Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater using a solid-state heater element with high frequency field propagation to provide an effective increase in the energy conduction through the fusing belt allowing increased throughput rates over conventional conduction systems. The system employs a solid-state heater with internal circuitry to drive a high frequency field though the fuser belt to the elastomeric top coat, which is laced with high frequency receptors. The belt is then heated directly on the surface bypassing thermal conduction interfaces and is also simultaneously heated by conduction from the waste energy of the heater element.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a heater that heats a fuser belt at a nip between the fuser belt and a pressure roll through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The heater has a silicon wafer with a smooth side that contacts and heats the fuser belt at the nip, and circuitry at a second side, with the circuitry generating heat through the silicon wafer to heat the fuser belt. The circuitry may include a plurality of heat producing integrated circuits etched in the silicon wafer, with each heat producing integrated circuit configured to heat the fuser belt. Each integrated circuit may self-control its amount of heat produced to the silicon wafer, for example, by automatically switching back and forth between a heat-on-state and a heat-off-state to maintain a desired temperature within the silicon wafer that heats the fuser belt.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a heater that heats a fuser belt at a nip between the fuser belt and a pressure roll through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The heater has a silicon wafer with a smooth side that contacts and heats the fuser belt at the nip, and circuitry at a second side, with the circuitry generating heat through the silicon wafer to heat the fuser belt. The circuitry may include a plurality of heat producing integrated circuits etched in the silicon wafer, with each heat producing integrated circuit configured to heat the fuser belt. Each integrated circuit may self-control its amount of heat produced to the silicon wafer, for example, by automatically switching back and forth between a heat-on-state and a heat-off-state to maintain a desired temperature within the silicon wafer that heats the fuser belt.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater using a solid-state heater element with high frequency field propagation to provide an effective increase in the energy conduction through the fusing belt allowing increased throughput rates over conventional conduction systems. The system employs a solid-state heater with internal circuitry to drive a high frequency field though the fuser belt to the elastomeric top coat, which is laced with high frequency receptors. The belt is then heated directly on the surface bypassing thermal conduction interfaces and is also simultaneously heated by conduction from the waste energy of the heater element.

Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.

Abstract: A fuser heater within a printing device includes a substrate with conductive traces and a resistive trace having a first end and a second end. The resistive trace is connected to the conductive traces at each of the first end and the second end and forms an electrical connection between the conductive traces and the resistive trace. A first strip is printed on the substrate using a first metal ink. A second strip is printed on the substrate using a second metal ink. The second strip is in contact with the first strip. The first metal ink is different from the second metal ink. The first strip and the second strip form a thermocouple. The thermocouple is operatively attached to the conductive traces. A controller operatively attached to the thermocouple controls the temperature of the fuser heater.

Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.

Abstract: Accordingly, an improved fuser is disclosed that includes a heater which provides uniformity at the surface of the fuser that contacts an imaged sheet by configuring a new heating element consisting of a resistive trace flanked by conductive paths on either side in the process direction. On one end of the resistive trace is a single continuous conductive trace referred to as the common. On the other end resistive trace are three or more separate conductive traces to allow heating for different paper widths. The resistive trace is augmented with dielectric circles to increase the overall resistivity of the heating element. Rows of dielectric can be offset from one another to insure overall thermal uniformity.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater which provides uniformity at the surface of a fuser roll that contacts an imaged sheet. The heater is configured to include a new heating element consisting of a resistive trace flanked by conductive paths on either side in the process direction. On one end of the resistive trace is a single continuous conductive trace referred to as the common. On the other end resistive trace are three or more separate conductive traces to allow heating for different paper widths.

Abstract: A fuser heater within a printing device includes a substrate with conductive traces and a resistive trace having a first end and a second end. The resistive trace is connected to the conductive traces at each of the first end and the second end and forms an electrical connection between the conductive traces and the resistive trace. A first strip is printed on the substrate using a first metal ink. A second strip is printed on the substrate using a second metal ink. The second strip is in contact with the first strip. The first metal ink is different from the second metal ink. The first strip and the second strip form a thermocouple. The thermocouple is operatively attached to the conductive traces. A controller operatively attached to the thermocouple controls the temperature of the fuser heater.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a toner comprising a bioresin and two waxes with improved fuser release.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a toner comprising a bioresin and two waxes with improved fuser release.

Abstract: A method and printing apparatus include a plurality of components and a controller operatively connected to the components. Further, a power supply is also operatively connected to the components. The controller selectively limits the operations of selected ones of the components to prevent all the components of the printing apparatus from collectively drawing from the power supply an amount of power that exceeds a power limit.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater which provides uniformity at the surface of a fuser roll that contacts an imaged sheet. The heater is configured to include a single resistive element shaped to heat multiple sheet sizes with independently controllable conductive traces connected to outer segments of the resistive element and adapted to supply electricity to separate sections of the resistive element in accordance with the size of sheet being fed through the fuser center registered and without the need for cold spot compensation.

Abstract: A non-slip frictional force-fit mounting of a plastic gear to a gear mounting shaft using a compliant tolerance ring between the shaft and gear, wherein the tolerance ring has a first circumferentially spaced pattern of varying radial dimensions and the gear has an annular interior mounting surface with a second circumferentially spaced pattern of varying radial dimensions cooperatively engaging within the first circumferentially spaced pattern of varying radial dimensions of the tolerance ring to provide a high torque rotational drive interconnection between the gear mounting shaft and the gear yet also have reduced gear material stress.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a release agent to a fuser roll is constructed having a web material impregnated with the release agent. A supply reel is rotatably mounted in a housing and contains a roll of web material for dispensing into the system. The web material is extended across the fuser roll to a take-up reel. An application roller is positioned adjacent to the fuser roll on the opposite side of the web path and is biased against the web material to provide a force to insure engagement between the web and the fuser roll. The supply reel is driven to dispense the web material in a direction consistent with the tangential direction of the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a release agent to a fuser roll is constructed having a web material impregnated with the release agent. A supply reel is rotatably mounted in a housing and contains a roll of web material for dispensing into the system. The web material is extended across the fuser roll to a take-up reel. An application roller is positioned adjacent to the fuser roll on the opposite side of the web path and is biased against the web material to provide a force to insure engagement between the web and the fuser roll. The supply reel is driven to dispense the web material in a direction consistent with the tangential direction of the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: A method and a fusing apparatus for producing a reduced recovery time period from a low energy-saver mode temperature back up to a high fusing temperature. The fusing apparatus includes a heating member for heating and fusing toner images onto a copy sheet; a temperature sensor mounted relative to the heating member for sensing temperature of the heating member; a source of primary power supply for supplying heating power to the heating member; a source of secondary power supply, that is less in level than the source of primary power supply, for supplying secondary heating power to the heated member; and a controller connected to the temperature sensor, and to the source of primary and the source of secondary power supplies for turning the source of primary and the source of secondary power supplies on and off responsively to the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a reproduction machine having a fuser roller for fusing toner images on an image bearing sheet, a release agent management (RAM) system for applying an image offset prevent release agent to the fuser roller. The RAM system includes a rotatable supply core located to a first side of the fuser roller, a rotatable take up core located to a second side of the fuser roller, a release agent impregnated web member having a portion threaded between the supply core and the take-up core for contacting, and applying release agent to, the fuser roller, and a release agent supplying roll positioned for contacting and supplying release agent to the threaded portion of the web member. The release agent supplying roll has a non-continuous surface pattern that includes release agent supplying surface areas for contacting the threaded portion of the web member, and release agent non-supplying surface areas out of contact with the threaded portion of the web member.