| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090139982 | Power Delivery To Heater Elements - Fuser heater element damage due to excessive heating power is prevented by estimating available power supply heating power for proper power control. The estimate is performed by applying a predefined portion of the heating power available from the power supply to the heater element. The predefined portion is determined so that the heater element will not be damaged even if the power supply is at the maximum voltage level of any power supply that may be encountered. The temperature of the heater element is measured, and, if below a predefined temperature, a heating power estimate is made. If not, the heater element is heated by applying power in accordance with a stored heating power estimate from the last heating power estimate. A heating power estimate is made each time the heating element is heated from a temperature below the predefined temperature. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090142086 | Fuser Assembly Heater Setpoint Control - A fuser assembly and a method of controlling a temperature in a fuser assembly are provided. The fuser assembly comprises a heat transfer member, a heater to heat the heat transfer member, and a backup member. The heat transfer member and the backup member define a fusing nip. A first temperature setpoint corresponding to a first thermal load for the heat transfer member is defined. A second temperature setpoint corresponding to a second thermal load for the heat transfer member is defined. The heater is maintained at or near the first temperature setpoint during at least a substantial portion of the time when the heat transfer member is operating at the first thermal load. The heater is maintained at or near the second temperature setpoint during at least a substantial portion of the time when the heat transfer member is operating at the second thermal load. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090238597 | COLOR BELT FUSER WARM-UP TIME MINIMIZATION - A belt fuser assembly for a color EP printer that quickly warms up the fusing belt before allowing a first sheet of print media to run through the printing stations at the fuser assembly. The warm-up cycle includes: (1) a preheat mode, (2) a first portion of a belt temperature warm-up mode, (3) a second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode, and (4) a tight belt temperature control mode. The preheat mode operates the fuser's heater at less than full power, and prevents the fuser belt from rotating. The first portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating, but not at its full speed. The second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at less than full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating at its full speed. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090245835 | PRINTER INCLUDING A FUSER ASSEMBLY WITH BACKUP MEMBER TEMPERATURE SENSOR - A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path through the printer; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. Based on signals generated by the temperature sensor, the controller determines whether a substrate moving along the substrate path has been contacted by the backup member portion. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090245837 | FUSER ASSEMBLY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates through the printer along a substrate path; a pick mechanism for removing substrates from a storage tray and feeding the substrates to the substrate transport apparatus; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the substrate transport apparatus, the pick mechanism, the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller causes the pick mechanism to remove substrates from the storage tray at a first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature within a first backup member index temperature range and at different pick rate less than the first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature greater than the first backup member index temperature range. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090245838 | FUSER HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A fuser assembly is provided comprising: a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt; a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt; a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller controls the operation of the heater based on the backup member temperature. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090297194 | Method For Processing A Media Sheet In A Media Processing Device - A method for processing a media sheet by advancing the media sheet through a nip in a media processing device is disclosed. The nip is capable of being configured by abuttingly coupling a heater device to a pressure roller. A first heater device temperature of the heater device and a pressure roller temperature of the pressure roller are determined. A signal for configuring the nip is generated upon determining the first heater device temperature and the pressure roller temperature. A second heater device temperature of the heater device is determined on generating the signal. A closure of the nip is verified for advancing the media sheet through the nip based on the first heater device temperature, the second heater device temperature and the pressure roller temperature. The media sheet is advanced through the nip on verifying the nip as closed. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100014881 | Method and Printer Assembly for Consistent Power Control in Fuser Assembly of Electrophotgrahic Printer - A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100124448 | Resistive Heating Hot Roll Fuser - A fuser roll adapted to fuse toner on the surface of a recording medium is disclosed. The fuser roll includes a non-metallic core having an outer surface, and a resistive heating element covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the core. A current transmitter is provided for transmitting a current to said resistive heating element, and an insulation layer is provided for covering at least a portion of said resistive heating element. A toner release layer is provided for covering at least a portion of said insulation layer. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100167065 | Thick Fusing Belt for a Color Electrophotographic Printer - An endless fusing thick belt for an electrographic imaging device having a flexible tubular configuration of predetermined diameter, said endless fusing thick belt comprising; an outside surface toner release layer comprised of a coating and a sleeve; a silicone rubber layer positioned inside said outside surface toner release layer; a rigid material layer positioned inside said silicone rubber layer; and a silicone base layer positioned inside and affixed to the internal surface of said polyimide layer using an adhesive. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100303524 | Belt Fuser for an Electrophotographic Printer - A fuser and method of use for an electrophotographic imaging device that includes a lamp heater assembly; an endless fusing belt having a flexible tubular configuration and being positioned about the lamp heater assembly and spaced outwardly therefrom; a transparent or translucent pressure tube having an elongated tubular body and a pair of opposite ends, the body being substantially transparent to passage of radiant heat therethrough; a pressure tube support assembly having a frame and a pair of bearings mounted on the frame spaced apart from one another and supporting the pressure tube at the opposite ends of the tubular body thereof such that the tubular body of the pressure tube is positioned around the lamp heater assembly and inside the fusing belt and enables radiant heat generated by the lamp heater to pass through the transparent or translucent pressure tube and heat the fusing belt | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100329705 | CONTROL OF OVERHEATING IN AN IMAGE FIXING ASSEMBLY - An image fixing assembly includes a heating unit having a heating element and a fusing member enclosing the heating element; a backup member; and a heat conducting member. The fusing member is configured to rotate around the heating element. Further, the fusing member is capable of being heated by the heating element. The backup member is abuttingly coupled to the fusing member for configuring a nip portion therebetween, and is capable of pressing media sheets against the fusing member, when the media sheets pass through the nip portion. The heat conducting member is capable of retractably coupling to one of the fusing member and the backup member for enabling flow of heat between the one of the fusing member and the backup member, and the heat conducting member, for reducing a thermal gradient. Further disclosed is a method for fixing images on the media sheets using the image fixing assembly. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110097663 | Printer Including a Fuser Assembly with Backup Member Temperature Sensor - A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path through the printer; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. Based on signals generated by the temperature sensor, the controller determines whether a substrate moving along the substrate path has been contacted by the backup member portion. | 04-28-2011 |
