Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means, responsive to the start signal, for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web; and delay means, responsive to the start signal, for delaying the actuation of said driving means until a predetermined time after the first relative position has been established.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means, responsive to the start signal, for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web; and delay means, responsive to the start signal, for delaying the actuation of said driving means until a predetermined time after the first relative position has been established.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first roller is contactable with the surface of the web formed with the toner image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for drawing back the web through a predetermined length in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by said at least one roller, while at the second relative position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means rotates said first roller.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web, said driving means being responsive to the stop signal to stop its driving operation; and delay means, responsive to the stop signal, for delaying the establishment of the second relative position by said shift means until a predetermined time after said driving means has stopped its driving operation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web, said driving means being responsive to the stop signal to stop its driving operation; and delay means, responsive to the stop signal, for delaying the establishment of the second relative position by said shift means until a predetermined time after said driving means has stopped its driving operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first roller is contactable with the surface of the web formed with the toner image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for drawing back the web through a predetermined length in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by said at least one roller, while at the second relative position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said driving means rotates said first roller.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means, responsive to the start signal, for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web, said driving means also being responsive to the stop signal to stop the transport of the web; first delay means, responsive to the start signal, for delaying the actuation of said driving means until a predetermined time after said first relative position is established; and second delay means, responsive to the stop signal, for delaying the establishment of the second relative position by said shift means until a predetermined time after the stop of web transport.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means, responsive to the start signal, for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web, said driving means also being responsive to the stop signal to stop the transport of the web; first delay means, responsive to the start signal, for delaying the actuation of said driving means until a predetermined time after said first relative position is established; and second delay means, responsive to the stop signal, for delaying the establishment of the second relative position by said shift means until a predetermined time after the stop of web transport.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first roller is contactable with the surface of the web formed with the toner image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for drawing back the web through a predetermined length in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by said at least one roller, while at the second relative position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said driving means rotates said first roller.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web being gripped between said first and second rollers; and means for drawing back the web through a predetermined length in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by said at least one roller, while at the second relative position in response to the stopping signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for intermittently fixing a toner image formed on a web which is intermittently fed to a fixing station thereof, the toner image being formed by a toner image forming means located upstream of the fixing station with respect to the web feeding direction, said apparatus comprising: a heated first roller at the fixing station for fusing and fixing the toner image on the web; a second roller at the fixing station for press-contacting the web to said first roller; instruction means for alternately generating a start signal for starting the fixing operation and a stop signal for stopping the fixing operation, while the web is between said first and second rollers; shift means, responsive to the start and stop signals, for alternately changing the relative position of said first and second rollers between a first relative position wherein the web is gripped between said first and second rollers to fix the toner image, and a second relative position wherein the web is disengaged from said first roller to interrupt the fixing action of said first roller; driving means for rotating at least one of said first and second rollers to transport the web being gripped between said first and second rollers; and means for drawing back the web through a predetermined length in a direction opposite to the direction of transport by said at least one roller, while at the second relative position in response to the stopping signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said shift means supports said first roller at a fixed position, and moves said second roller so as to bring it into and out of contact with said first roller, said apparatus further comprising means for moving the web away from said first roller when said second roller moves away from said first roller.