Pressurized roller
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSrinivas Guddanti, Chet Butikofer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A roller for use in an imaging system includes a variable hardness, fluid-pressurizable roller core, and a roller cover surrounding the roller core. A source of pressurized fluid can be used to pressurize the roller core to a fixed, predetermined pressure prior to installation of the roller core in an imaging system. Alternatively, a variable-pressure source of pressurized air can be used to variably pressurize the roller core during operation of the imaging system.
Claims19
A roller for use in an imaging system, the roller comprising the following:
- a fluid-pressurizable, generally cylindrical roller core;
- a generally cylindrical roller cover surrounding the roller core;
- a source of pressurized fluid adapted for selective fluid communication with the roller core.
A roller for use in an imaging system, the roller comprising the following:
- a variable hardness, fluid-pressurizable roller core;
- and
- a roller cover surrounding the roller core.
A method of determining the effective surface hardness of a roller for use in an imaging system, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a fluid-pressurizable, generally cylindrical roller core;
- providing a generally cylindrical roller cover surrounding the roller core;
- and
- supplying fluid under pressure to pressurize the roller core to a level sufficient to bring the surface flexibility of the roller cover to a desired hardness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.