Bi-directional spring brake for a photoductive drum

摘要

A photoconductive drum assembly according to one embodiment includes a photoconductive drum rotatable about a rotational axis in first and second rotational directions. A spring brake has a coiled portion wrapped around a portion of the photoconductive drum at its axial end and around the rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. The spring brake has a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is positioned to flex in an unwinding direction causing the coiled portion to unwind upon the first arm receiving a force in the first rotational direction. The first arm is positioned to flex in a winding direction and to push the second arm in an unwinding direction relieving winding of the coiled portion caused by the flexing of the first arm in the winding direction of the first arm upon the first arm receiving a force in the second rotational direction.

主权项

1. A spring brake for use with a photoconductive drum of an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a spring wire having a coiled portion and first and second arms extending from the coiled portion, the coiled portion is coiled around a center axis, each of the first arm and the second arm has a winding direction around the center axis and an unwinding direction around the center axis, a force on the first arm in the winding direction of the first arm causes the coiled portion to wind and a force on the first arm in the unwinding direction of the first arm causes the coiled portion to unwind, a force on the second arm in the winding direction of the second arm causes the coiled portion to wind and a force on the second arm in the unwinding direction of the second arm causes the coiled portion to unwind, wherein in home positions of the first arm and the second arm, a portion of the second arm is positioned in close proximity to the first arm such that flexing of the first arm from the home position of the first arm in the winding direction of the first arm causes the first arm to push the second arm from the home position of the second arm in the unwinding direction of the second arm relieving winding of the coiled portion caused by the flexing of the first arm in the winding direction of the first arm.