Belt Fuser for an Electrophotographic Printer

A method of operating a fuser of an electrographic imaging device comprising;

• establishing a fusing nip between an endless fusing belt and a backup roller by applying pressure against a length-wise segment of the endless fusing belt facing the backup roller;
• carrying a print medium having toner particles thereon through the fusing nip between the fusing belt and the backup roller;
• and
• fusing toner particles on the print medium to the print medium by transferring heat to the toner particles from the endless fusing belt, comprising radiating energy from an area within the endless fusing belt to provide heat thereto.

An imaging device, comprising:

• a media input tray for receiving a stack of media;
• a media transport system for picking a media sheet from the media stack and transporting the media sheet;
• one or more stations for forming an image on the transported media sheet;
• and
• a fuser assembly, comprising:
• a heat source;
• an endless fusing belt having a flexible tubular configuration and being positioned about the heat source and spaced outwardly therefrom;
• a pressure tube having an elongated tubular body that is substantially transparent or translucent so as to permit the passage of radiant heat therethrough, the pressure tube being disposed substantially around the heat source and substantially within the fusing belt;
• and
• a backup roll positioned in opposition to a length-wise segment of the fusing belt and to the pressure tube contained within the fusing belt in counter relation to the pressure applied by the pressure tube on the length-wise segment of the fusing belt such that the fusing belt and the backup roll form a fuser nip.