Abstract: A conditioning device to change the moisture content of printing stock, in which the stock is brought into contact with at least one endless cloth that absorbs moisture. The endless cloth is heated by heated transport rolls. A reduction of the moisture content contributes to a reduction of distortions of the printing image in two-sided printing, especially in digital printing machines.

Abstract: An air quality management apparatus for use in a modular electrostatographic color printer. For air quality management a non-air-conditioned open-loop portion is provided for managing quality of air in a first interior volume, and an air-conditioned recirculation portion is provided for managing quality of air in a second interior volume. The first interior volume includes a fusing station for fusing color images on receiver members. The second interior volume includes a number of tandemly arranged image-forming modules, as well as an auxiliary chamber associated with, yet isolated from, each module, such that air-conditioned air flowing through each module does not mix with air-conditioned air supplied to the modules and to devices within the modules. The second interior volume is differentiated from the first interior volume by at least one separating member. The air-conditioning device is for controlling temperature and relative humidity of air included in the second interior volume.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of making an ink-jet-ink-derived material image on a receiver. An ink jet device is used to form a coagulable ink image on an intermediate member. Coagulates within the coagulable ink image are formed, and excess liquid is removed from the coagulates so as to form an ink-jet-ink-derived material image. The ink-jet-ink-derived image from the operational surface of the intermediate member is transferred to another member, which another member may be a receiver member, a drum or a web.

Abstract: An on-line gloss/density meter for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus in which pigmented marking particle images are fixed to receiver members respectively by application of heat and/or pressure as such receiver members travel along a transport path through a fuser assembly. The on-line gloss/density meter includes at least one light emitter and at least one light collector, respectively mounted in operative association with the transport path so that light from the emitter, reflected from a receiver member, and is detected and a signal corresponding to such reflected light is produced. A guide element is associated with the transport path and directs a receiver member into a predetermined specified location relative to the beam of light. A logic and control unit, responsive to signals from the light collector, precisely controls operating parameters for the electrostatographic reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of making an ink-jet-ink-derived material image on a receiver. An ink jet device is used to form a colloidal ink image on a member. The ink for use in the ink jet device includes an aqueous-based colloidal dispersion of particles and a nonaqueous colloidal dispersion of particles. The ink for use in the ink jet device includes an aqueous-based colloidal dispersion of particles, a nonaqueous colloidal dispersion of particles. The particles of the colloidal ink image are caused to become concentrated adjacent an operational surface of the member. Excess liquid is removed from the particles so as to form an inkjet-ink-derived material image. The ink-jet-ink-derived image is then transferred from the operational surface of the intermediate member to another member, which another member may be a receiver member, a drum or a web.

Abstract: A controlled modulus fusing-station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer is preferably a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoro-thermoplastic polymer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation can be thermally cured or electron-beam cured. Preferably, the dry formulation is thermally cured and further includes a curing catalyst, preferably a peroxide catalyst. Alternatively, the curing catalyst can be a bisphenol residue.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. The base cushion layer is a highly crosslinked addition-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermally curing, below 100° C., a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles.

Abstract: A cleaner for removing particulate material from the surface of a moving web having a customer-replaceable cleaning cartridge including a pair of spaced, parallel cleaning blades supported by a sump housing having an easily removable lid assembly with a narrow opening through which the blades project at an angle, the lid member has slot features for locking it to the sump housing tabs and preferably, the lid member is sealed against the sump housing by compression of a foam gasket; a backup shoe assembly positioned to contact the web surface opposite the cleaning blades and provide resistance to the cleaning blades; and a bracket assembly for releasably supporting the cleaning cartridge in an operative position in which the cleaning blades contact the web surface to be cleaned and cooperate with the shoe assembly to wipe particulate material from the web.

Abstract: A controlled-modulus fusing station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer can be a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. Alternatively, a protective or gloss control fluoropolymer layer is formed on the elastically deformable layer. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoroelastomer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation is thermally cured or electron-beam cured.

Abstract: A release agent fluid management system and methods of dispensing such fluid in fuser apparatus of image reproduction systems. The release agent fluid management system controllably applies release agent fluid to the fuser surface. A processor controls the amount of applied release agent fluid based on one or more image reproduction operating parameters.

Abstract: Preventing the imaging forming process of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus from becoming contaminated with fuser release oil. A substantially uniform layer of the pigmented marking particles from the development subsystem of the image forming process is deposited onto the photoconductive member of the image forming process during any non-imaging cycles of the process, including cycle down, non-imaging skip frames, or recovery from a receiver jam. The substantially uniform layer of pigmented marking particles acts as a barrier to block fuser release oil from the photoconductive member and as a vehicle to carry away contaminating fuser release oil.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller, for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. In certain preferred embodiments, the base cushion layer is a highly cross-linked condensation-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermal curing of a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles. In other preferred embodiments, expandable microspheres are included in lieu of the hollow flexible microballoon particles in an otherwise similar uncured formulation, which expandable microspheres are transformed into expanded hollow microballoon particles during the thermal curing.

Abstract: A pre-heater for a fusing assembly for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, in which an image-wise pattern of pigmented marking particles is fixed to a receiver member transported along a travel path in operative relation with said fusing assembly. The pre-heater as described includes a housing defining an internal chamber. The housing internal chamber defines an opening adjacent to the receiver member travel path. A heating element is located within the housing internal chamber. An airflow system is provided including a blower, and a distribution plenum in flow communication between the blower and the heating element. An impingement member is positioned in the chamber opening adjacent to said travel path. An impingement plenum is in flow communication between the heating element and the impingement member, and a return conduit is in flow communication between the opening and the blower.

Abstract: A replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve, a primer coat of a silane coupling agent containing epoxies on the sleeve, and an outside coating applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser station of the electrophotographic copying machine.

Abstract: In a process for forming an amorphous TiOPc/TiOFPc pigment mixture containing a low concentration of TiOFPc, a mixture containing phthalonitrile and titanium tetrachloride is subjected to reaction conditions effective to form lightly chlorine-substituted crude crystalline Cl—TiOPc. The lightly chlorine-substituted crude crystalline Cl—TiOPc is combined with crude crystalline TiOFPc in a weight ratio from about 75:25 Cl—TiOPc:TiOFPc to about 99.5:0.5 Cl—TiOPc:TiOFPC to form a crude crystalline pigment mixture, which is treated under conditions effective to form a substantially amorphous pigment mixture of Cl—TiOPc and TiOFPc. The substantially amorphous mixture can subsequently be converted to a nanocrystalline Cl—TiOPc/TiOFPc pigment composition containing a low concentration of TiOFPc.

Abstract: A printing machine having at least one printing unit whose image cylinder is driven by friction by an element to which the image is transferred. The influence of a change in the application of print is kept as small as possible, by the width of image cylinder and element being at least so much wider than the maximum width of the image to be transferred that the rotational speed of the image cylinder remains essentially constant in the event of a change in the image.

Abstract: In a process for forming an amorphous pigment mixture consisting essentially of TiOPc and TiOFPc and containing more than about 75 weight percent of TiOPc, a mixture of crude crystalline TiOPc and TiOFPc pigments in a weight ratio of at least 75:25 TiOPc:TiOFPc is combined with at least about 5 wt. %, based on the total weight of TiOPc and TiOFPc, of an organic milling aid. The mixture is treated under conditions effective to form a substantially amorphous pigment mixture of TiOPc and TiOFPc. The organic milling aid can be separated from the substantially amorphous pigment mixture, which can be converted to a nanoparticulate cocrystalline TiOPc/TiOFPc composition.

Abstract: In a process for forming a nanoparticulate crystalline titanium phthalocyanine pigment composition, a titanium phthalocyanine pigment is contacted with substantially pure 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE) under conditions effective to convert the titanium phthalocyanine pigment to the nanoparticulate crystalline composition.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus having a station for fusing images to a receiver sheet with a heated fuser roller has a release agent management system that uses an anilox roller. The anilox roller is made of metal or ceramic or other material and has a number of metering cells for holding release agent material. A doctor blade wipes excess material from the anilox roller and a donor roller picks up the metered amounts of release agent and applies the release agent to the heated fuser roller. The release agent prevents offset of the image to the fuser roller and promotes the easy separation of a receiver sheet from the fuser roller.

Abstract: An amorphous mixture consisting essentially of TiOFPc and TiOPc and containing more than 75 weight percent of substantially chlorine-free TiOPc is produced by forming a mixture of crude crystalline TiOFPc and crude crystalline, substantially chlorine-free TiOPc that contains less than 80 weight percent TiOPc, treating the mixture under conditions effective to form a substantially amorphous mixture of TiOFPc and TiOPc containing less than 75 weight percent TiOPc, which is then treated with water, and dried. A further amount of crude crystalline, substantially chlorine-free TiOPc sufficient to form a new mixture containing more than 75 weight percent of substantially chlorine-free TiOPc is added, and the new mixture is converted to a substantially amorphous mixture of TiOFPc and TiOPc. A nanoparticulate cocrystalline composition is obtained by forming a slurry in an organic solvent of the dried substantially amorphous mixture, and wet milling the slurry to form the cocrystalline composition.