Patent ID: 11905698
Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC E  B | IPC B  E

Claim 0:
1. A feed mechanism for use with a drain cleaner, the feed mechanism configured to drive a cable of the drain cleaner, the feed mechanism comprising:
a frame configured to be coupled to the drain cleaner, the frame including a cable passage defining a cable axis;
a plurality of rollers including a translatable roller, each roller defining a roller axis, the translatable roller moveable between an engaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved toward the cable axis to engage the cable, and a disengaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved away from the cable axis to be spaced from the cable;
a mode selection member coupled to the frame and moveable between
a first position in which each roller axis is parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to spin the cable about the cable axis, and
a second position in which each roller axis is non-parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to move the cable in a first direction along the cable axis,

wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in the first position, the feed mechanism is operable to spin the cable about the cable axis,
wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in the second position, the feed mechanism is operable to move the cable in the first direction along the cable axis;
a lever configured to pivot between an active position, in which the translatable roller is in the engaged position, and an inactive position in which the translatable roller is in the disengaged position; and
a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve having a slot and containing a roller retainer that respectively holds one of the plurality of rollers, each roller retainer having a pin respectively extending through the slot of the sleeve containing the roller retainer, each roller retainer defining a retainer axis, and wherein the roller retainer holding the translatable roller is a translatable roller retainer;
wherein the mode selection member engages each of the pins, such that in response to movement of the mode selection member between the first and second positions, each pin is respectively rotated about its respective retainer axis within the slot through which the pin extends, such that each roller retainer is rotated about its respective retainer axis;
wherein at least one of the roller retainers that is not the translatable roller retainer includes a rounded bottom that engages a bottom of the sleeve in which the roller retainer is arranged.