Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-19
2001-10-23
Grimloy, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
C399S107000, C399S117000, C101S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308030
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrostatography and more particularly to a method and apparatus for applying a loading force to a roller used in image transfer.
2. Background of the Invention
In U.S. application Ser. No. 900,696 filed in the name of Tombs et al (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) there is disclosed an electrophotographic reproduction apparatus wherein a series of roller separation image forming stations are arranged so that a receiver sheet may be conveyed from station to station to receive color separation images in transfer so that the images are superposed onto each other to form a composite multicolor image. In the aforesaid application at each color separation station a compliant intermediate transfer drum or roller (ITR) has an electrically conductive core of for example aluminum, a relatively thick (1-20 mm) compliant blanket layer is around the core and a relatively thin (2 micrometers−30 micrometers) hard overcoat layer surrounds the blanket layer. The Young's modulus of the blanket layer is preferably between 0.1 MPa and 10 MPa, and the blanket layer has a bulk volume electrical resistivity preferably between 10
7
-10
11
ohm-cm. The Young's modulus of the overcoat layer is preferably greater than 100 MPa. The ITR forms a nip under pressure with a photoconductive (PC) drum. An electrical bias is impressed upon the ITR of suitable level and polarity to urge a developed toner image on the PC drum to transfer to the surface of the ITR. A receiver sheet is then moved into a second nip between the ITR and a paper transfer roller (PTR) in a timed or registered condition to receive the image in transfer from the ITR. An electrical bias of appropriate level and polarity is provided to the PTR to urge transfer of the toner image to the receiver sheet.
Heretofore, a PC drum and ITR were urged together by controlling the separation of their respective axes and establishing a predetermined interference in their respective radii of which interference is accommodated by the compliancy in the ITR blanket layer. However, this solution is not desirable because accommodation must be made when the machine is not producing prints to separate the PC drum from the ITR to avoid set forming in the ITR.
A further problem arises in attempting to load or unload relatively heavy rollers.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which provides for an improved manner of loading and for unloading a printing roller or drum assembly to or from the printing apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the first aspect of the invention there is provided for use with a printing apparatus having a roller assembly used for printing, a method of loading the roller assembly into the printing apparatus, the method comprising: supporting the roller assembly in a loading tool having a first carriage with top and bottom rows of rollers, the rollers engaging rails on the roller assembly and the first carriage being oriented with a second carriage within the apparatus, the second carriage also having top and bottom rows of rollers; and moving the roller assembly into the machine so that rails of the roller assembly are engaged by the rollers of the carriage in the printing apparatus.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a loading tool for loading a roller used in a printing apparatus, the loading tool comprising: a frame and a carriage supported within the frame, the carriage comprising a set of top and bottom rows of rollers oriented to match an orientation of a similar set of rollers of a carriage in the printing apparatus.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided for use with a printing apparatus having a roller assembly used for printing, a method of loading the roller assembly into the printing apparatus, the method comprising: supporting the roller assembly in a loading tool having a first carriage with roller assembly supporting elements of the first carriage having a predetermined orientation; providing a second carriage within the apparatus having roller assembly supporting elements similar to that of the first carriage, the orientation of the roller assembly supporting elements of the second carriage being adjustable and adjusting the orientation of the second carriage to adjust the elements of the second carriage to that of the elements of the first carriage; and moving the roller assembly into the machine so that the roller assembly is engaged by the supporting elements of the carriage in the printing apparatus.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5060569 (1991-10-01), Gladow
patent: 6075965 (2000-06-01), Tombs et al.
patent: 6115568 (2000-09-01), Sameshima
patent: 6142073 (2000-11-01), Zeman et al.
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/474,352, filed Dec. 29, 1999.
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/575,044, filed May 19, 2000.
U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/575,077, filed May 19, 2000.
Buch Donald C.
Nagy Andreas G.
Taylor Randall J.
Grimloy Arthur T.
Leimbach James D.
Nexpress Solutions LLC
Ngo Hoang
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