Apparatus and method for fuser nip balance control

An apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a media transport coupled to the frame, the media transport configured to transport a media sheet;
• a first fuser member rotationally supported in the apparatus and coupled to the frame, the first fuser member configured to fuse an image on the media sheet;
• a second fuser member rotationally supported in the apparatus and coupled to the first fuser member at a fuser nip, the second fuser member configured to fuse an image on the media sheet, the second fuser member having a second fuser member rotational axis, a first fuser member end at a first end of the second fuser member rotational axis, and a second fuser member end at a second end of the second fuser member rotational axis;
• and
• a rotatable cam mechanism rotationally supported in the apparatus, the rotatable cam mechanism coupled to the second fuser member, the rotatable cam mechanism configured to provide variable amounts of pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member, the rotatable cam mechanism including:
• a cam rotational axis;
• a first cam end at one end of the cam rotational axis, the first cam end including a first cam member having a first cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis;
• and
• a second cam end at another end of the cam rotational axis, the second cam end including a second cam member having a second cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis, the second cam profile different from the first cam profile,
• wherein a portion of the first cam profile is configured to provide constant pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the first fuser member end, and
• wherein a portion of the second cam profile corresponds to the portion of the first cam profile and the second cam profile is configured to provide variable pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the second fuser member end while the portion of the first cam profile provides constant pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the first fuser member end.

A method in an apparatus including a fuser assembly having a first fuser assembly end, a second fuser assembly end, a first fuser member rotationally supported in the apparatus and a second fuser member rotationally supported in the apparatus and coupled to the first fuser member at a fuser nip, the apparatus also including a rotatable cam mechanism rotationally supported in the apparatus, the rotatable cam mechanism coupled to the second fuser member, the rotatable cam mechanism including a cam rotational axis, a first cam end at one end of the cam rotational axis, the first cam end including a first cam member having a first cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis, and a second cam end at another end of the cam rotational axis, the second cam end including a second cam member having a second cam profile perpendicular to the cam rotational axis, the second cam profile different from the first cam profile, the method comprising:

• rotating the cam mechanism to a first position;
• providing pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member while the cam mechanism is in the first position;
• fusing an image on the media sheet;
• rotating the cam mechanism to a second position;
• providing similar pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the first fuser assembly end while the cam mechanism is in the second position as pressure applied in the first position;
• and
• providing different pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the second fuser assembly end while the cam mechanism is in the second position from pressure applied in the first position,
• wherein a portion of the first cam profile is configured to provide constant pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at one fuser member end, and
• wherein a portion of the second cam profile corresponds to the portion of the first cam profile and the portion of the second cam profile is configured to provide variable pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at another fuser member end while the portion of the first cam profile provides constant pressure between the first fuser member and the second fuser member at the one fuser member end.