Abstract: A fast acting fusing method and apparatus are provided for (a.) first moving a certain quantity of working liquid within a fusing heat pipe device from a heat transferring region of the fusing heat pipe device to an induction heating region of the fusing heat pipe device for maximizing liquid-to-device wall contact area within the induction heating region; (b.) using inductor heating coils to apply heat to the induction heating region of the fusing heat pipe device for heating the working liquid within the induction heating region; (c.) allowing heated vapors from the working liquid being heated within the induction heating region to move into the heat transferring region of the fusing heat pipe device for heating the heat transferring region; (d.) using a controller to compare heating of the heat transferring region of the fusing heat pipe device to a given heating value; and (e.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic layer is bonded to, or coated on, or in other manner applied to, the surface of a heatable fuser member for fusing dry toner in an image forming device. The ferromagnetic layer promotes inductive heating of the heatable fuser member based on high hysteresis loss exhibited when the ferromagnetic layer is exposed to a magnetic field created by the current flowing through an induction coil or other like device. Suitable materials for the ferromagnetic layer are those which exhibit a high coupling efficiency to the imposed magnetic field. A result is substantially controllable, consistent heating of the heatable fuser member to fuse dry toner onto or into the image bearing surface of an image receiving medium.

Abstract: A fusing station (100) for fusing toner to an image receiving medium (102) includes: a fuser roller (120) configured as a heat pipe including a sealed hollow cavity (124) containing a working fluid; a pressure roller (140) that forms a nip with the fuser roller (120) through which the image receiving medium (102) passes; and, an electrical coil (128) inductively coupled to the fuser roller (120) to inductively heat the fuser roller (120) upon energizing the electrical coil (128) with electrical power.

Abstract: The transporting of flimsy print media sheets having curled sheet edges being fed from a fuser or other input onto a vacuum sheet transport belt system is provided with improved acquisition by simultaneously blowing the upper surface of the sheet's curled lead edge area down towards the vacuum belt transport with a positive pressure airflow while the vacuum sheet transport is attracting the sheet with its an underlying vacuum manifold airflow. Both the vacuum manifold airflow and the positive pressure airflow may be respectively provided solely by the air intake and the air exhaust from a single blower. The positive pressure airflow may be provided from a manifold extending transversely over at least the upstream end of the vacuum belt transport, spaced therefrom, and feeding air to one or more air jets.

Abstract: A dryer assembly for drying a liquid ink image formed on a substrate comprising a housing defining a portion of a sheet moving path; a plenum positioned within the housing, the plenum including air flow and outlet means contiguous to the plenum permitting forced air to exit the plenum, the outlet being in the form of a plurality of moving openings adapted to direct flowing air through the openings to the liquid image, the openings moving relative to the image; and a substrate transport device for moving the substrate carrying the liquid ink image on a front side thereof through the housing and under the plurality of moving openings. The dryer assembly has particular use in an ink jet printing system.

Abstract: A system includes at least one movable image bearing member transporting a latent image in an electrophotographic printing system. A developer station associated with the at least one image bearing member deposits a developed image on the latent image. The developed image includes toner particles and carrier liquid. A transfer station associated with the at least one image bearing member transfers the developed image to a receiving medium. A liquid removal station disposed between the developer station and the transfer station includes a source of high fluid pressure emitting an open-air jet of fluid for directly and/or indirectly removing at least a portion of the carrier liquid from the developed image.

Abstract: A dryer assembly for drying a liquid ink image formed on a substrate comprising a housing defining a portion of a sheet moving path; a plenum positioned within the housing, the plenum including air flow and outlet means contiguous to the plenum permitting forced air to exit the plenum, the outlet being in the form of a plurality of moving openings adapted to direct flowing air through the openings to the liquid image, the openings moving relative to the image; and a substrate transport device for moving the substrate carrying the liquid ink image on a front side thereof through the housing and under the plurality of moving openings. An ink jet printing machine for printing a liquid ink image on a sheet of paper moving along a sheet path through a printing zone therein, the ink jet printing machine comprises a frame; a printhead mounted to said frame and containing liquid ink for depositing image-wise onto the sheet of paper to form a liquid ink image.

Abstract: An image forming system and method of using the system includes a development station for developing an image, a replenishing source that stores toner mixed to a desired color and comprising at least two toner component colors, a conditioning station that conditions the toner before sending the toner to a developing station, and a drawing device that draws a portion of the toner in the conditioning station. The drawing device will remove a portion of at least one component color of the toner until the desired color is suitable for developing. The system and method will help to produce images of a desired color in liquid immersion development of color prints. With the use of the drawing device, consistent colored images can be achieved while reducing waste of toner.

Abstract: Image forming systems and methods are described for electrophotographic printing in image forming systems. The systems and methods help to produce images of a desired color in liquid immersion development of color prints. With the use of a drawing device, consistent colored images can be achieved while reducing waste of toner.

Abstract: A dryer uses a two-phase drying system having a brief water condensation interval, followed by impinging parallel laminar recirculating hot air jets which impinge on wet ink to increase the copy rate of inkjet printing and to increase the quality of the printed image.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for drying a liquid image carried on a surface of a medium moving along a predetermined path from an upstream location towards a downstream location. The apparatus includes an air moving device, such as a blower, that moves air. A plenum has an intake that receives air and an outlet permitting the air to exit the plenum. A channel structure communicates with the outlet of the plenum and is disposed generally adjacent to a surface of the medium carrying the image. The channel structure includes an upstream channel portion and a downstream channel portion such that air exiting the outlet of the plenum is diverted to flow towards the upstream location in the upstream channel portion and towards the downstream location in the downstream channel portion. A heater is associated with the medium to heat at least a portion of the medium and thus the image. A method of drying a liquid image on a surface of a medium is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for drying a liquid image carried on a surface of a medium moving along a predetermined path from an upstream location towards a downstream location. The apparatus includes an air moving device, such as a blower, that moves air. A plenum has an intake that receives air and an outlet permitting the air to exit the plenum. A channel structure communicates with the outlet of the plenum and is disposed generally adjacent to a surface of the medium carrying the image. The channel structure includes an upstream channel portion and a downstream channel portion such that air exiting the outlet of the plenum is diverted to flow towards the upstream location in the upstream channel portion and towards the downstream location in the downstream channel portion. A heater is associated with the medium to heat at least a portion of the medium and thus the image. A method of drying a liquid image on a surface of a medium is also provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a toner image producing station for forming a toner image. The apparatus includes an image bearing member for supporting the toner image; and a transfuse station for simultaneously transferring and fusing the toner image to a substrate transfuse station. The substrate transfuse station has: (i) a transfuse member; (ii) a heating roll adapter to heat the transfuse member; (iii) a cooling roll adapted to cool the transfuse member; and (iv) at least one phase change roll adapted to both heat and cool the transfuse member, each of the rolls in contiguous contact with the transfuse member and adapted to move the transfuse member. Included are embodiments for a method of passively managing the temperature distribution on a transfuse member and the transfuse system itself.

Abstract: An enhanced image conditioning process for liquid ink development assists in achieving better developability and metering capability, especially for the cases where highly viscous developer fluids are used. By selectively heating the developer fluid in the vicinity of the development zone and/or the metering zone, the viscosity of the liquid is reduced, and hence better developability and a thinner film with higher solid content for the developed image can be obtained. Another benefit of lowering the viscosity of the developer fluid is that the developer fluid can be applied and metered at a faster rate than higher viscosity fluids. Liquid ink developability control by controlling ink temperature is advantageous over conventional methods of xerography.

Abstract: The undesirable image defect of dragout of liquid ink development (LID) toned images generated from the development zone, formed by an imaging member and a metering/development member, can be prevented. Background development of the toned images is suppressed in an image enhancement zone. With the aid of an enhanced electrostatic field, created by an electrode biased at a voltage other than normal development bias in the metering zone, the toned layer can resist higher viscous forces. Image dragout, due to the viscous shear from liquid ink, can therefore be eliminated.

Abstract: A single image development and conditioning apparatus is disclosed for removing excess liquid carrier from a developed image developed in a liquid immersion development machine using liquid developer material having a first toner concentration. The single image development and conditioning apparatus includes a first zone located downstream of a coating device relative to a direction of movement of a surface bearing the developed image, a second zone located downstream of the first zone, and a third zone located downstream of the second zone. The first zone includes a first biased electrode for partially removing charged solid toner particles from background areas of the developed image. The second zone includes a second biased electrode for completing removal of charged solid toner particles from the background areas, and the third zone includes a third biased electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image with liquid developing material. The apparatus includes a liquid developing material coating flow applicator for applying a substantially uniform coating of liquid developing material to a moving surface, wherein a housing, situated proximate to the moving surface, includes a fluid transport channel having a relatively narrow-width elongated outlet port for delivering a flow of liquid developing material to the moving surface, and an air flow channel having an elongated inlet aperture located adjacent the moving surface and immediately upstream from said outlet port for applying vacuum pressure to the flow of liquid developing material for varying the profile of the coating flow to provide variation of flow stability as well as thickness. A discussion of the effects of variations in the outlet port geometry, in particular, increasing the dimension between the downstream wall and the surface to be coated, has also been provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a uniform temperature along its axis by increasing the heat transfer efficiency. The apparatus uses a sealed chamber containing a substantially pure working fluid in a two phase (liquid and vapor) condition. The vaporization and condensation of the fluid increases the heat transfer efficiency and tends to equalize temperature gradients in a body in contact with the apparatus. The apparatus is utilized in various locations in an electrophotographic printing machine and can be used as a pressure roll for a heat and pressure fuser, a support or drive roll for a photoreceptive member, a support member for a photoreceptor and a heat sink for a developer housing.

Abstract: A sensing system for a print development system of a printing system in which a print is developed with developer material and development of the print varies as a function of both a first parameter and a second parameter is provided. The development system includes a capacitance and the sensing system, which measures a first value varying as a function of the first parameter and a second value varying as a function of the second parameter, includes a sensing subsystem for measuring an output by reference to the capacitance; and a signal development subsystem, responsive to the sensing system, for developing, from the output, both a first signal and a second signal with the first signal corresponding to the first value and the second signal corresponding to the second value.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface with toner. The apparatus includes a housing having a supply of toner therein; a donor member arranged in the housing to transport toner to a development zone adjacent the surface; a detaching toner device for detaching toner from the donor member and producing a toner cloud in the development zone; and an air handling system, associated with the housing, for collecting stray toner particles emitted from the housing, the air handling system including a separator for separating toner by size.