US4908669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner image treatment device for use in electrostatic copying machines
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-10-17
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Granted: 1990-03-13
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Expires: 2008-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A toner image treatment device smoothing an irregular surface of a fixed toner image with coating a transparent auxiliary material by a coating roller. The coating roller has a layer of porous elastic material being impregnated with a transparent resin which is a solid at room temperature but is a liquid at a high temperature, and a heater provided inside the porous elastic material for melting the transparent resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaaki Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/65; G03G15/6582; G03G15/6585; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00417; G03G2215/00426; G03G2215/00789; G03G2215/00801
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A toner image treatment device for use in electrostatic copying machines with a fixing device which fixes a toner image onto a copy sheet, comprising: a rotatable porous roller disposed downstream from the fixing device and being impregnated with a transparent resin which is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at a high temperature; a heat source disposed in the interior of said porous roller to melt the transparent resin; and a member for bringing the copy sheet passed through the fixing device into contact with said porous rollers, whereby the toner image on the copy sheet is coated with the transparent resin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A toner image treatment device for use in electrostatic copying machines with a fixing device which fixes a toner image onto a copy sheet, comprising: a rotatable porous roller disposed downstream from the fixing device and being impregnated with a transparent resin which is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at a high temperature; a heat source disposed in the interior of said porous roller to melt the transparent resin; and a member for bringing the copy sheet passed through the fixing device into contact with said porous rollers, whereby the toner image on the copy sheet is coated with the transparent resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, further comprising: regulating means for regulating an amount of the transparent resin to be applied to the toner image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 2, wherein said regulating means is of blade form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, wherein said transparent resin is one of polypropylene, polyethylene, montan wax and polyolefin wax.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, wherein said transparent resin has a melting point lower than a temperature of the fixing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, wherein said rotatable porous roller is heated to a temperature lower than a temperature of the fixing device by said heat source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, wherein said member is biased toward said rotatable porous roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A toner image treatment device of claim 1, wherein said member is of plate form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising heat fixing means for fixing a toner image to a copy sheet by fusing with heat; a discharge tray for receiving the copy sheet; a rotatable porous roller disposed between said heat fixing means and said discharge tray and being impregnated with a transparent resin which is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at a high temperature; a heat source disposed in the interior of said porous roller to melt the transparent resin; a member for bringing the copy sheet passed through the fixing device into contact with said rotatable porous roller, and regulating means for regulating an amount of the transparent resin to be applied to the toner image, whereby the copy sheet is coated with the transparent resin and thereafter discharged on the discharge tray with the transparent resin solidified upon spontaneous cooling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising heat fixing means for fixing a toner image to a copy sheet by fusing with heat; a discharge tray for receiving the copy sheet; a rotatable porous roller disposed between said heat fixing means and said discharge tray and being impregnated with a transparent resin which is a solid at room temperature and a liquid at a high temperature; a heat source disposed in the interior of said porous roller to melt the transparent resin; a member for bringing the copy sheet passed through the fixing device into contact with said rotatable porous roller, and regulating means for regulating an amount of the transparent resin to be applied to the toner image, whereby the copy sheet is coated with the transparent resin and thereafter discharged on the discharge tray with the transparent resin solidified upon spontaneous cooling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said regulating means is of blade form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said transparent resin is one of polypropylene, polyethylene, montan wax and polyolefin wax.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said transparent resin has a melting point lower than a temperature of the fixing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said rotatable porous roller is heated to a temperature lower than a temperature of the fixing device by said heat source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said member is biased toward said rotatable porous roller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrophotographic copying machine of claim 9, wherein said member is of plate form.
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) | 1993-03-12 | 1993-09-11 | 1994-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-12 | 1997-09-11 | 1998-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-09-11 | 2002-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |