Pressure roll for fusing operation

A flexible pressure roll for use in an electrostatic marking process which comprises in an operative relationship a cylindrical core component, a main portion elastomeric coating encircling at least a major portion of said core component, and endplates positioned as washers at each end portion of said main portion elastomeric roll, said washers enabled to exert a sufficient pressure on said elastomeric roll to form a substantially uniform nip across contact points between a hard fuser roll and said flexible pressure roll, said washers comprising a substantially rigid ring-like portion having flexible fingers projecting from an inner portion of said ring-like portion towards a center of said ring.

A flexible pressure roll for use in a fusing station of an electrostatic marking apparatus which comprises in an operative relationship a cylindrical core component, a main portion elastomeric coating encircling at least a major portion of said core component, and endplates positioned as washers at each end portion of said main portion elastomeric roll, said pressure roll enabled to rotate against and in contact with a harder fuser roll in said fusing station, said pressure roll enabled when in said contact to cause a substantially uniform nip to be formed by the deformation of said pressure roll, said washers comprising a substantially rigid ring portion having flexible fingers projecting from an inner portion of said ring portion towards a center of said ring, said ring portion being substantially more rigid than said flexible fingers and enabled to be attached around said core component.