US3857189A

US3857189A - Device for drying and fixing copying material

Info

Publication number: US3857189A
Application number: US00359626A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Katayama; H Nitanda; K Miyamoto
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 1972-05-19
Filing date: 1973-05-14
Publication date: 1974-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-31
Also published as: DE2325347B2; NL7306982A; FR2185815B1; AU5584373A; FR2185815A1; AU480768B2; GB1436571A; NL177528C; CA983089A; NL177528B; DE2325347A1

Abstract

This invention presents a device for drying and fixing a copying material bearing a visualized image thereon. The copying material moves in contact with the upper surface of a heated heat plate so as to dry the liquid developer on the copying material and the dried material is sent out to a tray. The heat plate has an inclined surface of convex shape or the like and is heated from its bottom surface. The copying material bearing are image is advanced in contact with the upper surface of the heat plate so as to improve the contact pressure of the copying material relative to the surface of the heat plate. The drying efficiency can be further improved by blowing a heated air from the upper side of the heat plate onto the copying material to increase the contact pressure of the copying material to the heat plate. The invention may also provides with rollers of liquid absorbing material to absorb the remaining developing liquid on the copying material.

Description

United States Patent [191 Katayama et al.

1 Dec. 31, 1974 DEVICE FOR DRYING AND FIXING COPYING MATERIAL [73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: May 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,626

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 19, 1972 Japan 47-49719 July 5, 1972 Japan 47-66648 July 5, 1972 Japan 47-66649 June 5, 1972 Japan 47-66294 [52] US. Cl 34/95, 432/60, 219/216, 219/388, 100/93 RP, 415/54, 34/41, 34/71 [51] Int. C1 I-I05b l/00, F26b 3/18 [58] Field ofSearch 432/59,60,62,227232,

432/77-80; 219/216, 388, 469; 100/93 RP; 34/72-74, 71, 76-80, 41, 89.1, 131, 95; 250/65 ZE, 65 T 3,305,164 2/1967 Laing 417/423 R 3,449,547 6/ 1969 Goodman et a1.

3,465,122 9/1969 Kolless 2l9/388 3,492,458 1/1970 White et a1. 219/216 3,637,976 l/1972 Ohta et a1. 219/216 3,669,706 6/1972 Sanders et a1. 219/216 3,689,147 9/1972 Suzuki 34/70 3,700,218 lO/1972 Laisney 432/59 3,740,867 6/ 1973 Hamaguchi 34/95 Primary Examiner-John J. Camby Assistant ExaminerHenry C. Yuen Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto [57] ABSTRACT This invention presents a device for drying and fixing a copying material bearing a visualized image thereon. The copying material moves in contact with the upper surface of a heated heat plate so as to dry the liquid developer on the copying material and the dried material is sent out to a tray. The heat plate has an inclined surface of convex shape or the like and is heated from its bottom surface. The copying material bearing are image is advanced in contact with the upper surface of the heat plate so as to improve the contact pressure of the copying material relative to the surface of the heat plate. The drying efficiency can be further improved by blowing a heated air from the upper side of the heat plate onto the copying material to increase the contact pressure of the copying material to the heat plate. The invention may also provides with rollers of liquid absorbing material to absorb the remaining developing liquid on the copying material.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED BEDS 1 I974 sum 10F '3 PATENTEU [15113 I 1974 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEDBEB31 1914 3; 857'w 189 saw a or 5 FIG. 3

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for drying and fixing a copying material bearing an image thereon obtained by an electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid developing agent and provides a simple and safety, i.e., fire proof device having a high drying efficiency.

2. Description of the Prior Art The conventional devices for drying and fixing copying material such as a photosensitive paper, a transfer material and the like, uses an infrared ray lamp, a heated blowing air or a heat plate, however, when the infrared ray lamp is used there is a fear of fire, elevation of the temperature within the housing and/or a bad effect to a photosensitive paper due to infrared rays. When the heated blowing air is used, drying efficiency is bad so that the transmitting path becomes long to enlarge the machine. When the heat plate is used, the plane heat plate is heated below about 200C, and the back surface of a copying paper is advanced in contact with the heat plate for drying and fixing, and this method is highly efficiency if the contact between the heat plate and the paper is good. However it is very difficult to keep the contact therebetween always good as the paper curves as it is heated. Also there is a problem in the construction of the device for decreasing the length of the plate for obtaining a compact device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement of the device for drying and fixing the copying material making the best use of the heat plate and overcoming the disadvantages mentioned above.

According to this invention, it is provided that a device for drying and fixing a visualized image on the copying material after liquid developing in which the copying material is advanced in contact with the upper surface of the heated heat plate so as to dry the liquid developer and sent out to the tray. The heat plate has an inclined surface of convex shape or the like and is heated from its bottom surface. The copying material bearing an image is advanced in contact with the upper surface of the heat plate so as to improve the contact pressure ofthe copying material relative to the surface of the heat plate.

Further, the drying efficiency can be improved by blowing a heated air from the upper side of the heat plate onto the copying material to increase the contact pressure of the copying material to the heat plate.

Moreover, according to other aspect of this invention, rollers of liquid absorbing material to absorb the remaining developing liquid on the copying material.

According to another aspect of this invention, the flow-through blowing means is used for obtaining said heated blowing air for assisting drying of the copying material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the transfer and fixing station of the transfer type electrophotographic copying apparatus adapting an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the drying and fixing deviced of this invention adapted in an electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment and FIG. 4 shows a drawing illustrating the assembly procedure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention will be explained in detail referring to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which shows a transfer type electrophotographic copying device adapted with the present invention. Around a photosensitive drum, the primary charger, exposure-secondary charging device or exposure-AC. corona discharger, developer etc. are arranged along the periphery of the drum although these devices are omitted from the drawing. Reference numeral 2 designates a guide for a transfer sheet, 3 shows a transfer charger, 4 shows a transfer sheet separating roller around which a separating belt is wound which separates the transfer paper bearing the transferred developed image from the photosensitive drum 1.

The separated transfer paper is absorbed to the surface of the guide 6 by the force of the blower 5 and advanced leftward in the drawing to drying-fixing device A.

In the drying-fixing device A, the heat plate 7 is of convex shape and ofa material having a high heat conductivity. The heat plate 7 shown in FIG. 1 has bent ends and mounted on L-shaped

metallic members

9, 9 of the adiabatic supporting plate 8 by

screws

10 and 10. A plate heater 11 is forced into the insulator and in this figure, it has a width extending from the base portion of the inclined surface 71 of the heat plate 7 to the apex portion 73 formed in arc with gentle slope. An elastic compressing plate 12 is to closely contact the plate heater 11 with the back surface of the heat plate 7, 13 is an elastic plate supporting the compressing plate 12 at the bent end 14, I5 is a screw to pushing up the compressing plate l2. A blowing duct 16 is provided above the downwardly inclined surface 74 of the heat plate 7, and the air blown out from the port 20 flows along the inclined surface 74. Reference numerals l7 and 18 designate discharging rollers, 19 is a tray for receiving the copying paper and 21 shows a suction duct. The heater of any other suitable shape other than the plate type can well be used.

According to this invention, the heat plate 7 is formed in convex shape, the transfer paper P advanced from right to left on the guide surface 6 is raised by the inclined surface 71 of the heat plate 7. In this case, it is natural that the paper P receives a stronger force urged to the inclined surface than in case of flat heat plate, and therefore transfer paper P is advanced in closely contact with the inclined surface 71 so that the rapid drying of the transfer paper 7 is started. When the leading edge of the transfer paper P passes through the apex 73 of the heat plate 7, the paper P will mate with the downwardly inclined surface 74 by its dead weight, so that the paper P advances under good contacting state without curling upwardly. Consequently, by using the convex shape heat plate 7, the transmitting distance can be substantially increased even with a narrow space so as to improve the efficiency of the drying.

The range of the degree of the angle of the inclined surface 71 is determined by the stiffness the transfer paper or the photosensitive paper. In the illustrative embodiment, said angle is about 10 and the range of 5 to 30 is preferable.

Furthermore, in this invention, the plate heater 11 is mounted on the back surface of the convex shape heat plate 7 by elastic members 12 and 13 (in the drawing compressing plate is used), the heater 11 is closely contacted with the back surface of the heat plate 7, so that the efficiency of the heat transmission is improved.

In this invention, air blowing duct 16 is provided above the downwardly inclined surface 74 of the heat plate 7 the air flows from the exit port 20 along the surface 74 on which the transfer paper P advances, the paper P is further closely contacted with the heat plate 7 and the carrier vapor on the surface of the transfer paper is removed'by the blowing air so that the complete drying is achieved. The plate heater 11 has a width having two third of the heat plate 7, width can be increased as the same as the heat plate.

In said embodiment, the drying of the transfer paper is explained, this invention can be applicable to the drying of the photosensitive paper.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the heat plate type drying-fixing device is preferable in view of its efficiency. However, when the device is used for a long time, the elevation ofthe temperature within the device can not be avoided. When the temperature ofthe liquid developer is raised, not only the developing characteristics are deteriorated but also there arises a fear of fire of the carrier which has a relatively low firing temperature, e.g. about 51C. And consequently, the temperature within the machine should be kept as low as possible.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to prevent the heat radicated from the drying-fixing device from badly affecting other processing devices and to improve the efficiency of drying the transfer paper.

Duct 21 is provided below the heat plate 7 and has a port 22 opened upwardly and within the port or inside of the duct, a suction fan is provided for suctioning the air from underside of the heat plate 7 and sending out the air from the machine. Blowing duct 16 is provided above the heat plate 7 and has two ports and 23 from which the air flows to the inlet side and outlet side of the transfer paper P on the heat plate 7, respectively. Within the duct 16, heater 24 is provided for heating the air to be blown out from the

ports

20 and 23. The duct 25 shown in the broken line may be provided to interconnect said two

ducts

21 and 16 for forming a circulated air flow from the fan to the

ports

20 and 23, through

ducts

21, 25 and 16.

In this embodiment, the air is suctioned by the fan 5 from underside of the heat plate 7 to the duct 21. Therefore, air flow, i.e. air curtain, is formed from the inlet side to the outlet side of the transfer paper on the heat plate 7 and by this air curtain, the heat radiated from the heat plate is prevented from being transmitted to the other processing devices. Further, by the suction of the fan 5, the transfer paper P separated from the drum surface is closely contacted with the guide 6 and advanced to the heat plate 7, and when the transfer paper P crosses the air curtain at the inlet side pressure difference is created between the above and the under the paper so that the paper P can be closely contacted with the heat plate 7. Moreover, at the exit side of the 7 heat plate 7, the advancing transfer paper P is closely contacted with the heat plate 7 and is securely advanced to the discharging rollers 17 and l8.

During the advancement of the transfer paper P on the heat plate 7, the carrier liquid is vaporized from the surface of the transfer paper P, however, after the discharge of the transfer paper P, the air curtain is again formed at both sides of the heat plate 7, the vaporized carrier liquid is readily suctioned from the plate 7 to the outside of the machine for collection, which prevent the air pollution of the atmospher.

Further, in this embodiment, since the heated air is blown out from the inlet and outlet sides of the heat plate 7, the strong air curtain is formed on both sides of the heat plate 7 in cooperation with the fan 5, which effectuate the vaporization of the liquid carrier by the warm air.

In accordance with this invention, the air suctioned by the fan 5 from the underside of the heat plate 7 is blown out to the upper side of the heat plate 7 from the inlet and outlet ports, there may be not necessary to provide with a specific heater and the heated air is supplied to the transfer paper P so that heat loss can be avoided. In this case, if necessary, carrier vapor recovery device 26 can be provided in the interconnecting duct 25.

Above explanation is related with the transfer paper, its invention can well be applied to the drying of the photosensitive paper.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of this invention. The drying-fixing device comprises heat plate 71, heater l1, and compressing plate 12 and the back surface of the transfer paper is slidably transferred closely contacting with the surface of the plate 71. Infrared ray lamp or heated air may well be utilized for drying and fixing. The photosensitive member 1 may well be plane plate type or belt type.

In the above mentioned electrophotographic device of the liquid developing transfer type, at the wedge shape space formed by the surface of the photosensitive member 1 and the transfer paper P, the liquid carrier of the developing agent attached on the photosensitive member is successively accumulated by the capillary phenomenon to form the pool 34. Therefore, after the rear end of the transfer paper P is departed from the photosensitive member, much of the accumulated carrier liquid attaches over several millimeters width at the rear edge of the transfer paper as droplets, and consequently, said portion is most difficult to be dried, and in fact there is a case where the carrier liquid remains still in the form of droplets at said portion after the transfer paper is passed through the drying fixing device. As a result, the image quality is deteriorated by rubbing carelessly the liquid carrier, or each of the transfer papers is not regularly piled within the tray.

The phenomenon of producing said pool of the carrier liquid is not avoidable because of the transfer principle of the liquid developing system. For sufficiently drying said rear edge of the transfer paper, it is considered to elevate the temperature of the drying-fixing device or to increase the drying time, however, in the former case, excess heat is applied to the portions of the transfer paper other than said rear edge, and also the temperature of the machine itself is also elevated. And in the latter case, copy speed is decreased and the copier becomes bulky.

This invention overcomes above mentioned disadvantages by providing with a roller 31 having at least liquid absorbing material surface to absorb the carrier liquid remained on the transfer paper undried. ln FIG.

2, the surface of the pipe type core roller 31, of the roller 31 is covered by liquid absorbing material 31 and the roller 31 is driven by the driving roller 33 at a peripheral speed coinciding with the feeding speed of the transfer paper. The transfer paper P coming out from the drying-fixing device is fed through the rollers 31 and 33 to the tray, and the remaining undried carrier liquid at the rear end of the paper coming out from the drying-fixing device is absorbed by the liquid absorbing material 31 of the roller 31, so that the disadvantage due to the undried carrier liquid. It is not necessary to elevate the temperature of the drying-fixing device for fully vaporize the liquid carrier of the transfer paper, or to elongate the drying time. Further, the conventional device can be used since it is only necessary to dry the transfer paper except the rear edge portion of the paper.

Although the roller 31 contacts with the image surface of the transfer paper, the image will not be transferred to the roller 31 since the image has already been fixed. in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the heater 32 is provided within the roller 31 for vaporizing the liquid carrier absorbed by the material 31 of the roller 31, so that the absorbability of the material 31 is kept always in good condition.

When the heat plate as shown in H6. 2 is used in this embodiment, the roller 31 is utilized also for transmitting the transfer paper, the transfer mechanism can be simplified.

FIG. 3 shows a novel means for producing the air flow explained previously. ln FIG. 3, the flow-through type blade wheel 41 has a hollow boss 44 at the centre aperture of the side plate 42 of the wheel 41, the boss being projected into the inside of the wheel 41. The aperture 45 of the hollow boss 44 provides with a cylindrical elastic bush 47 having a penetrating aperture 46 of non-circular cross-section The non-circular plut portion 50 of the rotary shaft 49 of the motor 48 is forced into said penetrating aperture 46 the bush 47. On the other hand, the outer peripheral groove 55 of the elastic ring 53 is fitted into the central aperture 52 of the other side plate 51 of the wheel 41. The supporting shaft 58 fixed to the mounting plate 59 is supported by the bearing 57 fitted into the inner peripheral groove 56 of the ring 53. Therefore, three members, i.e., aperture wall of the hollow boss 44, elastic bush 47 and the rotary shaft 49 are contacting with each other over the wide arear so that the large frictional force is obtained to make a strong connection. And at the side plate 51 of the blade wheel 41, the bearing 57 is provided through the elastic ring 53, and the supporting shaft 49 fixed to the plate 59 is supported by the bearing 57, high precision for assembling is not required and the eccentricity, if any, between the

shafts

49 and 58 can be automatically adjusted by the elasticity of the bush 47 and the ring 53 so as to decrease the vibration of the blade wheel 41 and the motor can be rotated smoothly. An adhesive may be used for mounting the elastic bush 47 and ring 53.

We claim:

1. A drying-fixing device for a copying material bear ing a visualized image thereon after development, comprising a heat plate having a convex surface portion on its upper surface for improving the contacting pressure of the copying material moving on said upper surface of the heat plate, plate heater means disposed on the back side surface of said heat plate, adjustably mounted compressing means engageable with said plate heater means for bringing said plate heater means into uniform and intimate contact with the back side surface of said heat plate, and means for transmitting the copying material from the liquid developing means to tray means through said heat plate.

2. A drying-fixing device according to claim 1, in which air suctioning means is provided for suctioning the air from the underside of the heat plate to sending it to other portions through duct to produce the air flow at the inlet and outlet sides of the copying paper moving along the heat plate.

3. A drying-fixing device according to claim 2, in which the air suctioning means blows air onto the copying material from above thereof at the inlet and outlet sides.

4. A drying-fixing device according to claim 3, in which said air blowing means comprises flow-through air blowing means and duct means, said air blowing means comprising a flow-through blade wheel, at the centre of one side plate of the wheel a hollow boss projected into the wheel being provided, a cylindrical elastic bush formed with a non-circular cross sectional penetrating aperture being fitted into the aperture of said hollow boss, a non-circular cross sectional rotary shaft ofa motor being fitted into said penetrating aperture of the elastic bush, at the centre aperture of the other side plate of the wheel the outer peripheral groove of an elastic ring being fitted, a bearing being fitted into the inner peripheral groove of the elastic ring and a supporting shaft fixed to a mounting plate being supported by said bearing.

5. A drying-fixing device for a copying material having a visualized image thereon after development, comprising a heat plate having a convex surface portion on its upper surface for improving the contacting pressure of the copying material moving on said upper surface of the heat plate, adjustably mounted plate heater means disposed on the back side surface of said heat plate comprising means for bringing said plate heater means into uniform and intimate contact with the back side surface of said heat plate, guiding means disposed at one end of said heat plate for guiding the copying material onto the upper surface of said heat plate and a pair of rollers disposed on the opposite end of said heat plate, one of said rollers having at least a surface of liquid absorbing material for absorbing the remaining liquid carrier of developing agent on the copying material.

6. A drying-fixing device according to claim 5,

wherein said one roller has a heater therein.

Page I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFlQATE OF CORRECTION Pa t 1%, 3,857,189 D d December 31, 1974 lnventor(s) HAJIM'E KATAYAMA, ET AL it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title Page, in the Abstract, line 8, "are should read an---;

Title Page, in the Abstract, line 16, "provides with" should read -provide---;

Column 1, line 9, "safety," should read safe,

Column 1, line 25, "efficiency" should read efficient--;

Column 1, line 53, "other" should read --another;

Column 1, line 54, "material to" should read material are provided;

Column 1, line 58, "assisting drying" should read assisting in the drying--;

Column 1, line 66, "deviced" should read device-;

Column 2, line 35, "7," should read --7;--;

Column 2, line 37, '14, should read 14; and-;

Column 2, line 51, "of flat heat" should read of a flat heat-;

Column 2, line 53, "closely contact" should read close contact-;

Column 2, line 64, "stiffness the" should read stiffness of the;

Column 3, line 15, "having two third of the heat plate 7," should read--of two thirds of the heat plate 7,and the-;

CERTIFICATE OF @QRREUHQN Patent 3.857.189

Inventofls) HAJIME KA'I'AYAMA, ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 16, "increased as" should read --increased--;

Column 3, line 18, "explained, this" should read --explained,

and this--;

Column 3, line 61, "side pressure" should read -side, a

pressure- Column 3, line 62, "under" should read ---underside of--;

Column 4, line 8, "atmospher" should read --atmosphere-;

Column 4, line 18, "there may be not necessary" should read --and it may" not be necessary-;

Column 4, line 19, "provide with a specific heater and" should read ---provide a specific heater as--;

Column 4, line 24, "Above explanation" should read --'Ihe above explanation w Column 4, line 24, "related with" should read --related to--;

Column 4, line 61, "elevated. And" should read --elevated, and---; Column 4, line 67, "remained" should read --remaining-;

Column 5, line 10, "so that" should read -to overcome- Column 5, line 13, "vaporize" should read --vaporizing--;

Column 5, line 28, "paper, the" should read --paper, and the Patent No.

Inventofls) CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,857,189 Dated December 31, 1974 HAJIME KATAYAMA, ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that Column 5, line 35, "provides" should read --is provided-;

Column 5, line 37 "cross-section" should read --cross-section--- Column 5, line 39, "the bush 47. should read -of the bush 47.--

Column 5, line 48, "arear" should read -area-;

Column 5, line 4%, "connection. And" should read -connection,

Column 6, linelfi, "sending" should read --send--.

(SEAL) Arrests RUTH C.

Arresting Officer said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 15th day of July 1975.

C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks MASON Page '1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFTCATE OF CORRECTION Pa 3,857,189 Dated December 31, 1974 Inventor(s) HAJIME KATAYAMA, ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title Page, in the Abstract, line 8, "are" should read -an--;

Title Page, in the Abstract, line 16, "provides with" should read provide--;

Column 1, line 9, "safety," should read -safe,-

Column 1, line 25, "efficiency" should read efficient-;

Column 1, line 53, "other" should read another--;

Column l, line 54, "material to" should read material are provided;

Column 1, line 58, "assisting drying" should read assisting in the drying--;

Column 1, line 66, "deviced" should read device-;

Column 2, line 35, "7," should read -7;-;

Column 2, line 37, '14, should read 14; and;

Column 2, line 51, "of flat heat" should read --of a flat heat;

Column 2, line 53, "closely contact" should read --close contact;

Column 2, line 64, "stiffness the" should read stiffness of the--;

Column 3, line 15, "having two third of the heat plate 7," should read-of two thirds of the heat plate 7,and the-;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.857.189 Dated December 31. 1974 Inventor-( HAJIME KATAYAMA, ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 16, "increased as" should read --increased-;

Column 3, line 18, "explained, this should read -explained,

and, this--;

Column 3, line 61, "side pressure" should read -side, a

pressure--;

Column 3, line 62, "under" should read --underside of-;

Column 4, line 8, "atmospher" should read --atmosphere-;

Column 4, line 18, "there may be not necessary" should read --and it may not be necessary-;

Column 4, line 19, "provide with a specific heater and" should read provide a specific heater as-;

Column 4, line 24, "Above explanation" should read --The above explanation-;

Column 4, line 24, "related with" should read --related to;

Column 4, line 61, "elevated. And" should read -elevated, and-; Column 4, line 67, "remained" should read remaining--;

Column 5, line 10, "so that" should read -to overcome-;

Column 5, line 13, "vaporize" should read --vaporizing-;

Column 5, line 28, "paper, the" should read -paper, and the-;

Patent No.

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that Column 5, line 35, "provides" should read --is provided;

Column 5, line 37, "cross-section" should read cross-section.---

Column 5, line 39, "the bush 47. should read --of the bush 47.---

Column 5, line 48, "arear" should read -area--;

Column 5, line 4%, "connection. And" should read -connection,

Column 6, line 16, "sending" should read --send.

(SEAL) Attest:

RUTH C. Attesting Officer CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,857,189 December 31, 1974 Dated HAJIME KATAYAMA, ET AL said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 15th day of July 1975.

C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks MASON

Claims

1. A drying-fixing device for a copying material bearing a visualized image thereon after development, comprising a heat plate having a convex surface portion on its upper surface for improving the contacting pressure of the copying material moving on said upper surface of the heat plate, plate heater means disposed on the back side surface of said heat plate, adjustably mounted compressing means engageable with said plate heater means for bringing said plate heater means into uniform and intimate contact with the back side surface of said heat plate, and means for transmitting the copying material from the liquid developing means to tray means through said heat plate.

4. A drying-fixing device according to claim 3, in which said air blowing means comprises flow-through air blowing means and duct means, said air blowing means comprising a flow-through blade wheel, at the centre of one side plate of the wheel a hollow boss projected into the wheel being provided, a cylindrical elastic bush formed with a non-circular cross sectional penetrating aperture being fitted into the aperture of said hollow boss, a non-circular cross sectional rotary shaft of a motor being fitted into said penetrating aperture of the elastic bush, at the centre aperture of the other side plate of the wheel the outer peripheral groove of an elastic ring being fitted, a bearing being fitted into the inner peripheral groove of the elastic ring and a supporting shaft fixed to a mounting plate being supported by said bearing.

6. A drying-fixing device according to claim 5, wherein said one roller has a heater therein.