Abstract: An oil supply device for supplying oil to a roll of an image reproduction machine, which includes an oil reservoir formed of an open-cell melamine foam; and a layer of oil permeation control material extending over the reservoir for controlling supply of oil from the reservoir to the roll. The oil permeation control material being formed of porous PTFE produced by fusing particles of grannular PTFE such as to form a porous integral network of interconnected particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusing toner images to a substrate. A Release Agent Management (RAM) system for applying silicone oil to a metering roll utilizes a pair of metering blades to improve oil uniformity on the metering roll. Thus, streaks or localized areas of excess silicone oil as the result of blade defects and/or dirt accumulation associated with a first blade, ARE metered or smoothed to a more uniform thickness by the second blade. To this end, the first metering blade serves to meter silicone oil to a first predetermined thickness while the second blade serves to meter oil streaks to a second predetermined thickness which is greater than the first predetermined thickness.

Abstract: An improved method for making a release agent delivery device for delivery of release agent to a roller is disclosed for use in laser printers, plain paper copiers, facsimile machines, and similar printing apparatus. The delivery apparatus comprises an absorbent textile core filled with release agent, a permeable membrane surrounding the textile core to form a sheathed wick member, and a mounting sleeve adapted to attach the sheathed wick member in operative contact with the printer. The apparatus has numerous operational advantages over existing oil delivery apparatus, including providing multiple contact surfaces for longer operational life before replacement, ease in cleaning and regeneration, improved durability and reduced wear, and more compact and versatile operation.

Abstract: An articulatable wick assembly for applying offset-preventing liquid to a surface in a fuser includes support plates for each end. Each support plate has a bent cam tab and a spring engagement arm. Compression springs between each spring engagement arm and a base urge the wick into engagement with the surface to which liquid is to be applied. A cam engages the cam tab to rotate the wick away from the surface against the urging of the spring. Each support plate is mounted to a pivot bar for pivotal movement of the wick assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of preventing the curling of a substrate having toner images electrostatically adhered thereto which substrate has been subjected to heat for the purpose of fixing the toner images to the substrate. Simultaneous constraint of the copy substrate and the application of moisture thereto is effected by passing the substrate through the nip formed by two pressure engaged rollers, one of which is utilized for applying the water to the back side of the substrate as the substrate passes through the aftermentioned nip.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rotary member for fixing having an elastic layer; an off-set preventive layer as the rotary member surface layer; and an intermediate layer having silicone varnish provided between the elastic layer and the off-set preventive layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing device for use in image recording apparatuses, wherein the toner-adhering face of a sheet (100) onto which toner has been transferred is heated by a heating roller (30) to fix the toner. A pressure roller (20), pressing itself against the heating roller, assists in the heat-fixing process. In order to compensate for the curl resulting from the heat of the heating roller (30), a curl correcting roller (40) heats the back side of the sheet (100) with heat transmitted from the heat conducting part (31) of the heating roller (30) to another heat conducting part (41). This configuration dispenses with a built-in heat source which the curl correcting roller (40) would otherwise need.

Abstract: Release agent material which is solid at room temperature is provided in a sump for application to a heated fuser roll structure. A pressure roll structure contacts the solid release agent material and a source of heat energy serves to elevate the solid release agent material to its operating temperature which is well below the operating temperature of the heated fuser roll.A metering blade contacting the pressure roll structure causes the liquefied release agent material to be metered to the desired thickness.

Abstract: Control circuit is arranged to move a mold releasing agent coating roller in contact with end toward and away from a fixing roller in a timing a sheet passing through a pair of fixing rollers is detected whether it is a film or not. In the case when the sheet is a film, the mold releasing agent coating roller is brought in contact with the fixing roller in the timing the leading end of the mold releasing agent reaches a nip section of the fixing roller after the leading end of the sheet has run into the nip section, while it is moved away from the fixing roller when the rear end of the sheet leaves the fixing roller simultaneously with the timing the rear end of the mold releasing agent passes through the nip section.

Abstract: A silicone composition is formed as a system including: a silicone compound, reactive group-containing modified silicic acid powder of which surface has been modified with an alkylsilane, a hexamethyldisilazane, a dimethylsilicone oil, or a mixture thereof, and an unsaturated group-containing silane compound; and inorganic fine powder carrying a surfactant. The silicone compound is preferably an addition reaction-type silicone rubber prepared from a dimethyl polysiloxane having a vinyl group, a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane and a platinum-based catalyst. The silicone composition is heat-cured to provide an elastic revolution body which is suitably used to constitute one or both of a fixing roller and a mating pressure roller in a roller fixing device for electrophotography.

Abstract: A customer replaceable (CRU) metering cartridge for use in a release agent management (RAM) system. The CRU represents a self-contained supply of silicone oil including a sump charged with a predetermined quantity of silicone oil. The cartridge is a sealed unit which prevents escape of silicone oil therefrom.

Abstract: An addition reaction-type dimethylsilicone composition, including a diorganopolysiloxane containing a reactive vinyl group; an organopolysiloxane containing an active hydrogen atom; and silicic acid fine powder of which surface has been treated with a fluoroalkylsilane, an alkylsilane compound, a fluorosilicone oil, a dimethylsilicone oil, or a mixture thereof, and a silane compound containing an unsaturated group having a reactivity to the organopolysiloxane containing an active hydrogen atom.

Abstract: An end sealed metering apparatus includes a cylindrical metering roll mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis, a blade aligned with the longitudinal axis and contacting the metering roll, an elastomeric seal supported against an end of the metering roll, a rigid plate coupled with the elastomeric seal for holding the elastomeric seal stationary while the metering roll rotates, and a spring for urging the rigid plate and elastomeric seal against the end of the metering roll.

Abstract: A method of molten metal plating, comprising the steps of: bringing a travelling steel strip into contact with a revolving roll; applying a molten metal on the roll through a nozzle disposed near the roll; and transferring the applied molten metal from the roll to the steel strip by the revolution of the roll. An apparatus for molten metal plating, comprising: a coating roll capable of being brought into contact with a travelling steel strip; a nozzle disposed near said roll for applying a molten metal on said roll; and means for supplying a molten metal to said nozzle.

Abstract: An fuser apparatus for minimizing heat transfer between an end of a fuser roll and a fuser bearing includes a generally cylindrical fuser collar positioned between one end of the fuser roll and one of the fuser bearings and having an outer surface contacting the fuser bearing and an inner surface contacting the fuser roll. A plurality of protrusions are formed on either the inner surface or outer surface of the collar to reduce the heat transfer between the fuser roll and fuser bearing. Grooves supporting O-rings may also be formed in the collar or in an end of the fuser roll for allowing the fuser roll to move axially relative to the collar.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having an image forming device for forming a non-fixed image on a recording sheet, a fixing rotary member for fixing the non-fixed image to the recording sheet, a containing portion for containing the recording sheet to which the image was fixed by the fixing rotary member, a re-feeding device for re-feeding the recording sheet contained in the containing portion to the image forming device, and a coating device for coating a parting liquid to the fixing rotary member.

Abstract: A device for forming a flexographic printing plate is disclosed. A preformed, imagewise irradiated sheet of film is heat treated by the device of the present invention to remove unwanted portions of a top layer, leaving radiation hardened relief images on the plate. The device has a heating means for supplying heat to said film, a first delivery means for delivering a sheet of absorbent material to a surface of the film, a second delivery means for supplying film to the heating means, pressure means for causing liquified material to be absorbed onto an absorbent material, and a separation means for separating the absorbent material from the film.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image receiving sheet transport system in which a photosensitive sheet and an image receiving sheet are pressed together to form an image on the image receiving sheet which is then transported to a glosser unit at a slower speed than the transporting speed of the image receiving sheet by a pressure developing device and the glosser unit, the image receiving sheet being temporarily buckled between the pressure developing device and the transport device, and then being taken up by the glosser unit. The image receiving sheet is smoothly pulled by a one-way clutch in the direction in which it is stretched.

Abstract: An electrostatographic toner fusing member having a support and a layer containing a crosslinked polyfluorophosphazene elastomer with thermally conductive filler particles. This fusing member is used in a device for fusing electrostatographic toner materials to a substrate which device employs both heat and pressure The fusing member exhibits an excellent combination of properties, including resistance to swelling by release liquids, resistance to thermal degradation and thermal conductivity that is superior to prior art fusing members employing crosslinked fluoroelastomers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a thermal fixing apparatus having a heat generating member and heat-fixing an image on paper, a section for discriminating a using frequency of the image forming apparatus, and a section for controlling a fixing temperature having a first temperature control mode maintaining the temperature of the thermal fixing apparatus to be a first temperature at which the image can be fixed, a second temperature control mode maintaining the temperature of the thermal fixing apparatus to be a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature by a predetermined temperature, and a third temperature control mode stopping current supply to a heat generating member of the thermal fixing apparatus.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system incorporated in an electrophotograpic printing machine having a heat and pressure fuser assembly to aid in the removal of fused copies from the fuser roll. The fuser assembly includes a heated fuser roll, a pressure roll, a sump containing a quantity of release agent, a pair of metering rolls and a donor roll. Each of the metering rolls is immersed in a quantity of release agent and is able to selectively be brought into contact with the donor roll. The donor roll acts as the transport to transfer release agent from either or both of the metering rolls to the heated fuser roll. The dual roll metering system provides a RAM system which can uniformly provide two or more oiling rates varying with the process speed of the printing machine. It also provides a RAM system which can switch oiling rates without creating oil slugs which ultimately reach the fuser thereby degrading copy quality.

Abstract: A method of using multilayered member for fusing thermoplastic resin toner images to a substrate in a fuser system of the type wherein a polymeric release agent having functional groups is applied to the surface of the fuser member. The multilayered fuser member has in sequential order a base support member, an adhesive layer comprising a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene and at least 20% by weight of the adhesive layer of a coupling agent comprising at least one organo functional silane and an activator, a tie coat layer of active ingredients comprising a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene and an outer elastomeric fusing surface comprising a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene and containing a metal oxide present in an amount sufficient to interact with a polymeric release agent having functional groups to provide an interfacial barrier layer between said fusing surface and toner.

Abstract: An image fixing rotatable member includes an elastic layer into which filler material is mixed, the elastic layer having a surface provided with pores with a porosity of 3-50%, and a resin layer applied and sintered on the elastic layer.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system including a metering roll supported for contact with release agent material contained in a sump. A donor roll is provided for applying oil deposited thereon by the metering roll.A metering blade structure for metering silicone oil onto the metering roll has two modes of operation. In one mode, a wiping action of a metering blade meters a relatively large quantity of silicone oil to the roll surface for accommodating the fusing of color toner images. In another mode of operation, a doctoring action is effected for metering a relatively small amount of silicone oil to the roll surface for accommodating the fusing of black toner images.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system including a metering roll supported for contact with release agent material contained in a sump. A donor roll is provided for applying oil deposited on its surface by the metering roll. Prior to fusing taking place, the donor roll is supported in pressure engagement with the fuser roll and out of contact with the metering roll. During fusing the donor roll is cammed into engagement with the metering roll.

Abstract: A toner image is fixed to a receiving sheet by positioning the image between the receiving sheet and a hard surface of a web or sheet. Pressure is applied between the surfaces to fix the toner image to the receiving sheet with the toner image above its glass transition temperature. While the surfaces are still in contact, a heat sink member is brought into contact with one of the sheets or web to remove heat from the toner image and reduce the temperature of the toner image below its glass transition temperature allowing the receiving sheet to be separated from the hard surface without offset.

Abstract: A fusing roller is replaceable in an image-forming apparatus in a fusing roller catridge. The cartridge includes the fusing roller mounted for rotation in a housing, oil-applying device, heating lamp, temperature sensors and an access opening. A pressure roller in the receiving apparatus frictionally engages the fusing roller to drive it during operation. The oil-applying device in the cartridge is accessible from outside the cartridge for adjustment between a condition applying oil and a condition not applying oil. Oil is supplied from a source in the receiving apparatus. A connector on the cartridge mates with a check valve on the receiving apparatus in response to insertion of the cartridge.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is provided with a front roller and a rear roller which rotate in the same rotational sense and opposite to direction of rotation of a parallel cylinder to be coated with fluid material which hardens to a resilient coating thereon. A reservoir of fluid material is provided above a nip between the front and rear rollers, so that the front roller carries a layer of fluid material on a surface thereof to a nip formed between the front roller and the cylinder to be coated, thereby continuously building up thickness of the coating upon the cylinder. Heating elements and temperature sensors in a hood around the cylinder maintain an optimum coating temperature.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system including a metering roll supported for contact with release agent material contained in a sump. Release agent material in the form of relatively low viscosity silicone oil is pumped into the sump via an inlet hose attached at one end of the sump. An outlet hose is attached to the sump at its other end. By attaching the inlet and outlet hoses at the ends of the sump, maximum clearance for the paper and a cost effective RAM is provided. Oil height variation due to sump tipping, end-to-end, is minimized by structure internal to the sump which simulates a central inlet/outlet.

Abstract: A press cam is driven when fixing rollers are rotated for a warm-up operation at the time the power is applied simultaneously with the timing a recording material is fed to a fixing roller whereby an oil coating roller is controlled to be brought in contact with and moved away from the fixing rollers. Oil is coated on the fixing rollers for only a predetermined period of time during the fixing rollers are rotated at the warm-up operation which correspond to the time until the recording material reaches the fixing rollers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device where a copying medium carrying a non-fixed toner image thereon is passed between a pair of fixing rolls as being kept in direct contact with each other under pressure so as to fix the non-fixed toner image on the copying medium, the device being characterized in that a toner release at least containing, as an active ingredient, a functional group-containing organopolysiloxane of a general formula (I): ##STR1## the organopolysiloxane having a viscosity of from 10 to 100,000 cs at 25.degree. C., is supplied to at least the fixing roll of being brought into contact with the non-fixed toner image of the said pair of fixing rolls. Using the toner release, the copying medium releasability from the fixing roll to which the toner release is applied is good and the heat-resistance of the fixing roll is also good.

Abstract: Release Agent Management (RAM) system for a heat and pressure fuser. The open pool of oil associated with prior art RAM systems is replaced with an oil saturated wick the lower end of which is immersed in oil. The oil is held in a container with a sealed lid that has a slot through which the wick passes allowing the wick to transport oil from the container to a metering roll outside of the container. A depression in the container lid that cradles the wick under the metering roll allows oil to collect in the portion of the wick laying on the container lid. The shape of the depression prevents oil from flowing back into the container through the slot and from flowing to some lower part of the container lid. The wick is compressed approximately 50% between the metering roll and container lid. A removable seal is provided which is attached to the lid such that the RAM can be shipped without oil spillage.

Abstract: A system for applying one or more coats to the top and/or bottom of strips of backing and for manufacturing strip without any strips of backing. The system is has a water-cooled belt (17), at least one separate coater (9, 22, 23, and 35) for the upper and lower surfaces, separate sprinklers (12 and 25) for sprinkling the coated upper and lower surfaces of the strips of backing, featuring suction devices (13 and 26) for suctioning up any dust from the water-cooled belt and at least one additional coater (42) and water-cooled roller (67) is provided for coating strips of backing or for manufacturing a strip without the strips of backing.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a supporting substrate having an outer layer of a cured fluoroelastomer and having a thin surface layer of a polyorganosiloxane having been grafted to the surface of said cured fluoroelastomer in the presence of a dehydrofluorination agent for the fluoroelastomer and from a polyorganosiloxane having reactive functionality and the formula: ##STR1## where R is an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group having less than 19 carbon atoms or an aryl group substituted with an alkyl or alkenyl group having less than 19 carbon atoms, the functional group A is hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, epoxy, vinyl, acrylic or mercapto, and n is 2 to 350.

Abstract: A fixing device applicable to image forming equipment and cable of controlling the amount of silicone oil to be applied to a heat roller. Silicone oil is applied to the heat roller via applicator felt, a second application roller and a first application roller. An upper and a lower scraper blade contact the surface of the second application roller to regulate the silicone oil on the second application roller to a predetermined small amount. While one of the scraper blades so regulates the amount of silicone oil on the second application roller, the other scrapes offset toner particles, paper dust and other impurities off the application roller.

Abstract: A web drying apparatus is provided for a textile machine of the type which is operable to apply a coating or otherwise to wet a web of textile material which is continuously traveled therethrough. The web drying apparatus includes at least a pair of groups of cylindrical drying rollers with each group of rollers being disposed on a respective side of a reference plane. The reference plane is inclined upwardly relative to a nip formed by a pair of squeezing rollers of the wetting device which applies the coating or otherwise wets the textile material. In one embodiment, the drying rollers of one group are disposed in a horizontal plane and the drying rollers of the other group are disposed in a vertical plane. The web drying apparatus additionally includes a device for separating a wet textile web into multiple separate webs.

Abstract: There are provided an organic polymer composition having an antistatic property, and a molding product and a fixing device using the same. The organic polymer composition comprises at least an organic polymer and porous inorganic fine powder carrying a liquid antistatic agent dispersed in the organic polymer; the porous inorganic fine powder having an oil absorption of 100 ml/100 g or larger before it carries the liquid antistatic agent.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotating member for grasping and conveying a recording material supporting an unfixed image, and a coating means for coating release oil on the fixing rotating member.The rotating member includes an elastic layer and an offset prevention layer provided on the elastic layer.An oil absorption rate of the elastic layer for the oil is 5-20 wt %, and an oil absorption rate of the offset prevention layer for the oil is 30-150 wt %.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixing apparatus where a toner image is formed on a transfer medium by passing the transfer medium between a heat roller and a press roller, each of the rollers rotating while in pressure contact with each other. An oil application roller is disposed in pressure contact with and is driven by the heat roller. The oil application roller has a layer of heat-resistant fibers on its circumferential surface. An oil-impregnated member is pressed against the oil application roller through a pressure contact surface formed of a non-woven cloth for transferring oil having a dynamic viscosity of .nu.2 in the range of 1,000 cst to 10,000 cst, to the oil application roller. The oil application roller is continuously supplied with oil from the oil-impregnated fiber member and the cloth and supplies oil having a dynamic viscosity of .nu.1, to the circumferential surface of the heat roller during rotation. The ratio of dynamic viscosities of the oils being in the range of .nu.2:.nu.1=1:3 to 30.

Abstract: A device for fusing and fixing electrophotographic toner powder to a receiver sheet and a method for using the same. The device comprises a first fusing member, such as a fusing roll, having a resilient surface for pressure contact with thermoplastic toner on the receiver sheet. A second member, which can be a non-resilient pressure roll, presses the toner into contact with the resilient surface. The device also is designed to heat the toner. The fusing member has a layer of an elastomeric, amorphous silarylene-siloxane alternating or random copolymer which is thermally stable, has good wear resistance, and good thermal conductivity and exhibits little or no swelling when contacted with poly(dimethylsiloxane) release oils.

Abstract: A process for producing a smooth and glossy surface on a paper web and a calender arrangement for carrying out the process are disclosed. The calender arrangement comprises two sets of rolls through which the paper web is conducted in succession. Each set of rolls comprises a highly heated hard roll and a soft roll. A cooling device arranged upstream of at least one of the nips formed between the roll sets restricts the amount of heat transfer to the inner layers of the paper web and the attendant, undesirable partial plasticization of the inner layers of the web.

Abstract: A fuser and pressure roller type fusing apparatus for fusing toner images onto a suitable receiver in an electrostatographic copier or printer includes a passive release oil application cartridge for positively supplying and applying release oil to the surface of the fuser roller therein. The cartridge includes a release oil reservoir, a release oil application roll which contacts and is driven by the rotation of the fuser roller, and an oil feeding and pumping assembly for delivering oil from the reservoir to the application roll.

Abstract: A hot roll glosser and method for the transparentising of resin-coated microencapsulated media includes a pair of heated pressing rolls, in which the roll which comes into contact with a resin surface is formed with an ultra-smooth silicone surface of low furface energy, and the glossing temperature of the rolls at the pressing nip is maintained below the glass transition temperature of the resin. Take-off rolls are disclosed for maintaining a tension in the web material exiting the nip to maintain a negative exit angle with respect to the silicone roll and to prevent adhesion and sticking to the roll.

Abstract: There are provided an organic polymer composition having an antistatic property, and a molding product and a fixing device using the same. The organic polymer composition comprises at least an organic polymer and porous inorganic fine powder carrying a liquid antistatic agent dispersed in the organic polymer; the porous inorganic fine powder having an oil absorption of 100 ml/100 g or larger before it carries the liquid antistatic agent.

Abstract: A roll coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid having a high viscosity at a normal temperature, to a surface of a substrate, including a device for feeding the substrate, a coating roll rotatably provided in contact with the fed substrate, and a doctor for regulating the coating liquid adhering to the coating roll to a prescribed amount. Respective axial lines of the coating roll and the doctor are inclined with a prescribed angle with respect to the horizontal plane and a coating liquid supply device is provided at the highest position thereof. The coating liquid supplied at the highest end of the coating roll adheres to the surface of the coating roll. The quantity thereof is controlled by the doctor. The coating liquid flows downward on the surface of the coating roll due to its weight and rotation of the coating roll. Accordingly, the coating liquid on the surface of the coating roll is constantly renewed and no irregularities occur to the density of the liquid.

Abstract: A laser printer with a thermal fixing unit comprises: a pair of heat and pressure rolls for pressing a sheet with a developed toner image therebetween to fix the toner image on the sheet; a web immersable with an oil; an oil coater for supplying the oil to the web and pressing the web against the heat roll at at least one point to make the web contact with the heat roll so that the oil is applied from the oil coater onto the surface of the heat roll through the web to thereby prevent occurrence of offset of the toner image; and at least one pressing member provided separately from the oil coater for locally urging the web against the heat roll, the pressing member being located on at least one of before and behind the oil coater.

Abstract: A release liquid applying device of the known rotating wick type engages and is rolled by a fusing roller as it applies liquid to the roller. When resin based stock is used, a brake prevents rotation of the wick by the roller. This reduces the oil applied and reduces a tendency the rolling wick has to leave a pattern of locally excessive liquid in the oil on the roller.

Abstract: A roller fixing device, for example, a pressure roller fuser includes a roller to which a release agent is to be applied by a wick. To correct a tendency of certain wicks to apply the release liquid in a pattern including spots of locally excessive liquid, the wick is disengaged from the roller sufficiently prior to the fixing operation to permit the liquid to spread eliminating the spots of locally excessive liquid. Preferably, the roller completes at least one revolution in contact with another roller after disengagement and prior to the beginning of fixing. To assist that spread, a sheet of more absorbent material, for example paper, is fed through the fixing operation during this period. This mode of operation is used for specific receiver sheets and toner conditions, for example, those encountered in making color transparencies. A more conventional wicking mode is used for other reproductions on paper and black toner transparencies.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the continuous and controlled application of liquor on an absorptive, compressible material web such as textile webs, warp yarn layers or vleeces. One or more liquors are applied in amounts being comprised between the values of water retention capacity and saturation. The liquor containing web is passed through an equalizing device wherein the web is drawn through an equalizing nip or slit whose thickness is adjustable and smaller than the thickness of the incoming, liquor containing material web. The equalizing may be effected in the nip of two rollers. The liquor concentration in the web before and after the equalizing is statistically the same.

Abstract: A heat-fixing apparatus comprising a heating roll to be brought into contact with a toner image borne on a sheet member, a pressure roll in pressed contact with the heating roll to provide a nip portion therebetween, each of the heating roll and the pressure roll being constituted by a cylindrical core coated with a heat-resistant, resilient layer and a resin surface layer having release properties, the heating roll and the pressure roll having such surface hardness as to make the nip portion substantially flat and also having substantially the same outer diameter, and the contact pressure of the rolls being such that the nip portion has a width within the range of providing good fixing capability. This heat-fixing apparatus can perform toner image fixing even on sheet members of a plurality of plies such as envelopes without creasing.