Abstract: A rotary screen printing apparatus for delivering coating fluid from the inside of a print cylinder through patterned openings onto an adjacent advancing substrate, having a print cylinder support frame, a drive mechanism for rotatably driving the print cylinder, a resilient suspension device for supporting the print cylinder at high rotational speeds, an adjacent radiant heater for generating heat energy for absorption by the print cylinder, an enclosure substantially surrounding the print cylinder and confining the radiated heat therein, at least one infrared sensor for sensing heat emitted from the print cylinder, and a control circuit for controlling the radiant heat energy from the heater in response to the sensed emitted radiant energy, about a manually controlled set point.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for feeding a support web between a pair of fusing rollers, at least one of which is heated. Heat conductive skive means is supported in contact with the heated roller for stripping the web material from the roller. Temperature sensitive means in heat-conducting contact with the skive means senses the temperature change of the roller by conduction along the skive means. The temperature sensitive means generates an electrical signal representative of the temperature change, and the signal is coupled to temperature control means operative in response to the generated signal to control the temperature of the heated roller so that the temperature transferred to the web material is maintained within preferred temperature limits.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a roll by induction, in which a variable magnetic flux is directed into an outer surface of the roll from a magnetic shoe device comprising a plurality of cores situated externally of the roll and over substantially the entire axial length thereof. Each core is spaced a discrete distance from the roll surface. The magnetic flux acts to induce eddy currents along the surface of the roll, thus generating heat thereon.

Abstract: The quality of toner fusing in an electrophotographic or xerographic copier or printer is improved by modifying the reference voltage employed, in conjunction with the fuser hot roll temperature sensing, with a factor correlated to the temperature sensed in the environment of the fuser assembly. In a typical embodiment, the environment temperature is used to develop the reference voltage applied for comparison with the signal from a direct hot roll temperature thermistor. Thus, the temperature set point toward which the hot roll is driven varies as a function of the environment temperature for the fuser assembly.

Abstract: A heatable roll has a plurality of annular, preferably electrical, heating elements (13) distributed internally along the length of the roll body (10,11). A slip-ring arrangement (22) rotating with the roll connects the heating elements with a heating current source (20) located outside the roll. A heating output setting device (9) arranged inside the roll is provided for each heating element and is connected to a signal transmitting arrangement (31 to 34). A control signal is formed for each heating element in a control center (21) located outside the roll, and is supplied to a parallel-serial converter (31). This converter forms one serial signal sequence from the plurality of parallel control signals, and this sequence is supplied, for example by means of slip-rings (22a), to a serial-parallel converter (34) located in the roll. This converter converts the serial signal sequence back again into parallel control signals which are supplied to the individual heating output setting devices.

Abstract: A temperature control arrangement for a heat roller, which includes an infrared sensor unit disposed in the vicinity of the heat roller and including a pyroelectric infrared sensor, a chopper mechanism and a reference temperature measuring heat sensitive element, a set temperature signal generation circuit for the heat roller, a comparison circuit for comparing a temperature detection value of the heat roller as detected by the sensor unit with the set temperature signal from the set temperature signal generation circuit, and a control circuit for subjecting a heater element of the heat roller to on/off control based on a comparison signal of the comparison circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for fusing a toner image to a support by means of heat and pressure. The fuser apparatus includes a heated fuser member which contacts toner image carrying supports moved along a path. A sensor is spaced from the fuser member for sensing the temperature thereof and for producing a signal representative of the temperature. Logic and control means connected to the sensor maintains the temperature of the fuser member within predetermined limits and interprets a sudden large drop in the temperature sensed as a jam condition caused by a support deviating from its path of movement and interposing between the fuser member and the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A temperature-sensitive element on a rotatable drum of a copying machine changes a characteristic in response to a temperature on said drum. The characteristic is employed to control a temperature signal. The temperature signal from the drum is connected to stationary portions of the copying machine through sliding contacts. A control circuit responds to the temperature signal to control the energization of a heater to maintain the temperature of the drum at a predetermined value. The temperature signal and the control circuit complement each other to avoid errors caused by changes in resistance in the sliding contacts. In one embodiment, the temperature signal is a controlled current, independent of resistance in series with it, and the control circuit measures the current.

Abstract: A stationary shaft (17) is electrically connected to a roller (18) by a contactor (31) having a first section in the form of a wire loop (32) seated in a groove (32) and a second pointed section (36,37) seated within a conical recess (38) formed in the end face of the shaft and having an apex axially aligned with the axis of the shaft. An intervening section (34) is dimensioned to resiliently bias the pointed section (36,37) into firm engagement with the apex of the conical recess to make good electrical contact with a minimum degree of friction.

Abstract: A calender roll whose shell consists of ferromagnetic material is heated by several groups of electromagnets which are mounted within the shell on a stationary carrier and whose pole shoes are adjacent to the internal surface of the shell. The temperature of the external surface of the shell is monitored at several locations as considered in the axial direction of the roll, and the resulting signals are compared with reference signals denoting the optimum or desired temperatures at such locations. Signals denoting the differences between the actual temperature signals and desired temperature signals are used to regulate the characteristics of electric current which is supplied to the windings of the electromagnets. Each electromagnet of each group can be regulated independently of all other electromagnets. Alternatively, two or more electromagnets of each group or entire groups of electromagnets may be regulated simultaneously. Additional electromagnets are provided to heat the end portions of the shell.

Abstract: In electrostatic recording apparatus of the type in which a toner image is applied to a transfer medium such as paper, the transferred image is fixed as by passing the paper between a heated roller and a pressure roller. The present invention temporarily raises the temperature of the heated roller only during the fixing and copying operation to compensate for the heat loss to the paper and pressure roller. Thus proper fixing of the image is assured with a minimum expenditure of energy.

Abstract: An electronic duplicator machine heats a toner attached to a copying paper and a fixing device fixes the toner to the paper. The fixing device includes a heat generating roller which includes a supporting body having a journal portion on either end surface and rotatably supported by the journal portion; a heat insulating layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the supporting body to prevent the transmission of heat to the supporting body; a resistance heater layer through which a current flows to heat the toner and which covers the outer circumferential surface of the heat insulating layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating thin items in a continuous pass by induction includes an inductor driven in rotation inside a drum made of refractory material. The strip of material to be heated is driven by rollers in order to form a loop around the drum. When the strip is a metallic one, it forms the inductive element of the device. The inductor generates constant strength magnetic fields which are moved in relation to the inductive element, to thereby heat it.

Abstract: A fixing device in which a toner image support member is pressure-held between and conveyed by a pair of rollers at least one of which is heated to a temperature at which the toner image may be fixed on the support member, characterized in that the end of at least one of the rollers which tends to be higher in temperature is cooled or the opposite end of said at least one roller is supplied with heat, whereby the thermally expanded state of said at least one roller and the thermally expanded state of the other roller are maintained in such a condition that the toner image support member is not laterally displaced from a predetermined conveyance path.

Abstract: A heat roller type fixing apparatus having a heat roller accommodating a heating element and adapted for fixing a toner image to a copying paper, a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat roller surface and a control circuit adapted to cooperate with the temperature sensing element in controlling the heat roller surface temperature. The heat roller and the heating element are so arranged, in the temperature rising period from the start of the power supply to the heating element till the heat roller surface is heated up to a set temperature, that the highest roller surface temperature is observed at portions of the heat roller between the center and both axial ends of the roller, and that the temperature sensing element is disposed on or in the close proximity of one of the portions of the highest roller surface temperature.

Abstract: A welding device for welding together at least two superimposed foils of thermoplastic synthetic material includes an electrically heated temperature-controlled sealing roller and a counterpressure organ cooperating with roller to form a heated zone in which the foils are tightly welded while pressure is applied thereto. The sealing roller comprises a circular disk-like PTC (positive temperature coefficient) resistor which serves as the heating element and the temperature control, with the PTC resistor having a resistance characteristic which rises steeply in the range of the operating temperature of the sealing roller. The PTC resistor serving as the heating element comprises the effective part of the sealing roller which acts directly on the foils to be welded and has axially opposite electrically conductive end faces each provide with a disk-like metallic contact surface rotatable with the resistor and in electrical contact with the axial end faces.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuser and pressure roll system for fixing xerographic toner particles to a carrier medium such as paper has an axially located cartridge heater element integrally coupled to a plurality of low thermal mass, high thermal conductivity fins for efficiently transferring heat by direct thermal conduction to and supporting the roll surface. The cartridge heater and fuser roll structure are thermally isolated from the shaft mechanism supporting the fuser roll itself. Quick and efficient heating of the roll surface is afforded, radiative transfer of heat being avoided. Further, there is afforded diminished heat loss through undesired heat conduction into the shaft and associated parts of the copier.

Abstract: A heater roll in which a resistor-type heater mounted in the roll is controlled by use of a temperature sensing element also located in the roll. Electrical power, particularly AC power, is provided through slip rings and the set point for the temperature control is determined by a signal from a current source applied through the slip rings. The set point transmitter is designed to provide a constant current signal to the temperature regulator, irrespective of resistance variations which may be introduced by changes in the slip ring characteristics. As such, the temperature regulator maintains a predetermined temperature in the rotating roll, irrespective of slip-ring resistance variations.

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: The present invention relates to logically controlled unique temperature systems, and it more particularly relates to methods and apparatus for establishing and controlling thermal systems wherein sensing means may anticipate temperature conditions at other points, such as at the work or loads and wherein the controlled heating means are related to the thermal capacity of the system. This arrangement is particularly compatible with unique logical control wherein the temperature signal(s) is converted to a digital pulse train for logical analysis, in turn capable of controlling the heating means by discrete energy bursts. Also, the computer or logical means are capable of sounding an alarm in the event of abnormal conditions or conditions deviating from predetermined patterns.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the surface temperature of a fusing roller of the type having a heat-insulative, release surface over a thermally conductive core, by (1) internally heating the core, (2) sensing the temperature of the core rather than of the external release surface, (3) providing different temperature control settings for the core sensor and (4) selectively switching the internal heating means into operative relation with a predetermined control setting in anticipation of changes in heat loss from the external surface. The core of the fusing roll is thereby controlled toward the different temperature control settings, one at the "copy run" condition, another at the "idle" condition, and in some instances the same control setting is used for the "copy run" and the "idle" condition.

Abstract: A cartridge heater and multiple thermocouple assembly comprising an elongate outer heavy walled structurally supportive metal sheath, an elongate thin walled, yieldable, orienting metal tube extending through the sheath and defining an annulus, a plurality of axially aligned pairs of thermocouple cables and spacer rods fixed to the tube in circumferential spaced parallel relationship and extending through the annulus in interfering engagement with the sheath, a resistance element extending through the tube, conductor terminals for the element accessible at one end of the tube and a filler of particulate dielectric material compacted in the tube about the element and in the annulus between the sheath, tube and adjacent pairs of cables and rods, said cables being of different lengths and having outer ends with conductors accessible at an end of the annulus and having inner ends with thermocouple junctions located at spaced points longitudinally of the sheath.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting trouble in a sliding contact mechanism comprising a fixed contact portion and a movable contact portion, said fixed portion being connected to an electric power source.A radio-frequency signal is generated when insufficient electrical connection is caused in the sliding contact mechanism by, for example, depositing dusts thereon, said signal being delivered to a suitable alarm device to indicate the troublesome state.

Abstract: A roll for fixing a toner image formed on a support sheet in electrophotography comprising a plurality of layers made of a resilient material and arranged around a core disposed about the center axis of the roll. The resilient material layer disposed nearer to the core is electrically conductive and serves to make the roll function as a heating roll. It has a higher hardness than the resilient material layers remote from the core.

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: Contact fuser apparatus comprising a temperature sensing device including a thermally conductive cap member which is constructed in a manner to insure proper positioning of the temperature sensing device relative to the heated member of said contact fuser apparatus.

Abstract: A heating roller apparatus with precise temperature measurement is disclosed which has a rotatable roller member comprising a cylindrical wall defining a room in the inside thereof and an annular groove therein, a heat source means, such as electrically excited induction coils, for heating the cylindrical wall, and a temperature sensor stationarily positioned in the annular groove of the cylindrical wall for measuring a temperature of the cylindrical wall of the roller member. The annular groove has an opening on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall, and two adjacent circumferentially extending wall faces which penetrate into the cylindrical wall in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotating axis of the rotatable roller member. The annular groove is located at a part of the cylindrical wall adjacent to the end face of the roller member so that the outer surface of the remaining part of the cylindrical wall operates as a heat treating working surface.

Abstract: A thermostatic regulating device for the surface of a heating cylinder of a cooking appliance consisting essentially of a stretched metal wire applied along a spiral path with a wide helix angle to the surface of the cylinder, the variations in the length of the wire due to heat-induced expansion or contraction acting after amplification on a microswitch incorporated in the heating circuit for said cylinder.

Abstract: A heat pipe is provided with an internally positioned heat source.

Abstract: In an electrostatic reproducing machine an improved fusing apparatus is provided for fusing xerographic images onto copy sheets. The fusing apparatus comprises various actuable means including a pressure roller, a fuser roller, means for engaging and disengaging the pressure roller against the fuser roller, means for cooling end portions of the pressure roller, means for lubricating the fuser roller, and control means for actuating the various actuable means in a timed order and sequence to effect the fusing operation.