Abstract: There is described a method for producing a fuser member. The method includes obtaining a substrate and positioning a fluoroplastic sleeve around the substrate. The outer surface of the fluoroplastic sleeve is roughened to a surface roughness of between about 0.03 ?m Ra and about 3 ?m Ra. The outer surface is coated with a functional silicone oil.

Abstract: There is described a method for producing a fuser member. The method includes obtaining a substrate and positioning a fluoroplastic sleeve around the substrate. The outer surface of the fluoroplastic sleeve is roughened to a surface roughness of between about 0.03 ?m Ra and about 3 ?m Ra. The outer surface is coated with a functional silicone oil.

Abstract: A plurality of stripper fingers in a fuser assembly are provided to assist in preventing damage to the fuser roll caused by prior art fingers. In the present invention, skiis are positioned away back from the tip of the stripper finger. These skiis extend beyond the lower surface of the stripper finger and are enabled to lift the tip away from the fuser surface during a paper jam or hard stripping situation.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer comprising perfluoroalkoxy polytetrafluoroethylene and carbon black fillers, wherein said outer layer has a volume resistivity of from about 1×10?4 to about 1×10?8 ohms/square.

Abstract: A plurality of stripper fingers in a fuser assembly are provided to assist in preventing damage to the fuser roll caused by prior art fingers. In the present invention, skiis are positioned away back from the tip of the stripper finger. These skiis extend beyond the lower surface of the stripper finger and are enabled to lift the tip away from the fuser surface during a paper jam or hard stripping situation.

Abstract: An energy transfer device may include a fuser roll, a pressure roll, the pressure roller and the fuser roll being part of a marking system, and a heat pipe, the heat pipe being in contact with at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll. A method of using an energy transfer device that includes a fuser roll, a pressure roll, the pressure roll and the fuser roll being part of a marking system, and a heat pipe may include contacting the heat pipe with at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, absorbing heat from a relatively hot region of the at least one of the fuser roll and the pressure roll using a working fluid, and dissipating the absorbed heat by evaporating the working fluid.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer comprising perfluoroalkoxy polytetrafluoroethylene and carbon black fillers, wherein said outer layer has a volume resistivity of from about 1×10?4 to about 1×10?8 ohm/cm2.

Abstract: A smart and virgin contact fuser service assembly is disclosed for servicing a toner fuser assembly and includes (a) a cleaning device including a cleaning member having virgin cleaning portions on a cleaning surface, the virgin cleaning portions being feedable in a single pass into cleaning contact with a fuser first surface of a fuser member being cleaned; (b) an oiling device including an oiling member having virgin oiling portions on an oiling surface, the virgin oiling portions being feedable in a single pass into oiling contact with a second surface of a fuser member being oiled; and (c) a controller connected to the cleaning device and to the oiling device for selectably and controllably feeding the virgin cleaning portions and the oiling portions in response to a measurable condition of the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: A fuser roll as used in xerographic printing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical surface. On an interior surface of the roll is defined one or more spiral ribs to support the structure of the roll. The rib may be formed of one piece with the outer wall, or the rib can be attached to the inner surface by an adhesive.

Abstract: Media removal apparatus having a stripper finger structure for separating the lead edge of an imaging media such as plain paper from a heated fuser roll and a stripper baffle for separating the portion of the imaging media beyond the lead edge of the imaging media from the heated fuser roll. The stripper finger structure is supported for movement between a home or standby position and an active position, with the finger tips in constant contact with the heated fuser roll, for effecting separation of the media's lead edge from the heated fuser roll. Likewise, the stripper baffle structure is supported for movement between home or standby positions to its active position where it effects separation of a portion of the imaging media beyond its lead edge.

Abstract: Media removal apparatus having a stripper finger structure for separating the lead edge of an imaging media such as plain paper from a heated fuser roll and a stripper baffle for separating the portion of the imaging media beyond the lead edge of the imaging media from the heated fuser roll. The stripper finger structure is supported for movement between a home or standby position and an active position, with the finger tips in constant contact with the heated fuser roll, for effecting separation of the media's lead edge from the heated fuser roll. Likewise, the stripper baffle structure is supported for movement between home or standby positions to its active position where it effects separation of a portion of the imaging media beyond its lead edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a release agent to a fuser roll is constructed having a web material impregnated with the release agent. A supply reel is rotatably mounted in a housing and contains a roll of web material for dispensing into the system. The web material is extended across the fuser roll to a take-up reel. An application roller is positioned adjacent to the fuser roll on the opposite side of the web path and is biased against the web material to provide a force to insure engagement between the web and the fuser roll. The supply reel is driven to dispense the web material in a direction consistent with the tangential direction of the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a release agent to a fuser roll is constructed having a web material impregnated with the release agent. A supply reel is rotatably mounted in a housing and contains a roll of web material for dispensing into the system. The web material is extended across the fuser roll to a take-up reel. An application roller is positioned adjacent to the fuser roll on the opposite side of the web path and is biased against the web material to provide a force to insure engagement between the web and the fuser roll. The supply reel is driven to dispense the web material in a direction consistent with the tangential direction of the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: A method and a fusing apparatus for producing a reduced recovery time period from a low energy-saver mode temperature back up to a high fusing temperature. The fusing apparatus includes a heating member for heating and fusing toner images onto a copy sheet; a temperature sensor mounted relative to the heating member for sensing temperature of the heating member; a source of primary power supply for supplying heating power to the heating member; a source of secondary power supply, that is less in level than the source of primary power supply, for supplying secondary heating power to the heated member; and a controller connected to the temperature sensor, and to the source of primary and the source of secondary power supplies for turning the source of primary and the source of secondary power supplies on and off responsively to the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a reproduction machine having a fuser roller for fusing toner images on an image bearing sheet, a release agent management (RAM) system for applying an image offset prevent release agent to the fuser roller. The RAM system includes a rotatable supply core located to a first side of the fuser roller, a rotatable take up core located to a second side of the fuser roller, a release agent impregnated web member having a portion threaded between the supply core and the take-up core for contacting, and applying release agent to, the fuser roller, and a release agent supplying roll positioned for contacting and supplying release agent to the threaded portion of the web member. The release agent supplying roll has a non-continuous surface pattern that includes release agent supplying surface areas for contacting the threaded portion of the web member, and release agent non-supplying surface areas out of contact with the threaded portion of the web member.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus for heat fusing toner images to print substrate comprising an elongated fuser roll and an elongated pressure roll. The pressure roll is supported for pressure engagement with the fuser roll to form a nip therebetween adapted to receive substrates. An oil impregnated web material and an elongated pinch roll are provided. The pinch roll has an outer surface mounted against the web material to urge the web material into contact with the fuser roll to apply release material to the fuser roll. The outer surface includes a first portion having a diameter and a length, a second portion having a diameter and a length, and a third portion having a diameter and a length. The first portion diameter is greater than the second and third portion diameter. The first portion, second portion and third portion are spaced along the axis of the pinch roller. The second portion and third portion are located at opposite ends of the pinch roll.

Abstract: A web release agent delivery system for a heat and pressure fuser. The system includes an oil impregnated web which is transported between supply and take-up rolls while contacting the fuser roll. The web is formed of a material having sub-denier fibers. It is preferred that the web is formed of a polyaramid fiber material with a polyester binder wherein some of the polyaramid fibers are of a sub-denier thickness. The preferred composition of the material is approximately 70% polyester and 30% polyaramid with approximately 50% of the polyaramid fibers having a denier ranging between approximately 0.8 and 0.25 denier. The disclosed material having an improved oil retaining capacity and donor capacity as used in a web release agent delivery system for a heat and pressure fuser.

Abstract: A roll fuser assembly including a fuser roll and a pressure roll. The rolls are crowned and are supported in pressure engagement with each other to form a fusing nip. The pressure engagement of the rolls eliminate nonuniform nip loading in wide fusers as well as providing uniform velocity through the fuser roll/pressure roll nip. It is preferred that the crowned profile of one of the rolls be substantially to the center of the roll and that the other be offset therefrom. It is further preferred that the diameters of each of the rolls be substantially the same at each end.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying offset preventing liquid to a fuser roll including an oil impregnated web member adapted to be moved by a motor from a supply core to a take up core; and a control to vary the duty cycle operation of the motor to drive the web member at a relatively constant liner speed at a contact nip, the control including a timer to monitor the cumulative time of operation of the motor and to progressively decrease the duty cycle of the motor in response to the cumulative time of operation wherein the progressively decreased duty cycle of operation compensates for the increasing radius of the web member on the take up core to maintain the relatively constant linear speed at the contact nip.

Abstract: Fuser apparatus for heat fusing toner images to a print substrate has a fuser roll and a pressure roll forming a fusing nip therebetween, a system to deliver liquid release agent to the fuser roll including a movable web having a first side and a second side supported between a web supply roll and a web take-up roll, a housing supporting the supply roll and take-up roll such that one of the supply and take-up rolls is on one side of the fuser roll and the other is on the other side of the fuser roll and the first side of the movable web is in contact with the fuser roll along a path parallel to its longitudinal axis.