Printer

Claim 2

A printer comprising: a first rotatable drum; a second rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the first rotatable drum, and movable along a given path of travel; a third rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the second rotatable drum; and an electronic image forming assembly mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum, and wherein the first and third rotatable drums are fixed.

Claim 3

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and third rotatable drums are fixed, and the second rotatable drum is movable along the given course of travel from a first, operational position where it operatively engages the first and third rotatable drums, to a second, non-operational position where it is disposed in spaced relation relative to the first rotatable drum, and wherein the second rotatable drum, when in the first operational position, exerts pressure of a given amount on the first and third rotatable drums.

Claim 4

A printer as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the first rotatable drum, the media engagement assembly moving a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the first rotatable roller.

Claim 5

A printer as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising a heater disposed in heat transferring relation relative the media engagement assembly.

Claim 6

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cleaning drum is mounted operatively adjacent the second rotatable roller, the cleaning drum movable along a given course of travel from a first, operational position, where it is disposed in contact with the second rotatable drum, to a second position, where it is spaced therefrom.

Claim 7

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rotatable drum comprises a pressure drum, the second rotatable drum comprises a fusing drum, and the third rotatable drum comprises an image drum.

Claim 8

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a toner dispensing assembly is mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum.

Claim 9

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rotatable drum comprises a pressure drum, and wherein a media engagement assembly is positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum to move a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the pressure drum, the media being received between the pressure drum and the second rotatable drum, and wherein the pressure drum and second rotatable drum are maintained at predetermined temperatures.

Claim 10

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second rotatable drum comprises a fusing drum, and wherein a heater is positioned in heat transferring relation relative to the fusing drum.

Claim 11

A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second rotatable drum comprises a fusing drum and the third rotatable drum is an image drum, and wherein the image drum and the fusing drum have a surface energy which is substantially equal.

Claim 12

A printer as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a frame for supporting the respective rotatable drums in predetermined operational relation one to the others, and wherein an articulation assembly is borne by the frame and which imparts movement to the second rotatable drum along the path of travel.

Claim 13

A printer comprising: a first rotatable drum; a second rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the first rotatable drum, and movable along a given path of travel; a third rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the second rotatable drum; a frame for supporting the respective rotatable drums in predetermined operational relation one to the others; an electronic image forming assembly mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum; and an articulation assembly borne by the frame and which imparts movement to the second rotatable drum along the path of travel, and wherein the articulation assembly pivots about first and second pivot points, and wherein the articulation assembly when pivoting about the first pivot point defines a plurality of operating positions, and wherein the articulation assembly when pivoting about the second pivot point moves along a path of travel.

Claim 14

A printer comprising: a first rotatable drum; a second rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the first rotatable drum, and movable along a given path of travel; a third rotatable drum positioned operatively adjacent the second rotatable drum; a frame for supporting the respective rotatable drums in predetermined operational relation one to the others; an electronic image forming assembly mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum; and an articulation assembly borne by the frame and which imparts movement to the second rotatable drum along the path of travel, and wherein the articulation assembly pivots about first and second pivot points, and wherein the articulation assembly when pivoting about the first pivot point defines a plurality of operating positions, and wherein the articulation assembly when pivoting about the second pivot point moves along a path of travel.

Claim 15

A printer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first rotatable drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 90° C.

Claim 16

A printer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second rotatable drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 140° C.

Claim 17

A printer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third rotatable drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 70° C.

Claim 18

A printer as claimed in claim 12, wherein a temperature sensor is mounted in heat sensing relation relative to the second and third rotatable drums.

Claim 19

A printer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted in spaced relation relative to the second and third rotatable drums.

Claim 20

A printer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor is enclosed in a heat sink, the temperature of the heat sensor being maintained at a temperature of at least about 50 to about 60° C.

Claim 21

A printer as claimed in claim 12, and further comprising a controller assembly which controls the operational speed of the printer.

Claim 22

A printer as claimed in claim 12, and further comprising a toner dispensing assembly which is positioned adjacent the third rotatable drum, and wherein the toner dispensing assembly has intake and exhaust end, and wherein the exhaust end includes a vibration assembly for imparting vibratory motion to the toner received at the exhaust end.

Claim 23

A printer as claimed in claim 12, and further comprising: a first rotatable exhaust drum positioned in spaced relation relative to the first rotatable drum; and a second rotatable exhaust drum positioned in spaced relation relative to the first rotatable drum and operatively adjacent the first rotatable exhaust drum, the second rotatable exhaust drum movable along a given path of travel.

Claim 24

A printer comprising: a frame; a first rotatable drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable drum borne by the frame and moveable along a given course of travel from a first position where it is in contact with the first rotatable drum, to a second position, where it is positioned in spaced relation relative thereto; a third rotatable drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the second rotatable drum; an electronic image forming assembly borne by the frame and mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum; and an articulation assembly borne by the frame and moveable along a given course of travel to define various operational conditions of the printer.

Claim 25

A printer comprising: a frame; a first rotatable drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable drum borne by the frame and moveable along a given course of travel from a first position where it is in contact with the first rotatable drum, to a second position, where it is positioned in spaced relation relative thereto; a third rotatable drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the second rotatable drum; an electronic image forming assembly borne by the frame and mounted operatively adjacent the third rotatable drum; and an articulation assembly borne by the frame and moveable along a given course of travel to define various operational conditions of the printer.

Claim 26

A printer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first rotatable drum comprises a pressure drum, the second rotatable drum comprises a fusing drum, and the third rotatable drum comprises an image drum.

Claim 27

A printer as claimed in claim 23, and further comprising: a cleaning drum borne by the articulation assembly; a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; and a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the articulation assembly.

Claim 28

A printer as claimed in claim 24, wherein the course of travel of the articulation assembly comprises a first position wherein the first and second exhaust drums are disposed in force transmitting relation, one to the other, and the cleaning drum is disposed in contact with the fusing drum, a second position wherein the fusing and pressure drums are moved out of contact, one with the other, and the cleaning drum is moved out of contact with the fusing drum; and a third position wherein the fusing drum may be removed from the frame.

Claim 29

A printer as claimed in claim 25, wherein the frame further comprises a moveable lifting member which supports the fusing drum, the moveable lifting member cooperating with the articulation assembly as it moves along its respective path of travel, the lifting member supporting the second rotatable drum.

Claim 30

A printer as claimed in claim 26, wherein the moveable lifting member urges the fusing drum out of contact with the pressure drum as the articulation assembly moves along its respective course of travel.

Claim 31

A printer as claimed in claim 23, and further comprising a media engagement assembly positioned in feeding relation relative to the first rotatable drum, the media engagement assembly moving a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the first rotatable drum.

Claim 32

A printer as claimed in claim 28, and further comprising a heater disposed in heat transferring relation relative the media engagement assembly.

Claim 33

A printer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the third rotatable drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 70° C.

Claim 34

A printer as claimed in claim 22, wherein a temperature sensor is mounted in heat sensing relation relative to the second and third rotatable drums.

Claim 35

A printer as claimed in claim 31, wherein the temperature sensors are mounted in spaced relation relative to the second and third rotatable drums.

Claim 36

A printer as claimed in claim 31, wherein the temperature sensor is enclosed in a heat sink, the temperature of the heat sensor being maintained at a temperature of at least about 50 to about 60° C.

Claim 37

A printer as claimed in claim 22, and further comprising a controller assembly which controls the speed of operation of the printer.

Claim 38

A printer as claimed in claim 22, and further comprising a toner dispensing assembly which is positioned adjacent the third rotatable drum, and wherein the toner dispensing assembly has intake and exhaust ends, and wherein the exhaust end includes a vibration assembly for imparting vibratory motion to the toner which is received at the exhaust end.

Claim 39

A printer as claimed in claim 24, and further comprising a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the first rotatable drum, the media engagement assembly moving a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the first rotatable drum; and a heater disposed in heat transferring relation relative the media engagement assembly, and wherein the heater further includes shutters which are moveable along a given course of travel.

Claim 40

A printer as claimed in claim 36, wherein the articulation assembly comprises: a housing pivotally borne by the frame, and moveable along a given course of travel; a crank borne by the frame; a first crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the housing; and means for imparting predetermined rotational movement to the crank.

Claim 41

A printer as claimed in claim 37, wherein the housing mounts the cleaning drum and the second exhaust drum.

Claim 42

A printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the cleaning drum and the second exhaust drum are biased in a given direction.

Claim 43

A printer as claimed in claim 38, wherein the housing mounts a drum engagement member which forcibly engages the fusing drum.

Claim 44

A printer as claimed in claim 37, wherein the frame has an elongated channel formed therein which receives a portion of the housing, and wherein the first crank arm imparts force to the housing thereby moving the housing along the channel.

Claim 45

A printer as claimed in claim 41, wherein the elongated channel has opposite first and second ends, and an intermediate portion, and wherein the first crank arm moves the housing along the channel between the first and second ends thereof.

Claim 46

A printer as claimed in claim 42, wherein the housing, when moving along the channel between the first and second ends thereof, defines given operational conditions of the printer, and wherein the housing, when positioned at the first end of the channel defines a printing condition, and wherein the housing when disposed in the intermediate portion of the channel defines a cleaning condition, and wherein the housing when positioned at the second end of the housing defines a non-printing condition.

Claim 47

A printer as claimed in claim 43, wherein in the printing condition the first, second, and third rotatable drums are in contact with each other, the first and second exhaust drums are in contact with each other, and the cleaning drum is in contact with the second rotatable drum.

Claim 48

A printer as claimed in claim 44, wherein in the cleaning condition the first and second exhaust drums remain in force engaging contact, one with the other.

Claim 49

A printer as claimed in claim 45, wherein in the non-printing condition the second rotatable drum is spaced from the first rotatable drum, the second exhaust drum is spaced from the first exhaust drum and the cleaning drum is spaced from the second rotatable drum, and wherein the housing is moveable along a given path of travel to a position which permits removal of the second rotatable drum.

Claim 50

A printer as claimed in claim 46, wherein the articulation assembly comprises a second crank arm which is borne by the crank and which is disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the shutters.

Claim 51

A printer as claimed in claim 47, wherein the second crank arm positions the shutters in an open position when the printer is in the printing condition, and a closed condition when the printer is in the non-printing condition, the shutters when disposed in the closed condition impairing the transmission of heat from the heater.

Claim 52

A printer as claimed in claim 48, wherein the first and second crank arms are spring biased.

Claim 53

A printer comprising: a frame; a moveable lifting member borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum; an articulation assembly pivotally borne by the frame and moveable along a course of travel, the lifting arm engaging the articulation assembly, and wherein movement of the articulation assembly imparts movement to the lifting arm, the lifting arm carrying the fusing drum along a given course of travel, into and out of contact with the pressure drum; and an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum.

Claim 54

A printer comprising: a frame; a moveable lifting member borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum; an articulation assembly pivotally borne by the frame and moveable along a course of travel, the lifting arm engaging the articulation assembly, and wherein movement of the articulation assembly imparts movement to the lifting arm, the lifting arm carrying the fusing drum along a given course of travel, into and out of contact with the pressure drum; and an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum.

Claim 55

A printer as claimed in claim 50, wherein the lifting member has a main body having opposite first and second ends, and wherein the first end is pivotally secured on the frame, and the second end engages the articulation assembly and is moveable along an arcuately shaped path of travel.

Claim 56

A printer as claimed in claim 51, and wherein the articulation assembly further comprises: a housing movably borne by the frame; a crank borne by the housing; a motor disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the crank; and a first crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the housing.

Claim 57

A printer as claimed in claim 52, wherein the frame has an elongated channel formed therein and which has opposite first and second ends, and wherein the housing is slidably received in the channel and is reciprocally moveable therealong between the first and second ends when force is imparted to the housing by the first crank arm, and wherein movement of the housing from the first to the second end defines various operational conditions of the printer.

Claim 58

A printer as claimed in claim 53, and further comprising: a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the housing; and a cleaning drum borne by the housing.

Claim 59

A printer as claimed in claim 54, wherein the operational conditions of the printer include first, second and third conditions, and wherein in the first condition the housing is positioned at the first end of the elongated channel, and wherein in the second operational condition the housing is disposed intermediate the first and second ends of the elongated channel, and wherein in the third operational condition the housing is disposed at the second end of the elongated channel.

Claim 60

A printer as claimed in claim 55, wherein in the first operational condition the fusing drum is in contact with the pressure drum and the image drum, the first and second exhaust drums are in contact, one with the other, and the cleaning drum is in contact with the fusing drum, and wherein in the third operational condition the fusing drum is disposed in spaced relation relative to the pressure drum, the cleaning drum is disposed in spaced relation relative to the fusing drum, and the second exhaust drum is disposed in spaced relation relative to the first exhaust drum.

Claim 61

A printer as claimed in claim 56, and further comprising: a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum; heater assemblies individually disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the media engagement assembly and the rotatable fusing drum; and a shutter borne by the heater engagement assembly, the shutter moveable to given orientations relative to the heater assembly to impede the transmission of heat to the media engagement assembly.

Claim 62

A printer as claimed in claim 57, and further comprising a second crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the shutter, the shutter moveable between a first, open orientation, and a second closed orientation.

Claim 63

A printer as claimed in claim 58, wherein in the first operational condition the second crank arm imparts force to the shutter to position it in the open orientation relative to the heater assembly, and wherein in the open orientation, heat is imparted to the media engagement assembly, and wherein in the third operational condition the second crank arm imparts force to the shutter to position it into the closed orientation, and wherein in the closed orientation the shutter substantially impedes the transmission of heat from the heater assembly to the media engagement assembly.

Claim 64

A printer comprising: a frame; a moveable lifting member borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame and which is maintained at a first given temperature; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm and which is maintained at a second given temperature; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum, the image drum maintained at a third given temperature; an articulation assembly pivotally borne by the frame and moveable along a course of travel, the lifting member engaging the articulation assembly, and wherein movement of the articulation assembly imparts movement to the lifting member, the lifting member carrying the fusing drum along a given course of travel into and out of contact with the pressure drum, the movement of the articulation assembly defining various operational conditions of the printer; a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the articulation assembly; an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum; a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum and moving a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the pressure drum; a first heater assembly mounted in heat transferring relation relative to the rotatable fusing drum; a second heater assembly disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the media engagement assembly; and a toner dispensing assembly mounted adjacent to the image drum.

Claim 65

A printer comprising: a frame; a moveable lifting member borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame and which is maintained at a first given temperature; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm and which is maintained at a second given temperature; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum, the image drum maintained at a third given temperature; an articulation assembly pivotally borne by the frame and moveable along a course of travel, the lifting member engaging the articulation assembly, and wherein movement of the articulation assembly imparts movement to the lifting member, the lifting member carrying the fusing drum along a given course of travel into and out of contact with the pressure drum, the movement of the articulation assembly defining various operational conditions of the printer; a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the articulation assembly; an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum; a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum and moving a given media in an appropriate direction relative to the pressure drum; a first heater assembly mounted in heat transferring relation relative to the rotatable fusing drum; a second heater assembly disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the media engagement assembly; and a toner dispensing assembly mounted adjacent to the image drum.

Claim 66

A printer as claimed in claim 60, and further comprising a rotatable cleaning drum movably borne by the articulation assembly and positioned in contact with the fusing drum.

Claim 67

A printer as claimed in claim 61, wherein the pressure drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 90° C.

Claim 68

A printer as claimed in claim 62, wherein the fusing drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 140° C.

Claim 69

A printer as claimed in claim 63, wherein the image drum is maintained at a temperature of less than about 70° C., and wherein the image drum and the fusing drum have a surface energy which is substantially equal.

Claim 70

A printer as claimed in claim 64, wherein individual temperature sensors are mounted in spaced relation relative to the image drum and the fusing drum, each of the temperature sensors being enclosed within a heat sink which maintains the respective temperature sensor at a temperature of about 50 to about 60° C.

Claim 71

A printer as claimed in claim 65, wherein the articulation assembly comprises: a housing pivotally borne by the frame, and moveable along a given course of travel; a crank borne by the frame; a first crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the housing; and means for imparting predetermined rotational movement to the crank.

Claim 72

A printer as claimed in claim 66, wherein the frame has an elongated channel formed therein which receives the housing, the elongated channel having opposite first and second ends and an intermediate portion, and wherein the first crank arm moves the housing along the channel between the first and second ends.

Claim 73

A printer as claimed in claim 67, wherein the housing, when moving along the channel between the first and second ends thereof defines given operational conditions of the printer, and wherein the housing, when positioned at the first end of the channel defines a printing condition, and wherein the housing when disposed in the intermediate portion of the channel defines a cleaning condition, and wherein the housing when positioned at the second end of the housing defines a non-printing condition.

Claim 74

A printer as claimed in claim 68, wherein in the printing condition the fusing drum remains in contact with the pressure and image drums, the first and second exhaust drums are in contact with each other, and the cleaning drum is in contact with the fusing drum.

Claim 75

A printer as claimed in claim 69, wherein in the non-printing condition the fusing drum is spaced from the pressure drum, the second exhaust drum is spaced from the first exhaust drum, and the cleaning drum is spaced from the fusing drum, and wherein the housing is moveable along a given path of travel to a position which permits removal of the fusing drum.

Claim 76

A printer as claimed in claim 70, wherein the second heater assembly further comprises a moveable shutter, and wherein the articulation assembly comprises a second crank arm which is borne by the crank and which is disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the shutter.

Claim 77

A printer as claimed in claim 71, wherein the second crank arm positions the shutter in an open position when the printer is in the printing condition, and a closed condition when the printer is in the non-printing condition, the shutter when disposed in the closed condition impairing the transmission of heat energy from the heater.

Claim 78

A printer as claimed in claim 72, wherein the toner dispensing assembly has an intake and an exhaust end, and wherein the exhaust end includes a vibration assembly for imparting vibratory motion to the toner received at the exhaust end.

Claim 79

A printer comprising: a frame having a channel formed therein; a moveable lifting arm borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum; a housing received in the channel and moveable therealong to define various operational conditions of the printer, and wherein the lifting arm engages the housing, and wherein movement of the housing along the channel causes the lifting arm to carry the rotatable fusing drum into and out of contact with the pressure drum; a crank borne by the frame; a motor disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the crank; a first crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the housing; a second crank arm borne by the crank; a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the housing; an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum; a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum; a first heater assembly disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the rotatable fusing drum; a second heater assembly having a shutter, and which is disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the media engagement assembly and wherein the second crank arm is disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the shutter; and a toner dispensing assembly mounted adjacent to the image drum.

Claim 80

A printer comprising: a frame having a channel formed therein; a moveable lifting arm borne by the frame; a rotatable pressure drum borne by the frame; a rotatable fusing drum borne by the lifting arm; a rotatable image drum borne by the frame and positioned in contact with the fusing drum; a housing received in the channel and moveable therealong to define various operational conditions of the printer, and wherein the lifting arm engages the housing, and wherein movement of the housing along the channel causes the lifting arm to carry the rotatable fusing drum into and out of contact with the pressure drum; a crank borne by the frame; a motor disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the crank; a first crank arm borne by the crank and disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the housing; a second crank arm borne by the crank; a first rotatable exhaust drum borne by the frame; a second rotatable exhaust drum borne by the housing; an image forming assembly borne by the frame and oriented adjacent to the image drum; a media engagement assembly positioned operatively adjacent the pressure drum; a first heater assembly disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the rotatable fusing drum; a second heater assembly having a shutter, and which is disposed in heat transferring relation relative to the media engagement assembly and wherein the second crank arm is disposed in force transmitting relation relative to the shutter; and a toner dispensing assembly mounted adjacent to the image drum.