US3659348A - Apparatus for fusing xerographic toners - Google Patents
Apparatus for fusing xerographic toners Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3659348A US3659348A US40841A US3659348DA US3659348A US 3659348 A US3659348 A US 3659348A US 40841 A US40841 A US 40841A US 3659348D A US3659348D A US 3659348DA US 3659348 A US3659348 A US 3659348A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- support
- heated
- platen
- image
- air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
- G03G15/2007—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using radiant heat, e.g. infrared lamps, microwave heaters
Definitions
- a device for thermofusing an electroscopic toner image to the surface of a support by moving the support through a passageway formed by a pair of platens, at least one of which is heated.
- the heated platen is connected to an air supply, the air being discharged under pressure through a slot in the heated platen and directed toward the image-bearing surface.
- the air is heated as it is discharged and attains a temperature sufficient to fuse the toner image.
- the air pressure is sufficient to hold the support in a spaced relation with respect to the heated platen.
- a vacuum platen is arranged adjacent the other surface of the support, the applied vacuum or suction drawing the thin layer of air on the imagebearing surface through the support to increase the efficiency of the device by utilizing the heated air more effectively.
- a toner image can be formed on a support bearing a latent electrostatic image by toner particles of either the dry (powder) or wet (liquid carrier) type.
- Such an image can be fixed to its support or carrier by the process of heat fusing; that is, by the application of heat, in which case, the toner particles forming the image must be of a thermoresponsive material, such as a heat fusible resin which coalesces and adheres to the surface of the support when heated and then cooled to ambient temperature.
- Flash fusing has been desirable for some time because it is not only very efficient at slow or intermittent reproduction speeds but also suitable for high speed copying.
- a major problem with flash fusing is that it is not selective. Since the term selective is used in various ways in connection with fusing processes, it should be clearly understood that it is herein referred to as the preferential fusing of dense image areas leaving low density or background areas unfused.
- One object of the present invention is to provide a device for fusing a toner image to a support which permits the support to be moved at a relatively high speed and which insures fusing of the toner image to the support.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a device for fusing a toner image to a support which can be available for use with a relatively short period of warm-up time and which is compatible with supports of different thicknesses.
- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for fusing a toner image to a support in which a very efficient transfer of heat is obtained from a heated platen to the toner image and the upper surface of the support.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a device for fusing a toner image to a support in which an even fusing of the toner image is obtained across the entire surface of the support.
- Still another object of this invention is to provide a device I for fusing a toner image to a support in which the image-bearing surface of the support is not in contact with any part of the fuser during the fusing operation.
- thermofusing an electroscopic toner image to the surface of a support by moving the support between two spaced platens, at least one of which is heated.
- the imagebearing surface of the support faces the heated platen which is provided with a transverse chamber to which an air supply is connected by suitable ducts.
- the air under pressure passes through an elongated slit in said chamber, becomes heated by the platen, and maintains the image-bearing surface of the support in a spaced relation to the facing surface of the heated platen.
- the successive portions of the toner image on the support are fused to the support by the heat transferred to the'air by the heated platen.
- the platen adjacent to the other surface of the support is provided with a perforated plate with respect to which the support is moved.
- a suction is applied to this platen, thereby insuring that the image-bearing surface of the support is main- .tained in the required spaced relation with respect to the heated platen.
- the suction also draws the thin layer of air on the image-bearing surface of the support through the support, thereby rendering the heated air more effective.
- FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a fusing device embodying the invention and showing the principal elements thereof;
- FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention similar to that disclosed in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention in which the platens are provided with curved surfaces.
- a heated platen generally designated by the numeral 10
- a heated platen comprises an insulating block 13 having rectangular recesses 14 in each of which a heater 15 is arranged.
- Each of heaters 15 is retained in its respective recess by a metal plate or strip 17 which is in thermal contact therewith.
- a block 18 of insulating material forms a second platen generally designated by the numeral 19 which is arranged in spaced relation to platen l and aligned therewith.
- Heater 15 can be a wire coil type or a solid type, such as a Calrod unit. In either case,the heater 15 is suitably connected to a source of potential (not shown).
- Platens and 19 are sufficiently wide to accommodate the maximum width of support 21 that will be used in the fuser.
- the spaced relation of heated platen 10 relative to platen 19 is such that a passageway 20 is formed therebetween through which the support 21 can be moved at a necessary rate to insure good fusing.
- Support 21 can be moved in a preselected or defined path which includes in part the passageway 20 between heated platen l0 and platen'l9. In this portion of the path, support 21 is moved by a porous mesh belt 23 which encircles'pulleys 25 and 29, one of which serves to drive belt 23 from a suitable drive means such as a motor 26 which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 as being connected to pulley 25. Support 21 is carried by the belt 23 with the surface S,.that is, the imagebearing surface, being orientated toward heated platen 10. Support 21 is meantto include those materials used in the field of electrophotography which are capable of retaining a toner image on a surface thereof by means of an electrostatic charge corresponding to the image. Such.
- materials can include paper, dielectric materials, materials coated with a photoconductive material, etc. Also, such materials can be in the form'of discrete sheets or a continuous web. In any case, the fusing operation is usually the last step in a series of well known steps for attaining a usable toner image.
- a flow of air under pressure is introduced into a chamber 22 in platen 10 and directed to surface S of carrier 21 by a slot 24 that extends transversely of'platen l0 and support 21 with respect to its direction of movement.
- Chamber 22 is connected by line 27 to a blower 28.
- the air introduced into chamber 22 by blower 28 through line 27 can only exit through slot 24 which is sufficiently long so as to extend across the width of the support 21.
- Slot 24 is closed at its ends so that the air must exit through slot 24 and be directed at surface S.
- the air pressure is sufficient to maintain surface S in spaced relation to plates 17 on heated platen 19 without disturbing the toner image.
- an air space between the facing surfaces of plates 17 and surface S of support 21- is of such size that substantially no air turbulence exists in this space. Hence, the toner image is not molested or disarranged in any way.
- the support Since the toner image on surface S of support 21 must be heated to a temperature to fuse the toner particles to the support without overheating the support itself, the support is introduced into the passageway 20 between platens 10 and 19 so that surface S faces platen 10. In the form that support 21 with its tonerimage is introduced, the toner particles are adhered to surface S only by the electrical field existing between the charged particles and the charge inthe image areas. As a result, the image-bearing surface is preferably not in contact with any other surface prior to fusing of the image.
- the thermal conductivity of the air space between the facing surfaces of plates 17 and support 21 increases as the thickness of the air space decreases.
- the thermal conductivity will also increase as the amount of shear in this space decreases, shear being defined (approximately) as the average air velocity in thespace divided by the thickness (distance as measured from facing surface of plate 17 to surface S or to facing surface of belt 23) of the space.
- Such very high thermal conductivity permits operation without risk of charring support 21 because the heat presented by plates 17 is used so efficiently that an excessive temperature does not have to be generated by heaters 15, thereby negating any charring risk.
- the dimension of 0.005 inch spacing can be increased to about 0.020 inch before any great difference in thermal conductivity can be noted. Beyond this point, the heat transferfalls off considerably. As a result, support 21 can be moved through passageway 20 at a relatively high rate of speed with completely satisfactory fusing of the toner image to support 21.
- Metal plates or strips 17 can bemade of a metal having a high thermal conductivity and low heat capacity. This allows the temperature of plates 17 to rapidly reach a required temperature when heaters 15 are energized.
- FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a vacuum platen 31 comprising a chamber 32 covered with a plate 33 having a configuration of holes 34, as is well known in the art, is arranged in spaced relation to platen 10.
- Chamber 32 is connected to a vacuum pump 35 by a duct 36.
- Support 21 is positioned on and moved'by belt 23 with surface S, the toner image-bearing surface facing heated platen 10, as described above with respect to FIG. 1.
- the spacing between platens 10 and 31 is such as to provide passageway 20 for belt 23 and support 21 with the distance between the facing surfaces of plates 17 and support 21 being generally the same as set forth above. Support 21 is maintained in position on belt 23 by the combined action of the air under pressure being discharged through slot 24 in heated platen 10 and the vacuum being applied through holes 34 in platen 31.
- vacuum platen 31 Another advantage obtained by using vacuum platen 31 is that when using normal paper for the making of copies, there is a thin layer of air which is maintained at surface S of support 21 which decreases the capability of the unit to properly fuse. The slight reduced pressure applied to the back of support 21 by vacuum platen 31 draws this layer of air through the paper, thus increasing the thermal conductivity as well as the efficiency of the fusing device.
- the device shown in FIG. 2 produces satisfactory fusing with a vacuum in platen 31 in the range between 0.0 and 1.2 inches of mercury.
- the gap between plates 17 and the surface S of the support 21 can be in the range between approximately 0.002 inches to about 0.022 inches for a satisfactory operation.
- the fusing temperature, or hot air temperature must be maintained below 400 C to insure that the support does not char or otherwise deteriorate. Satisfactory fusing has been obtained with the support 21 being moved at the rate of approxi mately 10 to 25 inches per second, the rate being dependent on the type of support and its thickness.
- support 21 can be'moved through passageway 20 between platens 19 and 21 by any suitable means well known in the art for moving a sheet or a web at a generally constant speed.
- a perforated metal drum 40 can be used in place of vacuum platen 31 and/or porous mesh belt 23 as shown in FIG. 3, the parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 being indicated by the same numeral with a prime symbol.
- vacuum platen 31 can also be heated to increase the efficiency of the device.
- a device for fusing an electroscopic toner image to the surface of a support bearing said toner image comprising:
- two platens having spaced, opposed surfaces, at least one of said platens having a central chamber and being heated and provided with an elongated slot interconnecting said chamber to the heated surface thereof facing the image bearing surface;
- the fusing device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the other of said platens comprises a hollow, rotatable drum having a perforated peripheral surface for engaging the other surface of said support at least along a line generally opposite and aligned with said elongated slot.
- the fusing device in accordance with claim 3 including vacuum means connected to said drum for maintaining the other surface of said support against the peripheral surface of said drum.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
- Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US4084170A | 1970-05-27 | 1970-05-27 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3659348A true US3659348A (en) | 1972-05-02 |
Family
ID=21913270
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US40841A Expired - Lifetime US3659348A (en) | 1970-05-27 | 1970-05-27 | Apparatus for fusing xerographic toners |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3659348A (de) |
CA (1) | CA923964A (de) |
DE (1) | DE2126239C3 (de) |
FR (1) | FR2093732A5 (de) |
GB (1) | GB1353828A (de) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3878622A (en) * | 1971-11-06 | 1975-04-22 | Canon Kk | Photographic copying apparatus |
US3893245A (en) * | 1972-03-28 | 1975-07-08 | Canon Kk | Photocopying apparatus |
US3914097A (en) * | 1974-02-01 | 1975-10-21 | Eastman Kodak Co | Sheet guide and cooling apparatus |
US3925905A (en) * | 1973-08-06 | 1975-12-16 | Gaston County Dyeing Mach | Piece goods extraction apparatus and method |
US3942266A (en) * | 1973-03-05 | 1976-03-09 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for fixing toner images |
US3986274A (en) * | 1974-02-28 | 1976-10-19 | Riggs & Lombard, Inc. | Apparatus for web treatment |
US4043052A (en) * | 1973-03-05 | 1977-08-23 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for fixing toner images |
US5004891A (en) * | 1989-04-14 | 1991-04-02 | The Mead Corporation | Two-stage method and apparatus for glossing a developer sheet |
EP0748992A2 (de) * | 1995-04-19 | 1996-12-18 | Marquip, Inc. | Vakuumtrocknungssystem für eine Warenbahn |
US6418289B1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-07-09 | Xerox Corporation | Drying device and method for drying ink on a medium |
US20070193060A1 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2007-08-23 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Infrared drier installation for passing web |
US20080256818A1 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2008-10-23 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Drier Installation for Drying Web |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2753625C2 (de) * | 1977-12-01 | 1981-09-17 | Agfa-Gevaert Ag, 5090 Leverkusen | Fixiereinrichtung für ein elektrofotografisches Kopiergerät |
DE102011000814A1 (de) * | 2011-02-18 | 2012-08-23 | OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH | Heizeinheit für einen Aufzeichnungsträger bei einem elektrografischen Druckgerät |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA542331A (en) * | 1957-06-18 | R. Gillis Joseph | Methods and apparatus for drying inks | |
US3098725A (en) * | 1959-03-25 | 1963-07-23 | Metal Box Co Ltd | Drying liquid-coated thin metal coil stock |
US3403456A (en) * | 1967-02-14 | 1968-10-01 | White Consolidated Ind Inc | Impingement type drying apparatus |
US3435751A (en) * | 1966-11-03 | 1969-04-01 | Gaf Corp | Photocopy developing apparatus |
US3447247A (en) * | 1967-12-18 | 1969-06-03 | Beloit Corp | Method and equipment for drying web material |
-
1970
- 1970-05-27 US US40841A patent/US3659348A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1971
- 1971-04-06 CA CA109697A patent/CA923964A/en not_active Expired
- 1971-05-26 DE DE2126239A patent/DE2126239C3/de not_active Expired
- 1971-05-26 FR FR7118991A patent/FR2093732A5/fr not_active Expired
- 1971-05-27 GB GB1761471A patent/GB1353828A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA542331A (en) * | 1957-06-18 | R. Gillis Joseph | Methods and apparatus for drying inks | |
US3098725A (en) * | 1959-03-25 | 1963-07-23 | Metal Box Co Ltd | Drying liquid-coated thin metal coil stock |
US3435751A (en) * | 1966-11-03 | 1969-04-01 | Gaf Corp | Photocopy developing apparatus |
US3403456A (en) * | 1967-02-14 | 1968-10-01 | White Consolidated Ind Inc | Impingement type drying apparatus |
US3447247A (en) * | 1967-12-18 | 1969-06-03 | Beloit Corp | Method and equipment for drying web material |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3878622A (en) * | 1971-11-06 | 1975-04-22 | Canon Kk | Photographic copying apparatus |
US3893245A (en) * | 1972-03-28 | 1975-07-08 | Canon Kk | Photocopying apparatus |
US3942266A (en) * | 1973-03-05 | 1976-03-09 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for fixing toner images |
US4043052A (en) * | 1973-03-05 | 1977-08-23 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for fixing toner images |
US3925905A (en) * | 1973-08-06 | 1975-12-16 | Gaston County Dyeing Mach | Piece goods extraction apparatus and method |
US3914097A (en) * | 1974-02-01 | 1975-10-21 | Eastman Kodak Co | Sheet guide and cooling apparatus |
US3986274A (en) * | 1974-02-28 | 1976-10-19 | Riggs & Lombard, Inc. | Apparatus for web treatment |
US5004891A (en) * | 1989-04-14 | 1991-04-02 | The Mead Corporation | Two-stage method and apparatus for glossing a developer sheet |
EP0748992A2 (de) * | 1995-04-19 | 1996-12-18 | Marquip, Inc. | Vakuumtrocknungssystem für eine Warenbahn |
US5600900A (en) * | 1995-04-19 | 1997-02-11 | Marquip, Inc. | Vacuum assisted web drying system |
EP0748992A3 (de) * | 1995-04-19 | 1997-06-04 | Marquip Inc | Vakuumtrocknungssystem für eine Warenbahn |
US6418289B1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-07-09 | Xerox Corporation | Drying device and method for drying ink on a medium |
US20070193060A1 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2007-08-23 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Infrared drier installation for passing web |
US20080256818A1 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2008-10-23 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Drier Installation for Drying Web |
US7918040B2 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2011-04-05 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Drier installation for drying web |
US7926200B2 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2011-04-19 | Nv Bekaert Sa | Infrared drier installation for passing web |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE2126239A1 (de) | 1971-12-02 |
GB1353828A (en) | 1974-05-22 |
FR2093732A5 (de) | 1972-01-28 |
CA923964A (en) | 1973-04-03 |
DE2126239C3 (de) | 1974-01-03 |
DE2126239B2 (de) | 1973-06-14 |
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