US5045889A — Release liquid applying wick having a grooved fee…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 98 words

For use in a rotatable release liquid applying device for applying release liquid to a fusing member, a wick comprising: a feed tube having a plurality of distribution holes through which release liquid can flow under pressure, groove means in the outer surface of said feed tube, said groove means extending around said tube with said distribution holes opening into said groove means, a thin porous sheath around said tube, said sheath covering the grooves means while leaving an air space between each distribution hole and the sheath, and wicking material wrapped around the outside of said sheath.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 98 words

For use in a rotatable release liquid applying device for applying release liquid to a fusing member, a wick comprising: a feed tube having a plurality of distribution holes through which release liquid can flow under pressure, groove means in the outer surface of said feed tube, said groove means extending around said tube with said distribution holes opening into said groove means, a thin porous sheath around said tube, said sheath covering the grooves means while leaving an air space between each distribution hole and the sheath, and wicking material wrapped around the outside of said sheath.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said groove means includes a plurality of grooves around said outer surface, each of said distributions holes opening into a different one of said grooves.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said groove means includes a single helical groove around the outside surface of said feed tube, all of said distribution holes opening into said helical groove.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A wick according to claim 3 wherein said distribution holes are aligned and the lead of said helical groove is equal to the distance between said distribution holes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said sheath is a thin porous cloth tube.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A wick according to claim 5 wherein said cloth is made of a porous synthetic material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said wicking material is a heat resistant synthetic wicking material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said wicking material includes at least an outer layer of polytetrafluoroethylene wicking material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

A wick according to claim 1 wherein said distribution holes are less than 0.010 inches is diameter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 98 words

A feed tube for use as a central portion of a wick for a toner fusing device, said feed tube comprising an elongated tube having a central bore and a plurality of distribution holes through said bore and groove means around the outer surface of said tube into which said distribution holes open, said distribution holes being positioned along a line generally parallel to the axis of said tube and said groove means being a single helical groove into which each of said holes opens, said groove having a lead equal to the distance between said distribution holes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 98 words

A feed tube for use as a central portion of a wick for a toner fusing device, said feed tube comprising an elongated tube having a central bore and a plurality of distribution holes through said bore and groove means around the outer surface of said tube into which said distribution holes open, said distribution holes being positioned along a line generally parallel to the axis of said tube and said groove means being a single helical groove into which each of said holes opens, said groove having a lead equal to the distance between said distribution holes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A feed tube according to claim 10 wherein said groove means is between 0.0020 and 0.030 inches deep and 0.040 and 0.050 inches wide.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 69 words

A feed tube for use as a central portion of a wick for a toner fusing device, said feed tube comprising an elongated tube having a central bore and a plurality of distribution holes through said bore and groove means around the outer surface of said tube into which said distribution holes open, said groove means being between 0.020 and 0.030 inches deep and 0.040 and 0.050 inches wide.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 69 words

A feed tube for use as a central portion of a wick for a toner fusing device, said feed tube comprising an elongated tube having a central bore and a plurality of distribution holes through said bore and groove means around the outer surface of said tube into which said distribution holes open, said groove means being between 0.020 and 0.030 inches deep and 0.040 and 0.050 inches wide.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-02	1995-03-04	1995-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-02	1999-03-04	1999-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-02	2003-03-04	2003-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Release liquid applying wick having a grooved feed tube

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag