Electrophotography – Image formation – Fixing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-08-07
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Fixing
C219S216000, C399S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272311
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrophotographic document copiers, and more particularly to an air cooling station having an improved air supply plate for directing air over the paper being transported away from the heated fuser rolls in such copiers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In electrophotographic document copiers, paper receiving the image to be copied is subjected to high temperature in the fusing assemblies which fix the copied image. It is essential that the paper be cooled in the equipment before the paper is ejected from the apparatus.
Typically in the prior art, the paper is transported away from the fusing rolls between a pair of opposed air plenums, through each of which cooling air is blown onto the paper. In such assemblies, the upper cooling plenum must be movable to permit access to the paper path for clearing paper jams. Each plenum is provided with spaced slots through which air is directed toward the paper passing through the cooling station.
This invention has an object to provide an improved air supply plate for the stationary lower plenum to guide the moving paper and to decrease airflow impedance and thus increase the air available to perform the cooling function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cooling station having an improved air supply plate for a plenum used to cool paper in an electrophotographic copier. The plate has upstanding ribs parallel to the paper travel path for guiding the paper and spacing it from the plate. Slots in the plate for directing air onto the paper are spaced across the travel path between the ribs.
In a preferred form of the invention, the ribs are arranged symmetrically about the centerline of the paper travel path, and opposed pairs of ribs are positioned to be slightly less than the width of typical paper sizes so that paper is supported and guided through the cooling station. A gap of about one-half inch between the opposed air plenum plates is provided in the preferred embodiment, and the ribs extend upwardly about one-quarter inch to space the paper from the plate and reduce airflow impedance. Airflow notches are formed in the trailing edge of the lower plenum plate to further reduce airflow impedance.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4959693 (1990-09-01), Mitsuya et al.
patent: 5235393 (1993-08-01), Merle
patent: 5893666 (1999-04-01), Aslam et al.
Baughman Richard C.
Cokeley Jeffrey H.
Grimley Arthur T.
Heidelberg Digital L.L.C.
Leffel Kevin L.
Ngo Hoang
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