U.S. patent application number 09/752173 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for locking means for components mounted on support shafts.
Invention is credited to Ifkovits, Edward M., Janatka, Karel J..
Application Number | 20020084165 09/752173 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25025205 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020084165 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Janatka, Karel J. ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Locking means for components mounted on support shafts
Abstract
The present invention relates to locking and locating
cylindrical components or roller sleeve assemblies on a support
shaft. The locking feature is an anti-rotation device that prevents
rotation of the roller assembly or sleeve assembly on the support
shaft. The locking feature permits axial location of the component
or sleeve to a pre-determined position as desired. A pair of
over-running clutches or one-way clutches is used to facilitate the
feature. The clutches are assembled to a receiving bore in the
component or sleeve so that they are able to lock on the support
shaft in reverse directions, thereby preventing rotation of those
parts on the support shaft.
Inventors: |
Janatka, Karel J.;
(Southbury, CT) ; Ifkovits, Edward M.; (New
Fairfield, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Intellectual Property and
Technology Law Department
35 Waterview Drive, P.O. Box 3000
Shelton
CT
06484
US
|
Family ID: |
25025205 |
Appl. No.: |
09/752173 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
192/48.92 ;
188/82.84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 39/09 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
192/48.92 ;
188/82.84 |
International
Class: |
F16D 041/00; F16D
047/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft,
comprising; (a) a support shaft; (b) a roller sleeve carried upon
the support shaft, the roller sleeve having a cavity at each end
wherein each cavity is capable receiving a support element, and;
(c) a pair of support elements, each having rotatable locking
characteristics when engaged with the support shaft and a first
support element is permanently inserted into an end cavity at a
first end of the roller sleeve such that the first support element
locks on the support shaft in a first direction, and a second
support element is permanently inserted into an opposing end cavity
of the roller sleeve such that the second support element locks on
the support shaft in a second direction.
2. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 1 wherein each cavity is concentric to the
other.
3. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 1 wherein each of the support elements is an
over-running clutch.
4. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 1 wherein each of the support elements is a
one-way clutch.
5. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 1 wherein the cavity is an axial bore.
6. A method of preventing rotation of a component mounted upon a
support shaft, the method comprising: (a) supplying a support shaft
with a tapered end, (b) forming an axial bore or an axial cavity in
each end of the component, each axial bore or axial cavity being
concentric with the other; (c) inserting a first support element
into a first axial bore or axial cavity in the component wherein
the first support element locks on the support shaft in a first
direction; (d) inserting a second support element into a second
bore in the axis of the component wherein the second support
element is inserted into the second bore in a 180 degree
orientation with respect to the first support element wherein the
second support element is locked on the support shaft in a second
direction, and; (e) inserting the support shaft into the first and
second support elements, using the tapered end.
7. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft,
comprising; (a) a support shaft; (b) a roller sleeve carried upon
the support shaft, the roller sleeve having a cavity at each end
wherein each cavity is capable receiving at least one support
element, and; (c) a plurality of support elements, each having
rotatable locking characteristics when engaged with the support
shaft such that a first support element and a second support
element is permanently inserted into the cavity at a first end of
the roller sleeve so that the first support element locks on the
support shaft in a first direction, and the second support element
is permanently inserted into a first end of the roller sleeve so
that the second support element locks on the support shaft in a
second direction, and a third support element and a fourth support
element is permanently inserted into the cavity at a second end of
the roller sleeve so that the third support element locks with the
support shaft in the first direction on the support shaft, and the
fourth support element locks on the support shaft in the second
direction.
8. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 6 wherein the first, second, third and fourth
support elements are over-running clutches.
9. An anti-rotation apparatus for components mounted on a shaft as
recited in claim 6 wherein the first, second, third and fourth
support elements are one-way clutches.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to the assembly of rotatable
shafts and the components that are mounted upon them. The support
shafts that hold cylindrical components used for conveying articles
have to be located in an axial relationship to the support frames
or members that hold them. Typically, the axial relationship of
such cylindrical components or assemblies that are used for
conveying objects are aligned with other similar components in
machinery. The tolerance buildup of the components from one
assembly to another may mean that the alignment is actually
misaligned, thereby causing problems in the conveying or transport
of the articles that are moving on them. In the past, there have
been numerous ways to overcome this problem, such as machining a
flat upon the shaft, and then machining the mounted cylindrical
hardware to fit a setscrew or other locking member to attach to the
flatted shaft. The machining of the shaft is expensive and labor
intensive, as is applying the setscrew or other locking device. In
addition, a setscrew design tends to pull the inner portion of the
part being added to the support shaft to one side, thereby creating
an out of round assembly. Also, burrs on the shaft may present
further problems in disassembling or reassembling the shaft
components.
[0002] Another way of locating such assemblies or cylindrical
components is with the use of e-clips, or e-rings. The use of a
tri-lobe or d-shaped shaft will fit the components being added with
a similar designed aperture; however, there will be an undesired
amount of free play between the shaft and the added components.
This is not tolerable in critical transport or conveying situations
where articles are expected to arrive at scheduled locations at
particular times and increments of time. So, this prior art design
is labor-intensive, requiring lathe set-up to machine grooves in
the support shafts, and at assembly, installing the e-clips upon
the shaft. In addition, there may be reliability problems
associated with the concentricity, and expected transport results
from this type of assembly. There may be a further complication
unless due care is taken in the design of the support shaft since
cutting grooves into the shaft may affect a stress condition, and
an unpredictable failure, especially with the application of heavy
loading upon the cylindrical member and its support shaft.
[0003] For these reasons, the present invention has evolved, and
will eliminate assembly and tolerance problems related to
concentricity, axial positioning of the added shaft components, and
stress related failures. There are no grooves required in the
support shafts with the use of the principles of the present
invention, and the assembly of the cylindrical components on a
support shaft is simplified and reliable. In addition, there are no
setscrews, or machining of the support shaft, other than those
required for automatic lathe processing.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention may be utilized in all sorts of
conveying machinery where there are roller assemblies mounted on
support shafts, that are in turn supported in frames or support
structure of the machinery. The present invention is designed to
provide a highly accurate concentric assembly of components added
to transport or conveying shafting where the support shaft rotates
with the assembly attached. The present invention eliminates the
need for cutting grooves in the support shafts or machining flats
or other locating areas on the mounting or support shafts. The
present invention also eliminates the need to apply devices such as
e-rings or e-clips to then locate the assembly along a specific
axial position on the shaft. This is particularly useful in
high-speed paper conveying machinery, or other equipment that
requires highly accurate timing and location of the transport
devices to insure reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention concerns locking and locating
cylindrical components or roller sleeves on a support shaft to
facilitate anti-rotation of the components or sleeves on the shaft.
The cylindrical components are typical such as conveying rollers or
transport rollers that are manufactured as sleeve assemblies
utilized to move and convey articles along a transport path. The
locking and locating feature is an anti-rotation device that is
accomplished through the use of at least one pair of over-running
clutches or one-way clutches that are assembled into a prepared
cavity located along the axis of the cylindrical component. The
axial cavity may be a bore, or concentric bores located at both
axial ends of the cylindrical component. Each over running clutch
or one-way device is pressed into the cavity at either end of the
cylindrical component so that each clutch faces an opposite
direction. When the cylindrical component or roller sleeve is
installed on the support shaft, the components of the over running
clutches or one-way devices lock against the support shaft and each
other, thereby providing an assembly that is rotatable as one unit;
the cylindrical component further being axially positionable to a
predetermined location on the support shaft.
[0006] The above background and brief description of the advantages
of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with
accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a document transport assembly
where the present invention is utilized.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the components
utilized in the assembly of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the roller assembly utilized
in the transport assembly of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a section view of an alternative roller assembly
used in the transport assembly of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the roller assembly of FIG. 4
without the support shaft.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the roller assembly of FIG. 4
with the support shaft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an isometric view of a
document transport assembly 10. This is a typical transport
assembly used as an example as it may be utilized in Pitney Bowes
Inserting Products that have vacuum assisted transport systems. The
document transport system 10 illustrated is used to transport
envelopes, and in other portions of Pitney Bowes inserting products
to move sheets of paper of all sizes and types. The transport
system 10 is designed to be positioned in a (not shown) main
machine structure that can accommodate many similar such transport
units. The present invention relates to how the supporting
transport rollers are mounted for rotation as a unit, and axially
positioned for supporting for example, sets of belts or other
conveying instruments. The present drawings and illustrations are
one example of how the present invention may be applied to
conveying equipment. Such equipment may consist of rollers
supporting belts as shown, or may consist of transport rollers
alone. In either case, the present invention has utility to solve
the problems described in the background of this patent
application.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a machined support frame
14. The support frame 14 is designed to be mounted on the main
machine structure referred to earlier, and a series of mounting
apertures 18 will accommodate the necessary mounting hardware to do
so. The support frame 14 has a bearing support ear 14a and 14b,
each having a suitable ball bearing 14c and 14d (or ball bearing
equivalent) pressed into the support ear 14a and 14b
respectively.
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an isometric view of
a roller sleeve 20 as removed from the transport assembly 10. The
roller sleeve 20 is typical of such roller sleeves that are used in
conveyor equipment, and in the present case is used to support a
plurality of conveyor belts 22 (FIG. 1). (Some roller assemblies or
roller sleeves have built in crowns that track the conveying belts
in a desired lateral position).
[0016] The Anti-Rotation Feature
[0017] There is a first support element 24 (over running clutch)
pressed into an end cavity (bore) 20a of the roller sleeve 20.
There is a second support element 26 (over running clutch) pressed
into an opposing end cavity 20b of the roller sleeve 20. It will be
noted that the cavity 20a and 20b are one and the same of an axial
bore of the roller sleeve 20. Alternatively this design may be such
that the end cavity 20a and 20b are of larger diameter, smaller
diameter or the same as shown with regard to the axis of the roller
sleeve 20. (This will depend upon the size of the over running
clutch selected, as well as the physical design of the roller
sleeve). The concentricity of the diameters of the cavity 20a and
20b are very close in tolerance limits (if they are diameters
different than that illustrated as a bore) which affords the
greater benefit of accuracy in rotation of the roller sleeve 20.
The first and second support elements 24 and 26 (over running
clutches) referred to are typical of those manufactured by the
Torrington Manufacturing Company. An example of an over running
clutch is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,377 to Elmore for
OVERRUNNING CLUTCH RETAINER AND ROLLER ASSEMBLY.
[0018] Referring once again to FIG. 3, the roller sleeve 20 is
shown with the first and second support elements 24 and 26
installed or pressed into the end of the principal roller section.
The support elements 24 and 26 are flush with an end 20f, and 20g
respectively of the roller sleeve 20 to afford the greatest
possible length of fit with respect to the end cavity 20a, and
opposing end cavity 20b respectively. The first support element 24
is installed so that the locking rollers internal to the Torrington
over running clutch will lock on a shaft 34 once the shaft 34 is
inserted into the support element 24. This means that if only the
first support element 24 were installed by itself into the roller
sleeve 20, the roller sleeve 20 could rotate in a CW direction 36
as indicated by the (Clockwise) arrow. (This may depend upon the
assembly instructions of the over running clutch supplier). The
second support element 26 is inserted into the opposing end cavity
such that it is 180 degrees reversed from the first support element
24. Once again, if only the second support element (over running
clutch) were inserted into the opposing end cavity 20b, the roller
sleeve 20 would be able to rotate in the direction 36. However,
once both the first support element 24 and the second support
element 26 are both inserted into their respective end cavities
20a, and 20b, the roller cage inside of the over running clutch in
each case is reversed, and with the insertion of the shaft 34 will
lock against any rotation attempted upon the roller sleeve 20.
[0019] It is possible to slide the shaft 34 along the length of the
roller sleeve to a pre-determined axial position. The shaft 36
should be aligned with the first and second support elements 24 and
26 so that the major outside diameter of the shaft 36 is supported
by the aforementioned support elements. The shaft 36 is formed with
a taper 36a, which is used to assist in the insertion process. The
taper may be a radius, or other shallow form that will assist the
assembly process, either of which or some variation in between will
allow the shaft 34 to be inserted through both of the
aforementioned support elements 24 and 26. A taper of approximately
2 to 5 degrees is sufficient to permit assembly of the shaft 34
into the new bore of the roller 20 as established by the first and
second support elements 24 and 26. The shaft 36 is formed of
suitable case hardenable steel. Following guidelines of assembly of
the over running clutch designs, a Rc hardness of between 55-60 is
suitable to insure that the roller elements of the over running
clutch work properly in locking with the shaft.
[0020] Referring back to FIG. 1, it will now be recognized that
insertion of the shaft 36 through the Machine support frame 14 in
the bearing support ear 14a and 14b bearings as described will
provide a complete assembly in the area of the document transfer
assembly as described. Typically, in most transport assemblies or
conveyor assemblies there has to be a second support roller or
shaft. In the present case there is an end structure, that is a
second shaft support structure (not shown), having the same
assembly technique for locating and supporting a second roller
sleeve and the opposite ends of the conveying belts 22. The benefit
of this technique becomes apparent when the shaft 34 is inserted
and the roller sleeve 20 is now trapped and located between the
bearing support ears 14a and 14b respectively. Not shown, there
could be suitable washers or spacers inserted between the inside
portions of the ears 14a and 14b to help position the roller
laterally (axially) to a pre-determined point. Other benefits
include the elimination of installing retaining rings, e-clips or
other hardware that require machining of the support shaft, and
possible installation of set-screws. Setscrews are notorious for
backing off due to vibration and rapid start/stops of conveying
assemblies.
[0021] Description of an alternative embodiment of the present
invention as a anti-rotation device:
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view of another
roller assembly 40 is shown. The roller assembly has a bore 42 that
is concentric to an outside diameter 40a of the roller assembly 40.
There is a pair of support elements 44 and an opposing pair of
support elements 46 each consisting of a first support element 44a,
a second support element 44b, a first support element 46a, and a
second support element 46b. The support elements 44a, 44b, 46a, and
46b are assembled into the bore 42 of the roller assembly 40 in the
following way: Second support element 44b such that if assembled
alone would permit rotation of the roller assembly on a support
shaft 48 in a direction 50 (FIG. 5), providing no other support
elements are also inserted into the bore 42. When the first support
element 44a is inserted into the bore 42, the pair of support
elements 44 will prevent rotation of the roller assembly 40 on the
support shaft 48. This is the same for the pair of opposing support
elements 46, when the first support element 46a, and the second
support element 46b are inserted into the bore 42. The roller
assembly 40 is shown as it would be located between the bearing
support ear 14a and 14b in the prior embodiment. The assembly of
additional support elements will insure that the roller assembly is
locked on the shaft 50 for example where there is rapid, high
energy start/stop conditions in the transport that would ordinarily
shake a setscrew or other fastening member loose from the support
shaft.
[0023] In FIG. 4, there is shown a thrust washer 52 and 54, used to
help axially locate the roller assembly 40 between the support ear
14a and 14b. Other suitable washers, rings, helical springs or
conical springs may be used to help justify the roller assembly 40
to one side or the other of the support frame 14 as may be desired.
FIG. 6 is a representative assembly of the roller assembly 40 and
the support shaft 48. It will be noted that the shaft 50 has a
similar tapered end to that described in the previous embodiment
and the shaft 34.
[0024] There may be other combinations considered that combine
roller assemblies, support shafts and support elements utilizing
one way clutches or over running clutches in the manner described
in the present specification. These alternate combinations will be
known by those skilled in the art as can be applied to the system
as described in the embodiments described in this specification,
and it would be space consuming in the present specification to
provide such other combinations that will be known and used by
those skilled in the art. Therefore, the preceding detailed
specification, drawings, and description of same sets forth
examples of how the combination of reverse acting devices such as
over running clutches or one way clutches may be applied to
conveying rollers or their substitutes.
[0025] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to
those skilled in the art. Therefore, in its broader aspects, the
invention is not limited to the specific details, and
representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *