Patent ID: 8010017

Claim:
A fuser assembly comprising: first fuser structure comprising a heated rotatable member and first support structure for supporting said heated rotatable member; second fuser structure comprising a rotatable backup member positioned adjacent said heated rotatable member and second support structure for supporting said backup member, said rotatable backup member adapted to define a nip with said heated rotatable 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; at least one spring for engaging said nip-loading structure; a swing arm assembly; and nip release structure, said swing arm assembly being adapted 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 said nip release structure being positioned in a relaxed state, said nip-loading structure being 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 and said nip release structure being positioned in a relaxed state.