Fuser oil dispenser for an image forming apparatus
US6263182A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/2093
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus having a pair of fuser rollers for fusing toner onto the surface of recording sheets. The apparatus further includes an oil applicator mounted for dispensing oil onto at least one of the fuser rollers. The oil applicator includes a tank for holding oil, a pad disposed adjacent to one of the rollers for applying oil thereto, and an oil reservoir mounted adjacent the pad and connected to the tank for receiving oil therefrom. The oil reservoir includes an ejection port that permits oil within the reservoir to be dispensed to the pad. A flexible diaphragm extends over at least a portion of the oil reservoir, and a seal is secured to the diaphragm. At least one piezo element is secured to the diaphragm for moving the diaphragm and seal between two positions in response to the piezo element being selectively operable between engaged and non-engaged states. In one of the positions the seal effectively closes the oil reservoir ejection port, while in the other position the seal is spaced from the ejection port such that oil may flow from the oil reservoir through the ejection port and to the pad.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.