The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 1991
Filed:
May. 02, 1990
Sadao Unuma, Yokonemachi, JP;
Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A feed belt driving sprocket has a body molded of an elastic material. Two side faces of an inner circumferential portion of the sprocket body, except an outer circumferential portion formed with teeth, are formed with round fitting recesses concentric with an axial hole therein such that the inner circumferential portion of the sprocket body is thinner than the outer circumferential portion. The axial hole formed at the center of the sprocket body has small protrusions on its inner circumferential faces. Notched holes are provided in the sprocket body for facilitating elastic deformation of portions of the sprocket body. If a drive shaft is fitted into the axial hole of the sprocket body, the portions of the sprocket body near the axial hole are partially elastically deformed. The clearance between the drive shaft and the axial hole of the sprocket body is thus eliminated and the sprocket is immovably fitted onto the drive shaft. Portions of the sprocket body near the axial hole are elastic such that the small protrusions come into elastic contact with the outer circumferential faces of the drive shaft. Thus the contact between the sprocket body and drive shaft is a linear or point contact, establishing a relatively small sliding resistance therebetween. Thus a paper feeder can be moved in the axial direction of the drive shaft by a small force. During paper feed, any phase difference in rotation between the drive shaft and the sprocket can be eliminated.