Eastman-kodak Company

Thomas J Farnand

Muhammad Aslam

Ernest J Tamary

Thomas W Mort

John P Swapceinski

A toner image carried by heat softenable layer on a receiving sheet is either fixed or texturized by a pair of pressure members. The pressure members include a fusing member and a pressure roller. To prevent hot offset of the leading portion of the heat softenable layer, a recess in the pressure roller receives the leading edge of the receiving sheet, thus reducing the pressure in the nip for the leading portion of the receiving sheet.

Toner image finishing apparatus

A toner image carrying thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet is texturized from the back side of the sheet by positioning the sheet between a smooth hard surface and a texturizing surface with the texturizing surface contacting the back side. The thermoplastic layer is softened by heat and becomes texturized without embossing the back side. A curl preventing layer on the back side is not embossed because it has a melting point above the temperature of the process. A glossy-textured print can be produced this way. The process is especially useful in making multicolor prints of photographic quality.

Apparatus for texturizing toner image bearing receiving sheets

A toner image is carried on a receiving sheet which receiving sheet includes a heat softenable outer layer. The image is fixed or finished by being fed between a pair of pressure members. The pressure members either embed the toner in the layer or apply a gloss or texture to the heat softenable layer. To eliminate an image defect at the leading edge of the sheet, coating of the sheet with the heat softenable layer is terminated one-eighth of an inch prior to the edge of the sheet.

Method of treating toner image bearing receiving sheets

A toner image carried by a heat softenable layer of a receiving sheet is fixed by feeding it into a pressure nip between a pressure member and a ferrotyping belt. To preheat the heat softenable layer, it is urged against the belt by a pressure or squeegee roller which contacts the back of the receiving sheet and urges it into contact with the belt. The adhesive characteristics of the heat softenable layer when heated by the belt cause the receiving sheet to follow the belt from the squeegee roller into the pressure nip.

Method and apparatus for preheating and pressure-fixing a toner image

A toner image carried on a receiving sheet which receiving sheet includes a heat softenable outer layer is fixed or finished by being fed into a nip between a pair of pressure members. The pressure members either embed the toner in the layer or apply a gloss or texture to the heat softenable layer. To eliminate an image defect at the leading edge of the sheet, the pressure between the pressure members is applied by a means having two conditions, one in which said pressure is applied and a second in which it is relaxed. The sheet is sensed as it approaches the nip and the pressure applied just as or after the nip is reached by the leading edge of the sheet.

Method and apparatus for treating toner image bearing receiving sheets

Receiving sheet bearing a toner image embedded in a thermoplastic layer

A toner image, for example, a multicolor toner image is formed on a thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet. To fix the image without substantial visible objectionable relief, the toner image is first positioned between two members, one of which has a rough texture to it to apply a texture to the toner image and the thermoplastic layer carrying it. It is then positioned between a pair of smooth surfaced pressure members to reduce the texture and relief and to apply a gloss to the image.

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Webster, NY, United States of America

Thomas J Farnand