Apparatus, method and system for controlling strip radius in a fuser unit useful in printing
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPaul M. Fromm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method are provided for controlling a nip pressure profile at a fusing nip and a strip radius in a fuser. The fuser has a first pressure member configured to be inflatable comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the first pressure member and an internal member of the first pressure member. The fuser also has a second pressure member that having a surface that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip. The second pressure member is configured to cause a deformation of the first pressure member to cause, at least in part, a selectable strip radius.
Claims25
An apparatus useful in printing comprising:
- a first pressure member configured to be inflatable comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the first pressure member and an internal member of the first pressure member in a direction toward a center of the internal pressure member;
- and
- a second pressure member that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip,
- wherein the second pressure member is configured to cause a deformation of the first pressure member to cause, at least in part, a selectable strip radius downstream of the fusing nip in a process direction, wherein the deformation caused by the second pressure member is based, at least in part, on a selectable internal pressure of the first pressure member;
- and
- a first pressure member inflation control element configured to change the internal pressure of the first pressure member on demand.
A method for stripping a substrate in a printing process comprising:
- defining a fusing nip in an apparatus useful in printing, the apparatus comprising:
- a first pressure member configured to be inflatable comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the first pressure member and an internal member of the first pressure member in a direction toward a center of the internal pressure member;
- and
- a second pressure member that faces a surface of the first pressure member at a region defining a fusing nip,
- causing, at least in part, a selectable strip radius downstream of the fusing nip in a process direction by causing a deformation of the first pressure member with the second pressure member;
- and
- causing, at least in part, stripping of the substrate downstream of the fusing nip in a process direction;
- and
- selecting an internal pressure of the first pressure member, wherein the deformation caused by the second pressure member is based, at least in part, on the selectable internal pressure of the first pressure member.
An apparatus useful in printing comprising:
- an inflatable roll comprising one or more radial webs configured to extend between an external portion of the inflatable roll and an internal member of the inflatable roll in a direction toward a center of the inflatable roll,
- wherein the internal member of the inflatable roll comprises one or more retaining members configured to constrain the one or more radial webs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.