Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart features extending beyond a center section provided between the features. The features and center section are adapted to face an inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: An image forming device comprising two components capable of relative movement and a lubricant disposed between such components. The lubricant may include a carrier medium capable of reducing friction between the components including boron nitride.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a printing device includes a heating device configured to be energized or deenergized. A switching device includes a bimetallic element efficiently thermally coupled to the heating device and configured to deenergize the heating device in a defined period of time in the event of an over temperature condition.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a heater housing with strain relief features for wires associated with electronic components, such as a thermistor and/or thermal cut-off (TCO) device, coupled to a heating element. The heater assembly may be used in a fixing device or fuser in an image forming apparatus including, but not limited to, printers, copiers, faxes, multifunctional devices or all-in-one devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a component that exhibits a designed thermal response which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The component may include a roller that contacts a heating device such as a fuser.

Abstract: An improved laser printer is provided that keeps its fuser at a standby temperature that is somewhat raised above the ambient temperature, which allows the printer to operate more quickly (to begin printing the first page) when a print job arrives at the printer. The time needed to raise the fuser's temperature is minimized, so that other printer operations become the determining factor in the time to first print parameter. The electrical energy that energizes the fuser is provided in a form that prevents light flicker, by use of AC waveform phase control, or by use of integer half cycle control. The present invention uses closed-loop feedback control, and the type of controller is a PID controller.

Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.

Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.

Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for vertically stacking a plurality of articles includes a staging assembly. The staging assembly includes a staging platform configured to receive and support the articles. The staging platform is vertically movable to a plurality of vertical levels. The staging assembly further includes a lift drive to raise and lower the staging platform, and a positioning system to move the articles off of the staging platform at selected ones of the plurality of levels. A conveyor assembly is configured to transport the articles to the staging assembly. The positioning system may be operable to remove the articles from the conveyor assembly and position the articles on the staging platform. The positioning system may be operative to position the articles on the staging platform while the lift drive is raising or lowering the staging platform.

Abstract: A water storage and dispensing system includes a water storage tank, a dispenser, and a conduit system extending between and fluidly connecting the storage tank and the dispenser. The conduit system includes an outer shell conduit defining a conduit passage therein, and an inner tubing extending through the conduit passage. The inner tubing is in fluid communication with each of the storage tank and the dispenser and is arranged and configured to convey water from the storage tank to the dispenser. Preferably, the inner tubing is formed of instrument grade tubing. Preferably, the shell conduit is formed of PEX.

Abstract: Wear of the belt (1) of a belt fuser is minimized by use of a high viscosity lubricant of perfluoropolytrimethylene oxide grease between the inside of the belt and the heater element 6. To avoid damage of the belt at turn on, the belt is heated to a predetermined temperature before force is applied to move the belt.