OIL SECRETING SUPPLY ROLLER FOR AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER

A fuser oil supply roller (50) including an oil impregnated rubber roller (71) and an outer metering layer (75) of known fluid transfer characteristics for an electrophotographic printer fuser. The roller (50) allows silicon oil to be secreted from the metering layer (75) onto a fuser hot roller (54) to prevent toner from adhering to the fuser hot roller (54), as well as serving to provide a smooth toner surface. Such a roller (50) provides oil to the fuser hot roller (54) without the need for a separate oil reservoir and delivery system. Therefore, a precisely metered supply of oil is provided to the fuser hot roller (54) while reducing complexity and moving part. A buffer layer (77) is also provided for minimizing the roller volume given to the oil impregnated rubber roller. A barrier layer (78) may be employed to prevent oil migration into the buffer layer (77). Furthermore, methods for applying a toner repelling substance to a fuser roller are provided. A fuser oil supply roller comprising an oil impregnated rubber and an outer metering layer of known fluid transfer characteristics for an electrophotographic printer fuser. The roller allows silicon oil to be secreted from the metering layer onto a fuser hot roller to prevent toner from adhering to the fuser hot roller, as well as serving to provide a smooth toner surface. Such a roller provides oil delivery to the fuser hot roller without the need for a separate oil reservoir and delivery system. The oil impreganted roller and surrounding metering layer minimizes the potential for large surges of oil onto th eprint media, while continuing to provide a controlled delivery of oil to the fuser hot roller. Therefore, a precisely metered supply of oil to the fuser hot roller while reducing complexity and moving parts which increase maintenance and production costs. A buffer layer is also provided for minimizing the roller volume given to the oil impregnated rubber roller. A metering layer may be employed with the buffer layer to prevent oil migration into the buffer layer. L'invention concerne un rouleau de fourniture d'huile de fixage, comprenant un caoutchouc imprégné d'huile et une couche de dosage, extérieure, lesquels possèdent des caractéristiques de transfert de fluide connues et sont conçus pour unité de fusion d'imprimante. Le rouleau permet à l'huile silicone d'être sécrétée à partir de la couche de dosage, pour être déposée sur un cylindre chaud de fusion, de manière à empêcher la poudre d'encre