Abstract: A toner fusing system for fixing toner to paper. This system includes a fuser member for contacting and heating the toner in the fusing process. The fuser member has a fuser base, a fluoroelastomer fusing surface layer at least 38 microns thick, and a cushion layer between the fuser base and the fusing surface layer. This system utilizes external heating as the primary source of heat energy for the fusing process.

Abstract: A conformable roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, said fusing station being provided with a pressure roller for fusing a toner image on a receiver, said fuser roller made from a plurality of layers surrounding an axis of rotation, said conformable roller comprising a rigid cylindrically symmetric core member; a compliant base-cushion layer formed on the core member; a stiffening layer in intimate contact with and surrounding the base-cushion layer; a compliant release layer coated on the stiffening layer; and said fusing station including an external heat source for said fuser roller, at least one of said plurality of layers being thermally resistive.

Abstract: A deformable toner fuser roller, for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine comprising a rigid cylindrical core member; an overdrive-controlling, elastically deformable structure surrounding the core member; and wherein the fuser roller is adapted to be heated by a heat source external to the roller and the overdrive-controlling elastically deformable structure comprises an effective or operational Poisson's ratio between 0.2 and 0.4.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer roller that functions as an image receiving member within a reproduction apparatus having a rigid cylindrical core member and at least one layer of an elastically deformable structure surrounding the core member, the elastically deformable structure preferably has an effective Poisson's ratio in the range of 0.2 to 0.4.

Abstract: A product and process for forming an internally heated roller configuration for use in an electrostatographic machine that employs a fuser roller and a pressure roller. One of the rollers is a conformable roller having a rigid cylindrical core member centered on an axis of rotation, a compliant base cushion layer formed on the core member; a stiffening layer in intimate contact with and surrounding the base cushion layer; and an internal heating mechanism, while the other roller is a hard roller.

Abstract: A conformable roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, the fusing station being provided with a pressure roller and a fuser roller for fusing a toner image on a receiver, the fuser roller made from a plurality of layers surrounding an axis of rotation, the conformable roller including a rigid cylindrically symmetric core member; a flexible replaceable removable compliant sleeve member in the form of a tubular belt surrounding and nonadhesively intimately contacting the core member; and the fusing station including an internal heat source for the fuser roller, at least one of the plurality of layers being thermally conductive.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for fusing toner images on a receiver medium. The fusing apparatus includes a fuser member having a contact surface and a pressure member having a contact surface. The pressure member is positioned adjacent the fuser member for forming a nip therebetween to receive the receiver medium. The pressure member controllably exerts pressure on the fuser member and the receiver medium. A first heater member has a contact surface and is positioned adjacent the fuser member and external thereto, the surface of the heater member contacting the surface of the fuser member to transfer heat to the fuser member. The fuser member heats the toner image on the receiver medium thereby fusing the toner image to the receiver medium. A first radiant heat assembly is positioned externally of the first heater member for controllably heating the contact surface of the first heater member.

Abstract: A release agent donor member for a toner fixing system, the donor member includes: a base member; an optional intermediate layer; and an outermost layer of a polymeric composition containing a cured interpenetrating network or (a) fluorocarbon elastomer and (b) at least one silicone elastomer of polyfunctional poly(C.sub.(1-6) alkyl) siloxane polymer; polyfunctional poly(C.sub.(1-6) alkyl)arylsiloxane polymer; and combinations thereof; wherein a functionalist release agent is applied to the outer surface of the outermost layer; and wherein the outermost layer contains a metal oxide in an amount sufficient to interact with the functionalist release agent. The fluorocarbon elastomer can be a terpolymer of vinylideneflouride, hexafluoropropylene, and tetraflouroethylene, wherein the vinylideneflouride is present in an amount greater than 45 mole percent.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus providing for selectable image quality and gloss. The reproduction apparatus as disclosed includes a dielectric member adapted to have latent images formed thereon. A development station for the reproduction apparatus includes a plurality of developer units respectively containing marking particles of different colors, at least one developer unit containing black marking particles and another developer unit containing clear marking particles, for selectively developing latent images on the dielectric member with marking particles from the developer units respectively. The developed marking particle images are transferred by a transfer station from said dielectric member to a receiver member.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of increasing the gloss value of a fused toner image comprising the steps of:a) transferring toner to a receiver to make a toner bearing receiver; andb) passing the toner bearing receiver through a heated fuser system to create a fused toner image on a receiver; wherein said heated fuser system consists of a fuser roller and a pressure roller; said fuser roller has a surface roughness of less than or equal to 1.25 .mu.m Ra; said pressure roller comprises a metal core, and a fluoropolymer resin layer, said fluoropolymer resin layer has a thermal conductivity greater than 0.29 W/m.degree.C. and a surface energy less than or equal to 20 dyne/cm.

Abstract: A rotating wick device for applying release oil to a fusing roller or other fuser member includes an elongated hollow distribution tube. A porous ceramic material surrounds the distribution tube and is covered with a porous polytetrafluoroethylene material. Preferably, the polytetrafluoroethylene material includes a first portion adjacent the ceramic material which is of unexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene and a second portion adjacent the first portion which is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A process and system for inhibiting toner offset in a electrostatographic apparatus of the kind wherein toner images are contact fused to a copy sheet. Drops of offset inhibiting liquid are discretely directed to predetermined locations on the contacting surface of the apparatus fuser member. For example, a drop on demand, piezoelectric drop generator can controllably jet drops of silicone oil to form desired offset inhibiting patterns in accord with apparatus control signals, indicative of particular copy sheet and image requirements.

Abstract: A skive for a pressure roller fuser separates a receiving sheet that has a tendency to stick to one of the rollers in the fuser. The skive includes a finger having a tip which is spring urged against the roller. A mount for the finger permits the tip to move along the periphery of the roller in response to a difficult-to-separate sheet. The skive continues to attempt to separate the sheet without further pushing the tip into the roller. A guide surface on the finger continues to be directed by the mount toward a desired post-fuser path for the receiving sheet despite movement of the tip along the roller.

Abstract: A pressure roller fuser includes a member at the end of at least one of the rollers for extending the position for applying the loading force between the rollers away from the center of the roller to cause the roller to bend with respect to the other roller. The bending causes a spreading of the nip at the edges of the roller to reduce wrinkling of the sheets fed through the nip. The amount of bend can be varied by varying the position of the loading force with respect to the center of the rollers, thereby allowing adjustment of the flare of the nip according to ambient conditions or the life of the rollers.

Abstract: A rotating wick for a fuser includes an outside surface having a roughness less than 0.1 mm. peak-to-valley. The outside surface is preferably a porous fibrous cloth which can cover a NOMEX needled felt surrounding a rotatable porous ceramic material. If enough turns of the cloth are used, the felt can be eliminated and single convolutions of the cloth can be severed and thrown away when soiled.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus for fusing toner images onto a substrate. The fusing apparatus includes a heated first fusing member, a second timing member and a fusing mix formed by the first and second members. A substrate carrying and unfused toner image on a first on a first side thereof is routed through the fusing nip such that the unfused toner image directly faces the heated first member, and the second side thereof directly faces the second fusing member. In order to prevent melting or remelting of a toner image on such second side, the fusing apparatus includes a device for cooling and maintaining the temperature of the second fusing member at a point below the melting temperature of toner particles forming the image on such second side.

Abstract: A wicking device for applying toner release oil to the surface of a fuser roller of a reproduction apparatus. The wicking device includes a first rotatable roller that has a hollow interior and a porous capillary shell for pulling toner release oil from the hollow interior to the outside surface thereof. The wicking device also includes a second rotatable roller that is mounted within, and for rotation against, the surface of the hollow interior of the first rotatable roller for supplying and pushing toner release oil into the capillary shell of the first rotatable roller.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is adapted to make duplex copies with a separate pass through the fuser for each side. To prevent fusing oil from contaminating an image member by passage from a first image side of a duplex copy to a transfer drum and, hence, to the image member, an oiling algorithm to prevent or lessen oiling during fusing of the first side of duplex copies is provided. Preferably, the apparatus has a finite duplex return path which can hold a limited number of receiving sheets, which number is small enough that offset does not occur while doing first side-duplex fusing.

Abstract: A roller fixing device, for example, a pressure roller fuser includes a roller to which a release agent is to be applied by a wick. To correct a tendency of certain wicks to apply the release liquid in a pattern including spots of locally excessive liquid, the wick is disengaged from the roller sufficiently prior to the fixing operation to permit the liquid to spread eliminating the spots of locally excessive liquid. Preferably, the roller completes at least one revolution in contact with another roller after disengagement and prior to the beginning of fixing. To assist that spread, a sheet of more absorbent material, for example paper, is fed through the fixing operation during this period. This mode of operation is used for specific receiver sheets and toner conditions, for example, those encountered in making color transparencies. A more conventional wicking mode is used for other reproductions on paper and black toner transparencies.

Abstract: In an electrostatographic copier or printer, a skive with a base and a stripping edge is provided for removing copy sheets from the surface of a fuser roller that is coated with a resilient material such as rubber. The stripping edge of the skive is made from a hard material and the base of the skive which contacts and rides on the surface of the fuser roller is made from a soft material. Relative to the fuser roller coating, the hard material has a higher modulus of rigidity and the soft material has an equal or lower modulus of rigidity.