US5038178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image transfer member including an electroconductive layer
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1988-10-17
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2008-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A transfer device for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, including a transfer drum, a supporting device for the transfer material in place on the surface of the transfer drum and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to an electroconductive layer of the transfer drum. The transfer drum includes a rotatably supported drum member, a flexible elastomer layer on the peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the elastomer layer. The elastomer layer of the transfer drum is made of a foaming elastomer such as a polyurethane foam so that the transfer material is in contact with the toner image on the image carrier under a small amount of pressure and with an ample contact width.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Hosoya
- 👤 Mitsunaga Saito
- 👤 Shuitsu Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1665; G03G15/167; G03G15/1685
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the electroconductive layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the electroconductive layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A transfer drum for transferring a tone image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A transfer drum for transferring a tone image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and an insulating layer on the surface of the electroconductive layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the insulating layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer, wherein the transfer drum is disposed in such a manner that the transfer material is in contact with the toner image on the image carrier under a pressure of not more than 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A transfer drum for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer material, comprising: a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and an insulating layer on the surface of the electroconductive layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the insulating layer; and an electrode for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer, wherein the transfer drum is disposed in such a manner that the transfer material is in contact with the toner image on the image carrier under a pressure of not more than 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and means for contacting the transfer material with a toner image on the image carrier; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and means for contacting the transfer material with a toner image on the image carrier; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a rotatably supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer; and means for contacting said transfer material with a toner image on said image carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a rotatably supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer; and means for contacting said transfer material with a toner image on said image carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transfer device of claim 6, wherein said elastomer layer comprises a foaming flexible material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transfer device of claim 7 wherein said foaming flexible material is a flexible urethane foam possessing rigidity of not more than 100 kg.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a rotatable supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; and insulator layer on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said insulator layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer; means for contacting said transfer material with a toner image on said image carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a rotatable supported drum member; an elastomer layer on a peripheral surface of said drum member; an electro-conductive layer on the surface of said elastomer layer; and insulator layer on the surface of said electro-conductive layer; transfer material supporting means adapted to support said transfer material on the surface of said insulator layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to said electro-conductive layer; means for contacting said transfer material with a toner image on said image carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transfer device of claim 9, wherein said elastomer layer comprises a foaming flexible material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transfer device of claim 10, wherein said foaming flexible material is a flexible urethane foam possessing rigidity of not more than 100 kg.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transfer device of claim 11 wherein the electro conductive layer possesses a value of resistance of not more than 10 12 Ω·cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transfer device of claims 9 or 10 wherein said electro-conductive layer possesses a value of resistance of not more than 10 12 Ω·cm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transfer device of claim 13 wherein the means for contacting includes means for contacting the transfer material with the toner image on the image carrier under a pressure not exceeding 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transfer device of claims 9 or 10 wherein the means for contacting includes means for contacting said transfer material with the toner image on said image carrier under a pressure not exceeding 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the electroconductive layer, and means for contacting the transfer material with a toner image on the image carrier with a pressure not exceeding 300 g/cm 2 ; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the electroconductive layer, and means for contacting the transfer material with a toner image on the image carrier with a pressure not exceeding 300 g/cm 2 ; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The transfer device of claims 5, 6, or 16 wherein the means for contacting includes means for contacting said transfer material with the toner image on said image carrier under a pressure not exceeding 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and an insulating layer on the surface of the electroconductive layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the insulating layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer, wherein the transfer drum is disposed in such a manner that the transfer material is in contact with the toner image on the image carrier under a pressure of not more than 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transfer device for transferring an image onto a transfer material, comprising: an image carrier; a transfer drum including a rotatably supported drum member, an elastomer layer made of a foaming flexible material on a peripheral surface of the drum member, an electroconductive layer on the surface of the elastomer layer, and an insulating layer on the surface of the electroconductive layer, means for supporting the transfer material in place on the surface of the insulating layer; and voltage application means for applying a bias voltage to the electroconductive layer, wherein the transfer drum is disposed in such a manner that the transfer material is in contact with the toner image on the image carrier under a pressure of not more than 300 g/cm 2 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transfer device of claims 5, 6, 9, 16 or 18 wherein the voltage application means is an electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transfer device of claim 19 wherein the electro-conductive layer possesses a value of resistance of not more than 10 12 Ω·cm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transfer device of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, or 18 said electro-conductive layer possesses a value of resistance of not more than 10 12 Ω·cm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |