CHILLED FINISH ROLLER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090239172A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Ciaschi, Arun Chowdry, Dinesh Tyagi, Eric C. Stelter, James H. Hurst, Muhammed Aslam, Robert D. Bobo
• Original Assignee: Andrew Ciaschi, Arun Chowdry, Dinesh Tyagi, Eric C. Stelter, James H. Hurst, Muhammed Aslam, Robert D. Bobo
• Inventors: Ciaschi, Andrew, Chowdry, Arun, Bobo, Robert D., Hurst, James H., Stelter, Eric C., Aslam, Muhammed, Tyagi, Dinesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/111.400
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/20 for fixing, e.g. by using heat
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2007 using radiant heat, e.g. infrared lamps, microwave heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2021 Plurality of separate fixing and/or cooling areas or units, two step fixing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2098 using light, e.g. UV photohardening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6573 Feeding path after the fixing point and up to the discharge tray or the finisher, e.g. special treatment of copy material to compensate for effects from the fixing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00805 Gloss adding or lowering device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0081 Gloss level being selectable
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0821 characterised by physical parameters magnetic parameters G03G9/083
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08782 Waxes
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08795 characterised by their chemical properties, e.g. acidity, molecular weight, sensitivity to reactants
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08797 characterised by their physical properties, e.g. viscosity, solubility, melting temperature, softening temperature, glass transition temperature

Abstract

An apparatus for fixing of toner onto a receiver, including: a non-contact fuser capable of fusing one or more layers of toner on a receiver such that one or more toner layers reach a fusing temperature above a glass transition temperature. The apparatus also includes one or more cooling finish rollers located downstream from the non-contact fuser to lower the toner temperature.

Claims

1. A toner composition suitable for non-contact heating comprising:

a) a polymer binder of a number average molecular weight between 1000 and 20,000, and

b) crystalline rheology modifier capable of lowering the melt viscosity of the said polymer binder with a melting temperature in the range of 60 to 120 C.

2. Rheology modifier in claim 1, having a melting point in the range of 60 to 120 C.

3. Rheology modifier in claim 1, which is capable of lowering the melt viscosity as it is incorporated in the said binder.

4. Toner in claim 1, having the half-width of the melting transition less than 10 C.

5. Toner in claim 1 which has a melt viscosity in the range of 200 to 20,000 poise or more preferably between 400 and 2000 poise.