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US 5,436,711 AGranted
Multilevel fusing apparatus
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorOscar G. Hauser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for fusing toner to a surface of a sheet which includes tandem sets of heated and pressure rollers. A screw drive, solenoid or other means is used to urge the roller sets to make uniformly distributed contact on the sheet passing between the heated and pressure rollers. Each set of rollers may be selectively employed so as to vary temperature, dwell time, pressure and other performance parameters at the fusing nips of the sets of heated and pressure rollers. The path of a sheet moving through the fuser need not be altered to employ the varied fusing performance combinations, also reducing the likelihood of sheet jamming and misfeed. Fuser oil applicators may also be employed so as to apply oil to each heated roller as it engages the sheet.
Claims31
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the .plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said first and second heated rollers being substantially non-translatable relative to the sheet path and said first and second pressure rollers being translatable relative to the sheet path;
- and
- a fuser oil well, wherein translation of said first pressure roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said first heated roller from said fuser oil well and wherein translation of said second pressure roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said second heated roller from said fuser oil well.
4 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said first and second heated rollers being translatable relative to the sheet path and said first and second pressure rollers being substantially non-translatable relative to the sheet path;
- and
- a fuser oil well, wherein translation of said first heated roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said first heated roller from said fuser oil well and wherein translation of said second heated roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said second heated roller from said fuser oil well.
4 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, whereby when said translating member moves said first pressure roller toward said first heated roller, said second pressure roller moves away from said second heated roller and whereby when said translating member moves said first pressure roller away from said first heated roller, said second pressure roller moves toward said second heated roller.
2 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the .plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, whereby when said translating member moves said first heated roller toward said first pressure roller, said second heated roller moves away from said second pressure roller and whereby when said translating member moves said first heated roller away from said first pressure roller, said second heated roller moves toward said second pressure roller.
2 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said translating member comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a motor, a solenoid, a spring, a screw, a thumbwheel, a cam and a lever, whereby said translating member is adapted to vary a sheet contact pressure on said sheet moving through said first and second nips.
2 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, wherein said translating member comprises opposingly mounted first and second fixed brackets and opposingly connected first and second sliding plates each horizontally movable relative to each fixed bracket, said first and second pressure rollers mounted, respectively, on first and second axles, said first and second sliding plates each having opposing first non-vertical slots for engaging each end of the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second non-vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, said first and second fixed brackets each having opposing first and second substantially vertical slots for engaging the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second substantially vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, whereby selective movement of said first and second sliding plates translates said pressure rollers relative to said sheet path.
2 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, wherein said translating member comprises opposingly mounted first and second fixed brackets and opposingly connected first and second sliding plates each horizontally movable relative to each fixed bracket, said first and second pressure rollers mounted, respectively, on first and second axles, said first and second sliding plates each having opposing first non-vertical slots for engaging each end of the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second non-vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, said first and second fixed brackets each having opposing first and second substantially vertical slots for engaging the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second substantially vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, whereby selective movement of said first and second sliding plates translates said heated rollers relative to said sheet path.
2 more elements
An apparatus for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip;
- and
- an oil applicator for applying fuser oil to said heated rollers independent of movement of said heated rollers and said pressure rollers.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet, passing along a sheet path, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said first and second heated rollers being substantially non-translatable relative to the sheet path and said first and second pressure rollers being translatable relative to the sheet path;
- and
- a fuser oil well, wherein translation of said first pressure roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said first heated roller from said fuser oil well and wherein translation of said second pressure roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said second heated roller from said fuser oil well.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet passing along a sheet path, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said first and second heated rollers being translatable relative to the sheet path and said first and second pressure rollers being substantially non-translatable relative to the sheet path;
- and
- a fuser oil well, wherein translation of said first heated roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said first heated roller from said fuser oil well and wherein translation of said second heated roller into said sheet path provides a substantially uniformly distributed supply of fuser oil to said second heated roller from said fuser oil well.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip in a sheet path through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, whereby when said translating member moves said first pressure roller toward said first heated roller, said second pressure roller moves away from said second heated roller and whereby when said translating member moves said first pressure roller away from said first heated roller, said second pressure roller moves toward said second heated roller.
2 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, whereby when said translating member moves said first heated roller toward said first pressure roller, said second heated roller moves away from said second pressure roller and whereby when said translating member moves said first heated roller away from said first pressure roller, said second heated roller moves toward said second pressure roller.
2 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, said translating member comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a motor, a solenoid, a spring, a screw, a thumbwheel, a cam and a lever, whereby said translating member is adapted to vary a sheet contact pressure on said sheet moving through said first and second nips.
2 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, wherein said translating member comprises opposingly mounted first and second fixed brackets and opposingly connected first and second sliding plates each horizontally movable relative to each fixed bracket, said first and second pressure rollers mounted, respectively, on first and second axles, said first and second sliding plates each having opposing first non-vertical slots for engaging each end of the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second non-vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, said first and second fixed brackets each having opposing first and second substantially vertical slots for engaging the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second substantially vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, whereby selective movement of said first and second sliding plates translates said pressure rollers relative to said sheet path.
2 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine for fusing a single toner image or a plurality of toner images on a sheet passing along a sheet path, comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being in the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip, wherein said translating member comprises opposingly mounted first and second fixed brackets and opposingly connected first and second sliding plates each horizontally movable relative to each fixed bracket, said first and second pressure rollers mounted, respectively, on first and second axles, said first and second sliding plates each having opposing first non-vertical slots for engaging each end of the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second non-vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, said first and second fixed brackets each having opposing first and second substantially vertical slots for engaging the first axle of said first pressure roller and opposing second substantially vertical slots for engaging the second axle of said second pressure roller, whereby selective movement of said first and second sliding plates translates said heated rollers relative to said sheet path.
2 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip in a sheet path through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip;
- and
- an oil applicator for applying fuser oil to said heated rollers independent of movement of said heated rollers and said pressure rollers.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet passing along a sheet path, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip in a sheet path through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip;
- and
- a user interface for operating said translating member and said heated and pressure rollers in fixing said toner to said sheet.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip in a sheet .path through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip;
- and
- an input scanner for detecting the colors in an original document so as to operate said translating member and said heated and pressure rollers in fixing said toner to said sheet.
4 more elements
An electrophotographic printing machine having a fuser for fixing toner to a sheet, said fuser comprising:
- a first heated roller;
- a first pressure roller;
- a second heated roller;
- a second pressure roller;
- a translating member, responsive to the single toner image being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define a first nip in a sheet path through which the sheet having the single toner image thereon passes with said second heated roller and said second pressure roller being spaced apart from one another, said translating member, responsive to the plurality of toner images being on the sheet, positioning said first heated roller and said first pressure roller to define the first nip and said second heated roller and said second pressure roller to define a second nip with the sheet having the plurality of toner images thereon passing through the first nip and the second nip;
- and
- a sensor for detecting a set of characteristics of the sheet so as to operate said translating member and said heated and pressure rollers in fixing said toner to said sheet.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.