US4455079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image reproducing apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
•
Filing: 1982-11-15
•
Granted: 1984-06-19
•
Expires: 2002-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt. An auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed so as to come into contact, via the intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming a transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via the intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between the support roller and the intermediate transfer belt is enlarged.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadashi Miwa
- 👤 Kiyoshi Kimura
- 👤 Yukiharu Komiya
- 👤 Noriyoshi Tarumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/24; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/16; G03G2215/1676; G03G2215/1695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
In an image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt, the improvement wherein an auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed downstream of a transfer-fixing portion so as to come into contact, via said intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming said transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside said intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via said intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between said support roller and said intermediate transfer belt is enlarged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt, the improvement wherein an auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed downstream of a transfer-fixing portion so as to come into contact, via said intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming said transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside said intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via said intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between said support roller and said intermediate transfer belt is enlarged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support roller is kept at a temperature lower than the fusion temperature of the toner of said toner image and at least one of said transfer member to be introduced into said transfer-fixing portion and said pressure contact roller is kept at a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of said toner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a roller having high heat conductivity and having cooling means is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a roller consisting of a heat pipe is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a cleaning roller is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a roller having high heat conductivity and having cooling means is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a roller consisting of a heat pipe is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a cleaning roller is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 2, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 3, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 7, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 5, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 8, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 5, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 9, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
In an image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt, the improvement wherein an auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed downstream of a transfer-fixing portion so as to come into contact, via said intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming said transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside said intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via said intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between said support roller, said belt and transfer paper is enlarged and said transfer paper that is discharged from said transfer-fixing portion is inserted between said auxiliary pressure contact roller and said support roller while said transfer paper is being kept in intimate contact with said intermediate transfer belt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
In an image reproducing apparatus of the type in which a toner image formed on a charge receptor is transferred to a transfer member and is fixed on said transfer member by the application of pressure and heat by use of an intermediate transfer belt, the improvement wherein an auxiliary pressure contact roller is disposed downstream of a transfer-fixing portion so as to come into contact, via said intermediate transfer belt, with a support roller forming said transfer-fixing portion, disposed inside said intermediate transfer belt and opposing a pressure contact roller via said intermediate transfer belt, so that the contact area between said support roller, said belt and transfer paper is enlarged and said transfer paper that is discharged from said transfer-fixing portion is inserted between said auxiliary pressure contact roller and said support roller while said transfer paper is being kept in intimate contact with said intermediate transfer belt.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said support roller is kept at a temperature lower than the fusion temperature of the toner of said toner image and at least one of said transfer member to be introduced into said transfer-fixing portion and said pressure contact roller is kept at a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of said toner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein a roller having high heat conductivity and having cooling means is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein a roller having high heat conductivity and having cooling means is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein a roller consisting of a heat pipe is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein a roller consisting of a heat pipe is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein a cleaning roller is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein a cleaning roller is used as said auxiliary pressure contact roller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 17, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 18, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 19, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 20, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 21, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 22, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 23, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 24, which uses a plurality of said auxiliary pressure contact rollers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3923392A
Cited
US3947113A
Cited
US4095886A
Cited
US4187774A
Cited
US4183658A
Cited
US4341455A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-19 | 1987-12-19 | 1988-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-19 | 1991-12-19 | 1992-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-19 | 1995-12-19 | 1996-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |