Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Knut Behnke

Domingo Rohde

Frank-Michael Morgenweck

Hans-Otto Krause

Detlef Schulze-Hagenest

Lars Seimetz

Dinesh Tyagi

Gerhard Bartscher

Kai-Uwe Preissig

José Manuel Catalá-Civera

Dirk Dobrindt

Gerald Erik Hauptmann

Bernd Geck

Udo Dräger

Oliver Klemp

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

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 fuser apparatus, for a reproduction apparatus, the microwave fuser apparatus having at least two microwave applicators, staggered relative to a receiver member transport path with an area of overlap, for applying microwave energy to a receiver member traveling on such transport path relative to the microwave applicators to have toner images fused thereto. The microwave fuser apparatus has at least one additional microwave applicator, located adjacent to the overlapping area between the at least two staggered microwave applicators that applies microwave energy to the receiver member. The at least one additional microwave applicator effectively maintains an elevated temperature of a receiver member.

Microwave fuser apparatus with overlaping heat applicators

It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-quality printed image in a printing machine. To achieve this, a method for adjusting a fusing deviceof a digital printing machine has been provided, in which case microwave signals of a specific frequency or frequency range are directed at a printing material, a change between the microwave signals reflected by the printing material and the emitted microwave signals is detected, and in which case the fusing device is adjusted based on the change between said microwave signals. Furthermore, a measuring devicefor a printing machine is provided, said device preferably being used for carrying out the said method, whereby the measuring device is configured so as to detect a change between a microwave signal reflected by the printing materialand a microwave signal directed at said printing material.

Method for adjusting a fusing device of a digital printing machine by determining the humidity of printing material and measuring device to detect the reflectance of microwave signals at a print 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

Heating a printing substance and/or toner, in an electrophotographic printer, with a standing microwave formed by at least one cavity resonator, with the printed matter being caused to move through the resonator gap. The power distribution of the microwave applied by the resonator is shaped and configured for specific application requirements.

Microwave cavity resonator for heating printing substance and/or toner

Transporting print material covered on the front side with toner for back side printing in which the toner is prefused on the front side of the print material by heating the toner over its glass transition temperature prior to returning the print material for back side printing.

Method and transport apparatus for pre-fusing toner on a print material

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.

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Kiel, Germany

Knut Behnke