Fusers and intermediate transfer members

Abstract

Drum intermediate transfer member or fuser apparatus, for use in a printer or copier, comprising: a drum having a drum surface and including a liquid-containing region in the interior of the drum thermally connected to the drum surface, such that the liquid is capable of heating and cooling the drum surface; and a liquid transfer system including a hot liquid reservoir, a cold liquid reservoir, at least one pump, pipes and optionally at least one valve arranged to selectively pump liquid between the liquid-containing region and the hot liquid reservoir, and between the liquid-containing region and the cold liquid reservoir.

Description

[0001] The present invention is related to the field of printers and copiers and more particularly to fusers, intermediate transfer members, and / or elements that function as both fusers and intermediate transfer members and to printers or copiers that utilize the same.[0002] Printers and copiers are well known. Modern copiers that utilize powder or liquid toners comprising toner particles to form visible images generally form a latent electrostatic image on an image forming surface (such as a photoreceptor), develop the image utilizing a toner (such as the aforementioned powder or liquid toners) to form a developed image and transfer the developed image to a final substrate. The transfer may be direct, i.e., the image is transferred directly to the final substrate from the image forming surface, or indirect, i.e., the image is transferred to the final substrate via one or more intermediate transfer members.[0003] In general, the image on the final substrate must be fused and fixed t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0050] In an embodiment of the invention, there is a shut-off valve clo

Problems solved by technology

But maintaining air under pressure inside the drum would require a pumping system, and a spongy layer can easily become damaged, and thermally insulates the surface from the source of heat inside the drum.

There are some disadvantages to using a drum with liquid in it, particularly a drum whose outer surface is a thin membrane supported by gas pressure.

The liquid can have a high heat capacity, and hence take a long time to heat up.

This means there may be a long waiting time when the copier or printer is first turned on, until it is ready to print.

To avoid waiting, th

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