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 epoxy resin. On curing, the composition forms an interpenetrating polymer network of the silsesquioxane and cured epoxy resin.

Abstract: Reducing variation in the surface temperature of an externally-heated fusing roller in an electrophotographic machine, the variation typically occurring during the beginning of a fusing run, by detecting the beginning of a fusing run and applying a modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic to the fusing roller. The mode of the electrophotographic machine is monitored to determine whether the machine has changed operating modes, and the application of the modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic to the fusing roller is ceased when the electrophotographic machine changes modes. The force with which the heating rollers engage the fusing roller is controlled within desired operating limits.

Abstract: An external heater for a fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member. The external heater has a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surface. A mechanism is provided for engaging a variable portion of the heat transfer surface with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the heating device to the fuser member through the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A speed control mechanism for a reproduction apparatus including a fuser assembly having pressure, applying members in nip relation to apply pressure to a receiver member bearing a marking particle image to fuse such marking particle image to such receiver member transported through the fuser assembly. The speed control mechanism has an input device for storing parameters required for fusing particular types of receiver members under various desired conditions, and a device for determining fuser control parameters, including overdrive effect, based on information from the input device and selection of a particular receiver member type and certain conditions. A fuser assembly controller then sets fusing parameters based on the determination by the determining device, and adjusts the transport speed of a receiver member through the fuser assembly to compensate for the determined overdrive effect.

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 electrophotographic machine includes a fusing station configured for fusing an image to an image substrate by applying fusing process parameters to the image substrate. A controller adjusts the fusing process parameters applied to the image substrate dependent at least in part upon whether the image substrate is to be processed by a glossing station to thereby reduce undesirable image artifacts that result when an image contaminated with release fluid is fused and then glossed.

Abstract: Producing an enhanced gloss electrophotographic toner image on a substrate by coating colored fusible toner particles supported on a substrate with a layer of clear toner containing an offset preventing wax, transporting the substrate bearing clear toner coated colored fusible toner particles through a fuser zone to fuse the fusible toner particles and produce a substrate bearing a fused clear coated toner image, and transporting the substrate bearing the clear coated fused toner image through downstream glossing device to re-fuse the fused toner image to increase the gloss of the previously fused toner image.

Abstract: A fuser release agent dispensing system for a rotatable fuser, including a transfer stage and a metering stage. The transfer stage includes a first roller having a surface rotatable about a fixed axis, and a second roller positionable for contacting the first roller. The second roller is positionable against the fuser roller. The first roller is driven by the fuser roller and it, in turn, drives the second roller. The metering stage includes a sump for supplying release agent, a metering roller with a surface for removing release agent from the sump and a translational assembly configured to move the metering roller surface into and out of contact with the first roller surface. The amount of fluid release agent transferred from a sump to a fuser is controlled in response to a change in one or more image reproduction parameters.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cooling or heating, or both, a fuser belt in a process for producing electrophotographic toner images on a substrate. The images are produced by passing a substrate bearing an image through a fusing zone to fuse fusible toner particles comprising the image to produce a substrate bearing a fused toner image, passing the substrate bearing the fused toner image through a cooling zone to produce a cooled substrate, which is thereafter passed to a release zone where it is released to produce the substrate bearing the toner image.

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 high heat transfer efficiency fusing roller includes an annular elastomeric base cushion layer around a rigid cylindrical core member, with a high thermal conductivity layer around the base cushion layer, and a thin flexible release layer around the high thermal conductivity layer. The base cushion layer is less thermally conductive than the high thermal conductivity layer, which high thermal conductivity layer has a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 1 Btu/hr/ft/F.

Abstract: Reducing variation in the surface temperature of an externally-heated fusing roller (42) in an electrophotographic machine, the variation typically occurring during the beginning of a fusing run, by detecting the beginning of a fusing run and applying a modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic (10) to the fusing roller (42). The mode of the electrophotographic machine is monitored to determine whether the machine has changed operating modes, and the application of the modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic to the fusing roller (42) is ceased when the electrophotographic machine changes modes. The force with which the heating rollers (46, 48) engage the fusing roller (42) is controlled within desired operating limits.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cooling or heating, or both, a fuser belt in a process for producing electrophotographic toner images on a substrate. The images are produced by passing a substrate bearing an image through a fusing zone to fuse fusible toner particles comprising the image to produce a substrate bearing a fused toner image, passing the substrate bearing the fused toner image through a cooling zone to produce a cooled substrate, which is thereafter passed to a release zone where it is released to produce the substrate bearing the toner image.

Abstract: An oil-free process for forming a fused toner image on a receiver includes forming on a receiver, an image including toner particles that contain a non-crosslinked linear polymeric binder, a wax, and a colorant; and contacting the receiver bearing the toner particle image with a fuser member containing a support, a cushion layer overlying the support, and a release layer overlying the cushion layer. The release layer includes a cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a cured aminosiloxane copolymer, and a zinc oxide particulate filler. The cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer contains —(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. The receiver in contact with the fuser member is subjected to conditions effective in the absence of a release oil for fixing the toner particle image to the receiver.

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 epoxy resin. On curing, the composition forms an interpenetrating polymer network of the silsesquioxane and cured epoxy resin.

Abstract: A method for producing an enhanced gloss electrophotographic toner image on a substrate by passing a substrate bearing a fusible toner particle image through a fusing zone to produce a substrate bearing a fused toner image, passing the substrate bearing the fused toner image through a cooling zone to produce a cooled substrate bearing the fused toner mage and passing the cooled substrate bearing the fused toner image to a release zone where a cooled substrate bearing an enhanced gloss image is released, wherein the fusible toner particle image is covered by a clear toner layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic machine includes a fusing station configured for fusing an image to an image substrate by applying fusing process parameters to the image substrate. A controller adjusts the fusing process parameters applied to the image substrate dependent at least in part upon whether the image substrate is to be processed by a glossing station to thereby reduce undesirable image artifacts that result when an image contaminated with release fluid is fused and then glossed.

Abstract: Producing an enhanced gloss electrophotographic toner image on a substrate by coating colored fusible toner particles supported on a substrate with a layer of clear toner containing an offset preventing wax, transporting the substrate bearing clear toner coated colored fusible toner particles through a fuser zone to fuse the fusible toner particles and produce a substrate bearing a fused clear coated toner image, and transporting the substrate bearing the clear coated fused toner image through downstream glossing device to re-fuse the fused toner image to increase the gloss of the previously fused toner image.