Method and apparatus for binding sheets using a printing substance

An apparatus for binding sheets using printing toner comprising:

• an image transfer device that applies printing substance to sheets constructed and arranged to apply printing to the sheets and to apply a strip of printing substance adjacent an edge of each of the sheets;
• an overlay location position down stream of the image transfer device that receives the sheets, each having the strip thereon;
• a fuser that reactivates each of the sheets including a source of sealing energy that transfers ceiling energy to each of a pair of the sheets in an overlapping adjacent orientation at the overlay location, the fuser applying sealing energy in the area of the strip so that toner in the strip of one of the pair of sheets is fused to a face of the adjacent of the pair of sheets, the fuser applying pressure as each of the sheets is overlaid onto a preceding sheet at the overlay location to form a stack thereby;
• and
• a wetting element that wets each of the sheets in an area of the strip to enhance heat transferred to the strip.

A method for binding sheets using a reactivatable printing substance comprising the steps of:

• applying printing to each of a plurality of sheets with a reactivatable printing substance including applying a strip of printing substance adjacent in edge of each of the plurality of sheets;
• directing each of the plurality of sheets in sequence to an overlay location and each of the plurality of sheets at the overlay location;
• reactivating printing toner in the strip of each of the plurality of sheets as a succeeding sheet is overlaid onto the plurality of sheets and fusing the strip to the succeeding sheet to form a bound stack thereby;
• and
• providing an additive to the printing substance that enhances reactivation of the printing substance including wetting each of the plurality of sheets in an area of the strip to enhance conductivity of the area to heat.