Eastman-kodak Company

Ernest J Tamary

Muhammad Aslam

Thomas J Farnand

Donald Saul Rimai

Kevin M Johnson

James D Allen

Tsang J Chen

William J Staudenmayer

Hal E Wright

Joseph F Laukaitis

Paul E Tschiderer

Carlton D Baxter

A fusing apparatus for fusing toner images onto a substrate. The fusing apparatus has a generally cylindrical pressure roller, a fuser roller, and a device for applying toner release oil to the surface there of. The fuser roller further includes a first length portion that has a generally cylindrical outer shape for contacting the pressure roller to form a fusing nip through which the substrate can be moved. In order to prevent damage to the surface of the fuser roller, the fuser roller includes a second length portion which lies towards an end of the fuser roller away from the fusing nip and has a generally conical outer shape for preventing contact between the fuser roller and pressure roller.

Fusing apparatus having variable shape fuser roller

A toner image carrying thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet is texturized from the back side of the sheet by positioning the sheet between a smooth hard surface and a texturizing surface with the texturizing surface contacting the back side. The thermoplastic layer is softened by heat and becomes texturized without embossing the back side. A curl preventing layer on the back side is not embossed because it has a melting point above the temperature of the process. A glossy-textured print can be produced this way. The process is especially useful in making multicolor prints of photographic quality.

Apparatus for texturizing toner image bearing receiving sheets

A small particle toner image is carried on a heat-softenable outer layer of a receiving sheet. The toner is embedded in the layer by application of an electric field to the toner while the layer has been softened by heating. Preferably, the toner is charged prior to the field-applying step to make it responsive to the field. Pressure may be applied to assist in the embedding process.

High resolution toner image finishing method using heat, pressure and

A dry toner image is embedded in a thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet by pressing a ferrotyping web against the image in the presence of sufficient heat to soften the layer. Preferably, the layer is preheated and the web and image are pressed together by a pair of hard rollers to a pressure in excess of 100 pounds per square inch. A curl preventing layer opposite thermoplastic layer does not offset on a backing roller because it has a melting point above the temperature of the process.

Toner fixing method and apparatus and image bearing receiving sheet

Receiving sheet bearing a toner image embedded in a thermoplastic layer

Method and apparatus for texturizing toner image bearing receiving

The surface temperature of a fusing roller is controlled by sensing both the surface temperature and the temperature of a source of heat for said roller. Each temperature is compared to a nominal temperature for each to derive two error signals. The two error signals are combined to give a combined error signal, which is used to control the amount of energy applied to the source. The source can be an internally heated core or heated external roller riding on the fusing surface.

Temperature control method and apparatus for fusing roller

A fusing apparatus operable at a desired fusing temperature through a run period when toner images on a receiver or copy sheet are fused, using up a required and first amount of heat, and through a standby period when the apparatus is awaiting a run period. The fusing apparatus includes a device for selectively dissipating, during the standby period, a desired and second amount of heat approximating the required and first amount of heat used up during the run period. The heat dissipating device thus prevents 'droop' or a dropping from the desired fusing temperature, by causing heat flow from the apparatus to remain relatively constant during both run and standby periods. Additionally, such dissipation also advantageously cools the apparatus, thereby preventing the occurrence of heat-related fusing defects such as copy curling, blistering, and image offset.

Fusing apparatus having a heat-dissipating device

A skive is used for removing a copy sheet from a hot fuser roller in an electrographic copier/duplicator, or the like. The skive has a finger that engages the fuser roller at a small acute angle so that a sheet striking the finger normally will be deflected from the roller along the desired paper path. In order to control flexing of the skive finger, an anti-gouge stiffener is provided adjacent the finger which is engageable by the finger to prevent it from flexing in the wrong direction. The finger and stiffener are connected by a base and can be snapped onto a supporting bar.

Skive with anti-gouge stiffener

A skive is used for removing a copy sheet from a hot fuser roller in electrographic apparatus, such as a copier/duplicator, or the like. The skive has a finger that engages the fuser roller at a small acute angle so that a sheet striking the finger is deflected from the roller. An anti-gouge stiffener adjacent the finger has a slot which receives the finger. A sheet deflected from the roller by the finger is guided by the finger into engagement with a portion of the stiffener spaced from the end thereof to avoid stubbing of the sheet on the end of the stiffener. The finger and stiffener are connected by a base and can be snapped onto a supporting bar.

Apparatus is disclosed for feeding a support web between a pair of fusing rollers, at least one of which is heated. Heat conductive skive means is supported in contact with the heated roller for stripping the web material from the roller. Temperature sensitive means in heat-conducting contact with the skive means senses the temperature change of the roller by conduction along the skive means. The temperature sensitive means generates an electrical signal representative of the temperature change, and the signal is coupled to temperature control means operative in response to the generated signal to control the temperature of the heated roller so that the temperature transferred to the web material is maintained within preferred temperature limits.

Fuser temperature control

An adhesive applicator receives liquid adhesive from an adhesive supply and has a pneumatically operated valve for controlling the flow of adhesive through the applicator to a sheet driven along a path past the applicator. A pneumatic proximity switch is located along the path for sensing the sheet as it approaches the applicator. Air from a pressure amplifier is provided to the pneumatically operated control valve of the applicator in response to the proximity switch sensing the presence of a sheet along the path. The proximity switch also can be connected to a pneumatically operated electrical switch that provides a signal to a logic and control unit for indicating to a machine operator that a paper jam exists in the event the sheet does not clear the proximity switch within a predetermined time interval.

Pneumatic adhesive control system

Apparatus for fusing an unfused toner image to a support through the application of heat and pressure by a fuser member contacting the support. Release material is applied to the fuser member in a uniform layer around its periphery and across its length. When shorter length supports are processed, excess release material which may accumulate at the ends of the fuser member is redistributed towards its center by wiper members positioned at each end of the fuser member.

Fuser apparatus

In a rotating cleaning brush apparatus of an electrographic copier having a housing defining a chamber which partially encloses the cleaning brush, a plurality of airflow dividers are disposed within the chamber. These dividers form channels extending from a position adjacent to the rotating brush into an outlet port of the chamber. The outlet port is coupled to a source of vacuum. Airflow is established across the length of the brush and entrains toner and carries it into the channels at sufficient velocity to transport toner from the chamber.

Cleaning station air diverters

Apparatus for controlling the application of fuser release material such as fuser oil to a roller fuser in an electrographic copier. The number of fixable images or the number of photoconductor frames are counted after the start of a copy run and compared with the number of copies which exit from the copier to determine if the two counts bear a preselected numerical relationship to each other. If they do, fuser oil is applied to the roller fuser; if they do not, application of fuser oil is discontinued until the two counts bear such numerical relationship.

Growing community of inventors

Brighton, NY, United States of America

Ernest J Tamary