Detachable reversible pick mechanism for feeding media from a media tray of an image forming device
First Claim
1. A detachable pick mechanism, comprising:
- a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear having a center opening for receiving a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, the drive shaft gear being slidably engageable onto the cantilevered drive shaft via the center opening;
a pick axle having a pick wheel mounted at each end, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear for rotating the pick wheels; and
a transmission housing having;
a top, a bottom, and a side defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission;
an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and the cantilevered drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the surfaces of the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion; and
a releasable latch mounted on the side for rotatably engaging a portion of the cantilevered drive shaft adjacent a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism for mounting on the cantilevered drive shaft;
wherein one of rotation and counter-rotation of the cantilevered drive shaft produces one of rotation and counter-rotation of the pick wheel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A detachable reversible pick mechanism for a media input tray. The pick mechanism comprises a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear slidably engageable onto a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, a pick axle having a pick wheel at each end, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear; and a transmission housing consisting of a top, a bottom, and a side surface defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission, an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion, and a releasable latch mounted on the side surface for rotatably engaging a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the drive shaft, the latch allowing a user to readily dismount the pick mechanism for service or replacement.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A detachable pick mechanism, comprising:
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a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear having a center opening for receiving a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, the drive shaft gear being slidably engageable onto the cantilevered drive shaft via the center opening; a pick axle having a pick wheel mounted at each end, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear for rotating the pick wheels; and a transmission housing having; a top, a bottom, and a side defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission; an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and the cantilevered drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the surfaces of the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion; and a releasable latch mounted on the side for rotatably engaging a portion of the cantilevered drive shaft adjacent a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism for mounting on the cantilevered drive shaft; wherein one of rotation and counter-rotation of the cantilevered drive shaft produces one of rotation and counter-rotation of the pick wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A detachable pick mechanism, comprising:
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a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear via at least one intermediary gear, the drive shaft gear slidably mountable onto a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing; a pick axle assembly having a pick axle shaft having one of a key and a keyway axially extending the length of the pick axle shaft, and a pair of pick wheels, one pick wheel mounted at each end of the pick axle shaft, each pick wheel having one of a keyway and a key for receiving, respectively, the one of the key and the keyway of the pick axle shaft; and a transmission housing having; a top, a bottom, a side surface defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission, and a side plate heat-stake mounted over the cavity opposite the side surface for enclosing the reversible drive transmission; an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and drive shaft, respectively, transversely pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion; and a releasable latch mounted on the side plate for rotatably engaging a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the cantilevered drive shaft, the releasable latch having; a mounting flange having at least one mounting hole therethrough for receiving a heat stake extending outwardly from the side plate;
the heat stake extending through the mounting hole and beyond the mounting flange, with the latch being attached to the side plate when the portion of the heat stake extending beyond the flange is melted and pressed; andtwo opposed resilient members pivotally mounted on the releasable latch, each resilient member having a first and second end, the second ends biased to engage a circumferential groove located proximate the free end of the cantilevered drive shaft, the second ends disengaging from the groove when a user applies a force to the first ends allowing the pick mechanism to be dismounted from the cantilevered drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A detachable pick mechanism, comprising:
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a reversible drive transmission having a drive shaft gear operatively connected to a pick axle gear, the drive shaft gear having a center opening for receiving a cantilevered drive shaft extending from a housing, the drive shaft gear being slidably engageable onto the cantilevered drive shaft via the center opening; a pick axle having a pick wheel mounted on an end thereof, the pick axle operatively connected to the pick axle gear for rotating the pick wheel; and a transmission housing having; a top, a bottom, and a side defining a cavity therein for containing the reversible drive transmission; an opening in a front portion and in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the pick axle and the cantilevered drive shaft, respectively, pass, the front portion dimensioned so that the surfaces of the pick wheels each extend beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion; and a releasable latch mounted on the side for rotatably engaging a portion of the cantilevered drive shaft adjacent a free end of the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism for mounting on the cantilevered drive shaft; wherein one of rotation and counter-rotation of the cantilevered drive shaft produces one of rotation and counter-rotation of the pick wheel.
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Specification