US5286948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fusing apparatus and method
Assignee: HP Indigo BV
•
Filing: 1992-06-05
•
Granted: 1994-02-15
•
Expires: 2012-06-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for fusing a thermoplastic image onto a substrate including a fuser element having a thin fusing member and apparatus for tensioning the thin fusing member.
Inventors
- 👤 Benzion Landa
- 👤 Naseem Yacoub
- 👤 Hanna Pinhas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2053; G03G13/00; G03G13/20; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for fusing of an image onto a substrate comprising: a fuser element; and means for heating said fuser element, wherein said fuser element comprises a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and which is supported by gas pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for fusing of an image onto a substrate comprising: a fuser element; and means for heating said fuser element, wherein said fuser element comprises a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and which is supported by gas pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 50 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 30 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a metallic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a layer of Nickel alloy and a thin release layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 and also comprising means for passing electrical current through said thin walled cylinder for producing direct resistance heating thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a layer of Kapton and a thin release layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 12 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising: a) a backing roller adjacent to the fuser element; b) means for passing the substrate between the fuser element and the backing roller at the fusing region; c) means for pressing the fuser element to the substrate and the backing roller to apply pressure to the image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said fuser element deforms the backing roller at the fusing region without substantially deforming the fuser element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A fuser element comprising a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and which is supported by gas pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A fuser element comprising a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and which is supported by gas pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 50 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 30 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a metallic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a layer of Nickel alloy and a thin release layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 and also comprising means for passing electrical current through said thin walled cylinder for producing direct resistance heating thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thin walled cylinder comprises a layer of Kapton and a thin release layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than about 12 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for fusing of an image onto a substrate comprising: a fuser element; and means for heating said fuser element, wherein said fuser element comprises a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions and which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and also comprising means for axially tensioning said thin walled cylinder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for fusing of an image onto a substrate comprising: a fuser element; and means for heating said fuser element, wherein said fuser element comprises a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions and which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and also comprising means for axially tensioning said thin walled cylinder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fuser element comprising a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and also comprising means for axially tensioning said thin walled cylinder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fuser element comprising a thin walled cylinder having end portions and a cylindrical fuser surface therebetween and wherein said thin walled cylinder has a thickness of less than 125 microns which is backed by a solid structural support at said end portions, which is unbacked by a solid structural support between said end portions and also comprising means for axially tensioning said thin walled cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3394245A
Cited
US3245511A
Cited
US3937919A
Cited
US4001544A
Cited
US4272872A
Cited
US4395109A
Cited
US4420680A
Cited
US4567349A
Cited
US4814819A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |