Apparatus and method for applying a load to a fusing nip in a printing machine fuser
This invention relates in general to fuser for a reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to an adjustable loading mechanism for a printing machine fuser. According to various aspects of the invention, apparatus and methods for loading a printing machine fuser are provided. A loading force for a pressure member and a fuser member may be generated by deflecting a spring relative to a spring support that restrains an end of the spring, the spring support being mounted to an arm body, the arm body comprising a pivot axis and a loading mount acting on one of the pressure member and the fuser member. The loading force may be adjusted by displacing the spring support to adjust a deflection of the spring.
1 . A load arm for a printing machine fuser, comprising:
an arm body having a pivot axis;
a loading mount for one of a pressure member and a fuser member;
a spring that generates a loading force for the pressure member and the fuser member through a spring deflection; and
a spring support that restrains an end of the spring, the spring support being mounted to the arm body and displaceable to adjust the deflection.
2 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support being displaceable from one fixed position to another.
3 . The load arm of claim 1 , comprising a cam follower that acts on another end of the spring and mounted to the arm body.
4 . The load arm of claim 1 , the load arm comprising a cavity, the spring and the spring support being received within the cavity.
5 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and being displaceable by rotating the threaded shaft.
6 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and being displaceable by rotating the threaded shaft, the threaded shaft comprising a portion adapted for engagement with a tool that assists rotating the threaded shaft.
7 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and being displaceable by rotating the threaded shaft, the threaded shaft comprising an internal surface adapted for engagement with a tool that assists rotating the threaded shaft.
8 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and being displaceable by rotating the threaded shaft, and a lid press-fit onto the threaded shaft upon which the spring rests.
9 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and being displaceable by rotating the threaded shaft and comprising a mark that indicates rotation of the threaded shaft relative to a fixed mark associated with the load arm.
10 . The load arm of claim 1 , the spring support comprising a lever wherein the spring support is adjustable by rotating the lever.
11 . A method of loading a printing machine fuser, comprising:
generating a loading force for a pressure member and a fuser member by deflecting a spring relative to a spring support that restrains an end of the spring, the spring support being mounted to an arm body, the arm body comprising a pivot axis and a loading mount acting on one of the pressure member and the fuser member; and
adjusting the loading force by displacing the spring support to adjust a deflection of the spring.
12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising displacing the spring support from one fixed position to another.
13 . The method of claim 11 , comprising a cam follower that acts on another end of the spring and mounted to the arm body.
14 . The method of claim 11 , the load arm comprising a cavity, the spring and the spring support being received within the cavity.
15 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and displacing the spring support by rotating the threaded shaft.
16 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and displacing the spring support by rotating the threaded shaft, the threaded shaft comprising a portion adapted for engagement with a tool that assists rotating the threaded shaft.
17 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and displacing the spring support by rotating the threaded shaft, the threaded shaft comprising an internal surface adapted for engagement with a tool that assists rotating the threaded shaft.
18 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and displacing the spring support by rotating the threaded shaft, and a lid press-fit onto the threaded shaft upon which the spring rests.
19 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a threaded shaft received within the load arm and displacing the spring support by rotating the threaded shaft and comprising a mark that indicates rotation of the threaded shaft relative to a fixed mark associated with the load arm.
20 . The method of claim 11 , the spring support comprising a lever wherein the spring support and adjusting the spring support by rotating the lever.
21 . A method of loading a printing machine fuser, comprising:
generating a loading force for a pressure member and a fuser member by
(a) deflecting a first spring relative to a first spring support that restrains an end of the first spring, the first spring support being mounted to a first arm body, the first arm body comprising a first pivot axis and a first loading mount acting on one of the pressure member and the fuser member, and
(b) deflecting a second spring relative to a second spring support that restrains an end of the second spring, the second spring support being mounted to a second arm body, the second arm body comprising a second pivot axis and a second loading mount acting on one of the pressure member and the fuser member; and
adjusting the loading force by displacing the first spring support to adjust a deflection of the first spring, and by displacing the second spring support to adjust a deflection of the second spring.
22 . The method of claim 21 , the first spring support comprising a first threaded shaft received within the first load arm and a first mark that indicates rotation of the threaded shaft relative to a first fixed mark associated with the first load arm;
the second spring support comprising a second threaded shaft received within the second load arm and a second mark that indicates rotation of the threaded shaft relative to a second fixed mark associated with the second load arm;
displacing the first spring support by rotating the first threaded shaft; and
displacing the second spring support by rotating the second threaded shaft.