Xerox Corporation

Alan E Bickerstaff

Ian Pitts

Barry J Collier

Joseph F Hale

Peter M Hitchmough

Ghulam Rasul

Duncan I Stevenson

Michael G Ladell

Barry Saggers

David M Neale

Austin H Cotton

Kevin J Smyth

Mark A Stewart

An apparatus for applying release oil to a fuser roller pair in a xerographic copier comprises an elongated trough containing a supply of oil in the base thereof, and wick for drawing up the oil from the trough and applying it to a metering roller. The metering roller applies the oil to a donor roller which, in turn, transfers the oil to the heated roller of the fuser roller pair. An upper guide device is provided on the exit side of the fuser by ribs formed integrally on the underside of the trough. The trough and guide ribs may thus have a compact configuration that is suited to inexpensive manufacture, e.g. by molding, as a one piece item. A lower guide member is fixed to the fuser assembly. Also, stripper fingers are mounted integrally on the trough adjacent the upper guides, the fingers being provided with slots through which the ribs extends.

Toner fusing apparatus

A liquid dispensing apparatus especially suitable for use in dispensing release oil in the fusing apparatus of a xerographic copier comprises a storage reservoir (101), a dispensing container (41) and an overflow tank (52). The storage reservoir (101) is arranged to deliver liquid to the dispensing container (41) on the application of heat, generated for example by operation of a fusing apparatus, to the storage reservoir. The dispensing container (41) includes an outlet through which liquid overflows into the overflow tank (52) when the liquid in the dispensing container reaches a predetermined level (53). Cooling of the liquid in the storage reservoir causes liquid to be drawn from the overflow tank back into the storage reservoir.

Apparatus for dispensing release oil in an image fuser

Apparatus for supplying a liquid to a heated surface includes a distribution gallery arranged to supply the liquid to the surface. The liquid is supplied from the gallery through a series of spaced orifices each of which opens into an individual drop-forming chamber above the surface, the dimensions of each orifice and drop-forming chamber being such that some liquid always remains in each of said orifices over the range of temperatures from ambient to that of the heated surface. A pump delivers the liquid to the distribution gallery, which is situated above, and spaced from, a wick in contact with the surface.

Apparatus for supplying a liquid to a heated surface

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London, United Kingdom

Alan E Bickerstaff