Abstract: An image treatment method and apparatus for fusing color toner images to a substrate such that they exhibit uniform gloss and satisfactory color saturation properties. A substrate carrying color toner images is passed through an oven heater for fixing the color toner images to the substrate. The color images are then passed through the nip of a pair of glossing rolls. The glossing rolls are operated at approximately the fusing temperature provided in the oven fuser.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusing toner images to a substrate. A Release Agent Management (RAM) system for applying silicone oil to a metering roll utilizes a pair of metering blades to improve oil uniformity on the metering roll. Thus, streaks or localized areas of excess silicone oil as the result of blade defects and/or dirt accumulation associated with a first blade, ARE metered or smoothed to a more uniform thickness by the second blade. To this end, the first metering blade serves to meter silicone oil to a first predetermined thickness while the second blade serves to meter oil streaks to a second predetermined thickness which is greater than the first predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the buildup of release agent material on a fuser roll structure. Release agent material is removed from a pressure roll structure using a blade in contact therewith. The blade supported in contact with the pressure roll structure such that it moves the oil toward one end of the roll structure where it can be collected for reuse of for being discarded.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of preventing the curling of a substrate having toner images electrostatically adhered thereto which substrate has been subjected to heat for the purpose of fixing the toner images to the substrate. Simultaneous constraint of the copy substrate and the application of moisture thereto is effected by passing the substrate through the nip formed by two pressure engaged rollers, one of which is utilized for applying the water to the back side of the substrate as the substrate passes through the aftermentioned nip.

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing fuser misstrips from a heat and pressure fuser in an electrophotographic printing machine. A plurality of sensors are provided to determine the basis weight of the copy sheet, the density of the image being transferred to the copy sheet and fused thereon, the relative humidity of the machine environment, the process speed of the print engine, etc. Signals indicative of all the variables are generated and sent to the machine controller which processes these signals and predicts when a fuser misstrip is likely to occur. Based on the likely degree of misstrip, a variety of actions are taken to prevent the misstrip. A stripper finger can be actuated to physically remove the sheet from the fuser member and/or the release agent management system can vary the amount of release agent applied to the fuser to assist in the removal of the copy sheet from the heated fuser member.

Abstract: Release agent material which is solid at room temperature is provided in a sump for application to a heated fuser roll structure. A pressure roll structure contacts the solid release agent material and a source of heat energy serves to elevate the solid release agent material to its operating temperature which is well below the operating temperature of the heated fuser roll.A metering blade contacting the pressure roll structure causes the liquefied release agent material to be metered to the desired thickness.

Abstract: A system to extend fuser roll life in which image data is varied in its placement on the photoreceptive member and correspondingly, the image receiving substrate position is varied so as to maintain proper location of the image data on the substrate while varying the transverse position of the substrate transverse to the paper path direction. This position varying may take place sheet to sheet or in a job by job arrangement on a printing machine. This varying of lateral position of the sheet causes the high pressure, excessive wear area on the fuser roll to be distributed over a wider area on the roll and not concentrated at a single point at each edge of the sheet. This leads to longer fuser roll life and additionally provides the added benefit of preventing an oil buildup which degrades copies when larger legal size sheets are utilized and/or also preventing associated jams due to the oil buildup at the sheet edge.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system including a metering roll supported for contact with release agent material contained in a sump. A donor roll is provided for applying oil deposited thereon by the metering roll.A metering blade structure for metering silicone oil onto the metering roll has two modes of operation. In one mode, a wiping action of a metering blade meters a relatively large quantity of silicone oil to the roll surface for accommodating the fusing of color toner images. In another mode of operation, a doctoring action is effected for metering a relatively small amount of silicone oil to the roll surface for accommodating the fusing of black toner images.

Abstract: A three roll fuser incuding a fuser roll, pressure roll and a backup roll. The backup roll is crowned and is supported in pressure engagement with the fuser roll to form a first nip while the fuser roll is also supported in contact with the pressure roll. The pressure engagement of the crowned roll with the fuser roll eliminates nonuniform nip loading in wide fusers as well as providing uniform velocity through the fuser roll/pressure roll nip.

Abstract: A release agent management (RAM) system for a heat an pressure fuser. The RAM system includes a metering roll and donor brush or equivalent structure for providing a low friction nip between it and a pressure or fuser rolls and also between the it and the metering roll. The low friction nip allows rolls contacting the donor brush or its equivalent to operated at different speeds. Thus, the metering roll can be rotated at different speeds for delivering different quantities of release agent material in accordance with different operating conditions of the imaging apparatus in which the RAM system is used.

Abstract: A heat and pressure fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to substrates such as plain paper, the toner comprising a thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes two nip forming members which cooperate to form a nip having an asymmetrical pressure profile. Thus, the pressure profile through the nip, from entrance to exit, is such that toner images on a substrate passing through the nip are first subjected to relatively low pressure which continues until the toner begins to flow. Once toner flow commences, the images are subjected to pressure high enough to force the toner into the substrate. The nip is readily variable for accommodating different fusing speeds for different processors.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates, the toner comprising a thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes an internally heated fuser roll cooperating with an unheated bare metal backup or pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy substrates pass with the images contacting the heated roll. The heated fuser roll is characterized by a comformable outer layer or surface which by way of example is fabricated from a silicone rubber or "Viton" material to which a low viscosity polymeric release fluid is applied. Release fluid is contained in a sump and the pressure roll is partially immersed in the fluid. Thus, the release fluid is applied to the surface of the internally heated fuser roll via the bare metal pressure roll. The roll structures are such as to provide maximum area of contact in the nip, while minimizing the area of contact between the pressure roll and the copy substrates.

Abstract: A heat and pressure fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to a substrate. The apparatus is characterized by the fact that silicone oil release agent material which is usually required for such devices is unnecessary. The fuser member which contacts the toner images comprises an outer layer of solid abhesive material capable of retaining this property without degradation over the operating life of the apparatus. The fuser member is so constructed that the abhesive coating contributes to the formation of the nip created between the fuser member and a backup roller.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates. The apparatus includes a release agent management system (RAM) for applying release agent such as functional silicone oil to a heated roll of the apparatus. The RAM comprises a donor roll, a metering roll and a metering blade which cooperate to convey silicone oil from a sump to the surface of the heated roll. The metering roll which is contacted by the metering blade is provided with a helical groove which acts to scrape the tip of the metering blade as the metering roll rotates and move paper related residue dislodged therefrom to the end of the metering roll where it is collected for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: There is described an electrophotographic imaging system which includes a laminated cleaning and/or metering blade for removing residual or excess marking or other material from a surface. The blade comprises a relatively hard layer of a smooth, tough material which has low frictional properties and a relatively soft layer of a resilient material which supplies uniform force at the blade-to-surface interface. In operation, an edge of the relatively hard layer of the blade is supported in pressure contact against the surface and relative motion between the blade and surface is produced whereby the blade removes residual or excess marking material from the surface.

Abstract: A fuser member and method of fusing or fixing thermoplastic resin powder images to a substrate in a fuser assembly of the type wherein a polymeric release agent having functional groups is applied to the surface of the fuser member is disclosed. The fuser member comprises a base member having an elastomer surface with metal-containing filler therein, said elastomer being cured with a nucleophilic addition curing agent.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates, the toner comprising a thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes an internally heated, fuser roll cooperating with a backup or pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy substrates pass with the images contacting the heated roll. The heated fuser roll is characterized by an outer layer or surface which by way of example is fabricated from a silicone rubber, Viton or metal clad with a low surface energy material such as Teflon to which a low viscosity polymeric release fluid is applied. Liquid release fluid is contained in a sump from which it is applied either directly or indirectly to the fuser roll. When release agent is applied directly to the fuser roll an air seal must be used on the surface of the fuser roll to insure that the release material contacts the fuser roll. Alternatively, when the release fluid is applied indirectly as by, for example, a metering roll, then the air seal contacts the metering roll.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates, the toner comprising a thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes an internally heated, fuser roll cooperating with a backup or pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy substrates pass with the images contacting the heated roll. The heated fuser roll is characterized by an outer layer or surface which by way of example is fabricated from a silicon rubber or Viton material to which a low viscosity polymeric release fluid is applied. Release fluid is contained in a sump from which it is dispensed by means of a metering roll and a donor roll, the former of which contacts the release fluid in the sump and the latter of which contacts the surface of the heated fuser roll.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates, the toner comprising thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes a heated fuser roll cooperating with a backup or pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy substrates pass at relatively high (i.e. 12-20 in./sec) speeds with the images contacting the heated roll. The heated fuser roll is characterized by a relatively thick (i.e. 10 mils or greater) outer layer or surface which by way of example is fabricated from a highly insulative material such as silicone rubber or Viton to which a low viscosity polymeric release fluid is applied. Elevating the temperature of the heated roll during a standby or warm-up is accomplished by an internally disposed heating element and the operating temperature thereof during the run mode of operation is effected by an external heater.

Abstract: A toner image fusing apparatus for utilization in a xerographic reproducing machine which apparatus utilizes the combination of a solvent for the toner together with heat and pressure provided by a pair of roll members which form a nip therebetween through which the copy substrates having the toner images thereon are passed with the toner images contacting the heated roll of the roll pair. Prior to passage of the substrate through the nip formed by the aforementioned rolls, the toner images are moved through a saturated environment of solvent for the toner, the saturated environment and the pair of rollers being disposed in a substantially enclosed housing.