Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (700) that can control fuser temperature is disclosed. The apparatus can include an image fuser member (110) rotatably supported in the apparatus, where the image fuser member can be configured to fuse an image on media (170). The apparatus can include a heater (120) coupled to the image fuser member, where the heater can be configured to heat the image fuser member. The apparatus can include a pressure assembly (130) rotatably supported in the apparatus and coupled to the image fuser member, where the pressure assembly can be configured to exert pressure against the image fuser member. The apparatus can include a temperature sensor (140) coupled to the pressure assembly, where the temperature sensor can be configured to sense a temperature of the pressure assembly.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This is a pre-heater system especially useful in an electrostatic marking apparatus. It is used to heat the toner and paper (media) prior to the paper entering the conventional fuser station. Using this pre-heater increases fusing productivity (ppm), widens media latitude and/or extends fuser member life for a given fuser system. It also dramatically improves uniform heat transfer and paper handling problems encountered in prior art preheat fusing assemblies. The preheater is used together with the conventional fuser stations used today in electrostatic marking systems.

Abstract: This is a pre-heater system especially useful in an electrostatic marking apparatus. It is used to heat the toner and paper (media) prior to the paper entering the conventional fuser station. Using this pre-heater increases fusing productivity (ppm), widens media latitude and/or extends fuser member life for a given fuser system. It also dramatically improves uniform heat transfer and paper handling problems encountered in prior art preheat fusing assemblies. The preheater is used together with the conventional fuser stations used today in electrostatic marking systems.