US Patent 9512900 Planetary gear mechanism with reduced gear lash

The present teachings provide for a transmission including a planetary gear set and a first displacement device. The planetary gear set can include a sun gear, ring gear, planet carrier, first planet gear and second planet gear. The sun gear, ring gear, and planet carrier can be disposed about a first axis. The first planet gear can meshingly engage with the sun gear and the ring gear, and can be coupled to the planet carrier for rotation relative thereto about a second axis. The first planet gear can be axially slidable relative to the planet carrier. The second planet gear can meshingly engage with the sun gear and the ring gear, and can be coupled to the planet carrier for rotation relative thereto about a third axis. The first displacement device can be configured to displace the first planet gear axially relative to the second planet gear.