US4525058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image fixing device
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1983-10-11
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Granted: 1985-06-25
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Expires: 2003-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An image fixing device, including first and second rotatable members for forming a nip therebetween, which transports from an entrance side to an exit side a recording material and fixes an image thereon; a mechanism for driving the first and second rollers; charge removing members having charge removing ends arranged along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable members and adjacent to a peripheral surface of the first rotatable member without contact thereto, the charge removing ends are within a region defined by the exist side ends of press-contact areas between the first rotatable member and the recording material and between the second rotatable member and the recording material, peripheral surfaces of the first and second rotatable members at the exit side, and a common tangent plane which is tangent to both of the peripheral surfaces of the first and second rotatable members at the exist side.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
- 👤 Masaaki Sakurai
- 👤 Kazuo Kagiura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An image fixing device, comprising: first and second rotatable members for forming a nip therebetween, which transport from an entrance side to an exit side a recording material and fix an image thereon; means for driving said first and second rollers; charge removing means having charge removing ends arranged along the longitudinal direction of said rotatable members and adjacent to but spaced from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member, wherein each charge removing end is positioned within a predetermined exit-side region of a plane transverse to said longitudinal direction, the boundaries of which planar region are defined by the common tangent line which is tangent to the peripheral surface of both rotatable members on the exit side and the peripheral surfaces of said first and second rotatable members from their respective tangent points to the common exit and press-contact area between said rotatable members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An image fixing device, comprising: first and second rotatable members for forming a nip therebetween, which transport from an entrance side to an exit side a recording material and fix an image thereon; means for driving said first and second rollers; charge removing means having charge removing ends arranged along the longitudinal direction of said rotatable members and adjacent to but spaced from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member, wherein each charge removing end is positioned within a predetermined exit-side region of a plane transverse to said longitudinal direction, the boundaries of which planar region are defined by the common tangent line which is tangent to the peripheral surface of both rotatable members on the exit side and the peripheral surfaces of said first and second rotatable members from their respective tangent points to the common exit and press-contact area between said rotatable members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the charge removing ends of said charge removing means are spaced apart from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member, from which electric charge is to be removed, by not more than 10 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the charge removing ends of said charge removing means are spaced apart from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member, from which electric charge is to be removed, by not more than 6 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein each charge removing end is positioned within the portion of the predetermined exit-side region which is within an arc of 30° from the radius extending from the center of said first rotatable member to the exit side end of the press-contact area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein each charge removing end is positioned within the portion of the predetermined exit-side region which is within an arc of 30° from the radius extending from the center of said first rotatable member to the exit side end of the press-contact area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein each charge removing end is positioned within the portion of the predetermined exit-side region which is within an arc of 30° from the radius extending from the center of said first rotatable member to the exit side end of the press-contact area.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
45 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4-6, wherein the charge removing ends of said charge removing members arranged also along the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member and they are substantially equidistant from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
34 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4-6, wherein the charge removing means is integral with a member for separating the recording material from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
39 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4-6, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive member having the charge removing ends and an electrically insulating member covering the conductive member except for the charge removing ends.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
39 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4-6, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive member having the charge removing ends and a conductive supporting member for supporting said conductive member, said supporting member being grounded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said supporting member is covered with an electrically insulating member.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
19 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-3, 4-6, wherein said first rotatable member includes a insulating layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said first rotatable member includes a surface layer which is easier to electrically charge than the second rotatable member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive member having the charge removing ends and an electrically insulating member covering the conductive member except for the charge removing ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive supporting member for supporting said conductive member having the charge removing ends, said supporting member being coated with an electrically insulating layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein said supporting member is grounded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein said rotatable members fix an image formed with toner particles electrically charged to a predetermined polarity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 17, wherein said first rotatable member is a pressing roller adapted to contact a non-image-bearing side of the recording material and having a resilient surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the charge removing means is integral with a member for separating the recording material from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive member having the charge removing ends and an electrically insulating member covering the conductive member except for the charge removing ends.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device acccording to claim 20, wherein said charge removing means includes a conductive member having the charge removing ends and a conductive supporting member for supporting said conductive member, said supporting member being grounded.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein said supporting member is covered with an electrically insulating member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said first rotatable member includes a insulating layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein said first rotatable member is a pressing roller adapted to contact a non-image-bearing side of the recording material and having a resilient surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said rotatable members fix an image formed with toner particles electrically charged to a predetermined polarity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 25, wherein the charge removing means is integral with a member for separating the recording material from the peripheral surface of said first rotatable member, and wherein said separating member has a surface coating of an electrically insulating material.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
26 words
A device according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein said rotatable members fix an image formed with toner particles electrically charged to a predetermined polarity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said separating member has an electrically insulating surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said separating member has an electrically insulating surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said first rotatable member is a pressing roller adapted to contact a non-image-bearing side of the recording material and having a resilient surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 30, wherein said rotatable members fix an image formed with toner particles electrically charged to a predetermined polarity.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 31, wherein said predetermined polarity is the same as the polarity to which the first rotatable member tends to be charged.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said second rotatable member is contactable with an unfixed image on the recording material, and wherein the charge removing ends are adapted to be positioned between the surface of the first rotatable member and the recording material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said charge removing ends are so positioned that they are out of contact with the recording material.
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) | 1988-06-24 | 1988-12-24 | 1989-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-24 | 1992-12-24 | 1993-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-24 | 1996-12-24 | 1997-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |