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

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a core and a layer overlying the core, the layer including a fluorocarbon random copolymer, a curing agent which cures the fluorocarbon random copolymer, the cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3))y—, or —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, z is from 0 to 34 mole percent; x+y+z equals 100 mole percent. The layer further including a particulate filler having aluminum oxide, having a total concentration in the layer of from 10 to 140 parts by weight per 100 parts of the fluorocarbon random copolymer, and alkaline earth metal oxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides or combinations thereof; and siloxane polymer comprising one or more curable, silanol-terminated, polyfunctional poly(C1-6 alkyl)siloxane polymers.

Abstract: A method for producing a replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve and an outside topcoat applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a machine mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser section of the electrophotographic copying machine. The method includes the use of a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the sleeve to support the sleeve during positioning of a cured base cushion layer around the sleeve and a cured topcoat layer over the cured base material.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. The base cushion layer is a highly crosslinked addition-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermally curing, below 100° C., a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller, for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. In certain preferred embodiments, the base cushion layer is a highly cross-linked condensation-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermal curing of a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles. In other preferred embodiments, expandable microspheres are included in lieu of the hollow flexible microballoon particles in an otherwise similar uncured formulation, which expandable microspheres are transformed into expanded hollow microballoon particles during the thermal curing.

Abstract: A controlled modulus fusing-station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer is preferably a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoro-thermoplastic polymer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation can be thermally cured or electron-beam cured. Preferably, the dry formulation is thermally cured and further includes a curing catalyst, preferably a peroxide catalyst. Alternatively, the curing catalyst can be a bisphenol residue.

Abstract: A controlled-modulus fusing station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer can be a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. Alternatively, a protective or gloss control fluoropolymer layer is formed on the elastically deformable layer. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoroelastomer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation is thermally cured or electron-beam cured.

Abstract: A replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve, a primer coat of a silane coupling agent containing epoxies on the sleeve, and an outside coating applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser station of the electrophotographic copying machine.

Abstract: An improved donor member for applying a toner release agent to a toned receiver comprises a support an intermediate layer disposed on the support, and an outermost layer formed from a cured composition comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, and a curable aminosiloxane, wherein the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer has subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, and 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.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a support and a layer overlying the support, the layer including a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent having a bisphenol residue, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, an aminosiloxane, the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer having 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.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods to adjust gloss of a fused toner image, and in particular to reduce differential gloss within the fused toner image so as to provide prints which more closely resemble lithographic prints in image quality. In embodiments, the apparatus and methods employ a finishing member having an outer contact surface thereon which contacts a previously fused toner image under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. The contact surface 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: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3))y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein: x is from 1 to 50 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.

Abstract: An oil-free process for forming a fused toner image on a receiver comprises: forming on a receiver an image comprising toner particles that contain a non-crosslinked linear polymeric binder, a colorant, and a release agent; and contacting the receiver bearing the toner particle image with a fuser member comprising a support and a release layer overlying the support. The release layer comprises a cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a particulate filler comprising zinc oxide and tin oxide and a cured aminosiloxane copolymer, the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer containing —(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.

Abstract: A pressure member for use in fixing toner to a receiver comprises a support an intermediate layer disposed on the support, and an outermost layer formed from a cured composition comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, and a curable aminosiloxane, wherein the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer has subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, 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.