Abstract: A method of printing comprising the steps of marking the surface of a test preprinted media with a first marking material; placing the media adjacent to a transfer media; disposing the test media and the transfer media into the nip of a fuser roller assembly to thereby apply predetermined heat and pressure thereto; removing the test media and the transfer media from the nip of the fuser roller after a predetermined time; and, measuring the density of the first marking material which has been offset to the transfer media.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing belt member configured to be endless and rotatable; driving force transmission members that are disposed on respective ends of the fixing belt member, and transmits a rotational driving force to the fixing belt member; and a pressing member that is disposed to push an outer surface of the fixing belt member and forms a fixing nip part between the pressing member and the fixing belt member, wherein each of the driving force transmission members is fixed to the fixing belt member over an entire peripheral area of the corresponding end of the fixing belt member.

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 variable torque device for maintaining constant tension in a web of material as the web is unwound from a supply roll. The variable torque device includes a lead screw attached to the shaft of the supply roll via an appropriate gear ratio. A coil spring is located between a hub on the lead screw and a set of rings and friction pads. As the lead screw rotates, the hub translates, thus changing the displacement of the coil spring, which in turn changes the loading of the rings and friction pads. With a full supply roll the coil spring is compressed so as to create an amount of torque to create the desired web tension. As the supply roll unwinds, the rotation of the lead screw translates the hub to expand the coil spring, reducing the torque and maintaining the web tension constant.

Abstract: A thermal processor including a heated drum assembly for thermally developing an image in an imaging media. Thermal processor includes an enclosure spaced from and forming an oven around heated drum assembly, enclosure having a media entrance, a media exit, and a vent. Thermal processor further includes a condensation trap and a duct positioned external to enclosure and coupled between vent and condensation trap, duct configured to communicate air from oven to condensation trap.

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: An image heating apparatus has an endless film which has a metal layer; a device for increasing the temperature of the film; a regulating member for preventing the lopsided movement of the film; and a lubricating part disposed in a contact part between the film and the regulating member. An image on a recording material is heated by heat from the film.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus employs a dimethylsilicone oil as a base oil. Two kinds of the oils including amino group as a functional group are mixed to use as a lubricant, thereby enabling the surface of a heating roller to exhibit the most excellent releasing property with respect to a toner as well as realize low running cost.

Abstract: In the image forming process of the present invention wherein a toner is fixed on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet using a belt fixing and smoothing device, the relationship among the temperature of a heating and fixing roller, the melting point of a toner wax, and the glass transition point of a toner binder, the relationship among the temperature of a heating and fixing roller, the melting point of a wax in the image-receiving layer, and the glass transition point of a binder in the image-receiving layer, and the relationship between the polar components of surface free energy of the toner-image-receiving layer before and after image fixing are optimized. The present invention is to prevent offset in the toner and the toner-image-receiving layer of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet upon releasing of the belt and to avoid deterioration in image quality especially in operation over the long run.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit and a thermal fixing unit. The image forming unit uses a plurality of different color developing agents to form a color image on a recording medium. The plurality of different color developing agents are configured from binding resins with the same thermal properties. The plurality of different color developing agents include at least a high-resistance developing agent and a low-resistance developing agent. The high-resistance developing agent has a higher electrical resistance than the low-resistance developing agent and a lower charge-to-mass ratio than the low-resistance developing agent. The thermal fixing unit thermally fixes the color image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a double-faced image formation system that prevents transfer and adhesion of a lubricant to an image retaining conveyer and an intermediate transfer part. The system is provided with, on a return path for reversing and conveying a sheet having toner images fixed on one side thereof, a front face electrifying unit and a rear face electrifying unit. Oil adhered on the rear face of the sheet in a fixation unit by the rear face electrifying unit is electrified to a negative polarity, and the oil adhered on the rear face is made impossible to transfer to an intermediate transfer belt. The oil adhered on the front face of the sheet in the fixation unit by the front face electrifying unit is electrified to a positive polarity, and the oil adhered on the front face is made impossible to transfer to a secondary transfer conveyance belt.

Abstract: A polyorganosiloxane block hydrocarbyl block polymer having utility as a release agent in toner fusing systems. The polymer has one or more polar linkages, with each such linkage bonding a polyorganosiloxane block and a hydrocarbyl block, and also including a polar functionality.

Abstract: An image fixing method capable of favorably fixing a toner containing a crystalline resin is provided. A transfer medium having unfixed images formed of a color toner containing a binder resin that contains a crystalline resin and a colorant is passed between a heating member heated by way of an external heating unit and a pressurizing member, thereby fixing the unfixed images.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus and an image forming method capable of favorably fixing a toner containing a crystalline resin are provided. The image forming apparatus passes a transfer medium having unfixed images formed of the toner containing a crystalline resin between a heating member and a pressurizing member, thereby fixing the unfixed images, using a cooling unit that controls a surface temperature of the pressurizing member in which the surface temperature is controlled to a melting point of the crystalline resin +30° C. or lower.

Abstract: A means and a method for increasing the efficiency of a vacuum-assisted, fuser entrance guide in an electrophotographic apparatus by blocking and deflecting air currents away the sheet of copy medium as the sheet moves from a vacuum transport towards the entrance guide. A baffle is positioned in the gap between the vacuum transport and the fuser entrance guide that form the travel path for the sheet through the apparatus. The baffle has a deflecting surface that extends substantially across the gap, which diverts the air currents away from the sheet.

Abstract: A liquid application apparatus includes a target to which a liquid is to be applied and an application unit arranged to come in contact or get separated from the target and which applies the liquid to the target when in contact. The target performs cycle motion. A minimum time for which the application unit comes in contact with the target is equal to or greater than a period of the cycle motion of the target.

Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate, an outer fluoroelastomer layer having one of i) copolymers of two of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene; ii) terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene; and iii) tetrapolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and a cure site monomer; and a fluorinated silicone release agent.

Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate, an outer polymeric layer; and a release agent having a combination of fluorosilicone release agent and a functional polydimethylsiloxane release agent having amino, mercapto, hydride, carboxy, and/or other functionality.

Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate, an outer silicone rubber layer; and a release agent having a combination of fluorosilicone release agent and a non-functional release agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing toner rub-off from a copy made by an electrophotographic process wherein printers' anti-offset powder (e.g. finely-powdered starch) is sprayed onto the copy after the toner image has been fused to the copy. If a release oil is present on the copy, the powder is sprayed directly onto the release oil on the copy. To apply the powder, an applicator is positioned within the finishing section of the electrophotographic apparatus and sprays the copy with the powder as the copy exits the fuser section of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit and a thermal fixing unit. The image forming unit uses a plurality of different color developing agents to form a color image on a recording medium. The plurality of different color developing agents are configured from binding resins with the same thermal properties. The plurality of different color developing agents include at least a high-resistance developing agent and a low-resistance developing agent. The high-resistance developing agent has a higher electrical resistance than the low-resistance developing agent and a lower charge-to-mass ratio than the low-resistance developing agent. The thermal fixing unit thermally fixes the color image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a member which can recover unnecessary toner is replaced with unused the member using parameters such as ambient temperature, temperature in the copying machine, density of image information, and step of setting temperatures of rollers on standby to be uniform at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: A method for reducing rub-off from a substrate having a front side and a back side with at least one side bearing a toner or a printed image by depositing a substantially clear phase change composition on the image bearing side of the substrate as a plurality of dots, with the plurality of dots cumulatively covering an area of the image bearing side sufficient to reduce rub-off from the image bearing side. The dots may also be applied only to the images rather than both the image-bearing and non-image-bearing surfaces of the substrate and may be used on both the front side and the back side if both bear images.

Abstract: In a fuser, a cooling structure (5) is disposed so that a bend angle (&agr;) of a part bent during the time between an endless belt (3) coming in contact with a press cooling face (5a) of the cooling structure (5) and exiting from the press cooling face (5a) is placed in the range of 0° C.<&agr;≦7° C. A fixing belt has a minute hardness of 0.1 to 5 at least on the belt surface coming in contact with toner T and preferably has a gloss degree of 75 or more on the belt surface.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus employs a dimethylsilicone oil as a base oil. Two kinds of the oils including amino group as a functional group are mixed to use as a lubricant, thereby enabling the surface of a heating roller to exhibit the most excellent releasing property with respect to a toner as well as realize low running cost.

Abstract: In the image forming process of the present invention wherein a toner is fixed on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet using a belt fixing and smoothing device, the relationship among the temperature of a heating and fixing roller, the melting point of a toner wax, and the glass transition point of a toner binder, the relationship among the temperature of a heating and fixing roller, the melting point of a wax in the image-receiving layer, and the glass transition point of a binder in the image-receiving layer, and the relationship between the polar components of surface free energy of the toner-image-receiving layer before and after image fixing are optimized. The present invention is to prevent offset in the toner and the toner-image-receiving layer of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet upon releasing of the belt and to avoid deterioration in image quality especially in operation over the long run.

Abstract: An image-receiving sheet for electrophotography having improved gloss is provided, which sheet is capable of preventing reverse transferring of a toner image to the fixing part, i.e., offset. The image-receiving sheet is capable of improving peeling of the image-receiving sheet and the fixing part from each other to provide stable paper feeding ability and a stable image. The image-receiving sheet comprises a toner image-receiving layer containing a polymer, wherein relationship between a surface tension of said polymer (&ggr;p)(mN/m) determined at a toner fixing temperature and a surface tension of a toner (&ggr;t)(mN/m) determined at said toner fixing temperature meets the following formula; &ggr;p−&ggr;t≧8.

Abstract: A method for reducing rub-off by employing a substrate having a front side and a back side with the front side bearing a toner image by depositing a phase change composition on the non-image bearing side of the substrate as a plurality of dots, with the plurality of dots cumulatively covering an area of the non-image bearing side sufficient to reduce rub-off from the image bearing side of an adjacent substrate.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprises a transfer unit that obtains a visible image from an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image bearing body using a developer and transfers the visible image onto a medium, and a fixing roller and a pressure roller, positioned opposite to each other with a transfer pass for the medium therebetween, that fix the visible image on the medium. The developer contains a toner having a volume mean grain size of from 5 to 10 micrometers and a grain size not larger than 5 micrometers accounting for 60 through 80 number percent. The surface resistivity of the pressure roller is between 1×107 through 1×1010 &OHgr;/square.

Abstract: A fixing device and method for transfusing toner on a receptor material is disclosed. Particularly, the fixing device comprises a heated transfuse member having an outermost layer of a material selected from the group of polyorganosiloxanes, fluorosilicones, fluoro-elastomers, phenylsilicones, and mixtures or hybrid compositions thereof. In operation, this outermost layer releases an amount of release agent corresponding to an amount of release agent of 0.05 mg per printed side of A4 paper or below, measured on NopaColor 100 gsm paper at an operating temperature for the transfuse member of 120 degrees Centigrade. Preferably, this outermost layer has a peel force, being measured according to Finat No. 3, with tape TESA 4163 at a peeling speed of 30 cm/min, above 7 N/m.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a member which can recover unnecessary toner is replaced with unused the member using parameters such as ambient temperature, temperature in the copying machine, density of image information, and step of setting temperatures of rollers on standby to be uniform at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: In a fuser, a cooling structure (5) is disposed so that a bend angle (&agr;) of apart bent during the time between an endless belt (3) coming in contact with a press cooling face (5a) of the cooling structure (5) and exiting from the press cooling face (5a) is placed in the range of 0° C.<&agr;≦7° C. A fixing belt has a minute hardness of 0.1 to 5 at least on the belt surface coming in contact with toner T and preferably has a gloss degree of 75 or more on the belt surface.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes a fixing member, a pressing member that press-contacts a surface of the fixing member, and a toner releasing agent applying device that conveys and applies toner releasing agent onto the surface of the fixing member. The toner releasing agent applying device includes a toner releasing agent holding unit that holds toner releasing agent and includes a toner releasing agent supply opening, a permeable toner releasing agent delivering member that delivers toner releasing agent from the toner releasing agent holding unit to the surface of the fixing member and a toner releasing agent conveying unit that conveys toner releasing agent to the toner releasing agent holding unit. The toner releasing agent delivering member is supplied with the toner releasing agent in the toner releasing agent holding unit through the toner releasing agent supply opening.

Abstract: In a conventional type of an image forming apparatus, when the top end of the paper whose charge is eliminated is brought into contact with the roller, or when the potential of the pressure roller is fluctuated by a separating discharge of the paper rear end, black spots phenomenon sometimes occurs at a portion in which the potential of the roller was lowered. It is provided, an image forming apparatus for preventing black spots of toner.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll member capable of preventing a sheet of recording paper from wrinkling. A metal compound MmXn and an inorganic fine powder are added to a silicone rubber layer forming the surface layer of the roll member. In the compound formula, M is a cation selected from among ions of Al, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Ga, and X is an anion selected from among ions of halogens, inorganic acids and organic acids.

Abstract: A method of fixing a toner image on a support, which includes the steps of heating a toner image formed on a support by use of a toner to the softening point or melting point of the toner or above, using an image fixing member, the toner comprising 100 parts by weight of a resin and at least 0.05 parts by weight of a wax component, the toner having a melt viscosity of 10 to 1013 centipoise, allowing the toner image to cool or cooling the toner image, and peeling the support which bears the toner image thereon away from the image fixing member when the temperature of the toner image has reached a temperature below the softening point or melting point of the toner, and an image fixing apparatus for carrying out this method is proposed.

Abstract: A release agent having a polydimethylsiloxane and a fluorosurfactant other than a silicone glycol polymer, a perfluoroalkylsubstituted polyethylene glycol, or a perfluoroalkylsubstituted silane.

Abstract: A liquid application apparatus includes a target to which a liquid is to be applied and an application unit arranged to come in contact or get separated from the target and which applies the liquid to the target when in contact. The target performs cycle motion. A minimum time for which the application unit comes in contact with the target is equal to or greater than a period of the cycle motion of the target.

Abstract: When fixing a toner image formed by using a developing agent containing a fine particle toner to easily enter into the ruggedness of a sheet, a web wound around on a pair of rollers so as to be taken out from one of the rollers to the other roller so that a part of the taken out surface can be contacted with a member which heats and fuses the toner. The web has a configuration for controlling the taking out amount according to the surface state of the sheet for supporting the toner image and the toner use amount so that the offset can certainly be prevented when a small particle size toner is used.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer has neutralizing units and a fixing unit that are disposed in the transport path of a print medium. The neutralizing units neutralize a toner image surface of the print medium entering the fixing unit and a non-printed surface of the print medium exiting the fixing unit. The fixing unit includes two rollers. A fixing roller incorporates a heat source that generates heat for fusing a toner image on the print medium. A pressure roller is in pressure engagement with the fixing roller. At least one of the fixing roller and pressure roller includes a resilient member that covers a metal shaft and an insulation layer that covers the resilient member. The resilient member may contain electrically conductive whiskers that extend radially in three dimensions. The whiskers are dispersed such that a surface of the insulation layer and a surface of the shaft are electrically continuous.

Abstract: An offset preventing liquid supplying device is provided for supplying offset preventing liquid to a heat roller of a toner image fixing device for fixing a toner image developed on a recording material by heating with the heat roller. The offset preventing liquid supplying device includes a storage tank for storing offset preventing liquid, a liquid applying mechanism for applying offset preventing liquid onto a cylindrical surface of the heat roller and a pump for supplying the offset preventing liquid to the liquid applying mechanism. The liquid applying mechanism has a series of offset preventing liquid supplying ports provided from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof in an offset preventing liquid supplying direction and an upstream side liquid supplying port is open at an upper position and a downstream side liquid supplying port is open at a lower portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a first rotating member, a first heating device for heating the first rotating member, a second rotating member forming a nip together with the first rotating member, and a second heating device for heating the second rotating member wherein a recording material bearing an unfixed image thereon is nipped and conveyed at the nip in such a manner that the unfixed image is in contact with the first rotating member and is fixed by heating on the recording material. A voltage applying device applies voltage to create potential difference between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and the second rotating member has a conductive parting layer with a surface resistance of 106 &OHgr; or less on a surface thereof.

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 toner image fixing device in which a surface temperature of a heat roller (1) is set to a temperature at which volatile odor component included in a parting agent is below a permissible value, and in which an auxiliary heating means (9, 10) is provided on at least one side of the upstream side and the downstream side in a recording material transporting direction in relation to a pressure contact portion of the heat roller and a pressure (5).

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing apparatus having a structure so that differences between surface energies of components of the electrophotographic printing apparatus contributing to image transfer are maintained within predetermined ranges, and an image transferring method thereof. The electrophotographic printing apparatus includes a photosensitive medium, developing units, a drying roller and a transfer unit having a transfer roller, whereby the peeling force (PFD) of the drying roller is in a range of 0 gram force per inch (gf/inch)≦PFD≦300 gram force per inch (gf/inch), the peeling force (PFO) of the photosensitive medium is in a range of 0 gram force per inch (gf/inch)≦PFO≦80 gram force per inch (gf/inch), and the peeling force (PFT) of the transfer roller is in a range of 200 gram force per inch (gf/inch)≦PFT≦500 gram force per inch (gf/inch), respectively, when the peeling forces are measured.

Abstract: A material for coating an imaging member comprising: a crosslinked poly(dialkylsiloxane), zirconium silicate and optional T-resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silicone oil supplying system of a toner image fixing device, which is capable of uniformly applying offset preventing liquid onto a working surface of an upper fixing roller over its full length even if the fixing device of the copier is used in the tilted state. Also disclosed is an image forming device provided with the same silicone oil supplying system. The silicone oil supplying system for applying silicone oil onto a working surface of the upper fixing roller is provided with an oil tank for storing silicone oil, an oil applying device for applying the silicone oil to the surface of the upper fixing roller and a pump for supplying silicone oil from the oil tank to the oil applying device. The oil applying device is provided with a supplying pipe for downwardly supplying silicone oil in the form of droplets onto a working surface of an oil applying roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing apparatus that as a fixing member for fixing an unfixed image on a recording material, a containing portion for containing releasing agent, applying device for applying the releasing agent in the containing portion on the fixing member, heating device for heating the releasing agent in the containing portion, and detection device for detecting a temperature of the releasing agent in the containing portion, wherein heating by the heating device is controlled according to a detected temperature from the detection device.

Abstract: The fusing assembly in an electrophotographic copier has a paper travel path passing between a pair of opposed air cooling plenums. Each plenum has an air supply plate confronting the travel path with slots for directing cooling air onto the moving paper. The lower plenum plate includes upstanding ribs parallel to the paper travel path for guiding the moving paper and spacing the paper from the plate to improve airflow by decreasing airflow impedance.

Abstract: A fuser member having a fuser member release agent for use in an electrophotographic apparatus for enhancing toner release from a fuser member, the fuser member having a substrate, an outer fluoropolymer layer optionally having a conductive filler, and a silicone hydride release oil component thereover and methods and imaging apparatus thereof, are set forth.