Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the useful life of a fuser roller having ends, a length greater than a central portion of the fuser roller, the central portion of the fuser roller having ends, and end portions of the fuser roller extending from the ends of the central portion of the fuser roller to the ends of the fuser roller, at least a portion of the fuser roller being coated during operation with a release agent by contact with a wick roller, the wick roller including a porous ceramic wick roller body having ends, a length greater than a central portion of the wick roller, the central portion of the wick roller having ends, a release agent supply line in fluid communication with a central cavity in the wick roller body, a release agent impermeable coating over lengths of the wick roller body between the ends of the wick roller and the ends of the central portion of the wick roller, and a release agent transfer surface over the outside of the wick roller and the release agent impervious coating by pos

Abstract: A system for controlling axial temperature uniformity in a reproduction apparatus fuser device having at least one heated fuser member to permanently fix a marking particle image to a receiver member which may be of any of a variety of widths. The axial temperature uniformity control system includes a fuser member heater having at least one elongated heater lamp capable of exhibiting differing effective heating lengths. A logic and control unit is then provided to control the operation of said heater lamp to provide respective different effective heating lengths for different discrete modes of operation.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuser member comprising a core having a polymeric coating wherein said wrinkle index of said fuser member is less than 75, said wrinkle index (WI) being calculated by the following formula: ##EQU1## where: S is the stiffness of the core in megaPascals (MPa);T is the thickness of said polymeric coating in millimeters (mm); andH is the hardness (Shore A) of the polymeric coating.

Abstract: A fuser assembly including a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member along a travel path therebetween and permanently fix a marking particle image to a such a transported receiver member, a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller from such roller, and a mounting for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism mounting includes a support for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism is selectively moved about the support mechanism into operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly adjacent to the travel path. The skive mechanism is urged in a direction, in opposition to the selective movement of the skive mechanism, from operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly toward a location remote from the travel path, whereby clearance of a receiver member jam in the fuser assembly is facilitated.

Abstract: At least one simplified skive member for a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller. The simplified skive member includes an elongated, relatively flexible skive finger. The skive finger is readily releasably received in a support body so as to support a major portion of the skive finger to increase the rigidity thereof. Particularly, the support body has a first ledge upon which a skive finger can be slidably received, a second ledge opposite to the first ledge to retain a skive finger therebetween, a stop member to limit the distance to which the skive finger can slide along the first ledge, and a locking feature for preventing the skive finger, after engagement with the stop member, from moving in a direction opposite such sliding direction.

Abstract: A fuser assembly having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and at least one skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller from the said roller. The skive mechanism includes at least one elongated, relatively flexible skive finger. A major portion of the skive finger is supported by a support body so as to increase the rigidity thereof. The skive finger support body is mounted on an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a fuser assembly roller. The longitudinal axes are spaced apart a predetermined fixed distance less than the sum of the longitudinal dimension of the support body for the skive finger and the radius of the fuser assembly roller.

Abstract: A registration mechanism for registering a moving receiver sheet relative to a toner image on a moving image bearing member in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus. The registration mechanism includes members which define a sheet travel path, a registration gate, and a device for feeding the sheet to the registration gate.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus, such as a copier, having a document feeder mounted on top of a scanner, a restraining mechanism is provided to restrict the pivotal travel of the feeder in relation to the pivotal travel of the scanner. This restraining mechanism, while allowing the feeder to pivot from the scanner so that one may copy items such as books, restricts such pivoting in relation to the scanner, when the scanner is pivoted from its normal operation position. This prevents the feeder from pivoting to a point where it would make contact with objects to the rear of the copier that may damage the feeder.The restraining mechanism is comprised of a cable connected to the feeder and the copier housing, with said cable being fed over cable guides, a sheave and a pendulum means.

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.