OIL SECRETING SUPPLY ROLLER FOR AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER

摘要

A fuser oil supply roller (50) including an oil impregnated rubber roller (71) and an outer metering layer (75) of known fluid transfer characteristics for an electrophotographic printer fuser. The roller (50) allows silicon oil to be secreted from the metering layer (75) onto a fuser hot roller (54) to prevent toner from adhering to the fuser hot roller (54), as well as serving to provide a smooth toner surface. Such a roller (50) provides oil to the fuser hot roller (54) without the need for a separate oil reservoir and delivery system. Therefore, a precisely metered supply of oil is provided to the fuser hot roller (54) while reducing complexity and moving part. A buffer layer (77) is also provided for minimizing the roller volume given to the oil impregnated rubber roller. A barrier layer (78) may be employed to prevent oil migration into the buffer layer (77). Furthermore, methods for applying a toner repelling substance to a fuser roller are provided.