Electrophotographic imaging and fusing apparatus and methods

• US 6,816,686 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jensen, Julie, Hooper, Howard G., Eskey, Eric Unger
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US10/374,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 399/44, 399/46, 399/67, 399/68, 399/69, 399/45, 219/216
• US Class Current: 399/44
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2064 combined with pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2045 Variable fixing speed

Abstract

Electrophotographic imaging methods include providing a fusing device operationally characterized by a fusing speed, a fusing temperature, and a fusing pressure. The fusing speed is controlled as a function of the fusing temperature, while the fusing pressure is controlled as a function of the fusing speed, and the fusing temperature is controlled as a function of the fusing speed and the fusing pressure.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operation of a fusing device in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a fusing device, the operation of which is characterized by a fusing temperature, a fusing speed, and a fusing pressure;

controlling the fusing speed as a function of the fusing temperature;

controlling the fusing pressure as a function of the fusing speed; and

,

controlling the fusing temperature as a function of the fusing speed and the fusing pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising controlling the fusing speed as a function of a set of parameters, in addition to fusing temperature, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising media moisture content, toner depth, and media caliper.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising controlling the fusing pressure as a function of a set of parameters, in addition to fusing speed, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising media moisture content, toner depth, media caliper, and media surface roughness.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising controlling the fusing temperature as a function of a set of parameters, in addition to fusing speed and fusing pressure, wherein the set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising media moisture content, media surface roughness, toner depth, and media caliper.

5. A method of controlling the operation of a fusing device in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a media that is characterized by a media moisture content, a media caliper, and a media surface roughness;

providing a fusing device, the operation of which is characterized by a fusing temperature, a fusing speed, and a fusing pressure;

controlling fusing speed as a function of a first set of parameters;

controlling fusing pressure as a function of a second set of parameters; and

,

controlling fusing temperature as a function of a third set of parameters, wherein;

the first set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content and the media caliper;

the second set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content, the media caliper, and the media surface roughness; and

,

the third set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content, media caliper, and the media surface roughness.

6. The method of claim 5, and wherein the first set of parameters also includes the fusing temperature.

7. The method of claim 5, and wherein the second set of parameters also includes the fusing speed.

8. The method of claim 5, and wherein the third set of parameters also includes the fusing speed.

9. The method of claim 5, and wherein the third set of parameters also includes the fusing pressure.

10. The method of claim 5, and wherein:

the first set of parameters also includes the fusing temperature;

the second set of parameters also includes the fusing speed; and

,

the third set of parameters also includes the fusing speed.

11. The method of claim 5, and wherein:

the first set of parameters also includes the fusing temperature;

the second set of parameters also includes the fusing speed; and

,

the third set of parameters also includes the fusing pressure.

12. The method of claim 5, and wherein:

the first set of parameters also includes the fusing temperature;

the second set of parameters also includes the fusing speed; and

,

the third set of parameters also includes the fusing temperature and the fusing pressure.

13. A method of controlling a fusing device in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

providing an image carrying media that is characterized by a media moisture content, a media surface roughness, and a media caliper;

providing a toner that is configured to be deposited onto the media in the form of an image, wherein the image is characterized by a toner depth;

providing a fusing device;

depositing the toner onto the media in the form of an image;

operating the fusing device, whereby the image is substantially affixed to the media, and wherein the operation of the fusing device is characterized by a fusing speed, a fusing temperature, and a fusing pressure;

controlling fusing speed as a function of a first set of parameters;

controlling fusing pressure as a function of a second set of parameters; and

,

controlling fusing temperature as a function of a third set of parameters, wherein;

the first set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content, the media caliper, the toner depth, and the fusing temperature;

the second set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content, the media caliper, the toner depth, the media surface roughness, the fusing temperature, and the fusing speed; and

,

the third set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising the media moisture content, the media surface roughness, the toner depth, the media caliper, the fusing speed, and the fusing pressure.

14. A method of fusing an electrophotographically formed image to an image carrying media, the method comprising:

providing a fusing device, the operation of which is characterized by a fusing temperature, a fusing speed, and a fusing pressure;

establishing a first relative value for each of a set of parameters selected from the group comprising ambient temperature, media caliper, media surface roughness, media moisture content, relative humidity, and toner depth;

establishing a value for the fusing temperature based on the first relative value of at least one of the set of parameters;

establishing a value for the fusing speed based on the first relative value of at least one of the set of parameters;

establishing a value for the fusing pressure based on the first relative value of at least one of the set of parameters; and

,

establishing a second relative value for at least one of the set of parameters.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising adjusting the value for the fusing temperature based on the second relative value of at least one of the set of parameters.

16. The method of claim 14, and further comprising adjusting the value for the fusing speed based on the second relative value of at least one of the set of parameters.

17. The method of claim 14, and further comprising adjusting the value for the fusing pressure based on the second relative value of at least one of the set of parameters.

18. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

adjusting the fusing temperature based on the second relative value of one of the set of parameters;

adjusting the fusing speed based on the second relative value of one of the set of parameters; and

,

adjusting the fusing pressure based on the second relative value of one of the set of parameters.

19. An electrophotographic imaging apparatus, comprising:

an image-forming device configured to deposit toner in the form of an image onto a media sheet;

a fusing device configured to thermally fix the image to the media sheet, wherein the fusing device is configured to operate at a fusing speed, a fusing temperature, and a fusing pressure;

a signal source configured to transmit data indicative of at least one of ambient temperature, media caliper, media surface roughness, media moisture content, relative humidity, and toner depth; and

,

a processor configured to;

receive the data from the signal source; and

,

control the fusing speed, the fusing temperature, and the fusing pressure as a function of the data.

20. An electrophotographic imaging apparatus including an image forming device configured to deposit an image onto a media sheet, and a fusing device configured to thermally fix the image to the media sheet, wherein operation of the fusing device is characterized by a fusing speed, the imaging apparatus comprising:

a signal source selected from the group comprising and ambient temperature signal source, a media caliper signal source, a media surface roughness signal source, a media moisture content signal source, a relative humidity signal source, and a toner depth signal source, wherein the signal source is configured to transmit a signal that is indicative of a given parameter; and

,

a processor configured to receive the signal from the signal source and further configured to determine an optimum fusing speed based on the given parameter.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, and wherein operation of the fusing device is further characterized by a fusing pressure, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine an optimum fusing pressure based on the given parameter.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, and wherein the operation of the fusing device is further characterized by a fusing temperature, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine an optimum fusing temperature based on the given parameter.

23. An apparatus for use in an electrophotographic imaging process, the apparatus comprising:

a fusing device, the operation of which is characterized by a fusing speed, a fusing pressure, and a fusing temperature;

a means for controlling the fusing speed as a function of a first set of parameters;

a means for controlling the fusing pressure as a function of a second set of parameters; and

,

a means for controlling the fusing temperature as a function of a third set of parameters, wherein;

the first set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising;

media moisture content;

media caliper;

toner depth; and

fusing temperature;

the second set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising;

media moisture content;

media caliper;

toner depth;

media surface roughness;

fusing temperature; and

fusing speed; and

,

the third set of parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group comprising;

media moisture content;

media surface roughness;

toner depth;

media caliper;

fusing speed; and

fusing pressure.