Abstract: The invention concerns variable contour rollers for use in calendering or pressing devices, printing presses and like applications. The rollers include an external element of cylindrical form, for example of cast iron, and in their interior a number of transverse elements which can be made to expand radially by heating. More or less substantial radial expansion provokes directly or indirectly a change in the profile of the exterior generally cylindrical working surface. The interior of the roller may be a shaft carrying heating elements and which is fixed or rotates with the external working surface.

Abstract: Rotatable heating apparatus including a support portion, a shell portion, a heating portion, a power supply portion and a control portion; the support portion including a frame section, the frame section including spaced upstanding sections, the upstanding sections including shaft supports; the shell portion including a substantially cylindrical outer section, a smaller substantially cylindrical inner section disposed within the outer section adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom, substantially parallel first and second end sections adjacent the ends of the cylindrical inner section, first and second annular sections enclosing the spacing between the ends of the inner and outer cylindrical sections, a shaft member disposed along the axis of the shell portion; the heating portion including a plurality of spaced electrical heating elements disposed between the inner and outer cylindrical sections, the heating elements extending from the first annular section to a point adjacent the second annular section, insul

Abstract: The circumferential wall of the godet drum is heated via air which is heated by a heating device within the chamber of the drum. Air circulation through a closed path is aided by means of fan blades which are mounted on an interior face of the drum.

Abstract: A heated fuser roll for use in a fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to a support surface. The fuser roll includes one or more heating units each of which include (i) a wafer shaped heating element formed of a semiconducting ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and exhibiting a Curie temperature transition point at which the resistance of the material increases with increasing temperature and (ii) an electrically conductive member for providing electrical current to the heating elements, the conductive member being in contiguous relation to the heating element; a thermally conductive plate; and a sleeve positioned around the heating unit and the plate. An insulating member is positioned between each of the electrically conductive members and the thermally conductive plates.

Abstract: A heat pipe roller comprising an inner pipe, an outer pipe, and a chamber formed by the inner pipe and the outer pipe, containing a heating medium, wherein the inner pipe and the outer pipe are sealed above one portion of each end of the heat pipe roller.

Abstract: A hollow, rotatable shaft bore heater assembly for heating a shaft from its inside to its outside. Rapid rotatable shaft heating is provided by a plurality of electrical heaters situated in slots formed on the inner surfaces of a plurality of foundation members which are insertable in the hollow shaft and are biased thereagainst by biasing structure. When assembled, the foundation members constitute a substantially cylindrical structure which has the slots formed on its inner surface and the electrical heaters are restrained within those axially extending and circumferentially separated slots by insulation disposed on the inner surface of the foundation members across the slots open mouths. The biasing structure provides biasing force between circumferentially adjacent foundation members so as to maintain contact between the shaft and foundation members during non-rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: Radial projections are formed at opposed ends of a double walled hollow cylinder which form a vapor condensation chamber such that the radially outer wall is heated by means of vapors condensing thereon. Heating elements are mounted at the annular compartments and a steel wool packing is carried within each compartment and extends in a continuous annular manner throughout each compartment to distribute vaporizable liquid by the steel wool packing for effective vaporization as a result of energization of the heating elements.

Abstract: A contact heat fixing apparatus for electrophotographic reproduction machines wherein a heating roll 1 and a pressure roll 2 contact each other while rotating under pressure and an auxiliary heating roll 12 is provided which is engageable with and disengageable from the heating roll 1 and said auxiliary heating roll 12 is heated by means of a heating device 13 to a predetermined temperature and said auxiliary heating roll 12 is contacted under pressure to the heating roll 1 to heat the same when the temperature on the surface of said heating roll 1 falls below a temperature capable of fixing toner.

Abstract: An image fixing roller having a comparatively long service life and tending to resist the so-called "offset phenomenon" in which portions of the toner image on one sheet adhere to the roller and are transferred onto the next sheet bearing a toner image. The roller has a radially outer layer made of silicon rubber impregnated with silicon oil which is non-tacky, heat resistant and resilient and has hardness of 20 to 70, tear strength of 10 to 15 kg/cm and tensile strength of below 70 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the electrical resistance in a moving electrical conductor during its production. The apparatus including means for conducting a current along a predetermined constant length of the thermally cured conductor, means for measuring the voltage across the predetermined length, means for comparing the voltage drop with the desired voltage drop and means for varying the extent of thermal curing of the conductor when the voltage drop measured varies from that desired. There is also provided a tension control device for the conductor in the apparatus.

Abstract: Devices for controlling the heating of fuser roll apparatus are disclosed. In fuser roll apparatus a toner powder image is heated under pressure on a supporting sheet to be fixed thereon. The apparatus comprises a plurality of heaters for heating a fuser roll; and a plurality of surface temperature detecting elements for detecting the surface temperature of the fuser roll, the power to the respective heaters being independently controlled according to detecting signals from the respective surface temperature detecting elements.

Abstract: A contact fuser assembly for use in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus wherein toner images are formed on various types of substrates, for example, plain paper and transparency materials such as cellulose acetate or polyester film. The fuser assembly is characterized by a provision of a plurality of fuser rolls forming a pair of nips through which the substrates pass in order to fuse the toner images thereto. Transport mechanism is provided for conveying the substrates to one or the other of the nips depending upon the particular material of the substrate. The surface of the roll provided for contacting the plain paper comprises a hard metal surface and the roll for contacting the toner images carried by the cellulose acetate, etc. comprises an elastomeric surface.