Abstract: In one embodiment, an oil application roller contacts a surface of a fixing rotary member of a fixing apparatus, and applies oil to the surface of the fixing rotary member. A porous sheet is wrapped around a peripheral surface of a cylindrical member, and an end portion on a wrapping start side of the porous sheet is inclined relative to a rotation shaft of the oil application roller.

Abstract: A release agent applicator applies release agent to an imaging drum and absorbs release agent metered from the drum to extend the operational life of an image drum maintenance unit. The applicator includes a reservoir for storing release agent, the reservoir having a plurality of perforations for enabling release agent to seep from the reservoir, a containment membrane for wicking release agent from the perforations of the reservoir, and a delivery layer for delivering release agent from the containment membrane to an imaging drum, the delivery layer having pores in a range of about 50 ?m to about 200 ?m.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing contamination build-up within a fuser roll system are disclosed. The method and system includes a donor roll in rotational combination with a fuser roll. The donor roll can be configured to transfer a toner release agent to the fuser roll to reduce toner build-up on the surface of the fuser roll. A grounded static brush can be located proximate to the donor roll. The grounded static brush can be configured to inductively remove electrostatic discharge from the surface of the donor roll. The reduced electrostatic reduces contamination build-up on the fuser roll, and therefore increases the cycle life of the components of the fuser roll system.

Abstract: A heat-resistant endless resin belt including a heat-resistant resin sheet, which can be employed in a thermal fixing apparatus, wherein the sheet includes two cutting work parts in an inclined shape. The two parts are overlapped with each other and bonded with an adhesive to form a bonding part. An external shape displacement f(x), measured via a flatness measuring apparatus, which scans the belt in a width direction thereof, satisfies a following formula ? 0 x ? ? f ? ( x ) - g ? ( x ) ? ? ? ? x ? XL 6800 , wherein “X” (mm) is a length of the belt in a width direction thereof; “L” (mm) is a perimeter of the belt and “g(x)” represents a displacement of an ideal shape of the heat-resistant resin belt, when g(x)=C (a constant), a left side of the formula is set to be a minimum; whilst when g(x) is a variable, the displacement of the ideal shape of the belt is set.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil storage member is provided above and adjacent to one of an oil supply member and the oil application member to supply oil overflowing the oil storage member, when oil is put into the oil storage member through an oil inlet, to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member. The oil supply member provided adjacent to the oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an oil input device and a fixing device including a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil supply member provided adjacent to an oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member. When the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device through an oil inlet overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: an endless belt; a heating rotary member for heating a toner image on a sheet at a heating nip between the belt and the rotary member; a pressure member provided slidably on an inner surface of the belt at the heating nip, for bringing the belt into pressure contact with the rotary member; and a lubricant applying roller including a lubricant retaining layer for retaining a lubricant and a lubricant applying amount controlling layer for controlling an applying amount of the lubricant, the lubricant applying roller abutting against the inner surface of the belt to apply the lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt while rotating, in which the lubricant applying roller is brought into contact with the belt and includes a high frictional portion having a coefficient of friction higher than that of the lubricant applying amount controlling layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to condition the fuser surface of a fusing or transfusing apparatus for a toner based printing system is described. The apparatus and method integrate the functions of cleaning paper debris and residual toner from the fuser (or transfuse) surface on one hand and the application of a release agent such as silicone oil on the other hand using a single release agent impregnated web. The inventive device includes a release agent application roller and a cleaning roller where the outer surfaces and are selected in preferred embodiments for their respective wetting properties with respect to the release agent used. The fuser surface conditioning device increases the useful life for a fusing or transfusing roll or belt even when low amounts of release agent are applied to the fusing surface such that the amount of release agent that is transferred to the print media is in the range of 0.5 to 5 mg/A4 sheet.

Abstract: A fusing device includes a rotary fusing part; a heating unit heating the rotary fusing part; a rotary pressure part pressed against the rotary fusing part; nozzles jetting compressed air to paper being conveyed through a nip between the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part; and separating parts guiding the paper separated from the rotary fusing part. The nozzles and the separating parts are disposed downstream of the nip in a paper conveying direction so as not to contact the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part and are arranged alternately along the length direction of the nip that is orthogonal to the paper conveying direction. The separating parts protrude beyond the tips of the nozzles toward the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determining unit, an image forming unit, a fixing member, a pressing member, a separating member and a release agent applying member. The determining unit determines whether to print a borderless image or not. The image forming unit forms a developer image on a recording medium in accordance with the printing data so that the developer image reaches the vicinity of a leading end of the recording medium. The fixing member fixes the developer image to the recording medium. The pressing member is pressed against the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween. The separating member is disposed on a downstream side of the nip portion so that the separating member has no contact with the fixing member. The separating member separates the recording medium from the fixing member. The release agent applying member applies a release agent to the fixing member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is printing system comprising a first printer configured to print a first set of data on a document, the first printer including a fuser employing fuser oil, and an in-line spray coater configured to deposit a wax coating on a portion of the document to repel or cover fuser oil. A corresponding method is also described. The method and system are useful for preparing MICR encoded documents such as checks.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved fuser cleaning system in which a strip of flexible material, including first second and third portions, is fed from a source roll to a take-up roll in such a manner that a fuser roll is cleaned or oiled. A first detectable mark may be disposed on a side of the strip of flexible material in one of the first and second portions. During operation of the fuser cleaning system, the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll and when an amount of the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll, the first detectable mark is detected by a sensor and a signal, indicating that the amount of the third portion has been taken up by the take-up roll, is transmitted to a controller. A second detectable mark may be disposed on the side of the strip of flexible material.

Abstract: An image forming method including electrostatic image forming step, developing step, transferring step, fixing step and oil application step for applying an oil to a fixing member, wherein the toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the relationship (A2/A1)×100<200 is satisfied, wherein A1 represents the area of the oil dropped on a pellet of the toner measured 30 seconds after dropping the oil, and A2 represents the area of the dropped oil measured 24 hours after dropping the oil. Alternatively, the relationships (X1?X2)<0.5 atomic percent, X1>1.0 atomic percent, and X2>1.0 atomic percent, are satisfied, wherein X1 and X2 represent amounts of Si atoms of the silicone oil measured by subjecting the toner image to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at times 5 minutes and 24 hours, respectively, after fixing the toner image.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium; a pressing member that presses the recording medium against the fixing member; an oiling unit that applies release oil onto a surface of the fixing member to clean the surface; a removing member that is arranged between an downstream side of the oiling unit and an upstream side of the pressing member in a rotating direction of the fixing member and movable between an in-contact state where the removing member is in contact with the surface of the fixing member and an out-of-contact state where the removing member is out of contact with the surface; a drive unit that drives the removing member; and an oiling control unit that, when starting earliest fixing, controls the drive unit to gradually move the removing member from the in-contact state into the out-of-contact state.

Abstract: Liquid supply systems, fusers and methods of supplying liquids in printing apparatuses are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of a liquid supply system for supplying liquid to a fusing surface of a fuser member, comprises a metering roll having a first outer surface; a donor roll having a second outer surface disposed adjacent the first outer surface to define a first nip between the first and second outer surfaces; and a liquid reducing roll having a third outer surface adapted to be disposed adjacent the second outer surface to define a second nip between the second and third outer surfaces. The metering roll is adapted to convey the liquid from the first outer surface to the second outer surface. The donor roll is adapted to be disposed adjacent the fuser member such that the second outer surface and the fusing surface define a third nip, and to convey the liquid from the second outer surface to the fusing surface.

Abstract: A lubricating device includes an lubricant impregnation member to coat a surface of a target member with lubricant, an lubricant supply member to supply lubricant to the lubricant impregnation member, a subsidiary roller to feed the lubricant impregnation member out, a main roller to reel in the lubricant impregnation member fed by the subsidiary roller, a drive motor to drive the main roller, an encoder disc provided at a rotational shaft of the subsidiary roller, an encoder sensor to detect a rotational state of the encoder disc, and a controller unit to calculate an outer diameter of the main roller and a portion of the lubricant impregnation member reeled by the main roller, based on a number of drive steps of the drive motor during a detection interval of the encoder disc.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) that meters fluid film in an image fusing system. The apparatus can include a source of fluid film (110) and a source metering roll (120) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The source metering roll can have a source metering roll surface (122) coupled to the source of fluid film, where the source metering roll surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source of fluid film. The apparatus can include a donor belt (140) having a donor belt surface (142) coupled to the source metering roll surface. The donor belt surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source metering roll surface. The apparatus can include a second metering roll (150) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The second metering roll can have a second metering roll surface (152) coupled to the donor belt surface, where the second metering roll surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor belt surface.

Abstract: Liquid delivery systems, fuser assemblies, printing apparatuses and methods of delivering release agents to fusing imaging surfaces are disclosed. An embodiment of the liquid supply systems for delivering a liquid to a fusing imaging surface of a fusing member includes a first roll having a first outer surface adapted to contact a liquid contained in a sump; a first shim adapted to contact the first outer surface and the liquid in the sump; a second roll having a second outer surface adapted to contact the liquid in the sump, the first and second rolls contacting each other at an interface; and a second shim adapted to contact the second outer surface and the liquid in the sump. At least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface is comprised of a compressible material which is compressed along the interface.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing contamination build-up within a fuser roll system are disclosed. The method and system includes a donor roll in rotational combination with a fuser roll. The donor roll can be configured to transfer a toner release agent to the fuser roll to reduce toner build-up on the surface of the fuser roll. A grounded static brush can be located proximate to the donor roll. The grounded static brush can be configured to inductively remove electrostatic discharge from the surface of the donor roll. The reduced electrostatic reduces contamination build-up on the fuser roll, and therefore increases the cycle life of the components of the fuser roll system.

Abstract: This is a system to coat oil on a fuser roller in a xerographic marking procedure. The system has an IR sensor which is located adjacent to the metering roller and which measures the emissivity of an oil film on the metering roller. Once the IR sensor determines the emissivity of this film, it conveys the emissivity reading to a controller. The controller then controls the metering roller speed to thereby control the oil film thickness. Once a fixed oil film is determined, the emissivity can be used to ensure this same film thickness is applied from run to run. There is no need to redesign the entire oil coating apparatus when the desired film thickness is varied, the same apparatus is used only the emissivity will vary to vary the oil film thickness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the wet fixing method includes a toner image forming section, a intermediate transfer section including an intermediate transfer belt, a fixing fluid applying section that applies a fixing fluid to a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt and swells and/or softens the toner image, a transferring and fixing section, a recording medium feeding section, and a scanner section. The fixing fluid applying section and the transferring and fixing section are placed so that, when the toner image in a swelled and/or softened state on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred and fixed to a recording medium, adhesive force A between toner forming the toner image and the intermediate transfer belt becomes smaller than adhesive force B between the toner and the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing liquid is provided which fixes a toner comprising a resin on a recording medium, in which a fluid particle comprising a component which dissolves or swells at least a portion of the resin comprised in the toner is dispersed in a dispersive medium, as a micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A heating system including: a heating device including a first heat generator supplied with electric power by a commercial power source device, and a second heat generator and a third heat generator supplied with electric power by an auxiliary power source device; an electric storage device composed of a capacitor; a discharger for pursuing discharge to raise an input voltage from the electric storage device and supplying an electric power to the second and third heat generators; a detector for detecting an input voltage from the electric storage device to the discharger; and a power supply controller for switching off the electric power supply from the discharger to the third heat generator when the detector detects a reaching of the input voltage to a first threshold value which is set as a value in connection with a permissible limit of an input electric current to the discharger.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved fuser cleaning system in which a strip of flexible material, including first second and third portions, is fed from a source roll to a take-up roll in such a manner that a fuser roll is cleaned or oiled. A first detectable mark may be disposed on a side of the strip of flexible material in one of the first and second portions. During operation of the fuser cleaning system, the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll and when an amount of the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll, the first detectable mark is detected by a sensor and a signal, indicating that the amount of the third portion has been taken up by the take-up roll, is transmitted to a controller. A second detectable mark may be disposed on the side of the strip of flexible material.

Abstract: Liquid supply systems, fusers and methods of supplying liquids in printing apparatuses are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of a liquid supply system for supplying liquid to a fusing surface of a fuser member, comprises a metering roll having a first outer surface; a donor roll having a second outer surface disposed adjacent the first outer surface to define a first nip between the first and second outer surfaces; and a liquid reducing roll having a third outer surface adapted to be disposed adjacent the second outer surface to define a second nip between the second and third outer surfaces. The metering roll is adapted to convey the liquid from the first outer surface to the second outer surface. The donor roll is adapted to be disposed adjacent the fuser member such that the second outer surface and the fusing surface define a third nip, and to convey the liquid from the second outer surface to the fusing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) that meters fluid film in an image fusing system is disclosed. The apparatus can include a source of fluid film (110) and a source metering roll (120) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The source metering roll can have a source metering roll surface (122) coupled to the source of fluid film, where the source metering roll surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source of fluid film. The apparatus can include a donor belt (140) having a donor belt surface (142) coupled to the source metering roll surface. The donor belt surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source metering roll surface. The apparatus can include a second metering roll (150) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The second metering roll can have a second metering roll surface (152) coupled to the donor belt surface, where the second metering roll surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor belt surface.

Abstract: A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart features extending beyond a center section provided between the features. The features and center section are adapted to face an inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: Liquid delivery systems, fuser assemblies, printing apparatuses and methods of delivering release agents to fusing imaging surfaces are disclosed. An embodiment of the liquid supply systems for delivering a liquid to a fusing imaging surface of a fusing member includes a first roll having a first outer surface adapted to contact a liquid contained in a sump; a first shim adapted to contact the first outer surface and the liquid in the sump; a second roll having a second outer surface adapted to contact the liquid in the sump, the first and second rolls contacting each other at an interface; and a second shim adapted to contact the second outer surface and the liquid in the sump. At least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface is comprised of a compressible material which is compressed along the interface.

Abstract: This is a mechanical oil dispenser for use in applying an oil to the surface (or two surfaces in a duplex mode) of printed media to improve its sheet-handling characteristics. This dispenser system has an oil-containing housing or tank with oil ports at the bottom of the tank. The ports are abutting a wick, this wick then disperses oil to an applicator roll which in turn applies oil to one or both surfaces of a printed media. The oil ports and oil flow are controlled by the profile of a cam and shaft in operative connection to said ports. Opening and closing of these oil ports are controlled by a cam shaft movement actuated by the rotation and stopping of the applicator roll.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member, a motor, and an oil applier. The pressing member contacts the fixing member. The oil applier includes an application roller and an oil supply mechanism. The application roller applies oil to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. The oil supply mechanism supplies oil to the application roller. The motor is provided independent of other drivers, and supplies a driving force to the application roller to rotate the application roller at an arbitrary speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an oil input device and a fixing device including a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil supply member provided adjacent to an oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member. When the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device through an oil inlet overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, and an oil applier. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member. The oil applier includes an oil pan, an oil receiver, and an oil filter. The oil pan is provided under the second nip formation member to contain oil in which the second nip formation member is dipped. The oil receiver holds the oil pan. The oil filter is provided between the oil pan and the oil receiver to filter oil overflowing the oil pan.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a controller switches a pressing member between a pressure application state to contact the pressing member against a fixing member and a pressure release state to separate the pressing member from the fixing member. The controller starts rotation of the pressing member before the pressing member contacts the fixing member in the pressure application state, when the pressing member switches from the pressure release state to the pressure application state. An oil applier includes an oil pan and an oil regulating member. The oil pan is provided under the pressing member to contain oil in which the pressing member is dipped. The oil regulating member is provided downstream from the oil pan in a direction of rotation of the pressing member to contact the pressing member to regulate an amount of oil adhering to the pressing member.

Abstract: A separating agent, in particular silicon oil, applied to the surface of a fuser mechanism, preferably in an electrophotographic printing machine. Contamination of the surfaces of the printing media is substantially prevented or reduced when the separating agent is diluted with at least one solvent with a boiling point equal to or greater than 60° C., preferably equal to or greater than 100° C., but below 160° C.

Abstract: A fuser member having a substrate; an outer polymeric layer including a fluoropolymer having nano-size copper metal particles dispersed therein, wherein the nano-size copper metal particles have a particle size of from about 50 to about 1,500 nm; and a release agent material coating on the outer polymeric layer, wherein the release agent material coating has a mercapto functional release agent, and wherein from about 85 to about 100 percent of the outer polymeric layer is covered with the mercapto functional release agent.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: an endless belt; a heating rotary member for heating a toner image on a sheet at a heating nip between the belt and the rotary member; a pressure member provided slidably on an inner surface of the belt at the heating nip, for bringing the belt into pressure contact with the rotary member; and a lubricant applying roller including a lubricant retaining layer for retaining a lubricant and a lubricant applying amount controlling layer for controlling an applying amount of the lubricant, the lubricant applying roller abutting against the inner surface of the belt to apply the lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt while rotating, in which the lubricant applying roller is brought into contact with the belt and includes a high frictional portion having a coefficient of friction higher than that of the lubricant applying amount controlling layer.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a pressure-seal cohesive and method for making and using the pressure-seal cohesive to form mailer type business forms. The disclosed pressure-seal cohesive can provide an improved cohesive sealing of the mailer forms. In particular, the pressure-seal cohesive can include at least one silane promoter admixed with at least one aqueous pressure sensitive compound formulation that contains pressure sensitive cohesive and/or adhesive compounds. The admixed silane promoter can have a concentration ranging from about 0.5% to about 2.5% weight percent of the pressure-seal cohesive to improve the compatibility of the pressure sensitive compounds, even if they are contaminated by the fuser oils (e.g., functionalized PDMS oil) during digital printing processes (e.g., on Xerox iGen3).

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material at a nip; a pressing pad for pressing the belt at the nip; a supporting member for supporting the belt at an inner surface thereof, the supporting member being displaceable to move the belt in a widthwise direction of the belt; a lubricant application member for applying lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt; and displacing means for displacing the lubricant application member in accordance with a displacement of the supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming method including electrostatic image forming step, developing step, transferring step, fixing step and oil application step for applying an oil to a fixing member, wherein the toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the relationship (A2/A1)×100<200 is satisfied, wherein A1 represents the area of the oil dropped on a pellet of the toner measured 30 seconds after dropping the oil, and A2 represents the area of the dropped oil measured 24 hours after dropping the oil. Alternatively, the relationships (X1?X2)<0.5 atomic percent, X1>1.0 atomic percent, and X2>1.0 atomic percent, are satisfied, wherein X1 and X2 represent amounts of Si atoms of the silicone oil measured by subjecting the toner image to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at times 5 minutes and 24 hours, respectively, after fixing the toner image.

Abstract: A release agent applicator applies release agent to an imaging drum and absorbs release agent metered from the drum to extend the operational life of a image drum maintenance unit. The applicator includes a reservoir for storing release agent, the reservoir having a plurality of perforations for enabling release agent to seep from the reservoir, a containment membrane mounted to the reservoir for wicking release agent from the perforations of the reservoir, and a delivery layer mounted to the containment membrane for delivering release agent from the containment membrane to an imaging drum that is in contact with the delivery layer. The delivery layer is matched to the containment membrane to maintain a saturation rate for the delivery layer in a predetermined range and the delivery layer has an uptake rate for release agent contacting an external boundary of the delivery layer that is greater than a release agent supply rate from the containment membrane to the delivery layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is printing system comprising a first printer configured to print a first set of data on a document, the first printer including a fuser employing fuser oil, and an in-line spray coater configured to deposit a wax coating on a portion of the document to repel or cover fuser oil. A corresponding method is also described. The method and system are useful for preparing MICR encoded documents such as checks.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and a fixing mechanism. The fixing mechanism fixes a visible image formed by the image forming mechanism onto a recording sheet. The fixing mechanism includes a first roller, a second roller, a belt, a third roller, and an applicator. The second roller includes a first heater having a first heat capacity. The belt is looped over the first and second rollers. The third roller is arranged opposite to the first roller via the belt, includes a second heater having a heat capacity smaller than the first heat capacity of the first heater, applies a pressure to the belt and the first roller, and rotates in conjunction with a movement of the first roller via the belt. The applicator is arranged at a position in contact with the third roller and applies oil to a surface of the third roller.

Abstract: An image heating device has a heating roller, an endless belt forming a nip with the heating roller and a pressure pad pressing the belt into the nip, the device has a supplying and connection unit to supply a lubricant onto the inner surface of a pressure belt before the pressure pad and to collect the supplied lubricant from the pressure belt before a steering roller.

Abstract: A lubricant applying unit includes application mechanism that applies a lubricant from a solid lubricant on a surface of an image carrier that carries an image. The lubricant is a silicon-based-powder or a silicon-based-granule. Since the lubricant is less likely to adhere on a charging member that comes in contact with the image carrier, insufficient charge in the charging roller can be prevented, and a lifetime of the charging roller increases.

Abstract: A replacement unit having a toner bottle and a fixing liquid bottle integrated with each other is attached to a printer main body (image forming apparatus main body). Toner particles accommodated in the toner bottle are allowed to be supplied to a development device of the image forming apparatus main body. A sheet member (sealing unit) of a liquid supplying port of the fixing liquid bottle is broken by an insertion pin provided in the printer main body in synchronization with the attachment of the replacement unit to the printer main body. A toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening the toner particles and a solvent for dissolving or dispersing the softening agent is supplied from the fixing liquid bottle to a fixing liquid storage of a fixing device of the printer main body.

Abstract: In the present applying mechanism, a part of a guide sheet 33 bulges (arches) away from an oil application roller 16, with respect to a vertical line S passing through the center of a pipe 31. In other words, in the present applying mechanism, a part of the guide sheet 33 has a shape of avoiding (bypassing) the oil application roller 16 that has a high temperature. With this, oil flowing on the guide sheet 33 is kept away from the high-temperature oil application roller 16. The present applying mechanism can include an edge 50, or gap, in the guide sheet 33 for backing-up flow of oil to before the application roller in order to ensure even distribution of the oil to the application roller. The present applying mechanism can include a narrow gap between the pipe 31 and guide sheet 33.

Abstract: An improved release agent management subsystem for an electrophotographic system comprises a release agent reservoir for storing release agent, and a metering roll at least partially submerged in the release agent stored in the release agent reservoir, the metering roll for delivering release agent from the release agent reservoir to a fusing station. The metering roll includes a metallic cylinder having sealed ends, and an inductive heater located proximate the metering roll for inductively heating the metering roll so heat is transferred from the metering to the release agent being delivered by the metering roll to the fusing station.

Abstract: A release agent application apparatus includes a liquid-permeable member, a first release agent metering member abutting the liquid-permeable member, and a pump operatively connected to the liquid-permeable member to pump the release agent therethrough.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heat source for heating the fixing member, a pressure member urged against the fixing member so as to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, and a release agent applying unit that applies a release agent to the fixing member or the pressure member. An amount A (weight parts) of wax contained in the toner, and an amount B (mg/sheet) of a release agent applied to the fixing member or the pressure member by the release agent applying unit per printing medium of A4 size satisfy the following relationships (1) through (3): 0?A?20 ??(1) 0?B?1.0 ??(2) 8?A+(12×B)?32.

Abstract: A smart and virgin contact fuser service assembly is disclosed for servicing a toner fuser assembly and includes (a) a cleaning device including a cleaning member having virgin cleaning portions on a cleaning surface, the virgin cleaning portions being feedable in a single pass into cleaning contact with a fuser first surface of a fuser member being cleaned; (b) an oiling device including an oiling member having virgin oiling portions on an oiling surface, the virgin oiling portions being feedable in a single pass into oiling contact with a second surface of a fuser member being oiled; and (c) a controller connected to the cleaning device and to the oiling device for selectably and controllably feeding the virgin cleaning portions and the oiling portions in response to a measurable condition of the surface of the fuser roll.