Xerox Corporation

Barry J Collier

Ian Pitts

Joseph F Hale

Alan E Bickerstaff

Peter M Hitchmough

Ghulam Rasul

Duncan I Stevenson

Barry Saggers

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 applying release oil to a fuser roller pair (10a, 10b) ina xerographic copier comprises an elongate trough (41) containing a supply of oil (42) in the base (44) thereof, and a wick (45) for drawing up the oil from the trough and applying it to a metering roller (47). The metering roller applies the oil to a doner roller (48) which in turn transfers the oil to the heated roller (10a) of the fuser roller pair. The amount of oil on the metering roller (47) is checked by a blade (49) and surplus oil removed by the blade is allowed to fall back towards the trough. In order to promote enhanced distribution of oil along the length of the trough a series of ramps (51a, 51b, 51c) is sawtooth configuration is provided in or adjacent a side wall of the trough beneath the blade (49) to receive the oil removed from the metering roller before it is returned to the base (44) of the trough. The base of the trough may slope in the opposite direction to the ramps to establish continuous circulation for the oil.

Toner fuser apparatus

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Henlow, United Kingdom

Barry J Collier