In a world where “high def” has quickly become the norm and paper flies through printers at ever increasing speeds, researchers at Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) and Fuji Xerox have developed technology to meet the challenge of printing high definition images at speeds of 80 to 100 pages per minute.

Five new Xerox innovations “under the hood” set these new digital presses apart from anything ever designed, by addressing a print provider’s need for vibrant image quality and the ability to complete complex jobs faster.

“With paper moving at these speeds, there are countless engineering challenges along the way,” said David Mueller, engineering manager of the new Xerox Color 800/1000 Presses. “The technologies we developed, especially the new fuser and clear toner, really push the envelope in terms of how these presses perform.”

The new technologies include:

• Clear EA toner– This transparent dry ink is a new formula of Xerox’s ultra low-melt EA (Emulsion Aggregation) toner. Developed jointly by researchers at Fuji Xerox and the Xerox Research Centre of Canada, it uses no fuser oil and gives images a smooth offset-like finish. The clear toner also adds visual variety. Highlighted images appear to “pop off” the page, and customers can use the feature to draw attention to headlines, variable text, photos, logos or images and create a range of artistic digital effects including watermarks.
• Long-life photoreceptor – The presses feature a new photoreceptor with a protective overcoat that lasts twice as long as conventional technologies, As a result, the photoreceptor, which is the light-sensitive drum used to transfer the image to paper, can withstand making up to 800,000 impressions.
• Seamless Intermediate Belt Transfer System (IBT) – This technology makes it easier for operators to set up jobs on varying sized media. It also makes it possible to add a fifth station for clear toner.
• New Fuser – The Belt Roller Fuser (BRF) has a set of heated rollers that heats the fuser belt and melts or fuses the toner into the paper. This new fuser lasts twice as long as previous fusers and transfers heat more efficiently. As a result, the presses deliver stable image quality as well as extended service life.
• Inline Belt Cooling – Printing at high speed does not allow time for paper to cool while it travels through the system. This high temperature can cause toner and paper to stick together in finishing devices. Researchers solved this problem by lowering the temperature of the paper as it passes by cooling belts.

“These new digital presses are a great example of what Xerox’s ingenuity and collaborative innovation can achieve,” said Sophie Vandebroek, Xerox’s chief technology officer and president of the Xerox Innovation Group. “Our research and engineering teams in the United States and Canada, along with our joint venture partner, Fuji Xerox, in Japan, invented and commercialized breakthrough technology that opens up an array of profitable business opportunities for our customers.”