Frame with molded features

• US 5,799,548 A
• Filed: 07/22/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Portig, Harald, Seman, Richard Andrew Jr., Mlejnek, Daniel George, Brooks, Henry Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Application Number:
  US08/684,778
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 74/421 R, 74/412 R, 74/413, 74/606 R, 384/372, 384/380, 384/381, 384/416, 384/417
• US Class Current: 74/606.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0213 Support of worm gear shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/023 Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/032 characterised by the materials used
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49465 Gear mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19679 Spur
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

A gearbox (1) is formed by two steel plates (3,5) which support molded elements (such as 13b and combined 35e, 33e). A separate molding operation is performed on each plate, in which a plurality of individual molded parts are molded. The precise positioning is from the mold, not the plate. The liquid plastic is bound to the plate by entering a plurality of holes (such as 66 and 66a) for each part. The plates are then populated and then held together by screws (72a-72d). A bevel gear (31) is mounted on the outside by molded supports (29a, 29b) and by contact with gear (36) with which it meshes.

Claims

1. Mechanical apparatus comprising a first plate having separate parts each anchored to a plurality of locations on said first plate by enclosing said first plate through at least three holes in said first plate, a second plate having separate parts each anchored to a plurality of locations on said second plate by enclosing said second plate through at least three holes in said second plate, said first plate and said second plate being mounted in a fixed, spaced relationship, and mechanical elements mounted on said molded parts in intermeshed relationship for movement.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 in which said mechanical elements comprise intermeshed gears.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 in which said separate parts comprise facing studs on which one of said gears are mounted for rotation.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 in which a plurality of said facing studs with individual mounted gears are noncoaxial to compensate for forces of the gear mounted on said studs.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3 in which said studs are spaced apart to define a cavity between said studs and said cavity contain a grease as a lubricant.

9. The apparatus as in claim 4 in which said studs are spaced apart to define a cavity between said studs and said cavity contains a grease as a lubricant.

10. The apparatus as in claim 5 in which said studs are spaced apart to define a cavity between said studs and said cavity contains a grease as a lubricant.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1 in which said at least three holes in said first plate and said at least three holes in said second plate each comprise a central hole and three holes generally equally spaced around said central hole.

14. The apparatus as in claim 2 in which said at least three holes in said first plate and said at least three holes in said second plate each comprise a central hole and three holes generally equally spaced around said central hole.

15. The apparatus as in claim 3 in which said at least three holes in said first plate and said at least three holes in said second plate each comprise a central hole and three holes generally equally spaced around said central hole.

6. Mechanical apparatus comprising a first plate having separate parts molded to a plurality of locations on said first plate, a said second plate having separate parts molded to a plurality of locations on said second plate, said first plate and said second plate being mounted in a fixed, spaced relationship, and gears mounted on said molded parts in intermeshed relationship for movement, said separate parts comprising facing studs on which one of said gears are mounted for rotation, said studs being slightly non-coaxial to compensate for forces of the gear mounted on said studs.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6 in which a plurality of said facing studs with individual mounted gears are noncoaxial to compensate for forces of the gear mounted on said studs.

8. The apparatus as claim 7 in which said studs are spaced apart to define a cavity between said studs and said cavity contains a grease as a lubricant.

11. A gearbox comprising a first plate having separate parts molded on said first plate at a plurality of locations on said first plate, a second plate having separate parts molded on said second plate at a plurality of locations on said second plate, said first plate and said second plate being mounted in a fixed, spaced relationship, said parts inside of said plates defining at least two shafts, gears mounted in intermeshed relationship on said shafts, molded parts on at least the outside of one of said plates suitable to mount a gear on the outside of said one plate, and an opening on said one plate located to permit a part of a gear mounted on said part suitable to mount a gear to extend through said plate on which it is mounted and intermesh with a gear on the side of said plate on which said intermeshed gears are located.

12. The gearbox as in claim 11 said in which gear mounted on the outside of said plates is located entirely by having extensions inserted through holes of said molded parts and by contact with said gear to which it is intermeshed.