Abstract: The invention relates to application of a surface treatment to a fuser, typically in a print process. According to various aspects of the invention, methods and apparatus are provided for applying surface treatment to a fuser comprising varying a width of surface treatment application to the fuser.

Abstract: A skive plate assembly for aiding receiver sheet removal from a roller in a fuser in an electrographic process, comprises a base plate, a skive plate having a central portion, and a skive plate attachment rigidly connecting the skive plate to the base plate such that the base plate and the skive plate define an air passage slot intermittently interrupted by the skive plate attachment, the skive plate defining a terminal edge positioned to face the roller, wherein a distance between the terminal edge and the base plate decreases with distance from the skive plate central portion. According to a further aspect of the invention, the terminal edge defines a gap with the roller, wherein the gap between the terminal edge and the roller is constant along the length of the skive plate.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of fusing powder toner images on receiver sheets. According to various aspects of the invention, methods and apparatus are provided of cleaning, only during standby, a pressure roller that cooperates with a fuser roller in fusing toner images. The pressure roller is cleaned with a cleaning pad mounted adjacent the pressure roller in an electrographic printer.

Abstract: A fuser entrance guide in an electrophotographic apparatus, which supports a sheet of copy medium as it enters the fuser section. The guide has a curved base plate that has vacuum ports both at the edges and across the central area thereof. The ports in the central area are arranged in rows with the exits of all ports in a respective row being fluidly connected by a groove formed in the lower surface of the base plate. The recessed area of the grooves reduce the total contact area of the sheet thereby reducing the drag forces on the sheet but, at the same time, increasing the holding force of the vacuum on the sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for treating the surface of an article in connection with printing. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and device, which is capable of checking the motion of a roller in a device for fixing toner on printed sheet or web material using a magnet and a magnetic sensitive element located in a fixed position near the rotating element so as to sense the passage of at least a pole thereof at each rotation of the magnet.

Abstract: A journal for forming the axle of a wick roller wherein the mounting section of the journal is provided with a nose section so that any adhesive which is skived from the core of the roller as the journal is positioned therein will collect on the nose section and will not foul the central bore through the core.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking up the slack in the web material between the supply roller and the take-up roller in the web cleaning assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus. A clutch mechanism is positioned between the drive gear on the take-up roller and the hub of the motor that drives the drive gear. A spring-biased pawl on the hub engages a tooth of an inner gear on the drive gear to provide a driving connection between the hub and the take-up gear when the motor drives the hub in a first direction but effectively releases the driving connection when the take-up gear is manually rotated while the motor is idle. This allows the take-up roller to be rotated to take up the slack in the web without having to rotate the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking up the slack in the web material between the supply roller and the take-up roller in the web cleaning assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus. A clutch mechanism is positioned between the drive gear on the take-up roller and the hub of the motor that drives the drive gear. A spring-biased pawl on the hub engages a tooth of an inner gear on the drive gear to provide a driving connection between the hub and the take-up gear when the motor drives the hub in a first direction but effectively releases the driving connection when the take-up gear is manually rotated while the motor is idle. This allows the take-up roller to be rotated to take up the slack in the web without having to rotate the motor.

Abstract: A journal for forming the axle of a wick roller wherein the mounting section of the journal is provided with a nose section so that any adhesive which is skived from the core of the roller as the journal is positioned therein will collect on the nose section and will not foul the central bore through the core.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having a web cleaning assembly and a method for servicing web cleaning assembly. The web cleaning assembly is pivotably mounted to a slide in the fuser section of the apparatus whereby the assembly can be slid out of the fuser section and then rotated to a service position where the assembly is releasably latched while the supply and take-up rollers within the web cleaning assembly are removed and replaced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking up the slack in the web material between the supply roller and the take-up roller in the web cleaning assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus. A clutch mechanism is positioned between the drive gear on the take-up roller and the hub of the motor that drives the drive gear. A spring-biased pawl on the hub engages a tooth of an inner gear on the drive gear to provide a driving connection between the hub and the take-up gear when the motor drives the hub in a first direction but effectively releases the driving connection when the take-up gear is manually rotated while the motor is idle. This allows the take-up roller to be rotated to take up the slack in the web without having to rotate the motor.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having a web cleaning assembly and a method for servicing web cleaning assembly. The web cleaning assembly is pivotably mounted to a slide in the fuser section of the apparatus whereby the assembly can be slid out of the fuser section and then rotated to a service position where the assembly is releasably latched while the supply and take-up rollers within the web cleaning assembly are removed and replaced.

Abstract: A mechanism for applying pressure load force in a reproduction apparatus fuser device having at least one heated fuser member and a pressure member in nip relation to permanently fix a marking particle image to a receiver member. The pressure load force applying mechanism includes a load arm assembly rotatable about a fixed pivot axis to apply a pressure force to the pressure member, and a load cam selectively rotated about a drive shaft. A cam follower member is associated with the load cam, wherein a force of the load cam is applied via the cam follower member to the load arm assembly. A spring nest is formed as a part of the load arm assembly. The spring nest supports at least a heavy spring and a light spring; wherein the cam follower member, upon movement under the influence of the load cam, compresses the nested light spring and the heavy spring at different travel positions of the cam follower for varying the pressure force on the pressure member.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuser station with a vented skive assembly for an image-forming machine. The image-forming machine may have a photoconductor, a primary charger, an exposure machine, a toning station, a transfer charger, and a vented fuser station. The fuser station may include a pressure roller, a fuser roller, and a skive assembly. The skive assembly has rib sections forming one or more slots, which are configured to provide an airflow pattern to reduce condensation. The skive assembly may have an insert protection device disposed in one or more of the slots.

Abstract: An upper skive plate and a method for quickly installing and removing the skive plate in the fuser section of an electrophotographic apparatus without damaging the roller therein. The skive plate carries a plurality of skives which strip a sheet of paper from the roller during operation of the apparatus. To install the skive plate, guide openings in the plate are positioned on locator pins which are affixed to the load arms which, in turn, support the roller. The plate is moved forward on the pins and is releasably latched in position by a pair of rotatable pawls on the plate which cooperate with clamping surfaces on the load arms. To remove the skive plate, this procedure is reversed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for treating the surface of an article in connection with printing. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and device, which is capable of checking the motion of a roller in a device for fixing toner on printed sheet or web material using a magnet and a magnetic sensitive element located in a fixed position near the rotating element so as to sense the passage of at least a pole thereof at each rotation of the magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking up the slack in the web material between the supply roller and take-up roller in the web cleaning assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus. A clutch mechanism is postioned between the drive gear on the take-up roller and the hub of the motor that drives the drive gear. A spring-biased pawl on the hub engages a tooth of an inner gear to provide a driving connection between the hub and the take-up gear when the motor drives the hub in a first direction but effectively releases the driving connection when the take-up gear is manually rotated while the motor is idle.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having a wick roller assembly and a method for servicing. The wick roller assembly is rotatably mounted to the fuser section of the apparatus and is releasably latched thereto whereby the fuser roller in the assembly can be quickly and easily accessed for servicing. This eliminates the need for a technician to remove the entire wick roller assembly in order to service or replace the wick roller, itself.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having a wick roller assembly and a method for servicing. The wick roller assembly is rotatably mounted to the fuser section of the apparatus and is releasably latched thereto whereby the fuser roller in the assembly can be quickly and easily accessed for servicing. This eliminates the need for a technician to remove the entire wick roller assembly in order to service or replace the wick roller, itself.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuser station with a vented skive assembly for an image-forming machine. The image-forming machine may have a photoconductor, a primary charger, an exposure machine, a toning station, a transfer charger, and a vented fuser station. The fuser station may include a pressure roller, a fuser roller, and a skive assembly. The skive assembly has rib sections forming one or more slots, which are configured to provide an airflow pattern to reduce condensation. The skive assembly may have an insert protection device disposed in one or more of the slots.