Belt loading device for use in a xerographic machine

• Main Authors: MISHRA, SATCHIDANAND, PARIKH, SATISH R, YU, ROBERT C. U, DOMM, EDWARD A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 25.05.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHYSICS

A belt loading apparatus (300) for loading without damage to the belt (216), a flimsy continuous belt (216) onto a belt support and drive assembly (200) including a vertical front end having a first shape includes a wall member (316) defining a sleeve (310) including an outer surface (330) having a total outer surface area, a first edge (334) and a second and opposite edge (336). The second edge (336) has a vertical profile having a second shape such that the second shape of the second edge (336) is a mirror image of the first shape of the belt support and drive assembly (200). The belt loading apparatus (500) then includes friction reducing members (350) formed on the outer surface (330) of the sleeve (310) for temporarily supporting and spacing a flimsy continuous belt (216) to be loaded onto the belt support and drive assembly (200). The friction reducing members (350) each have a belt contact area such that a sum total of belt contact areas of all the friction reducing members (350) is significantly less than the total outer surface area (330) of the sleeve.