US 7,459,658 B2 · Drum heater systems and methods

Abstract

An internal heating system for an image transfer drum is disclosed that can include a box having a plurality of sides, an open side facing the drum and a heater element. The box can have small gaps between it and the internal drum surface to maximize thermal efficiency of the internal heating system. The heater element can include first and second support structures that are disposed on a central support structure, the first support structure having an end connector at one side away from the second support structure. The heater system can also include at least two circuits, two channels and a relay switch, with the relay switch operating to switch the circuits into a series or parallel electrical configuration.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A heating system, comprising:

a heater box that is positioned inside an imaging drum having an axis and arranged asymmetrically about the axis of the imaging drum, the heater box includes an open side facing an internal drum surface;
and
at least one heater element positioned in the heater box, the at least one heater element further comprising:
first and second support structures that are disposed on a central support structure, the first support structure having an end connector at one side away from the second support structure;
a first coil formed around the first support structure;
and
a second coil formed around the second support structure, one end of the second coil being coupled by an electrical line that extends within the central support structure through the second support structure towards the end connector.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drum heater systems and methods

Life of this patent

Drum heater systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27