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US4739371A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Low cost belt module

Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1986-11-10
•
Granted: 1988-04-19
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Expires: 2006-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine for replacing photoreceptor belts including a pair of support rolls for supporting the photoreceptor belt and a pivot element disposed intermediate the support rolls and connected thereto by connecting arms, the arms being disposed in relative horizontal position for exerting tension on the belt for operation of the belt and being disposed in a relatively perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension and replacing the belt. The belt module further includes shafts for engaging slots in the machine to mount the belt module and further includes a drive sprocket connected to one of the shafts for driving the photoreceptor belt.

Inventors

  • 👤 C. Michael Ray
  • 👤 Frank Y. Yang
  • 👤 Dennis M. Ankrom

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/754

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
A reproduction machine including a frame having a support slot and a removable belt module for replacing photoreceptor belts, the belt module comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, at least one of the support rolls mechanically engaging the support slot to secure the module to the frame, a pivotal roll disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot roll, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll and the pivot roll, the said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship upon removal from the machine for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
A reproduction machine including a frame having a support slot and a removable belt module for replacing photoreceptor belts, the belt module comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, at least one of the support rolls mechanically engaging the support slot to secure the module to the frame, a pivotal roll disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot roll, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll and the pivot roll, the said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship upon removal from the machine for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The module of claim 1 including a shaft journaled in one of said first and second support rolls, said shaft being a drive shaft, and a drive sprocket coupled to said drive shaft, said sprocket engaging sprocket holes in said photoreceptor belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 94 words
A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll to the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 94 words
A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll to the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The module of claim 3, wherein the pivot element is a shaft supporting an idler roll.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
The module of claim 4, wherein the machine includes a frame having support slots and the first support roll is supported on a first shaft, each of the first shaft and the idler shaft engaging one of said support slots to secure the module to the frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The module of claim 3 including a drive shaft journaled in one of the support rolls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The module of claim 6, wherein said drive shaft includes a drive sprocket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The module of claim 3 including a spring, said spring mechanically engaging one of said rolls to exert tension on said belt with said arms in said relatively horizontal relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 91 words
A belt module in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll and the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 91 words
A belt module in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll to the pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll and the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for exerting tension on the belt and being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for relaxing the tension on the belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The module of claim 9, wherein the pivot element is an idler shaft supporting an idler roll.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 95 words
A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll tot he pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll to the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for operation within the machine and upon removal from the machine being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for replacing the photoreceptor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 95 words
A removable belt module for use in a reproduction machine comprising: a photoreceptor belt, a first and a second support roll for supporting the photoreceptor belt, a pivot element disposed intermediate the first and second support rolls, a first arm interconnecting the first support roll tot he pivot element, a second arm interconnecting the second support roll to the pivot element, said first and second arms being disposed in a relative horizontal relationship for operation within the machine and upon removal from the machine being disposed in a relative perpendicular relationship for replacing the photoreceptor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3646866A Cited
US3456776A Cited
US3695346A Cited
US4062631A Cited
US4013358A Cited
US4279496A Cited
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JPS613185A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-04-19 1991-10-19 1992-04-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-04-19 1995-10-19 1996-04-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-04-19 1999-10-19 2000-04-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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