US 5,353,107 A · Release agent management control

Abstract

A release agent management system incorporated in an electrophotographic printing machine having a heat and pressure fuser assembly. The fuser assembly includes a heated fuser roll, a pressure roll and a wick for applying fuser oil to the surface of the heated fuser roll. The wick is moved into and out of engagement with the fuser roll and release agent material is supplied to the wick in accordance with the number of prints fused from which a print equivalency value is calculated. The print equivalency corresponds favorably to actual oil consumed. A predetermined print equivalency value is used for determining when oil is supplied to the wick and the predetermined value is varied depending on the volume of prints being made.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for applying release agent management material to a fuser member for fixing toner imaged prints, said apparatus comprising:

counting a number of prints created and generating signals representative of said number of prints;
calculating and representing print equivalency values for prints counted, said calculated equivalency values being representative of release agent used for fusing said prints;
comparing said print equivalency values to a predetermined print equivalency value;
supplying release agent material to a wick structure for a predetermined period of time only after said predetermined equivalency value is exceeded by said print equivalency values;
and
means for varying said predetermined number of print equivalences whereby the amount of release agent material supplied to said wick is varied in accordance with printer usage.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Release agent management control

Life of this patent

Release agent management control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22