Modular shaft assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular shaft assembly for a media dispenser comprising a common shaft and a drive shaft. The common shaft comprises a central portion between two end portions. Each end portion has a pulley-mounting region and at least one end portion has an aperture in the end of the common shaft, co-axial to the common shaft, for receiving a connecting portion of the drive shaft. The drive shaft comprises a central portion between a connecting portion and a drive portion. The connecting portion is arranged to connect the drive shaft co-axially to the common shaft by insertion of the connecting portion into the aperture in an end portion of the common shaft. The drive portion comprises a gear-mounting region.

1 . A modular shaft assembly for a media dispenser comprising a common shaft and a drive shaft, wherein the common shaft comprises: 
 a central portion between two end portions, each end portion comprising a pulley-mounting region and at least one end portion comprising an aperture in the end of the common shaft, co-axial to the common shaft, for receiving a connecting portion of the drive shaft,    and wherein the drive shaft comprises:    a central portion between a connecting portion and a drive portion, wherein the connecting portion is arranged to connect the drive shaft co-axially to the common shaft by insertion of the connecting portion into the aperture in an end portion of the common shaft, and the drive portion comprises a gear-mounting region.    
   
   
       2 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each end portion comprises an aperture in the end of the common shaft, co-axial to the common shaft, for receiving a connecting portion of the drive shaft.  
   
   
       3 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central portions of the common shaft and the drive shaft have a cruciform cross-section.  
   
   
       4 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each end portion of the common shaft further comprises: 
 a flange between the central portion and the pulley-mounting region; and    a bearing-mounting region adjacent to the pulley-mounting region.    
   
   
       5 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drive portion of the drive shaft further comprises: 
 a bearing-mounting region between the gear-mounting region and the central portion.    
   
   
       6 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apertures in the end portions of the common shaft and the connecting portion of the drive shaft have a polygonal cross-section.  
   
   
       7 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the apertures in the end portions of the common shaft and the connecting portion of the drive shaft have a hexagonal cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the common shaft and the drive shaft are integrally molded.  
   
   
       9 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of the common shaft and the drive shaft are integrally molded from thermoplastic polyester.  
   
   
       10 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pulley-mounting regions of the common shaft comprise raised features arranged to prevent a pulley mounted on the shaft from rotating on the shaft.  
   
   
       11 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the common shaft is 90 mm long and has a diameter of 6 mm.  
   
   
       12 . A modular shaft assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is 3-15 mm deep.  
   
   
       13 . A media dispenser comprising a modular shaft assembly comprising a common shaft and a drive shaft, wherein the common shaft comprises: 
 a central portion between two end portions, each end portion comprising a pulley-mounting region and at least one end portion comprising an aperture in the end of the common shaft, co-axial to the common shaft, for receiving a connecting portion of the drive shaft,    and wherein the drive shaft comprises:    a central portion between a connecting portion and a drive portion, wherein the connecting portion is arranged to connect the drive shaft co-axially to the common shaft by insertion of the connecting portion into the aperture in an end portion of the common shaft, and the drive portion comprises a gear-mounting region.    
   
   
       14 . A media dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising one or more additional common shafts.