Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090285608 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC FUSER WEB MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT IN AN IMAGE PRODUCTION UNIT - A method and apparatus that automatically advances fuser web material in an image production unit is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to advance fuser web material, retrieving stored fuser web material position information, automatically advancing the fuser web material a predetermined amount to expose unused fuser web material, and storing updated fuser web material position information. | 11-19-2009 |
20100178086 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETACHING MEDIA FROM A FUSER IN A PRINTER - An apparatus ( | 07-15-2010 |
20100221046 | 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 includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a gas source; a rotary valve including a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, a gas outlet and a rotor including a gas passage; a gas knife in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the rotary valve, the gas knife being adapted to emit gas onto the second surface downstream from the nip; and a motor coupled to the rotor. The motor is operable to rotate the rotor to selectively position the rotary valve in at least a first open position in which the gas passage is in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet, gas is supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife which emits the gas having a first pressure onto the second surface, and a closed position in which the gas passage is not in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet and gas is not supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife. | 09-02-2010 |
20110211879 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING ONTO MEDIA AND METHODS OF MITIGATING MEDIA EDGE WEAR EFFECTS ON FIXING BELTS IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of mitigating media edge wear effects on fixing belts in printing are provided. An exemplary apparatus useful for printing onto media includes a first roll including a first surface; a second roll including a second surface; a fixing member including a third surface; a fixing belt supported on the first surface and second surface, the fixing belt including a surface forming a nip with the fixing member; a registration distribution system for translating the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt, as a unit, transversely with respect to a media travel path of media received at the nip; and a belt steering mechanism connected to the second roll for translating the fixing belt across the first surface of the first roll at the nip, transversely to the media travel path, while the registration distribution system translates the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt transversely to the media travel path. | 09-01-2011 |
20120200030 | ALTERNATING GROOVED BELTLESS VACUUM TRANSPORT ROLL - A sheet transportation apparatus includes at least one beltless vacuum transport (BVT) that has a plurality of adjacent rollers. Each of the rollers comprises a rounded external surface and an axis about which the external surface rotates. The external surfaces of the rollers are spaced from each other by gaps referred to as “inter-roller spaces.” A fan is positioned on a first side of the rollers. The fan draws air through the inter-roller spaces to create a vacuum force on a second side of the rollers. The vacuum force maintains the sheets of media in contact with the second side of the rollers. The external surface of each of the rollers comprises a plurality of first regions having a first diameter and a plurality of second regions having a second diameter different than the first diameter. The first regions and the second regions of the external surface are adjacent one another and alternate along the length of the external surface of each of the rollers. | 08-09-2012 |
20120219339 | MAXIMIZE PRINTER COMPONENT LIFE USING INCOMING MEDIA AND IMAGE DATA - A method and structure of automatically selecting replacement components for a printing machine automatically maintains media type statistics on media types used for printing in the printing machine for a period of time, and automatically recommends a replacement for a worn component with one of a plurality of interchangeable different-type replacement components based on the media type statistics. The interchangeable different-type replacement components have different performance characteristics for each of the media types, and the interchangeable different-type replacement components perform the same function as said worn component within the printing machine. | 08-30-2012 |
20120321359 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE BELT ROLL FUSING STRIPPING LATITUDE BY STRIP SHOE POSITION ADJUSTMENT - According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided apparatus and methods of improving the self-stripping capabilities of a printing system employing a belt roll fuser structure. An exemplary embodiment apparatus comprises a pressure roll; a fuser belt; a nip formed by the fuser belt contacting the pressure roll, the nip including an inlet end where a medium enters the nip, an outlet end where the medium exits the nip, and a first nip width defined between the inlet end and the outlet end; and a striping shoe coupled to a controller that uses a lookup table to incrementally move the stripping shoe to some defined optimum position to compensate for at least one of belt degradation, media weight, and media coating to gain stripping latitude. | 12-20-2012 |
20130084426 | SURFACE COATING AND FUSER MEMBER - The present teachings disclose a coating that includes a inner layer having a first modulus and a first roughness; and a surface layer having a second modulus. The first modulus is greater than the second modulus. When the coating is subjected to a nip pressure the surface of the coating exhibits a surface roughness approximately equal to the first roughness. | 04-04-2013 |
20130094885 | MULTI-CHAMBERED AIR KNIFE FOR IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An air knife for separating media from a roll in an image forming system includes a body; a first air plenum; a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum; a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage; a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the body through the first air exit; a second air plenum separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum; a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum; a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage; and a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the body. | 04-18-2013 |
20130223858 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MITIGATING FUSER ROLL EDGE WEAR USING VARIABLE END-POINT REGISTRATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CONTROL - Methods include moving a fuser assembly with respect to a medium at a fusing nip. The fuser assembly may be moved back and forth, axially in a media cross process direction for registration distribution. The system may be configured to move the fuser assembly different distances based on a deduction of a current location of a fuser member in view of a known driving motor speed, and a time elapsed after a change in signal state. Systems may incorporate one or two sensors, and may be configured for axial movement over a distance of 2 mm or a distance of 55 mm. signature. | 08-29-2013 |
20130279922 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AVOIDING FUSER JAMS IN AN IMAGE PRODUCTION DEVICE - A method and apparatus for avoiding fuser jams in an image production device may include determining an entrance velocity of media entering a fuser nip during a print job, the fuser nip being the area of a fuser formed by a fuser roll meeting a pressure roll, determining an exit velocity of media exiting the fuser nip, determining a difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity, determining if the difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if the difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold, retracting the pressure roll away from the fuser roll for a predetermined time period, determining if the predetermined time period has expired, wherein if the predetermined time period has expired, reposition the pressure roll to meet the fuser roll to reform the fuser nip, and resuming printing the print job. | 10-24-2013 |
20130336673 | METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR A PRINT JOB TYPE DEPENDENT RELEASE AGENT APPLICATION - An approach is provided for applying a release agent to a substrate having at least a first surface and a second surface. The approach involves determining a print job type for applying one or more printed images to the substrate to be one of a simplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to one of the first surface and the second surface and a duplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to the first surface and the second surface. The approach also involves processing the determined print job type to cause, at least in part, a determination of a release agent application instruction that corresponds with the determined print job type. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an amount of the release agent to be applied to the substrate based on the release agent application instruction. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336687 | METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR REDUCING RELEASE AGENT TRANSFER TO A PRESSURE MEMBER IN A FUSER - An approach is provided for reducing release agent transfer to a pressure member in a fuser. The approach involves causing, at least in part, at least a first sheeted substrate and a second sheeted substrate to be advanced through a fuser in a process direction. The approach also involves determining the presence of the first sheeted substrate at a fusing position. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a fuser member and a pressure member to engage to form a fusing nip at the fusing position based, at least in part, on the determined presence of the first sheeted substrate at the fusing position. The approach additionally involves determining the first sheeted substrate has advanced through the fusing nip. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, the fuser member and the pressure member to disengage. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336689 | METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR REUSING A CLEANING WEB TO CLEAN A FUSER UNIT - An approach is provided for reusing a cleaning web to clean portions of a fuser unit. The approach involves causing a cleaning web supply mechanism to feed a cleaning web having a first surface and a second surface to the portions of the fuser unit. The approach also involves causing a cleaning web receiving mechanism to receive the cleaning web following a cleaning process in which the first surface of the cleaning web is used to clean at least one of the portions of the fuser unit. The approach further involves causing the cleaning web receiving mechanism to return the cleaning web to the portions of the fuser unit to clean at least one of the portions of the fuser unit using the second surface of the cleaning web. | 12-19-2013 |
20130343773 | METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY LOADING A CLEANING WEB IN A FUSER UNIT BASED ON MEDIA ATTRIBUTES - An approach is provided for selectively loading a cleaning web useful in printing based on various media attributes of a media that is to be processed by a fuser unit. The approach involves determining one or more media attributes associated with a media to be processed by a fuser unit, the fuser unit comprising one or more heat rolls. The approach also involves determining at least one of the one or more media attributes meets a predetermined criteria. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a cleaning web to contact at least one of the one or more heat rolls based, at least in part, on the determination that one or more media attributes meets the predetermined criteria. | 12-26-2013 |
20140016974 | FUSER SYSTEM - The present teachings provide a fuser system for use in a xerographic apparatus. The fuser system includes a fuser roller and a pressure roller. The fuser roller and the pressure roller create a nip. The fuser roller has an outer layer of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluoropolymer wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the outer layer. The pressure roller comprises a static dissipative outer surface having a surface resistivity of less than about 10 | 01-16-2014 |
20140050497 | INDEPENDENT CONTROL OF PRESSURE ROLLER HEATING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE GLOSS UNIFORMITY - Methods and systems feed sheets of media on a media path within a printer device and place marking material on the sheets of media to produce printed sheets using a marking station. The methods and systems press the sheets of media using a pressure roller to join the marking material to the sheets of media and control heating elements to heat different portions of the pressure roller differently based upon the gloss level of the printed sheets using the processor. | 02-20-2014 |
20140119800 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING AN IMAGING SURFACE OF A PRINTING SYSTEM - An apparatus and method are provided for cleaning an imaging surface of a printing system by way of a cleaning member having a nanowire mesh portion configured to contact the imaging surface. | 05-01-2014 |
20140147179 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A PRESSURE ROLL OF A FUSER UNIT AS USED IN PRINTING - An apparatus and method are provided for cleaning a pressure roll of a fuser unit useful in printing by way of a cleaning member having a compressible surface portion configured to contact the pressure roll, the compressible surface portion comprising a porous material configured to absorb a release agent from the pressure roll. | 05-29-2014 |
20140257630 | SAFETY DOOR INTERLOCK SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES - A vehicle door interlock system includes a logic processor operatively connected to a door of a vehicle positioned with respect to a pedestrian egress path. A first input to the logic processor comprises a velocity detection signal that determines a velocity of the vehicle. A second input comprises an object detection signal that determines movement of an object toward the vehicle, travelling along a path that would pass in front of the door. A third input comprises an open door signal. The logic processor provides a signal to an interlock device to prevent the door from being opened when the logic processor determines any one of: the vehicle moving based on the velocity detection signal, the object being at a distance and moving in a direction to intersect the pedestrian egress path based on the object detection signal, and lack of open door signal from the operator of the vehicle. | 09-11-2014 |
20150205232 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AND IMPLEMENTING LOW SURFACE ENERGY EXTERNAL HEAT ROLLS IN IMAGE FORMING DEVICES - A system and method are provided for methods for reducing the adverse effects attributable to excess toner contamination in image forming devices through providing and implementing low surface energy surfaces on individual rolls, including external heat rolls in the image forming devices. The disclosed external heat rolls are configured of materials that introduce a more robust low surface energy component into the materials that compose at least a rough external heat roll material for the external heat rolls. | 07-23-2015 |
20150220052 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING A SCHEME FOR COOLING, AND MINIMIZING CURL IN, OUTPUT IMAGE RECEIVING MEDIA SUBSTRATES IN IMAGE FORMING DEVICES - A system and method are provided for cooling and de-curling output image receiving media substrates prior to stacking them in output trays of office-sized image forming devices. Customer requirements are met by providing a cooling capacity with a simple module that is particularly adaptable to a standard office-sized image forming device without increasing a vertical footprint of the device. The substrate de-curling and cooling capacity is able to be retrofit on typical office-sized image forming devices as, for example, an upgraded output catch tray to provide an all stocks at rated speed capacity in the image forming device. A substrate and de-curling unit cools sheets of image receiving media substrate via conduction by pressing the sheets individually and in order to a pair of rotating cooling drums with a pair of cooperating belts supported by appropriate idler rollers in a paper path having a horizontal “S” shape. | 08-06-2015 |
20150273914 | System For Detecting Inoperative Inkjets In Printheads Ejecting Clear Ink Using Three Dimensional Imaging - An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a supply of substrate that is pulled to a position opposite a printhead to enable a test pattern of material to be formed on a portion of the substrate. That portion is then pulled past a laser sensor, which generates measurement data of the material on the portion of the substrate bearing the test pattern. These measurement data are analyzed to detect inoperative inkjets. | 10-01-2015 |
20160096328 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INOPERATIVE INKJET DETECTION IN A PRINTER OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS - A three dimensional printer is configured to move at least one printhead from an area where the printhead is forming an object to a position opposite a shaft. The at least one printhead is operated to eject material onto the shaft and the shaft is rotated to enable a light sensor to generate signals indicative of a height of material at a plurality of positions on the shaft. The signals are compared to an expected height of material at each position to identify inoperative inkjets in the at least one printhead. | 04-07-2016 |