Swiveling pressure roller assembly

Claim 2

A pressure roller device for engaging rapidly moving media comprising in combination: an elongated body having a side opening groove intermediate its ends forming a journal bearing for pivotally attaching the body to a support rod, the surface of the journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof open to form an entranceway thereinto through which the support rod is snap-fittingly received in the bearing; one end of said elongated body being in the form of a yoke and shaped to form a like pair of axially aligned journal bearings each having the bearing surface thereof extending slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof open to form an entranceway thereinto; and a pressure roller mounted within the yoke and having axle extensions introduced through said entranceways and snapfittingly received in said journal bearing for rotation therein.

Claim 3

The pressure roller device defined in claim 1 characterized in that the elongated body is wholly formed of a hardened plastic material having the properties of elasticity and lubricity.

Claim 4

A pressure roller device for pressing a rapidly moving record medium against a rotatable platen comprising, in combination: an elongated body divided transversely into two parts pivotally connected together for swiveling movement relative to one another about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the body; one part of the body having a yoked portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a like pair of journal bearings aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the swiveling axis and each having the bearing surface thereof extending slightly more than 180 of a circle and leaving the balance open to form an entranceway thereinto; a roller mounted within the yoke portion of said one body part and having axle extensions of a size fitting the journal bearings and introduced through said entranceways for snap-fitting reception in the journal bearings; and the other part of the body having a groove extending crosswise to the direction of the swiveling axis and shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof open as an entranceway through which a rod dimensioned to fit the bearing may be snap-fittingly received therein.

Claim 5

A pressure roller device for pressing a rapidly moving record medium against a rotatable platen comprising, in combination: an elongated body divided transversely into two parts pivotally connected together for swiveling movement relative to one another about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the body; one part of the body having a yoked portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a like pair of journal bearings aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the swiveling axis and each having the bearing surface thereof extending slightly more than 180 of a circle and leaving the balance open to form an entranceway thereinto; a roller mounted within the yoke portion of said one body part and having axle extensions of a size fitting the journal bearings and introduced through said entranceways for snap-fitting reception in the journal bearings; and the other part of the body having a groove extending crosswise to the direction of the swiveling axis and shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof open as an entranceway through which a rod dimensioned to fit the bearing may be snap-fittingly received therein.

Claim 6

The pressure roller device defined in claim 3 characterized in that the elongated body is wholly formed of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity.

Claim 7

A pressure roller device for pressing rapidly moving record media against a rotatable platen comprising, in combination: an Elongated body wholly formed of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity and divided transversely into two parts; a first part of the body being slotted longitudinally to provide two separated end sections each having an exposed groove aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the longitudinal dimension of the body, each of said grooves being similarly shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof opened as an entranceway through which a rod dimensioned to fit the grooves may be snap-fittingly received therein and thus serve as a pivotal support for the device; the second part of the body having a yoke portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of grooves aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the longitudinal dimension of the body, each of said grooves being similarly shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof opened as an entranceway thereinto; a cylindrically-shaped roller positioned within the yoke portion of said second mentioned part of the body and having axle extensions of a size to fit the grooves of the yoke portion and introduced through the entranceways thereof and snap-fittingly received and journaled therein; said first part of the body having an end opening hole therein extending to and opening into the longitudinal slot thereof; and a resiliently contractual tenon on said second part of the body having an enlarged head oversized said hole, said tenon projecting through the hole with the enlarged head disposed in the longitudinal slot so as to removably interlockingly secure the two parts together while providing swiveling movement of second roller carrier part with respect to the first part.

Claim 8

A pressure roller device for pressing rapidly moving record media against a rotatable platen comprising, in combination: an Elongated body wholly formed of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity and divided transversely into two parts; a first part of the body being slotted longitudinally to provide two separated end sections each having an exposed groove aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the longitudinal dimension of the body, each of said grooves being similarly shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof opened as an entranceway through which a rod dimensioned to fit the grooves may be snap-fittingly received therein and thus serve as a pivotal support for the device; the second part of the body having a yoke portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of grooves aligned on an axis extending crosswise to the longitudinal dimension of the body, each of said grooves being similarly shaped to form a journal bearing extending for slightly more than 180 of a circle but leaving the balance thereof opened as an entranceway thereinto; a cylindrically-shaped roller positioned within the yoke portion of said second mentioned part of the body and having axle extensions of a size to fit the grooves of the yoke portion and introduced through the entranceways thereof and snap-fittingly received and journaled therein; said first part of the body having an end opening hole therein extending to and opening into the longitudinal slot thereof; and a resiliently contractual tenon on said second part of the body having an enlarged head oversized said hole, said tenon projecting through the hole with the enlarged head disposed in the longitudinal slot so as to removably interlockingly secure the two parts together while providing swiveling movement of second roller carrier part with respect to the first part.

Claim 9

In a machine providing a pressure receiving surface past which record media are fed and a support rod spaced from the surface and extending generally parallel thereto: a pressure roller device for pressing the second media against said surface as they are fed thereby; said device comprising an elongated body composed wholly of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity; said body having a groove therein snap-fittingly engaging the support rod and providing a journal mounting about which the body may pivot and thereby swing one end thereof toward and away from said surface; said end of the body being in the form of a yoke, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of axially aligned grooves; and a roller pressure member positioned within the yoke and having axle extensions snap-fittingly received in the aligned grooves, said grooves serving as journal bearings for mounting the roller member and enabling the device to apply a rolling pressure on the record media when the device is swung toward said surface.

Claim 10

In a machine providing a pressure receiving surface past which record media are fed and a support rod spaced from the surface and extending generally parallel thereto: a pressure roller device for pressing the second media against said surface as they are fed thereby; said device comprising an elongated body composed wholly of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity; said body having a groove therein snap-fittingly engaging the support rod and providing a journal mounting about which the body may pivot and thereby swing one end thereof toward and away from said surface; said end of the body being in the form of a yoke, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of axially aligned grooves; and a roller pressure member positioned within the yoke and having axle extensions snap-fittingly received in the aligned grooves, said grooves serving as journal bearings for mounting the roller member and enabling the device to apply a rolling pressure on the record media when the device is swung toward said surface.

Claim 11

In a machine providing a pressure receiving platen past which record media are fed and a support rod spaced from the platen and extending generally parallel thereto: a pressure roller device for pressing the record media against said platen as they are fed thereby; said device comprising an elongated body composed wholly of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity and divided transversely into two attachable parts; one of said body parts having a groove therein snap-fittingly engagingly the support rod and providing a journal mounting about which the device may pivot toward and away from said surface; the other of said body parts having a yoke-shaped portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of axially aligned grooves. a roller pressure member positioned within the yoke portion and having axle extensions snap-fittingly received in the aligned grooves and journaled therein for rotation; and means attaching the two body parts and providing swiveling motion of one part with reSpect to the other part about an axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the roller member and whereby the device is pivoted in the direction of the platen past which the record media is fed the roller member will apply a rolling pressure to the record media while at the same time being capable of swiveling to compensate for an encountered irregularity.

Claim 12

In a machine providing a pressure receiving platen past which record media are fed and a support rod spaced from the platen and extending generally parallel thereto: a pressure roller device for pressing the record media against said platen as they are fed thereby; said device comprising an elongated body composed wholly of hardened plastic material having the inherent properties of elasticity and lubricity and divided transversely into two attachable parts; one of said body parts having a groove therein snap-fittingly engagingly the support rod and providing a journal mounting about which the device may pivot toward and away from said surface; the other of said body parts having a yoke-shaped portion, the sides of which are shaped to form a pair of axially aligned grooves. a roller pressure member positioned within the yoke portion and having axle extensions snap-fittingly received in the aligned grooves and journaled therein for rotation; and means attaching the two body parts and providing swiveling motion of one part with reSpect to the other part about an axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the roller member and whereby the device is pivoted in the direction of the platen past which the record media is fed the roller member will apply a rolling pressure to the record media while at the same time being capable of swiveling to compensate for an encountered irregularity.

Claim 13

A pressure roller device for engaging rapidly moving media comprising, in combination: a roller carrier member having a yoke portion shaped to form a like pair of axially aligned journal bearings each encompassing slightly more than 180* of a circle and leaving the balance of the circle open to form an entranceway thereinto, at least the yoke portion of the carrier member being formed of hardened plastic material having the property of a slight inherent elasticity and the further property of inherent lubricity; a pressure roller mounted within the yoke portion of the role roller carrier member and having axle extensions introduced through said entranceways and snap-fittingly received in said journal bearings for rotation therein, the elastic property of the yoke portion allowing expansion of the entranceways as the axle extensions are introduced thereinto and the lubricous property of the yoke portion providing self-lubrication of the journal bearings enabling the axle extensions of the pressure roller to rotate freely therein; a rocking member; and means coupling the roller carrier member ro the rocking member and providing swiveling movement of the roller carrier member and the pressure roller carried thereby about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pressure roller.

Claim 14

A pressure roller device for engaging rapidly moving media comprising, in combination: a roller carrier member having a yoke portion shaped to form a like pair of axially aligned journal bearings each encompassing slightly more than 180* of a circle and leaving the balance of the circle open to form an entranceway thereinto, at least the yoke portion of the carrier member being formed of hardened plastic material having the property of a slight inherent elasticity and the further property of inherent lubricity; a pressure roller mounted within the yoke portion of the role roller carrier member and having axle extensions introduced through said entranceways and snap-fittingly received in said journal bearings for rotation therein, the elastic property of the yoke portion allowing expansion of the entranceways as the axle extensions are introduced thereinto and the lubricous property of the yoke portion providing self-lubrication of the journal bearings enabling the axle extensions of the pressure roller to rotate freely therein; a rocking member; and means coupling the roller carrier member ro the rocking member and providing swiveling movement of the roller carrier member and the pressure roller carried thereby about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pressure roller.