Lexmark International, Inc.

Other

Alexander D Meade

Peter E Wallin

Bradley Leonard Beach

Ashok Murthy

Todd Lucas Janes

Jing X Sun

Paul Douglas Horrall

Michael David Maul

Douglas Campbell Hamilton

Terence E Franey

Pramod K Sharma

David Daniel Dreyfuss

Kathryn E Dowlen

Liqun Larry Wang

Gerald G Leslie

William F Voit, Jr

Ignatius L Britto

Michael Craig Leemhuis

Darin Michael Gettelfinger

Ronald Willard Baker

Edward Alan Rush

Philip Jerome Heink

David Starling MacMillan

James Philip Harden

Tom E Stickler

Peter Brown Pickett

Bryan Michael Blair

Stacy Marie Pargett

Iraj D Shakib

Kathryn Dowlen Mullins

Mark Stephen Weisman, Jr

Billy Joe Jones

David Clay Blaine

Michael Wesley Baskette

Krikor Yosmali

Jeanne Marie Saldanha-Singh

Kurt Matthew Korfhage

Jeffrey Lynn Richie

Charles Robert Dunn, Ii

An intermediate toner transfer belt includes an endless member made of a layer of a material having an endless functional surface adapted to transfer a toner image. The layer of material is textured so as to define a multiplicity of protruding portions of the material spaced apart from each other and integral with and extending outwardly from a remaining base portion of the material. The protruding portions have outer tips spaced apart from one another with outer surfaces thereon also spaced apart from one another such that the endless surface of the endless member is formed by the spaced apart outer surfaces of the outer tips of the protruding portions of the material. Further, the protruding portions are irregular in pattern and shape relative to one another and generally undulate toward and away from the remaining base portion of the material.

Toner transfer belt with textured surface for enhanced transfer and method of forming textured surface

A cleaning apparatus in a waste toner removal system of an image forming device includes a waste toner moving device that is movably mounted in a waste toner housing. The housing has an inlet where waste toner enters the housing. The toner moving device is movable between a first position and a second position to displace accumulated toner within the housing. The toner moving device is spring-biased toward the first position. A rotating actuator displaces the toner moving device from the first position to the second position to move the toner in the housing away from the inlet. The toner moving device is also self-cleaning via vibration and impact movements.

Methods and devices for moving waste toner within an image forming device

An end seal for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses an array of ridges (or grooves) to urge toner inwardly so as to help prevent toner escape. The end seal works in conjunction with a cleaning blade. The end seal includes a blade pocket for mating with the end portions of the cleaning blade and a middle portion having an array of ridges thereon. The ridges are angled inward to urge any toner trapped therebetween inward away from the end seals, where the toner can be directed to a waste reservoir in a normal fashion. This &ldquo;snowplowing&rdquo; action of the ridges helps prevent outward migration of toner, thereby minimizing toner escape. The end seal may be composed of two or more layers of differing materials. There may be an end seal at each end of the cleaner blade.

Dynamic end seal for image forming apparatus

A toner cleaning apparatus for a printing device includes a toner separator operating against a component of the printing device, to dislodge toner particles therefrom. A toner receptacle is provided for collecting the dislodged toner particles, and an auger positively conveys the dislodged toner particles into the toner receptacle. A vibration plate is provided for receiving the toner particles dislodged by the toner separator, and for directing the dislodged toner particles to the auger. The vibration plate includes lengths thereof extending into the auger and deflected by the auger to induce vibrations along the plate and distribute-and convey toner particles disposed thereon.

Toner cleaner system vibrator and method

A multi-functional fuser backup roll release mechanism and operating process are defined. In the event of a paper jam, the primary gear train from a prime mover to driven rolls of the imaging apparatus is interrupted, and a secondary drive train is engaged. The drive train operates a drive shaft, rotating a worm gear to control a cam and lever apparatus connected to springs and bellcranks at opposite ends of the backup roll. Upon the detection of a paper jam, or prolonged inactivity of the fuser, the nip between the fuser hot roll and backup roll is opened. During normal operation, the mechanism can be used to control the nip force between the fuser roll and the backup roll, to provide the optimal nip load for the media being processed, and the print glossiness desired.

Multi-functional fuser backup roll release mechanism

An ink jet printer is provided comprising a housing, an ink jet printing apparatus and a coating apparatus. The ink jet printing apparatus is located within the housing and includes an ink jet printing device capable of ejecting ink droplets onto a first side of a printing substrate which moves through the housing along a printing substrate feed path. The coating apparatus is positioned along the printing substrate feed path and spaced from the printing device. The coating apparatus applies a substantially uniform layer of coating material onto at least a portion of the first side of the printing substrate.

Coating apparatus for use in an ink jet printer

A release agent composition for use in an electrophotographic process is disclosed. This composition includes a specifically-defined heat-stable silicone oil-silicone wax random copolymer. The copolymer has a melting point such that it is liquid on the hot fuser roll, but solidifies at room temperature on the printed page. A random silicone copolymer, in the form of a paste or pliable caulk, which is useful for sealing leaks in toner cartridges is also disclosed. Finally, the method for preparing these copolymers is disclosed.

Release agent for electrophotographic process

A release agent composition for use in an electrophotographic process is disclosed. This composition includes a specifically-defined heat-stable silicone oil-silicone wax copolymer. The copolymer has a melting point such that it is liquid on the hot fuser roll, but solidifies at room temperature on the printed page. A random silicone copolymer, in the form of a paste or pliable caulk, which is useful for sealing leaks in toner cartridges is also disclosed. Finally, the method for preparing these copolymers is disclosed.

In imaging apparatus (1) a contact heater (9) applies heat and electrical bias to a toner image on an intermediate accumulator (5). The bias is of polarity to repel the toner. The toner image is coalesced such that additional heating may be reduced or eliminated at the transfer to paper (7) by pressure roller (11).

Color imaging with contact transfer heating station

A printer or other imaging apparatus (1) in which two or more images in registration are transferred from a photoconductor (3) to an intermediate transfer drum (5). The transfer drum has very stable resistivity, which is achieved by the body of the drum being cesium iodide filled polyurethane.

High stability color imaging by transfer roller

An electrophotographic printer employs a intermediate transfer roller of a copolymer of urethane and silicone carbinol. Transfer efficiency is excellent over a period normally coinciding with the full life of a printer or other imaging device.

Polymeric toner transfer member material

An electrophotographic printer with fixing of the final image on paper (27) by first preheating the image side of the paper on a plate (25) which is in a straight path with the nip of a heated transfer roller (17) and a heated backing roller (21). This permits high temperatures need for fixing liquid toners and avoids paper curling.

Imaging apparatus with straight path fixing

A document (7) carrying thermoplastic toner (46) to be fixed is held in the nip of belts (26 and 30) where it is moved under a heater (34) . The toner is in contact with the longer of the two belts. When a slightly rough image is desired, such as in normal printing on paper, the document is removed while the toner is still mobile and has some affinity for the belt on which it is carried. When a very smooth image is desired, such as for transparencies to be optically projected, the document is removed after the toner is cooled.

Fixing device with selectable finish

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Alexander D Meade