Abstract: A glass sheet is placed on a mold and heated to a first temperature. The glass sheet is then formed into a glass article having a three-dimensional shape using the mold. An isothermal heat transfer device comprising at least one heat pipe is provided in thermal contact with the mold. With the glass article on the mold and the isothermal heat transfer device in thermal contact with the mold, the glass article, mold, and isothermal heat transfer device are transported along a thermally-graded channel to cool the glass article to a second temperature. During the transporting, the isothermal heat transfer device transfers heat from a relatively hot region of the mold to a relatively cold region of the mold.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides emulsion aggregation (EA) toner particles having less pigment on the particle surface and a more uniform pigment distribution. The process of preparing the toner includes specific mixing speeds and use of specific temperatures during the emulsion aggregation process and the addition of a shell to the toner particles.

Abstract: An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides emulsion aggregation (EA) toner particles having less pigment on the particle surface and a more uniform pigment distribution. The process of preparing the toner includes specific mixing speeds and use of specific temperatures during the emulsion aggregation process and the addition of a shell to the toner particles.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of optimizing an electro-photographic reproduction machine having a fusing subsystem and an air knife. The methods acquire at least one electro-photographic reproduction machine objective and media characteristic; and the acquired objective and characteristic are used to determine values for the pressurized air emitted from the air knife, the position of the air knife, and the rotation of the air knife relative to a fuse roll in the fusing subsystem. The methods further disclose acquiring the leading edge of the media being stripped and then using the beam strength of the media to assist in stripping the body of the sheet. The air knife can be controlled by a controller or a processor based on determined optimization parameter values that relate to objectives and media characteristics.

Abstract: Provided are media vacuum transport systems including media vacuum transport members, methods of making media vacuum transport members, and method of transporting media. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a media vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side proximate to the media, and a top coat layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the top coat layer can include a plurality of particles dispersed in a resin to provide an average surface roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.

Abstract: Provided are vacuum transport systems, methods of making them and methods of transporting one or more objects. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum and one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate including a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side proximate to an object, wherein a surface of the second side comprises a textured surface having an average roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vacuum belt having belt edges and a contact surface between the belt edges. The contact surface is adapted to contact sheets of print media and the sheets of print media have sheet edges and a central sheet region. The contact surface has a central belt region located where the central sheet region of the sheets of print media contacts the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The contact surface has border regions located where the sheet edges of the sheets of print media contact the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The central belt region is located between the border regions. The contact surface has vacuum holes, and the vacuum holes comprise an irregular pattern, such that a different density of holes is located within the border regions relative to the central belt region.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vacuum belt having belt edges and a contact surface between the belt edges. The contact surface is adapted to contact sheets of print media and the sheets of print media have sheet edges and a central sheet region. The contact surface has a central belt region located where the central sheet region of the sheets of print media contacts the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The contact surface has border regions located where the sheet edges of the sheets of print media contact the contact surface of the vacuum belt. The central belt region is located between the border regions. The contact surface has vacuum holes, and the vacuum holes comprise an irregular pattern, such that a different density of holes is located within the border regions relative to the central belt region.

Abstract: A pre-heater system and adapted to be used on an electrostatic marking apparatus for improving gloss on media having marking thereon at a location in the apparatus prior to a conventional fuser roll assembly or station, the system including a primary heater adapted to blow pressurized hot air into a surface of an image receiving media in order to substantially dispense hot air throughout an entire paper or media surface; and a preheat media transport for transporting media from the location in the apparatus prior to the conventional fuser roll assembly or station through the primary heater, the preheat media transport includes means for maintaining the preheat media transport at a substantially uniform predefined temperature.

Abstract: In a sheet transport system for a reproduction machine, the transport system defining a transport channel through which the sheet travels in a transport direction, an improvement comprises one or more plenums associated with the transport channel, each plenum connectable to an air flow supply, and one or more openings between each plenum and the transport channel. At least one of the one or more openings is arranged to direct air flowing through the plenum into the transport channel in the transport direction.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a fuser member, a pressure member that forms a nip with the fuser member through which copy sheets pass to have images fused thereon and an air knife to assist in peeling copy sheets from the fuser member. The air knife has a device connected to it that blocks entrained airflow between the fuser and air knife to reduce fuser cooling and power loss.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of optimizing an electro-photographic reproduction machine having a fusing subsystem and an air knife. The methods acquire at least one electro-photographic reproduction machine objective and media characteristic; and the acquired objective and characteristic are used to determine values for the pressurized air emitted from the air knife, the position of the air knife, and the rotation of the air knife relative to a fuse roll in the fusing subsystem. The methods further disclose acquiring the leading edge of the media being stripped and then using the beam strength of the media to assist in stripping the body of the sheet. The air knife can be controlled by a controller or a processor based on determined optimization parameter values that relate to objectives and media characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus in an ink jet printer reduces the risk of clogged nozzles in ink jet printing machines by providing a negative pressure area in the vicinity of a localized high shear stress region that is located about a print head perimeter.

Abstract: The present application is directed to piezoelectric actuator devices. One embodiment of a piezoelectric actuator comprises a chamber diaphragm having a major surface. A piezoelectric transducer is positioned on the major surface of the chamber diaphragm. The piezoelectric transducer has a major surface having a first dimension which is smaller than a corresponding second dimension of the major surface of the chamber diaphragm, so that the piezoelectric transducer underlaps the chamber diaphragm. The underlap ratio of the first dimension to the second dimension ranges from about 0.70 to about 0.99.

Abstract: A pre-heater system and adapted to be used on an electrostatic marking apparatus for improving gloss on media having marking thereon at a location in the apparatus prior to a conventional fuser roll assembly or station, the system including a primary heater adapted to blow pressurized hot air into a surface of an image receiving media in order to substantially dispense hot air throughout an entire paper or media surface; and a preheat media transport for transporting media from the location in the apparatus prior to the conventional fuser roll assembly or station through the primary heater, the preheat media transport includes means for maintaining the preheat media transport at a substantially uniform predefined temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus is used with an ink jet print head in an ink jet printer. The apparatus includes a print head protector that surrounds a print head. A substantially continuous slot is provided along a perimeter of the bracket and a filter is located in the substantially continuous slot. An inlet in fluid communication with the substantially continuous slot enables a positive pressure air supply to be coupled to the inlet. The air entering the inlet flows through the filter in the slot and the filtered air flows outwardly away from the print head.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a fuser member, a pressure member that forms a nip with the fuser member through which copy sheets pass to have images fused thereon and an air knife to assist in peeling copy sheets from the fuser member. The air knife has a device connected to it that blocks entrained airflow between the fuser and air knife to reduce fuser cooling and power loss.