Fuser sheet stripping system

Abstract

A system for assisting the stripping of flimsy sheets adhering to a moving surface such as a xerographic fuser roll, comprising engaging the leading edge of a sheet on the moving surface, to lift it away from the surface, with an extended stripping edge of at least one stripper finger, and simultaneously blowing air under that sheet leading edge closely adjacent to that stripping edge sufficiently to lift said leading edge of said sheet in an increased radius. This airflow may be provided via a pneumatic conduit extending through the stripper finger out towards said stripping edge and opening closely adjacent to said stripping edge.

1 . In a printer with a roll fuser having at least one rotating roll surface, in which roll fuser a flimsy sheet being printed is fused by moving through said roll fuser lead edge first, engaging said at least one roll, a stripping apparatus is provided for assisting the stripping of said flimsy sheet from said at least one roll of said roll fuser, said stripping apparatus having at least one stripper finger with an extending stripping edge which is positionable to engage under said leading edge of said sheet on said at least one roll of said roll fuser to lift said leading edge of said flimsy sheet away from said at least one roll, further including a pneumatic system for blowing air under said leading edge of said flimsy sheet to lift said leading edge of said flimsy sheet in cooperation with said stripper finger stripping edge lifting of said leading edge of said flimsy sheet wherein said pneumatic system for blowing air under said leading edge of said sheet includes an airflow path in said stripper finger extending towards said stripping edge and opening upwardly closely adjacent to said stripping edge for blowing air under said leading edge of said sheet closely adjacent to said stripping edge sufficiently to additionally lift said leading edge of said sheet in an increased radius in cooperation with said stripper finger stripping edge lifting of said leading edge of said sheet, and wherein said airflow path in said stripper finger further includes a downwardly directed opening in said stripper finger closely adjacent to said stripping edge between said stripper finger and said at least one roll of said roll fuser to provide an air bearing between said stripper finger and said at least one roll of said roll fuser for reducing the contact force therebetween.  
     
     
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