Contact fixing and cleaning method and apparatus

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, and in said cleaning zone maintaining between said cleaning surface and said fixing member surface a line of pressure inclined relative to the direction of movement of said fixing member surface so that a lateral component of displacement is continually imparted to excess material in the toner layer on said cleaning surface.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 or 2, each said fixing member being a roller having its surface formed by a layer of silicone rubber and said cleaning surface being a heat-resistant metal or plastics roller surface.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein for each said fixing member a cleaning surface as aforesaid is moved with the fixing member surface through a contact cleaning zone as aforesaid, residues are collected from the fixing member surface and pressed into a toner layer on the cleaning surface as aforesaid, and the toner layer is continually pressed thin and excess material displaced from it into perforations in the cleaning surface as aforesaid.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4, each said fixing member being a roller having its surface formed by a layer of silicone rubber and each said cleaning surface being a heat-resistant metal or plastics roller surface.

Claim 7

In a contact fixing apparatus for fixing images of heat-softenable toner onto sheet material, including a circulating image contacting fixing member and a circulating second fixing member, said members having respective peripheral surfaces that press one against the other in and move together through a contact fixing zone to fix a heat-softened toner image being carried into said zone onto a sheet material being passed therethrough in the nip between said surfaces, means for removing residues of heat-softened toner and paper dust from said surface of a said fixing member, comprising in a contact cleaning zone of the path of the said fixing member surface a circulating cleaning member having a peripheral surface to which said toner will adhere preferentially rather than to said fixing member surface, said cleaning member surface contacting said fixing member surface in and being movable with it through said cleaning zone to collect residues from it and press them into a toner layer carried on said cleaning member surface, and said cleaning member surface having a multiplicity of spaced-apart perforations therein which are so disposed that on repeated movements of said cleaning member surface with said fixing member surface through said cleaning zone said toner layer while being continually pressed thin has excess material present in it displaced from it into said perforations.

Claim 8

In a contact fixing apparatus for fixing images of heat-softenable toner onto sheet material, including a circulating image contacting fixing member and a circulating second fixing member, said members having respective peripheral surfaces that press one against the other in and move together through a contact fixing zone to fix a heat-softened toner image being carried into said zone onto a sheet material being passed therethrough in the nip between said surfaces, means for removing residues of heat-softened toner and paper dust from said surface of a said fixing member, comprising in a contact cleaning zone of the path of the said fixing member surface a circulating cleaning member having a peripheral surface to which said toner will adhere preferentially rather than to said fixing member surface, said cleaning member surface contacting said fixing member surface in and being movable with it through said cleaning zone to collect residues from it and press them into a toner layer carried on said cleaning member surface, and said cleaning member surface having a multiplicity of spaced-apart perforations therein which are so disposed that on repeated movements of said cleaning member surface with said fixing member surface through said cleaning zone said toner layer while being continually pressed thin has excess material present in it displaced from it into said perforations.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, said cleaning member surface and said fixing member surface bearing one against the other in said contact cleaning zone along a line of pressure inclined relative to the direction of movement of said fixing member surface so that a lateral component of displacement is continually imparted to excess material in the toner layer on said cleaning member surface.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, said cleaning member being a roller the axis of which is disposed at an angle of between 89.3° and 89.9° to the direction of movement of said fixing member surface through said contact cleaning zone.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 6, said cleaning member being a roller containing in an active area of its surface that contacts said fixing member surface perforations disposed in at least one row extending along a helix in the roller surface.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 8, said roller containing in an active area of its surface that contacts said fixing member surface perforations disposed in at least one row extending along a helix in the roller surface.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, said perforations in said active surface area being disposed in two substantially parallel helical rows.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 9, said cleaning roller surface containing in opposite edge regions thereof perforations disposed in substantially circular rows for receiving and discharging toner displaced laterally from said active surface area.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12, said cleaning member surface containing spaced-apart perforations of between 1 and 2 mm in diameter.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12, said perforations being spaced apart at a center-to-center distance of between 4 and 6 mm.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 13, said perforations being spaced apart at a center-to-center distance of between 4 and 6 mm.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12, each said fixing member being a roller having its said surface formed by a layer of silicone rubber and said cleaning member surface being a heat-resistant metal or plastics roller surface.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12, wherein a circulating cleaning member as aforesaid is provided in a contact cleaning zone of the path of said surface of each of said circulating fixing members.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 17, each said fixing member being a roller having its said surface formed by a layer of silicone rubber and each said cleaning member surface being a heat-resistant metal or plastics roller surface.