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US 9,310,728 B2Granted
Latch mechanism for a fuser assembly having a heat transfer roll
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsPeter Alden Bayerle, Jeffery James Buchanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; a heat transfer device in contact with backup roll; a positioning mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device in a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the backup roll, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the backup roll; and a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position.
Claims16
A fuser assembly for fusing toner to sheets of media, comprising:
- a housing;
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith;
- and
- a heat transfer device for selectively contacting one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a positioning mechanism coupling the heat transfer device to the housing, the positioning mechanism moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with and contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member and a second position in which the heat transfer device is disengaged and spaced apart therefrom;
- and
- a latch mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for selectively maintaining the heat transfer device at a spaced distance from the one of the backup roll and the heating member,
- wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a crossbar member to which the heat transfer device is coupled, the crossbar member including an aperture, and the latch mechanism comprises a first member having a sloped surface which contacts a portion of the crossbar member surrounding the aperture during initial engagement therewith and a second surface which contacts the portion of the crossbar member when the heat transfer device is latched by the latch mechanism, the first member rotating relative to the housing during at least one of the initial engagement with the crossbar member and release thereof from being latched.
6 more elements
A toner fusing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith for fusing toner to sheets of media;
- a heat transfer device for selectively contacting one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a positioning mechanism coupled to the housing and the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the one of the backup roll and the heating member;
- and
- a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position,
- wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a crossbar member having an aperture defined therein, and the latch mechanism comprises a first member having a substantially sloped surface for contacting a portion of the crossbar member defining the aperture when the heat transfer device is moved towards the second position, and a ledge for contacting the portion of the crossbar member for latching thereof, the first member rotating relative to the housing to release the crossbar member from being latched therewith.
5 more elements
A toner fusing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith for fusing toner to sheets of media;
- a heat transfer device for selectively contacting one of the backup roll and the heating member such that rotation of the one of the backup roll and the heating member rotates the heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a positioning mechanism coupled to the housing and the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, and a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the one of the backup roll and the heating member;
- and
- a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position,
- wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a crossbar member coupled to the heat transfer device and including an aperture defined therein, and the latch mechanism comprises a first member having a substantially sloped surface for contacting a portion of the crossbar member defining the aperture when the heat transfer device is moved towards the second position, and a ledge for contacting the portion of the crossbar member for latching thereof, and the latch mechanism further comprises a bias member coupled to the first member so as to move the first member to a latched position to latch the crossbar member when the crossbar member is moved beyond an edge of the sloped surface of the first member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.