Transmission link assemblies

Abstract

An assembly comprises at least first and second transmission links. Each transmission link controls movement of a respective element coupled to a first side of the transmission link, under control of a common drive source coupled to a second side of the transmission link. A synchronizing unit is interposed between the first side and the second side of each transmission link, to synchronize movement of the respective elements by the common drive source.

1 . A synchronizing unit comprising:
 a device body comprising a first member coupled, during use, to a first side of a transmission link, and a second member coupled, during use, to a second side of the transmission link, wherein the device body has an axis that is parallel to an axis of the transmission link;   a biasing element to bias the first and second members apart; and   a locking member to allow movement of the first member relative to the second member along the axis of the device body when the locking member is in an unlocked position, and prevent movement of the first member relative to the second member along the axis of the device body when the locking member is in a locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The synchronizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         3 . The synchronizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a gas cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The synchronizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The synchronizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a magnets. 
     
     
         6 . The synchronizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is to fixedly couple to the first side of the transmission link, and the second member is to fixedly couple to the second side of the transmission link. 
     
     
         7 . A printer apparatus comprising a synchronizing unit as claimed in  claim 11 . 
     
     
         8 . A method for a transmission system in which movement of a plurality of elements is controlled by a common drive source via a plurality of transmission links, the method comprising:
 interposing a plurality of synchronizing units in the plurality of transmission links, each respective transmission link of the plurality of transmission links extending along a respective axis between the common drive source and a respective element of the plurality of elements, the respective element to engage a first side of the respective transmission link, and the common drive source to engage a second side of each of the plurality of transmission links; and   during a calibration mode of operation of the transmission system, adjusting the plurality of synchronizing units to compensate for variation in distances between the common drive source and the plurality of elements being controlled, to synchronize movement of the plurality of elements by the common drive source.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each respective synchronizing unit of the plurality of synchronizing units is interposed between the first side and the second side of the respective transmission link, each respective synchronizing unit comprising a first member moveable relative to a second member when the first and second members are unlocked from one another, and the first member and the second member being moveable relative to one another to compensate for the variation in the distances between the common drive source and the plurality of elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 moving the first member and the second member of a first synchronizing unit of the plurality of synchronizing units relative to one another when unlocked by a first amount to set a target distance between the common drive source and a first element of the plurality of elements; and   moving the first member and the second member of a second synchronizing unit of the plurality of synchronizing units relative to one another when unlocked by a second amount to set the target distance between the common drive source and a second element of the plurality of elements, the first amount different from the second amount.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 locking the first member and the second member of the first synchronizing unit relative to one another after the moving by the first amount; and   locking the first member and the second member of the second synchronizing unit relative to one another after the moving by the second amount.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each respective synchronizing unit of the plurality of synchronizing units is switchable between a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation, the method comprising:
 in the locked mode of operation, moving, by the respective synchronizing unit the respective element in direct relation to movement of the respective transmission link into which the respective synchronizing unit is interposed; and   in the unlocked mode of operation, unlocking the first and second members of the respective synchronizing unit from one another, and the respective synchronizing unit allows movement of the first side of the respective transmission link relative to the second side of the respective transmission link, the movement being independent of the common drive source, to compensate for the variation in the distances between the common drive source and the plurality of elements.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a first transmission link of the plurality of transmission links comprises an elongated shaft to control linear movement along the respective axis of the first transmission link, and wherein a first synchronizing unit interposed in the first transmission link comprises:
 a device body comprising the first member coupled to one side of the elongated shaft, and the second member coupled to another of the elongated shaft;   a biasing element to bias the first and second members apart; and   a locking member to allow movement of the first member relative to the second member when the locking member is in an unlocked position, and prevent movement of the first member relative to the second member when the locking member is in a locked position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a first transmission link of the plurality of transmission links comprises a rotatable transmission link to control rotational movement about an axis, and wherein a first synchronizing unit interposed in the first transmission link comprises:
 a device body comprising the first member coupled to one side of the rotatable transmission link, and the second member coupled to the other side of the rotatable transmission link;   a biasing element to bias the first and second members apart in a rotational direction; and   a locking member to allow movement of the first member relative to the second member when the locking member is in an unlocked position, and prevent movement of the first member relative to the second member when the locking member is in a locked position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each element of the plurality of elements is a separate element whose movement is controlled by a respective transmission link of the plurality of transmission links. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, during the calibration mode of operation:
 placing the plurality of synchronizing units into an unlocked mode of operation, in which each respective synchronizing unit can preload the respective transmission link where the respective synchronizing unit is interposed, to allow adjustment of a distance of the respective transmission link;   after placing the plurality of synchronizing units into the unlocked mode of operation, adjusting distances of the plurality of transmission links; and   locking the plurality of synchronizing units to fix the distances of the plurality of transmission links adjusted by the adjusting.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of transmission links comprise linear transmission links. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of transmission links comprise rotatable transmission links. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the common drive source is positioned on a first side of the plurality of elements, and the respective axes along which the plurality of transmission links extend are parallel to one another.