Methods for controlling environmental conditions in an electrophotographic apparatus and a corresponding electrophotographic apparatus

An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a developer having a developer housing with developer material stored therein;
• a fuser assembly having a heater device;
• and
• a controller that receives a measured cavity temperature of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus and a measured cavity relative humidity of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus, wherein the controller calculates a cavity dewpoint temperature using the measured cavity temperature and the measured cavity relative humidity, determines a difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature, and if the difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature drops below a predetermined threshold, turns on the heater device in the fuser assembly to control moisture in the electrophotographic device.

An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• a developer having a developer housing with developer material stored therein;
• a fuser assembly having a heater device;
• and
• a controller that receives a measured cavity temperature of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus and a measured cavity relative humidity of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus, wherein the controller calculates a cavity dewpoint temperature using the measured cavity temperature and the measured cavity relative humidity, determines a difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature, and if the difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature drops below a predetermined threshold, turns on the heater device in the fuser assembly to control moisture in the electrophotographic device and causes charging of the developer material in the developer, wherein the controller controls the heater device to remain on until the cavity temperature is above the dewpoint temperature by a desired amount.