Belt alignment system

An improved electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive belt arranged to move in a predetermined path through a plurality of processing stations disposed therealong, wherein the improvement includes:

• means for pivotably supporting the photoconductive belt, said means for pivotably supporting the photoconductive belt comprising a frame, an elongated roller, and means, mounted pivotably on said frame, for rotatably holding said rollers;
• means for sensing lateral movement of the belt from the predetermined path and translating relative to said supporting means in response thereto, said means for sensing comprising:
• a shaft extending outwardly from one end of said roller,
• a member mounted slidably on said shaft,
• a pair of opposed, spaced flanges extending outwardly from said member with said tilting means being interposed between said pair of flanges, and
• means for resiliently urging one of said pair of flanges into contact with one edge of the belt;
• and
• means, normally spaced from said sensing means during photoconductive belt movement along the predetermined path, for tilting said supporting means in response to said sensing means rotating said tilting means so as to return the belt to the predetermined path of movement.

An improved reproducing machine of the type having a document handling system comprising a belt arranged to move in a predetermined path to transport a document to a processing station, wherein the improvement includes:

• means for pivotably supporting the belt, said supporting means comprising a frame, an elongated roller, and means, mounted pivotably on said frame, for rotatably holding said roller;
• means for sensing lateral movement of the belt from the predetermined path and translating relative to said supporting means in response thereto, said sensing means comprising:
• a shaft extending outwardly from one end of said roller,
• a member mounted slidably on said shaft,
• a pair of opposed, spaced flanges extending outwardly from said member with said tilting means being interposed between said pair of flanges and
• means for resiliently urging one of said pair of flanges into contact with one edge of the belt;
• and
• means, normally spaced from said sensing means during belt movement along the predetermined path, for tilting said supporting means in response to said sensing means rotating said tilting means so as to return the belt to the predetermined path of movement.