Patent US4235166A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4235166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1978-09-12
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Granted: 1980-11-25
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Expires: 1998-09-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for fixing a toner image on a toner image supporting member in an electrophotographic copying machine is disclosed. The fixing apparatus comprises 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 remaining two rollers. In order to press the toner image supporting member uniformly between the two rollers with which the supporting member comes into contact, the two rollers are disposed in such a manner that the roller axes cross one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruo Tsunoi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:02
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein each of said first, second and third rollers is made of a material suitable for applying sufficient pressure to the image bearing member to fix the image thereon; wherein said first roller is positioned between said second and third rollers and has a diameter smaller than the diameters of said second and third rollers; and wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is applied, said second roller and said third roller have their axes at angles with respect to the axis of said first roller which are measured in opposite directions, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein each of said first, second and third rollers is made of a material suitable for applying sufficient pressure to the image bearing member to fix the image thereon; wherein said first roller is positioned between said second and third rollers and has a diameter smaller than the diameters of said second and third rollers; and wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is applied, said second roller and said third roller have their axes at angles with respect to the axis of said first roller which are measured in opposite directions, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first roller is movable relative to said second and third rollers such that said centers substantially remain rectilinear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first, second and third rollers are supported in direct contact with each other and are pressed against each other by a pressing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first roller is in direct contact with said third roller and said first roller and second rollers are spaced from each other to form a gap therebetween so that said first and second rollers contact each other indirectly through the image bearing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third rollers are made of hard metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said second and third rollers are made of the same material and have the same diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is being applied, at least two of said first, second and third rollers have their axes at angles with the conveyance direction of the image bearing member which are different from each other and different from the angle formed between the conveyance direction and the axis of the other roller, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member, and wherein the centers of said first, second and third rollers, at any cross section, are substantially rectilinearly arranged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is being applied, at least two of said first, second and third rollers have their axes at angles with the conveyance direction of the image bearing member which are different from each other and different from the angle formed between the conveyance direction and the axis of the other roller, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member, and wherein the centers of said first, second and third rollers, at any cross section, are substantially rectilinearly arranged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said first, second and third rollers are made of hard material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
153 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein each of said first, second and third rollers is made of a material suitable for applying sufficient pressure to the image bearing member to fix the image thereon; wherein said first roller is located between said second and third rollers and has a diameter smaller than that of said second roller; and wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is applied, at least two of said rollers have their axes at angles with the conveyance direction of the image bearing member which angles are different from each other, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
A pressure fixing device wherein a toner image on a surface of a toner image bearing member is fixed thereon by pressure, comprising: first and second rollers for pressing and conveying an image bearing member therebetween; and a third roller press-contacted to said first roller; wherein each of said first, second and third rollers is made of a material suitable for applying sufficient pressure to the image bearing member to fix the image thereon; wherein said first roller is located between said second and third rollers and has a diameter smaller than that of said second roller; and wherein said three rollers are so arranged that, when no pressure for fixing the image is applied, at least two of said rollers have their axes at angles with the conveyance direction of the image bearing member which angles are different from each other, as viewed when facing the surface of the image bearing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the image bearing member which has the toner image thereon is contacted with said first roller.
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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) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |