Eastman-kodak Company

Xerox Corporation

John E Derimiggio

Linn C Hoover

Gary F Roberts

Paul Michael Fromm

Muhammed Aslam

Peter S Alexandrovich

Jiann-Hsing Chen

John C Wilson

Erwin Ruiz

Joseph A Pavlisko

Jiann H Chen

Steven Matthew Russel

William B Vreeland

Samuel Kaplan

Lawrence P DeMejo

David Francis Cahill

Alexander N Klymachyov

Charles Eugene Hewitt

Hal E Wright

David P Van Bortel

Melissa Ann Monahan

Lawrence Paul Demejo

Richard J Kosakowski

Julie Marie Hanfland

Richard John Kosakowski, Jr

Brian J Mcnamee

A method and structure of automatically selecting replacement components for a printing machine automatically maintains media type statistics on media types used for printing in the printing machine for a period of time, and automatically recommends a replacement for a worn component with one of a plurality of interchangeable different-type replacement components based on the media type statistics. The interchangeable different-type replacement components have different performance characteristics for each of the media types, and the interchangeable different-type replacement components perform the same function as said worn component within the printing machine.

Maximize printer component life using incoming media and image data

According to various illustrative embodiments, an apparatus, method, and system for variable rate fuser release fluid application are described. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a supply of release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a release agent metering roller supported for contact with the supply of the release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the release agent metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities. The apparatus also comprises a donor roller supported in contact with the release agent metering roller and a fuser roller of a contact fuser, the donor roller arranged to convey release agent material from the release agent metering roller to the fuser roller at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the release agent metering roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the fuser roller.

Variable rate fuser release fluid application

Fuser roller edgewear is reduced by a prior beveling of the inboard edge, the outboard edge, or both, of paper sheets that are to be provided to the fuser.

Paper edge-beveling method, and an image forming device including the same

In accordance with the invention, there are image forming apparatus, fuser members, and methods of making fuser members. The method of making a fuser member can include providing a substrate having a longitudinal axis, providing a first flow coating solution including a fluoroelastomer polymer, and providing a second flow coating solution including a crosslinking agent. The method can also include mixing the first flow coating solution and the second flow coating solution to form a third flow coating solution and forming a continuous fluoroelastomer layer over a surface of the substrate by applying the third flow coating solution onto the substrate in a spiral pattern, wherein the crosslinking agent concentration can be varied along the longitudinal axis by changing the ratio of the first flow coating solution and the second flow coating solution in the third flow coating solution.

Varying fluoroelastomer cure across the roller to maximize fuser roller life

This is a system to coat oil on a fuser roller in a xerographic marking procedure. The system has an IR sensor which is located adjacent to the metering roller and which measures the emissivity of an oil film on the metering roller. Once the IR sensor determines the emissivity of this film, it conveys the emissivity reading to a controller. The controller then controls the metering roller speed to thereby control the oil film thickness. Once a fixed oil film is determined, the emissivity can be used to ensure this same film thickness is applied from run to run. There is no need to redesign the entire oil coating apparatus when the desired film thickness is varied, the same apparatus is used only the emissivity will vary to vary the oil film thickness.

Passive IR oil rate sensor

A fuser roller system, utilized with electrographic or xerographic copying or printing devices, multiple fuser rollers, each of which includes a machine readable device (MRD) having identification data. The system also includes at least one MRD reader and at least one computer having a database of fuser rollers. The system facilitates use of custom fuser rollers by determining what type of fuser roller is appropriate to run a print job. Then it is determined whether an appropriate fuser roller is installed in the copying or printing device. If an appropriate fuser roller is installed in the copying or printing device, the print job is directed to the device. If an appropriate fuser roller is not installed in the copying or printing device, the appropriate fuser roller is identified using the identification data stored in the MRD and installed in the device.

Custom application fuser roller 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

A fuser debris inhibiting system and apparatus using an impregnated cleaning web. This web is impregnated with EDTA or its salts. The web can contact the fuser member directly or can contact external heat rolls which in turn contact the fuser roll. The delivery of EDTA to the surface of the fuser member substantially inhibits the formation of contaminants thereon.

Chemically-treated cleaning web

This invention provides a fuser member comprising a core having a polymeric coating wherein said wrinkle index of said fuser member is less than 75, said wrinkle index (WI) being calculated by the following formula: ##EQU1## where: S is the stiffness of the core in megaPascals (MPa);

Low wrinkle performance fuser member

A method of making a fuser member such as a fuser roller, pressure roller, or fuser belt, comprising of bonding an outermost fluoropolymer resin layer to an inner fluoroelastomer layer by means of a fluoropolymer-containing polyamide-imide primer layer.

Coated fuser members and methods of making coated fuser members

Coated fuser members such as a fuser roller, pressure roller, or fuser belt, and the method of making the coated fuser members are disclosed. The release coating comprises an outermost layer of fluoropolymer resin uniquely bonded to a fluoroelastomer layer by means of a fluoropolymer-containing polyamide-imide primer layer.

A reproduction apparatus having a series of process stations and a logic and control unit for controlling the operations of the process stations includes a fuser and pressure roller-type fusing apparatus. The fusing apparatus includes a member for oiling the fuser roller, and a fuser skive device with finger portions that contactably ride on the fuser roller for stripping copy sheets. The finger portions are mounted to a flexible member that is connected to strain gauges which sense actual sheet stripping forces on the finger portions. The strain gauges are connected to the logic and control unit which contains a preprogrammed stand for sheet stripping forces on the finger portions on ideal process station conditions. The logic and control unit compares the sensed actual sheet stripping forces from the finger portions for any deviations from such stand, and then use such deviation to adjust an operating condition of at least a process station.

Reproduction apparatus having a process control skive device

The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a high molecular weight polyester having a glass transition temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. and a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 to 100,000 and a low molecular weight polyester in linear, amorphous form defined by the formula: ##STR1## said low molecular weight polyester having a glass transition temperature of 55.degree.-65.degree. C., wherein:

Reduced viscosity polyester composition for toner powders

Polyblends are provided which display low melt viscosities. The polyblends comprise a polyester having a T.sub.g in the range of about 50.degree. to about 100.degree. C. and an epoxy polymer which is either an epoxy resin or an esterified epoxy resin.

Reduced viscosity polyblends of polyester and epoxy resins

Fixing method and apparatus for producing high quality fixed images includes mechanisms for transferring unfused toner particles images from an image bearing member to a transparent intermediate fixing member, for fusing the transferred images to the intermediate fixing member by irradiation, for laminating a registerd receiver or copy sheet of paper to the intermediate fixing member over the fused images thereby sandwiching such fused images therebetween, and for chilling the laminate in order to effect transfer-fixing of fused images from the intermediate fixing member onto the receiver or copy sheet of paper.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, NY, United States of America

John E Derimiggio