which gradually reduces toward its longitudinal ends away from its middle portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member, said first roller having a diameter smaller than that of said second roller; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller and having a diameter which gradually reduces toward its longitudinal ends away from its middle portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first, second and third rollers are inclined with respect to the direction of conveyance of the supporting member at different angles, and wherein the three rollers are so disposed that, at any axial cross-section, their centers lie substantially on a line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first roller is movable in the direction of said line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fixing apparatus according to claims 12, 13 or 14, wherein said first, second and third rollers are made from hard material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said third roller is formed as a crown roller which has a larger diameter at its middle portion than that at the end portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; said first, second and third rollers being inclined with respect to the direction of conveyance of the supporting member, and said first, second and third rollers being so disposed that, at any axial cross-section, the centers of said three rollers lie substantially along a line, the lines at various cross-sections intersecting a common line between said first and second rollers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
A pressure fixing apparatus wherein a toner image is fixed on a toner image supporting member by pressure, said apparatus comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying therebetween the toner supporting member; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; said first, second and third rollers being inclined with respect to the direction of conveyance of the supporting member, and said first, second and third rollers being so disposed that, at any axial cross-section, the centers of said three rollers lie substantially along a line, the lines at various cross-sections intersecting a common line between said first and second rollers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first roller has a diameter smaller than that of said second and third rollers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second and third rollers are identical except that the diameters thereof are different.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second and third rollers are different type rollers but have equal diameters.
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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) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |