Mechanism for tracking the belt of a belt fuser
US5895153A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2032
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reproduction apparatus where a colorant image is formed on a receiver member, and the colorant image is fixed on the receiver member by a belt fusing apparatus for providing image gloss to such colorant image. The belt fusing apparatus includes a heated fuser roller, a pressure roller in nip relation with the fuser roller, a steering roller, and a fusing belt entrained about the fuser roller and the steering roller for movement in a predetermined direction about a closed loop path. A mechanism is provided for accurately controlling the tracking of the fusing belt. The fusing belt tracking control mechanism includes supports the steering roller for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and for casterred and gimbaled movement. Sensors detect the respective lateral edges of the fusing belt, the sensors producing control signals when the respective lateral edges are detected for effecting casterred movement of the steering roller. Accordingly, the fusing belt is continuously progressively moved in a cross-track direction between lateral limits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.