Heat transfer system for a fuser assembly
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsPeter Alden Bayerle, Jeffery James Buchanan, Michael Clark Campbell, Benjamin Karnik Johnson, Charles Scott McDavid
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, wherein rotation of the backup roll causes the heating member to rotate; and a first roll in contact with 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 first roll, the first roll including a heat pipe disposed therein.
Claims14
A fuser assembly, comprising
- a heating member;
- a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith, wherein rotation of the backup roll causes the heating member to rotate;
- and
- a first roll in contact with 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 first roll, the first roll comprising a heat pipe disposed therein,
- wherein the first roll comprises a metal roll in which the heat pipe is disposed and fully contained, covered and sealed therein.
An apparatus, comprising:
- 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 first roll for 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 first roll, wherein when the first roll contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the first roll transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon;
- a pair of end caps;
- a housing;
- and
- a positioning mechanism coupling the first roll to the housing, the first roll being movable via the positioning mechanism between a first position in which the first roll is engaged with and contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member and a second position in which the first roll is disengaged and spaced apart therefrom,
- wherein the first roll comprises a metal roll having a heat pipe, each end cap of the pair of end caps is disposed on an end portion of the metal roll, and the heat pipe is sealed within the metal roll by the pair of end caps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.