JP2003195596A - Photoreceptor driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoreceptor driving device by which an excellent image can be obtained by solving the conventional problem with a simpler constitution. <P>SOLUTION: This photoreceptor driving device is provided with an idler pulley 11 in order to impart initial tension to a photoreceptor driving timing belt 7 coupling a timing pulley 2 and a photoreceptor drum pulley 6. The pulley 11 is turnably attached to a supporting shaft 13 on a supporting member 12. The member 12 is fixed in a housing or the like through a binding member 15 and an elastic member 16 at the part of a sliding hole 14 on the member 12. In fixing the member 12, the appropriate initial tension is given to the belt 7 by a pressuring member 17, and then the member 12 is fixed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photoconductor driving device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer which uses an electrophotographic system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Regarding a photosensitive member driving mechanism for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic system, a load fluctuation occurring in a driven portion other than the photosensitive member, When vibration or the like is transmitted to the photoconductor drive system, speed fluctuations occur in the photoconductor peripheral speed due to load fluctuations or vibrations of the photoconductor drive system, and this speed nonuniformity may adversely affect the formed image. . In order to avoid the influence of these external noises as much as possible, a flywheel is installed as an inertial load on the photoconductor drive shaft, a brake is added to the photoconductor, the photoconductor speed fluctuation is detected, and this is fed back for speed control. Although measures such as taking measures have been taken, there is a situation in which a better photoconductor driving device is still required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photoconductor driving device which solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and which can obtain a good image with a simpler structure.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a photoconductor driving device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a photoconductor driving device for a copying machine, a printer or the like, which comprises a drive motor and a photoconductor. In a photoconductor driving device that is drivingly connected to a drive shaft by a timing belt, an idler pulley for applying an initial tension to the timing belt is fixedly provided, and a fastening member for fixing the idler pulley is made of rubber or the like. It is characterized in that it can be attached via an elastic member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the photoconductor drive device according to the first aspect, the mounting position of the fastening member is at least one place inside the timing belt loop. It is characterized by being provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the photoconductor drive device according to the first aspect, an initial tension is applied to the idler pulley, a supporting member supporting the idler pulley, and the timing belt. After that, the fixing member for fixing the position of the idler pulley is provided separately, and the supporting member and the fixing member are brought into contact with each other via an elastic member such as rubber.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a drive unit configuration of a copying machine which is an embodiment of a photoconductor drive device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photoconductor drive motor, 2
Is a timing pulley, which is a pulley unit in which a photoconductor drive pulley and a photoconductor peripheral drive pulley are integrally formed,
Reference numeral 5 is a photosensitive drum shaft, 6 is a photosensitive drum pulley, 7 is a photosensitive member driving timing belt, 8 is a photosensitive member peripheral portion driving timing belt, 9 is a transfer belt driving shaft, and 10 is a cleaning unit driving shaft.

A timing pulley 2 is attached on the output shaft of the photoconductor drive motor 1, and a photoconductor drum pulley 6 is attached to the end of the photoconductor drum shaft 5. The photoconductor drive motor 1 and the photoconductor drum shaft 5 are drivingly connected by a photoconductor drive timing belt 7. The photosensitive member peripheral portion drive timing belt 8 transmits drive to the transfer belt drive shaft 9, the cleaning unit drive shaft 10, and the like. The transfer belt drive shaft 9 and the cleaning unit drive shaft 10
Are respectively connected to units not shown. That is, as described above, the drive transmission loop to the photoconductor (not shown) and the drive transmission loop to the other units are configured separately.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the structure of the photosensitive member driving section, and FIG. 3 is a side partial sectional view. In these drawings, an idler pulley 11 is provided to apply an initial tension to the photoconductor drive timing belt 7 that connects the timing pulley 2 and the photoconductor drum pulley 6. The idler pulley 11 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 13 on the support member 12. The support member 12 is configured to be fixed to a casing or the like (not shown) through the fastening member 15 and the elastic member 16 at the sliding hole 14 portion on the support member 12,
When fixing this, the pressing member 17 applies an appropriate initial tension to the photosensitive member driving timing belt 7 and then fixes it.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a constitutional example different from that shown in FIG. 2 of the photosensitive member driving portion. In this figure, the idler pulley 11 has the same structure as that of FIG. 2 and applies an initial tension to the photoconductor drive timing belt 7. However, in this example, the attachment positions of the fastening member 15 and the elastic member 16 are set to the photoconductor drive timing. It is provided at one place inside the loop around which the belt 7 forms.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing still another construction of the photosensitive member drive section shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a side partial sectional view. In these drawings, the support member 12 is slidably attached to a housing (not shown) by a step screw 18,
The pressing member 17 applies tension to the photosensitive member drive timing belt 7. After the tension is set here, the fixing member 19 is attached by the fastening member 20, and the position of the support member 12 is determined. Reference numeral 21 in the drawing denotes an elastic member, which is provided at a portion where the fixing member 19 and the supporting member 12 are in contact with each other.

[0012]

As described above, in the photoconductor drive device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the idler pulley for applying the initial tension to the timing belt for driving the photoconductor is fixed to the housing or the like via the elastic member. With this configuration, when load fluctuations, vibrations, etc. occur in the driven parts other than the photoconductor in the drive system, the elastic member functions as a damper in the transmission path that transmits these to the photoconductor, and load fluctuations occur. , Vibration, etc. can be buffered. As a result, in the image forming apparatus using the photoconductor drive device according to claim 1, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image unevenness due to load fluctuation, vibration, etc. There is an effect that can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the photosensitive member driving device has the same elastic member forming position as that of the first photosensitive member driving device provided inside the loop around the timing belt. In addition to the effect, it is possible to prevent the problem that the idler pulley is tilted when a load change or the like occurs, which causes a belt deviation or the like.

In the photoconductor drive device according to the third aspect, the elastic member is installed and the idler pulley is fixed by separate members, so that in addition to the same effect as the second aspect, the elastic coefficient of the elastic member and It is possible to select the shape relatively freely, and it is possible to easily set the optimum conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a driving unit configuration of a copying machine which is an embodiment of a photosensitive member driving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a photoconductor driving unit.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example different from that of the photosensitive member driving section shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing another configuration of the photosensitive member driving section different from that shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same side surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drive motor 2 Timing pulley (photoconductor drive pulley, photoconductor peripheral drive pulley) 5 Photoconductor drum shaft 6 Photoconductor drum pulley 7 Photoconductor drive timing belt 8 Photoconductor peripheral drive timing belt 9 Transfer belt drive shaft 10 Cleaning unit drive shaft 11 idler pulley 11 12 support member 13 support shaft 14 sliding hole 15 fastening member 16 elastic member 17 pressure member 18 step screw 19 fixing member 20 fastening member 21 elastic member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photoconductor driving device for a copying machine, a printer, or the like, wherein a timing belt is used to drive and connect a driving motor and a photoconductor driving shaft, and an initial tension is applied to the timing belt. And a fastening member for fixing the idler pulley can be attached via an elastic member such as rubber. 2. The photoconductor drive device according to claim 1, wherein at least one attachment position of the fastening member is provided inside the timing belt loop. 3. The photoconductor drive device according to claim 1, wherein the idler pulley and a support member for supporting the idler pulley, and a fixing member for fixing the position of the idler pulley after applying an initial tension to the timing belt. And a supporting member and a fixing member which are in contact with each other via an elastic member such as rubber.