Torque source

Abstract

Various apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing torque.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one first torque source;    a first surface configured to be rolled against a first medium; and    a first torsion spring operably coupled between the at least one first torque source and the first surface.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a drive train between the torque source and the first surface, wherein the first torsion spring is operably coupled between consecutive members of the drive train.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first member operably coupled to the surface; and    a second member operably coupled to the torque source, wherein the torsion spring has a first portion connected to the first member and a second portion connected to the second member.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member includes a first radial slot receiving the first portion of the torsion spring and wherein the second member includes a second radial slot receiving the second portion of the second member.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member and the second member comprise gears.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member and the second member are configured to rotate a maximum angle of less than 360 degrees relative to one another.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring and one of the first member and the second member are configured to be selectively coupled to one another at one of a plurality of locations to adjust a preload of the first torsion spring.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member and the second member rotate about an axis and wherein the first torsion spring is axially between the first member and the second member.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first member and the second member are axially connected to one another while being rotatable to one another about the axis.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first member and the second member are connected along a juncture overlapped by the first torsion spring.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second surface configured to be rolled against a second medium; and    a second torsion spring operably coupled between the at least one torque source and the second surface.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one torsion source comprises a single torsion source operably coupled to both the first surface and the second surface.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are configured to be simultaneously rolled against the first medium and the second medium while the first medium and the second medium extend side-by-side one another.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising at least one tray configured to support the first medium adjacent the first surface and the second medium adjacent the second surface.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a media interaction device configured to interact with the first medium and the second medium while the first medium is aligned with the second medium.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a media transport configured to move the first medium and the second medium in a first direction simultaneously.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a second torque source coupled to the media transport; and    a controller configured to generate control signals causing the media transport to oppose movement of at least one of the first medium and s the second medium in the first direction until both the first medium and the second medium are adjacent the media transport.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a sensor configured to sense the positioning of both of the first medium and the second medium adjacent the media transport.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signals such that the media transport opposes movement of the first medium for a predetermined maximum time that the second surface may take to move the second medium to the media transport.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a media interaction device configured to interact with the first medium.  
   
   
       21 . A media feed device comprising: 
 at least one torque source;    a first surface configured to be rolled against a medium; and    a drive train between the at least one torque source and the first surface, the drive train configured to reduce the transmission of torque between consecutive members of the drive train in response to a predetermined amount of torque applied to the first surface.    
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a second surface configured to be rolled against a second medium; and    a second drive train operably coupled between the torque source and the second surface, the second drive train being configured to reduce or cease transmission of torque between consecutive members of the drive train in response to a predetermined amount of counter torque applied to the second surface.    
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22  further comprising a drive shaft operably coupled to the at least one torque source, wherein the first drive train is configured as a first unitary assembly, wherein the second drive train is configured as a second unitary assembly and wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are removably connected to the drive shaft and receive torque from the drive shaft.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first drive train includes a torsion spring.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first drive train comprises: 
 a first gear;    a second gear; and    a torsion spring having a first end connected to the first gear and a second end connected to the second gear.    
   
   
       26 . A media feed system comprising: 
 a torque source;    a surface configured to be rolled against a medium; and    a drive train between the torque source and the surface, the drive train including means for reducing transmission of torque between consecutive members of the drive train in response to a predetermined amount of counter torque applied to the surface.    
   
   
       27 . A media feed unit comprising: 
 a support;    a roller rotatably coupled to the support;    gears rotatably coupled to the support and configured to transmit torque to the roller; and    a torsion spring having a first end connected to one of the gears and a second end connected to another of the gears.    
   
   
       28 . A method comprising: 
 transmitting torque from a torque source with a drive train to a drive member contacting a medium; and    ceasing transmission of torque between consecutive members of the drive train in response to a predetermined amount of counter torque applied to the drive member.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the ceasing includes rotating a first drive train member relative to a second drive train member.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the ceasing further includes twisting a torsion spring connected to the first drive train member and the second drive train member.