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AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsDavid K. Biegelsen, Armin R. Volkel, Ashish Pattekar, Lars-Erik Swartz
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A dual-zone steam fuser for a xerographic system includes a ultra-heated first zone maintained at 200-500° C. that quickly heats a paper substrate to an optimal toner fusing temperature (e.g., 120-150° C.), and a second, relatively cool second zone for maintaining the substrate at the optimal temperature during completion of the fusing process. A conveying system conveys the substrate so that it exits the first zone and enters the second zone immediately after the substrate temperature reaches the optimal toner fusing temperature, and is maintained in the second zone for a predetermined fusing operation time period. The gas (e.g., steam) temperatures and timing are selected such that surface condensation is minimized during initial heating, and such that moisture content is normalized at the end of the fusing process.
A steam fuser apparatus for heating a substrate in a xerographic system to a predetermined temperature and for maintaining the substrate approximately at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, the predetermined temperature being above a steam boiling point temperature, the steam fuser apparatus comprising:
A steam fuser apparatus for fusing a toner material to a substrate in a xerographic system, the steam fuser apparatus comprising:
A method for fusing a toner material onto a substrate in a xerographic system, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.