Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element and a housing, the housing including an interior space, which is accessible through a housing opening, and the sensing element being situated in the interior space and being designed to detect a property and/or a composition of an ambient medium of the sensor. The method includes filling the interior space with a protective medium through the housing opening, the protective medium being designed to transfer the property and/or the composition of the ambient medium to the sensing element; fixing a preferably flexible diaphragm at or in the housing opening preferably for sealing the housing opening, the diaphragm including at least one diaphragm opening; and sealing the at least one diaphragm opening. A sensor, which is manufactured according to this method, is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a component that exhibits a designed thermal response which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The component may include a roller that contacts a heating device such as a fuser.

Abstract: A media sensor for an image forming apparatus is operative to sense and distinguish opaque, transparent or no media in a media path. In one embodiment, an optical source and detector are positioned on opposite sides of the media path, at an acute, non-zero angle with respect to a direction normal to the media path. In other embodiments, an optical source and detector are co-located on the same side of the media path with an optical barrier between them, and one or more reflective surfaces positioned on the opposite side. With no media in the media path, the detector receives a readily detectable amount of optical energy emitted by the source. For opaque media, the detector receives very little, if any, optical energy emitted by the source. For transparent media, the detector receives a level of optical energy between that in the cases of opaque media and no media.

Abstract: Fusing systems are provided that utilize a heated fusing roller in conjunction with a backup belt assembly to provide a large fusing region within a minimal amount of space. The heated fusing roller comprises a thin walled steel roll having an elastomeric inner layer and a non-resilient flouropolymer release layer. The thin wall steel core allows for relatively faster warm up times compared to conventional fusing systems. Moreover, the backup belt assembly allows for the varying of the pressure profile and the enhancement of media release. The utilization of this design minimizes the size of the system necessary to attain the adhesion of toner to the media, which in turn reduces the cost of the mechanism. Further, the use of the varying pressure nip minimizes the amount of friction between a belt support member and the belt itself, which may reduce friction, wear, and will reduce the risk of print quality defects.

Abstract: A method and device for removing media sheet jams within an image forming device. The position of the media sheets is monitored as the media sheets move through the image forming process. The occurrence of a media jam is detected, and the position of each media sheet within the device at the time of the jam is also detected. A message is displayed to an operator indicating the number of sheets within the device that should be removed to clear the jam. The order of media sheet removal may also be displayed to the operator.

Abstract: A sorting machine receives M successive groups of copies, each group consisting of N identical copies, to be converted into N complete sets of copies. N may considerably exceed the number of collecting bins of the sorting machine. In a first sorting operation, the cards are distributively sorted into a predetermined number of the collecting bins, until all cards have been deposited into bins. The stacks in the bins are then removed and laid one atop the other to form a new infeed stack, which is deposited into the infeed bin of the machine, and a second sorting operation is performed, until all cards have again been deposited into bins. This is repeated, if and as necessary, until the desired conversion has been accomplished. The sequence in which the cards are distributed into bins during especially the second and any subsequent sorting operations is so controlled that the desired sets are actually formed, no matter what the values of M and N and no matter what the number of collecting bins available.

Abstract: A collating machine has plural infeed bins and a single outfeed bin. M stacks of copies, each stack consisting of N identical copies, the copies being different from one stack to the other, are laid into infeed bins. In a cyclical sequence, individual copies are transferred from the successive infeed bins to the common outfeed bin. To be able to do this, when the number M of stacks even considerably exceeds the number of infeed bins, the M X N copies are subjected to plural successive collating operations. During each collating operation, the number of infeed bins utilized is less than the number M. During each collating operation, all the M X N copies pass from infeed bins to the common outfeed bin. For the second and any subsequent collating operation, the stacked copies in the outfeed bin are removed and reintroduced into infeed bins, for another collating operation.