(19)
(11) EP 0 470 860 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.07.1992 Bulletin 1992/30

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.02.1992 Bulletin 1992/07

(21) Application number: 91307358.1

(22) Date of filing: 09.08.1991
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G03G 15/20
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 10.08.1990 US 565583

(71) Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Greenwich, Connecticut 06836 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Oleska, Stephen Alexander
    Lexington, Kentucky 40502 (US)
  • Rice, Larry Joe
    Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356 (US)
  • Schaefer, John O'Neil
    Lexington, Kentucky 40511 (US)

(74) Representative: Leale, Robin George et al
FRANK B. DEHN & CO. Imperial House 15-19 Kingsway
London WC2B 6UZ
London WC2B 6UZ (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Electrophotographic reproduction method having improved fuser


    (57) An electrophotographic printer (11) including a fuser (16, 17) for fusing a toned image onto an envelope (13) passing through a fuser nip (14). Wrinkling and treeing of the envelope (13) is substantially eliminated by removing the pressure on the envelope (13) in the fuser nip (14) for one or more brief intervals during the fusing process. To do this, a solenoid (21) is intermittently driven to remove the force of a spring (18) urging the fuser rolls (16, 17) together.






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