Xerox Corporation

Stephen Strella

Donald A Seanor

Thomas R Hoffend

Clifford O Eddy

James A Lentz

Willard C Hamilton

George R Imperial

Raymond L Jelfo

Franklin D Saeva

David J Williams

James M Pearson

Moshe Levy

Polymeric release agents having functional groups such as carboxy, hydroxy, epoxy, amino, isocyanate, thioether or mercapto groups are applied to a heated fuser member in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus to form thereon a thermally stable, renewable, self-cleaning layer having excellent toner release properties for conventional electroscopic thermoplastic resin toners. The functional polymeric fluids interact with the fuser member in such a manner as to form a thin, thermally stable interfacial barrier at the surface of the fuser member while leaving an outer film or layer of unreacted release fluid. The interfacial barrier is strongly attached to the fuser member surface and prevents electroscopic thermoplastic resin toner material from contacting the outer surface of the fuser member. The material on the surface of the fuser member is of minimal thickness and thereby represents a minimal thermal barrier.

Polymeric release agents for electroscopic thermoplastic toners

Method of fusing toner images using functionalized polymeric release

A contact fuser assembly for use in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus including an internally heated fuser roll structure comprising a rigid, thermally conductive core which is coated during operation of the assembly with a thin layer of a normally solid thermally stable material with subsequent application of a liquid release agent to the coated core. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the coating material comprises a fluorocarbon telomer such as Vydax 1000 and the liquid release agent comprises a liquid silicone oil.

Renewable chow fuser coating

A thermal fusing assembly having an extended release life is described. Offset preventing fluid depleted from elastomeric offset preventing material on fuser members is replaced by offset preventing fluid from fluid supply means comprising specified elastomeric materials having an inherent capacity for offset preventing fluid, the fluid supply means being journaled in contact with the fuser members. The thermal fusing assembly comprises a heated fuser member which contacts toner images electrostatically adhered to a support surface to soften a heat-softenable toner to affect bonding thereof to the substrate, the fuser member having an elastomeric outer coating of offset preventing material; a backup or pressure roll forming a nip with the fuser member to advance the support surface so that the toner image on the support surface contacts the fuser member; and an offset preventing fluid supply roll or belt comprising the specified elastomeric material having an inherent supply of offset preventing fluid, the fluid supply roll or belt being journaled or extended in parallel relation with the fuser member.

Apparatus and method for extending fuser release life

Rolls, belts and other biasable members having minimal sensitivity to relative humidity changes are described. Biasable members having at least one layer or coating of a hydrophobic elastomeric polyurethane change little in resistivity when changes in relative humidity occur. The utility of such biasable members is in the transfer of xerographic images from a photoconductor to a final support sheet where the member, for example, a bias transfer roll, electrically cooperates with a photoconductor to establish a directional force field therebetween.

Biasable member and method for making

Rolls, belts and other biasable members having controlled resistivity are described. The resistivity of the elastomeric resilient polyurethane coating on biasable members is controlled by ionic additives incorporated in the polyurethane. Biasable members having at least one layer or coating of a hydrophilic elastomeric polyurethane containing resistivity altering compounds or agents have substantially reduced resistivity changes with changes in relative humidity. The utility of such biasable members is in the transfer of xerographic images from a photoconductor to a final support sheet where the member, for example, a bias transfer roll, electrically cooperates with a photoconductor to establish a directional force field therebetween.

Ambipolar photoconductive composition comprising the product of the in situ polymerization of at least one cyclic compound of the formula: ##EQU1## wherein Ar is a polyaromatic nucleus selected from the group consisting of diradicals of naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene and carbazole;

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Stephen Strella