Abstract: A fuser assembly comprises a fusing member and a pressure member, where the fusing member and the pressure member cooperatively rotate to form a fuser nip. The fuser is arranged so that the pressure member speed is reduced with respect to the fusing member speed, thus forming a reduced pressure member speed. The reduced pressure member speed stretches or retards the surface of the fusing member elastomer enough to assist in stripping or peeling the media sheet lead edge from the fusing member. As a result of initially stripping or peeling the media sheet lead edge, the remaining media body likewise is assisted to be stripped or peeled from the fusing member. In various embodiments the media stripping or peeling process is assisted by means of one or more air knives, one or more stripping fingers, or any combination of these items.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuser member comprising a substrate, a layer thereover comprising a polymer or an elastomer, and, on the layer, a coating including mercapto- and amino-functionalities comprising from about 0.05 mole percent to about 1.00 mole percent mercapto groups and from about 0.0001 mole percent to about 0.06 mole percent amino groups, wherein the ratio of mercapto to amino mole percent values is at least 2. The layer preferably is a fluoropolymer or fluoroelastomer filled with a metal oxide (CuO, Al2O3, etc.).

Abstract: A sheet centering stripping assembly is provided for stripping a fused sheet exiting a fusing nip having a still malleable toner image thereon. The sheet centering stripping assembly includes (a) a first air knife device for directing a first flat stream of pressurized air at a first force to contact a first side of the fused sheet exiting the fusing nip; and (b) a second air knife device for directing a second flat stream of pressurized ionized air at a second force to contact a second and opposite side of the fused sheet exiting the fusing nip, thereby equalizing air flow above and below the fused sheet to prevent smudging of the malleable toner image and minimize curling of such fused sheet.

Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a pressure member motion speed reduction device which slows the pressure member speed when the printed paper lead edge exits the nip. The temporarily slower pressure member speed stretches or retards the surface of the fusing member elastomer enough to assist in peeling the lead edge from the fusing member thereby allowing the rest of the paper to peel off. In one embodiment, the paper stripping or peeling process is assisted by means of one or more air knives, one or more stripping fingers, or any combination of these items.

Abstract: A floor standing and environmentally isolated external fusing module dockable with a first external module surround frame surrounding a xerographic toner image marking module is provided and includes (a) a fusing apparatus for receiving from the xerographic toner image marking module a copy sheet carrying an un-fused toner image thereon to heat and permanently fix the toner image onto the copy sheet; (b) a second external module surround frame for surrounding and isolating fusing volatiles from the fusing apparatus to prevent the fusing volatiles from contaminating an imageable surface and wire charging devices in the xerographic toner image marking module, the second external module surround frame having a second set of sheet-path interface and module-to-module docking devices for docking with the xerographic toner image marking module; and (c) floor standing casters mounted to a bottom of the second external module surround frame for movably supporting the floor standing and environmentally isolated externa

Abstract: A release agent application apparatus includes a liquid-permeable member, a first release agent metering member abutting the liquid-permeable member, and a pump operatively connected to the liquid-permeable member to pump the release agent therethrough.

Abstract: Ememplary embodiments include systems and methods to operate an image forming apparatus including at least one or more images of an image reproduction job to be performed using the image forming apparatus and an image reproduction device having a useful life consumed by the image forming apparatus in performing the jobs. Exemplary embodiments include determining image information regarding one or more images for at least one image reproduction job; determining, for the image reproduction device, a remaining useful life of the image reproduction device; determining, for at least one job, and based on the remaining useful life of the image reproduction device, if that job can be performed based on the remaining useful life; generating, an alert notification if that job can not be completed in view of the remaining useful life; and conveying the alert notification to a user, wherein the image information includes fuser use information for reproducing the images.

Abstract: An improvement in a Release Agent Management system that alleviates the buildup of dirt, toner and paper debris on a wick in the system includes a metering roll, a supply of release agent material into which the wick is positioned and a pair of metering blades positioned on opposite sides of the metering roll before and after a nip formed between the metering roll and a donor roll. A first metering blade meters release agent material onto the metering roll and a second blade scrapes the surface of the metering roll to remove contaminants before the surface of the metering roll reaches the supply of release agent material in order to prevent contaminants from plugging the wick and thereby reduce the effectiveness of the wick.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuser member comprising a substrate, a layer thereover comprising a polymer or an elastomer, and, on the layer, a coating including mercapto- and amino-functionalities comprising from about 0.05 mole percent to about 1.00 mole percent mercapto groups and from about 0.0001 mole percent to about 0.06 mole percent amino groups, wherein the ratio of mercapto to amino mole percent values is at least 2. The layer preferably is a fluoropolymer or fluoroelastomer filled with a metal oxide (CuO, Al2O3, etc.).