Apparatus and method for an asymmetrical printer fuser nip

A method in an apparatus including a first fuser member rotationally supported in a housing about an axis of rotation, the first fuser member having a first fuser member end at one end of the axis of rotation and a second fuser member end at another end of the axis of rotation, the apparatus including a fuser nip having a fuser nip width dimension perpendicular to the axis of rotation and having a fuser nip length from the first fuser member end to the second fuser member end, the fuser nip length parallel to the axis of rotation, and the apparatus including a second fuser member rotationally supported in the housing and coupled to the first fuser member at the fuser nip, the method comprising:

• adjusting the fuser nip width dimension to be asymmetrical along the fuser nip length;
• generating a latent image on a media sheet;
• sending the media sheet through the fuser nip;
• and
• fusing the latent image on the media sheet in the fuser nip.

An apparatus comprising:

• a media transport configured to transport a media sheet in a media sheet travel direction;
• a housing;
• a first fuser member rotationally supported in the housing and coupled to the media transport, the first fuser member having a first fuser member end and a second fuser member end, the first fuser member configured to fuse an image on the media sheet, where an edge of the media sheet generates wear on the first fuser member;
• a fuser nip having a fuser nip width dimension parallel to the media sheet travel direction and having a fuser nip length from the first fuser member end to the second fuser member end, the fuser nip length perpendicular to the media sheet travel direction, where the fuser nip width dimension is configured to be asymmetrical along the fuser nip length;
• a second fuser member rotationally supported in the housing and coupled to the first fuser member at the fuser nip, the second fuser member configured to fuse the image on the media sheet;
• and
• a media sheet edge guide configured to guide edges of media sheets at a location along the fuser nip length, the location along the fuser nip length being substantially common for edges of different media sheet sizes,
• wherein the fuser nip width dimension is wider at a location proximal to the location along the fuser nip length substantially common for edges of different media sheet sizes than at a location along the fuser nip length substantially uncommon for other edges of different media sheet sizes.