Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there are printing apparatuses and methods of enhancing an image quality on a media. The method of enhancing an image quality on a media can include providing an ink-based halftone image on a media, wherein the halftone image can include an amount of noise. The method can also include depositing a transparent overcoat layer at least over the halftone image, wherein the transparent overcoat layer can include a major amount of cross-linkable resin and a minor amount of a photoinitiator. The method can further include embossing the transparent overcoat layer to form an embossed micro-structured overcoat layer and curing the embossed micro-structured overcoat layer to form the micro-structured overcoat layer, such that the micro-structured overcoat layer reduces the amount of noise.

Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.

Abstract: Fixing systems, printing apparatuses and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing systems includes a pre-heating device for pre-heating a substrate and marking material disposed on a surface of the substrate; a fixing device disposed downstream from the pre-heating device, the fixing device including fixing members which oppose each other and form a fixing nip; and a first thermal energy source for heating at least one of the fixing members; wherein the fixing members apply pressure and thermal energy to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate; and a conditioning device positioned (a) upstream from the pre-heating device, (b) between the pre-heating device and the fixing device, or (c) downstream from the fixing device. The conditioning device includes conditioning members which oppose each other and form a conditioning nip.

Abstract: There is described a fuser roller including a surface layer of anodized aluminum oxide impregnated with a fluorine containing sealant. There is also described the method for producing the fuser member.

Abstract: Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web.

Abstract: A multi-functional multi-engine print platform engines schedules and processes job in order to minimize visibility of image defects. The print platform includes at least two marking engines that process jobs, a marking engine analyzer that determines image quality defects of the at least two marking engines, and a scheduler that creates a plan to process a job with the at least two marking engines based at least on the image quality defects each of the at least two marking engines in order to minimize visibility of the defects in images reproduced by the at least two marking engine.

Abstract: Multi-stage fixing systems for fixing toner to a substrate, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the multi-stage fixing systems includes a softening device for softening toner applied to a substrate by a marking device; and a fixing device for fixing the softened toner to the substrate. The fixing device includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a first thermal energy source for actively heating the first surface; and a second fixing member including a second surface, the first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip at which the substrate with softened toner is received. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply heat and pressure to the substrate and softened toner received at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide low adhesion coatings that can be used for an image-side member in an image fixing system of an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer, wherein the low adhesion coatings can exhibit a low sliding angle ranging from about 1° to about 30° with a solid ink, a toner, hexadecane and/or water.

Abstract: Fixing systems and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided.

Abstract: A xerographic marking device includes a media transport path and at least one two-color image-on-image (IOI) drum module. Each two-color IOI drum module includes in a process order around a photoreceptor: a) a first charging unit; b) a first exposure unit; c) a first development unit; d) a second charging unit; e) a second exposure unit; and f) a second development unit, wherein the intermediate transfer unit receives a first toned image and a second toned image from the photoreceptor in a single transfer and transfers those toner images to print media to produce a toned image on print media. In various embodiments, the xerographic marking device is modular and includes a common paper transport module having a cavity and a marking engine sized to fit within the cavity.

Abstract: Fixing devices including extended-life components and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices for fixing toner to a substrate in printing includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a thermal energy source for heating the first surface of the first fixing member to a fixing temperature; and a second fixing member including a second surface. The first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip configured to receive a substrate including a surface and marking material comprising toner disposed on the surface. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply a pressure of at least about 300 psi to the substrate and toner and to heat the toner to a sufficiently-high temperature, at the fixing nip, to fix the toner to the substrate.

Abstract: Fixing systems apply at a fixing nip low or ambient temperatures and moderate pressures or relatively high pressures to a substrate on which marking material is deposited. Fixing systems are integrated with a base print engine of a printing system, or added inline as a module to a printing system. Fixing systems and printing systems containing fixing devices and systems, including multi-stage fixing systems accommodate a broad range of substrates.

Abstract: Fixing systems, printing apparatuses and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing systems includes a pre-heating device for pre-heating a substrate and marking material disposed on a surface of the substrate; a fixing device disposed downstream from the pre-heating device, the fixing device including fixing members which oppose each other and form a fixing nip; and a first thermal energy source for heating at least one of the fixing members; wherein the fixing members apply pressure and thermal energy to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate; and a conditioning device positioned (a) upstream from the pre-heating device, (b) between the pre-heating device and the fixing device, or (c) downstream from the fixing device. The conditioning device includes conditioning members which oppose each other and form a conditioning nip.

Abstract: Fixing systems and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided.

Abstract: Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide low adhesion coatings that can be used for an image-side member in an image fixing system of an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer, wherein the low adhesion coatings can exhibit a low sliding angle ranging from about 1° to about 30° with a solid ink, a toner, hexadecane and/or water.

Abstract: Multi-stage fixing systems for fixing toner to a substrate, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the multi-stage fixing systems includes a softening device for softening toner applied to a substrate by a marking device; and a fixing device for fixing the softened toner to the substrate. The fixing device includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a first thermal energy source for actively heating the first surface; and a second fixing member including a second surface, the first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip at which the substrate with softened toner is received. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply heat and pressure to the substrate and softened toner received at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a roll member that includes one or more linear arrays of actuator cells and methods for making and using the roll member. In one embodiment, each linear array of the roll member can be controllably actuated as a group by, e.g., an oscillating voltage, to release toner particles adhered thereto and to form a uniform toner cloud in the development area between the roll member and an image receiving member. The controllable actuation can also aid in the unloading process of the residual toner particles from the roll member. In various embodiments, the uniform toner cloud and/or the controllable unloading process can enable a non-interactive development system for image-on-image full-color printing.