Apparatus and method for steering an endless belt

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• and
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member being cylindrical and non-rotating, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, and the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end and comprising at least one steering cylindrical collar which is rotatable about a stationary shaft;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• and
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, and the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller being cylindrical and having a first outer diameter and a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• and
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis, the first member being generally frustoconical and having a first member first end and a first member second end, the first member first end being adjacent to the first roller end and having a second outer diameter, the first member second end having a third outer diameter, the second outer diameter being no larger than the first outer diameter, the third outer diameter being larger than the first outer diameter.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end, the steering roller being rotatable about a roller axis;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis, the steering axis not intersecting the roller axis;
• and
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end and a second roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis, the carriage means comprising:
• a carriage first end member functionally connected to the first roller end;
• a carriage second end member functionally connected to the second roller end;
• a carriage center member functionally connected to the carriage first and second end members;
• and
• a carriage pin having a first pin end, the first pin end being functionally connected to the carriage center member, the carriage pin having a pin longitudinal axis which is the steering axis, the carriage pin being rotatable about the pin longitudinal axis such that the steering roller and the carriage means are rotatable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• and
• pivot-resisting means for resisting the pivoting of the steering roller about the steering axis.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface, a first belt edge, and a belt width, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end and a second roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis, the carriage means comprising:
• a carriage first end member functionally connected to the first roller end;
• a carriage second end member functionally connected to the second roller end;
• a carriage center member functionally connected to the carriage first and second end members;
• and
• a carriage pin having a first pin end, the first pin end being functionally connected to the carriage center member, the carriage pin having a pin longitudinal axis which is the steering axis, the carriage pin being rotatable about the pin longitudinal axis such that the steering roller and the carriage means are rotatable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• a belt-tensioning means for causing the steering roller to apply a tensioning force against the belt inner surface;
• and
• a tension-balancing means for allowing the belt-tensioning means to balance the tensioning force across the belt width.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• and
• pivot-resisting means for resisting the pivoting of the steering roller about the steering axis.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt width, a belt inner surface, and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• a belt tensioning means for causing the steering roller to apply a tensioning force against the belt inner surface;
• and
• a tension balancing means for allowing the belt tensioning means to balance the tensioning force across the belt width.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• and
• a tension roller positioned adjacent to the steering roller, the tension roller applying a tensioning force to the belt inner surface.

An electrophotographic system, comprising:

• an endless belt having a first belt edge, a belt inner surface, and a belt outer surface, the belt outer surface comprising a photoreceptive substrate;
• a charging system for charging the photoreceptive substrate;
• an exposure system for exposing the photoreceptive substrate to at least one image-wise pattern of radiation which creates at least one electrostatic image on the photoreceptive substrate;
• a development system for developing the at least one electrostatic image to an at least one toned image;
• a transfer system for transferring the toned image to a receptor;
• and
• a belt-steering system for steering the belt, comprising:
• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• and
• a tension roller positioned adjacent to the steering roller, the tension roller applying a tensioning force to the belt inner surface.

An apparatus useful for maintaining an endless belt within a lateral target belt position range while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism and while an image is imposed on the belt by an imaging station, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end;
• carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis;
• a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member, the first member being positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• and
• a stabilizing roller contacting the endless belt and positioned between the steering roller and the imaging station to create a span of the belt which forms a plane, the plane being substantially unaffected by pivoting movement of the steering roller.

A method useful for steering an endless belt toward a lateral target belt position while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism, the endless belt having a belt inner surface and a first belt edge, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a steering roller contacting the belt inner surface, the steering roller having a first roller end, the steering roller being rotatable about a roller axis;
• providing carriage means for supporting the steering roller, the carriage means being pivotable about a steering axis and allowing the steering roller to be pivotable about the steering axis;
• providing a first member positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage means, the first member contacting the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end, the first member applying greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when contacting the endless belt causing the endless belt to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis;
• transporting the endless belt in a first direction;
• and
• transporting the endless belt in a second direction opposite the first direction.