Fuser assembly having nip reduction force for imaging device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorJeffery James Buchanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuser assembly includes a heated member and backup member forming a fusing nip. A nip loading spring biases into contact the backup member and the heated member. A bellcrank contacts the nip loading spring such that upon opening of an access door of the imaging device, the bellcrank acts on the nip loading spring to reduce a force between the backup member and the heated member but keeping in contact the backup member and the heated member. The bellcrank typifies a wire or other flexible lever. A cam pivots as the access door opens and engages the wire to compress the nip loading spring during use.
Claims19
A fuser assembly for an imaging device having an access door, comprising:
- a heated member;
- a backup member;
- a nip loading spring biased to press into contact the backup member and the heated member to form a fusing nip at which toner becomes fused to media during an imaging operation;
- and
- a bellcrank positioned in contact with the nip loading spring such that upon opening the access door, the bellcrank acts on the nip loading spring to reduce a force between the backup member and the heated member but keeping in contact the backup member and the heated member by way of the force from the nip loading spring.
An imaging device for imaging sheets of media, comprising:
- a door providing access to an interior of the imaging device;
- and
- a fuser assembly located in the interior to fuse toner to the sheets of media during use, the fuser assembly having,
- a heated member,
- a backup member with a shaft defining an axis of rotation,
- two nip loading springs biased on either side of the shaft to press into contact the backup member and the heated member to form a fusing nip, and
- two bellcranks, one each positioned in contact with either of the two nip loading springs, the two bellcranks being further connected to the door such that upon opening of the door, the two bellcranks compresses the two nip loading springs to reduce a force between the backup member and the heated member but keeping in contact with one another the backup member and the heated member by way of the force from the two nip loading springs.
A fuser assembly for an imaging device, comprising:
- a first and second roll forming a fusing nip at which toner becomes fused to media during an imaging operation in the imaging device;
- a nip loading spring biased to force contact between the first and second rolls;
- and
- a flexible lever positioned in contact with the nip loading spring to change a first force between the first and second rolls to a second force less than the first force upon movement of the flexible lever but keeping in contact with one another the first and second rolls by way of the nip loading spring, wherein the flexible lever connects to an access door of the imaging device and movement of the access door from a closed to an open position causes the movement of the flexible lever.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.