Abstract: An image forming system (210) includes an engine controller (60) and memory device (152) with a power supply (162) supporting a 220 volt, 120 volt or 100 volt level. A fuser control capability indicator (164) is read by the engine controller (60) in order to determine the fuse control capabilities supported by the power supply (162) and, in conjunction, with a geographic region indicator of the system (210), a determination is made as to the appropriate fuser control process to adopt based on the geographic region in which the system (210) is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to printers and media fixing mechanisms such as fusers and management of fuser performance. An article, device, method, and system are provided in which the time to the fuser nip of a sheet of media may be calculated and may be compared to the fuser ramp time. When the fuser ramp time exceeds the time for the sheet of media to reach the fuser nip, the fuser may be turned on.

Abstract: A system and method that controls the amount of energy accumulated at the collection location of a printing device to prevent image transfer or offsetting between sheets of stacked media, in particular, media of high thermal capacitance. This may be accomplished by regulating one or more of a combination of factors, including media process speed and sheet interval or pause time, while providing adequate fusing of the toner and an efficient printing operation.

Abstract: An improved laser printer is provided that keeps its fuser at a standby temperature that is somewhat raised above the ambient temperature, which allows the printer to operate more quickly (to begin printing the first page) when a print job arrives at the printer. The time needed to raise the fuser's temperature is minimized, so that other printer operations become the determining factor in the time to first print parameter. The electrical energy that energizes the fuser is provided in a form that prevents light flicker, by use of AC waveform phase control, or by use of integer half cycle control. The present invention uses closed-loop feedback control, and the type of controller is a PID controller.

Abstract: An ambulance cot is disclosed and the ambulance cot has, if desired, a wheel supported base and a litter raisable and lowerable by a powered elevating mechanism oriented between the base and the litter. The ambulance cot also has wireless communication capability to facilitate communication between the ambulance cot and a loading system on an ambulance as well as facilitating wireless troubleshooting via a handheld wireless unit. The ambulance cot also has a longitudinally extendable head section. The ambulance cot also has several accessories, such as an accessory hook mounted to the underside of the fowler, and a collapsible pouch accessory fastened to the retractable head section and the litter frame.