Xerox Corporation

William Alexander Burton

Paul Michael Fromm

Steven Matthew Russel

Stephen Bradley Williams

Lawrence Arnold Clark

Augusto E Barton

Melissa Ann Monahan

Gerald A Domoto

Eric Scott Hamby

Bryan James Roof

Elias Panides

Dara Nanette Lubin

Julie Marie Hanfland

Samuel Joseph Nicolosi

Anthony Salvatore Condello

Donald M Bott

Nicholas P Kladias

Ruddy Castillo

Brian J Dunham

Brendan H Williamson

Steven W Baldwin

Richard R Getz

Alvin P Kromm

Arthur T Vumback

Robert J Katchmar

A belt-roll fuser system includes a belt-roll fuser module that is movable to engage and disengage to a main frame of the belt-roll fuser system. The belt-roll fuser has an internal pressure member that defines a fusing nip with an external pressure member of the main frame when the belt-roll fuser module is engaged. The belt-roll fuser module is movable by a latch, and when engaged, a nip load path crosses through a point at which the latch attaches to the belt-roll fuser module.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for belt-roll fuser latching

A belt-roll fuser stripping system has a stripping shoe and a stripping shim. The shim is support by a support member. The support member supports the shim to maintain a desired nip pressure profile, and reduce deformation and wear of the shim and belt-roll fuser components.

Apparatus and systems including belt-roll fuser stripping shoe with robust compliant tip

An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip.

Method and apparatus for enhanced sheet stripping

An apparatus () and method () that controls fuser nip balance is disclosed. The apparatus can include a first fuser member () rotationally supported in the apparatus, a second fuser member () rotationally supported in the apparatus, and a rotatable cam mechanism () coupled to the second fuser member. The rotatable cam mechanism can be configured to provide variable pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member, The rotatable cam mechanism can include a cam rotational axis (), a first cam end () at one end of the cam rotational axis, the first cam end including a first cam member () having a first cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis, and a second cam end () at another end of the cam rotational axis, the second cam end including a second cam member () having a second cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis, the second cam profile different from the first cam profile.

Apparatus and method for fuser nip balance control

A method and apparatus for adjusting nip width based on the measured hardness of a fuser roll in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an identification of media type, receiving a signal to measure fuser roll hardness, positioning a fuser roll hardness measurement unit onto the fuser roll, measuring the fuser roll hardness, and adjusting the nip width based on the measured fuser roll hardness and received media type identification.

Method and apparatus for adjusting nip width based on the measured hardness of a fuser roll in an image production device

A rapid warm-up and cool-down pressure roll assembly is provided and includes (a) a rotatable pressure roll including a cylindrical sleeve having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow interior to the rotatable pressure roll; (b) a thermoelectric assembly sheet positioned within the hollow interior and having a first substrate facing the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve, a second substrate, an electric current flow path therethrough, and electric current input and output terminals associated with the electric current flow path; and (c) an electric current input switching device connected to the electric current input and output terminals for enabling selective reversing of a direction of electric current flow through the electric current flow path, thereby reversing which of the first substrate and the second substrate of the thermoelectric assembly sheet is hot and which is cold, and therefore selectively enabling a rapid warm-up or rapid cool-down of the cylindrical sleeve of the pressure roll.

Rapid warm-up and cool-down pressure roll assembly and a fusing apparatus including same

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting nip width based on a scanned nip print in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include automatically inserting a sheet of media into a fuser nip in the image production device upon receiving a signal from a user interface, the fuser nip being an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, generating a nip print in the fuser nip, the nip print being an image created from the pressure between the fuser roll and the pressure roll, scanning the nip print, determining if a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, and if it is determined that a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, adjusting the nip width.

Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting nip width based on a scanned nip print in an image production device

A method and apparatus for measuring nip width in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to measure the nip width, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of a fuser roll and a pressure roll, positioning a nip width measuring device into the nip, measuring the nip width, determining if the measured nip width meets a required nip width, wherein if the measured nip width does not meet the required nip width, adjusting the nip width.

Method and apparatus for measuring nip width in an image production device

An apparatus () and method () that adjusts a fuser nip width in an apparatus that can include a fuser member having a fuser nip configured to fuse an image on media is disclosed. The method can include feeding () a media sheet in a media sheet travel direction through the fuser nip. The method can also include sensing () a media sheet exit temperature of the media sheet after the media sheet exits the fuser nip. The method can also include adjusting () a fuser member nip width according to the sensed media sheet exit temperature, where the fuser nip width is substantially parallel to the media sheet travel direction.

Apparatus and method for adjusting fuser nip width

Apparatuses useful for printing and methods for stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are disclosed. An apparatus useful for printing including a first member including a first outer surface; a second member including a second outer surface; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface; a first nip formed by contact between the inner surface of the belt and the second outer surface and contact between the outer surface of the belt and the first outer surface; and a stripping mechanism including a stripping member disposed internal to the belt. The stripping member is positionable relative to the first nip to vary a pressure applied by the outer surface of the belt against the first outer surface downstream from the first nip. The media are stripped from the outer surface of the belt after exiting from the first nip.

Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing

Embodiments herein include an apparatus that can comprise any heating device, such as one having an outer surface adapted to contact items, such as sheets of print media, and a rotatable air outlet (vent, jet, blower, etc.) positioned next to the heating device. The air outlet can be, in one embodiment, part of a tube-shaped air pleneum. In some embodiments, the air outlet can comprise a slit, perforations, rows of jets, etc. and the air outlet can have a length at least as long as the width as the fuser. The rotatable air outlet can be positioned to blow air to remove the items from the heating device and can rotate from a first position to a different second position.

Rotatable air knife

An improved fuser includes a fuser member, a pressure member that forms a nip with the fuser member through which copy sheets pass to have images fused thereon and an air knife to assist in peeling copy sheets from the fuser member. The air knife has a device connected to it that blocks entrained airflow between the fuser and air knife to reduce fuser cooling and power loss.

Enhanced fuser stripping system

A temperature-changing pressure roller assembly is provided and includes (a) a rotatable pressure roller including a cylindrical sleeve having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow interior to the rotatable pressure roller having a first end and a second and opposite end; (b) a vortex tube assembly for simultaneously producing a hot air stream and a cold air stream, the vortex tube assembly being connected to the hollow interior of the rotatable pressure roll; and (c) control device connected to the vortex tube assembly for selectively controlling flow of the hot air stream and the cold air stream thereof through the hollow interior of the rotatable pressure roller, thereby selectively changing a temperature of the cylindrical sleeve of the pressure roller.

Temperature-changing pressure roller assembly and a fusing apparatus having same

A latch mechanism selectively maintains a first component in a fixed position relative to a second component. The latch mechanism include a first member for selective attachment to the first component; and a second member for selective attachment to a second component and pivotally attached to the first member. The first and second members assume a locked position when the first and second members are substantially aligned and assume an unlocked position when the first and second members are traverse to each other. A handle is pivotally connected to the second member. A link member is pivotally connected at one end to the second member and pivotally connected at an opposite end to the handle. The link member assumes a first position when the handle is moved to a corresponding first handle position to have the link member overcenter with respect to the first and second members to brace the first and second members in a locked position. The link member also assumes a second position when the handle is moved to a corresponding second handle position to move the link member traverse to the second member to allow the first and second members to pivot relative to each other. The link member maintains the first and second members in the locked position until the handle is moved from the first handle position to the second handle position.

Manual dual overcenter latch mechanism and lock mechanism

A locking mechanism selectively prevents rotational movement of a handle relative to a frame. The locking mechanism includes a fork member having first and second ends and pivotally attached to the frame member at a pivot located between the first and second ends; a first locking device located at the first end of the fork member; a second locking device located on the handle and engaging the first locking device on the first end of the fork member for preventing rotational movement of the handle; an elastic member for biasing the first and second locking devices into engagement; and an attachment mechanism located at the second end of the fork member. A tension force on the attachment mechanism pivots the fork member about the pivot member to disengage the first and second locking devices and allow the handle to rotate relative to the frame.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, NY, United States of America

William Alexander Burton