Fuser release agent management system with driven supply reel
OwnerKenneth R. Rasch, Barry J. Gheer +2inventors
InventorsKenneth R. Rasch, Barry J. Gheer, Tab A. Tress, Richard A. Geyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for applying a release agent to a fuser roll is constructed having a web material impregnated with the release agent. A supply reel is rotatably mounted in a housing and contains a roll of web material for dispensing into the system. The web material is extended across the fuser roll to a take-up reel. An application roller is positioned adjacent to the fuser roll on the opposite side of the web path and is biased against the web material to provide a force to insure engagement between the web and the fuser roll. The supply reel is driven to dispense the web material in a direction consistent with the tangential direction of the surface of the fuser roll.
Claims8
A printing machine in which a print medium receives an electrostatic image comprising:
- an electrostatic applicator for applying an image to a print medium;
- a fuser roll mounted for rotation in the printing machine for applying heat to the print medium to bond said electrostatic image to the print medium;
- apparatus to apply a release agent to the fuser roll further comprising:
- a web material impregnated with said release agent wound in a roll on a supply reel, said supply reel being mounted for rotation adjacent to said fuser roll;
- a drive mechanism for rotating said supply reel to dispense said web material towards said fuser roll;
- a take-up reel positioned to receive the web material after it is extended across said fuser roll for engagement therewith;
- and
- an application roller mounted for rotation between said supply reel and said take-up reel adjacent to said fuser roll, said application roller forming a nip with said fuser roll through which the web material extends, said nip providing a release agent applying engagement of said web material with said fuser roll.
Apparatus constructed to apply a release agent to a fuser roll of an electrostatic printing machine comprising:
- a web material impregnated with said release agent wound in a roll on a supply reel, said supply reel being mounted for rotation adjacent to said fuser roll;
- a drive mechanism for rotating said supply reel to dispense said web material towards said fuser roll;
- a take-up reel positioned to receive the web material after it is extended across said fuser roll for engagement therewith;
- and
- an application roller mounted for rotation between said supply reel and said take-up reel adjacent to said fuser roll, said application roller forming a nip with said fuser roll through which the web material extends, said nip providing a release agent applying engagement of said web material with said fuser roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.