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US5495324A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal fixing system for recording media of a printer or copier device that are printed on one or both sides

Assignee: Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1994-02-10
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Granted: 1996-02-27
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Expires: 2014-02-10
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Abstract

Abstract In a thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on the front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, the back side of the recording medium already having a fixed toner image. The thermal fixing means contains a heat transfer fixing station that fixes the toner images on the recording medium, and contains a pre-heating saddle that precedes the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium. A sliding surface that accepts the recording medium over its back side is allocated to the pre-heating saddle. The sliding surface is constructed of a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium. A separating device can separate the recording medium from the saddle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter Kopp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/23; G03G15/231; G03G15/232; G03G15/234; G03G15/235; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2021; G03G15/2039; G03G15/205; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00443; G03G2215/00451; G03G2215/00455; G03G2215/20; G03G2215/207; G03G2215/2083

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 202 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium by direct contact between the recording medium and at least one heating roller; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium for pre-heating the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for heating and supporting the recording medium over substantially all of its back side at a contact region, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material covering all of said contact region with the recording medium; a device for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle as needed; and said device for separating comprising a lift-off element engaging behind the recording medium over a width in a region of the pre-heating saddle, the pre-heating saddle and lift-off element being designed movable relative to one another such that in a lift-off condition, the recording medium is guided over the lift-off element at a spacing from the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 202 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium by direct contact between the recording medium and at least one heating roller; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium for pre-heating the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for heating and supporting the recording medium over substantially all of its back side at a contact region, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material covering all of said contact region with the recording medium; a device for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle as needed; and said device for separating comprising a lift-off element engaging behind the recording medium over a width in a region of the pre-heating saddle, the pre-heating saddle and lift-off element being designed movable relative to one another such that in a lift-off condition, the recording medium is guided over the lift-off element at a spacing from the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said toner-repellant material is formed of a fluorine compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 2 wherein said toner repellant material comprises one of a PTFE or PFA compound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said toner-repellant material is electrostatically conductive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said toner-repellant material comprises a sliding surface interchangeably securable to said pre-heating saddle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said sliding surface comprises a film with a thin, thermally conductive adhesive layer for fastening to the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said lift-off element comprises a cable-like element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said toner-repellant material comprises a sprayed-on layer on said pre-heating saddle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 1 wherein said toner-repellant layer of material is applied onto a carrier surface of said pre-heating saddle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 126 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said sliding surface comprising a film proceeding from a supply region, guided over the pre-heating saddle, and terminating at a delivery region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 126 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said sliding surface comprising a film proceeding from a supply region, guided over the pre-heating saddle, and terminating at a delivery region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A thermal fixing system according to claim 10 wherein a drive unit is provided for moving the film over the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 148 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising; a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner image on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; a device for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle as needed; and said device for separating comprising a pneumatic device having air exit openings allocated to the pre-heating saddle for generating an air pillow for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 148 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising; a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner image on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; a device for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle as needed; and said device for separating comprising a pneumatic device having air exit openings allocated to the pre-heating saddle for generating an air pillow for separating the recording medium from the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 175 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle comprising at least one smoothing roller at an end facing toward the heat transfer fixing station, the recording medium being deflected over said at least one smoothing roller from a running direction defined by the sliding surface to an admission direction of the heat transfer fixing station, a deflection angle over said smoothing roller being dimensioned such that a smoothing effect is exerted on the recording medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 175 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle comprising at least one smoothing roller at an end facing toward the heat transfer fixing station, the recording medium being deflected over said at least one smoothing roller from a running direction defined by the sliding surface to an admission direction of the heat transfer fixing station, a deflection angle over said smoothing roller being dimensioned such that a smoothing effect is exerted on the recording medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 119 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least on a contact region with the recording medium; and a smoothing roller having a toner-repellant layer thereon at one end of said pre-heating saddle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 119 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least on a contact region with the recording medium; and a smoothing roller having a toner-repellant layer thereon at one end of said pre-heating saddle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 153 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle having a first heating zone of lower temperature designed as a first heating zone pre-heating saddle and a second heating zone with a higher temperature designed as a high temperature heating saddle following the low temperature pre-heating saddle in said running direction of the recording medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 153 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle having a first heating zone of lower temperature designed as a first heating zone pre-heating saddle and a second heating zone with a higher temperature designed as a high temperature heating saddle following the low temperature pre-heating saddle in said running direction of the recording medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 135 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle comprising at least one thin metal plate having said toner-repellant layer coated thereon, and wherein said plate is interchangeably secured on a base structure of the pre-heating saddle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 135 words
A thermal fixing system for fixing toner images on a front side of a recording medium in an electrographic printer or copier device, and wherein a back side of the recording medium already has a fixed toner image, comprising: a heat transfer fixing station for fixing the toner images on the recording medium; a pre-heating saddle preceding the heat transfer fixing station in a running direction of the recording medium and having a sliding surface allocated thereto for accepting the recording medium over its back side, said sliding surface comprising a toner-repellant material at least in a contact region with the recording medium; and said pre-heating saddle comprising at least one thin metal plate having said toner-repellant layer coated thereon, and wherein said plate is interchangeably secured on a base structure of the pre-heating saddle.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-02-26 1999-08-28 2000-02-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-02-26 2003-08-28 2004-02-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-02-26 2007-08-28 2008-02-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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