Eastman-Kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Tsutumu Miura

Muhammed Aslam

Gregory Leo Kowalski

Bruce D MacLellan

Curtis Lee Vernon

A device for cooling receiver members after image fixing by the fuser assembly in an electrographic reproduction apparatus wherein a marking particle image is fixed to a receiver member with application of heat by the fuser assembly, the receiver member traveling along a transport path. The cooling device includes an upper housing and a lower housing respectively associated with the receiver member transport path, on opposite sides thereof, immediately downstream, in the direction of receiver member travel along the transport path, of the fuser assembly. The upper and lower housings respectively have transport path guide plates for guiding receiver members along the transport path. A plurality of ports defined in the upper housing transport path guide plate provide flow communication of pressurized air from a pressurized air source to the transport path, and a plurality of ports in the lower housing transport path guide plate provide flow communication of pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the transport path. Accordingly, air impingement for forced air provides convection cooling of receiver members traveling along the transport path and such air impingement also provides for transport of the receiver members via an air bearing thereby substantially preventing the receiver members from contacting the upper and lower guide path plates.

Air impingement post fuser receiver member cooler device

A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a dual function air skive assembly for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the roller. The dual function air skive assembly includes a frame engageable with a roller of the pair of rollers of the fuser apparatus. An air plenum is supported by the frame in operative relation to the fuser roller nip. The air plenum has a first nozzle arrangement directed at an angle to the roller so as to provide a positive air flow to strip a receiver member adhering to the roller therefrom. The first nozzle arrangement has a plurality of nozzle heads respectively configured to provide a positive air flow having a substantially oval cross-section. A second nozzle arrangement is directed substantially normal to the first nozzle arrangement to provide a positive air flow to cool a stripped receiver member and keep such receiver member from contacting the plenum.

Dual function air skive assembly for reproduction apparatus fuser rollers

A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a retractable contact skive assembly for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from said roller. The retractable contact skive assembly includes a plurality of skive fingers. A resilient member urges the skive fingers in a direction into operative relation with a roller of the pair of rollers to strip a receiver member therefrom. The resilient member is selected to exert a force on the skive fingers less than the force exerted thereon by a jammed receiver member. A retractor guide plate is engageable with the skive fingers when the skive fingers are moved by a jammed receiver member in a direction substantially opposite the direction of urging by the resilient member, and retracts the skive fingers out of contact with the fuser roller to prevent damage to the fuser roller by the skive fingers.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Tsutumu Miura