Patent ID: 8641163

Claim:
An imaging device comprising: a substantially continuous web of media; a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path in a process direction at a web speed; a marking system positioned along the web path and configured to apply a marking material to the continuous web to form images on the continuous web; a leveler roller formed of a thermally conductive material and including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a target temperature, the leveler roller being positioned to be partially wrapped by a portion of the continuous web to which marking material has been applied to define a wrap length, the wrap length being selected based on the web speed to generate a dwell time during which the portion of the continuous web, the marking material on the portion of the continuous web, and the leveler roller are in contact as the continuous web is being transported to enable conductive heat transfer between the continuous web, the marking material and the leveler roller to occur during the dwell time to bring a temperature of the portion of the continuous web and the marking material on the portion of the continuous web partially wrapped about the leveler roller within a target range about the target temperature; and a pressure roller positioned adjacent the leveler roller to form a pressure nip through which the continuous web is fed after the portion of the continuous web and the marking material on the portion of the continuous web have been in contact with the leveler roller for the predetermined dwell time, the pressure nip applying a target pressure to the continuous web and the marking material on the continuous web in the pressure nip.