U.S. patent application number 12/433008 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for moveable drive nip.
This patent application is currently assigned to XEROX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Joannes N.M. deJong, Matthew Dondiego, Paul N. Richards, Lloyd A. Williams.
Application Number | 20100276873 12/433008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43029792 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100276873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richards; Paul N. ; et
al. |
November 4, 2010 |
MOVEABLE DRIVE NIP
Abstract
Systems for moving a moveable drive module in a cross-process
direction are disclosed. A system includes a moveable drive module
and a cross-process positioning system. The moveable drive module
includes a drive roll. The cross-positioning system is capable of
moving the moveable drive module in a cross-process direction. The
system may optionally include a plurality of idler rolls, each
configured to be associated with the drive roll when the moveable
drive module is in an associated position. The moveable drive
module may alternately include an idler roll associated with the
drive roll. Alternately, the cross-positioning system may further
be capable of moving a moveable idler module in a cross-process
direction. Still alternately, the system may further include a
moveable idler module including an idler roll and a translation
drive motor capable of moving the moveable idler module in a
cross-process direction.
Inventors: |
Richards; Paul N.;
(Fairport, NY) ; Williams; Lloyd A.; (Mahopac,
NY) ; deJong; Joannes N.M.; (Hopewell Junction,
NY) ; Dondiego; Matthew; (West Milford, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEPPER HAMILTON LLP
500 GRANT STREET, ONE MELLON CENTER, 50TH FLOOR
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Assignee: |
XEROX CORPORATION
Norwalk
CT
|
Family ID: |
43029792 |
Appl. No.: |
12/433008 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2801/06 20130101;
B65H 2511/12 20130101; B65H 2511/20 20130101; B65H 2511/20
20130101; B65H 2511/12 20130101; B65H 9/006 20130101; B65H 2220/04
20130101; B65H 2220/11 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H
2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/04 20130101; B65H 2404/133 20130101;
B65H 2404/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/234 |
International
Class: |
B65H 9/00 20060101
B65H009/00 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a moveable drive module comprising a drive
roll; a cross-process positioning system capable of moving the
moveable drive module in a cross-process direction; and a plurality
of idler rolls, wherein a first idler roll is configured to be
associated with the drive roll when the moveable drive module is in
a first position, wherein a second idler roll is configured to be
associated with the drive roll when the moveable drive module is in
a second position.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the moveable drive module is
operably connected to a positioning shaft, and the cross-process
positioning system comprises a translation drive motor configured
to move the moveable drive module in an inbound direction by
rotating the positioning shaft in a first direction and configured
to move the moveable drive module in an outbound direction by
rotating the positioning shaft in a second direction opposite to
the first direction.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a pulley attached to
the positioning shaft, wherein the pulley and the positioning shaft
have a common axis of rotation; and a belt operably connecting a
drive shaft of the translation drive motor and the pulley.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein: the positioning shaft comprises a
threaded shaft; and the moveable drive module is operably connected
to the threaded shaft by a hub containing internal threads.
5. A system comprising: a moveable drive module comprising a drive
roll; a moveable idler module comprising an idler roll; and a
translation drive motor capable of moving the moveable drive module
in a cross-process direction.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein: the moveable drive module is
operably connected to a positioning shaft, and the translation
drive motor is configured to move the moveable drive module in an
inbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in a first
direction and configured to move the moveable drive module in an
outbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in a second
direction opposite to the first direction.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising: a pulley attached to
the positioning shaft, wherein the pulley and the positioning shaft
have a common axis of rotation; and a belt operably connecting a
drive shaft of the translation drive motor and the pulley.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein: the positioning shaft comprises a
threaded shaft; and the moveable drive module is operably connected
to the threaded shaft by a hub containing internal threads.
9. The system of claim 5 wherein the translation drive motor is
further capable of moving the moveable idler module in a
cross-process direction.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein: the moveable idler module is
operably connected to a positioning shaft, and the translation
drive motor is configured to move the moveable idler module in an
inbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in a first
direction and configured to move the moveable idler module in an
outbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in a second
direction opposite to the first direction.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a pulley attached
to the positioning shaft, wherein the pulley and the positioning
shaft have a common axis of rotation; and a belt operably
connecting a drive shaft of the translation drive motor and the
pulley.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein: the positioning shaft comprises
a threaded shaft; and the moveable idler module is operably
connected to the threaded shaft by a hub containing internal
threads.
13. The system of claim 5, further comprising: an idler translation
drive motor capable of moving the moveable idler module in a
cross-process direction.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein: the moveable idler module is
operably connected to a positioning shaft, and the idler
translation drive motor is configured to move the moveable idler
module in an inbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in
a first direction and configured to move the moveable idler module
in an outbound direction by rotating the positioning shaft in a
second direction opposite to the first direction.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising: a pulley attached
to the positioning shaft, wherein the pulley and the positioning
shaft have a common axis of rotation; and a belt operably
connecting a drive shaft of the idler translation drive motor and
the pulley.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein: the positioning shaft comprises
a threaded shaft; and the moveable idler module is operably
connected to the threaded shaft by a hub containing internal
threads.
17. A system comprising: a moveable drive module comprising: a
drive roll, and an idler roll associated with the drive roll; and a
cross-process positioning system capable of moving the moveable
drive module in a cross-process direction.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein: the moveable drive module is
operably connected to a positioning shaft, and the cross-process
positioning system comprises a translation drive motor configured
to move the moveable drive module in an inbound direction by
rotating the positioning shaft in a first direction and configured
to move the moveable drive module in an outbound direction by
rotating the positioning shaft in a second direction opposite to
the first direction.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising: a pulley attached
to the positioning shaft, wherein the pulley and the positioning
shaft have a common axis of rotation; and a belt operably
connecting a drive shaft of the translation drive motor and the
pulley.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein: the positioning shaft comprises
a threaded shaft; and the moveable drive module is operably
connected to the threaded shaft by a hub containing internal
threads.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to document
processing devices and methods for operating such devices. More
specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems
for adjusting the cross-process position of a drive nip in a
document processing device to, for example, account for a range of
media sizes.
[0002] Typical document processing devices typically include one or
more sets of nips used to register and transport media (i.e.,
sheets) within the device. A nip provides a force to a sheet as it
passes through the nip to propel it forward through the document
processing device. Depending upon the size of the sheet that is
being registered or transported, one or more nips in a set of nips
might not contact the sheet as it is being registered or
transported.
[0003] FIG. 1A depicts a top view of a portion of a document
processing device known in the art. As shown in FIG. 1A, the
document processing device 100 includes three sets of nips 105a-b,
110a-b, and 115a-b. The first set of nips 105a-b are used to
transport a sheet; the second set of nips 110a-b are used to
perform sheet registration; and the third set of nips 115a-b are
used to transport a sheet in a process direction. Although two nips
are shown for each set of nips, additional or fewer nips can be
used. In some cases, additional nips are used to account for
variations in sheet size during the transport or registration
processes.
[0004] As shown in FIG. 1B, each nip in a set of nips, such as
115a-b, includes a drive roll, such as 125, and an idler roll, such
as 130. A normal force is caused at each nip by loading the idler
roll 130. Friction between the sheet and each nip 115a-b is used to
produce a normal force that propels the sheet in a process
direction. Typically, each idler roll 130 is mounted independently
from the other idler rolls in a set of nips.
[0005] FIG. 2 depicts a conventional three nip embodiment for a
sheet registration system. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet
registration system may include three drive modules 205, 210 and
215. Each drive module includes a drive motor, such as 205a, a
drive belt, such as 205b, and a drive roll, such as 205c. The drive
motor 205a is controlled by a controller (not shown) that
determines the rotational velocity of a drive shaft 205d of the
drive motor. Because the drive shaft 205d is operably connected to
the drive roll 205c via the drive belt 205b, the drive roll can be
rotated at a determined angular velocity based on the angular
velocity of the drive shaft.
[0006] Each drive module 205, 210 and 215 is fixed in a known
cross-process location. As such, the drive roll of an inbound drive
module, such as 205c, may only contact a sheet if the sheet is of
sufficient size to contact the drive rolls of all three drive
modules 205, 210 and 215. As a result, drive motor 205a, drive belt
205b and drive roll 205c may be underutilized as compared with the
drive motors, drive belts and drive rolls of drive modules 210 and
215.
[0007] Typical registration systems in a document processing device
have fixed location drive modules for orienting a sheet prior to
image transfer. The location or placement of each fixed drive
module in a cross-process direction is selected in order to enable
performance across a wide range of media (i.e., sheet) sizes.
However, sheets that are comparatively large in size and/or weight
require a wide stance for optimal control. As such, selecting fixed
positions that do not account for such sizes can jeopardize
hardware registration performance.
SUMMARY
[0008] Before the present systems, devices and methods are
described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not
limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described,
as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology
used in the description is for the purpose of describing the
particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to
limit the scope.
[0009] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to a "nip" is a reference to one or
more nips and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the
art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and
scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although any
methods, materials, and devices similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of
embodiments, the preferred methods, materials, and devices are now
described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated by
reference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that
the embodiments described herein are not entitled to antedate such
disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used herein, the term
"comprising" means "including, but not limited to."
[0010] In an embodiment, a system may include a moveable drive
module comprising a drive roll, a cross-process positioning system
capable of moving the moveable drive module in a cross-process
direction, and a plurality of idler rolls. A first idler roll may
be configured to be associated with the drive roll when the
moveable drive module is in a first position. A second idler roll
may be configured to be associated with the drive roll when the
moveable drive module is in a second position.
[0011] In an embodiment, a system may include a moveable drive
module comprising a drive roll, a moveable idler module comprising
an idler roll, and a translation drive motor capable of moving the
moveable drive module in a cross-process direction. In an
embodiment, the translation drive motor may further be capable of
moving the moveable idler module in a cross-process direction. In
an alternate embodiment, the system may further include an idler
translation drive motor capable of moving the moveable idler module
in a cross-process direction.
[0012] In an embodiment, a system may include a moveable drive
module comprising a drive roll and an idler roll associated with
the drive roll, and a cross-process positioning system capable of
moving the moveable drive module in a cross-process direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Aspects, features, benefits and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent with regard to the following description
and accompanying drawings, of which:
[0014] FIG. 1A depicts a top view of a portion of a conventional
document processing device.
[0015] FIG. 1B depicts a lateral view of a sheet transport system
for a conventional document processing device.
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts a conventional three nip embodiment for a
sheet registration system.
[0017] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict views of an exemplary sheet
registration/transportation system having a moveable drive module
in an inboard position and an outboard position, respectively,
according to an embodiment.
[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict views of a moveable drive module in
an inboard position and an outbound position, respectively, and a
plurality of idler rolls according to an embodiment.
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict views of a moveable drive module and
a corresponding moveable idler module in an inboard position and an
outboard position, respectively, according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this
application, the respective meanings set forth below.
[0021] A "document processing device" refers to a device that
performs an operation in the course of producing, replicating, or
transforming a document from one format to another format, such as
from an electronic format to a physical format or vice versa.
Document processing devices may include, without limitation,
printers (using any printing technology, such as xerography,
ink-jet, or offset); document scanners or specialized readers such
as check readers; mail handling machines; fabric or wallpaper
printers; or any device in which a document is moved and
processed.
[0022] A "nip" refers to a location in a document processing device
at which a force is applied to a document, such as a sheet, to
propel the sheet in a process direction. A nip may include, for
example and without limitation, a drive roll and an idler roll.
[0023] A "drive roll" refers to a nip component that is designed to
propel a document, such as a sheet, in contact with the nip. A
drive roll may comprise a compliant material, such as rubber,
neoprene or the like. A drive roll may be directly driven via a
stepper motor, a DC motor or the like. Alternately, a drive roll
may be driven using a gear train, belt transmission or the
like.
[0024] An "idler roll" refers to a nip component that is designed
to provide a normal force against a document, such as a sheet, in
order to enable the sheet to be propelled by the drive roll. An
idler roll may comprise a non-compliant material, such as
plastic.
[0025] A "positioning shaft" refers to a shaft on which a moveable
drive module (or other moveable module) is mounted which allows the
module to be moved in a cross-process direction. A positioning
shaft may be a threaded shaft.
[0026] A "drive motor" refers to a motor utilized to drive a drive
belt. In an embodiment, the drive motor may drive a drive belt
operably connected to a drive roll. A drive motor may be included
as part of a drive module, although alternate drive motor
placements are envisioned within the scope of this disclosure.
[0027] A "translation drive motor" refers to a drive motor utilized
to move a moveable drive module (or other moveable module) in a
cross-process direction. A translation drive motor may be part of
or separate from a moveable module. In some cases, the translation
drive motor may drive both a first drive belt operably connected to
a drive roll and a second drive belt designed to move a moveable
module in a cross-process direction.
[0028] A "cross-process direction" is a direction that is
substantially perpendicular to the process flow followed by an
object to be moved by the system, such as a document in a document
processing device. For example, a cross-process direction may be
substantially parallel to the length of an axle on which a drive
wheel of a document processing device is located.
[0029] The system described herein advantageously reduces the cost
of a sheet registration and/or transport system that registers
sheets of varying sizes by reducing the number of components
required for such a system. Rather than including three drive
modules as shown in FIG. 2 above, the presently disclosed system
merely uses two drive modules. Furthermore, a weight reduction may
occur as a result of the reduction in the number of components. In
addition, fewer consumable components, such as drive rolls, may be
utilized by such systems, which would further reduce operating
costs. Such registration/transport systems may be used, for example
and without limitation, in a document processing device.
[0030] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict views of an exemplary sheet
registration/transportation system having a moveable drive module
in an inboard position and an outboard position, respectively,
according to an embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a sheet
registration system may include an outboard drive module 300, an
inboard drive module 320, a cross-process positioning system, such
as positioning shaft 340, and a translation drive motor 350. In an
embodiment, the outboard drive module 300 may be fixed in a
cross-process direction, and the inboard drive module 320 may be
moveable in a cross-process direction.
[0031] The outboard drive module 300 may include a drive motor 302,
a drive belt 304, and a drive roll 306. The drive belt 304 may be
used to operably connect a drive shaft 308 of the drive motor 302
to a pulley 310 in connection with the drive roll 306. In
operation, the drive motor 302 may cause the drive shaft 308 to
rotate with an angular velocity. The angular velocity of the drive
shaft 308 may be based on, for example, the voltage supplied to the
drive motor 302. As such, the angular velocity of the drive shaft
308 may be controllable.
[0032] The rotation of the drive shaft 308 causes the drive belt
304 to rotate the pulley 310. The angular velocity of the pulley
310 is proportional to the angular velocity of the drive shaft 308
based on the radius of the drive shaft and the pulley. The rotation
of the pulley 310 causes the drive roll 306 to rotate via a common
axle (not shown).
[0033] The elements of the inboard drive module 320 may be
substantially similar to those of the outboard drive module 300: a
drive motor 322, a drive belt 324, a drive roll 326, a drive shaft
328 and a pulley 330. Moreover, the operation of the above-listed
elements with respect to imparting an angular velocity to the drive
roll 326 may be substantially similar as well.
[0034] The inboard drive module 320 may additionally include a hub
332 that operably connects the inboard drive module to the
positioning shaft 340. In an embodiment, the hub 332 may encircle
the positioning shaft 340 and may include an internal thread. The
positioning shaft 340 may be threaded on its exterior such that the
thread of the positioning shaft is engaged with the internal thread
of the hub 332.
[0035] The translation drive motor 350 is a motor used to cause
movement of the inboard drive module 320. A drive belt 352 may
operably connect a drive shaft 354 of the translation drive motor
350 to a pulley 356 that is connected to the positioning shaft 340.
In operation, the translation drive motor 350 may cause the drive
shaft 354 to rotate. The rotation of the drive shaft 354 may cause
the drive belt 352 to rotate the pulley 356. The rotation of the
pulley 356 causes the positioning shaft 340 to turn on its axis. As
a result, the positioning shaft 340 causes movement of the inboard
drive module 320 in a cross-process direction by the engagement
between the external thread of the positioning shaft and the
internal thread of the hub 332.
[0036] In an embodiment, the translation drive motor 350 may cause
the drive shaft 354 and the positioning shaft 340 to rotate in
either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending upon the
direction in which the inboard drive module 320 is desired to be
moved. For example, the translation drive motor 350 may be driven
in a forward direction to rotate the positioning shaft 340 in a
first direction and in a reverse direction to rotate the
positioning shaft in a direction opposite the first direction.
Additional and/or alternate methods of enabling rotation of the
positioning shaft 340 in both clockwise and counterclockwise
directions are included within the scope of this disclosure.
[0037] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict views of a moveable drive module in
an inboard position and an outbound position, respectively, and a
plurality of idler rolls according to an embodiment. As shown in
FIGS. 4A and 4B, a moveable drive module 400 may move along a shaft
substantially as described above. For example, the moveable drive
module 400 may include the moveable drive module shown in FIGS. 3A
and 3B or any other moveable drive module.
[0038] The moveable drive module 400 may include a drive roll 405.
In order to form a nip, the drive roll 405 may be required to be
associated with an idler roll. As such, a first idler roll 410 may
be located such that the drive roll 405 is associated with the
first idler roll when the moveable drive module 400 is in an
inboard position, as shown in FIG. 4A. When the moveable drive
module 400 is moved to an outboard position, such as is shown in
FIG. 4B, the drive roll 405 may instead be associated with a second
idler roll 415 to form a nip in an outboard position. Each of the
first idler roll 410 and the second idler roll 415 may be
substantially fixed in a cross-process direction. In an alternate
embodiment, one or more of the first drive roll 410 and the second
drive roll 415 may be configured to be movable in a cross-process
direction to accommodate additional positions for the drive roll
405. Although FIGS. 4A and 4B depict two idler rolls 410, 415,
additional idler rolls may be used within the scope of this
disclosure to accommodate additional positions for the drive roll
405.
[0039] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict views of a moveable drive module and
a corresponding moveable idler module in an inboard position and an
outboard position, respectively, according to an embodiment. As
shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a moveable drive module 500 may move
along a shaft substantially as described above. For example, the
moveable drive module 500 may include the moveable drive module
shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B or any other moveable drive module.
[0040] The moveable drive module 500 may include a drive roll 505.
The drive roll 505 may be associated with an idler roll 510. In an
embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the idler roll 510 may be part
of a moveable idler module 515 that is separate from the moveable
drive module 500. The moveable idler module 515 may cause the idler
roll 510 to be moved in a cross-process direction to a position
that is associated with the drive roll 505. In an embodiment, the
moveable idler module 515 may be moved at substantially the same
time and substantially the same velocity as the moveable drive
module 500. In an alternate embodiment, the moveable idler module
515 may be moved at a different time and/or at a different velocity
than the moveable drive module 500. In an embodiment, a second
translation drive motor (i.e., a different translation drive motor
than the one that moves the moveable drive module 500) may cause
the moveable idler module 515 to move in a cross-process direction.
Alternately, the translation drive motor used to move the moveable
drive module 500 may cause the moveable idler module 515 to move in
a cross-process direction.
[0041] The moveable idler module 515 may be substantially similar
to the moveable drive module described in reference to FIGS. 3A and
3B or any other moveable drive module except that the moveable
idler module does not utilize a drive motor, belt or pulley to
drive the idler roll 510. Rather, the idler roll 510 may be caused
to rotate by the rotation of the associated drive roll 505 when the
nip is engaged.
[0042] In an alternate embodiment, the moveable drive module may
further include the idler roll. In such an embodiment, the drive
roll and the idler roll may be positioned to form a nip and may
move in concert as the moveable drive module moves in an inboard
and/or outboard direction. For example, in the embodiment discussed
in reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a second belt and pulley may be
used to operably connect the translation drive motor 350 to a
positioning shaft operably connected to the idler roll. In such an
embodiment, the positioning shaft may operate in substantially the
same manner as positioning shaft 340. Alternate methods of moving
the idler roll in concert with the drive roll may also be used
within the scope of this disclosure.
[0043] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
desirably combined into many other different systems or
applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently
unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations
or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled
in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the
disclosed embodiments.
* * * * *