Derek E Vaughan

US Patent:

6782233, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Mar 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/093263

Inventors:

Anthony S. Condello - Webster NY
Mark S. Amico - Rochester NY
John S. Berkes - Webster NY
Donald M. Bott - Rochester NY
Derek E. Vaughan - Rockford IL

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G03G 1520

US Classification:

399329, 399333

Abstract:

A heat and pressure belt fuser structure having an endless belt and a pair of pressure engageable members between which the endless belt is sandwiched for forming a fusing nip through which substrates carrying toner images pass with the toner images contacting an outer surface of the endless belt, at least one of the pressure engageable members has a deformable layer, and the endless belt has a thickness of from about 1 to about 8 mm; and the fuser structure includes an external source of thermal energy for elevating a pre-nip area of the belt. The thick belt in combination with a deformable layer of at least one of the pressure member(s) cooperate to provide a large nip and adequate creep for intrinsic paper stripping.