Eastman-kodak Company

Peter G Izzo

Michael Kenin

Edwin A Hediger

Kenneth R Reid

Apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of a travelling web to automatically compensate for web conicity and angular deviation of the web velocity vector. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a steering roller about which a travelling web is at least in part entrained. An assembly supports the steering roller for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and mounts the steering roller for angular adjustment about a caster axis perpendicular to such longitudinal axis at the mid-point of the steering roller. The assembly is, in turn, supported for rotation about a gimbal axis intersecting, and perpendicular to, the caster axis. Lateral movement of a web supported on the steering roller is sensed relative to the steering roller in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the steering roller. The mechanism for sensing lateral movement of the web moves in a corresponding direction to the sensed lateral movement of the web. The sensing mechanism is interconnected with the supporting and mounting assembly for angularly adjusting the steering roller about the caster axis in response to movement of the lateral movement sensing mechanism, in a direction to counteract sensed lateral movement of the web.

Web tracking mechanism

In an apparatus utilizing a photoconductive member mounted for movement about a closed loop path through electrostatographic process stations for reproducing information, a mechanism for mounting said photoconductive member in said apparatus. Such mechanism comprises at least a pair of rollers about which the photoconductive member is entrained. The photoconductive member-supporting rollers are supported for movement to (i) an operative position relative to electrostatographic process stations, (ii) a remote position enabling access to such electrostatographic process stations, and (iii) an intermediate position where removal and replacement of the photoconductive member on the rollers is facilitated.

Photoconductive member mounting mechanism for an electrophotographic

An improved electrostatographic apparatus including a housing having a lower portion containing electrostatographic process stations and an upper portion connected thereto containing a dielectric member mounted for movement about a closed loop path. The upper housing portion is movable relative to the lower housing portion to a first position where the dielectric member is in operative relation to such electrostatographic process stations and a second position wherein the dielectric member is remote from such electrostatographic process stations to enable ready access to such process stations. The dielectric member is mounted in the upper housing portion for movement with the upper housing portion or movement relative thereto to a position intermediate the upper and lower housing portions when the upper portion is in its second position. The improvement comprises a sliding plate assembly, connected to the dielectric member mount and the lower housing portion, for accurately locating the dielectric member in its intermediate position. Further, such assembly enables movement of the upper housing portion to its operative position from its remote position when the dielectric member is in its position to move with the upper housing portion, and inhibits movement of the upper housing portion from its remote position to its operative position when the dielectric member is in its intermediate position.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Peter G Izzo