The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 13, 2000
Michael David Maul, Lexington, KY (US);
Edward Alan Rush, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
An oil supply roller for an electrophotographic printer fuser allows silicone oil to exude from the oil supply roller onto the surface of the fuser hot roller in a controlled fashion to prevent toner from adhering to the fuser hot roller, and also serves to provide a smooth toner surface. A metering layer disposed on an outer surface of the roller provides an even, controlled flow of oil to the surface of the roller. Further, a buffer layer may be employed to decrease the overall volume of the oil bearing layer to decrease the effects of swelling in that layer. Therefore, a precisely metered supply of oil is provided to the fuser hot roller while reducing complexity and moving parts. A method for fabricating the fuser hot roller by impregnating silicone rubber with a toner repelling substance and disposing the impregnated rubber about a rotatable drive shaft is also provided.