Xerox Corporation

Other

Christopher A Jensen

Steven Matthew Russel

Erwin Ruiz

Jeffrey Nyyssonen Swing

Melissa Ann Monahan

Tab Alan Tress

Brian J Gillis

Paul Michael Fromm

Michael A Fayette

David P Vanbortel

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.

Printed thermocouples in solid heater devices

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 common tap at the center of a single heating trace. This allows for the benefits of a single trace configuration well while simultaneously providing a dedicated common line that does not have to be switched around.

Method for temperature leveling and/or resistance increase in solid heaters

A system and method are provided for employing a unique optical roll scanning technique, scheme or process for detecting and identifying periodic surface defects associated with rolls usable in image production devices. An apparatus is provided for mounting the roll to implement an inspection technique that facilitates forming an image of a surface of the roll by rotating the roll through an entire cycle above a full width scanner device. The formed image of the surface of the scanned roll is filtered and analyzed particularly by applying a Fourier analysis technique, and/or by subjecting the filtered image data to a series of fast Fourier transforms (FFTs), potentially including 2D FFTs. The analysis process allows detected periodic defects in the formed image of the surface of the roll under analysis to be characterized by a magnitude of a response in a spatial frequency domain.

Method and apparatus for implementing optical roll scanning to identify defects in roll components used in an image production device

An approach is provided for reducing release agent transfer to a pressure member in a fuser. The approach involves causing, at least in part, at least a first sheeted substrate and a second sheeted substrate to be advanced through a fuser in a process direction. The approach also involves determining the presence of the first sheeted substrate at a fusing position. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a fuser member and a pressure member to engage to form a fusing nip at the fusing position based, at least in part, on the determined presence of the first sheeted substrate at the fusing position. The approach additionally involves determining the first sheeted substrate has advanced through the fusing nip. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, the fuser member and the pressure member to disengage.

Method and apparatus for reducing release agent transfer to a pressure member in a fuser

A system and method are provided to implement a double belt roll fuser geometry to enable consistent self-stripping of image receiving media exiting a fuser assembly in an image forming device. Interaction between an image receiving medium substrate and a fuser belt of a belt roll fuser device is modified to include configuration in which an opposing belt is positioned around a pressure roller to oppose the fuser belt provided around the fuser roller. The fuser belt and the opposing belt extend in a downstream direction from the fusing nip and are configured to provide an appropriate length downstream of the fusing nip that sandwiches the image receiving medium substrate between the fuser belt and the opposing belt. Each of the fuser belt and the opposing belt wrap 70 degrees or more around significantly smaller diameter rollers positioned downstream of the fusing nip to form a stripping nip.

Systems and methods for implementing a double belt roll fuser geometry in an image forming device

An approach is provided for applying a release agent to a substrate having at least a first surface and a second surface. The approach involves determining a print job type for applying one or more printed images to the substrate to be one of a simplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to one of the first surface and the second surface and a duplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to the first surface and the second surface. The approach also involves processing the determined print job type to cause, at least in part, a determination of a release agent application instruction that corresponds with the determined print job type. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an amount of the release agent to be applied to the substrate based on the release agent application instruction.

Method and apparatus for a print job type dependent release agent application

Methods include moving a fuser assembly with respect to a medium at a fusing nip. The fuser assembly may be moved back and forth, axially in a media cross process direction for registration distribution. The system may be configured to move the fuser assembly different distances based on a deduction of a current location of a fuser member in view of a known driving motor speed, and a time elapsed after a change in signal state. Systems may incorporate one or two sensors, and may be configured for axial movement over a distance of 2 mm or a distance of 55 mm. signature.

Methods and systems for mitigating fuser roll edge wear using variable end-point registration distribution system control

An approach is provided for reusing a cleaning web to clean portions of a fuser unit. The approach involves causing a cleaning web supply mechanism to feed a cleaning web having a first surface and a second surface to the portions of the fuser unit. The approach also involves causing a cleaning web receiving mechanism to receive the cleaning web following a cleaning process in which the first surface of the cleaning web is used to clean at least one of the portions of the fuser unit. The approach further involves causing the cleaning web receiving mechanism to return the cleaning web to the portions of the fuser unit to clean at least one of the portions of the fuser unit using the second surface of the cleaning web.

Method an apparatus for reusing a cleaning web to clean a fuser unit

An illuminated coaster includes a base with a body having upper and lower ends and a generally frusto-conical configuration enclosing a compartment. A resilient, insulative sleeve comprising foam rubber, polyurethane or some other suitable material is mounted on the body upper end and forms a container receiver adapted to selectively receive the lower end of a container. A lighting system is located generally in the compartment and includes a power source, such as a battery set. A light source is selectively connected to the battery set through a switching component and can comprise a bulb and socket or an LED, either of which can be mounted below the transparent lens for projecting light upwardly into a container in the container receiver. Modified embodiments of the illuminated coaster include horizontal/annular, helical and vertical ribs located on the inside of the sleeve for engaging a container received therein.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Christopher A Jensen