Patent · US Active

Process for producing conductive rubber roller, and roller for electrophotographic apparatus

US7520057B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 12, 2006
Grant dateApr 21, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/31931
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A process produces a conductive rubber roller having small aspect ratios of inner and outer diameters, having a stable measure of its inner diameter, having uniform cell distribution and being free from non uniformity of hardness and electrical resistance in the peripheral direction. The process has a step of continuously extruding a tube composed of a specific unvulcanized rubber composition from a rubber extruder in a microwave vulcanizing unit, and a step of foaming and vulcanizing the tube by using a microwave irradiator having a microwave irradiation zone 4 m or less in length while being transported at given speed. The foamed rubber tube has an inner diameter 20 to 35% smaller than the outer diameter of the conductive core material over the whole region in the lengthwise direction, and the conductive core material is press fitted into the foamed rubber tube without using any adhesive.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.