Gear mounting using tubing and snap-fit caps

A mounting apparatus for mounting a rotating element to a housing is disclosed. The housing defines an opening through a wall of the housing. The mounting apparatus includes a tube including an aperture therethrough. The tube includes a first tube portion thereof including a cylindrical outer periphery and a second tube portion thereof connected to the first tube portion and securable to the opening through the wall of the housing. The mounting apparatus further includes a cap including a body portion thereof having a body outer periphery thereof matingly fitted to the aperture of the tube. The cap further includes a flange extending outwardly from a first end of the body portion in a direction perpendicular to the body outer periphery of the body portion of the cap. The cap further including a connector extending from a second end of the body portion opposed to the first end. The connector is utilized for connecting the cap to the tube.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing machines. More 
specifically, the invention relates to gear mounting arrangement. 
The features of the present invention are useful for use in machines with 
gear trains. One such is type of machine is a printing machine, for 
example, electrophotographic printing machines. 
In the process of electrophotographic printing, a photoconductive surface 
is charged to a substantially uniform potential. The photoconductive 
surface is image wise exposed to record an electrostatic latent image 
corresponding to the informational areas of an original document being 
reproduced. This records an electrostatic latent image on the 
photoconductive surface corresponding to the informational areas contained 
within the original document. Thereafter, a marking material such as toner 
particles is transported into contact with the electrostatic latent image 
in a region known as the development zone. Toner particles are attracted 
from the magnetic roller to the latent image. The resultant toner powder 
image is then transferred from the photoconductive surface to a copy sheet 
and permanently affixed thereto. The foregoing generally describes a 
typical mono-color single component development electrophotographic 
copying machine. 
Machines often include rotating members which are typically rotated by a 
motor and a series of gears which are connected to the motor in the form 
of a transmission or series of gears, each gear being mounted 
independently on a shaft. Gear mounting arrangements are thus found on 
many machines of all types. Xerographic copying and printing machines 
typically utilize a large number of gears. The gears are used to drive the 
paper handling of the machine as well as, for example, the development and 
cleaning stations of the xerographic process. 
The gears are required to be mounted to housings within the machines. Gears 
typically are mounted on metal shafts extending from the housing. The 
shafts are typically welded to the housings and the shafts include the 
E-rings to secure the gears. 
The use of E-rings is very costly in that the E-groove is very costly to 
machine into the shafts. Further, the E-rings are difficult and expensive 
to manufacture. Furthermore, the E-rings are difficult to assemble onto 
the E-ring grooves of the shaft and are very difficult to disassemble from 
the E-ring grooves, particularly when servicing a machine in the field. 
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present 
invention: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,944 
Patentee: DeBolt et al. 
Issue Date: September 17, 1991 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,890 
Patentee: DeBolt et al. 
Issue Date: September 3, 1991 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,074 
Patentee: Midorikawa et al. 
Issue Date: March 6, 1984 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,600 
Patentee: Ito et al. 
Issue Date: May 16, 1978 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,240 
Patentee: Ito et al. 
Issue Date: May 13, 1975 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,297 
Patentee: Ito et al. 
Issue Date: January 8, 1974 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,944 discloses an apparatus and method for applying 
offset preventing liquid to a fuser roll including an oil impregnated web 
member adapted to be moved by a motor from a supply core to a take up 
core; and a control to vary the duty cycle operation of the motor to drive 
the web member at a relatively constant liner speed at a contact nip, the 
control including a timer to monitor the cumulative time of operation of 
the motor and to progressively decrease the duty cycle of the motor in 
response to the cumulative time of operation wherein the progressively 
decreased duty cycle of operation compensates for the increasing radius of 
the web member on the take up core to maintain the relatively constant 
linear speed at the contact nip. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,890 discloses a fuser apparatus for heat fusing toner 
images to a print substrate has a fuser roll and a pressure roll forming a 
fusing nip therebetween, a system to deliver liquid release agent to the 
fuser roll including a movable web having a first side and a second side 
supported between a web supply roll and a web take-up roll, a housing 
supporting the supply roll and take-up roll such that one of the supply 
and take-up rolls is on one side of the fuser roll and the other is on the 
other side of the fuser roll and the first side of the movable web is in 
contact with the fuser roll along a path parallel to its longitudinal 
axis. The movable web is impregnated with a liquid release agent and the 
movable web, supply roll and take-up roll are reversibly mounted in the 
housing to deliver liquid release agent to the fuser roll initially from 
the first side of the movable web followed by reversing the location of 
the supply roll and take-up roll in the support housing so that the second 
side of the impregnated web is in contact with the fuser roll to deliver 
release agent. The movable web is urged into delivery engagement with the 
fuser roll by an open celled foam pinch roll impregnated with liquid 
release agent. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,074 discloses a lubricant film applied to the drum to 
maintain the coefficient of friction between the drum and blade constant 
and thereby ensure efficient cleaning after a photosensitive drum is 
cleaned of residual toner by a scraper blade. The film forming material is 
in the form of a block and is applied to the drum by a rotary brush. The 
brush is selectively moved into and out of engagement with the drum to 
control the amount of film application. The engagement of the brush with 
the drum is controlled in accordance with a sensed parameter such as a 
number of copies produced, the coefficient of friction between the drum 
and a sensor blade, etc. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,600 discloses a corona discharger includes a shield and 
a discharge wire extended between opposed ends of the shield and supported 
between its ends. The position of the wire is adjustable to control the 
distance between the wire and a surface of a member to be subjected to the 
corona discharge and a spring is arranged to maintain tension on the 
discharge wire regardless of the position of adjustment of the wire. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,240 discloses an electrophotographic copying machine 
which includes a housing, an original holder reciprocable upon the upper 
surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member unit that includes 
an electrophotographic photosensitive member mounted for rotation at 
substantially the center of the housing. Charging apparatus is mounted on 
one side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and an optical 
system for effecting exposure through a slit and developing apparatus is 
provided. Fixing apparatus and cleaning apparatus are disposed on the 
other side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Copy medium 
feeding elements and image transfer members are disposed below the 
electrophotosensitive member, and the electrophotosensitive member unit is 
mounted in the housing so as to be removable upwardly therefrom. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,297 discloses an electrophotographic copying machine of 
this invention has an original holder reciprocating on the upper surface 
of an electrophotographic photosensitive member which is rotatably fixed 
to the supporting device therefor. The charging device is arranged on one 
side of the photosensitive member. The copying machine further includes 
optical system for slit exposure, developing device, fixing device and 
cleaning device, which are arranged on the other side of the 
photosensitive member. Copy sheet feeding device, image transfer device 
are also arranged below the photosensitive member. 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
mounting apparatus for mounting a rotating element to a housing. The 
housing defines an opening through a wall of the housing. The mounting 
apparatus includes a tube including an aperture therethrough. The tube 
includes a first tube portion thereof including a cylindrical outer 
periphery and a second tube portion thereof connected to the first tube 
portion and securable to the opening through the wall of the housing. The 
mounting apparatus further includes a cap including a body portion thereof 
having a body outer periphery thereof matingly fitted to the aperture of 
the tube. The cap further includes a flange extending outwardly from a 
first end of the body portion in a direction perpendicular to the body 
outer periphery of the body portion of the cap. The cap further including 
a connector extending from a second end of the body portion opposed to the 
first end. The connector is utilized for connecting the cap to the tube. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a mounting apparatus for mounting a gear to a cylindrical opening 
through a wall of a housing for use in a printing machine. The mounting 
apparatus includes a cylindrical tube defining an aperture therethrough. 
The tube includes a first tube portion thereof including a cylindrical 
outer periphery and a shoulder extending inwardly from one end of the 
cylindrical outer periphery. The tube further includes a cylindrical stem 
extending perpendicularly from the shoulder in a direction opposed to the 
first tube portion. The cylindrical tube has an outer periphery thereof 
matingly fittable with the cylindrical opening. The cylindrical tube also 
has a distal end further including a lip extending outwardly from the 
outer periphery of the cylindrical stem. The lip is formed by spin 
riveting the tubing to the wall of the housing; The mounting apparatus 
further includes a cap including a body portion having an outer periphery 
thereof matingly fitted to the aperture of the cylindrical tube. The cap 
further includes a flange extending outwardly from a first end of the body 
portion in a direction perpendicular to the outer periphery of the body 
portion of the cap. The cap further includes a pliable lip extending from 
a second end of the cap in a direction perpendicular to the outer 
periphery of the body portion of the cap. The lip has a first, constrained 
position for permitting the lip to be fitted within the aperture of the 
cylindrical tube and a second relaxed position for permitting the lip to 
secure the cap to the cylindrical tube. 
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a 
mounting apparatus for mounting a gear to a cylindrical opening through a 
wall of a housing. The mounting apparatus includes a tube including an 
aperture therethrough. The tube includes a first tube portion thereof 
including a cylindrical outer periphery and a second tube portion thereof 
connected to the first tube portion and securable to the opening through 
the wall of the housing. The mounting apparatus further includes a cap 
including a body portion thereof having a body outer periphery thereof 
matingly fitted to the aperture of the tube. The cap further includes a 
flange extending outwardly from a first end of the body portion in a 
direction perpendicular to the body outer periphery of the body portion of 
the cap. The cap further including a connector extending from a second end 
of the body portion opposed to the first end. The connector is utilized 
for connecting the cap to the tube. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a method for mounting a rotating element to a wall of a housing. 
The method includes the steps of preparing an opening through the wall, 
placing a hollow tube into the wall, spin riveting the tube to the wall, 
placing the rotating element over the hollow tube, inserting a cap into 
the hollow tube and securing the cap to the hollow tube.

While the present invention will be described in connection with a 
preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not 
intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is 
intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may 
be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the 
appended claims. 
For a general understanding of the illustrative electrophotographic 
printing machine incorporating the features of the present invention 
therein, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like 
reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical 
elements. FIG. 8 schematically depicts the various components of an 
electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the rotating element 
mounting feature of the present invention therein. Although the rotating 
element mounting feature of the present invention is particularly well 
adapted for use in the illustrative printing machine, it will become 
evident that the rotating element mounting feature is equally well suited 
for use in a wide variety of printing machines and are not necessarily 
limited in its application to the particular embodiment shown herein. 
Referring now to FIG. 8, the electrophotographic printing machine shown 
employs a photoconductive belt 40, although photoreceptors in the form of 
a drum are also known, and may be substituted therefor. The belt 40 has a 
photoconductive surface 42 deposited on a conductive substrate 44. Belt 40 
moves in the direction of arrow 46 to advance successive portions thereof 
sequentially through the various processing stations disposed about the 
path of movement thereof. Motor 54 rotates roller 52 to advance belt 40 in 
the direction of arrow 46. Roller 52 is coupled to motor 54 by suitable 
means such as a drive (not shown). The belt 40 is supported by rollers 49, 
57 and 52. 
Initially successive portions of belt 40 pass through charging station A. 
At charging station A, a corona generating device, indicated generally by 
the reference numeral 48, charges the belt 40 to a selectively high 
uniform electrical potential, preferably negative. Any suitable control, 
well known in the art, for example HVPS (High Voltage Power Supply) 50 may 
be employed for controlling the corona generating device 48. 
At imaging station S, in a digital printing machine, as shown in FIG. 8, a 
ROS (Remote Optical Scanner) 56 may lay out the image in a series of 
horizontal scan lines with each line having a specific number of pixels 
per inch. The ROS 56 may include a laser (not shown) having a rotating 
polygon mirror block associated therewith. The ROS 56 exposes the 
photoconductive surface 42 of the belt 40. 
It should be appreciated that the printing machine may alternatively be a 
light lens copier. In a light lens copier a document to be reproduced is 
placed on a platen, located at the imaging station, where it is 
illuminated in known manner by a light source such as a tungsten halogen 
lamp. The document thus exposed is imaged onto the drum by a system of 
mirrors. The optical image selectively discharges the surface of the drum 
in an image configuration whereby an electrostatic latent image of the 
original document is recorded on the drum at the imaging station. 
At development station C, a magnetic development system or unit, indicated 
generally by the reference numeral 36 advances developer materials into 
contact with the electrostatic latent images. Preferably, the developer 
unit 36 includes a magnetic developer roller 53 mounted in a housing. The 
roller 53 advances toner particles into contact with the latent image. 
Appropriate developer biasing is may be accomplished via power supply 55, 
electrically connected to developer unit 36. 
The developer unit 36 develops the charged image areas of the 
photoconductive surface. This developer unit contains magnetic black 
toner, for example, particles 58 which are charged by the electrostatic 
field existing between the photoconductive surface and the electrically 
biased developer roll in the developer unit. Power supply 55 electrically 
biases the magnetic roll 53. 
A sheet of support material 64 is moved into contact with the toner image 
at transfer station D. The sheet of support material is advanced to 
transfer station D by a suitable sheet feeding apparatus, not shown. 
Preferably, the sheet feeding apparatus includes a feed roll contacting 
the uppermost sheet of a stack copy sheets. Feed rolls rotate so as to 
advance the uppermost sheet from the stack into a chute which directs the 
advancing sheet of support material into contact with the photoconductive 
surface of belt 40 in a timed sequence so that the toner powder image 
developed thereon contacts the advancing sheet of support material at 
transfer station D. 
Transfer station D includes a corona generating device 68 which sprays ions 
of a suitable polarity onto the backside of sheet 64. This attracts the 
toner powder image from the belt 40 to sheet 64. After transfer, the sheet 
continues to move, in the direction of arrow 69, onto a conveyor (not 
shown) which advances the sheet to fusing station E. 
Fusing station E includes a fuser assembly, indicated generally by the 
reference numeral 71, which permanently affixes the transferred powder 
image to sheet 64. Preferably, fuser assembly 71 comprises a heated fuser 
roller 70 and a pressure roller 72. Sheet 64 passes between fuser roller 
70 and pressure roller 72 with the toner powder image contacting fuser 
roller 70. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed 
to sheet 64. After fusing, a chute 74 guides the advancing sheet 64 to a 
catch tray 76 for subsequent removal from the printing machine by the 
operator. It will also be understood that other post-fusing operations can 
be included, for example, stapling, binding, inverting and returning the 
sheet for duplexing and the like. 
After the sheet of support material is separated from the photoconductive 
surface 42 of belt 40, the residual toner particles carried by image and 
the non-image areas on the photoconductive surface are charged to a 
suitable polarity and level by a preclean charging device (not shown) to 
enable removal therefrom. These particles are removed at cleaning station 
F. The vacuum assisted, electrostatic, brush cleaner unit 78 is disposed 
at the cleaner station F. The cleaner unit has a brush roll that rotates 
at relatively high speeds which creates mechanical forces that tend to 
sweep the residual toner particles into an air stream (provided by a 
vacuum source), and then into a waste container. Subsequent to cleaning, a 
discharge lamp or corona generating device (not shown) dissipates any 
residual electrostatic charge remaining prior to the charging thereof for 
the next successive imaging cycle. 
It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for purposes of 
the present application to illustrate the general operation of an 
electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the apparatus of the 
present invention therein. 
According to the present invention and referring again to FIG. 8, a snap 
fit gear mounting 100 is shown supporting magnetic roller gear 102 for 
rotating the magnetic roller 53 within developer unit 36. While as shown 
in the FIG. 8, the snap fit gear mounting 100 is utilized within the 
developer unit 36, it should be appreciated that the snap fit gear 
mounting arrangement 100 of the present invention may be used anywhere 
within the printing machine 2. For example, snap fit gear mounting may be 
utilized within the cleaning unit F, the fusing unit E, or anywhere along 
the paper path of the printing machine. Further the snap fit gear mounting 
arrangement 100 may be utilized to support the photoconductive belt 40. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, the developer unit 36 is shown in greater detail. 
The snap fit gear mounting arrangement 100 is secured to a mounting wall 
104 of the developer unit 36, magnetic roller gear 102 is secured to the 
snap fit gear mounting arrangement 100. Similarly, the second gear 106, 
third gear 110 and fourth gear 112 may be secured to the developer unit 36 
by the use of the snap fit gear mounting arrangement 100 which is mounted 
to mounting wall 104. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, snap fit gear mounting arrangement 100 according 
to the present invention, is shown in greater detail. The gear mounting 
arrangement 100 is utilized for mounting a rotating element, for example 
gear 102 to a housing, for example in the form of a developer unit 36 (see 
FIGS. 7 and 8). The developer unit 36 includes the mounting wall 104. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the mounting wall 104 includes an opening 114 
therethrough. The gear mounting arrangement 100 includes a tube 116 as 
well as a cap 120. 
The tube 116 includes an aperture 122 therethrough. The tube includes a 
first tube portion 124 which includes a cylindrical outer periphery 126. 
The tube also includes a second tube portion 130 which is securable to 
wall 104 at the opening 114 of wall 104 of the developer unit 36. 
The cap 120 includes a body portion 132 thereof having a body outer 
periphery 134 which matingly fits to the aperture 122 of the tube 116. The 
cap 120 preferably includes a flange 136 extending outwardly from a first 
end 140 of the body portion 132 in a direction perpendicular to the body 
outer periphery 134 of the body portion 132 of the cap 120. The cap 120 
preferably further includes a connector 142 extending from a second end 
144 of the body portion 132 of the cap 120 opposed to the first end 140 of 
the cap 120. 
The tube 116, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a collar 146 which extends 
outwardly from outer periphery 126 of first tube portion 124 of the tube 
116. The collar serves to provide a thrust face for the gear 102. It 
should be appreciated that the tube 116 for simplicity may be made without 
the collar 146 and surface 147 of the mounting wall 104 may then be 
utilized to provide a thrust face for and to contain first face 148 of the 
gear 102. The second gear face 150 is contained by flange 136 of the cap 
120. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, tube 116 is shown in greater detail. The 
tube 116 includes the aperture 122 which extends centrally along 
longitudinal axis 152 of the tube 116. The aperture 122 may have any shape 
capable of receiving the cap 120, and, preferably, for simplicity, has a 
cylindrical shape defined by diameter DA of, for example, 0.26 inches. The 
tube 116 includes the first tube portion 124 which has a preferably a 
cylindrical outer periphery 126 which is defined by diameter DT of, for 
example, 0.44 inches. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tube 116 further includes the collar 146 
which extends from a first end of the first tube portion 124. The collar 
146 has a outer periphery 156 which may have any shape and may, for 
example, be circular having a diameter DC of, for example, 0.60 inches. It 
should be appreciated that the outer periphery 156 of the collar 146 may 
have any shape. The significant features of the collar being that it 
provides a thrust face 160 for supporting the gear 102 and a wider more 
stable support for the tube 116 against the wall 104. Extending from the 
collar 146 is a second tube portion 130. The second tube portion 130 has 
an outer periphery 162 which conforms to inner periphery 164 of the wall 
104 of FIG. 4. 
Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second tubular portion 130 may have 
any suitable shape and may, for example, have a cylindrical periphery 162 
defined by a diameter DH of, for example, 0.34 inches. The first tubular 
portion 126 of the tube 116 has a wall thickness TT of, for example, 0.09 
inches. The first tubular portion 124 has a length LT of, for example, 
0.40 inches. The collar 146 has a thickness TC of, for example, 0.16 
inches. The second tubular portion 130 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is in an 
unassembled condition and in this unassembled configuration has a length 
LH of, for example, 0.20 inches. 
It should be appreciated that the dimensions given for the tube 116 and the 
cap 120 are merely illustrative and represent a shape and size that the 
applicants have found to be effective. It should be appreciated that the 
tube and cap may be scaled into larger dimensions and into smaller 
dimensions. It should also be appreciated that considerable latitude may 
be had for the relative size of the dimensions. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the mounted wall 104 is shown with an opening 114 
to receive the tube 116. While, as stated earlier, the opening 114 of the 
wall 104 may have an inner periphery 164 of any suitable shape compatible 
with the tube 116. It should be appreciated that, for simplicity, the 
opening 114 may preferably be cylindrical and be defined by a diameter DW 
which is matingly fitted to diameter DH of the second tube portion 130 of 
the tube 116. For example, the diameter DW may be 0.35 inches. 
The wall 104 may have any suitable thickness capable of supporting the tube 
116 and the gear 102 and may, for example, have a wall thickness TW of, 
for example, 0.10 inches. First end 158 of the tube 116 may include a 
chamfer 123 adjacent the aperture 122 to assist in the assembly of the cap 
120 thereto. 
The tube 116 may be made of any suitable durable material such as a plastic 
or a metal. Preferably, however, the tube 116 is made up of a malleable 
metal such as stainless steel, for example, from stainless steel tubing. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the cap 120 is shown in greater detail. The cap 
120 includes a body portion 132. The body portion 132 has a body outer 
periphery 134 which is slidably fitted to the aperture 122 of the tube 116 
(see FIG. 1). The body portion 132 includes a pair of spaced-apart legs 
166 adjacent second end 168 of the body portion 132 opposed to first end 
140 of the body portion 132. 
The body portion 132 includes a cylindrical section which has a length LC 
of approximately 0.20 inches, for example. The body portion 132 has an 
outer periphery 134 which may have any shape that mates with he tube 116 
and, for example, may be cylindrical with an outer periphery defined by 
diameter DB of approximately 0.25 inches and may have a body portion 
length LB of, for example, 1.2 inches. The legs 116 are preferably 
symmetrical and spaced apart and have a length LL of, for example, 0.60 
inches. The length LL is determined to provide sufficient flex to the legs 
166 to provide assembly and securing of the cap 120 to the gear mounting 
arrangement 100. 
The connector 142 may have any suitable shape and may, for example, include 
a protrusion 170 but preferably includes a pair of spaced-apart 
symmetrical protrusions 170 located on distal end 172 of the legs 166. The 
protrusions 170 may, to assist assembly, include a tapered outer periphery 
174 defined by an included angle .alpha.of, for example, 20 degrees. The 
protrusions 170 may have any suitable size sufficient to restrain the cap 
120 within the gear mounting arrangement. For example, the protrusion 170 
may have a length LP of, for example, 0.10 inches and a outer diameter DP 
of, for example, 0.35 inches. The legs 166 may be divided or separated by 
a distance DL of, for example, 0.10 inches. 
The cap includes a flange 136 which extends past outer periphery 126 of the 
tube 116. The flange 136 may for simplicity have a cylindrical periphery 
defined by flange diameter DF of, for example, 0.40 inches and a thickness 
of, for example 0.20 inches. 
The cap 120 may be made of any suitable durable material which has 
sufficient resiliency for the connector 142. For example, the cap 120 may 
be made of a plastic, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) 
or acetal. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, the tube 116 is shown installed into the wall 104. 
The second tubular portion 130 is installed by inserting the tube 116 in 
the direction of arrow 176 such that collar 146 rests against wall 104. 
The second tubular portion 130 is formed or shaped by any suitable method 
to create a lip 180 which traps the tube 116 within the wall 104. The lip 
180 may have any dimensions capable of restraining the tube 116 and, for 
example, may be defined by a lip thickness LW of, for example, 0.04 inches 
and a lip diameter LD of, for example, 0.40 inches. For example, the tube 
116 may be installed into the wall 104 by means of coining, localized 
heating and forming, or preferably spin riveting the tube 116 about 
opening 114 to create the lip 116. 
By providing a gear mounting arrangement with a thin-walled spun riveted 
tube, a lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to assemble mounting 
arrangement can be provided. 
By providing a gear mounting arrangement with a snap fit cap, a inexpensive 
and easy to assemble, as well as easy to disassemble, gear mounting 
arrangement may be provided. 
By providing a gear mounting arrangement with a spin riveted tube and a 
snap fit cap, an inexpensive and easy to assemble and disassemble gear 
mounting arrangement may be provided. 
While this invention has been described in conjunction with various 
embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and 
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it 
is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and 
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended 
claims.