Patent ID: 7418228

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a media path having a first side adapted to transport media sheets within a printing apparatus and a second side opposite said first side; a fuser roll positioned along said first side of said media path, wherein said fuser roll is adapted to fuse marking material on said media sheets as said media sheets pass said fuser roll; a pressure roll positioned along said second side of said media path at a point opposite said fuser roll such that a nip exists between said fuser roll and said pressure roll; a heating belt in contact with said fuser roll and positioned within said nip between said pressure roll and said fuser roll; an iso-thermalizing roll in contact with said heating belt, wherein said iso-thermalizing roll is positioned at a location separate from said nip and separate from areas where said heating belt contacts said pressure roll; and a heater positioned outside said fuser roll and outside said pressure roll, and positioned adjacent said heating belt and away from said iso-thermalizing roll such that said heater is adapted to heat said heating belt and not directly heat said iso-thermalizing roll.