Back to results
US 8,010,017 B2Granted
Fuser assembly including a nip release bias spring
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsLarry Steven Foster, Edward Lawrence Kiely, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuser assembly includes first and second fuser structures, drive apparatus and nip engagement and release apparatus. The nip engagement and release apparatus includes nip-loading structure, a bias spring for engaging the nip-loading structure, a nip release cam for engaging the bias spring, a swing arm assembly and nip release structure. The nip engagement and release apparatus is adapted to cause a fuser nip to release during a reverse operation except when performing a duplex operation.
Claims20
A fuser assembly comprising:
- first fuser structure comprising a heated rotatable member and first support structure for supporting said heated rotatable member;
- second fuser structure comprising a rotatable backup member positioned adjacent said heated rotatable member and second support structure for supporting said backup member, said rotatable backup member adapted to define a nip with said heated rotatable member;
- drive apparatus associated with one of said heated rotatable member and said backup member for effecting rotation of said one member in a selected first direction or a second direction;
- and
- nip engagement and release apparatus comprising:
- nip-loading structure;
- at least one spring for engaging said nip-loading structure;
- a swing arm assembly;
- and
- nip release structure, said swing arm assembly being adapted to pivot to a first position in response to said one member rotating in said first direction and to a second position in response to said one member rotating in said second direction and said nip release structure being positioned in a relaxed state, said nip-loading structure being adapted to apply a sufficient force to one of said first and second support structures to achieve a desired nip load in response to said one member rotating in said first direction and decreasing said force to said one support structure to decrease the load at said nip in response to said one member rotating in said second direction and said nip release structure being positioned in a relaxed state.
7 more elements
A fuser assembly comprising:
- a first fuser structure comprising a heated rotatable member and a first support structure for supporting said heated rotatable member;
- a second fuser structure comprising a rotatable backup member positioned adjacent said heated rotatable member and a second support structure for supporting said backup member, said rotatable backup member defining a nip with said heated rotatable member;
- a drive apparatus associated with one of said heated rotatable member and said backup member for effecting rotation of said one member;
- and
- a nip engagement and release apparatus comprising:
- a nip-loading structure;
- at least one first bias member for engaging said nip-loading structure;
- and
- a nip release structure, said nip-loading structure applying a sufficient force to one of said first and second support structures to achieve a desired nip load in response to said one member rotating in a first direction and decreasing said force to said one support structure to decrease the load at said nip in response to said one member rotating in a second direction and said nip release structure being positioned in a first state.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.