Fixing method and apparatus having a transfer-fixing chilling drum

Claim 1

In an electrostatographic copier or printer, in which loose toner images can be formed on an image bearing member, apparatus for fixing such loose toner images to a suitable receiver or copy sheet, the apparatus including: (a) an intermediate fixing member for receiving the unfused loose toner images completely from the image bearing member; (b) means for heating the received toner images to form completely fused toner images directly on said intermediate fixing member; and (c) means for transfer-fixing said fused toner images from said intermediate fixing member onto an unheated receiver or copy sheet, said means for transfer-fixing said fused images further including: (i) means for sandwiching the fused images on said intermediate fixing member with a registered unheated receiver or copy sheet of paper; and (ii) transfer-fixing means for causing the sandwiched fused images to transfer from the intermediate fixing member and be fixed to the registered receiver or copy sheet of paper, said transfer-fixing means including a pressure plate and a chilling drum around which the sandwiched images are wrapped such that said intermediate fixing member is against said drum.

Claim 3

A method for producing high quality fixed images, on a receiver or copy sheet, in an electrostatographic copier or printer including means for forming unfused toner images on an image bearing member, the method including the steps of: (a) transferring unfused toner images from the image bearing member directly to a fusing apparatus including an intermediate fixing member; (b) heating the transferred unfused toner images on said intermediate fixing member to a desired high fusing temperature thereby completely fusing the toner images directly onto the intermediate fixing member; and (c) thereafter transferring and fixing said completely fused toner images from said intermediate fixing member onto an unheated receiver or copy sheet so as to avoid subjecting such receiver or copy sheet to high fusing temperatures of said heating step which are likely to cause heat-related fusing defects thereto, said transfer-fixing step further including the steps of: (i) forming a laminate by press-laminating said intermediate fixing member with the suitable receiver or copy sheet, registered over and sandwiching said fused toner images thereon; and (ii) sufficiently chilling or cooling the intermediate fixing member side of said laminate wrapped around a chilling and detack drum under pressure, thereby causing a transfer and fixing of the fused images from the intermediate fixing member onto the suitable receiver or copy sheet.

Claim 4

A method for producing high quality fixed images, on a receiver or copy sheet, in an electrostatographic copier or printer including means for forming unfused toner images on an image bearing member, the method including the steps of: (a) transferring unfused toner images from the image bearing member directly to a fusing apparatus including an intermediate fixing member; (b) heating the transferred unfused toner images on said intermediate fixing member to a desired high fusing temperature thereby completely fusing the toner images directly onto the intermediate fixing member; and (c) thereafter transferring and fixing said completely fused toner images from said intermediate fixing member onto an unheated receiver or copy sheet so as to avoid subjecting such receiver or copy sheet to high fusing temperatures of said heating step which are likely to cause heat-related fusing defects thereto, said transfer-fixing step further including the steps of: (i) forming a laminate by press-laminating said intermediate fixing member with the suitable receiver or copy sheet, registered over and sandwiching said fused toner images thereon; and (ii) sufficiently chilling or cooling the intermediate fixing member side of said laminate wrapped around a chilling and detack drum under pressure, thereby causing a transfer and fixing of the fused images from the intermediate fixing member onto the suitable receiver or copy sheet.