Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is a process for fusing an electrophotographic image to a substrate which comprises developing an electrostatic latent image with a toner of one polarity and contacting the developed image with a fuser roll having on the surface thereof an insulating material charged to the same polarity as the toner. In one embodiment of the invention, the surface of the fuser roll comprises an insulating material and the charge is applied with a charging means such as a corotron. In another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the fuser roll comprises a polymeric electret material having embedded therein stable electrical charges of the same polarity as that of the toner. For this second embodiment, the fuser roll may optionally be charged with a charging means. Additionally, the fuser roll may comprise a core of a resistive material that increases in temperature when the charging means is activated, which may reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the fuser roll, or may eliminate the need for other means of heating the fuser roll.

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First Claim