Circular-shaped metal structure, method of fabricating the same, and apparatus for fabricating the same

Abstract

A method of fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure includes the steps of (a) rotating a pipe around an axis thereof, the pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal, (b) moving a jig towards the pipe in a direction perpendicular to the axis until the jig makes contact with an outer surface of the pipe, and compressing the jig onto the pipe, (c) moving the jig in a direction in parallel with the axis with the jig being compressed onto the pipe while the pipe is kept rotated, (d) measuring a thickness of a wall of the pipe during the step (c), and (e) adjusting a pressure with which the jig is compressed onto the pipe, in accordance with the thickness measured in the step (d).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness with a tolerance equal to or smaller than ±2.5 micrometers.  
     
     
         2 . The circular-shaped metal structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic working is spinning working.  
     
     
         3 . A circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness smaller than 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The circular-shaped metal structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic working is spinning working.  
     
     
         5 . A circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having opposite opening ends wherein an outer diameter of said opening ends has a tolerance equal to or smaller than 0.05%.  
     
     
         6 . The circular-shaped metal structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic working is spinning working.  
     
     
         7 . A method of fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) rotating a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) moving a jig towards said pipe in a direction perpendicular to said axis until said jig makes contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compressing said jig onto said pipe;    (c) moving said jig in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jig being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated;    (d) measuring a thickness of a wall of said pipe during said step (c); and    (e) adjusting a pressure with which said jig is compressed onto said pipe, in accordance with said thickness measured in said step (d).    
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         9 . A method of fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) rotating a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) moving a plurality of jigs towards said pipe in different directions from one another in a plane perpendicular to said axis until said jigs make contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compressing said jigs onto said pipe; and    (c) moving said jigs in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jigs being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated.    
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said jigs are arranged around said pipe such that each of said jigs is equally spaced away from adjacent ones in a circumference angle.  
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the number of said jigs is three.  
     
     
         13 . A method of fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising the steps of 
 (a) rotating a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) moving a jig towards said pipe in a direction perpendicular to said axis until said jig makes contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compressing said jig onto said pipe;    (c) moving said jig in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jig being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated; and    (d) controlling a rate at which said jig is moved in said step (c).    
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising: 
 (a) a pipe rotator which rotates a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) a jig;    (c) a first device which moves said jig towards said pipe in a direction perpendicular to said axis until said jig makes contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compresses said jig onto said pipe;    (d) a second device which moves said jig in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jig being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated;    (e) a third device which measures a thickness of a wall of said pipe; and    (f) a fourth device which adjusts a pressure with which said jig is compressed onto said pipe, in accordance with said thickness measured by said third device.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said jig has an acute-angled top.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said jig is comprised of a roller.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising: 
 (a) a pipe rotator which rotates a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) a plurality of jigs;    (c) a first device which moves said plurality of jigs towards said pipe in different directions from one another in a plane perpendicular to said axis until said jigs make contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compresses said jigs onto said pipe;    (d) a second device which moves said jigs in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jigs being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said jigs are arranged around said pipe such that each of said jigs is equally spaced away from adjacent ones in a circumference angle.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the number of said jigs is three.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said jig has an acute-angled top.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said jig is comprised of a roller.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for fabricating a circular-shaped metal structure, comprising: 
 (a) a pipe rotator which rotates a pipe around an axis thereof, said pipe being composed of a plastic-workable metal;    (b) a jig;    (c) a first device which moves said jig towards said pipe in a direction perpendicular to said axis until said jig makes contact with an outer surface of said pipe, and compresses said jig onto said pipe;    (d) a second device which moves said jig in a direction in parallel with said axis with said jig being compressed onto said pipe while said pipe is kept rotated; and    (e) a third device which controls a rate at which said jig is moved by said second device.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said plastic-workable metal is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rolled nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum, molybdenum, hastelloy, permalloy, marageing steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, pure iron and steel.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said jig has an acute-angled top.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said jig is comprised of a roller.  
     
     
         29 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness with a tolerance equal to or smaller than ±2.5 micrometers.  
     
     
         30 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness smaller than 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         31 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having opposite opening ends wherein an outer diameter of said opening ends has a tolerance equal to or smaller than 0.05%.  
     
     
         32 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 7 .  
     
     
         33 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 9 .  
     
     
         34 . A photosensitive drum to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said photosensitive drum being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 13 .  
     
     
         35 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness with a tolerance equal to or smaller than ±2.5 micrometers.  
     
     
         36 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness smaller than 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         37 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having opposite opening ends wherein an outer diameter of said opening ends has a tolerance equal to or smaller than 0.05%.  
     
     
         38 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 7 .  
     
     
         39 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 9 .  
     
     
         40 . A fixing belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer, said fixing belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 13 .  
     
     
         41 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness with a tolerance equal to or smaller than ±2.5 micrometers.  
   
     
     
         42 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having a thickness smaller than 0.03 mm.  
   
     
     
         43 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated by plastic working and having opposite opening ends wherein an outer diameter of said opening ends has a tolerance equal to or smaller than 0.05%.  
   
     
     
         44 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 7 .  
   
     
     
         45 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 9 .  
   
     
     
         46 . A roller assembly comprising: 
 (a) at least two rollers arranged such that axes of said rollers are directed in parallel to each other; and    (b) a belt wound around said rollers, 
 said belt being comprised of a circular-shaped metal structure fabricated in accordance with the method defined in  claim 13.