Sumitomo Electric Industries, Limited

Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Hiroo Katsuya

Chiaki Kato

Takao Ogino

Itsuro Kato

Tsutomu Kato

Satsuki Kawauchi

Sigelu Omori

Yoshiharu Fujii

An improved release agent applicator for use with a copying machine having a fixing device for pressure fusing a toner image to copy paper as the paper is passing between a fixing roll and a pressure roll. The fixing roll has in contact therewith a porous sheet or tube of poly(ethylene tetrafluoride) resin through which the release agent is applied to the fixing roll. The porous sheet or tube is installed on a support in such a manner that part of the sheet or tube projects from an opening of the support. The sheet or tube is provided with a backup which prevents the deformation of the sheet or tube. The backup is provided behind the sheet or tube and extends in the direction of rotation of the fixing roll.

Release agent applicator for copying machine

A release agent applicator for a copying machine in which voids in the release agent contained in the applicator are substantially eliminated, thus providing an improved spreading performance of the release agent onto a fixing roll of the copying machine. The release agent applicator is made of a porous polyethylene tetrafluoride tube, the pores of which are partially closed except in areas where the release agent is to ooze out onto the fixing roll. Those partially closed pores in the tube are partially closed by a flattening operation so that they cannot draw release agent thereinto by capillary action.

Method of producing a release agent applicator

A release agent applicator for use with a copying machine providing even application of the release agent to a fixing roll of a plain paper copying machine with little leakage of the release agent. A porous polyethylene tetrafluoride resin tube is accommodated in a divided-type support composed of two members which, when joined together, form a longitudinally extending opening having a width smaller than the maximum width of a cavity formed inside the support. The major portion of the outer surface of the porous resin tube is in contact with abutting walls of the cavity to be sealed thereby, and the remaining portion of the tube surface extends outwardly through the support opening to provide a release agent outlet. Both the porous tube and the support may be provided with air inlets having the diameter greater than the diameters of the pores in the porous tube to introduce air into the interior of the porous tube. Further, the porous tube may be initially covered with a film of a polymer having a low melting point. When the applicator is used for the first time, the normal heating of the fixing roll melts the polymer and readies the tube for use.

Release agent applicator for use with copying machine

An improved release agent applicator for use with a copying machine in which a porous polyethylene tetrafluoride resin tube is installed in a support with the part of the tube which forms an outlet for the release agent contained in the tube projecting from an opening in the support. The outer surface of the porous tube is covered with a film of a polymer having a low melting point, such as polyethylene. When the applicator is installed, the normal heating of the fixing roll causes the polymer film to melt, opening the applicator for use. Accordingly, leakage from the applicator prior to use is prevented.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Hiroo Katsuya