A support assembly is disclosed. The support assembly may comprise a component to interact with a photoconductive imaging unit, the component being rotatable relative to the photoconductive imaging unit. The support assembly may comprise an air bearing positioned adjacent to a surface of the photoconductive imaging unit, the air bearing to generate a cushion of gas to support the component at a defined distance from the photoconductive imaging unit. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

In a moving body guiding device which supplies lubricating oil between a guiding surface of a supporting body and a sliding surface of the moving body and guides a moving body, a lubricating oil pocket having a periphery enclosed by a land portion is provided on the sliding surface of the moving body, a closed loop oil groove is formed along the inside of the land portion, a front portion and a rear portion inside the lubricating oil pocket communicate with one another by means of a lubricating oil pocket return passage at least partially opening in the oil groove, and lubricating oil that has accumulated in the rear portion, in a movement direction, concomitant with movement of the moving body, flows to the front portion in the movement direction.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

The invention relates to an apparatus for storing cable, comprising a cable carousel (1) rotatable about a vertical axis (2), and rotating means (30) for rotating (4) the carousel (1) about the vertical axis (2), for allowing winding cable (5) on the carousel (1) and unwinding cable (5) from the carousel (1). The carousel (1) is received in a pool (7), a seal (10) is arranged between an outer side (12) of the carousel (1) and a pool outer wall (9). A closed chamber (13) is defined in the pool (7) below the carousel (1), and pressurised liquid in the closed chamber (13) provides a positive pressure for supporting the carousel (1) and allowing rotation (4) of the carousel (1).

A hydrostatic bearing is provided which may include foot part supporting a load-carrying unit, a head part, and body part forming a lower chamber and an upper chamber. A lower member is supported by the load-carrying unit and arranged inside the lower chamber. An upper member is controllable by a pressurizing fluid and arranged inside the upper chamber. The lower member is controllably moveable along a central axis of the hydrostatic bearing between a retracted state, where the lower member is distanced from the upper member, and an extended state, where the lower member is also in contact with the upper member. The hydrostatic bearing acts both as a conventional slave bearing and a conventional master bearing.

A bearing assembly may include a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring, and at least one row of rolling elements having a plurality of rolling elements that are disposed so as to be capable of rolling on a first raceway of the first bearing ring and on a second raceway of the second bearing ring. At least one hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may be disposed on the first bearing ring. Further, the hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may interact with a first bearing face that is disposed on the second bearing ring. The hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may be mounted so as to be movable in a movement direction that is perpendicular to the first bearing face.

A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting an outer raceway and a rotor extending along an axis and rotatably disposed within the stator. The rotor presents an inner raceway disposed in spaced relationship with the outer raceway to define a gap therebetween, and a lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor within the stator. At least one of the outer raceway or the inner raceway is movable radially towards or away from the other to adjust the gap and optimize operation of the lubricant supported electric motor.

In a moving body guiding device which supplies lubricating oil between a guiding surface of a supporting body and a sliding surface of the moving body and guides a moving body, a lubricating oil pocket having a periphery enclosed by a land portion is provided on the sliding surface of the moving body, a closed loop oil groove is formed along the inside of the land portion, a front portion and a rear portion inside the lubricating oil pocket communicate with one another by means of a lubricating oil pocket return passage at least partially opening in the oil groove, and lubricating oil that has accumulated in the rear portion, in a movement direction, concomitant with movement of the moving body, flows to the front portion in the movement direction.

A support assembly is disclosed. The support assembly may comprise a component to interact with a photoconductive imaging unit, the component being rotatable relative to the photoconductive imaging unit. The support assembly may comprise an air bearing positioned adjacent to a surface of the photoconductive imaging unit, the air bearing to generate a cushion of gas to support the component at a defined distance from the photoconductive imaging unit. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.