Removable lead screw assembly for an image processing apparatus
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorRoger S. Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image processing apparatus (10) comprises an imaging drum (300) for holding print media (32) and donor material (36) in registration on the imaging drum (300). A print head (500), driven by a lead screw (250), moves along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of the imaging drum (300) as the imaging drum (300) rotates. A lead screw assembly (90) is secured in place in a scanning frame by magnetic attraction, with one magnet disposed to constrain axial motion by holding the lead screw to a fixed point and the other magnet disposed to secure the lead screw assembly (90) in place and allow rotational motion. Magnetic attraction allows the removal and replacement of the complete lead screw assembly (90) without tools.
Claims10
A scanning assembly having a removable lead screw, the scanning assembly comprising:
- attraction means on said frame member fir attracting said first attraction means to removably hold said first end of said lead screw on said frame member when said lead screw is in an operating position on said frame member;
- a magnetically loaded radial bearing mounted on a second end of said lead screw which permits a rotation of said lead screw when said lead screw is in said operating position;
- a receiving means on said frame member for removably holding said radial bearing therein when said lead screw is in said operating position, said lead screw being manually removable at said first and second ends from said frame member;
- a drive motor operationally associated with said second end of said lead screw for rotating said lead screw;
- and
- a rotational stop mounted to said second end of said lead screw to prevent rotation of at least said drive motor as said lead screw rotates.
A removable lead screw assembly for an image capture device, the lead screw assembly comprising:
- a lead screw which defines a linear direction of movement for a writing element;
- a first attraction member on a first end of said lead screw which cooperates with a second attraction member on a frame of said image capture device to rotatably and removably hold said first end of said lead screw on said frame;
- a bearing member provided on a second end of said lead screw which cooperates with a receiving member on said frame to rotatably and removably hold said second end of said lead screw on said frame;
- a drive motor operationally associated with said second end of said lead screw for rotating said lead screw about a longitudinal axis of said lead screw;
- and
- a rotational stop mounted to said second end of said lead screw to prevent rotation of said motor as said lead screw rotates.
A method of removably mounting a lead screw assembly of an image capture device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first attraction member on a first end of a lead screw, said lead screw defining a linear direction of movement for a writing assembly of said image capture device;
- providing a bearing member on a second end of said lead screw;
- attaching said lead screw to a frame member of said image capture device, such that said first attraction member cooperates with a second attraction member on said frame and said bearing member cooperates with a receiving member on said frame to removably hold said lead screw to said frame at said first and second ends;
- mounting a drive motor on said second end of said lead screw, said drive motor rotating said lead screw as said lead screw is removably held at said first and second ends to impart a linear motion to said writing assembly along said linear direction of movement;
- and
- mounting a rotational stop on said second end of said lead screw to prevent rotation of at least said drive motor as said lead screw rotates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.