US4601963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locally deformable photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-04-16
•
Granted: 1986-07-22
•
Expires: 2004-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical core which may be fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft and which is comprised of an elastic material and an outer sleeve which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core and which includes a supporting layer and a photosensitive layer formed on the supporting layer. A combination of the elastic core and the outer sleeve is constructed such that the drum only deforms locally at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portion virtually unchanged. In one form, the outer sleeve is fixedly mounted on the core, and, in another form, the outer sleeve is detachably mounted on the core. In the latter case, it is so structured that no relative movement takes place between the core and the outer sleeve even if external forces are applied to the drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Michio Takahashi
- 👤 Mitsuo Tanaka
- 👤 Fuchio Kanno
- 👤 Kazuo Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/751
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core comprised of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer cylindrical layer provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer layer being concentric with said drum and including a supporting layer and a photosensitive layer formed on said supporting layer, whereby said outer layer and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core comprised of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer cylindrical layer provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer layer being concentric with said drum and including a supporting layer and a photosensitive layer formed on said supporting layer, whereby said outer layer and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drum of claim 1 wherein said external force is applied by one of process elements disposed around said drum for carrying out an electrophotographic process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drum of claim 1 wherein an amount of deformation caused by application of said external force in a radial direction of said drum is maintained within an elastic limit of said elastic material used.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drum of claim 3 wherein said amount of deformation is 0.5 mm or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The drum of claim 1 wherein if forces F A and F B are required to obtain the same amount of deformation in the radial direction for said outer layer and said core separately, then said outer layer and said core are structured to satisfy a relation of F A being equal to or less than F B .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drum of claim 1 wherein said outer layer further includes an intermediate layer provided as sandwiched between said supporting layer and said photosensitive layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drum of claim 6 wherein said intermediate layer is comprised of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer sleeve provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer sleeve including a photosensitive layer concentric with said drum and being detachably mounted on said core, so that said outer sleeve and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft, deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer sleeve provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer sleeve including a photosensitive layer concentric with said drum and being detachably mounted on said core, so that said outer sleeve and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft, deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The drum of claim 8 wherein a sum of tangential forces acting on said outer sleeve due to external forces applied thereto is denoted by ΣF and a frictional force acting between said core and said outer sleeve is denoted by f, said outer sleeve being fitted onto said core with a relation of f being larger than ΣF, thereby allowing to prevent said outer sleeve from rotating relative to said core due to application of said external forces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer cylindrical layer provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer layer and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft, deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A cylindrical photosensitive drum for use in electrophotography comprising: a cylindrical core of an elastic material supported on a rigid shaft; and an outer cylindrical layer provided as integrally fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of said core, said outer layer and said core, when combined, are structured such that said drum, when rotating about said rigid shaft, deforms locally only at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portions virtually unchanged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drum of claim 10 wherein said supporting layer is comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The drum of claim 10 wherein said supporting layer is comprised of nickel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drum of claim 11 wherein said supporting layer is 100 microns thick or less.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drum of claim 12 wherein said supporting layer is 100 microns thick or less.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The drum of claim 10 wherein said supporting layer is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drum of claim 15 wherein said supporting layer is 200 microns thick or less.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The drum of claim 10 wherein said elastic material is non-foam rubber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The drum of claim 10 wherein said elastic material is a foam material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The drum of claim 18 wherein said foam material is polyurethane foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drum of claim 19 wherein said polyurethane foam has a hardness of 5°-50° when measured by the rubber hardness meter of JIS C type.
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) | 1989-07-21 | 1990-01-20 | 1990-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-21 | 1994-01-20 | 1994-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-21 | 1998-01-20 | 1998-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |