Xerox Corporation

David P Van Bortel

Brendan H Williamson

Brian John McNamee

Jyothsna Ram

Nan-Xing Hu

Stephan V Drappel

Paul Michael Fromm

T Brian McAneney

Gordon Sisler

Steven Matthew Russel

Guiqin Song

Thomas N Taylor

Alan Richard Kuntz

Donald M Bott

Lisbeth Sophia Quesnel

Paul N Richards

John E Derimiggio

Geoffrey C Williams

Robert A Panos

Ted A Beer

Dennis A Caggiano

An apparatus () and method () that detects the travel direction of media in a media path in an image marking and fusing system is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport () configured to transport media. The apparatus can include a media marking engine () coupled to the media transport, the media marking engine configured to mark an image on media transported by the media transport to create unfused marked media (). The apparatus can include a fusing member () coupled to the media transport, the fusing member having an axis of rotation (), the fusing member configured to fuse the image on the media. The apparatus can include a media motion sensor () configured to sense travel information based on an unfused marked media travel direction () and configured to output a media motion sensor signal corresponding to the travel information. The apparatus can include a controller () coupled to the media motion sensor, the controller configured to output an alignment angle signal in response to receiving the media motion sensor signal, the alignment angle signal corresponding to an alignment angle between the fusing member axis of rotation and the unfused marked media travel direction.

Apparatus and method for detecting the travel direction of media in a media path in an image marking and fusing system

An apparatus () and method that meters fluid film in an ink jet printing system is disclosed. The apparatus can include a source of fluid film () and a source metering assembly () rotatably supported in the apparatus. The source metering assembly can have a source metering assembly surface () coupled to the source of fluid film and the source metering assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source of fluid film. The apparatus can include a donor assembly () rotatably supported in the apparatus, where the donor assembly can have a donor assembly surface () coupled to the source metering assembly surface and the donor assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source metering assembly surface. The apparatus can include an ink jet printhead () configured to emit ink and a print assembly () rotatably supported in the apparatus. The print assembly can have a print assembly surface () coupled to the donor assembly surface, where the print assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor assembly surface and the print assembly can be configured to receive ink from the ink jet printhead and produce an image on media using the ink.

Apparatus and method for metering fluid film in an ink jet printing system

An apparatus for ink jet printing, as well as corresponding method and system are described. The apparatus includes a source of fluid film, a fluid film metering roller supported for contact with the source of fluid film, a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the fluid film metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities, a donor roller supported in contact with the fluid film metering roller, an ink jet printhead configured to emit ink, and a print assembly rotatably supported in the apparatus, the print assembly having a print assembly surface coupled to the donor roller, the print assembly configured to receive ink from the ink jet printhead and produce an image on media using the ink, wherein the donor roller is configured to convey the fluid film from the fluid film metering roller to the print assembly surface at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the fluid film metering roller, and at least one of the following: an amount of fluid film left on the donor roller, a film thickness of the fluid film on the fluid film metering roller, and a speed ratio between the fluid film metering roller and the donor roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the print assembly.

Variable rate fluid film release in an ink jet printer

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. The liquid reducing roll is adapted to remove a portion of the liquid from the second outer surface before the liquid is conveyed to the fusing surface.

Liquid supply systems, fusers and methods of supplying liquids in printing apparatuses

An apparatus () and method () that meters fluid film in an image fusing system. The apparatus can include a source of fluid film () and a source metering roll () rotatably supported in the apparatus. The source metering roll can have a source metering roll surface () 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 () having a donor belt surface () 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 () rotatably supported in the apparatus. The second metering roll can have a second metering roll surface () coupled to the donor belt surface, where the second metering roll surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor belt surface. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly () having a fuser assembly surface () coupled to the donor belt surface. The fuser assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor belt surface and the fuser assembly can be configured to fuse an image on media.

Apparatus and method for metering fluid film in an image fusing system

An adhesion promoter comprising a silane compound and at least one of (1) a release agent, or (2) an adhesive, and methods of applying the adhesion promoter.

Adhesion promoter

Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods, methods of fusing toner on media are disclosed. An embodiment of the fusers for fusing toner on a medium includes a rotatable fuser member including an outer fusing surface; a first indenter adapted to form a first indentation in the fusing surface at a first location during movement of the fuser member relative to the first indenter; and a second indenter adapted to form a second indentation in the fusing surface at a second location laterally spaced from the first location during movement of the fuser member relative to the second indenter.

Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods, and methods of fusing toner on media

A cleaning agent having one or more active ingredient which may remove residual release agents from printed material and methods for using the cleaning agents are described herein.

Surface treatment of coated media

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.

Method and system for improved metering of release agent in an electrophotographic system

A fuser system of a xerographic device includes at least one set of a fuser member and a pressure member having a nip width therebetween, the nip width being set to within a specification nip width range, at least one sensor for monitoring the velocity of at lease one of the fuser member, the pressure member and a media passing through the nip, a processor that receives the velocity data from the at least one sensor and that determines a current nip width from the velocity data and compares the current nip width to the specification nip width range, and a nip width adjustment device in communication with the processor, which adjusts the current nip width to be within the specification nip width range. To offset changes in nip width due to hardening/softening of a fuser member material, or to provide a means to measure nip width in order to enable fusing setpoints using multiple nip width specifications, a method for closed loop control of nip width is enabled by the fuser system.

Closed loop control of nip width in a fuser system

A fuser baffle which helps to minimize or eliminate sheet wrinkle by a fuser. A small &ldquo;saddle&rdquo; is added to the center section of the inlet to the fuser on the baffle surface which last contacts and controls the sheet before entry into the fuser nip. The saddle removes most of the corrugation along approximately 90 to 95% of the centermost portion of the sheet. Any remaining corrugation at the inboard and outboard ends is removed by the fuser flare. The baffle is applicable to any fusing device which uses localized pressure to fix an image to a sheet.

Anti-wrinkle fuser baffle

A binding tape cartridge in which a reel of binding tape is packaged in a moisture impervious bag. The bag has an exit port through which the tape is advanced. A seal, mounted in the exit port, permits the passage of tape therethrough while maintaining the interior substantially dry. This projects the binding tape from moisture, reducing the possibility of tape delamination.

Moisture proof binding tape cartridge

A document finisher includes a printing station for printing on the binding of a book. The printing station in one embodiment prints on the binder tape before the book is bound. In a second embodiment, the printer prints on the binding after the book is bound. The printing stations are space efficient and designed to be easily incorporated with preexisting stations in document finishers. Ink jet printers and impact-type printer may be utilized.

Finisher with binder printing

An apparatus which adhesively binds a set of sheets by applying a strip having an adhesive on one surface thereof to the spine of the set. The strip is supported on a heated platen which softens the adhesive. The spine of the set of copy sheets is pressed into the adhesive on the strip. The depth of penetration of the spine into the adhesive is controlled so as to form a layer of adhesive between the spine and the strip having a predetermined thickness.

Growing community of inventors

Victor, NY, United States of America

David P Van Bortel