Abstract: A fuser belt comprising in order a substrate comprising a polyimide substrate, an epoxy primer layer comprising an epoxy resin having the following structure: where R1 and R2 are each independently H or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and R3 and R4 are each independently H, F, or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, Z is a carbonyl cross-linking group, and x is an integer from 1 to about 10 and said epoxy priming layer also comprising an anhydride crosslinking agent cyclic mono anhydride or dianhydride having the following structure: and mixture thereof where R is an alkyl group containing 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a toner release layer comprising a silsesquioxane.

Abstract: A fuser belt comprising in order a substrate comprising a high temperature thermoset polymer, an epoxy primer layer comprising an epoxy resin having the following structure: where R1 and R2 are each independently H or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and R3 and R4 are each independently H, F, or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, Z is a carbonyl cross-linking group, and x is an integer from 1 to about 10 and said epoxy priming layer also comprising an anhydride crosslinking agent cyclic mono anhydride or dianhydride having the following structure: and mixture thereof where R is an alkyl group containing 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a low surface energy polymeric release coating.

Abstract: A roller for use as a fusing roller or a pressure roller or a drying roller in a system for treating printed ink image-bearing substrates and a composition for coating the outside of the roller. The composition is a reaction product of a high molecular weight, reactive cross-linkable poly(dialkylsiloxane), a cross-linked poly(dialkylsiloxane) including a filler and a silane cross-linking agent.

Abstract: An oil-free process for forming a fused toner image on a receiver includes forming on a receiver, an image including toner particles that contain a non-crosslinked linear polymeric binder, a wax, and a colorant; and contacting the receiver bearing the toner particle image with a fuser member containing a support, a cushion layer overlying the support, and a release layer overlying the cushion layer. The release layer includes a cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a cured aminosiloxane copolymer, and a zinc oxide particulate filler. The cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer contains —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, and —(CF2CF2)z— subunits, wherein x is from 1 to 40 or 60 to 80 mole percent, y is from 10 to 90 mole percent, z is from 10 to 90 mole percent, and x+y+z equals 100 mole percent. The receiver in contact with the fuser member is subjected to conditions effective in the absence of a release oil for fixing the toner particle image to the receiver.

Abstract: A toner fuser member contains a substrate on which is disposed a toner release surface layer formed from a composition that includes a silsesquioxane and a curable epoxy resin. On curing, the composition forms an interpenetrating polymer network of the silsesquioxane and cured epoxy resin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for validating that a fuser member presumptively belongs to a class of fuser member for imparting a certain surface finish to an electrophotographic output print, and/or validating that the fuser member has a heating behavior within specification. Utilizing a temperature-sensing device for measuring temperature of the fuser member during heating thereof, a validation number is computed for comparison with a range of validation numbers associated with the class. If the validation number is included in the range, membership in the class is confirmed and/or the fuser member is shown to be within specification. Additionally, an auxiliary measuring device can be associated with the fuser roller to generate signals for computing, from measurements of a temperature-dependent property of the roller, a validation number relating to the temperature-dependent property.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a converting belt system belt is coated with a composition suitable for use with ink image-bearing substrates that require ink drying, fusing, or both for the ink image-bearing substrates to improve various durability and other properties of the ink image-bearing substrates.

Abstract: A roller composition for forming an outer coating on the roller. The composition includes an addition cure polysiloxane component and a high molecular weight reactive polyfunctional poly(alkylsiloxane) component. The coated roller is effective for drying and fusing ink images on a substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer sleeve member including a polymer sidewall for use with an image cylinder or a blanket cylinder in an electrophotographic process. The sleeve has a Young's Modulus of Elasticity from about 0.5 to about 10,000 Mpa.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fuser roller for use in a high speed fusing station where improved heat transfer from the fuser roller to the fused substrates is required. The invention also relates to an improved fuser system using the improved fuser roller of the present invention in combination with an improved pressure roller to produce an improved fuser section.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer sleeve including a polymer sidewall and a ceramer outer coating and a method for producing the polymer sleeve for use with a blanket cylinder in an electrophotographic process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a polymer sleeve including a polymer sleeve for use with an image cylinder or a blanket cylinder in an electrophotographic process so that the sleeve has a stretched length as mounted on the mandrel equal to a length of the mandrel.

Abstract: A toner fuser member contains a substrate on which is disposed a toner release surface layer formed from a composition that includes a silsesquioxane and a curable phenolic resin. On curing, the composition forms an interpenetrating polymer network of the silsesquioxane and phenolic resin.

Abstract: A toner fuser member has a substrate, on which is formed a toner release surface layer from a composition that includes: about 95 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % of a cross-linked, glycidyl end-capped bisphenolic polymer having the formula where R1 and R2 are each independently H or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and R3 and R4 are each independently H, F, or an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, Z is a carbonyl cross-linking group, and x is an integer from 1 to about 10; and about 0.01 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of a perfluoroalkylsubstituted glycidyl-reactive compound having the formula where R5 is H or F, Q is OH or SiR6R7R8, R6, R7, and R8 being independently selected from the group consisting of Cl, OH, an alkyl group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group containing 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, and an amino group containing 0 to about 4 carbon atoms; and n is an integer from 1 to about 15.

Abstract: Disclosed are fuser members, apparatus and methods which employ compositions that can be varied to provide a fused toner image with a selected gloss level. In embodiments, the apparatus and methods employ a fusing member having an outer contact surface thereon which contacts a previously fused toner image under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. The contact surface has a Gardner G60 gloss of up to about 35 and is comprised of a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin, such as polyfluoroethylenepropylene (FEP). In embodiments, the contact surface comprises a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin including subunits of: —(CH2 CF2)x-, —(CF2CF(CF3))y-, and —(CF2 CF2)z-, wherein: x is from 1 to 50 or 60 to 80 mole percent, y is from 10 to 89 mole percent, z is from 10 to 89 mole percent, and x+y+z equals 100 mole percent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low camping fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer roller coating having a closely controlled curing agent content.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fusing station for fusing a toner image to a receiver when the fusing station includes a fuser roller having a hardness from about 50 to about 80 Shore A and an outside coating comprising a low damping fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer roller coating formulation having a tan delta from about 0.01 to about 0.15 and containing from about 1.5 to about 2.5 parts per hundred (pph), based upon the weight of the copolymer of a curing agent having a bisphenol residue and a pressure roller having a smaller outer diameter than the fuser roller and positioned in pressure contact with the fuser roller to form a fusing nip between the pressure roller and the fuser roller. A method is also provided for fusing toner images to receiver sheets using the fusing station.

Abstract: A fusing station including an externally heated deformable fuser roller and a relatively harder pressure roller, the fuser roller including a heat distribution layer. A fuser roller embodiment includes a core member, a base cushion layer around the core member, a heat storage layer around the base cushion layer, a heat distribution layer around the heat storage layer, and a thin gloss control layer around the heat distribution layer. Ratios of thermal conductivity divided by thickness for the layers are, respectively: for the base cushion layer, less than approximately 13.3 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; for the heat storage layer, approximately between 300 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-1400 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; for the heat distribution layer, approximately between 600 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-4,800 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.; and, for the gloss control layer, approximately between 600 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.-6,000 BTU/hr/ft2/°F.

Abstract: For fusing toner images to receiver members, a fusing station is disclosed including an externally heated deformable fuser roller, and a relatively harder pressure roller. The fuser roller includes a core member, a base cushion layer around the core member, a heat storage layer around the base cushion layer, and a thin gloss control layer around the heat storage layer, which fuser roller has an improved fusing efficiency. A ratio of thermal conductivity of the heat storage layer divided by thermal conductivity of the base cushion layer is preferably in a range of approximately between 1.5-7.