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Push-pull latch assembly for a detachable media pick mechanism

  • US 9,446,919 B2
  • Filed: 12/17/2014
  • Issued: 09/20/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A detachable pick mechanism, comprising:

  • a 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 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 first side defining a cavity therein for containing the drive transmission and a side plate mounted over the cavity opposite the first side for enclosing the drive transmission; and

    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 surface of the at least one pick wheel extends beyond the top and the bottom of the front portion;

    and,a latch assembly mounted on one of the first side and the side plate for rotatably engaging a groove in the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the drive shaft, the latch assembly comprising;

    a handle base mounted on one of the first side and the side plate of the transmission housing having an opening therethrough for receiving the free end of the drive shaft therein, the handle base including;

    a pair of opposed guide arms; and

    a pair of opposed resilient latch arms, the pairs of opposed resilient latch arms and opposed guide arms depending from a same side of the handle base and being axially aligned with the opening in the handle base with each latch arm having a catch at a free end thereof;

    and,a handle slidably retained in the handle base and axially movable within the handle base, the handle including;

    a support body having a first end and a second end, the support body having an axial opening extending between the first and second ends and a pair of opposed channels axially extending along an outer surface of the support body from the first end and aligned with the pair of opposed guide arms and receiving therein a corresponding guide arm;

    a grip axially depending from a second end of the support body;

    an end wall radially extending from the support body and positioned adjacent to the second end thereof; and

    at least two opposed rails axially positioned between the first and second ends of the support body and aligned with a respective catch, each rail having;

    a first and a second end and extending along the outer surface of the support body from the first end of the support body toward the second end of the support body, the second ends of the at least two opposed rails being spaced apart from the end wall and forming a respective dwell gap therebetween sized to receive therethrough the respective catches of the pair of opposed resilient latch arms;

    an inner ramp having a bottom beginning adjacent to the second end of the rail and raising at a predetermined first acute angle; and

    an outer ramp having a bottom beginning adjacent to first end of the rail and raising at a predetermined second acute angle with the first and second catches being moveable along respective outer and inner ramps,wherein, during mounting of the pick mechanism onto the drive shaft using an axial pushing force applied to the handle, the free end of the drive shaft initially separates the catches and deflects the pair of opposed resilient latch arms with the catches subsequently engaging the groove on the drive shaft with the pair of opposed resilient latch arms returning to a less deflected position thereby rotatably latching the pick mechanism to the drive shaft, and, during dismounting of the pick mechanism from the drive shaft using an axial pulling force applied to the handle, the catches slide up the respective inner ramps of the at least two opposed rails and disengage from the groove in the drive shaft allowing the pick mechanism to axially slide off of the free end of drive shaft.

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