US 12,129,138 B2
Tension-inducing shaft assemblies
Andrew T. Wood, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to Sealed Air Corporation (US), Charlotte, NC (US)
Appl. No. 17/432,525
Filed by Sealed Air Corporation (US), Charlotte, NC (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/018502
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/172094, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/809,006, filed on Feb. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135359 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 23/08 (2006.01); B31D 5/00 (2017.01); B65H 75/18 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 23/085 (2013.01) [B31D 5/0073 (2013.01); B65H 75/185 (2013.01); B31D 2205/0023 (2013.01); B31D 2205/0047 (2013.01); B65H 2301/41306 (2013.01); B65H 2301/41346 (2013.01); B65H 2301/41369 (2013.01); B65H 2301/51432 (2013.01); B65H 2404/1415 (2013.01); B65H 2404/147 (2013.01); B65H 2701/1752 (2013.01); B65H 2701/1944 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft including a bore that extends through the shaft from the first end to the second end;
a first shaft cap positioned on the first end of the shaft, wherein the first shaft cap includes a first collar having a size that is larger than the bore, a first keyed end, and a first anchor;
a second shaft cap positioned on the second end of the shaft, wherein the second shaft cap includes a second collar having a size that is larger than the bore, a second keyed end, and a second anchor;
a biasing mechanism arranged inside the bore of the shaft and coupled to the first anchor of the first shaft cap and to the second anchor of the second shaft cap so that the biasing mechanism exerts inward forces on the first and second shaft caps;
wherein the first and second keyed ends are configured to be coupled to a housing so that the first and second shaft caps do not rotate with respect to the housing; and
wherein the shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first and second shaft caps such that, when the first and second keyed ends are coupled to the housing, the shaft is capable of rotating with respect to the housing;
wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is configured to swivel.