IP Library Granted Patent US 7,356,275
Granted Patent B2
US 7,356,275 · App. 11/778,227 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Apparatus and process for fuser control

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,356,275
App. No.
11/778,227
Granted
Apr 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention is in the field of fusing and fusing apparatus for print media, particularly for fusing toner to print media and other variations. According to various aspects of the invention, an improved temperature control is provided for a fusing apparatus wherein control is prioritized. According to various further aspects of the invention, a device having a fuser controller is provided operative to control a fusing control parameter based at least in part upon a print media thickness. Numerous other variations and aspects are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a fuser assembly operative to fuse a stream of print media moving through the fuser assembly, the fusing assembly comprising a fusing nip having a fusing force;

a controller operative to change at least one fusing control parameter, the at least one fusing parameter being the fusing force, while the stream of print media, all of a same type based on size or bending stiffness, is moving through the fuser assembly; and

the controller further being operative to monotonically decrease the fusing force concurrently with the stream of print media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the controller being further operative to change the fusing control parameter while the stream of print media, all of the same type, is moving through the fuser assembly, based at least in part on a size of the print media.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , the controller being operative to increase fusing force upon a fusing temperature decreasing to a predetermined temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having a cross-sectional diameter that is constant along a length of the fuser roller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the controller being further operative to change the fusing control parameter while the stream of print media, all of the same type, is moving through the fuser assembly, based at least in part on a bending stiffness of the print media.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising the controller being operative to increase fusing force upon a fusing temperature decreasing to a predetermined temperature.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having a cross-sectional diameter that is constant along a length of the fuser roller.

8. The apparatus of 1 , the controller further being operative to reset the fusing parameters prior to a stream of print media, all of a same type, moves through the fuser assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having an internal heater.

10. A fusing process, comprising:

moving a stream of print media through a fuser assembly; and

changing at least one fusing control parameter while the stream of print media, all of a same type based on size and bending stiffness, is moving through the fuser assembly;

the fusing assembly comprising a fusing nip having a fusing force, the at least one fusing parameter being the fusing force; and

monotonically decreasing the fusing force concurrently with the stream of print media.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising changing the fusing control parameter while the stream of print media, all of the same type, is moving through the fuser assembly, based at least in part on a size of the print media.

12. The process of claim 10 , the process further comprising increasing fusing force upon a fusing temperature decreasing to a predetermined temperature.

13. The process of claim 12 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having a cross-sectional diameter that is constant along a length of the fuser roller.

14. The process of claim 10 further comprising changing the fusing control parameter while the stream of print media, all of the same type, is moving through the fuser assembly, based at least in part on a bending stiffness of the print media.

15. The process of claim 14 , the process further comprising increasing fusing force upon a fusing temperature decreasing to a predetermined temperature.

16. The process of claim 14 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having a cross-sectional diameter that is constant along a length of the fuser roller.

17. The process of claim 10 , the controller resetting the fusing parameters prior to a stream of print media, all of a same type, moves through the fuser assembly.

18. The process of claim 10 , the fusing assembly further comprising a pressure roller and a fuser roller, the fuser roller having an internal heater.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST) INC.; KODAK AMERICAS LTD.; KODAK REALTY INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES LTD.; NPEC INC.
Reel/Frame 052773/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; PFC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 049901/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: QUALEX, INC.; EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 050239/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: COMMERCIAL COPY INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041735/0922 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041581/0943 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041582/0013 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE
Reel/Frame 031158/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031159/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031162/0117 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS SENIOR DIP AGENT; WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS JUNIOR DIP AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
Reel/Frame 031157/0451 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 030122/0235 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2012
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 028201/0420 →