Gear clutch assembly and method for operating a transfix roller and a drum maintenance system

A print device, comprising:

• a transfer drum for transferring an image to a print medium;
• a transfix roller for applying a pressure on the print medium against the transfer drum;
• a drum maintenance system for preparing the transfer drum for subsequent image transfers to the print medium;
• a first cam assembly for moving the transfix roller between a loaded position where pressure is applied to the print medium against the drum and an unloaded position;
• a second cam assembly for moving the drum maintenance system between an engaged position wherein the drum maintenance system is capable of preparing the transfer drum for a subsequent image transfer and an idle position;
• and
• a single-motor and gear arrangement for selectively moving the first and second cams to control the transfix roller and the drum maintenance system, the arrangement comprising:
• a motor having a drive shaft;
• an input gear connected to the drive shaft;
• a first output gear rotatable between a first output gear engaged position and a first output gear home position, teeth of the input gear mesh with teeth of the first output gear when the first output gear is in the first output gear engaged position and rotation of the input gear will rotate the first output gear, a toothless section of the first output gear is aligned with the input gear in the first output gear home position wherein rotation of the input gear will not rotate the first output gear;
• a second output gear rotatable between a second output gear engaged position and a second output gear home position, teeth of the input gear mesh with teeth of the second output gear when the second output gear is in the second output gear engaged position and rotation of the input gear will rotate the second output gear, a toothless section of the second output gear is aligned with the input gear in the home second output gear position wherein rotation of the input gear will not rotate the second output gear;
• a swing arm connected to the drive shaft and movable between a swing arm first engaged position and a swing arm second engaged position, in the swing arm first engaged position the swing arm is capable of moving the first output gear from the first output gear home position to the first output gear engaged position, in the swing arm second engaged position the swing arm is capable of moving the second output gear from the second output gear home position to the engaged position;
• said first output gear adapted to move the first cam upon rotation of the first output gear thereby moving the transfix roller between the loaded and unloaded positions;
• and
• said second output gear adapted to move the second cam upon rotation of the second output gear thereby moving the drum maintenance system between an engaged position and an idle position.

A method of controlling a transfix roller and a drum maintenance system using a single motor and gear arrangement, the method comprising:

• (a) rotating an input gear in a first direction to move a swing arm into engagement with a first output gear and rotate the first output gear away from a first output gear home position, a transfix roller in an unloaded position when the first output gear is in the first output gear home position;
• (b) continue driving the input gear in the first direction to rotate the first output gear when the first output gear is away from the first output gear home position, rotation of the first output gear to a predetermined position causing a transfix roller to move toward a loaded position;
• (c) rotating the input gear in a second direction to move the swing arm into engagement with a second output gear and rotate the second output gear away from a second output gear home position, a drum maintenance system in an idle position when the second output gear is in the second output gear home position;
• (d) continue driving the input gear in the second direction to rotate the second output gear when the second output gear is away from the second output gear home position, rotation of the second output gear to a second output gear predetermined position causing a drum maintenance system to move toward an engaged position.

A gear clutch assembly for operating a transfix roller and a drum maintenance system in a print device, the gear clutch assembly comprising:

• an input gear adapted to be driven by a motor;
• a means for moving an associated transfix roller into engagement with an associated transfer drum when the input gear is rotated in a first direction;
• a means for disengaging the associated transfix roller from the associated transfer roller while concurrently moving an associated drum maintenance system into engagement with the associated transfer drum when the input gear is driven in a second direction;
• a means for disengaging the associated drum maintenance system from the associated transfer drum when the input gear is rotated in the first direction.

An electrophotographic machine, comprising:

• a transfer drum for temporarily receiving an ink image thereon and transferring said ink image to a print medium;
• a transfix roller assembly having a transfix roller for pressing a print medium against the transfer drum;
• a drum maintenance system assembly for conditioning the transfer drum;
• a gear clutch assembly having a drive gear driven by a motor, a first output gear connected to the transfix roller assembly and adapted to move the transfix roller upon rotation of the drive gear, and a second output gear connected to the drum maintenance system assembly and adapted to move the drum maintenance system upon rotation of the drive gear, said drive gear normally disengaged from said first and second output gears;
• and
• said gear clutch assembly including a swing arm that upon movement in a first direction causes said first drive gear to engage the output gear and upon movement in a second direction causes said drive gear to engage said second output gear, rotation of said drive gear in a first direction moves the swing arm in the first direction and rotation of said drive gear in a second direction moves the swing arm in the second direction.