US4458625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-04-28
•
Granted: 1984-07-10
•
Expires: 2001-04-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll. In the apparatus, which is positioned above the fixing roll, a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS is applied onto the surface of the fixing roll through a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm. The porous membrane may be located on the inner surface of the bottom of a tank containing the release agent above an opening in the tank bottom.
Inventors
- 👤 Isamu Sakane
- 👤 Chiaki Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2025; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/20; G03G2215/2093; G03G2215/2096
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane comprises a linear zonal projection adapted to contact a circumferential surface of said fixing roll in an axial direction, said projection having a concave portion filled with a shape retaining member, and wherein said shape retaining member is located on the surface of the projection opposite the surface contacting the fixing roll.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane comprises a linear zonal projection adapted to contact a circumferential surface of said fixing roll in an axial direction, said projection having a concave portion filled with a shape retaining member, and wherein said shape retaining member is located on the surface of the projection opposite the surface contacting the fixing roll.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shape retaining member comprises a hollow porous member having a circular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shape retaining member comprises a solid porous member having a circular cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said hollow porous member having a circular cross section comprises a porous tetrafluoroethylene resin tube having pores larger than those of said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane and having a porosity of 50 to 85%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said solid porous member having a circular cross section comprises a porous tetrafluoroethylene resin cylinder having a porosity of 35 to 85%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said solid porous member having a circular cross section is made of heat-resistant felt.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said supplying means comprises a tank for storing said release agent and wherein an opening is made in at least part of a bottom of said tank, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane being placed on an inner surface of said bottom of said tank.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said supplying means comprises a tank for storing said release agent and wherein an opening is made in at least part of a bottom of said tank, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane being placed on an inner surface of said bottom of said tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said opening is a slot made in a longitudinal direction of said fixing roll.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said supplying means comprises a tank for storing said release agent and wherein an opening is made in at least part of a bottom of said tank, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane having a projection shaped so as to fit in said opening in such a manner that said projection extends beyond said bottom of said tank, said projection having a concave portion and a shape retaining member being fit in said concave portion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for fixing a toner image by transporting a toner image bearing material as it is held between a fixing roll and a compression roll comprising: means for supplying a release agent having a viscosity of 50 to 100,000 cS to a porous fluorocarbon resin membrane for applying said release agent onto the surface of said fixing roll, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane, in the area of said membrane through which said release agent is to pass through, having a pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm, a porosity of 35 to 85%, and a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane including closed pores in areas other than through which said release agent is to pass through, said apparatus being positioned above said fixing roll, and wherein said supplying means comprises a tank for storing said release agent and wherein an opening is made in at least part of a bottom of said tank, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane having a projection shaped so as to fit in said opening in such a manner that said projection extends beyond said bottom of said tank, said projection having a concave portion and a shape retaining member being fit in said concave portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said opening is a slot formed in a longitudinal direction of said fixing roll and said projection extends in a longitudinal direction of said fixing roll.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
63 words
The apparatus according to any of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein said tank is made of a thermoplastic resin, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane being mounted between a holding plate made of a thermoplastic resin and said bottom of said tank, said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane being fixed to said tank by fusion-bonding said tank to said holding plate while heating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyphenylene sulfide resin containing not more than 35% of glass fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thermoplastic resin is 6,6-nylon containing not more than 40% of glass fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyethylene terephthalate resin containing not more than 40% of glass fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said fusion-bonding while heating is carried out by ultrasonic welding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said fusion-bonding while heating is carried out by high-frequency welding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein lugs are formed in at least part of a periphery of said porous fluorocarbon resin membrane and said fusion-bonding while heating is carried out in such a manner that said lugs are formed between adjacent portions where said tank is fusion-bonded to said holding plate.
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) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |