US4475804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing apparatus for copying machine or the like
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-03-14
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2003-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A fixing apparatus installed in a copying machine or the like and having a fixing roller, a pressure roller and sheet separator pawls engagable with the fixing roller. A first mechanism of the fixing apparatus is operable to locate free or separating ends of the sheet separator pawls at a small spacing from the periphery of the fixing roller. A pivotable second mechanism is operable to move the sheet separator pawls over a substantial distance away from the fixing and pressure rollers to define a large space in front thereof, so that the peripheries of the rollers become accessible for services.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadaaki Kanno
- 👤 Yuichiro Higashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a housing; fixing roller means rotatably supported by said housing; pressure roller means rotatably supported by the housing in pressing contact with said fixing roller means; pivotable sheet separator pawl means for separating a leading end portion of an incoming sheet from the fixing roller means; engaging means for causing the sheet separator pawl means into engagement with the periphery of the fixing roller means; spacing means for spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the periphery of the fixing roller means; and a support member pivotally mounted on the housing and supporting the sheet separator pawl means, the engaging means and the spacing means; the housing being detachable from a machine in which the apparatus is installed; the spacing means spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the fixing roller means in interlocked relation with an operation with an operation for detaching the housing from the machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a housing; fixing roller means rotatably supported by said housing; pressure roller means rotatably supported by the housing in pressing contact with said fixing roller means; pivotable sheet separator pawl means for separating a leading end portion of an incoming sheet from the fixing roller means; engaging means for causing the sheet separator pawl means into engagement with the periphery of the fixing roller means; spacing means for spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the periphery of the fixing roller means; and a support member pivotally mounted on the housing and supporting the sheet separator pawl means, the engaging means and the spacing means; the housing being detachable from a machine in which the apparatus is installed; the spacing means spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the fixing roller means in interlocked relation with an operation with an operation for detaching the housing from the machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the support member also supports a pair of rollers for feeding a sheet after fixation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the support member also supports a guide member for guiding the sheet toward the roller pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing comprises a locking member, the support member comprising a locking member which is engagable with said locking member of the housing to lock the support member to the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which when the locking member of the housing and the locking member of the support member are disengaged from each other, the support member is moved a substantial angular distance away from the housing so that the periphery of the fixing roller means and that of the pressure roller means are exposed to the outside through a substantial space which is defined in front of the roller means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the support member supports a guide member for guiding a sheet after fixation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a housing; fixing roller means rotatably supported by said housing; pressure roller means rotatably supported by the housing in pressing contact with said fixing roller means; pivotal sheet separator pawl means for separating a leading end portion of an incoming sheet from the fixing roller means; engaging means for causing the sheet separator pawl means into engagement with the periphery of the fixing roller means; spacing means for spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the periphery of the fixing roller means; and a support member pivotally mounted on the housing and supporting the sheet separator pawl means, the engaging means and the spacing means; the housing being detachable from a machine in which the apparatus is installed; the sheet separator pawl means comprising an engaging member which is rotatable about a shaft, the spacing means comprising a slide lever formed with an engaging member which is engagable with said engaging member of the sheet separator pawl means, the sheet separator pawl means being rotated through the engaging members out of contact with the periphery of the fixing roller means in response to a movement of the slide lever in one direction and into contact with the periphery of the fixing roller in response to a movement of the slide lever in the other direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A fixing apparatus comprising: a housing; fixing roller means rotatably supported by said housing; pressure roller means rotatably supported by the housing in pressing contact with said fixing roller means; pivotal sheet separator pawl means for separating a leading end portion of an incoming sheet from the fixing roller means; engaging means for causing the sheet separator pawl means into engagement with the periphery of the fixing roller means; spacing means for spacing the sheet separator pawl means from the periphery of the fixing roller means; and a support member pivotally mounted on the housing and supporting the sheet separator pawl means, the engaging means and the spacing means; the housing being detachable from a machine in which the apparatus is installed; the sheet separator pawl means comprising an engaging member which is rotatable about a shaft, the spacing means comprising a slide lever formed with an engaging member which is engagable with said engaging member of the sheet separator pawl means, the sheet separator pawl means being rotated through the engaging members out of contact with the periphery of the fixing roller means in response to a movement of the slide lever in one direction and into contact with the periphery of the fixing roller in response to a movement of the slide lever in the other direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the support member also supports a pair of rollers for feeding a sheet after fixation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the support member also supports a guide member for guiding the sheet toward the roller pair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the housing comprises a locking member, the support member comprising a locking member which is engagable with said locking member of the housing to lock the support member to the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which when the locking member of the housing and the locking member of the support member are disengaged from each other, the support member is moved a substantial angular distance away from the housing so that the periphery of the fixing roller means and that of the pressure roller means are exposed to the outside through a substantial space which is defined in front of the roller means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fixing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the support member supports a guide member for guiding a sheet after fixation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4384781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |