Ceramic heater/fuser roller with internal heater

A thermal conduction roller, comprising:

• a tubular roller core having a hollow inside;
• an electrical insulator coat on the inside of the roller core and having a thickness in a range from about 5 mils to about 100 mils;
• a heater coat comprising a ceramic material that is disposed over the insulating coat;
• at least two electrical contact assemblies that are disposed inside the roller core and provide continuous electrical connection to the heater coat as the roller is being rotated;
• and
• further comprising at least one additional contact assembly disposed in between said first-mentioned contact assemblies to divide the heater coat into zones.

A thermal conduction roller, comprising:

• a tubular roller core having a hollow inside;
• an electrical insulator coat disposed inside the roller core and having a thickness in a range from about 5 mils to about 100 mils;
• a heater coat comprising a ceramic material that is disposed over the insulating coat;
• and
• at least two electrical contact assemblies that are disposed inside the roller core and provide continuous electrical connection to the heater coat as the roller is being rotated
• wherein each of the two electrical contact assemblies is supported by a disk and comprises a spring disposed on said disk and urged into electrical connection with said heater coat, and an electrical connection to said disk.