US 7,115,056 B2Granted

Dual spring tensioner

AssigneeEastman Kodak Company

InventorsAlan E. Rapkin, Richard G. Luther, Morris A. Karski, Steven P. Bailey

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Abstract

A drive belt tensioning method and assembly using a dual spring tensioner. A pulley from a drive belt/pulley system is mounted onto a pivot arm having a pivot point. A tensioner spring mounts between the machine frame and the pivot arm, such that is causes rotation of the pivot arm about the pivot point in the opposite direction that the belt/pulley system causes rotation about the pivot point. A stop is used to keep the pivot arm in the position of tensioner spring/belt/pulley system equilibrium. This stop is mounted to the machine frame after the pivot arm equilibrium is reached. A retainer spring mounts between the machine frame and the pivot arm such that when in tension it causes a rotational force about the pivot point in the same direction that the tensioner spring causes a rotational force about the pivot point.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A dual spring tensioner for a flexible drive member in a machine having a machine frame, comprising:

a pivot arm with an axis of rotation about which said pivot arm is free to pivot, wherein said pivot arm is mounted to the machine frame at said axis of rotation wherein said pivot arm has opposing ends end one and end two;
a tensioner spring having an end one attachable to the machine frame and an end two attached to said pivot arm;
a pulley cooperable with the flexible drive member and mounted to said pivot arm;
a retainer spring having an end one attachable to the machine frame and an end two attached to said pivot arm and wherein said tensioner spring and said retainer spring, laterally spaced from each other, are attached to said pivot arm on said pivot arm end one and said pulley is attached to said pivot arm at said pivot arm end two, and;
a stop attachable to the machine frame that counters force applied to said pivot arm by said tensioner spring and said retainer spring, wherein tension in the flexible drive member is set by said tensioner spring and said stop.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/860,007Filed 17 May 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 17 May 2000
Published: US 2001/0046913 A129 Nov 2001
Granted: 3 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16H 7/1263
Without vibration damping means: where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially straight path
F16H 2007/0808
Actuators for final output members: extension coil springs
F16H 2007/088
Control or adjustment of actuators: manual adjustment
F16H 2007/0895
Path of movement of the finally actuated member: internal to external direction