Abstract: A turret fusing apparatus including (a) a frame; (b) a rotatable external pressure roller mounted at a first mounting position to the frame; and (c) a rotatable turret assembly mounted at a second mounting position on the frame for selectably forming different fusing nips having different characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller. The rotatable turret assembly has at least a pair of internal pressure rollers including a first rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a first fusing nip having a first set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller, and a second rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a second fusing nip having a second set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller.

Abstract: An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing addressable fusing and/or heating of a substrate undergoing xerographic processing are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuser having an array of addressable heating elements in radiative communication with a substrate through a fuser roll or fuser belt. The array of addressable heating elements is operated to selectively heat portions of the substrate to achieve a desired effect on the substrate, such as changing its surface finish, or fusing unfused toner to the substrate. In the case of toner fusing, the array is operated such that substantially only an area covered by the unfused toner is heated. This eliminates the need for blanket fusing, and generally provides for greater flexibility in xerographically processing substrates. Apparatus and methods for performing two-sided selective fusing and/or heating are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing addressable fusing and/or heating of a substrate undergoing xerographic processing are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuser having an array of addressable heating elements in radiative communication with a substrate through a fuser roll or fuser belt. The array of addressable heating elements is operated to selectively heat portions of the substrate to achieve a desired effect on the substrate, such as changing its surface finish, or fusing unfused toner to the substrate. In the case of toner fusing, the array is operated such that substantially only an area covered by the unfused toner is heated. This eliminates the need for blanket fusing, and generally provides for greater flexibility in xerographically processing substrates. Apparatus and methods for performing two-sided selective fusing and/or heating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fusing member is formed from an evacuable inner tube with a cylindrical wall. The evacuable inner tube is inserted into an outer tube and the inner tube is pressurized to expand the inner tube such that the wall is in contact with the outer tube. An amount of a working fluid is then sealed within the inner tube at a below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus for transferring a phase change ink onto a print medium having a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image; an imaging member for accepting the phase change ink image from the phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from the imaging member to the print medium, and a transfix pressure member positioned in association with the imaging member, wherein the print medium passes through a nip formed between the imaging member and the transfix pressure member, and wherein the imaging member exerts pressure on the transfix pressure member so as to transfer and fuse the phase change ink image from the imaging member to the print medium, and further wherein the transfix pressure member includes a substrate; an intermediate layer positioned on the substrate; and an outer layer on the intermediate layer and the outer layer has a modulus of from about 1 to about 50 MPa, a thickness of from about 0.

Abstract: A printing device includes: multiple marking engines that during operation place marks on output media; and, a power supply that selectively supplies selected levels of power to the marking engines for selected times so as to ready the marking engines for operation from a dormant state. Power from the power supply is selectively distributed to the multiple marking engines so that at least one of the marking engines is readied for operation prior to at least one of the other marking engines.

Abstract: A fuser system of a xerographic device provides a fuser member, and a pressure member supported for pressure engagement with the fuser member. The pressure member includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is variably pressurized for controlled change of the effective hardness of the outer layer. Controlling the effective hardness of the outer layer can be in response to the media paper weight and/or image content being processed though the xerographic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments to facilitate the characterization of fuser stripping performance. Recognizing that the characteristics of a substrate exiting a fusing nip are indicative of the operation of the nip and the stripping operation itself, several contact and non-contact sensing methods are described to detect or predict degraded stripping performance, thereby permitting one or more compensation techniques to be employed, or to identify the need for fuser subsystem replacement.

Abstract: A coated member includes a substrate and a coating layer over the substrate where the coating layer includes at least one of ferromagnetic and magnetic particles dispersed in a binder. The member, which is suitable for use in an electrostatographic printing process, can be in the form of a fuser member, a fixing member, a pressure roller, or a release agent donor member.

Abstract: An air diffusing vacuum transport belt including a first perforated layer and a second non-perforated layer is provided for transporting image carrying substrates without vacuum belt induced image defects. The first perforated layer includes a top surface and a bottom surface, solid areas, and perforated hole areas interspersing the solid areas for directing pressurized airflow from the top surface through to the bottom surface. The air diffusing vacuum transport belt also includes a second non-perforated layer formed over the top surface of the first perforated layer and covering the solid areas and the perforated hole areas. The second non-perforated layer has an inner surface positioned over the top surface of the first perforated layer, and an outer surface for uniformly supporting substrates.

Abstract: A printing apparatus may include a heating element with at least one of a contact fuser, a radiant fuser, a substrate preheater, an image bearing member heater, and a transfuser, the heating element including a lattice of filaments wherein the filaments are separated from each other by a spacing and the spacing is such that an energy input into the heating element is radiantly output in a specific frequency band. A method of using a printing apparatus may include providing a heating element that is part of the printing device and that includes a lattice of filaments wherein the filaments are separated from each other by a spacing and the spacing is such that an energy input into the lattice is radiantly output in a specific frequency band, and performing at least one printing operation.

Abstract: A fuser system and method for a xerographic device having improved self-stripping capabilities for a wide latitude of substrate media. The fuser system includes a fuser member and a pressure member in which the pressure member is made to exert a predetermined pressure upon the fuser member. In applying this pressure load, a nip is formed having a nip width between the fuser member and the pressure member. A predetermined creep exists during normal fusing of a substrate. A load adjustment device is provided to momentarily increase the exerted pressure as a leading edge or other portion of the substrate passes through, and/or in the vicinity of, the nip, thereby increasing the creep magnitude momentarily and improving self-stripping capabilities.

Abstract: A fuser system of a xerographic device, including a fuser member and a pressure member in which the pressure member is made to exert pressure upon the fuser member so as to form a nip having a nip width between the fuser member and the pressure member, wherein the nip width is set to within a specification nip width range, a drive system for driving said fuser member relative to said pressure roll; a sensor for monitoring the torque of said drive system; a processor in communication with the sensor that receives torque data from the sensor, wherein the processor determines a current nip pressure uniformity from the torque data and compares the current nip pressure uniformity to the specification nip pressure uniformity range, and a nip pressure adjustment device in communication with the processor, which adjusts the current nip pressure uniformity to be within the specification nip pressure uniformity range.

Abstract: One or more agricultural active ingredients (such as fungicides or insecticides) are entrapped in polymeric matrixes to form particles having a diameter in the range from about 0.2 to about 200 microns. The particles are applied to soil, to seeds, or to plants and release the active ingredient(s) at a rate sufficiently low to avoid phytoxicity but at a rate sufficiently high to provide effective amounts of the active ingredient(s), preferably throughout the growing period of the plant.

Abstract: A water filter assembly allowing for uniform placement in refrigerators at the point of refrigerator manufacture, includes a self-contained unit, including a filter component, inlet and outlet connections, and water storage means all housed in one unit for placement, in its entirety, in the refrigerator during manufacture thereof with only a single point of inlet coupling to a refrigeration system of the refrigerator, the single point of coupling being to an internal refrigerator water supply. A method for uniform placement of a water filter assembly in refrigerators at the point of refrigerator manufacture is further included.

Abstract: A fuser system of a xerographic device includes at least one set of a fuser member and a pressure member having a nip width therebetween, the nip width being set to within a specification nip width range, at least one sensor for monitoring the velocity of at lease one of the fuser member, the pressure member and a media passing through the nip, a processor that receives the velocity data from the at least one sensor and that determines a current nip width from the velocity data and compares the current nip width to the specification nip width range, and a nip width adjustment device in communication with the processor, which adjusts the current nip width to be within the specification nip width range. To offset changes in nip width due to hardening/softening of a fuser member material, or to provide a means to measure nip width in order to enable fusing setpoints using multiple nip width specifications, a method for closed loop control of nip width is enabled by the fuser system.

Abstract: A high speed heat and pressure belt fuser apparatus or structure for fixing toner images including an endless belt and a pair of pressure members between which the endless belt is sandwiched for forming a fusing nip through which substrates carrying toner images pass with the toner images contacting an outer surface of the endless belt. Efficient uniform heat transfer to a fusing belt, especially belts with macro non-uniformities and/or a rough surface, for enabling better toner fusing uniformity, preventing localized cold offset and extending belt life is effected by the addition of a spring loaded mechanism inside a belt module within the region of contact with the External Heat Roll (EHR). Such an arrangement produces superior contact and therefore better heat transfer to the belt. A positive and consistent heating contact is essential for uniform and high image gloss.

Abstract: A heat and pressure belt fuser structure having an endless belt and a pair of pressure engageable members between which the endless belt is sandwiched for forming a fusing nip through which substrates carrying toner images pass with the toner images contacting an outer surface of the endless belt, at least one of the pressure engageable members has a deformable layer, and the endless belt has a thickness of from about 1 to about 8 mm; and the fuser structure includes an external source of thermal energy for elevating a pre-nip area of the belt. The thick belt in combination with a deformable layer of at least one of the pressure member(s) cooperate to provide a large nip and adequate creep for intrinsic paper stripping.

Abstract: A system includes at least one movable image bearing member transporting a latent image in an electrophotographic printing system. A developer station associated with the at least one image bearing member deposits a developed image on the latent image. The developed image includes toner particles and carrier liquid. A transfer station associated with the at least one image bearing member transfers the developed image to a receiving medium. A liquid removal station disposed between the developer station and the transfer station includes a source of high fluid pressure emitting an open-air jet of fluid for directly and/or indirectly removing at least a portion of the carrier liquid from the developed image.