Flat heater for electrophotographic belt fusing systems, and methods of making same

US9201366B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lexmark International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gregory Daniel Creteau · Winchester, US
• James Douglas Gilmore · Lexington, US
• Michael David Maul · Lexington, US
• Miranda Elizabeth Oaks · Lexington, US
• Katherine Mary Mulloy · Lexington, US
• Niko Jay Murrell · Lexington, US
• Jerry Wayne Smith · Ann Arbor, US
• Scott Wu · Zhuolan Township, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2009
• Grant date: Dec 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 29, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2215/2035
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An image-forming device includes a belt based fuser for fixing an image to a media substrate. The fuser includes a heater having a base component with at least one heating element disposed thereon. The heater further includes a covering layer covering the at least one heating element providing a substantially even surface to abut a belt. Unevenness, which may be present on the substantially even surface, has a height, defined by a base and a peak, of less than about 10 μm. A process for producing the heater is also disclosed. The process includes disposing one or more heating elements on a base component of the heater, covering the heating elements of the fuser heater with a covering layer and providing a substantially even outer surface to abut a fuser belt.