Patent ID: 7801475
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A steam fuser apparatus for heating a substrate in a xerographic system to a predetermined temperature and for maintaining the substrate approximately at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, the predetermined temperature being above a steam boiling point temperature, the steam fuser apparatus comprising: a first steam zone containing a first steam maintained at an ultra-heated temperature that is substantially higher than the predetermined temperature; a second zone containing a second gas maintained at a second temperature that is substantially lower than the ultra-heated temperature; and means for conveying the substrate through the first steam zone and the second zone such that, when the substrate exits the first steam zone, a temperature of the substrate is approximately equal to the predetermined temperature, and when the substrate exits the second zone, the temperature of the substrate has been maintained approximately equal to the predetermined desired temperature for approximately the predetermined desired time.