Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

James H Hurst

Donald Saul Rimai

Andrew Ciaschi

Muhammed Aslam

Jiann-Hsing Chen

W Charles Kasiske, Jr

Donna P Suchy

Carl Irvin Bouwens

Dinesh Tyagi

Eric C Stelter

Joseph A Pavlisko

Jiann H Chen

Arun Chowdry

Robert Arthur Lancaster

Charles Eugene Hewitt

Robert David Bobo

Nataly Boulatnikov

John Leonard Hryhorenko

Douglas J Kostyk

The present invention provides an apparatus for allowing the resurfacing of a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The apparatus includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heater roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10&#xb0; C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Apparatus for refurbishing cylindrical members

Apparatus for heating toner on a receiver having an ignition energy, having an energy source for providing input energy; and a membrane disposed adjacent to the receiver. The membrane receives the input energy from the energy source; stores a portion of the input energy; and radiates emitted energy that is absorbed by the toner, the receiver, or a combination thereof, wherein the absorption causes the temperature of the toner to rise above a desired temperature. The stored portion of the input energy is less than the ignition energy.

Safe radiant toner heating apparatus with membrane

A sensor and controller for a belt moving about a path, the sensor and controller including an analog sensor including a medium that changes a characteristic to give a signal that varies continuously with any lateral belt edge position, thus yielding improved resolution of actual belt edge position, and a control mechanism responsive to the changes in characteristics of the medium for more accurate edge position control.

Belt edge sensor and actuator for controlling tracking of such belt

A toner composition for fixing onto a receiver in conjunction with non-contact fuser capable of fusing one or more layers of toner on the receiver such that one or more toner layers reach a fusing temperature above a glass transition temperature. One or more cooling finish rollers are located downstream from the non-contact fuser to lower the toner temperature.

Toner for use in a chilled finish roller system

The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10&#xb0; C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Method for refurbishing cyclindrical members

Internally-heated external rollers transfer heat rapidly to a fuser roller in an electrostatographic printer. Stored media process set points, input image content and input media type data are used to regulate the heat transfer rate by varying the nip width between the heated external rollers and the fuser roller. The rate of heat transfer and the rate of heat transfer adjustment are sufficiently rapid that many different media weights and types may be mixed in a print run without restrictions on media run lengths, without collation requirements per run, and without productivity losses due to slowing of feed rate for heavier receivers.

Roller fuser system with fusing member temperature control for printing

A fusing apparatus for heat fixing toner images onto a receiver medium. The apparatus includes a fuser member including an elastomeric contact surface; a pressure member forming a fusing nip to receive the receiver medium; a heater member including a conformable base cushion layer and an outer polymeric layer disposed over the base cushion layer, the heater member being in contact with the fuser and external thereto; and a radiant heat subsystem positioned externally of the heater member to provide heat to the surface of the first heater member which then contacts the fuser member so as to transfer heat thereto. The heater member is adapted to controllably exert pressure on the fuser member in order to controllably transfer heat to the fuser member, thereby providing control over the fusing capabilities of an eletrophotographic process.

External heater member and methods for fusing toner images

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

James H Hurst