US4905050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fusing apparatus having axially unsupported fuser roller
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1988-12-28
•
Granted: 1990-02-27
•
Expires: 2008-12-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for fusing toner images to a receiver or copy sheet of paper includes a pressure roller and an axially unsupported fuser roller that is nested rotatably between the pressure roller and a pair of heater rollers. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for fusing toner images to the receiver or copy sheet without generating fuser related defects such as copy distortions, copy curls, wrinkles or image voids.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Derimiggio
- 👤 Linn C. Hoover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for fusing toner particles to a receiver such as a copy sheet through the application of heat and pressure, the apparatus including: (a) a heater roller; (b) at least one other roller; (c) a pressure roller, spaced from said heater roller and said other roller; (d) means for supporting said pressure, heater and other rollers; and (e) an axially unsupported fuser roller nested rotatably between said heater, pressure and other rollers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for fusing toner particles to a receiver such as a copy sheet through the application of heat and pressure, the apparatus including: (a) a heater roller; (b) at least one other roller; (c) a pressure roller, spaced from said heater roller and said other roller; (d) means for supporting said pressure, heater and other rollers; and (e) an axially unsupported fuser roller nested rotatably between said heater, pressure and other rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other roller is also a heater roller and said rollers are positioned in a stacked arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said heater roller, or other rollers is connected to drive means and frictionally engages and drives said fuser roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein in the stacked arrangement of said heater, pressure and fuser rollers, one of said heater rollers or said pressure roller is connected to a drive means and frictionally drives all the other rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the materials and size of said pressure roller, and of said heater rollers, are selected so as to equalize their deflectability or stiffness about said fuser roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means for maintaining the axial position of said fuser roller relative to said heater rollers and said pressure roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including: (a) pressure applying cams mounted to ride on each end of said pressure roller for moving said pressure roller against said fuser roller, thereby forming a fusing nip through which the receivers or copy sheets are conveyed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said heater rollers are supported spaced side by side at a distance that is less than the diameter of said fuser roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for maintaining the axial position of said fuser roller includes an end cap attached to each end of said fuser roller for making point contact with, and for spacing said fuser roller between, a pair of end plates connected to said supporting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein each said end cap is conical.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3811821A
Cited
US3945726A
Cited
US4147501A
Cited
US4192229A
Cited
US4212631A
Cited
US4341458A
Cited
US4420680A
Cited
US4705385A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-26 | 1993-08-28 | 1994-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | 1998-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-26 | 2001-08-28 | 2002-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |