| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090110450 | Fuser Belt Assembly - A fuser belt assembly of a xerographic marking device is provided with an endless fuser belt having an inner side and an outer side, a pressure pad movable between a cammed-in position in which the pressure pad contacts an inner side of the fuser belt to press an outer side of the fuser belt against a fuser roll to form a fusing nip, and a cammed-out position in which the pressure pad does not press the fuser belt against the fuser roll. The pressure pad includes two or more embedded pressure sensors for sensing a load of the pressure pad in the cammed-in position, and one or more preload adjustment screws for adjusting the load on the pressure pad based on the sensed pressure pad loads. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090238594 | FUSER WITH GLOSS FEEDBACK CONTROL - A method of controlling gloss in a printing system having a fuser is provided. The method comprises: creating a gloss look-up table for temperature settings; using the look-up table for temperature settings to determine a desired gloss range; measuring an actual gloss range on a substrate continuously with an in-line gloss meter; determining whether the actual gloss range is within the desired gloss range; and where the actual gloss range is outside the desired gloss range, adjusting temperature settings of the fuser. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090257773 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON SUPPORT SHEETS - Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on support sheets, electrophotographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on support sheets are disclosed. The fuser assembly includes a fuser belt; a thermally-insulated enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the fuser belt; a conveyor for conveying the support sheet to a nip at which the fuser belt contacts the support sheet and the toner is fused onto the support sheet; a pre-heater; and a heat transfer system for transferring heat from inside of the enclosure to the pre-heater, the pre-heater using the heat to pre-heat the support sheet before the support sheet is conveyed to the nip. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090269108 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, XEROGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON COPY SHEETS - Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on copy sheets, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on copy sheets in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a continuous fuser belt including an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; at least a first roll and a second roll which support the fuser belt, at least one of the first roll and second roll being adapted to heat the fuser belt; a heater including an outer heating surface facing the inner surface of the fuser belt; and a mechanism operatively connected to the heater for moving the heater to bring the heating surface into contact with the inner surface of the fuser belt. The heater is operable to supply heat from the heating surface to the inner surface to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt adjacent the inner surface heated by the heating surface. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090324272 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, XEROGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on media, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt; a first roll supporting the fuser belt, the first roll including a first heating element and a second heating element extending axially along the first roll and along a width of the fuser belt, the first heating element being longer than the second heating element; and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, the second roll including a third heating element and a fourth heating element extending axially along the second roll and along the width of the fuser belt, the third heating element being longer than the fourth heating element. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090324273 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, XEROGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, at least a first roll and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, and a radiant heater facing the inner surface of the fuser belt. The radiant heater is adapted to emit radiant heat onto the inner surface of the fuser belt to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt opposite the inner surface heated by the radiant heater. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100098448 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS HAVING FUSER TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Disclosed are a method of forming images on media in an electrophotographic apparatus, and corresponding electrophotographic apparatus. The method includes measuring a temperature of the media with a sensor after the toner particles have been fused to the media, and controlling a temperature of the heater device with a controller based on the measured temperature of the media, wherein the temperature is controlled to obtain a desired gloss level for subsequent media to be fused. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100104308 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUSER AND PRESSURE ASSEMBLY TEMPERATURE CONTROL - An apparatus ( | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100111579 | FUSERS, PRINTING APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods of fusing toner on media are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the fusers includes a pressure roll; a fuser belt; a nip formed by the fuser belt contacting the pressure roll, the nip including an inlet end where the medium enters the nip, an outlet end where the medium exits the nip, and a nip width defined between the inlet end and the outlet end; a mechanism for moving the pressure roll toward or away from the fuser belt to adjust the nip width; and a stripping member for stripping the medium from the fuser belt after the medium exits from the outlet end of the nip. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100176117 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF MEDIA IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods for controlling the temperature of media in apparatuses useful for printing are disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatuses includes a heated first roll including a first outer surface; a heated second roll including a second outer surface; a third roll including a third outer surface; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the third outer surface; a belt supported on the first roll and the second roll and disposed between the first outer surface and the third outer surface, the belt including an inner surface and an outer surface; a nip between the third outer surface and the outer surface of the belt at which the belt heats media which include a surface, marking material on the surface and an interface between the surface and marking material; and a positioning device coupled to the second roll. The positioning device is operable to move the second roll relative to the outer surface of the belt to change a wrap length of the belt on the second outer surface, based on the temperature of the third outer surface, to maintain a substantially constant temperature at the interface between the surface and marking material. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100178071 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING A TEMPERATURE OF A SURFACE IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of controlling a temperature of a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses includes a first roll including a first outer surface and at least one first heating element for heating the first outer surface; a second roll including a second outer surface; a nip between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; a first temperature sensor for sensing a pre-nip temperature at a pre-nip location; and a first voltage modulator connected to each first heating element and the first temperature sensor. The first voltage modulator receives a temperature signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of the pre-nip temperature and modulates an AC voltage supplied to each first heating element to maintain each first heating element continuously ON at a power level ranging from partial power to full power to control the pre-nip temperature. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100178085 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing comprises a first roll; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip; and a stripping member located internal to the belt. The stripping member includes at least a first stripping surface and a second stripping surface having a smaller curvature than the first stripping surface. The stripping member is rotatable to selectively position one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface in contact with the inner surface of the belt. The one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface facilitates stripping of a medium fed to the nip from the outer surface of the belt. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100196064 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods for stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are disclosed. An apparatus useful for printing comprising a first member including a first outer surface; a second member including a second outer surface; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface; a first nip formed by contact between the inner surface of the belt and the second outer surface and contact between the outer surface of the belt and the first outer surface; and a stripping mechanism comprising a stripping member disposed internal to the belt. The stripping member is positionable relative to the first nip to vary a pressure applied by the outer surface of the belt against the first outer surface downstream from the first nip. The media are stripped from the outer surface of the belt after exiting from the first nip. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100201061 | UNIVERSAL MODULE FOR ENABLING MEASUREMENTS ON COLOR PRINTERS - A measurement module for a printer generally includes a page diverter mechanism configured to selectively divert a sheet of media from a main media path to a module media path; a rotating drum configured to receive the media from the module media path and to affix the media on an outer surface of the drum; a measuring device spaced adjacent to the drum and configured to measure as aspect of the media affixed to the surface of the drum; and a sheet transport configured to remove the media from the drum. According to one embodiment, the module may include a drum with an electrostatic hold-down mechanism that captures a sheet and an axially translating measuring device that is configured to read the entire surface as the drum rotates. The measurement module also allows the printed media to cool to eliminate problems with color measurements due to thermo chromaticity. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100237559 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of cleaning debris from a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first roll, a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip, a stripping member located between the inner surface of the belt and the first roll for facilitating stripping of media from the outer surface of the belt after the media is fed through the nip with the belt moving in a first direction, wherein debris builds up on the inner surface of the belt adjacent to the stripping member during stripping of the media, and a cleaning device for cleaning the debris from the inner surface of the belt upon movement of the belt in a second direction opposite to the first direction. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100239350 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first roll, a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip, and a stripping member located internal to the belt. The stripping member includes a first needle bearing, wherein the first needle bearing contacts with the inner surface of the belt to facilitate stripping of media fed to the nip from the outer surface of the belt. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100329716 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of are provided. The apparatus includes a user interface for operating the printing apparatus, a fuser for fusing media, the fuser having a plurality of temperature settings, a gloss meter for measuring gloss of an image fused on the media, and a controller controlling the printing apparatus, wherein the controller: a) causes fusing of a plurality of media of a first type at a nominal fusing temperature, and then measuring a temperature of the pressure roll as a steady state pressure roll temperature, b) causes media of the first type to be input to the fuser to fuse an image onto the media, the fuser having a first fusing temperature, c) causes the gloss meter to measure a gloss level of the image fused on the media, and sending the measured gloss level with the first type of media to the controller, d) causes steps b) and c) to be repeated at various fusing temperatures different from the first fusing temperature, and saving the measured gloss levels with corresponding fuser temperatures, e) in response to a user indication of a desired gloss level received over the user interface, sets a temperature of the pressure roll to the steady state pressure roll temperature, and f) fuses media utilizing one of the measured fusing temperatures corresponding to the desired gloss level. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100330494 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL ON MEDIA - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of treating marking material on media are disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatuses includes a roll including a first outer surface; a continuous belt including an inner surface and a second outer surface forming a nip by contact with the first outer surface, the belt being driven by rotation of the roll; and a heater disposed inside of the belt. The heater includes a circumferentially-extending heating surface contacting the inner surface of the belt over an angle of at least about 90°. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110026985 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING, FIXING DEVICES AND METHODS OF STRIPPING MEDIA FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110052235 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a belt including a first surface; at least one heat source for heating the first surface; a roll including a second surface; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the second surface; and a roll positioning device coupled to the roll for positioning the second surface of the roll in contact with the first surface of the belt to form a nip and increase the temperature of the second surface, and for positioning the second surface out of contact with the first surface to decrease the temperature of the second surface, in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110079354 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING, FIXING DEVICES AND METHODS OF STRIPPING SUBSTRATES FROM SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife. The nozzles are oriented to eject the gas toward the first surface downstream from the outlet end of the nip to facilitate stripping of the substrate from the first surface. The air knife has a configuration and is positioned proximate to the nip such that the substrate does not contact the air knife after exiting the outlet end of the nip when the nozzle gas ejection is ON or OFF. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110094440 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING, FIXING DEVICES AND METHODS OF PREHEATING SUBSTRATES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of preheating substrates in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a substrate cooler disposed downstream from the nip to receive a first substrate exiting the nip, the substrate cooler removing heat from the first substrate by conduction; a substrate pre-heater disposed upstream from the nip; and a first heat transfer system for transferring heat from the substrate cooler to the substrate pre-heater. The substrate pre-heater applies the heat to conductively pre-heat a second substrate before the second substrate enters the nip. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110135350 | A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MEDIA FROM A SURFACE IN AN APPARATUS USEFUL IN PRINTING - An apparatus and method for stripping media from a surface and useful in printing may include a first member, a fixing belt, a first nip, a second nip, and a stripping device including a curved stripping edge contacting the inner surface of the fixing belt, the stripping edge being defined by a radius of less than about 10 mm, the stripping edge being spaced from the first outlet end of the first nip by a distance of less than about 10 mm, and the fixing belt bending at a stripping angle of about 20° to about 30° at the stripping edge, the stripping device being adjustably movable by a mechanism to vary the distance from the stripping edge to the first outlet end of the first nip, wherein media are stripped from an outer surface of the fixing belt after exiting from the first outlet end of the first nip. | 06-09-2011 |
