The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2003
Eric Unger Eskey, Meridian, ID (US);
Eric Unger Eskey, Meridian, ID (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A apparatus and method for fusing toner to media in a laser imaging device. A paraboloidal trough reflector is positioned about a linear heating element to focus and concentrate radiant energy emitted from the heating element onto a thermal spreader. The thermal spreader absorbs the radiant energy and converts it to heat. A thermoplastic fusing roller is rotatably supported about the bulb heater, the reflector and the thermal spreader. A pressure roller is supported to urge media against the fusing roller at the position of the thermal spreader. Fusing heat is conducted from the thermal spreader, through the fusing roller and to the media. The pressure roller is driven to rotate, thereby advancing the media through the fusing unit to fuse the toner thereto. Additionally, the present teachings disclose a printing device having a fusing unit with a bulb heater that emits user non-perceivable light. A mechanism is included for conveying light from the bulb heater to a location within the printing device. Also, a component positioned to receive the light and to utilize the light for illumination thereof in a user perceivable manner.