Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Bushing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-10-16
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Bushing
C403S012000, C384S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301745
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to spring-loaded sliding bushings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The principles of the present invention are useful in machines requiring spring-loaded sliding bushing. One such machine is an electrophotographic printer. Electrophotographic printing is a well-known and commonly used method of copying or printing documents. Electrophotographic printing is performed by exposing a light image representation of a desired document onto a substantially uniformly charged photoreceptor. In response to that image the photoreceptor discharges so as to create an electrostatic latent image of the desired document on the photoreceptor's surface. Toner particles are then deposited onto that latent image so as to form a toner image. That toner image is then transferred from the photoreceptor onto a substrate such as a sheet of paper. The transferred toner image is then fused to the substrate, usually using heat and/or pressure. The surface of the photoreceptor is then cleaned of residual developing material and recharged in preparation for the production of another image.
Electrophotographic printers are comprised of a large number of individual components, including numerous mechanical devices. One such mechanical device is a sliding bushing. A sliding bushing is usually an assembly comprised of two separate parts, a movable bushing that retains a rotating shaft and a spring that mates with the bushing such that the bushing and the shaft are biased in an axial direction by the spring. In operation the rotating shaft is forced along an axis by an external actuator, the shaft moves, thereby moving the bushing in the axial direction, and the moving bushing stores energy in the spring. When the external actuator releases the shaft the energy stored in the spring moves the bushing and the shaft back to a predetermined position.
While sliding bushing and their applications are well known, they usually must be assembled from constitute parts. Such assembly is expensive, time consuming, and sometimes difficult. Therefore, a new type of sliding bushing that does not require assembly of individual components would be beneficial.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provide for an integral sliding bushing. A sliding bushing that is in accord with the principles of the present invention is a device for supporting an external rotating member along an axis of rotation and for biasing the rotating member along the axis of rotation. The sliding bushing includes an integrally molded body and biasing portion. The body defines an inner periphery and an outer periphery while the biasing portion extends from the body for mating to a support structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pinch wheel assembly suitable for use in aligning media in a media tray. The pinch wheel assembly includes a housing, a wheel assembly within the housing and having an elongated shaft and wheels, and a sliding bushing, also within the housing, that biases the wheel assembly along the axis of elongation. The sliding bushing includes an integrally molded body and biasing portion. The body defines an inner periphery and an outer periphery while the biasing portion extends from the body to a wall of the housing.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing machine of the type having a sliding bushing for providing rotational support of a rotating member and for biasing that rotating member along an axis of rotation. The sliding bushing includes an integrally molded body and biasing portion. The body defines an inner periphery and an outer periphery while the biasing portion extends from the body.
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Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
Henn David E.
Kelly John M.
Xerox Corporation
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