Abstract:
A machine with a holder for mounting a motor to the device, which may be a printer, includes a support structure, a motor including a drive shaft with a drive shaft axis aligned with an opening in the support structure, and a holder including a base portion positioned adjacent to the motor, a first spring tab integrally formed with the base portion and operably contacting the motor to bias the motor toward the support structure, and a first latch arm integrally formed with the base portion and coupled with the support structure, the first latch arm resiliently deformed by the support structure in a direction away from the drive shaft axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The system and method disclosed herein relates to a device for mounting a motor to a machine and more particularly to a printer with a device for mounting an electric motor to the printer. 
         [0002]    A number of appliances and tools incorporate electric motors. A mounting structure is typically used to fix the motor to the device. The mounting structure used with a particular device maintains the motor drive shaft properly aligned with the components in the device which are driven by the motor. A gear provided on the motor drive shaft, for example, may be maintained in a coupled configuration with one or more gears to transfer the rotational energy produced by the motor to another component in the device. 
         [0003]    The position at which the motor is mounted in a given system is a function of the purpose for which the motor is provided along with design constraints of the particular system. Accordingly, various motor mounting approaches have been incorporated in different systems depending upon the particular needs of the system. Wet/dry vacuum appliances, for example, often have a motor attached directly to the appliance lid via fasteners such as screws or bolts. Other motor mounting techniques include the use of rigid flanges and brackets which are bolted onto the motor and then permanently fastened to the frame and/or to the housing to which the motor is to be mounted. 
         [0004]    Motor mounts which incorporate bolts, screws, and other fasteners are very effective. As the number of components needed to mount a motor to a device increases, however, increased inventory for the various parts must be maintained at the location where the system is assembled. Additionally, as the number of components needed for assembly of a motor to a device increases, the complexity of assembling the motor onto the device increases. 
         [0005]    Moreover, design criteria in more complicated systems frequently dictate the positioning of motors in very tight spaces which are difficult to access even with a single hand. Thus, positioning a motor in the proper position and maintaining the motor in that position with one hand while positioning and affixing fasteners, flanges, etc. with a second hand can be very challenging and significantly increase the time needed to mount a motor to a device. As the time required for assembly increases, the cost of mounting a given motor increases. 
         [0006]    Additionally, there are many instances wherein a motor must be removed. Motors may need to be removed to provide access to other components in need of service, or the motor itself may require service. Each time a motor is removed, the components used to fasten the motor to the device must be removed. The time required to remove the mounting components increases the down-time for the device. When working with small components, such as screws, bolts, and washers, particularly in locations which are difficult to access, components may be dropped, extending down-time while the components are retrieved. In more complex systems, finding and extracting a small component may result in an extended delay in the down-time for the system. 
         [0007]    A printer is a complex system which incorporates a number of motors, some if which are very small. The word “printer” as used herein encompasses any apparatus, such as a digital copier, book marking machine, facsimile machine, multi-function machine, etc., which performs a print outputting function for any purpose. The motors in a particular printer may be positioned in difficult to access locations close to other sensitive printer components. Accordingly, efficient mounting and removal of a motor in a printer is important. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A machine with a holder for mounting a motor to the device, which may be a printer, includes a support structure, a motor including a drive shaft with a drive shaft axis aligned with an opening in the support structure, and a holder including a base portion positioned adjacent to the motor, a first spring tab integrally formed with the base portion and operably contacting the motor to bias the motor toward the support structure, and a first latch arm integrally formed with the base portion and coupled with the support structure, the first latch arm resiliently deformed by the support structure in a direction away from the drive shaft axis. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment, a motor holder includes a base including a motor facing side, a first latch arm integrally formed with the base and extending away from a first portion of the base along a longitudinal axis of the motor holder, a second latch arm integrally formed with the base and extending away from a second portion of the base, the second latch arm spaced apart from the first latch arm, a first hook portion integrally formed with the first latch arm and extending from the first latch arm in a direction toward the base and toward the second latch arm, a second hook portion integrally formed with the second latch arm and extending from the second latch arm in a direction toward the base and toward the first latch arm, and a first biasing member integrally formed with the base, the first biasing member resiliently extending from the base in a direction generally toward the first hook portion. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, a machine includes a motor including a drive shaft extending along a drive shaft axis, the motor having a first height from an upper surface to a lower surface along the drive shaft axis, a support structure (i) defining an opening aligned with the drive shaft axis, and (ii) having a second height from an outer side to an inner side along the drive shaft axis, and a holder including a base portion a first spring tab integrally formed with the base portion and having a maximum spring travel distance along the drive shaft axis from a fully released position to a fully compressed position, at least one latch arm integrally formed with the base portion, and a hook portion integrally formed with the at least one latch arm and extending from the first latch arm in a direction upwardly toward the base, the hook portion defining a clearance height along the drive shaft axis between the hook portion and the fully released position of the first spring tab, wherein the sum of the first height and the second height is (i) greater than the clearance height, and (ii) less than the sum of the clearance height and the maximum spring travel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts an exploded view of a motor support system including a holder, a motor, and a support surface; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a top perspective view of the motor support system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a bottom perspective view of the motor support system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a side plan view of the holder of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts a side cross-sectional view of the motor support system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a motor support system  100  includes a support structure  102 , a motor unit  104  and a holder  106 . The support structure  102  may be specifically provided as a structure for mounting of the motor unit  104 . Alternatively, the support structure  102  may be, for example, a printer chassis or housing which provides structural support for a number of different components within the printer or other motorized device. 
         [0017]    The support structure  102  includes a central opening  108  which extends from an outer side  110  of the support structure  102  to an inner side  112  of the support structure  102 . Two notches  114  and  116  are positioned on opposite sides of the central opening  108  and extend from the outer side  110  to the inner side  112 . An alignment bore  118  is also included in the support structure  102 . 
         [0018]    The motor unit  104  includes a motor drive shaft  120  which drives an output drive shaft  121  on which a gear  122  is mounted through a gear box  128 . An alignment pin  124  extends from the end  126  of the gear box  128 . The motor drive shaft  120  is exposed through an upper motor housing  130 . A power and control module  132  extends outwardly from the upper motor housing  130 . The power and control module  132  provides connections for providing power and control signals to the motor unit  104 . 
         [0019]    The holder  106 , also shown in  FIG. 4 , includes a base portion  134  with a clearance bore  136 . Two spring tabs  138  and  140  extend downwardly from a motor facing side  142  of the base portion  134 . The holder  106  further includes two latch arms  144  and  146 . The latch arm  144  includes an upper arm portion  148 , a lower arm portion  150 , and a hook portion  152 . Two alignment tabs  154  and  156  extend from the upper arm portion  148  generally toward the latch arm  146 . The alignment tabs  154  and  156 , in addition to other functions, provide increase stiffness for the latch arm  146 . The latch arm  146  also includes an upper arm portion  158 , a lower arm portion  160 , a hook portion  162 , and two alignment tabs  164  and  166 . 
         [0020]    The upper arm portions  148  and  158  are spaced apart at a distance that is slightly larger than the diameter of the motor unit  104 , and the lower arm portions  150  and  160  are angled inwardly from the upper arm portions  148  and  158  toward the longitudinal axis  168  of the holder  106 . The alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  extend from the respective latch arm  144 / 146  at an angle such that the alignment tabs  154  and  166  are spaced apart by a distance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the motor unit  104 . Likewise, the alignment tabs  156  and  164  are spaced apart by a distance that is substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the motor unit  104 . 
         [0021]    The hook portions  152  and  162  extend inwardly toward the longitudinal axis  168  and upwardly toward the base portion  134  from a distal portion  174 / 176  to a proximal portion  178 / 180 , respectively. The ends  184  and  186  of the proximal portions  178  and  180 , in this embodiment, are curved so as to be equidistant from the longitudinal axis  168  when viewed from the base portion  134  as depicted most clearly in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0022]    The motor support system  100  is assembled by positioning the hook portions  152  and  162  on opposite sides of the motor unit  104  and moving the holder  106  towards the motor unit  104 . The distance between the ends  184  and  186  is preferably selected to be less than the diameter of the motor unit  104 . Accordingly, as the holder  106  is moved toward the motor unit  104 , the hook portions  152  and  162  contact the upper motor housing  130 . Because the hook portions  152  and  162  are angled inwardly and upwardly from the lower arm portions  150  and  160 , respectively, continued movement of the holder  106  toward the motor unit  104  forces the lower arm portions  150  and  160  away from the longitudinal axis  168 . Application of force directly in line with the longitudinal axis  168  results in automatic alignment of the axis of the output drive shaft  121  with the longitudinal axis  168  so long as the spring constants of the latch arms  140  and  142  are matched. 
         [0023]    As the base  134  of the holder  106  moves further toward the motor unit  104 , the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  contact the upper housing  130  and the upper arm portions  148  and  158  are biased in a direction away from the longitudinal axis  168 . The outward flexure of the upper arm portions  148  and  158  is less than the outward flexure of the lower arm portions  150  and  160  as the hook portions  152  and  162  were moved against the upper housing  130 . Accordingly, the hook portions  152  and  162  remain in contact with the gear box  128  when the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  contact the upper housing  130 . 
         [0024]    Once the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  contact the upper housing  130 , the holder  106  is rotated about the longitudinal axis  168  until the alignment tab  166  contacts the power and control module  132 . The holder  106  is now in a predetermined rotational relationship with the motor unit  104  about the longitudinal axis  168 . If desired, one or more other structures may be provided to interact with one or more of the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  to rotationally align the holder  106  with the motor unit  104 . 
         [0025]    Continued movement of the holder  106  toward the motor unit  104  causes the spring tabs  138  and  140 , initially in a fully released position, to contact the upper motor housing  130 . Preferably, the spring tabs  138  and  140  contact the upper motor housing  130  before the ends  184  and  186  move beyond the end  126  of the gear box  128 . 
         [0026]    In other words, the distance between the ends  184  and  186  and the spring tabs  138  and  140  along the longitudinal axis  168 , when the spring tabs  138  and  140  are not compressed, is less than the height of the motor unit  104 . Thus, continued movement of the holder  106  toward the motor unit  104  causes the spring tabs  138  and  140  to be compressed toward the base portion  134 . Thereafter, the ends  184  and  186  move beyond the end  126  of the gearbox  128 . 
         [0027]    Once the ends  184  and  186  move beyond the end  126  of the gear box  128 , the resilient characteristic of the latch arms  144  and  146  causes movement of the hook portions  152  and  162  toward the longitudinal axis  168  until the lower portions  150  and  160  of the latch arms  144  and  146 , respectively, contact the gear box  128 . The ends  184  and  186  are curved about the longitudinal axis  168  to provide clearance between the ends  184  and  186  and the gear  122 . 
         [0028]    Axial pressure against the base  134  may now be released allowing the spring tabs  138  and  140  to force the base  134  in a direction away from the motor unit  104 . The bias from the spring tabs  138  and  140  bring the ends  184  and  186  into contact with the end  126  of the gearbox  128 . 
         [0029]    At this point in the assembly process, the spring tabs  138  and  140  thus exert an axial bias on the motor unit  104  toward the hook portions  152  and  160  along the longitudinal axis  168  while the latch arms  144  and  146  and the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  each exert a cross-axis force on the motor unit  104 . Thus, the motor unit  104  is clamped within the holder  106  both axially and radially. Additionally, the motor unit  104  is radially aligned within the holder  106  by positioning of the alignment tab  166  against the power and control module  132 . 
         [0030]    An operator may now move the clamped motor unit  104  and holder  106  toward the support structure  102  with a single hand. The operator aligns the gear  122  with the central opening  108  and the clamped motor unit  104  and holder  106  are moved toward the support structure  102 . The operator then aligns the hook portions  152  and  162  with the notches  114  and  116 . Once the hook portions  152  and  162  are aligned with the notches  114  and  116 , respectively, the alignment pin  124  will be aligned with the alignment bore  118 . In the event the hook portions  152  and  162  are aligned with the notches  116  and  114 , respectively, the operator rotates the clamped motor unit  104  and holder  106  to align the alignment pin  124  with the alignment bore  118 . 
         [0031]    The operator then moves the clamped motor unit  104  and holder  106  toward the support structure  102  and the gear  122  enters the central opening  108 . Then, the hook portions  152  and  162  contact the support structure  102 . In one embodiment, the greatest distance between the distal portions  174  and  176  is greater than the distance between the notches  114  and  116 . Accordingly, the hook portions  152  and  162  contact the support structure  102 . Because the hook portions  152  and  162  are angled inwardly and upwardly from the lower arm portions  150  and  160 , respectively, continued movement of the holder  106  and the motor unit  104  along the longitudinal axis  168  forces the lower arm portions  150  and  160  away from the longitudinal axis  168 . Application of force directly in line with the longitudinal axis  168  results in automatic alignment of the alignment pin  124  with the alignment bore  118  and the gear  122  within the central opening  108  so long as the spring constants of the latch arms  140  and  142  are matched. 
         [0032]    As the ends  184  and  186  are forced outwardly away from the longitudinal axis  168 , the alignment pin  124  enters the alignment bore  118 . Continued movement of the motor unit  104  and the holder  106  along the longitudinal axis  168  continues to force the ends  184  and  186  outwardly to a location immediately above the notches  114  and  116 , respectively. At this point, the end  126  of the gear box  128  abuts the outer side  110  of the support structure  102 . 
         [0033]    Continued movement of the motor unit  104  and the holder  106  forces the spring tabs  138  and  140  into further compression, allowing the ends  184  and  186  to move along the walls of the notches  114  and  116  toward the inner side  112  of the support structure  102 . The travel of the spring tabs  138  and  140 , which is the distance along the longitudinal axis  168  of the spring tabs  138  and  140  from a fully released position to a fully compressed position, is selected such that the ends  184  and  186  of the hook portions  152  and  162  move out of the notches  114  and  116  prior to the spring tabs  138  and  140  being fully compressed. Additionally, the clearance bore  136  ensures that the protruding portion of the motor drive shaft  120  does not contact the base portion  134  prior to the spring tabs  138  and  140  being fully compressed. 
         [0034]    Accordingly, movement of the motor unit  104  and the holder  106  along the longitudinal axis  168  in the direction toward the outer side  110  of the support structure  102  causes the hook portions  152  and  162  to move out of the notches  114  and  116 . Once the hook portions  152  and  162  move out of the notches  114  and  116 , the resilient characteristic of the latch arms  144  and  146  forces the lower arm portions  150  and  160  of the latch arms  144  and  146 , respectively, to move toward the longitudinal axis  168  until the lower arm portions  150  and  160  contact the walls of the notches  114  and  116 . Pressure applied by the operator to the base  134  is then relaxed, and the spring tabs  138  and  140  bias the holder  106  away from the support structure  102  until the ends  184  and  186  of the hook portions  152  and  162 , respectively, are brought into firm contact with the inner side  112  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 . 
         [0035]    In  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , the spring tabs  138  and  140  exert an axial bias on the motor unit  104  toward the hook portions  152  and  162  along the longitudinal axis  168 . Accordingly, the end  126  of the motor unit  104  is forced against the outer side  110  of the support structure. Thus, the motor unit  104  and the support surface  102  are axially clamped between the ends  184  and  186  of the hook portions  152  and  162 . 
         [0036]    Additionally, the alignment tabs  154 ,  156 ,  164 , and  166  each exert a cross-axis force on the motor unit  104  and the lower arm portions  150  and  160  exert a cross-axis force on the support structure  102 . Thus the motor unit  104  and the support structure  102  are clamped in cross-axis directions. Furthermore, the positioning of the alignment pin  124  within the alignment bore  118  inhibits any rotation of the motor unit  104  with respect to the support structure  102 . 
         [0037]    Thus, the motor support system  100  maintains the output drive shaft  121  of the motor unit  104  aligned axially, radially, and rotationally with respect to the support structure  102 . Advantageously, the holder  106  may be integrally formed of sheet spring steel using a progressive die with no post operation fabricating steps required. 
         [0038]    Disassembly of the motor support system  100  is accomplished essentially by reversal of the foregoing process. During removal, however, the biasing force of the latch arms  144  and  146  toward the longitudinal axis  168  must be overcome to remove the holder  106  from the support structure  102  and to remove the motor unit  104  from the holder  106 . 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.