IP Library Granted Patent US 9,360,820
Granted Patent B2
US 9,360,820 · App. 14/522,115 · Granted Jun 7, 2016

Single blower providing cooling and air knife

Inventors: Christopher Pearce (Stevenage, GB); Christopher Francois David Watts (St. Albans, GB); Simon Neil Jowett (St. Albans, GB)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
G03G15/657G03G21/206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,360,820
App. No.
14/522,115
Granted
Jun 7, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Printing apparatuses include, among other components, a media path transporting sheets of print media in a process direction. A transfer station is located at a first location of the media path, and a fusing station is located at a second location of the media path (the second location is closer to the end of the media path (in the process direction) relative to the first location). Also, a single blower is located adjacent the fusing station, and two outlets receive air from the single blower. A first outlet (of the two outlets) provides air to the transfer station to reduce the temperature of the transfer station, and a second outlet (of the two outlets) is located between the transfer station and the fusing station and directs the sheets of print media toward one side of the media path.

Claims (49)

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a transfer nip;

a fusing nip located adjacent said transfer nip;

a single blower located adjacent said fusing nip; and

two outlets receiving air from said single blower,

a first outlet of said two outlets providing air to said transfer nip to reduce a temperature of said transfer nip, and

a second outlet of said two outlets selectively directing only identified types of sheets of print media that are approaching said fusing nip toward one side of a media path,

said first outlet providing air to reduce said temperature of said transfer nip while said second outlet simultaneously selectively directs said sheets of print media.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a valve located between said single blower and said second outlet.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a processor operatively connected to said valve, said processor controlling said valve to cause said second outlet to selectively direct only said identified types of said sheets of print media toward said one side.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , said second outlet comprising an air knife.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising ducting connected to said single blower, said first outlet and said second outlet being within said ducting.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

said transfer nip and said fusing nip being separated by a distance that is less than a length of said sheets of print media,

said transfer nip and said fusing nip operating at different sheet feeding speeds to form a buckle in said sheets of print media, and

said second outlet directing said sheets of media in a position to properly form said buckle.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , said transfer nip being heated during printing operations, and said first outlet cooling said transfer nip to dissipate heat.

8. A printing apparatus comprising:

a transfer nip;

a fusing nip located adjacent said transfer nip;

a single blower located adjacent said fusing nip; and

two outlets receiving air from said single blower,

a first outlet of said two outlets providing air to said transfer nip to reduce a temperature of said transfer nip, and

a second outlet of said two outlets being located between said transfer nip and said fusing nip and selectively directing only identified types of sheets of print media toward one side of a media path,

said first outlet providing air to reduce said temperature of said transfer nip while said second outlet simultaneously selectively directs said sheets of print media.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a valve located between said single blower and said second outlet.

10. The printing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a processor operatively connected to said valve, said processor controlling said valve to cause said second outlet to selectively direct only said identified types of said sheets of print media toward said one side.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , said second outlet comprising an air knife.

12. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising ducting connected to said single blower, said first outlet and said second outlet being within said ducting.

13. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , said transfer nip and said fusing nip being separated by a distance that is less than a length of said sheets of print media,

said transfer nip and said fusing nip operating at different sheet feeding speeds to form a buckle in said sheets of print media, and

said second outlet directing said sheets of media in a position to properly form said buckle.

14. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , said transfer nip being heated during printing operations, and said first outlet cooling said transfer nip to dissipate heat.

15. A printing apparatus comprising:

a media path transporting sheets of print media in a process direction having an end;

a transfer nip located at a first location of said media path;

a fusing nip located at a second location of said media path, said second location being closer to said end in said process direction relative to said first location;

a single blower located adjacent said fusing nip; and

two outlets receiving air from said single blower,

a first outlet of said two outlets providing air to said transfer nip to reduce a temperature of said transfer nip, and

a second outlet of said two outlets being located between said transfer nip and said fusing nip and selectively directing only identified types of said sheets of print media toward one side of said media path,

said first outlet providing air to reduce said temperature of said transfer nip while said second outlet simultaneously selectively directs said sheets of print media.

16. The printing apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a valve located between said single blower and said second outlet.

17. The printing apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a processor operatively connected to said valve, said processor controlling said valve to cause said second outlet to selectively direct only said identified types of said sheets of print media toward said one side.

18. The printing apparatus according to claim 15 , said second outlet comprising an air knife.

19. The printing apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising ducting connected to said single blower, said first outlet and said second outlet being within said ducting.

20. The printing apparatus according to claim 15 , said transfer nip and said fusing nip being separated by a distance that is less than a length of said sheets of print media,

said transfer nip and said fusing nip operating at different sheet feeding speeds to form a buckle in said sheets of print media, and

said second outlet directing said sheets of media in a position to properly form said buckle.

Assignments (9)
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 064760/0389 Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068261/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064760/0389 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 062740/0214 Recorded May 18, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063694/0122 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062740/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2014
From: PEARCE, CHRISTOPHER; WATTS, CHRISTOPHER FRANCOIS DAVID; JOWETT, SIMON NEIL
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034021/0707 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160116885A1 · Apr 28, 2016