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:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 17, 1999
Kevin R Crystal, Chanhassan, MN (US);
MacDermid Incorporated, Waterbury, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for reliably and efficiently propelling a printing substrate across a printing platen by use of the known roller/nip roller configuration wherein an improved, unitary slider bearing preferably formed of low friction material is coupled to an axial shaft at two points of contact to a upper crown of a slider bearing. The improved bearing is preferably constructed of teflon, or similar low friction material, impregnated resin and formed to create a friction fit in an aperture in a printing platen of a print engine. The improved bearing allows use of a lower cost, less-toleranced axial drive shaft members and eliminates use of typical ball-bearing style bearing assemblies as well as greatly reduces assembly time of the roller, nip roller, axial shaft combination during initial build of the print engine. The improved bearing preferably includes a debris cut-out so that any debris that might collect inside the bearing structure (between the axial shaft/roller and bottom portion of the bearing) can escape without causing any mechanical abrasion to the components of the improved bearing.