United States Patent (15) Curry et al, USO06009291 A. [1] Patent Number: 6,009,291 [45] Date of Patent: Dec. 28, 1999 [54] CONTROL MOVEME? F PHOTOSENSITIVE ROL} [75] Iaventors: Steven Alan Curry, Nicholasville; Paul ll, Lexington; David , Lexington; Daniel George Mlcjnek, Lexington; James John Molloy, Lexingion; Harald Portig, Versailles; Gregory Lawrence Ream; Richard Andrew Seman, Jr, both of Lexington, all of Ky. 73] Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, Ky. [21] Appl. No.: 09/025,723 [22] Filed: Feb. 18, 1998 Related U.S. Application Data [60] Provisional application No, 051,041, Jun, 27, 1997. [st] 6036 15100 [52] US. Ch [58] Field of Seareh 399/116, 117, 399/159, 167 [56] References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 8241973 Bare 19226 1458 4,256,208 3/1981 Najer ot. 188/196 D 4257510 3/1081 Fisher 192207 S.305,014 4/1994 Maruyama cl 30975 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 4JPO 410089377A Kitahare, Makato ‘Driving Transmission Device and Image Forming Device’ Sep. 19, 1996, 43PO 40432105 Sato, Hisao etal Imaging Forming Device’ ‘Apr. 22, 1991 ‘The Spring Clutch, Journal of Applied Mechanics, Sep. 1939, pp. A-103 to A-108. Primary Examiner—Axthur T. Grimley Assistant Examiner—George E, Wendal, J ‘Attorney, Agent, or Firm—fohu A. Brady 57) ABSTRACT ‘Atoner cartridge (1) contains a photoconduetive drum (49) having a contral shaft (47). Gear (148) turns with the drum and has 2 stud (602). A coil spring (604) is mounted on the stud to form a spring clutch which is unwound by the rolation of the drum during imaging. Alternatively, 3 flat frictional surface is pressed against the sce wall (6000) of the gear. Both contact areas have a light grease. The drag, forces provide accurate, smooth operation during imaging. 7 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets 145 604aDee. 28, 1999 Sheet 1 of 14 6,009,291 US, PatentU.S. Patent Dee. 28, 1999 Sheet 2 of 14 6,009,2916,009,291 Dec. 28, 1999 US, Patent ast ae Ee6,009,291 Sheet 4 of 14 Dec. 28, 1999 US, Patent Qh, 26 StI 68e—6,009,291 Dec. 28, 1999 US, PatentU.S. Patent Dee. 28, 1999 Sheet 6 of 14 6,009,291 ys %\ | 69 iw We (198 99a wes L= { Ls we Be6,009,291 Sheet 8 of 14 Dec. 28, 1999 US, Patent6,009,291 Sheet 9 of 14 Dec. 28, 1999 US, PatentU.S. Patent Dec. 28, 1999 Sheet 10 of 14 6,009,291 FIG. 10U.S. Patent Dec, 28, 1999 Sheet 11 of 14 6,009,291 Fig. 11U.S. Patent Dee. 28, 1999 Sheet 12 of 14 6,009,291 Fig. 12U.S. Patent Dec. 28, 1999 Sheet 13 of 14 6,009,291 624 620a 626 | Fig. 13U.S. Patent Dee. 28, 1999 Sheet 14 of 14 6,009,291 14 _- 145 FIG.1 CONTROL OF PHOTOSENSITIVE ROLLER MOVEMENT ‘CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS. This is a continuation of Provisional Patent Application ‘Set. No. 601051,041 filed Jun.27, 1997, having the same ttle as this application, ‘The preferred embodiment of this invention is incorpo- rated in toner cartridge deseribed in several United States patent applications filed Dec. 20, 1996, the one more spe- Cilleally being dizected to the photoconduetor roller being Set. No. 08/770,326 entitled “Toner Cartridge with Locating ‘on Phofoconductor Shafi,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,233. ‘TECHNICAL FIELD ‘This invention relates to elecirophotogeaphic develop- ‘ment and, more particularly, related to improved control of| photosensitive roller movement during imaging operation, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to 1997 the assignee of this invention has manufac tured and sold commercially oner carridges of two dierent general designs. For its larger laser prioters the cartridge has Contained pump to meter toner of the kind disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 5,012,289 to Aldrich etal. and 5,101,237 to Molloy, while the external siructure of the cartridge is as disclosed in US. Pat, No. 5,136,333 to Craft etal. Details of | other elements in the cartridge have varied Fora smaller, light emitting diode printer, the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,032 to Baker etal, whieh has ¢ toner bopper extending well below a level baving the toner adder roller and which bas independent driven systems for the photocondvetor roller and for the developer roller system as disclosed in U.S, Pat, No, 5,331,378 to Baker et al. Cartridges are typically located by elemenison their cover or frame, not directly based on the location of photocon- ductor. I 1997 the assignee of this invention began selling 4 printer with cartridge having the shaft of the photocor ductor deur as the primary locator and a flat ledge opposi Tor resting om a roller member in the printer. This cartridge contains 4 photosensitive roller, the central shaft of which extends unobstructed to be contacted by the printer as a vertical and front to rear locator. A hopper and developer roller assembly is attached to the cartridge cover assembly through & spring foree, The cartridge cover assembly has elongated surfaces to eocive a downward pressing member from the printer. The hopper and developer roller assembly hhas flat ledges to ride om rollers in the printer thereby permiting adjustment of the contact between the photosen= Sitive roller and the developer roller, A cover assembly integral with the photoconductive roller has @ locating surface near the hopper which rests on the frame of the printer positively locating the photoconductive roller, “The two front support wheels which deine the plane of lateral movement between the two assemblies are in the printer, with a flat surface on the hopper to receive these rollers. Since tbe under side of the developer unit is part of| the media path, referencing the hopper assembly to. the printer improves location accuracy of the media path. The cartridge is resistant to rough handling. A minor advantage is that the cost of the wheels and their installation is climinated from the cartridge. ‘The photosensitive roller is integral with a gear with teeth, ‘These teeth mesh with a gear from the printer. Other 0 6 2 isms in the cartridge are separately driven. However, 8 photosensitive roller is subject to forces from « paper of ‘ther media which ae pulled aeross the roller to transfer the toner image. Another influence is the developer roller, which has a nip contact to the photosensitive roller and a higher tangential velocity. The photosensitive roller experiences drag from the cleaner blade. However, during use the wear of the cleaner blade results in the drag dropping greatly. Other drag frees, such as al the bearings, are very small Paper contacting the photosensitive roller is being pulled by the fixing station while the tailing pat of the papor is tll in contact with the photosensitive drum. Wrinkle-iree paper handling often results in tension from the fuser roller that may be significant The effects of low inherent drag on the photosensitive roller, an incidental driving force from the developer roller, ‘and the pull from the fuser rollee nip, alone or in ‘combination, ean result in imprecise and wavering rotation ‘of the photosensitive roller ((ermed *jitter"). The teeth between the input gear of the photosensitive roller and the drive gear may actually separate tangentially, resulting in {quite apparent distortion of the printed image. Additionally, since pressure atthe teeth tends to physically flatten surface defeels, loss of such pressure reslls in some loss of precise rolation and consequent impairment of the printed image. ‘This invention applies highly uniform frictional drag to the photosensitive drum. A spring clutch operating in the unwind direction applies such a drag and is so employed. Uniform response is also achieved by having grease al the friction surface, Where drag is produced by lateral move- ment of two contacting surfaces, the friction characterises ff the grease provide Uniform drag. In all cases the grease promotes consistent, smooth operation DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION ‘To oblain high precision control of the photosensitive roller from the dive gear intended to control the roller, & frictional member having uniform drag is pressed against the photosensitive roller with the area of contact having & ‘grease. Preferably, the frictional member is a coil spring Clutch tightly wrapped around a stud which surrounds the roller shaft, with roller operation being in the direction 10 ‘unwind the spring. On the side ofthe spring facing the side wall of the roller, two low friction washers separate the Spring from the side wall so thatthe one contacting the side wall normally turns and the one contacting the spring remains stationary, thereby protecting the end of the spring from rubbing contact, The term “spring clutch” is used to designate a mecha- nism in which one end of the spring is prevented from igs thereby, as is conventional, permitting the spring 10 shi or unwind depending on the rotation of the shalt ‘on which the spring is wound, ‘An alternative frictional member is flat surface pushed into contact withthe side wall ofthe photosensitive roller. ‘The term “photosensitive roller assembly” is used 10 incorporate necessary elements to this invention connected to the roller, such as the stud and side wal, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The details ofthis invention will be deseribed in connee= tion with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge from above and left rear, where left is determined facing the printer from its fromt