Method and apparatus for fixing toner images
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorHans G. Franke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fixing toner images in which a copy sheet bearing unfixed toner is first passed through a pair of heated fuser rollers and is subsequently passed through surfacing rollers to provide a gloss to the toner image. In order to prevent curling of the copy sheet and blistering of the glossed image, the copy sheet is passed through a conditioner means, located between the fuser rollers and the surfacing rollers, for removing a substantial portion of the moisture from the copy sheet.
Claims13
A method of fixing a toner image on a copy sheet, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) fixing a toner image to copy sheets moveable along a copy sheet path;
- and
- (b) removing from about 50% to about 80% of the moisture content of a copy sheet bearing a toner image;
- and
- (c) passing said copy sheet through surfacing means to provide a gloss to the toner image, said surfacing means following said fuser means and said conditioner means along said copy sheet path.
Apparatus for fixing toner images to copy sheets moveable along a copy sheet path, said apparatus comprising:
- fuser means along the copy sheet path for fixing a toner image on a copy sheet;
- conditioner means along the copy sheet path for removing moisture from said copy sheet;
- and
- surfacing means for providing a gloss to a toner image fixed on a copy sheet said surfacing means following said fuser means and said conditioner means along said copy sheet path.
Apparatus for fixing toner images to copy sheets, moveable along a copy sheet path said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of fuser rollers along the copy sheet path having a heat source associated therewith;
- a conditioner means along the copy sheet path for removing moisture from said copy sheet, said conditioner means including a source of hot air;
- and
- a pair of surfacing rollers having a heat source associated therewith said surfacing rollers following said fuser rollers and said conditioner means along said copy sheet path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.