Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Socrates Hryhorenko

Robert David Bobo

Muhammed Aslam

Sylvain L Ndebi

Jiann-Hsing Chen

Borden H Mills

Andrew Ciaschi

Sylvain L Nbedi

A fusing apparatus for fusing toner images on a receiver medium. The fusing apparatus includes a fuser member having a contact surface and a pressure member having a contact surface. The pressure member is positioned adjacent the fuser member for forming a nip therebetween to receive the receiver medium. The pressure member controllably exerts pressure on the fuser member and the receiver medium. A first heater member has a contact surface and is positioned adjacent the fuser member and external thereto, the surface of the heater member contacting the surface of the fuser member to transfer heat to the fuser member. The fuser member heats the toner image on the receiver medium thereby fusing the toner image to the receiver medium. A first radiant heat assembly is positioned externally of the first heater member for controllably heating the contact surface of the first heater member.

Externally heated external hearted rollers

A belt fusing apparatus for use in a reproduction apparatus where a colorant image is formed on a receiver member, and the colorant image is fixed on the receiver member by the belt fusing apparatus for providing image gloss to such colorant image. The belt fusing apparatus includes a fuser assembly and a pressure roller operative associated with the fuser assembly. The fuser assembly includes a fuser roller, a mechanism for supporting the fuser roller, a steering roller, and a mechanism for supporting the steering roller. A member pivotably interconnects the fuser roller support mechanism and the steering roller support mechanism so that the fuser roller support mechanism can move relative to the steering roller support mechanism to and from operative an association therebetween and a collapsed position to facilitate accessibility, serviceability, and ready replacement of a fusing belt adapted to be entrained about the fuser roller and the steering roller for movement in a predetermined direction about a closed loop path.

Collapsible readily replaceable belt fuser assembly

Packaging for a fusing belt of a belt fusing apparatus for providing image gloss to a colorant image, the belt fusing apparatus including a fuser assembly having a fuser roller and a steering roller about which said fusing belt is adapted to be entrained for movement about a closed loop path defined by the fusing roller and the steering roller. The fusing belt packaging includes a protective shell, and a support within the protective shell. The support is adapted to secure at least a fusing belt and prevent damage thereto during shipping and handling. To install the fusing belt, the protective shell and the support is aligned with the fusing roller and steering roller of a belt fusing assembly. A pair of guide members, having respective tabs, is used to move the fusing belt from the support onto the fusing roller and the steering roller.

Apparatus for packaging and installation of a fusing belt

A reproduction apparatus where a colorant image is formed on a receiver member, and the colorant image is fixed on the receiver member by a belt fusing apparatus for providing image gloss to such colorant image. The belt fusing apparatus includes a heated fuser roller, a pressure roller in nip relation with the fuser roller, a steering roller, and a fusing belt entrained about the fuser roller and the steering roller for movement in a predetermined direction about a closed loop path. A mechanism is provided for accurately controlling the tracking of the fusing belt. The fusing belt tracking control mechanism includes supports the steering roller for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and for casterred and gimbaled movement. Sensors detect the respective lateral edges of the fusing belt, the sensors producing control signals when the respective lateral edges are detected for effecting casterred movement of the steering roller. Accordingly, the fusing belt is continuously progressively moved in a cross-track direction between lateral limits.

Mechanism for tracking the belt of a belt fuser

An internally heated roller assembly for a toner image fuser includes a roller having opposite ends. A lamp is supported inside the roller by a pair of lampholders, one positioned at each end. Each lampholder is fit over a core or gudgeons which extend from the ends of the roller. Each lampholder rotates with the roller. An internal cylindrical surface in each lampholder supports an extension from an elongated heating lamp positioned inside the roller. The lamp is held stationary by a cord protruding from one of the extensions while the holder rotates with respect to the extension while supporting it. Cylindrically shaped or arranged bearings are positioned around an outside cylindrical surface of the holder where the holder is fit on the core or gudgeons.

Internally heated roller assembly for toner image fixing apparatus

A device for monitoring the temperature of a moving surface, particularly the outside surface of a heated roller in a toner fusing apparatus, includes a roller which rolls on the surface as it moves. The roller is virtualy entirely made up of two thermocouple materials. Because the materials themselves directly engage the surface being monitored, the device has a fast response to temperature change of the surface.

Thermocouple device for monitoring the temperature of a moving surface

A thermostatic device particularly usable in sensing the surface tempoerature of a rotatable member in a fuser includes a rotatable roller mountable in rolling engagement with a moving surface. A heat sensor located inside the roller senses temperature variations in the roller. For example, a pin that is spring-urged against the inside surface of the roller, moves a switch between open and closed conditions as the inside diameter of the roller varies with a change in its temperature. Alternatively, a bimetallic disc positioned in engagement with the inside surface of the roller is sensed to open or close a switch in response to the roller temperature reaching a given threshold.

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Sodus, NY, United States of America

Socrates Hryhorenko