US4949132A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low pressure heat fixing device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-09-08
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Granted: 1990-08-14
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Expires: 2008-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A low pressure heat fixing device for fixing toner images to multilayer paper as well as to ordinary copy paper. The device has a heat fixing roller having a metal roller body, an elastic intermediate layer formed on the surface of the metal roller body, and a thin resin film formed on the surface of the intermediate layer and having a releasing property and thickness less than the intermediate layer, a pressure roller in contact with the heat fixing roller and having a metal roller body, an elastic layer formed on the surface of the metal roller body, and a pressing member for pressing the heat fixing roller and the pressure roller together along a nip line at a total pressure of less than 20 kg to thereby thermally fix an image to a paper passed between the rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 Ikurou Chimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2053; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A low pressure heat fixing device comprising: a heat fixing roller having a metal roller body, an elastic intermediate layer on the surface of said metal roller body, and a thin resin film formed over the surface of said intermediate layer, said elastic intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.1 mm-1 mm and said thin resin film having a releasing property and a thickness of 10 μm-100 μm and being thinner than said intermediate layer; a pressure roller in contact with said heat fixing roller and having a metal roller body, and an elastic layer on the surface of said last mentioned metal roller body, and a pressing means for pressing said heat fixing roller and said pressure roller together along a nip line at a total pressure of less than 20 kg to thereby thermally fix an image to a paper passed between said rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A low pressure heat fixing device comprising: a heat fixing roller having a metal roller body, an elastic intermediate layer on the surface of said metal roller body, and a thin resin film formed over the surface of said intermediate layer, said elastic intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.1 mm-1 mm and said thin resin film having a releasing property and a thickness of 10 μm-100 μm and being thinner than said intermediate layer; a pressure roller in contact with said heat fixing roller and having a metal roller body, and an elastic layer on the surface of said last mentioned metal roller body, and a pressing means for pressing said heat fixing roller and said pressure roller together along a nip line at a total pressure of less than 20 kg to thereby thermally fix an image to a paper passed between said rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said metal roller body of said fixing roller is aluminum, said elastic intermediate layer is of silicon rubber, and said thin resin file is of a fluorine compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic layer of said pressure roller is sponge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pressure roller has a center shaft at each end thereof, and said pressing means comprises a push spring engaging a portion of each center shaft of said pressure roller for urging said pressure roller into contact with said heat fixing roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure roller has a hardness of about 15 degrees Asker C hardness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure roller is deformable where it is in nipping contact with said heat fixing roller under a low total pressure of less than 20 kg to form a nip portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressing means comprises means for holding said heat fixing roller and said pressure roller in contact with each other at a total pressure of about 11 kg.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5421739A
Cited
US4219327A
Cited
JPS60205561A
Cited
US4753543A
Cited
US4802439A
Cited
US4812873A
Cited
US4814819A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-13 | 1994-02-12 | 1994-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-02-12 | 1998-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-13 | 2002-02-12 | 2002-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |