Drive mechanism for a roll fuser employed in a copier apparatus
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorAlan F. McCarroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Drive mechanism for a roll fuser employed in a copier apparatus characterized by the provision of input drive means for rotating a fuser roll and also for rotating a backup roll while the two rolls are disengaged, and further characterized by the provision of a flexible drive shaft or coupling for the backup roll which allows for displacement of the backup roll for engagement with the fuser roll. A sump containing offset preventing liquid and means for applying the liquid to the fuser roll structure are disposed beneath the fuser roll structure which, in turn, is positioned below the backup roll. The drive means is so positioned relative to the sump as to preclude contamination therefrom entering the sump.
Claims12
Roll fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to copy sheets comprising;
- a heated fuser roll structure;
- a backup roll adapted to form a nip with said fuser roll structure through which said copy sheets move with said toner images in contact with said heated fuser roll structure;
- means including a flexible coupling for imparting rotational movement to said backup roll, said flexible coupling operatively connecting one end of said backup roll with said means and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said backup roll;
- means operatively coupling said means, including a flexible coupling to said fuser roll structure for effecting rotational movement thereof;
- and
- means for effecting movement of said backup roll into engagement with said fuser roll structure, said flexible coupling being adapted to accommodate such movement of said backup roll.
Copier apparatus including structure for forming total images on copy sheets and permanently affixing such images thereto wherein the means for permanently affixing the images to the copy sheet comprises, in combination:
- a heated fuser roll structure;
- a backup roll adapted to form a nip with said fuser roll structure through which said copy sheets move with said toner images in contact with said heated fuser roll structure;
- means including a flexible coupling for imparting rotational movement to said backup roll, said flexible coupling means operatively connecting one end of said backup roll with said means and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said backup roll;
- means operatively coupling said means including a flexible coupling to said fuser roll structure for effecting rotational movement thereof;
- and
- means for effecting movement of said backup roll into engagement with said fuser roll structure, said flexible coupling being adapted to accommodate such movement of said backup roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.