Patent Application
20100028063
The present disclosure relates generally to enhancing image permanence in imaging systems. More particularly, the present disclosure describes a system and method useful for enhancing image permanence for difficult media in imaging systems.
Fusing requirements in imaging systems such as copiers and/or printers vary significantly for different papers and throughput media. A fusing system designed to handle the most difficult papers, such as preprinted paper and/or very heavy and/or rough paper, would cost significantly more and occupy more space than a system designed to handle the easier 90% of papers. Previous methods of addressing this problem have included running the fuser slower for difficult papers and/or increasing the fuser temperature. However, running the fuser more slowly requires more complicated software implementation and/or may require drive system changes for multiple subsystems. Moreover, increasing the fuser temperature may lead to limited improvement opportunities and/or may result in reduced component life.
According to various illustrative embodiments, a system and method for enhancing image permanence are described. In one aspect, the method comprises applying an image to a sheet of a medium using a system comprising at least one photoreceptor, at least one fuser, at least one inverter, and at least one duplex path loop operatively connecting an output of the at least one fuser with an input to the at least one photoreceptor. The method also comprises fusing the sheet of the medium at least twice using the at least one fuser before any other image is applied to the sheet of the medium.
The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the subject matter, and should not be used to limit or define the subject matter. The subject matter may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the description of embodiments presented herein. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the present embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the leftmost significant digit(s) in the reference numerals denote(s) the first figure in which the respective reference numerals appear, wherein:
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of the scope of the subject matter, as the subject matter may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Illustrative embodiments of the subject matter are described in detail below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.
In various illustrative embodiments, as shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, as shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, applying the image to the sheet of the medium 150, as shown at 310, further includes applying the image to the sheet of the medium 150 using the at least one photoreceptor 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using the at least one fuser 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using the at least one fuser 120, the sheet of the medium 160 is not inverted by bypassing the at least one inverter 130. In these illustrative embodiments, after bypassing the at least one inverter 130, the image is not applied again to the sheet of the medium 160 by the at least one photoreceptor 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 160 again using the at least one fuser 120. In these illustrative embodiments, as shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160, as shown at 310, further includes applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160 using the at least one photoreceptor 110 after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using the at least one fuser 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using the at least one fuser 120, the sheet of the medium 160 is inverted using the at least one inverter 130. In these illustrative embodiments, after using the at least one inverter 130, the image is applied to the sheet of the medium 160 by the at least one photoreceptor 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 160 again using the at least one fuser 120. In these illustrative embodiments, as shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, applying the image to the sheet of the medium 150, as shown at 410, further includes applying the image to the sheet of the medium 150 using one of the at least two photoreceptors 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using either of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using one of the at least two fusers 120, the sheet of the medium 160 is not inverted by bypassing the at least one inverter 130. In these illustrative embodiments, after bypassing the at least one inverter 130, the image is not applied again to the sheet of the medium 160 by either of the at least two photoreceptors 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 160 again using one of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after having been fused twice, the sheet of the medium 170 exits the system 100.
In various illustrative embodiments, applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160, as shown at 410, further includes applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160 using one of the at least two photoreceptors 110 after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using either of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using one of the at least two fusers 120, the sheet of the medium 160 is not inverted by bypassing the at least one inverter 130. In these illustrative embodiments, after bypassing the at least one inverter 130, the image is applied to the sheet of the medium 160 by either of the at least two photoreceptors 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 160 again using one of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after having been fused twice, the sheet of the medium 170 exits the system 100.
In various illustrative embodiments, applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160, as shown at 410, further includes applying the image to the sheet of the medium 160 using one of the at least two photoreceptors 110 after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using either of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after fusing the sheet of the medium 150 using one of the at least two fusers 120, the sheet of the medium 160 is inverted using the at least one inverter 130. In these illustrative embodiments, after using the at least one inverter 130, the image is applied to the sheet of the medium 160 by either of the at least two photoreceptors 110 before fusing the sheet of the medium 160 again using one of the at least two fusers 120. In these illustrative embodiments, after having been fused twice, the sheet of the medium 170 exits the system 100.
In various illustrative embodiments, image permanence on difficult papers, such as preprinted paper and/or very heavy, rough paper, may be enhanced and improved by passing the paper through the fuser 120 twice. As shown in
In alternative illustrative embodiments, another special mode may also use the machine's duplex path loop 140 without inverting the sheet 160. However, no image may be applied to the sheet 150 by the photoreceptor 110 on the first pass through the system 100. The image may be applied by the photoreceptor 110 to the sheet 160 on the second pass through the system 100. There may again be some cooling between the two passes through the fuser 120 of the system 100, but the image permanence on the resulting sheet 170 may still be measurably enhanced and improved relative to a simplex copy and/or print that only goes through the fuser 120 once.
In various illustrative embodiments, as shown in
In alternative illustrative embodiments, another special mode may not apply an image to the sheet 160 using the photoreceptor 110 in the first print engine 200, may also not invert the sheet 160 in the inverter 130 between the print engines 200, 210, and may apply an image to the sheet 160 using the photoreceptor 110 in the second print engine 210. There may again be some cooling between the two fusers 120 of the system 100, but the image permanence on the resulting sheet 170 may still be measurably enhanced and improved relative to a simplex copy and/or print that only goes through a fuser 120 once.
In still other alternative illustrative embodiments, yet another special mode may not apply an image to the sheet 160 using the photoreceptor 110 in the first print engine 200, but may invert the sheet 160 in the inverter 130 between the print engines 200, 210, and may apply an image to the inverted sheet 160 using the photoreceptor 110 in the second print engine 210. There may again be some cooling between the two fusers 120 of the system 100, but the image permanence on the resulting sheet 170 may still be measurably enhanced and improved relative to a simplex copy and/or print that only goes through a fuser 120 once.
In various illustrative embodiments, image permanence on difficult papers, such as preprinted paper and/or very heavy, rough paper, may be enhanced and improved by passing the paper through the fuser 120 twice even when it is difficult to run sheets through the duplex path loop 140 without inverting them. As shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, image permanence on difficult papers, such as preprinted paper and/or very heavy, rough paper, may be enhanced and improved by passing the paper through the fuser 120 twice in duplex printing where the image on one side of the paper is primary or more important and/or critical than the secondary or less important and/or less critical image on the other side of the paper. The primary image may be preselected by the operator, which means that the secondary image may also be preselected. As shown in
Similarly, in various illustrative embodiments, image permanence on difficult papers, such as preprinted paper and/or very heavy, rough paper, may be enhanced and improved by passing the paper through the fuser 120 twice in duplex printing using the tandem or TIPP architecture where the image on one side of the paper is more important and/or critical than the secondary image on the other side of the paper. The primary image may be preselected by the operator, which means that the secondary image may also be preselected. As shown in
In various illustrative embodiments, various of the special modes described above may be usefully combined together, as would be readily apparent to those of skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. For example, as shown in
In accordance with the present disclosure, an apparatus, system, and method useful for enhancing image permanence are disclosed. In various aspects, an apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure may include means for enhancing image permanence and means for enabling the means for enhancing image permanence, both the means for enhancing image permanence and the means for enabling the means for enhancing image permanence covering corresponding structures and/or materials described herein and equivalents thereof.
In various other aspects, a system in accordance with the present disclosure may include means for enhancing image permanence, means for enabling the means for enhancing image permanence, and means for using the means for enhancing image permanence, all of the means for enhancing image permanence, the means for enabling the means for enhancing image permanence, and the means for using the means for enhancing image permanence covering corresponding structures and/or materials described herein and equivalents thereof In yet various other aspects, a method in accordance with the present disclosure may include steps for enhancing image permanence and steps for enabling the steps for enhancing image permanence, both the steps for enhancing image permanence and the steps for enabling the steps for enhancing image permanence covering corresponding acts described herein and equivalents thereof.
The particular embodiments are illustrative only, as the subject matter may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the subject matter.
