US 2016/0355357 A1Published application

Push-pull latch assembly for a detachable media pick mechanism

AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.

InventorsANGEL MACUHA ALAGOS, GENEROSO TEBORDO DE LA CERNA

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Abstract

A push-pull latch assembly for a detachable media pick mechanism. The latch assembly comprises a handle that is slidably and axially insertable into a handle base which is mounted to the pick mechanism housing. The handle base includes a pair of cantilevered, opposed latched arms having opposed catches for engagement with a groove positioned inboard a free end of a cantilevered drive shaft for the pick mechanism. The handle includes triangular rails having inner and outer ramps used to separate the opposed latch arms. The outer ramp separates the latch arms when the handle is inserted into the handle base. The inner ramp separates the latch arms during removal of the pick mechanism from the drive shaft. An axial pushing force engages the latch assembly to the groove and an axial pulling force disengages the latch assembly from the groove allowing for pick assembly removal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A detachable pick mechanism slidably engageable onto a cantilevered drive shaft having a groove, the detachable pick mechanism comprising:

a transmission housing having a top, a bottom, a first and a second side defining a cavity therein for containing a drive transmission, an opening in a rear portion of the transmission housing through which the cantilevered drive shaft passes, and a latch assembly mounted to one of the first side and the second side for rotatably engaging the cantilevered drive shaft to axially position the pick mechanism on the drive shaft, the latch assembly comprising:
a handle base mounted to a side of the transmission housing having an opening therethrough for receiving the drive shaft, the handle base including:
a guide arm;
and
a first resilient latch arm and a second resilient latch arm forming a pair of opposed latch arms, each latch arm being in a deflected position having a catch at a free end thereof engaging the groove of the drive shaft when the pick mechanism is mounted thereon, the first and second latch arms and the guide arm depending from a same side of the handle base and being axially aligned with the opening in the handle base;
and,
a handle slidably retained in the handle base and axially movable therein, wherein, with the catches engaged with the groove, axial movement of the handle away from handle base flexes and separates the first and second latch arms disengaging the catches thereof from the groove allowing the pick mechanism to be removed from the cantilevered drive shaft.

4 more elements

A detachable pick mechanism slidably engageable onto a drive shaft having a free end with a groove, the detachable pick mechanism comprising:

a transmission housing having a drive transmission enclosed therein, the transmission housing having a first side and a second side each including an opening axially aligned to receive the free end of the drive shaft therethrough;
and
a latch assembly mounted on the second side of the transmission housing, the latch assembly having:
a handle base having a first side attached to an outer surface of the second side of the transmission housing, a second side opposite the first side, and a center opening between the first side and the second side axially aligned with the openings on the transmission housing to receive the free end of the drive shaft therethrough, the handle base including:
a pair of opposed guide arms axially extending from the second side of the handle base and cantilevered about the center opening thereof;
and
a pair of opposed resilient latch arms axially extending from the second side of the handle base and cantilevered about the center opening of the handle base, each resilient latch arm having an extension extending radially towards a center axis of the center opening defining a catch for engaging the groove when the detachable pick mechanism is engaged with the drive shaft;
and
a handle axially aligned and slidably coupled with the pairs of opposed guide arms and opposed resilient latch arms of the handle base,
wherein, with the catches of the pair of opposed resilient latch arms disposed about the groove, axial movement applied to the handle away from the handle base causes the pair of opposed resilient latch arms to deflect away from the center axis of the center opening thereby disengaging the catches from the groove and allowing the pick mechanism to be detached from the drive shaft.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/240,302Filed 18 Aug 2016
Priority: 17 Dec 2014
Published: 8 Dec 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B65H 3/0669
Rollers or like rotary separators: driving devices therefor
B65H 3/06
Using friction forces between articles and separator: rollers or like rotary separators
B65H 3/0684
Rollers or like rotary separators: on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile
F16B 7/042
For tubes using the innerside thereof: with a locking element, e.g. pin, ball or pushbutton, engaging in a hole in the wall of at least one tube

Family

Application14/572,935Division · filed 17 Dec 2014
Application15/240,302Division
US 2016/0177989 A1Published application
US 9,446,919 B2Related patent
US 9,604,803 B2Related patent
US 2016/0355357 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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