Drivers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorDaniel Gonzalez Perello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a driver including an elongate shaft and at least one drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a housing which has an orifice for receiving the elongate shaft, and a drive wheel which is located at least partially within the housing. The drive wheel has a bore with a cross-section shaped so that the internal surface of the bore contacts the circumference of elongate shaft when the elongate shaft is inserted into the bore. The bore has at least two fulcrum surfaces so that the drive wheel is pivotable about the elongate shaft. The housing is slideable relative to the elongate shaft.
Claims14
A driver comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a polygon shaped cross-section including at least two parallel sides;
- at least one drive assembly comprising:
- a housing, the housing having an orifice for receiving the elongate shaft;
- a drive wheel located at least partially within the housing, the drive wheel having a bore with a cross-section shaped so that the internal surface of the bore contacts the circumference of elongate shaft, the bore having at least two fulcrum surfaces so that the drive wheel is pivotable about the elongate shaft;
- wherein
- the housing is slideable relative to the elongate shaft.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the cross-sections of the fulcrum surfaces are substantially convex, triangular or dome shaped surfaces.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the bore has a cross-sectional area that increases from a midpoint of the bore to an outside edge of the bore.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the drive wheel is a belt pulley, a chain sprocket a friction wheel or a gear.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate shaft has a substantially square cross-section.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate shaft has a substantially octagonal cross-section.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the driver is adapted to connect to the housing of a printer.
A driver according to any preceding claim, wherein the drive wheel is adapted to drive a cooperating drive hub.
A printer comprising:
- a media roll module adapted to receive a spindleless media roll suspended between two supports, the supports of the media roll module being connected to drive hubs;
- a driver comprising an elongate shaft having a polygon shaped cross-section including at least two parallel sides;
- at least one drive assembly comprising:
- a housing, the housing having an orifice for receiving the elongate shaft;
- a drive wheel located at least partially within the housing, the drive wheel having a bore with a cross-section shaped so that the internal surface of the bore contacts the circumference of elongate shaft, the bore having at least two fulcrum surfaces so that the drive wheel is pivotable about the elongate shaft;
- wherein
- the housing is slideable relative to the elongate shaft, the drive wheel cooperating with the drive hub to align the drive wheel to the drive hub to drive the media roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.