Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090154968 | Ultra-Heated/Slightly Heated Steam Zones For Optimal Control Of Water Content In Steam Fuser - A dual-zone steam fuser for a xerographic system includes a ultra-heated first zone maintained at 200-500° C. that quickly heats a paper substrate to an optimal toner fusing temperature (e.g., 120-150° C.), and a second, relatively cool second zone for maintaining the substrate at the optimal temperature during completion of the fusing process. A conveying system conveys the substrate so that it exits the first zone and enters the second zone immediately after the substrate temperature reaches the optimal toner fusing temperature, and is maintained in the second zone for a predetermined fusing operation time period. The gas (e.g., steam) temperatures and timing are selected such that surface condensation is minimized during initial heating, and such that moisture content is normalized at the end of the fusing process. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154969 | Pressure-Controlled Steam Oven For Asymptotic Temperature Control Of Continuous Feed Media - A non-atmospheric pressure vapor oven system that utilizes a controllable pressure zone to facilitate fast phase change heat transfer at any desired temperature to heat or cool flat substrates, and to level temperatures across different locations of the substrates. The system enables the use of a heat transfer fluid, such as water, without being limited to a particular temperature, such as the fluid's natural boiling point at atmospheric pressure. The system includes a vapor oven (hermetic enclosure) defining a pressure chamber having sealed entry and exit ports for transferring an object (e.g., a sheet of paper) with added material (e.g., toner) through the pressure chamber, and a pressure regulation apparatus for setting the saturation temperature (boiling point) of heat transfer fluid inside the vapor oven to an optimal heating/cooling temperature by selectively controlling the pressure inside the hermetic enclosure. | 06-18-2009 |
20090160924 | CONTACTLESS INK LEVELING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate. | 06-25-2009 |
20090195572 | System And Method For Leveling Applied Ink In A Printer - A system enables ink on an image receiving member to be re-distributed to reduce banding effects in the image. The system includes an ink applicator for applying ink to form an ink image on an image receiving member as it passes by the ink applicator; a plenum chamber for receiving a flow of pressurized fluid from a fluid source, and at least one opening in the plenum chamber to direct the flow of pressurized fluid from the plenum towards the ink image on the image receiving member to re-distribute the ink on the image receiving member. | 08-06-2009 |
20100092199 | HYBRID MULTI-ZONE FUSING - A fusing system and a method of operating the fusing system, including a first heating zone to heat marking material and a substrate using a non-condensing heat source to less than a target temperature; and a second heating zone to heat the marking material and the substrate to about the target temperature to fuse the marking material to the substrate. | 04-15-2010 |
20120113202 | CONTACTLESS INK LEVELING METHOD AND APPARTUS - A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate. | 05-10-2012 |
20120120169 | CONTACTLESS INK LEVELING METHOD AND APPARTUS - A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate. | 05-17-2012 |
20130033687 | Method for Direct Application of Dampening Fluid for a Variable Data Lithographic Apparatus - A system and corresponding methods are disclosed for applying a dampening fluid to a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system, without a form roller. In one embodiment, the system includes subsystems for converting a dampening fluid from a liquid phase to a dispersed fluid phase, and for directing flow of a dispersed fluid comprising the dampening fluid in dispersed fluid phase to the reimageable surface. The dampening fluid reverts to the liquid phase directly on the reimageable surface. In another embodiment a continuous ribbon of dampening fluid may be applied directly to the reimageable surface. This embodiment includes a body structure having a port for delivering dampening fluid in a continuous fluid ribbon directly to the reimageable surface, and a mechanism, associated with the body structure, for stripping an entrained air layer over the reimageable surface when the reimageable surface is in motion. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033688 | System for Direct Application of Dampening Fluid for a Variable Data Lithographic Apparatus - A system and corresponding methods are disclosed for applying a dampening fluid to a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system, without a form roller. In one embodiment, the system includes subsystems for converting a dampening fluid from a liquid phase to a dispersed fluid phase, and for directing flow of a dispersed fluid comprising the dampening fluid in dispersed fluid phase to the reimageable surface. The dampening fluid reverts to the liquid phase directly on the reimageable surface. In another embodiment a continuous ribbon of dampening fluid may be applied directly to the reimageable surface. This embodiment includes a body structure having a port for delivering dampening fluid in a continuous fluid ribbon directly to the reimageable surface, and a mechanism, associated with the body structure, for stripping an entrained air layer over the reimageable surface when the reimageable surface is in motion. | 02-07-2013 |
20130340638 | Method for Direct Application of Dampening Fluid for a Variable Data Lithographic Apparatus - Methods are disclosed for applying a dampening fluid to a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system without a form roller. Dampening fluid in liquid form is converted to vapor phase, and directed to the reimageable surface. The dampening fluid reverts to the liquid phase directly on the reimageable surface. Controlling the temperatures of elements of the delivery subsystem prevents unwanted condensation of the dampening fluid vapor on those elements. Generation and delivery of the vapor can be controlled in a feedback arrangement as a function of measured layer thickness formed on the reimageable surface to obtain a desired dampening fluid layer thickness formed on the reimageable surface. | 12-26-2013 |
20140015876 | DEVICE FOR LEVELING INK UNDER A THERMAL GRADIENT - A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate. | 01-16-2014 |