Latch Mechanism for a Fuser Assembly Having a Heat Transfer Roll
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsPeter Alden Bayerle, Jeffery James Buchanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; a heat transfer device in contact with backup roll; a positioning mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device in a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the backup roll, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the backup roll; and a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position.
Claims16
A fuser assembly for fusing toner to sheets of media, comprising:
- a housing;
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith;
- and
- a heat transfer device for selectively contacting one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of to the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a positioning mechanism coupling the heat transfer device to the fuser housing, the positioning mechanism moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with and contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member and a second position in which the heat transfer device is disengaged and spaced apart therefrom;
- and
- a latch mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for selectively maintaining the heat transfer device at a spaced distance from the backup roll.
A toner fusing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith for fusing toner to sheets of media;
- a heat transfer device for selectively contacting one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a positioning mechanism coupled to the housing and the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the one of the backup roll and the heating member;
- and
- a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in one of the first position and the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.