Redistributing release agent using a smoothing roll in an image forming system

An image forming device, comprising:

• a media transport path for transporting a sheet of media having an image formed thereon;
• a fuser surface for contacting the sheet of media, the fuser surface moving in a traveling direction;
• a smoothing roll for redistributing release agent on the fuser surface from a first post-fusing distribution to a second distribution, the smoothing roll contacting the release agent on the fuser surface at a contact area and pressing the release agent against the fuser surface to redistribute the release agent from the first post-fusing distribution to the second distribution;
• and
• a first roll cleaner that contacts the smoothing roll to remove contaminants and/or release agent from the smoothing roll,
• wherein the smoothing roll is adapted to redistribute the release agent such that the second distribution is more uniform across the fuser surface than the first post-fusing distribution.

A method of redistributing release agent on a fuser surface of an image forming device, the method comprising:

• providing a fuser surface for contacting a sheet of media having an image formed thereon by the image forming device;
• moving the fuser surface in a traveling direction;
• contacting a release agent present on the fuser surface with a smoothing roll such that the smoothing roll redistributes the release agent on the fuser surface from a first post-fusing distribution to a second distribution, the smoothing roll contacting the release agent on the fuser surface at a contact area and pressing the release agent against the fuser surface to redistribute the release agent from the first post-fusing distribution to the second distribution;
• and
• removing contaminants and/or release agent from the smoothing roll with a first roll cleaner that contacts the smoothing roll,
• wherein the smoothing roll redistributes the release agent such that the second distribution is more uniform across the fuser surface than the first post-fusing distribution.