Abstract: A toner coverage sensing system is provided for sensing toner particles printed onto a surface of a process element using an electrophotographic printing system. The printed toner particles include porous color toner particles. An infrared radiation source directs infrared radiation onto the printed toner particles on the surface of the process element A diffused radiation detector senses infrared radiation scattered from the printed toner particles, wherein the diffused radiation detector is oriented such that that the sensed infrared radiation does not include specular reflections from the surface of the process element. A data processing system determines a sensed toner coverage for the porous color toner particles on the surface of the process element responsive to the sensed scattered infrared radiation.

Abstract: An annular intermediate transfer member can be used to transfer toner particles. This annular intermediate transfer member comprises an innermost non-metallic core, a cushioning layer, and an outermost toner-carrying layer. The innermost non-metallic core has 1) a mounting force of equal to or less than 15 lbf, 2) a radial resistance of up to and including 50,000 ohm of the innermost non-metallic core thickness, and 3) a surface resistance of up to and including 17,000 ohm. The annular intermediate transfer member can be incorporated into various apparatus that are used to provide toner images and used in methods for providing black-and-white and color toned images on various substrates.

Abstract: An annular intermediate transfer member can be used to transfer toner particles. This annular intermediate transfer member comprises an innermost non-metallic core, a cushioning layer, and an outermost toner-carrying layer. The innermost non-metallic core has 1) a mounting force of equal to or less than 15 lbf, 2) a radial resistance of up to and including 50,000 ohm of the innermost non-metallic core thickness, and 3) a surface resistance of up to and including 17,000 ohm. The annular intermediate transfer member can be incorporated into various apparatus that are used to provide toner images and used in methods for providing black-and-white and color toned images on various substrates.

Abstract: A cleaning brush for use in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus, including a plurality of individual electrically conductive fibers secured to a brush core and having fiber tips relatively remote from the brush core, wherein the cleaning brush includes an electrically conductive plane at a surface of the brush core, or between a surface of the brush core and the electrically conductive fibers, effective for inducing an electrical potential to the conductive fibers when an electrical potential is applied to the electrically conductive plane, and at least one of a relatively non-conductive layer electrically insulating the conductive plane from the conductive fibers, or electrically insulating coatings on tips of the electrically conductive fibers remote from the brush core. The insulative, or non-conductive, layer between the fibers and the conductive plane of the brush prevent excessive current draw.

Abstract: A method of making a fuser member having an annealed outer surface comprising: providing an outer layer comprising compatible first and second fluorothermoplastics over an outer substrate surface, wherein the first fluorothermoplastic is a crosslinkable polymer and the second fluorothermoplastic is a linear polymer; curing the outer layer to crosslink the first fluorothermoplastic whereby the resulting crosslinked first fluorothermoplastic and the linear polymer second fluorothermoplastic form a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN); and annealing an outer surface of the outer layer by contacting the fuser member with applied pressure against a heated surface, without first sintering the second fluorothermoplastic linear polymer through application of heat alone.

Abstract: Method of fixing marking particles to sheets having different basis weights in a continuous stream of receiver sheets, includes: providing two fixing members which engage each other to form a nip, at least one of the members being heated; and adjusting at least one parameter including temperature, speed, or pressure in the fixing nip, which will provide a predetermined gloss upon the sheet(s). The method further includes feeding the sheets of the higher basis weight through the nip so that the higher basis weight sheet(s) is fed more times through the nip than the other sheet(s); and applying marking particles to the prepared heavier basis weight sheets and passing them through the nip so that the gloss formed by the marking particles is substantially the same for heavier basis weight sheets as for lighter basis weight sheets.

Abstract: A fuser member for toner fusing systems and processes. This fuser member has a fuser base and a fusing surface layer, and the fusing surface layer contains a fluoroelastomer and filler particles. The filler particles have a mean particle diameter greater than 5 microns, and a modulus greater than the modulus of the fluoroelastomer at fusing temperatures. The fusing surface layer has at least the minimum proportion by volume of these particles, with at least the minimum mean particle diameter, that will provide the fusing surface layer with an equilibrium surface roughness so that, in fusing toner to substrate, the fuser member generates an image having a gloss number less than 10.

Abstract: A cleaning brush for use in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus, including a plurality of individual electrically conductive fibers secured to a brush core and having fiber tips relatively remote from the brush core, wherein the cleaning brush includes an electrically conductive plane at a surface of the brush core, or between a surface of the brush core and the electrically conductive fibers, effective for inducing an electrical potential to the conductive fibers when an electrical potential is applied to the electrically conductive plane, and at least one of a relatively non-conductive layer electrically insulating the conductive plane from the conductive fibers, or electrically insulating coatings on tips of the electrically conductive fibers remote from the brush core. The insulative, or non-conductive, layer between the fibers and the conductive plane of the brush prevent excessive current draw.

Abstract: The present invention is a release oil of the general formulae: wherein (Z) is an amine. The solvent extracted portion of the release oil has a ratio of A:B less than 1:5. Less than 10% of the molecular weight distribution of the release oil is less than m/z 1000. The release oil preferably has a viscosity of between 200 and 500 centistokes.

Abstract: A method of making a fuser member having an annealed outer surface comprising: providing an outer layer comprising compatible first and second fluorothermoplastics over an outer substrate surface, wherein the first fluorothermoplastic is a crosslinkable polymer and the second fluorothermoplastic is a linear polymer; curing the outer layer to crosslink the first fluorothermoplastic whereby the resulting crosslinked first fluorothermoplastic and the linear polymer second fluorothermoplastic form a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN); and annealing an outer surface of the outer layer by contacting the fuser member with applied pressure against a heated surface, without first sintering the second fluorothermoplastic linear polymer through application of heat alone.

Abstract: A composition comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer having the subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x-, —(CF2CF(CF3))y-, and —(CF2CF2)z-, wherein x is from 1 to 40 or 60 to 80 mole percent, z is greater than 40 to no more than 89 mole percent, and y is such that x+y+z equals 100 mole percent; wherein the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer is crosslinked with an organic primary amine. The composition may be formed by curing an aqueous coated composition of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer and a water soluble organic primary amine, such as triethylenetetraamine (TETA). A fuser member comprises a substrate having an outer substrate surface, and an outer layer disposed over the outer substrate surface where the outer layer comprises such a composition.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising: a substrate comprising an outer substrate surface; and an outer layer comprising compatible first and second fluorothermoplastics disposed over the outer substrate surface, wherein the first fluorothermoplastic is a crosslinked polymer and the second fluorothermoplastic is a linear polymer and wherein the compatible first and second fluorothermoplastics form a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN). The SIPN provides a relatively compliant layer in comparison to use of the crosslinked polymer alone, and avoids the need for sintering of a layer formed from the linear polymer alone. The SIPN may be formed from an aqueous coated composition of polyperfluoroalkoxy-tetrafluoroethylene (PFA) and THV Fluoroplastics (FLC) polymers along with a soluble organic primary amine for crosslinking the THV Fluoroplastics (FLC).

Abstract: A fuser member is described wherein the fuser member includes a core, a cushion comprising a first layer adjacent to the core and a second layer on top of the first layer, and a plastic sleeve. Also described is a process for producing a fuser member, which includes applying a first layer of cushioning composition on a core, applying a second layer of cushioning composition on the first layer of the cushioning composition, and applying a plastic sleeve on the second layer of the cushioning composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of printing which includes providing a substrate having an inked surface. The inked surface is typically achieved using an offset lithographic printing press. A thermoplastic polymer powder is applied to the inked surface. The surface is then fused. An advantage of the prepared substrate is that there is reduced contamination of electrostatographic fusing systems when fused by heat and pressure fixing. Another aspect of the invention further provides a method of fusing a substrate having an inked surface wherein a thermoplastic powder has been applied to the inked surface prior to stacking the uncured offset prints.

Abstract: The present invention is a roller for use in a fuser assembly of a reproduction apparatus. The roller includes a generally elongated substantially cylindrical tube having two ends. End gudgeons having a cylindrical wall extending from a surface of the gudgeon matching the cylindrical tube are welded to the ends of the cylindrical tube. The present invention is also a method to manufacture a fixing roller or core.

Abstract: The present invention is a release oil of the general formulae: wherein (Z) is an amine. The solvent extracted portion of the release oil has a ratio of A:B less than 1:5. Less than 10% of the molecular weight distribution of the release oil is less than m/z 1000. The release oil preferably has a viscosity of between 200 and 500 centistokes.

Abstract: A fuser roller for toner fusing systems and processes, and including a base and a fusing surface layer. The fusing surface layer has a first elastomer continuous phase and a second elastomer discontinuous phase; the discontinuous phase is dispersed through the continuous phase in the form of domains. The second elastomer is wettable by the first elastomer, and at the temperature of the fusing process, the modulus of the second elastomer is greater than the modulus of the first elastomer. The swell levels of the first and second elastomers both are greater than zero, with the swell level of the second elastomer being lower than the swell level of the first elastomer.

Abstract: A fuser roller for toner fusing systems and processes, and including a base and a fusing surface layer. The fusing surface layer includes a first elastomer continuous phase, a second elastomer discontinuous phase, and thermally conductive filler, with the discontinuous phase dispersed through the continuous phase in the form of domains, and the thermally conductive filler also dispersed through the continuous phase. The second elastomer is wettable by the first elastomer. The second elastomer discontinuous phase domains are in sufficient number and of sufficient size, and there is a sufficient amount of the thermally conductive filler, so that the thermally conductive filler is concentrated sufficiently to be nonuniformly distributed through the fusing surface layer as a network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of printing which includes providing a substrate having an inked surface. The inked surface is typically achieved using an offset lithographic printing press. A thermoplastic polymer powder is applied to the inked surface. The surface is then fused. An advantage of the prepared substrate is that there is reduced contamination of electrostatographic fusing systems when fused by heat and pressure fixing. Another aspect of the invention further provides a method of fusing a substrate having an inked surface wherein a thermoplastic powder has been applied to the inked surface prior to stacking the uncured offset prints.

Abstract: A surface contacting member for toner fusing systems and processes. This surface contacting member has a fluoroelastomer surface layer containing amorphous silica that has been surface treated with at least one organoaminosilane.