Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Hans-Otto Krause

Domingo Rohde

Frank-Michael Morgenweck

Knut Behnke

Detlef Schulze-Hagenest

Lars Seimetz

Dinesh Tyagi

Gerhard Bartscher

Kai-Uwe Preissig

Dirk Dobrindt

Gerald Erik Hauptmann

Udo Dräger

Peter-Alexander Püschner

Toner images applied on the first-side and on the second-side of a substrate are fixed together by microwaves, by being heated to a final fixing temperature, and that the toner image applied on the first-side is prefixed by microwaves before a toner image on the second-side is applied, with the toner image of the first-side being heated to a prefixing temperature that is lower than the final fixing temperature.

Fixing of toner images for duplex printing

A sheet transport method and apparatus are provided for improving the handling of sheets control in printing systems. This automatic sheet transport system and method includes transporting a sheet in the printing machine via a transport belt circulating in a direction of transport, wherein a sheet contact surface of the circulating transport belt is made of an electrically non-conducting material. The method includes placing a sheet on an area of the transport belt and sucking or holding the sheet to the circulating transport belt by a negative pressure applied through the belt and also applying electrical charges to generate electro-static holding forces between the circulating transport belt and the sheet.

sheet transport apparatus and method for transporting a sheet in a printing machine

An object of the present invention is to produce a suitable printed image in a printing machine and provide efficient cooling of the printing material following a fusing operation. To do so, a method for fusing toner to a printing material () is provided, in which case the printing material () is guided in a contacting manner below the toner's glass transition temperature and in a non-contacting manner above the toner's glass transition temperature. Furthermore, a fusing arrangement () is provided, which comprises at least one device () for guiding the printing material () in a contacting manner below the toner's glass transition temperature and at least one device () for guiding the printing material () in a noncontacting manner above the toner's glass transition temperature.

Method and arrangement for fusing toner images to a printing material

A microwave arrangement for affixing the toner onto a printing material by heating, wherein a resonator chamber for feeding printing material therethrough includes at least one element, which extends into the resonator chamber and is used for tuning the resonance state in the resonator chamber. The element includes at least a first portion of a material with properties that essentially do not absorb the microwave radiation and a second portion of a material with mechanically stable properties and a slightly higher absorption of the microwave radiation than the first portion.

Microwave arrangement with resonance state tuning for affixing toner onto printing material

Handling a printing medium in a microwave fuser mechanism of a printing machine so as to prevent damages and disruptions that can occur because of the presence of condensed water. The invention is achieved by removing moisture from the microwave mechanism and by, at least, supporting conveyance of the printing medium by flowing air, and also by preventing moisture from being conveyed into other parts of the microwave mechanism.

Device and process for handling printing media inside a microwave mechanism

A digital printing or copying machine () is proposed for the one-sided or double-sided printing onto a substrate (), using at least one toner. The machine () includes at least one fixation device () for fixing the toner image on the substrate (). The fixation device () has at least one heating device () for melting the toner image, past which the substrate () can be taken. The machine () is distinguished by a guide device () for the free floating movement of the substrate () in the effective range of the heating device ().

Digital printing or copying machine

Adjusting a gloss for a print image by adjusting the cooling of the print image. Further, a toner for a printing press adjusting gloss by adjusting cooling includes 1% to 30% aliphatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic acids, aliphatic alcohols or their salts, or olefinic hydrocarbons.

Adjusting gloss for a print image

Cleaning a microwave device, in particular for drying print substrate in a printing machine, with a microwave source providing an irradiation field and a resonator chamber, wherein a microwave-penetrable material on the inside surfaces of the resonator chamber for forming a material layer that allows any dirt accumulated on it to protrude into the irradiation field.

Device and method for cleaning microwave devices

A method and an apparatus for preventing damage inside a printing machine caused by the radiation of microwaves emanating from microwave mechanisms. Undesired effects of the microwave radiation are automatically detected and then limited by countermeasures. Special provision is made for detecting an electrical discharge, or smoldering or burning of a printing medium inside the microwave mechanism, and then initiating suitable countermeasures.

Method and apparatus for preventing fire in printing machines

A fusing device complemented by a microwave application.

Method and device for fusing toner onto a substrate

Fixing toner on a print substrate in printers a cooling device is provided for cooling the sheet with a coolant after fixing the toner to the sheet, the cooling device having a flow passage for discharging the coolant onto the sheet the flow passage converging to increase coolant velocity.

Fixing apparatus and fixing method for a printer

A microwave deviceis provided for fusing toner onto a print substrate in a printing machine, with a device for generating a synchronized operation to increase the absorption of the microwave irradiation by the print substrate. The microwave energy is provided by the microwave device to the print substrate in the form of pulses and the absorption of the microwave radiation by the print substrate is increased.

Microwave device and method to fuse toner onto print substrate

A process or device for fusing toner on a carrier or a printing material, particularly a sheet-type printing material, preferably for a digital printer, wherein the printing material with the toner is irradiated with microwaves from at least one microwave conductor, which is heated to melt the toner and a toner is used which shows a sharp drop of the elastic modulus G&prime; from its hard state to its liquid state when heated. The ratio of the value of the elastic modulus G&prime; of the toner is the reference temperature value calculated from the initial temperature at the beginning of the glass transition of the toner plus 50&deg; C. to the value of the elastic modulus G&prime; at the initial temperature is <10 .

Process and device for warming up printing material and/or toner

A device and process for fixing a toner onto a substrate or a printed material, especially a sheet-shaped printed material, preferably for a digital printer, which is characterized in that the printed material that has the toner is irradiated with microwaves from at least one microwave emitter, and is heated to melt the toner, and that a toner is used which exhibits a sharp drop of the modulus of elasticity G&prime; from its solid to its liquid state when it is heated. Preferably, the ratio of the value of the modulus of elasticity G&prime; of the toner according to the invention at the reference temperature value, calculated from the starting temperature at the beginning of the glass transformation of the toner plus 50&deg; C., to the value of the modulus of elasticity G&prime; at the starting temperature itself is <10 .

Growing community of inventors

Eckernfoerde, Germany

Hans-Otto Krause