Patent ID: 7796932

Claim:
A fuser assembly comprising: first fuser structure comprising a heated rotatable member and first structure for supporting said heated rotatable member; second fuser structure comprising a rotatable backup member positioned adjacent said heated rotatable member and second structure for supporting said backup member, said rotatable backup member adapted to define a nip with said heated member; drive apparatus associated with one of said heated rotatable member and said backup member for effecting rotation of said one member in a selected first direction or a second direction; and nip engagement and release apparatus comprising nip-loading structure adapted to apply a sufficient force to one of said first and second support structures to achieve a desired nip load in response to said one member rotating in said first direction and decreasing said force to said one support structure to decrease the load at said nip in response to said one member rotating in said second direction, said nip engagement and release apparatus applying and decreasing said force without the use of a sensor feedback loop for determining positions of said first fuser structure, said second fuser structure and said drive apparatus, wherein said nip engagement and release apparatus further comprises: at least one spring for engaging said nip-loading structure; a swing arm assembly operable to pivot to a first position in response to said one member rotating in said first direction and to a second position in response to said one member rotating in said second direction; and a cam assembly coupled to said swing arm assembly and said drive apparatus, including at least one cam element for positioning said nip-loading structure to apply said sufficient force to said one support structure in response to said one member rotating in said first direction, and for positioning said nip-loading structure to decrease the force applied to said one support structure in response to said one member rotating in said second direction, said cam assembly being engaged with said swing arm assembly when said swing arm assembly is in said first position and said second position.