Patent ID: 7171147

Claim:
A roller for use in an electrostatographic machine, said roller comprising: (a) a sleeve-supporting mandrel, having a predetermined diameter substantially constant along an operational length thereof, said sleeve-supporting mandrel supporting a replaceable removable inner sleeve member (ISM) and outer sleeve member (OSM), said OSM covering said ISM, said ISM in non-adhesive gripping contact around said sleeve-supporting mandrel and said OSM in non-adhesive gripping contact around said ISM, said sleeve-supporting mandrel having a first end surface; (b) an inner termination plate (ITP) operationally secured to said sleeve-supporting mandrel, said ITP having a first surface facing said first end surface of said sleeve-supporting mandrel to form a first interface therebetween, said ITP further having a second surface facing in a substantially opposite direction from said first ITP surface; (c) a middle termination plate (MTP) having a first surface connected to said second surface of said ITP forming an interface between said ITP and said MTP, and defining an annular chamber and a plurality of radially-extending grooves, said radially-extending grooves extending from said annular chamber to a perimeter of said MTP, said annular chamber being connectable to a source of pressurized air, whereby a plurality of radially directed air streams are created at said perimeter of said MTP through said plurality of radially-extending grooves when pressurized air is introduced into said annular chamber, said MTP further including a second surface facing in a substantially opposite direction from said MTP first surface; and (d) an outer termination plate (OTP) having a first surface operationally connected to said second surface of said MTP forming a third interface between said MTP and said OTP, and defining a second annular chamber and a plurality of radially-extending grooves, said radially-extending grooves extending from said second annular chamber to a perimeter of said OTP, said second annular chamber being connectable to a source of pressurized air, whereby a plurality of radially directed air streams are created at said perimeter of said OTP through said plurality of radially-extending grooves when pressurized air is introduced into said second annular chamber, said OTP further including a second surface located facing in a substantially opposite direction from said OTP first surface.