# US 5,704,608 A · Sheet feeder drive system

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- Number: US 5,704,608 A
- Document ID: US5704608A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/208,258
- Filed: 1994-03-09
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1994-03-09
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Ermanno C. Petocchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704608A

## CPC

- B65H 3/44: Simultaneously, alternately, or selectively separating articles from two or more piles
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

An epicyclic drive train arrangement having a plurality of output drive members which may be selectively driven from a single input drive member. A frame equipped with two pawls is operated by a single solenoid and spring combination. During successive cycles of solenoid operation, a selected pawl engages its mating gear by action of a solenoid plunger rod. The action prevents rotation of the selected gear while the pawl is engaged. The unselected pawl disengages its mating gear thereby allowing it to freely rotate. Multiple epicyclic drive train arrangements may be configured so as to drive a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses in an electrophotographic printing machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical drive apparatus, including:
an input drive member;
a plurality of output drive members spaced from said input drive member;
means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members; and
a selector, coupled to said connecting means, to prevent rotation of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 2

A mechanical drive apparatus, including:
an input drive member;
a plurality of output drive members spaced from said input drive member;
means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members, said connecting means includes a rotatably mounted worm wheel, and a plurality of gears mounted rotatably within said worm wheel;
a selector, coupled to said connecting means, to prevent rotation of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said connecting means includes a central gear rotatably connecting each of said output drive members to said plurality of gears.

### Claim 4

A mechanical drive apparatus, including:
an input drive member;
a plurality of substantially coaxial output drive members spaced from said input drive member and extending in a direction substantially transverse thereto;
means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members, said connecting means includes a rotatably mounted worm wheel, a plurality of gears mounted rotatably in said worm wheel, and a central gear rotatably connecting each of said drive members to said plurality of gears; and
a selector to prevent rotation, of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selector includes:
an actuator; and
a plurality of locking members responsive to said actuator so that one of said locking members meshes with a corresponding one of said output members.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each one of said plurality of output members includes:
a shaft; and
ratchet gear mounted on said shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each one of said plurality of locking members includes a pawl adapted to mesh with said ratchet gear to prevent rotation thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said actuator includes:
a solenoid coupled to said pawl; and
a biasing member resiliently urging said pawl to move in a preferred direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said biasing member includes a spring.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A mechanical drive apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said connecting means further includes a pair of circular plates with each of said plates being connected to an opposed side of said worm wheel.

### Claim 11

An apparatus for advancing sheets, including:
a first sheet feeder;
a second sheet feeder;
a mechanical drive coupled to said first sheet feeder and said second sheet feeder to advance sheets therefrom; and
a selector, coupled to said mechanical drive, to prevent said first sheet feeder from advancing sheets therefrom, with said second sheet feeder advancing sheets therefrom and to prevent said second sheet feeder from advancing sheets therefrom with said first sheet feeder advancing sheets therefrom.

### Claim 12

An apparatus for advancing sheets, including:
a first sheet feeder;
a second sheet feeder;
a mechanical drive coupled to said first sheet feeder and said second sheet feeder to advance sheets therefrom, said mechanical drive includes an input drive member, a plurality of substantially coaxial output drive members spaced from said input drive member and extending in a direction substantially tranverse thereto, and means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members; and
a selector, coupled to said mechanical drive, to prevent said first sheet feeder from advancing sheet therefrom with said second sheet feeder advancing sheets therefrom, and to prevent said second sheet feeder from advancing sheets therefrom with said first sheet feeder advancing sheets therefrom.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for advancing sheets, including:
a first sheet feeder;
a second sheet feeder; and
a mechanical drive selectively coupled to said first sheet feeder or said second sheet feeder to advance sheets therefrom, said mechanical drive includes an input drive member, a plurality of substantially coaxial output drive members spaced from said input drive member and extending in a direction substantially transverse thereto, and means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members, said connecting means includes a rotatably mounted worm wheel and a plurality of gears mounted rotatably within said worm wheel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said connecting means includes a central gear rotatably connecting each of said output drive members to said plurality of gears.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

An apparatus according to claim 14, further including a selector to prevent rotation of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said selector includes:
an actuator; and
a plurality of locking members responsive to said actuator so that one of said locking members meshes with a corresponding one of said output members.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each one of said plurality of output members includes:
a shaft; and
ratchet gear mounted on said shaft.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each one of said plurality of locking members includes a pawl adapted to mesh with said ratchet gear to prevent rotation thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said actuator includes:
a solenoid coupled to said pawl; and
a biasing member resiliently urging said pawl to move in a preferred direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said biasing member includes a spring.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said connecting means further includes a pair of circular plates with each of said plates being connected to an opposed side of said worm wheel.

### Claim 22

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a plurality of sheet feeders with a mechanical drive being coupled to the plurality of sheet feeders to advance sheets therefrom, wherein the improvement includes:
an input drive member;
a plurality of output drive members spaced from said input drive member;
means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members; and
a selector, coupled to said connecting means, to prevent rotation of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 23

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a plurality of sheet feeders with a mechanical drive being connectable to different ones of the plurality of sheet feeders to advance sheets therefrom, wherein the improvement includes:
an input drive member; a plurality of substantially coaxial output drive members spaced from said input drive member and extending in a direction substantially transverse thereto; and
means for connecting said input drive member with said plurality of output drive members, said connecting means includes a rotatably mounted worm wheel, and a plurality of gears mounted rotatably within said worm wheel.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A printing machine according to claim 23, wherein said connecting means includes a central gear rotatably connecting each of said output drive members to said plurality of gears.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A printing machine according to claim 24, further including a selector to prevent rotation of one of said output drive members.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A printing machine according to claim 25, wherein said selector includes:
an actuator; and
a plurality of locking members responsive to said actuator so that one of said locking members meshes with a corresponding one of said output members.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A printing machine according to claim 26, wherein each one of said plurality of output members includes:
a shaft; and
ratchet gear mounted on said shaft.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

A printing machine according to claim 27, wherein each one of said plurality of locking members includes a pawl adapted to mesh with said ratchet gear to prevent rotation thereof.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

A printing machine according to claim 28, wherein said actuator includes:
a solenoid coupled to said pawl; and
a biasing member resiliently urging said pawl to move in a preferred direction.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

A printing machine according to claim 29, wherein said biasing member includes a spring.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

A printing machine according to claim 30, wherein said connecting means further includes a pair of circular plates with each of said plates being connected to an opposed side of said worm wheel.