US3600080A

US3600080A - Hinged chain drive assembly

Info

Publication number: US3600080A
Application number: US820536A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thaddeus W Czernik; Robert E Kasabula; Lionel G Gagnon
Original assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1969-04-30
Filing date: 1969-04-30
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17

Abstract

A hinged chain drive assembly for driving a plurality of elements mounted within an apparatus from a single driving motor source, some of such elements being mounted on a fixed portion of the apparatus and others of such elements being mounted on a movable hinged door for providing access to the interior of the apparatus. Chain drive subassemblies are arranged to allow the access door to be moved from a closed to an opened position without disturbing the operation of the apparatus and without requiring the removal of the endless chain elements used in the chain drive subassemblies.

Description

United States Patent Thaddeus w. Czernik Framingham, Mass.

HINGE!) CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

u.s.c| ass/3, 1 355/16, 355/72 Int. Cl 603g 15/22 Field oiSearch..'. 355/3, it;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,352,218 11/1967 Ostensen 355/3 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-E. M. Bero Attorney--Roberts, Cushman and Grover ABSTRACT: A hinged 'chain drive assembly for driving a plurality of elements mounted within an apparatus from a single driving motor source, some of such elements being mounted on a fixed portion of the apparatus and others of such elements being mounted on a movable hinged door for providing access to the interior of the apparatus Chain drive subassemblies are arranged to allow the access door to be moved from a closed to an opened position without disturbing the operation of the apparatus and without requiring the removal of the endless chain elements used in the chain drive subassemblies.

PATENTEUAUBITIQII 3,600,080

SHEET 1 [1F 3 PATENTED mm 1 IQTI 3500.080

SHEET 2 0F 3 PATENTEU AUG] 7 l9?! 3600.080

sum 3 or 3 HINGE!) CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to chain drive assemblies and, more particularly, to apparatus which includes a chain drive assembly for driving a plurality of elements mounted within said apparatus, wherein some of said elements are mounted on a fixed portion of said apparatus and others of said elements are mounted on a movable portion thereof.

In an apparatus which utilizes chain drive mechanisms, or other similar drive mechanisms, such as belts, wires, cables, or other endless means, which engage sprockets, pulleys, or other suitable engaging means, it is usually necessary to mount all of the elements which are driven thereby on a fixed portion of the apparatus if they are to be driven by a single motor, and to provide an access door which can be opened, or removed, to expose such fixedly mounted elements for maintenance and repair purposes, for example. In such conventional apparatus, however, none of the chain driven elements are usually mounted on the access door itself. If they were so mounted the chain, or chains, which drive such elements would have to be removed whenever it was desired that the door be opened since the presence of such chains, in their operating condition under tension, would not allow the door to be sufficiently moved from its closed position to provide adequate access into the interior of the apparatus.

Alternatively, if it is desired some of the chain driven elements be mounted on the access door itself, it would normally be necessary to use two, or more, separate drive motors, one for the fixedly mounted elements and the other for those elements mounted on the movable door, and to provide for appropriate and relatively elaborate synchronization of their operation. Moreover, it might still further be necessary to provide for the removal of at least one or more chain elements to open the door and obtain access to the interior of the apparatus.

This invention, however, provides an apparatus having chain driven elements actuated by a single driver motor wherein at least some of the elements to be driven are mounted directly on a movable, hinged access door so that such door can be opened and closed without the breaking or removal of the endless chain elements which are utilized. Moreover, when the access door is in either its open or closed position, the assembly has the further advantages that the chain elements can be removed, if desired, without breaking thereof and that the apparatus can be put into its operating condition independently of the position at which the door is placed by an operator.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes three endless chain elements, a first one of which engages one or more sprockets fixedly attached to shaft elements one of said shaft elements is in turn connected to a single driver motor and the others of which are connected to various operating elements which are mounted on a fixed portion of the apparatus. A second intermediate driver subassembly utilizes a pair of dual sprocket means, a first sprocket of each engaging a second intermediate endless chain element. A third endless chain element engages one or more sprockets fixedly attached to shaft elements whichare inturn connected to operating elements mounted on a movable portion, such as a hinged access door, of the apparatus. One of said dual sprocket means is mounted on a shaft which forms the pivot axis on which the hinged door of the apparatus rotates and has a second sprocket which engages the first endless chain element. The other of said dual sprocket means has a second sprocket which engages the third endless chain element.

Appropriate spring-loaded idler means maintain the intermediate and third endless chain elements in tension, which tension can be easily removed manually independently of the position of the access door. Thus, whether the access door is placed in a closed or an open position, or in a position intermediate thereto, the apparatus can be put into operation without removal of any of the endless chain elements. The chains can be easily removed at any time and in any position of the door, and access can be obtained to the interior of the apparatus by the user.

A particular preferred embodiment of the invention can be more easily described in detail with the help of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus which utilizes the chain drive assembly of the invention and which shows a portion of the hinged access door thereof in its closed position;

FIG. 2 shows a similar side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the drive and chain assembly omitted and portions of the interior shown;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows adiagrammatic side view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the hinged access door thereof in its open position; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 -5 of FIG. 3.

Although the enclosed drawings and the description below illustrate the chain drive assembly of the invention as utilized in a photocopier apparatus, the invention can find use in other apparatus wherein a chain drive assembly is used and wherein access to the interior thereof must be obtained by the user for maintenance, repair, or other purposes.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a photocopier apparatus 10 has a drive motor 11 mounted within such apparatus, the shaft 12 of such drive motor extending outwardly through an appropriate opening in the sidewall of apparatus 10. A drive sprocket 14 is mounted on shaft 12 and a cam sprocket 15 used to actuate appropriate timing cams (not shown) is suitably mounted above and to the .right of sprocket 14. A sprocket 16 is mounted on a shaft 17 below and to the right of cam sprocket 15. The rotation of shaft 17 is controlled by a one revolution clutch 18 the purposeof which is discussed in more detail below. An idler sprocket 19 is suitably mounted below and to the left of sprocket 16 and a paper drive roller sprocket 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 substantially directly below sprocket l6, shaft 21 having one of a pair of drive rollers 22 mounted thereon, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A first dual sprocket 23, best shown in HQ 3, having an inner sprocket 24 and an outer sprocket 25 is mounted on a shaft 54 which acts as a hinge on which an access door 27 can be angularly rotated from its closed position shown in FIG. 1 to its open position shown in FIG. 4. An idler sprocket 32 is mounted substantially adjacent and below dual sprocket 23.

A second dual sprocket 28 ismounted on stub shaft 31 suitably attached to the side of access door 27 below dual sprocket 23 and has an inner sprocket 29 and outer sprocket 30. An idler sprocket 33 is mounted at the end of a movable arm 34 pivotally attached by a shaft 35 to the side of access door 27 at a bearing 36. A belt drive sprocket 37 is mounted below dual sprocket 28 and is attached to one end of a shaft 38 having associated therewith at said one end a clutch 39 and at the other end a brake 40. A squeegee roll drive sprocket 41 is mounted below and to the right of sprocket 37 and is connected to one end of shaft 42 which has mounted thereon a squeegee roll 43 operating in combination with a second squeegee roll appropriately spring-loaded so as to be held against roll 43 to form a nip therebetween. An idler sprocket 45 is mounted on a movable arm 46 pivotally mounted to the side of access door 27 through stub shaft 47 at bearing 48.

The above-described sprockets are suitably engaged by a plurality of endless means, such as the chain elements described below. Alternatively, combinations utilizing endless means and engaging means other than such chair. and sprocket combinations can be used to perform the same functions, such as belts, cables, wires, ropes, etc., engaging similar sprocketlike or pulley mechanisms.

As can be seen best in FIG. 1, a first endless chain 49 engages sprockets l4, 15, 16, 19, 20, 24 and 32. Drive motor 11 is arranged to drive sprocket 14 via shaft 12 in a clockwise direction, as shown by the arrows associated with chain element 49. Cam sprocket 15 and sprocket l6 consequently each rotate in the same clockwise direction as sprocket 14. The shaft 17 connected to sprocket 16 is adapted to be engaged by a one-revolution clutch 18 which thereupon operates to draw off a sufficient amount of paper from a paper supply roll 50, shown in FIG. 2. Such paper is thereby drawn downwardly through a corona discharge device 51' and-thence downwardly towards drive rolls 22 the nip of which thereupon engages the paper following the operation of clutch 18 which then is disengaged. Chain 49 meshes with inner sprocket 24 of dual Sprocket 23 so as to cause both the inner and outer sprockets thereof to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Chain 49 then continues its path around idler return sprocket 32 back to drive sprocket 14.

A second intermediate endless chain 52 is mounted so as to engage outer sprocket 25 of dual sprocket 23, outer sprocket 30 of dual sprocket 28, and idler sprocket 33. Movable arm 35, which is appropriately spring-loaded, holds idler sprocket 33 against chain 52 to keep the latter in tension during operation. Thus, outer sprocket 30 of dual sprocket 28 is also driven in a counterclockwise direction.

A third endless chain 53 is arranged to engage inner sprocket 29 of dual sprocket 28, belt drive sprocket 37, squeegee roll drive sprocket 41 and idler sprocket 45. As shown in H0. 1, when inner sprocket 29 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, in accordance with the arrows associated with third endless chain 53, belt drive sprocket 37 and v squeegee roll sprocket 41 also rotate in counterclockwise directions while idler sprocket 45 rotates in a clockwise direction.

As seen more clearly with reference to H; dual sprocket 23 is mounted at one end of shaft 54 which shaft is in turn fixedly attached to hinged access door 27, the latter thereby pivotally moving about the longitudinal axis of shaft 54 in bearing surfaces within pillar boxes 60 at either end thereof. A hollow roller 55 is mounted over and concentric with shaft 54 and has a pair of bearing surfaces 56 at each end thereof through which portions of shaft 54 extend. Accordingly, roller 55 is free to rotate independently of the rotating motion of shaft 54, and vice versa.

As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of endless perforated belts 57 are arranged to move over the enlarged diameter portions 58 of shaft 38 which is driven by belt drive sprocket 37, and forms a nip in cooperation with an adjacent idler roller 62. Clutch 39 is arranged to be continually engaged during operation of the apparatus so that the perforated belts 57 are continually moving in the direction of the arrow shown in FlG,. 2 until the paper which rides thereover (as explained in more detail below) contacts a microswitch 59 which actuates brake 40 so as to stop the motion of the paper at a preselected position along the image plane for exposure to the image to be recorded via a conventional lens and mirror combination 61, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, as in previously known photocopier apparatus.

Squeegee rollers

43 and 44 form a nip through which the paper passes from the perforated belt to output drying and delivery stations in the particular photocopy apparatus described. As the paper enters and passes through the squeegee roller nip, an appropriate liquid toner, or developer, is applied by a spray roll (not shown) to the image-bearing side of the paper sheet to produce an image. The paper is then appropriately dried by a suitable drying unit 53 at a dryer station and ultimately is conveyed to an output slot 62 where it is delivered to the user. Since the developer, dryer and output stations are previously known and do not'form a part of the invention, per se, they are not described in further detail.

As can be seen best in FIG. 4 the chain drive assembly of the invention is arranged so that hinged access door 27 can be angularly rotated to its upper, or open, position at as much as 90 or more from its original closed position to a substantially horizontal plane, for example, in the particular embodiment described. Thus, access door 27 can be rotated without the necessity for removing any of the

chains

49, 52 or 53. In its open position, such chains remain substantially in the same relative position as when access door 27 is closed and the apparatus is capable of its normal operation as shown in FIG. 4. When door 27 is open, access to the interior of the apparatus is permitted and, particularly in the photocopier apparatus described, complete exposure to the interior elements makes it possible not only to repair the mechanical elements therein but also to adjust and clean the lens and mirror system thereof, as well as to clear away any paper which may have jammed at some point along its travel during the operation of the apparatus. Because of the use of

idler sprockets

33 and 45 attached to pivoted

idler arms

35, and 47, respectively, the

chains

52 and 53 can be removed by merely moving such idler sprockets manually against the spring load on such arms so that

chains

52 and 53 are loosened and can be easilyremoved without breaking thereof.

Moreover, the use of the combination of shaft 54 and concentric, independently rotating, roller 55 along the pivot axis of hinged access door 27 allows the door to be moved between its closed and open positions independently of the rotation of the perforated belts, and vice versa.

Although the specific structure shown in the drawings depicts a preferable embodiment of the invention, variations of such structure will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Hence, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown except as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in an apparatus from a single motor, at least one of said shaft elements being mounted on a' fixed portion of said apparatus and at least one other of said shaft elements being mounted on a movable portion thereof, said driving assembly comprising a first plurality of engaging means fixedly attached to said shaft elements mounted on said fixed portion of said apparatus;

a first endless means engaging each of said first plurality of engaging means;

a motor connected to one of said shaft elements mounted on said fixed portion of said apparatus for rotating one of said first plurality of engaging means whereby the others of said first plurality of engaging means rotate by engage ment with said first endless means; k

an intermediate driver subassembly including a first dual driver means mounted on an axis about which said movable portion of said apparatus rotates, said first dual driver means comprising first and second intermediate engaging means, said first intermediate engaging means engaging said first endless means;

a second dual driver means mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus in spaced relation with said first driver means, said second dual driver means comprising third and fourth intermediate engaging means;

a second endless means engaging said second intermediate engaging means and said third intermediate engaging means;

a second plurality of engaging means fixedly attached to each of said shaft elements mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus;

a third endless means engaging each of said second plurality of engaging means and engaging said fourth intermediate engaging means;

whereby said motor is capable of operating all of said shaft elements independently of the position of said movable portion of said apparatus.

2. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in an apparatus from a single motor, a first plurality of said shaft elements being mounted on a fixed portion of said apparatus and a second plurality of shaft elements being mounted on a movable portion thereof, said driving assembly comprising a first plurality of sprockets fixedly attached to said first plurality of shaft elements;

a first endless chain engaging each of said first plurality of sprockets; r 1 g a motor connected to one of said first plurality of shaft elements for rotating the sprocket attached thereto whereby the others of said first plurality of sprock'etsrotate by en- .gagement with said first chain;

an intermediate driver subassembly including I a first dual sprocket-mounted on an axis about which said movable portion of said apparatus rotates and comprising first and second parallel mounted intermediate sprockets, saidfirst intermediate sprocket engaging said first chain; a second dual sprocket mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus and comprising third and fourth M parallel mounted intermediate sprockets;

a second endless chain engaging said second intermediate sprocket and said third intermediate sprocket;

a second plurality of sprockets fixedly attached to each of said shaft elements mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus;

a third endless chain engaging each of said second plurality of sprockets and engaging said fourth intermediate sprocket;

; whereby said motor is capable of operating all of said shaft elements independently of the position of said movable portion of said apparatus.

3. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and said fourth intermediate sprockets and said first and third endless chains lie in a first common plane;

i said second and said third intermediate sprockets and said second endless chains lie in a second common plane;

- the motion of said first endless chain in said first common plane being transmitted to said second endless chain in said second common plane by said first dual sprocket; and

the motion of said second endless chain being transmitted to said'third endless chain in said first common plane by said second dual sprocket. 4. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said apparatus is a photocopier apparatus including a supply roll of copy paper;

an intermediate station for preparing said paper for exposure to an image;

an image exposure station; Y

adeveloper station for producing a visible image on said copy paper; i a drier station for drying said developed copy paper; and an output delivery station; wherein one or more of said first plurality of shaft elements is connected to one or more drive rollers for driving said copy paper from said supply roll to said intermediate station toward said image exposure station; and one or more of said second plurality of shaft elements is connected to one or more further drive rollers for conveying said copy paper to said image exposure station and from said image exposure station through said developer station and said drier station to said output delivery station. I 5. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 and further including a first tensioning means for maintaining said second endless chain in tension during operation of said apparatus; and a second tensioning means for maintaining said third endless chain in tension during operation of i said apparatus. 6. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and said second tensioning means each includes a movable arm; an idler sprocket attached to said movable arm; and spring means attached to said movable arm for holding said idler sprocket in spring-loaded tension against its associated endless chain, 7. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first dual sprocket is attached to a pivot shaft mounted along the pivot axis of said movable portion of said apparatus; bearing means on which said pivot shaft rotates, said movable portion of said apparatus being fixedly attached to said pivot shaft for rotation along said pivot axis. 8. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 7 and further including a substantially hollow roller means mounted over and concentric with a portion of said pivot shaft; bearing means attached to said roller means for permitting said roller means and said pivot shaft to move relative to each other; whereby said movable portion of said apparatus and said roller means are capable of moving independently of each other,

Claims

1. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in an apparatus from a single motor, at least one of said shaft elements being mounted on a fixed portion of said apparatus and at least one other of said shaft elements being mounted on a movable portion thereof, said driving assembly comprising a first plurality of engaging means fixedly attached to said shaft elements mounted on said fixed portion of said apparatus; a first endless means engaging each of said first plurality of engaging means; a motor connected to one of said shaft elements mounted on said fixed portion of said apparatus for rotating one of said first plurality of engaging means whereby the others of said first plurality of engaging means rotate by engagement with said first endless means; an intermediate driver subassembly including a first dual driver means moUnted on an axis about which said movable portion of said apparatus rotates, said first dual driver means comprising first and second intermediate engaging means, said first intermediate engaging means engaging said first endless means; a second dual driver means mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus in spaced relation with said first driver means, said second dual driver means comprising third and fourth intermediate engaging means; a second endless means engaging said second intermediate engaging means and said third intermediate engaging means; a second plurality of engaging means fixedly attached to each of said shaft elements mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus; a third endless means engaging each of said second plurality of engaging means and engaging said fourth intermediate engaging means; whereby said motor is capable of operating all of said shaft elements independently of the position of said movable portion of said apparatus.

2. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in an apparatus from a single motor, a first plurality of said shaft elements being mounted on a fixed portion of said apparatus and a second plurality of shaft elements being mounted on a movable portion thereof, said driving assembly comprising a first plurality of sprockets fixedly attached to said first plurality of shaft elements; a first endless chain engaging each of said first plurality of sprockets; a motor connected to one of said first plurality of shaft elements for rotating the sprocket attached thereto whereby the others of said first plurality of sprockets rotate by engagement with said first chain; an intermediate driver subassembly including a first dual sprocket mounted on an axis about which said movable portion of said apparatus rotates and comprising first and second parallel mounted intermediate sprockets, said first intermediate sprocket engaging said first chain; a second dual sprocket mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus and comprising third and fourth parallel mounted intermediate sprockets; a second endless chain engaging said second intermediate sprocket and said third intermediate sprocket; a second plurality of sprockets fixedly attached to each of said shaft elements mounted on said movable portion of said apparatus; a third endless chain engaging each of said second plurality of sprockets and engaging said fourth intermediate sprocket; whereby said motor is capable of operating all of said shaft elements independently of the position of said movable portion of said apparatus.

3. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and said fourth intermediate sprockets and said first and third endless chains lie in a first common plane; said second and said third intermediate sprockets and said second endless chains lie in a second common plane; the motion of said first endless chain in said first common plane being transmitted to said second endless chain in said second common plane by said first dual sprocket; and the motion of said second endless chain being transmitted to said third endless chain in said first common plane by said second dual sprocket.

4. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said apparatus is a photocopier apparatus including a supply roll of copy paper; an intermediate station for preparing said paper for exposure to an image; an image exposure station; a developer station for producing a visible image on said copy paper; a drier station for drying said developed copy paper; and an output delivery station; wherein one or more of said first plurality of shaft elements is connected to one or more drive rollers for driving said copy paper from said supply roll to said intermediate station toward said image exposure station; and one or more of said sEcond plurality of shaft elements is connected to one or more further drive rollers for conveying said copy paper to said image exposure station and from said image exposure station through said developer station and said drier station to said output delivery station.

5. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 and further including a first tensioning means for maintaining said second endless chain in tension during operation of said apparatus; and a second tensioning means for maintaining said third endless chain in tension during operation of said apparatus.

6. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and said second tensioning means each includes a movable arm; an idler sprocket attached to said movable arm; and spring means attached to said movable arm for holding said idler sprocket in spring-loaded tension against its associated endless chain.

7. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first dual sprocket is attached to a pivot shaft mounted along the pivot axis of said movable portion of said apparatus; bearing means on which said pivot shaft rotates, said movable portion of said apparatus being fixedly attached to said pivot shaft for rotation along said pivot axis.

8. An assembly for driving a plurality of shaft elements in accordance with claim 7 and further including a substantially hollow roller means mounted over and concentric with a portion of said pivot shaft; bearing means attached to said roller means for permitting said roller means and said pivot shaft to move relative to each other; whereby said movable portion of said apparatus and said roller means are capable of moving independently of each other.