Patent ID: 12240719

While various examples discussed herein are amenable to modifications and alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular examples described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in the claims. In addition, the term “example” as used throughout this application is only by way of illustration, and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Continuously webbed machines are provided as conveyance means for moving media along a media path, also referred to as a web, through the machine. Such conveyance means may include paper or other medium, a conveyance roller, a pinch roller which generates a conveying force by pressing the recording sheet against the conveyance roller, and means for generating a pressing force, among other components. Such conveyance means may move the medium through various processes.

In various examples, the media path may weave through the machine, with some aspects of the machine disposed in a hot environment. For instance, temperatures within and/or near a dryer within the machine may exceed temperatures in other portions of the machine. A live shaft roller may handle webbed material in a hot environment. As used here, a live shaft refers to or includes a roller that includes a solid piece or assembly with bearings disposed at the ends of the roller. However, heat exposure to bearings on the end of the live shaft may reduce the lifespan of the bearings.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a printing apparatus may include a split idler with two independent sides, capable of rotating at different speeds. As used herein, an idler refers to or includes a roller capable of moving a print medium through the printing apparatus to another part of the printing apparatus. A split idler refers to or includes an idler with two or more independent idlers, capable of moving two or more pieces of print media through the printing apparatus. Examples of such apparatus may include a first idler, a second idler, and a shaft. The first idler includes a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. In such examples, the first idler is rotatably mounted to a frame of the apparatus by a first speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end. Additionally, the first idler may have a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a portion of a length of the first idler. The second idler may have a proximal end and a distal, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. The second idler may be rotatably mounted to the frame of the apparatus by a second speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end. Moreover, the second idler may have a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a portion of a length of the second idler. A shaft rotatably may be mounted to an inner surface of the hollow core of the first idler by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings and to an inner surface of the hollow core of the second idler by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings.

In such examples, each outer end of the split roller assembly may include a live shaft with bearings outside the hot environment. Between and nested in the two roller halves may be a shaft mated to the two roller halves via heat-tolerant bearings. The heat-tolerant bearings may be capable of withstanding higher temperatures than the speed-tolerant bearings disposed outside the hot environment. As such, the split roller assembly described, may allow for two parallel lanes of the media path to move in a same direction, and within a relatively hot environment, without compromising the integrity of aspects of the assembly which enable rotation.

In an additional example, an apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a first idler having a proximal end with a shaft extending therefrom, and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end, and where the first idler is rotatably mounted to a frame of the apparatus by a first speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end. The apparatus may further include a second idler having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. The second idler may be rotatably mounted to the frame of the apparatus by a second speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end. The second idler may have a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a portion of a length of the second idler. The shaft may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the hollow core of the second idler by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings.

Furthermore, a system in accordance with the present disclosure, may include a chassis, a media feed including a media path and a plurality of dryers, and a plurality of co-axial asynchronous idlers mounted on the chassis and disposed between the plurality of dryers. Each of the plurality of co-axial asynchronous idlers may include a first idler, a second idler, and a shaft. The first idler may have a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. In such examples, the first idler is rotatably mounted to the chassis by a first speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end, and has a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a length of the first idler. Similarly, the second idler may have a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. The second idler may be rotatably mounted to the chassis by a second speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end, and the second idler may have a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a length of the second idler. The shaft may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the hollow core of the first idler by a first plurality of heat-tolerant bearings and to an inner surface of the hollow core of the second idler by a second plurality of heat-tolerant bearings.

In the following description various specific details are set forth to describe specific examples, with the understanding that other examples may be practiced without all the specific details given below and that features from figures/examples can be combined with features of another figure or example even though the combination is not explicitly shown or explicitly described as a combination. For ease of illustration, the same reference numerals may be used in different diagrams to refer to the same elements or additional instances of the same element.

Turning now to the Figures,FIG.1illustrates an example apparatus including a rotatably mounted idler, consistent with the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.1, the apparatus includes a first idler101having a proximal end101-1and a distal end101-2, where the proximal end101-1has a thicker diameter103relative to the diameter105of the distal end101-1. The first idler101may be rotatably mounted to a frame107of the apparatus by a first speed-tolerant bearing109at the distal end101-1. As used herein, a speed-tolerant bearing refers to or includes a bearing capable of rotating at a faster speed relative to heat-tolerant bearings125-1,125-2,129-1and129-2, discussed further herein. The speed-tolerant bearings may, in some examples, be metal bearings with a lubricant to assist with rotation. Additionally, the first idler101may include a hollow core111at the proximal end101-1and extending a portion of a length of the first idler101.

Additionally, the apparatus may include a second idler113having a proximal end113-1and a distal end113-2. As with the first idler, the second idler113includes a proximal end113-1that has a thicker diameter115relative to the diameter117of the distal end113-2. The second idler113may be rotatably mounted to the frame107of the apparatus by a second speed-tolerant bearing119at the distal end113-2. Moreover, the second idler113may have a hollow core118at the proximal end113-1and extending a portion of a length of the second idler113.

As illustrated inFIG.1, a shaft121may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface123of the hollow core111of the first idler101by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings125-1and125-2. As used herein, heat-tolerant bearings refer to or include bearings capable of withstanding higher temperatures, relative to the speed tolerant bearings109and119. In some examples, the heat-tolerant bearings comprise dry ceramic bearings that do not utilize a lubricant to assist with rotation. Additionally, the shaft may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface127of the hollow core118of the second idler113by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings129-1and129-2. As the shaft121may be coupled to the first idler101and the second idler113by, in some examples, dry ceramic bearings, which rotate at a slower speed than lubricated metal bearings, the first idler101and the second idler113may rotate at essentially the same rate of speed. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the first idler101and the second idler113may rotate at a slightly different rate of speed, because shaft121is rotatably coupled to each idler (101and113) independently. Accordingly, the proximal end101-1of the first idler101may be separated from the proximal end113-1of the second idler113by a threshold distance, such that the first idler101and the second idler113may freely rotate independent from one another.

The first speed-tolerant bearing109at the distal end101-1of the first idler101, and the second speed-tolerant bearing119at the distal end of the second idler113may, in some examples, include metal bearings. The metal bearings may include a lubricant to allow the bearings to rotate at a high rate of speed. For instance, idler101may be coupled to frame107via bearings109. The bearings109may be capable of rotating at a high rate of speed, such that materials other than metal may not withstand the pressure as well. The bearings109may couple an extension104disposed at the distal end101-2of the first idler101to the frame107. Similarly, idler113may be coupled to frame107via bearings119. The bearings119may be capable of rotating at a high rate of speed. The bearings119may couple an extension131disposed at the distal end113-2of the second idler113to the frame107.

In various examples, each of the first idler101and the second idler113may have two or more bearings disposed in the respective hollow core to facilitate independent rotation of the respective idler and the shaft121. The proximal end101-1of the first idler101and the proximal end113-1of the second idler113may be disposed in a hot environment, such that metal bearings may not withstand the temperature. As such, the bearings disposed within the respective hollow core may be heat-tolerant bearings. As used herein, heat-tolerant bearings refers to or includes bearings that are capable of withstanding temperatures up to and including 1200 degrees Celsius. For instance, the shaft121may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface123of the hollow core111of the first idler101by a first plurality of ceramic bearings125-1and125-2, and to the inner surface127of the hollow core118of the second idler113by a second plurality of ceramic bearings129-1and129-2. In some examples, the ceramic bearings are dry bearings, such that a lubricant is not applied. Examples are not so limited, however, and in some examples the ceramic bearings include a lubricant.

In some examples, the hollow core111of the first idler101includes a proximal end133that is flush with the proximal end101-1of the first idler101, and a distal end135that terminates at a distance from the proximal end133corresponding with less than the length of the first idler101. In various examples, the shaft121may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface123of the hollow core111by a first heat-tolerant bearing125-2disposed at the proximal end133of the hollow core111and a second heat-tolerant bearing125-1disposed at the distal end135of the hollow core111. In various examples, the first heat-tolerant bearing125-2and the second heat-tolerant bearing125-1are ceramic. The hollow core118of the second idler113may include a proximal end137that is flush with the proximal end113-1of the second idler113, and a distal end139that terminates at a distance from the proximal end137corresponding with less than the length of the second idler113. In some examples, the shaft121is rotatably mounted to the inner surface127of the hollow core118by a first heat-tolerant bearing129-2disposed at the proximal end137of the hollow core118and a second heat-tolerant bearing129-1disposed at the distal end139of the hollow core118.

FIG.2is a diagram illustrating an example apparatus including a rotatably mounted idler, consistent with the present disclosure. As discussed with regards toFIG.1, the apparatus may include a first idler201and a second idler213. The first idler201may include a proximal end201-1with a shaft221extending therefrom, and a distal end201-2. The proximal end201-1may have a thicker diameter203relative to a diameter205of the distal end201-2of the first idler201. The first idler201may be rotatably mounted to a frame207of the apparatus by a first speed-tolerant bearing209at the distal end201-2.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the apparatus may include a second idler213having a proximal end213-1and a distal end213-2, where the proximal end213-1has a thicker diameter215relative to the diameter217of the distal end213-2. The second idler213may be rotatably mounted to the frame207of the apparatus by a second speed-tolerant bearing219at the distal end213-2. The second idler213may have a hollow core218at the proximal end213-1and extending a portion of a length of the second idler213. The shaft221may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface227of the hollow core218of the second idler213by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings229-1and229-2. As discussed with regards toFIG.1, the proximal end201-1of the first idler201may be separated from the proximal end213-1of the second idler213such that the first idler201and the second idler213may rotate independent of one another.

In various examples, the shaft221may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface227of the hollow core218of the second idler213by a plurality of heat-tolerant bearings229-1and229-2. Additionally, the shaft221may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface227of the hollow core218of the second idler213by a plurality of bushing-style bearings.

The hollow core218of the second idler213may include a proximal end237that is flush with the proximal end213-1of the second idler213, and a distal end239that terminates at a distance from the proximal end237corresponding with less than the length of the second idler213. The shaft may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface227of the hollow core218by a first heat-tolerant bearing229-2disposed at the proximal end237of the hollow core218and a second heat-tolerant bearing229-1disposed at the distal end239of the hollow core218. However, examples are not so limited. For instance, the hollow core218of the second idler213may extend approximately (e.g., around 90%) an entire length of the second idler213. In such examples, the hollow core218includes a distal end239that terminates at the distal end213-2of the second idler213, and a proximal end237at the proximal end213-1of the second idler213. The shaft221may be rotatably mounted to the inner surface227of the hollow core218by a first heat-tolerant bearing229-2disposed at the proximal end237of the hollow core218and a second heat-tolerant bearing229-1disposed at the distal end239of the hollow core218.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating an example apparatus including a rotatably mounted idler, in accordance with the present disclosure. In the example illustrated inFIG.3, a hollow core extends a length of each respective idler, and the shaft similarly extends the length of the idler. For instance, hollow core311extends a length of the proximal end301-1of idler301, terminating before extension304. Additionally, hollow core319extends a length of the proximal end313-1of idler313, terminating before extension331. Accordingly, the shaft321may extend the length of the proximal end301-1of idler301, terminating before extension304, and extend the length of the proximal end313-1of idler313, terminating before extension331(as illustrated).

Heat-tolerant bearings may be disposed at proximal and distal ends of each respective idler to provide support and alignment to the shaft321. For instance, heat-tolerant bearing325-2may be disposed at a proximal end333of the hollow core311, whereas heat-tolerant bearing325-1may be disposed at a distal end335of the hollow core311. Similarly, heat-tolerant bearing329-2may be disposed at a proximal end337of the hollow core319and heat-tolerant bearing329-1may be disposed at a distal end339of the hollow core319. The extensions of each respective idler may be rotatably coupled to a frame307of the printing apparatus via speed-tolerant bearings, as discussed herein. For instance, extension304may be rotatably coupled to frame307via bearings309, and extension331may be rotatably coupled to frame307via bearings319.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating a system including a rotatably mounted idler, in accordance with the present disclosure. The system includes a chassis, or frame (not illustrated inFIG.4), for mounting and/or supporting various components of the printing apparatus described herein. The system further includes a media feed410, that progresses through the printing apparatus, and along a media path. As illustrated inFIG.4, the media feed410includes two parallel media paths, path A and path B. The printing apparatus includes a plurality of dryers402-1,402-2,402-3(referred to collectively herein as dryers402). The dryers402may be arranged such that the media path progresses between the dryers in sequential order. For instance, the media may progress from dryer402-1, to dryer402-2, to dryer402-3, weaving through the respective dryers along the path.

As discussed herein, a plurality of co-axial asynchronous idlers408-1,408-2,408-3and408-4may be mounted on the chassis and disposed between the plurality of dryers to allow two or more media paths to progress through the printing apparatus. As used herein, a co-axial asynchronous idler refers to or includes an idler having two or more independent rollers which are capable of rotating at a different rate of speed. The co-axial asynchronous idlers408-1,408-2,408-3, and408-4may, as discussed herein, be disposed within hot environments412and414, because the idlers are disposed in close proximity to dryer402-1,402-2, and402-3. As such, the co-axial asynchronous idlers408-1,408-2,408-3, and408-4may, in some instances, be referred to as hot split idlers. The co-axial asynchronous idlers408-1,408-2,408-3, and408-4may accordingly include heat-tolerant bearings disposed along the shaft separating the two halves of the idler. The system may include additional co-axial asynchronous idlers414,416, and418, arranged outside of the hot environments412and414. As such, co-axial asynchronous idlers414,416, and418may include metal bearings and/or bushings along the shaft separating the two halves of the idler. Additionally and/or alternatively, all of the co-axial asynchronous idlers (408-1,408-2,408-3,408-4,414,416, and418) may include heat-tolerant bearings along the shaft separating the two halves of the idler.

The idlers implemented inFIG.4may include the various aspects illustrated and discussed with regards toFIGS.1,2, and3. For instance, each of the co-axial asynchronous idlers,408-1,408-2,408-3, and408-4may include a first idler having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. The first idler may be rotatably mounted to the chassis by a first speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end. The first idler may further include a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a length of the first idler. Each of the co-axial asynchronous idlers may include a second idler having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end has a thicker diameter relative to the distal end. The second idler may be rotatably mounted to the chassis by a second speed-tolerant bearing at the distal end, and may have a hollow core at the proximal end and extending a length of the second idler.

As discussed herein, a shaft may be rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the hollow core of the first idler by a first plurality of heat-tolerant bearings and to an inner surface of the hollow core of the second idler by a second plurality of heat-tolerant bearings. The proximal end of the first idler may be separated from the proximal end of the second idler by a threshold distance, such that each respective idler is capable of independent rotation. For instance, for each of the plurality of co-axial asynchronous idlers, the first idler is mounted to the chassis independent of the second idler to rotate independent of the second idler. In some examples, the shaft may extend an entirety of the length of the first idler and an entirety of the length of the second idler.

The skilled artisan would recognize that various terminology as used in the Specification (including claims) connote a plain meaning in the art unless otherwise indicated. Based upon the above discussion and illustrations, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various modifications and changes may be made to the various examples without strictly following the exemplary examples and applications illustrated and described herein.