Abstract: A fuser assembly, including a heat transfer member; a backup member disposed adjacent the heat transfer member so as to form a fuser nip; a frame in which the heat transfer member and the backup member are at least partly disposed; and a cover member pivotably coupled to the frame so as to pivot between a closed position and an open position, the cover member in the open position providing an opening for accessing and withdrawing a sheet of media disposed in the fuser assembly. A latch mechanism selectively latches the cover member to the frame and including a lever member disposed relative to an outer surface of the cover member such that movement of the lever member by a single hand of a user unlatches the cover member from the frame for moving the cover member to the open position.

Abstract: A media path assembly in an imaging device includes a media guide positioned adjacent and transverse to a media path between a first and a second nip, and having a surface forming a bubble chamber across the media path. A bubble sensor and a narrow media sensor are positioned adjacent to the bubble chamber transverse to the media path and aligned with each other. The bubble sensor is operative to indicate formation in the bubble chamber of a bubble in a media sheet exiting the first nip. The narrow media sensor is operative to indicate media size of the media sheet and, when the media sheet is wide media, provide a balancing force to the media sheet relative to a force applied by the bubble sensor to the media sheet so that a leading edge of the media sheet substantially aligns with the second nip when entering the second nip.

Abstract: A fuser assembly, including a heat transfer member; a backup member disposed adjacent the heat transfer member so as to form a fuser nip; a frame in which the heat transfer member and the backup member are at least partly disposed; and a cover member pivotably coupled to the frame so as to pivot between a closed position and an open position, the cover member in the open position providing an opening for accessing and withdrawing a sheet of media disposed in the fuser assembly. A latch mechanism selectively latches the cover member to the frame and including a lever member disposed relative to an outer surface of the cover member such that movement of the lever member by a single hand of a user unlatches the cover member from the frame for moving the cover member to the open position.

Abstract: An imaging device, including a locking assembly connected to the frame of the imaging device and selectively engaged with the fuser assembly thereof when the fuser assembly is mounted to the frame. The locking assembly includes a lock member slidingly coupled to the frame between a first position in which the lock member engages with the fuser assembly for locking the fuser assembly to the frame and a second position in which the lock member is disengaged from the fuser assembly to allow the fuser assembly to be disconnected and removed from the frame. A lever mechanism is movably coupled to the frame and coupled to the lock member, wherein actuation of the lever mechanism moves the lock member between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a media path extending through the image-forming device, and at least one image transfer nip positioned along the media path. An electrode is positioned subsequent to the nip with respect to the media path and is coupled to a voltage source. An electric field produced by the electrode and voltage source limits the degree of post-nip toner scattering by applying an electrostatic force to toner particles on media sheets passing along the media path. The image-forming device further includes a processor for monitoring a plurality of ambient conditions, for adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode, and optionally, for repositioning the electrode with respect to the media path.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a media path extending through the image-forming device, and at least one image transfer nip positioned along the media path. An electrode is positioned subsequent to the nip with respect to the media path and is coupled to a voltage source. An electric field produced by the electrode and voltage source limits the degree of post-nip toner scattering by applying an electrostatic force to toner particles on media sheets passing along the media path. The image-forming device further includes a processor for monitoring a plurality of ambient conditions, for adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode, and optionally, for repositioning the electrode with respect to the media path.

Abstract: An assembly for limiting axial motion of a shaft, such as a roller, in an imaging apparatus having a frame, a drive system including a helical drive gear, a shaft supported by the frame and a driven helical gear attached to the shaft and positioned to engage the helical drive gear, wherein driving the driven helical gear in a first rotational direction results in an axial thrust of the shaft in a first axial direction. The assembly includes a thrust member which has an engagement end and a mounting end. The engagement end has a first cross-sectional dimension and the mounting end has a second cross-sectional dimension that is larger than the first cross-sectional dimension. The thrust member is positioned to be co-axial with the shaft and is coupled to at least one of the shaft and the driven helical gear. A thrust bracket is mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A printhead carrier assembly in an ink jet printer includes a carrier moving along a linear path. At least one rotatable bearing is attached to the carrier. The at least one rotatable bearing has at least one axis of rotation. A rotatable shaft has a surface in contact with the at least one bearing such that the shaft is nonparallel to the at least one axis of rotation of the at least one rotatable bearing. The shaft is substantially parallel to the linear path of the carrier. Rotation of the shaft causes the at least one rotatable bearing to roll along a helical path on the surface of the shaft to thereby carry the carrier along the linear path.