Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a base having a cooking vessel for retaining food for cooking. A lid is movable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position. A heater assembly is positioned on the lid for supplying heat to a surface of the lid that covers the opening of the cooking vessel when the lid is in the closed position. The heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate has at least one electrically resistive trace thick film printed on the ceramic substrate and at least one electrically conductive trace thick film printed on the ceramic substrate. The heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the at least one electrically resistive trace.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for detecting a fatal error condition in a printing device having an intermediate transfer member for facilitating toner transfer, including sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a first predetermined time; comparing the sensed reflectance value at the first period of time to a predetermined threshold; sensing a reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at a second predetermined time after the predetermined first time; and comparing the sensed reflectance value of the intermediate transfer member at the second period of time to the predetermined threshold. If each of the sensed reflectance value at the first predetermined time and the sensed reflectance value at the second predetermined time is greater than the predetermined threshold, the method includes selectively suspending further printing operations until the imaging device is serviced.

Abstract: A method of automatically configuring an imaging device to print on a media using one or more operating parameters suitable for the media is disclosed. The method includes receiving a barcode corresponding to the media to be printed on by the imaging device, determining one or more characteristics of the media using the barcode, retrieving one or more print settings to be used by the imaging device to print on the media having the one or more characteristics, detecting one or more environmental conditions of the imaging device, and adjusting the one or more operating parameters to print on media having the one or more characteristics based on the detected environmental conditions.

Abstract: A method of automatically configuring an imaging device to print on a media using one or more operating parameters suitable for the media is disclosed. The method includes receiving a barcode corresponding to the media to be printed on by the imaging device, determining one or more characteristics of the media using the barcode, retrieving one or more print settings to be used by the imaging device to print on the media having the one or more characteristics, detecting one or more environmental conditions of the imaging device, and adjusting the one or more operating parameters to print on media having the one or more characteristics based on the detected environmental conditions.

Abstract: A belt fuser assembly for a color EP printer that quickly warms up the fusing belt before allowing a first sheet of print media to run through the printing stations at the fuser assembly. The warm-up cycle includes: (1) a preheat mode, (2) a first portion of a belt temperature warm-up mode, (3) a second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode, and (4) a tight belt temperature control mode. The preheat mode operates the fuser's heater at less than full power, and prevents the fuser belt from rotating. The first portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating, but not at its full speed. The second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at less than full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating at its full speed.

Abstract: A belt fuser assembly for a color EP printer that quickly warms up the fusing belt before allowing a first sheet of print media to run through the printing stations at the fuser assembly. The warm-up cycle includes: (1) a preheat mode, (2) a first portion of a belt temperature warm-up mode, (3) a second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode, and (4) a tight belt temperature control mode. The preheat mode operates the fuser's heater at less than full power, and prevents the fuser belt from rotating. The first portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating, but not at its full speed. The second portion of the belt temperature warm-up mode operates the heater at less than full power, and the fuser belt begins rotating at its full speed.

Abstract: Fuser heater element damage due to excessive heating power is prevented by estimating available power supply heating power for proper power control. The estimate is performed by applying a predefined portion of the heating power available from the power supply to the heater element. The predefined portion is determined so that the heater element will not be damaged even if the power supply is at the maximum voltage level of any power supply that may be encountered. The temperature of the heater element is measured, and, if below a predefined temperature, a heating power estimate is made. If not, the heater element is heated by applying power in accordance with a stored heating power estimate from the last heating power estimate. A heating power estimate is made each time the heating element is heated from a temperature below the predefined temperature.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuser for duplex printing includes equilibrating the fuser roll surface temperatures by rotating the rolls at a speed faster than the process speed between fusing an image on a first side of the media and fusing an image on a second side of the media.

Abstract: A method of determining a relative speed between two separately driven members in an image forming apparatus, includes the steps of: transporting a print medium using a print media transport assembly including an exit nip, the print media transport assembly operable at a first transport speed; driving a rotatable member associated with an entrance nip using an electric motor at a second transport speed which is independent from the first transport speed; transferring the print medium from the exit nip to the entrance nip; detecting an electrical characteristic of the motor when the print medium is present in each of the exit nip and the entrance nip; and determining a relative speed between the first transport speed and the second transport speed.

Abstract: An ink jet aerosol control includes a carrier frame, a carrier, at least one airflow channel and a filter. The carrier is disposed and moveable within the frame and selectively creates a high-pressure zone and a low-pressure zone. The airflow channel joins the high-pressure zone to the low-pressure zone. The filter is disposed in association with the airflow channel.

Abstract: An ink jet aerosol control includes a carrier frame, a carrier, at least one airflow channel and a filter. The carrier is disposed and moveable within the frame and selectively creates a high-pressure zone and a low-pressure zone. The airflow channel joins the high-pressure zone to the low-pressure zone. The filter is disposed in association with the airflow channel.

Abstract: A calibration rod (1) with grooved track (2) and a testing apparatus (17) for magnetic rolls that produces an accurate homing location and probe-to-probe reference for repeated test verification at many testing locations. The grooved track calibration rod can be transported to different equipment to verify that equipment is performing similarly, has improved accuracy, has temperature compensation, uses a circumferential drive movement from one end of a roll magnet and verifies angular position from the other end, eliminates the possibility of angular inaccuracy from twisting of the part being measured during clamping and provides for improved accuracy of several degrees. A high order polynomial curve fit of the data is used to determine the true value of the Gauss level being measured during 360 degree revolution. The apparatus takes measurements to accurately measure magnetic differences which define differences in probe operation.