Heating apparatus with mechanical attachment
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Maul, James D. Gilmore, Gregory D. Creteau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an image heating apparatus is provided for fusing an unfixed toner image to a substrate including a housing base for supporting a heater, and a thin film or belt extending around the housing base and heater. The heater is held to the housing base by a fastener structure that may include a pair of retainer clips having opposing ends attached to the housing base and having a central portion extending across the heater for retaining the heater in position. The clips may include outwardly extending walls for engaging edges of the belt to maintain the lateral position of the belt.
Claims17
An image heating apparatus comprising:
- a heater having opposing first and second sides;
- a support member in engagement with said second side of said heater;
- a movable member comprising an endless film member extending around said support member and contacting said first side of said heater;
- a fastener structure extending around said heater for positioning said heater on said support member;
- and
- wherein said fastener structure comprises guide surfaces extending generally perpendicular to said first side of said heater for engaging edges of said film member and said fastener structure engaging an inner surface of said edges of said film member.
An image heating apparatus comprising:
- a ceramic heater having opposing first and second sides;
- a support member in engagement with said second side of said heater;
- a movable member extending around said support member and contacting said first side of said heater;
- a fastener structure comprising first and second fastener elements attached to said support member and extending around said heater for positioning said heater on said support member;
- and
- wherein said first and second fastener elements comprise elongated members including opposing ends attached to said support member adjacent leading and trailing edges of said heater.
An image heating apparatus comprising:
- a ceramic heater having opposing first and second sides;
- a support member in engagement with said second side of said heater;
- a movable member extending around said support member and contacting said first side of said heater;
- a fastener structure comprising first and second fastener elements attached to said support member and extending around said heater for positioning said heater on said support member;
- and
- wherein said movable member comprises an endless film member surrounding said support member and said fastener elements engage an inner surface of said film member to prevent a portion of said inner surface from engaging said heater.
An image heating apparatus comprising:
- a ceramic heater having opposing first and second sides;
- a support member in engagement with said second side of said heater;
- a movable member extending around said support member and contacting said first side of said heater;
- a fastener structure comprising first and second fastener elements attached to said support member and extending around said heater for positioning said heater on said support member;
- and
- wherein said fastener elements include biasing elements extending into engagement with a leading edge of said heater for biasing said heater relative to said support member in a direction parallel to the process direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.