Patent ID: 8396406

Claim:
An apparatus useful in printing, comprising: a first fixing device disposed along a first media path, the first fixing device comprising a first fixing member including a first surface and a second fixing member including a second surface forming a first nip with the first surface, wherein the first fixing device does not include a thermal energy source that actively heats the first surface or the second surface and the first fixing device is adapted to apply pressure to a medium received at the first nip; a second fixing device disposed along a second media path, the second fixing device including at least one thermal energy source adapted to supply thermal energy to actively heat the medium at the second fixing device; and a controller configured to selectively route the medium to the first fixing device or to the second fixing device, wherein the first fixing device is disposed downstream from the second fixing device along the media path, and wherein the second fixing device comprises: a third fixing member including a third surface; a fourth fixing member including a fourth surface; and a positioning mechanism connected to the controller and one of the third fixing member and the fourth fixing member, the controller being configured to actuate the positioning mechanism to move the third surface relative to the fourth surface to form a second nip and to actuate the positioning mechanism to move the third surface relative to the fourth surface to unform the second nip; wherein (i) the at least one thermal energy source comprises at least one heater adapted to heat at least one of the third surface and fourth surface, (ii) the controller is configured to activate the at least one heater to supply thermal energy when the third surface and fourth surface form the second nip and (iii) the controller is configured to deactivate the at least one heater to not supply thermal energy when the third surface and fourth surface do not form the second nip.