Lexmark International, Inc.

Gregory Daniel Creteau

Jerry Wayne Smith

Donald Eugene Proffitt

Edward Alan Rush

Karen Elaine Ballman

Patrick Wayne Carr, Jr

Edward Lynn Triplett

Michael David Maul

James Douglas Gilmore

Clark Edward Jarnagin

Larry Steven Foster

Niko Jay Murrell

Richard Gordon Boyatt, Iii

Scott Shiaoshin Wu

Katherine Mary Mulloy

Miranda Elizabeth Oaks

Christopher Hayden Noffsinger

David Erwin Rannick

Hnshikesh Pramod Gogate

An imaging device having a fuser and print engine architecture that enables complete interchangeability between fuser types with a common print engine. The imaging device has a frame configured to separately receive a first fuser assembly of a first fuser type and a second fuser assembly of a second fuser type different from the first fuser type. The first fuser assembly includes a first fuser frame having a first datum tab. The second fuser assembly includes a second fuser frame having a second datum tab. The frame of the imaging device has a datum aperture that is sized to receive the first datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the first fuser assembly to be positioned at a first operative position, and the second datum tab that when inserted into the datum aperture, causes the second fuser assembly to be positioned at a second operative position.

Fuser architecture for enabling interchangeability in an imaging device

A common media redrive system for use with either a hot roll fuser assembly and a belt roll fuser assembly installed an imaging device. The redrive systems includes an access door movable between a raised closed and a lowered open position. The access door has a media path channel and a deflector mounted over the channel. The deflector has a pivotable gate and includes upper and lower media guide members forming a media entrance and two exits for directing a media sheet from the fuser assembly exits to an output area and duplex path portion, respectively, via the gate and the first and second exits, respectively. A pair of media exit guide portions cantilever from the rear portion of the fuser assembly. The lower media guide members includes a pair of cutouts that receive the pair of media exit guide portions when the access door is in the closed position.

Common media redrive system for both belt and hot roll fuser assemblies in an imaging device

An imaging device includes a frame plate having an opening and first and second camming profiles about the opening. A removable fuser assembly includes a housing having front and back plates, a mounting shaft extending from the front plate to the back plate of the housing, a pin member on a first end of the mounting shaft having a pair of segments engaging with the first and second camming profiles on the frame plate, and a handle on a second end of the mounting shaft pivotable at a predetermined angle and moving the mounting shaft therewith. Pivoting the handle in a first direction causes the segments to travel along the camming profiles, locking the fuser assembly onto the imaging device. Pivoting the handle in a second direction causes the segments to align with the opening and the fuser assembly to be unlocked with the imaging device allowing removal thereof.

Positive locking mechanism for a removable fuser

An image-forming device includes a belt based fuser for fixing an image to a media substrate. The fuser includes a heater having a base component with at least one heating element disposed thereon. The heater further includes a covering layer covering the at least one heating element providing a substantially even surface to abut a belt. Unevenness, which may be present on the substantially even surface, has a height, defined by a base and a peak, of less than about 10 &#x3bc;m. A process for producing the heater is also disclosed. The process includes disposing one or more heating elements on a base component of the heater, covering the heating elements of the fuser heater with a covering layer and providing a substantially even outer surface to abut a fuser belt.

Flat heater for electrophotographic belt fusing systems, and methods of making same

A fuser has a protuberance extruding lengthwise from the surface of a heater opposite the interior surface of an endless belt and is positioned in transverse relationship to the interior surface of the endless belt. A pressure roller defines a nip with the endless belt wherein the nip has an entrance side and an exit side and wherein the position of the protuberance adjacent to the nip creates pressure upon the endless belt. The print media sheet is driven through the nip in reaction to the pressure applied by the pressure roller to the belt. The position of the protuberance and the pressure created upon the endless belt directs the lubricant from the endless belt surface to the nip.

Belt fuser having a protuberance for an imaging device

A fuser assembly including a heater assembly that includes a heater body, the heater body includes a substrate that extends across the fuser nip. A plurality of retention features are defined on a protective layer covering the surface of the substrate. The protective layer includes a first layer and a second layer, the second layer including a plurality of passages extending from an outer surface of the second layer to the first layer and dimensioned and positioned to allow a lubricant to pass through the second layer between the retention features and the outer surface of the second layer.

Lubricant retention features on heater body of a fuser

A fuser has a heater housing extending through an endless belt with end caps on the housing adjacent to opposite lateral sides of the belt. The end caps have inner flanges spaced radially outward from a center portion and radially inward from the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt so as to define clearance therebetween. Protuberances on the inner flanges of the end caps project toward opposite marginal edge portions of the belt and are circumferentially spaced apart to reduce belt skew relative to the end caps by either decreasing the surface area of contact of the inner flanges with the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt to reduced surface areas of contact of protuberances therewith or decreasing the radial height of the clearance between the inner flanges and opposite side edge portions of the belt to the reduced radial height between the latter and the protuberances.

Fuser with end caps having protuberances for reducing belt skew

A heater assembly includes a heater housing with strain relief features for wires associated with electronic components, such as a thermistor and/or thermal cut-off (TCO) device, coupled to a heating element. The heater assembly may be used in a fixing device or fuser in an image forming apparatus including, but not limited to, printers, copiers, faxes, multifunctional devices or all-in-one devices.

Heater assembly including housing with strain relief features

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an image heating apparatus is provided for fusing an unfixed toner image to a substrate including a housing base for supporting a heater, and a thin film or belt extending around the housing base and heater. The heater is held to the housing base by a fastener structure that may include a pair of retainer clips having opposing ends attached to the housing base and having a central portion extending across the heater for retaining the heater in position. The clips may include outwardly extending walls for engaging edges of the belt to maintain the lateral position of the belt.

Growing community of inventors

Winchester, KY, United States of America

Gregory Daniel Creteau