Apparatus and method for extending fuser release life

A fuser device for use in a xerographic reproducing apparatus for fixing a powder image onto a support surface comprising a support means;

• a pressure roll and a fuser member journaled in parallel relation to each other in the support means whereby a support surface carrying the powder image intimately contacts the fuser member, the fuser member having at least a coating of conformable offset preventing material impregnated with an offset preventing liquid on its peripheral surface;
• an offset prevention liquid supply belt means comprising an elastomer material capable of inherently providing upon its surface an offset preventing liquid, said belt means contacting the fuser member in parallel relation whereby offset preventing liquid in the belt means is applied to the fuser member surface to replace offset preventing liquid depleted from the offset preventing material of the fuser member;
• means to heat the fuser member to a temperature sufficient to tackify the powder of the powder image;
• and
• means to move the support surface through the fuser member and the pressure roll with the powder image in contact with the fuser member;
• the fuser member being heated sufficiently and contacting the support surface with sufficient pressure to fuse the powder image to the support surface.

A fuser device for use in a xerographic apparatus for fixing a powder image onto a support surface comprising a support means;

• a pair of rolls including a pressure roll and a fuser roll journaled in parallel relation to each other in the support means whereby a support surface carrying the powder image intimately contacts the fuser roll, the fuser roll having at least a coating of conformable offset preventing material impregnated with an offset preventing liquid on its peripheral surface;
• an offset prevention liquid supply belt means contacting the fuser roll in parallel relation, said belt comprising a material capable of carrying an offset preventing liquid whereby offset preventing liquid in the belt means is applied to the fuser roll surface to replace offset preventing liquid depleted from the offset preventing material of the fuser roll;
• roll means comprising an elastomer material capable of inherently providing upon its surface an offset prevention fluid, said roll means contacting the belt means whereby offset preventing liquid in the roll means is applied to the belt means and subsequently transferred from said belt means to the fuser roll surface to replace offset preventing liquid depleted from the offset preventing material of the fuser roll;
• and
• means to heat the fuser roll to a temperature sufficient to tackify the powder of the powder image;
• the fuser roll being heated sufficiently and contacting the support surface with sufficient pressure to fuse the powder image to the support surface.

In the method of fixing a powder image on a support material, comprising:

• heating one of a pair of pressure members that are rotating in material feeding relation and of which the heated member is provided with an offset preventing surface capable of being impregnated with an offset preventing liquid which is miscible with the offset preventing material of the surface that is heated, to a temperature sufficient to tackify the powder of the powder image;
• moving the support material to a position to be gripped and advanced by the pressure members in a manner to place the surface of the support material bearing the powder image in contact with the heated member, forcing the support material into intimate contact with the heated member with sufficient pressure to insure good thermal contact between the support material surface and the heated member and thereby heating the powder image to a temperature sufficient to tackify the powder, and removing the support material out of contact with the pressure members after the powder image is tackified, the improvement comprising:
• transferring offset preventing liquid from an advancing elastomeric belt having an inherent capacity for providing upon its surface an offset preventing fluid, the offset preventing liquid and the elastomeric material being miscible, to the advancing heated member to replenish offset preventing liquid depleted from the offset preventing material on the heated member surface.