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:
Mar. 11, 1999
Riyad E Moe, Austin, TX (US);
Robert E Brenner, New Richmond, WI (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A mechanism for steering a photoconductor belt in an electrophotographic imaging system is disclosed. The photoconductor belt is moved about a support roller system of the imaging system to form a continuous transport path. The photoconductor belt tends to deviate from this continuous transport path in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path. The belt steering mechanism includes a support carriage, a steering carriage, a support roller and a belt steering drive assembly. The steering roller is mounted to the steering carriage, and the steering carriage is connected to the support carriage so as to be pivotable about a steering axis. The belt steering drive assembly is operably coupled to the steering carriage to pivotally move the steering carriage about the steering axis. Upon pivotal movement of the steering carriage about the steering axis, the steering roller pivots therewith to move the photoconductor belt in a direction substantially perpendicular to the continuous transport path to reduce deviation of the photoconductor belt from the path.