Apparatus and method for a multi-tap series resistance heating element in a belt fuser
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsMalcolm Davidson, Brian Gillis, Robert Tuchrelo, Nathan Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A segment and heater fuser roll is disposed for a printing device including a plurality of heating elements in a preselected order relative to a voltage return. A plurality of voltage taps are disposed for applying selected power to ones of the plurality of heater elements. The heater elements vary in power density per unit length.
Claims9
A segmented-heater fuser roll for a printing device including:
- a plurality of heating elements having a preselected order relative to a voltage return;
- and
- a plurality of voltage taps for selective power application to ones of the plurality of heater elements, wherein selected ones of the heater elements vary in power density per unit length.
A method for operating a belt fuser in a printing device comprised of a plurality of heater segments having varying power density per unit lengths, for avoiding selective segment overheating, including:
- disposing the heater element segments in series wherein a first segment has a lesser power density per unit length than an adjacent segment;
- and
- switching power to the adjacent segment upon detection that the adjacent segment has a temperature less than a set point, wherein the temperature in the adjacent segment will rise faster than the first segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.