Patent · US Active

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

US8998786B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
16References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 15, 2013
Grant dateApr 7, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

This invention provides a process for producing 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.