Patent ID: 9310728
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A fuser assembly for fusing toner to sheets of media, comprising: a housing; a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; and a heat transfer device for selectively 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 heat transfer device, wherein when the heat transfer device contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member, the heat transfer device transfers heat from one location on the one of the backup roll and the heating member to a second location thereon; a positioning mechanism coupling the heat transfer device to the housing, the positioning mechanism moving the heat transfer device between a first position in which the heat transfer device is engaged with and contacts the one of the backup roll and the heating member and a second position in which the heat transfer device is disengaged and spaced apart therefrom; and a latch mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for selectively maintaining the heat transfer device at a spaced distance from the one of the backup roll and the heating member, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a crossbar member to which the heat transfer device is coupled, the crossbar member including an aperture, and the latch mechanism comprises a first member having a sloped surface which contacts a portion of the crossbar member surrounding the aperture during initial engagement therewith and a second surface which contacts the portion of the crossbar member when the heat transfer device is latched by the latch mechanism, the first member rotating relative to the housing during at least one of the initial engagement with the crossbar member and release thereof from being latched.