Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Yutaka Inasaki

Atsuna Saiki

Hidekazu Amamoto

Masami Kawada

Kiyoyuki Endo

Shouji Yoshikado

A fixing unit for picture image forming equipment including a heating roller and a pressure roller, fixes unfixed picture images formed on paper by applying heat thereto. The fixing unit for a picture image forming equipment includes a pressure roller having a structure consisting of three layers, namely, a silicone sponge layer, a silicone rubber layer, and a relatively hard tubular layer, which are arranged in the stated order outwards from the central part to the outermost shell. The tubular layer is a tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymer layer having a thickness in the range from 30 .mu.m to 70 .mu.m. The silicone sponge layer has a thickness in the range of 50% to 60% of the outside diameter of the pressure roller.

Fixing unit for picture image forming equipment having a three layered

A paper path for guiding and transporting sheets of paper in an image former such as a printer or a photocopier which forms an image on both sides of the sheet of paper. The paper path has three channels: an image forming channel, a paper discharging channel, and a paper reversing channel. At the point where all three channels merge, a paper gate is provided for both guiding sheets of paper and signaling the presence of paper at the point where the three channels merge. The top surface of a paper tray containing unused sheets of paper is part of the paper reversing channel. When paper passes over the top surface of the paper tray, a roller momentarily stops the motion of the paper to prevent skew. A claw connected to the paper tray separates paper with an image formed on one side from paper in the tray. Guides provided over the claw prevent paper jams. A clutch is connected between one of the paper rollers and a driving source, and the clutch selectively disconnects the driving source to stop the motion of the paper to prevent skew. A second claw is provided on one of the paper rollers to ensure that only one sheet of paper enters the roller at a time. The second claw prevents paper jams which occur when two sheets of paper stick together by the force of static electricity.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Yutaka Inasaki