JP2021046870A - Drive transmission member, drive transmission device image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a drive transmission member, a drive transmission device and an image formation device capable of attaining both durability and quietness.SOLUTION: A developed internal and external tooth integrated gear 155, which is a drive transmission member, comprises a shaft support part 3 having a shaft insertion hole 155c into which a shaft such as a drive pin 163a is inserted, a cylindrical part 1 having an inner tooth part 155a on its inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth part 155b on its outer peripheral surface, and a connection part 2 connecting the shaft support part 3 and the cylindrical part 1. The outer tooth part 155b and the inner tooth part 155a are made of resin materials having different flexural modulus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

The present invention relates to a drive transmission member, a drive transmission device, and an image forming device.

Conventionally, a shaft support portion having a shaft insertion hole into which a shaft is inserted, a tubular portion having an inner tooth portion on an inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion on an outer peripheral surface, and a shaft support portion and a tubular portion are provided. A drive transmission member including a connecting portion to be connected is known.

Patent Document 1 describes that the drive transmission member is made of a resin material, the motor gear meshes with the inner tooth portion, and a plurality of output gears mesh with the outer tooth portion.

However, there is a problem in achieving both durability and quietness.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a shaft support portion having a shaft insertion hole into which the shaft is inserted, and a tubular portion having an inner tooth portion on the inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion on the outer peripheral surface. In the drive transmission member including the shaft support portion and the connecting portion that connects the tubular portion, the outer tooth portion and the inner tooth portion are made of resin materials having different flexural modulus from each other. It is characterized by being present.

According to the present invention, both durability and quietness can be achieved.

The schematic block diagram of the printer which concerns on this embodiment. An enlarged explanatory view of one of the four process units. Top view of a color drive device for driving Y, M, C color photoconductors and a developing roller. Perspective view of the color drive device. The perspective view which shows the photoconductor gear train and the development drive gear train. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. BB sectional view of FIG. The perspective view which shows the rear side plate, the unit side development gear train, the development roller, and a photoconductor. The schematic diagram which shows the appearance of positioning the process unit for color on the apparatus. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the developed internal and external tooth integrated gears. The figure explaining the conventional developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear of this embodiment. The figure which shows the modification 1 of the development internal tooth external tooth integrated gear. The figure which shows the modification 2 of the development internal tooth external tooth integrated gear. The figure which shows the modification 3 of the development internal tooth external tooth integrated gear.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “printer 100”) as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described. First, the basic configuration of the printer 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer 100 according to this embodiment. The printer 100 includes four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y for forming toner images of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow (hereinafter referred to as K, C, M, and Y). These use K, C, M, and Y toners of different colors as the image forming substance, but have the same configuration other than that, and are replaced at the end of the service life.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of one of the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y. Since the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y are the same except that the color of the toner used is different, the subscripts (K, C, M, Y) indicating the color of the toner used are omitted in FIG. are doing. As shown in FIG. 3, the process unit 26 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 24 as a latent image carrier, a photoconductor cleaning device 83, a photoconductor unit 10 holding a static elimination device and a charging device 25, and a developing unit 23. It has. The process unit 26 as an image forming unit can be attached to and detached from the printer 100 main body, and consumable parts can be replaced at once.

The charging device 25 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 24, which is rotationally driven clockwise in the drawing by the driving means. The surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 24 is exposed and scanned by the laser beam L irradiated by the optical writing unit 27 to carry an electrostatic latent image for each color. This electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by a developing unit 23 that uses toner. Then, the primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 22.

The photoconductor cleaning device 83 removes the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor 24 after the primary transfer step. Further, the static eliminator removes the residual charge of the photoconductor 24 after cleaning. By this static elimination, the surface of the photoconductor 24 is initialized to prepare for the next image formation.

The developing unit 23 has a vertically long hopper unit 86 for accommodating toner as a developing agent and a developing unit 87. In the hopper 86 as the developer accommodating portion, an agitator 88 rotationally driven by the driving means, a toner supply roller 80 as a developer supplying member rotationally driven by the driving means below the agitator 88, and the like are arranged. Has been done. The toner in the hopper 86 moves toward the toner supply roller 80 by its own weight while being agitated by the rotational drive of the agitator 88. The toner supply roller 80 has a metal core metal and a roller portion made of a foamed resin or the like coated on the surface of the core metal, and the toner accumulated on the lower side inside the hopper portion 86 is applied to the surface of the roller portion. Rotate while adhering.

In the developing unit 87 of the developing unit 23, a developing roller 81 that rotates while contacting the photoconductor 24 and the toner supply roller 80, a thinning blade 82 that brings the tip into contact with the surface of the developing roller 81, and the like are arranged. There is. The toner adhering to the toner supply roller 80 in the hopper 86 is supplied to the surface of the developing roller 81 at the contact portion between the developing roller 81 and the toner supply roller 80. When the supplied toner passes through the contact position between the developing roller 81 and the thinning blade 82 as the developing roller 81 rotates, the layer thickness on the surface of the developing roller 81 is regulated. Then, the toner after the layer thickness regulation adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 24 in the developing region which is the contact portion between the developing roller 81 and the photoconductor 24. Due to this adhesion, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image.

Such formation of the toner image is performed in each process unit 26K, 26C, 26M, 26Y, and a toner image of each color is formed on the respective photoconductors 24 of each process unit 26K, 26C, 26M, 26Y.

As shown in FIG. 1, an optical writing unit 27 is arranged above the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y in the vertical direction. The optical writing unit 27 as a latent image writing device lightly scans each of the photoconductors 24 in the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y by the laser light L emitted from the laser diode based on the image information. .. By this optical scanning, electrostatic latent images for each color are formed on the photoconductor 24. In such a configuration, the optical writing unit 27 and the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, 26Y make K, C, M, Y toners as visible images of different colors of the four photoconductors 24. It functions as an image-forming means for image-forming.

The optical writing unit 27 irradiates the photoconductor 24 through a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors while polarized the laser light L emitted from the light source by the polygon mirror rotationally driven by the polygon motor in the main scanning direction. .. As the optical writing unit 27, one that performs optical writing by LED light emitted from a plurality of LEDs in the LED array may be adopted.

Below the four process units 26K, 26C, 26M, and 26Y in the vertical direction, a transfer unit 75 is arranged as a belt device that moves the endless intermediate transfer belt 22 endlessly in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing while stretching the intermediate transfer belt 22. Has been done. In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 22, the transfer unit 75 includes a drive roller 76, a tension roller 20, four primary transfer rollers 74K, 74C, 74M, 74Y, a secondary transfer roller 21, a belt cleaning device 71, a cleaning backup roller 72, and the like. It has.

The intermediate transfer belt 22, which is a belt member and is a transfer belt, is stretched by a drive roller 76, a tension roller 20, a cleaning backup roller 72, and four primary transfer rollers 74K, 74C, 74M, 74Y arranged inside the loop. It is hung. Then, it is endlessly moved in the same direction by the rotational force of the drive roller 76 which is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by the drive means.

The four primary transfer rollers 74K, 74C, 74M, 74Y sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 22 which is endlessly moved in this way between the photoconductors 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y. By this sandwiching, four primary transfer nip for K, C, M, and Y where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22 and the photoconductors 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y come into contact with each other are formed.

A primary transfer bias is applied to each of the primary transfer rollers 74K, 74C, 74M, and 74Y by a transfer bias power supply. As a result, a transfer electric field is formed between the electrostatic latent images of the photoconductors 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y and the primary transfer rollers 74K, 74C, 74M, 74Y. Instead of the primary transfer roller 74, a transfer charger, a transfer brush, or the like may be adopted.

The Y-color toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 24Y of the process unit 26Y enters the above-mentioned primary transfer nip for Y as the photoconductor 24Y rotates. In the primary transfer nip for Y, the Y color toner image is first transferred from the photoconductor 24Y onto the intermediate transfer belt 22 by the action of the transfer electric field and the nip pressure. The intermediate transfer belt 22 on which the Y-color toner image is primarily transferred in this way is placed on the photoconductors 24M, 24C, 24K as it passes through the primary transfer nips for M, C, and K as it moves endlessly. The M, C, and K color toner images are sequentially superimposed on the Y color toner image and first-order transferred. By this superposition primary transfer, a four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 22.

The secondary transfer roller 21 of the transfer unit 75 is arranged outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 22 and sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 22 with the tension roller 20 inside the loop. By this sandwiching, a secondary transfer nip is formed in which the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22 and the secondary transfer roller 21 come into contact with each other. A secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 21 by a transfer bias power supply. By this application, a secondary transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 21 and the tension roller 20 connected to the ground.

Below the transfer unit 75 in the vertical direction, a paper feed cassette 41 accommodating a plurality of sheets of recording paper in a stack of paper bundles is slidably and detachably arranged with respect to the housing of the printer 100. The paper feed cassette 41 has a paper feed roller 42 in contact with the recording paper at the top of the paper bundle, and the recording paper is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing at a predetermined timing. Send out toward the paper feed path.

A resist roller pair 43 composed of two resist rollers is arranged near the end of the paper feed path. The resist roller pair 43 stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the recording paper as a recording member sent out from the paper feed cassette 41 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, the rotation drive is restarted at a timing when the sandwiched recording paper can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 22 in the above-mentioned secondary transfer nip, and the recording paper is sent out toward the secondary transfer nip.

The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 22 that is in close contact with the recording paper at the secondary transfer nip is collectively secondary transferred onto the recording paper under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and nip pressure, and is combined with the white color of the recording paper. , A full-color toner image is obtained. When the recording paper on which the full-color toner image is formed on the surface in this way passes through the secondary transfer nip, the recording paper is subjected to curvature separation from the secondary transfer roller 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 22. Then, it is sent to the fixing device 40 as the fixing means via the transfer path after transfer.

The fixing device 40 is provided with a fixing roller 45 including a heat generating source 45a such as a halogen lamp, and a pressurizing roller 47 that rotates while contacting the fixing roller 45 with a predetermined pressure. A fixing nip is formed by the pressure roller 47. The recording paper fed into the fixing device 40 is sandwiched between the fixing nips so that the surface supporting the unfixed toner image is brought into close contact with the fixing roller 45. Then, the toner in the toner image is softened by the influence of heating and pressurization, and the full-color image is fixed.

When the single-sided print mode is set, the recording paper discharged from the fixing device 40 is discharged to the outside of the machine as it is. Then, it is stacked on the stack portion formed by the upper surface of the upper cover 56 of the housing.

The transfer residual toner that was not transferred to the recording paper adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 22 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned from the belt surface by the belt cleaning device 71 that is in contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22. The cleaning backup roller 72 arranged inside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 22 backs up the cleaning of the belt by the belt cleaning device 71 from the inside of the loop.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the color drive device 150 for driving the Y, M, C color photoconductors 24Y, 24M, 24C and the developing rollers 81Y, 81M, 81C, and FIG. 4 is a top view of the color drive device 150. It is a perspective view. 5 is a perspective view showing the photoconductor gear row 50 and the developing drive gear row 15, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view.
The color drive device 150 includes a color photoconductor motor 51 that drives the photoconductors 24Y, 24M, 24C, a color developing motor 160 that drives the developing rollers 81Y, 81M, 81C, and a driving force of the color photoconductor motor 51. It has a photoconductor gear row 50 that transmits the above to the photoconductors 24Y, 24M, 24C, a development drive gear row 15 that transmits the driving force of the color developing motor 160 to the developing rollers 81Y, 81M, 81C, and the like.

The photoconductor gear row 50 includes three photoconductor gears 53Y, 53M, 53C corresponding to each color, and an idler gear 52i for transmitting a driving force from the M color photoconductor gear 53 to the Y color photoconductor gear 53Y. I have. The photoconductor gear row 50 is arranged between a drive bracket 162 that holds a color photoconductor motor 51, a color developing motor 160, and the like, and a gear bracket 163 that holds a developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155 and the like. (See Fig. 7).

Each photoconductor gear 53Y, 53M, 53C has a photoconductor drive shaft 53aY, 53aM, 53aY, which is a spline shaft. Further, the photoconductor gears 53C, 53M, 53Y are large-diameter gears which are external tooth gears having a larger diameter than the photoconductors 24C, 24M, 24Y, and the influence on the image due to the gear accuracy is reduced.
At the inner end of the photoconductors 24C, 24M, 24Y, there are photoconductor engaging portions 24aC, 24aM, 24aY having spline holes into which the photoconductor drive shafts 53aC, 53aM, 53aC are inserted and engaged. .. When the photoconductor drive shafts 53aC, 53aM, 53aC engage with the photoconductor engaging portions 24aC, 24aM, 24aY, the driving force of the color photoconductor motor 51 is transmitted to the photoconductors 24C, 24M, 24Y, and the photoconductor is transmitted. 24C, 24M, 24Y are rotationally driven together with the photoconductor gears 53Y, 53M, 53C.

The motor gear 51a of the color photoconductor motor 51 meshes with the photoconductor gear 53C and the photoconductor gear 53M, and the photoconductor 24C and the photoconductor 24M are formed via the photoconductor drive shaft 53aM of the photoconductor gear 53M. Drive transmission. Further, the driving force is transmitted from the photoconductor gear 53M to the photoconductor gear 53Y via the idler gear 52i, and the drive force is transmitted to the photoconductor 24Y via the photoconductor drive shaft 53a of the photoconductor gear 53Y.

The developing drive gear row 15 has a developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155, an idler gear pulley 151, and drive output gears 152Y, 152M, 152C of Y, M, and C colors, and has a gear bracket 163 and a rear side plate of the device. It is arranged between 141 and 141.
As shown in FIG. 7, the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 has an internal tooth portion 155a and an external tooth portion 155b, and the internal tooth portion 155a is a motor gear formed on the motor shaft 160a of the color developing motor 160. It meshes with 164.

In the present embodiment, the motor gear 164 is formed only in the range where the motor shaft 160a of the color developing motor 160 meshes with the internal tooth portion 155a of the developing internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155. In the range of the photoconductor gear 53 in the tooth width direction (the range of the photoconductor gear row 50 in the axial direction), the diameter of the motor shaft 160a is made smaller than the diameter of the tooth tip circle of the motor gear 164. As a result, even if the diameter of the motor gear 164 of the color developing motor 160 is increased, the color drive device 150 does not become larger, and the noise level and the size of the drive device can be reduced.

The developed internal and external tooth integrated gear 155 is rotatably supported by a drive pin 163a fixed to the gear bracket 163. The idler gear portion 151a of the idler gear pulley 151 and the driven gear portion 152a of the M-color drive output gear 152M mesh with the external tooth portion 155b of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 (see FIG. 5).

The motor gear 164, the internal tooth portion 155a, the external tooth portion 155b, the idler gear portion 151a, and the M-color drive output gear 152M may be used as teeth. By using a tooth, the meshing rate can be increased, and meshing vibration and noise can be suppressed. Further, at this time, it is preferable that the twisting direction of the tooth teeth of the internal tooth portion 155a is such that the direction of the thrust force generated during rotational drive is on the motor side. Specifically, when the motor shaft is viewed from the developing roller side in the axial direction, the tooth is twisted clockwise when the rotation direction of the motor shaft is counterclockwise, and when the rotation direction of the motor shaft is clockwise. , The axle is twisted to the left. That is, the tooth is twisted so that the developing roller side of the tooth is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the motor side. As a result, a thrust force toward the developing roller side acts on the motor gear 164 during rotational driving, and the color developing motor 160 can be pressed against the drive bracket 162. As a result, the posture of the color developing motor 160 can be maintained, and the occurrence of meshing vibration and the like can be satisfactorily suppressed.

Further, it is desirable that the tooth of the outer tooth portion 155b is twisted in the direction opposite to the thrust force of the inner tooth portion 155a, that is, the thrust force acts on the developing roller side. Specifically, the tooth of the outer tooth portion 155b is in the same twisting direction as the motor gear 164, and the direction is opposite to the twisting direction of the tooth of the inner tooth portion 155a. As a result, the thrust force of the internal tooth portion 155a can be canceled by the thrust force of the external tooth portion 155b, and the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 moves to the drive motor side and rotates while abutting on the drive bracket 162. It can be prevented from being driven. As a result, by satisfactorily rotationally driving the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155, the developing roller 81 can be rotationally driven without causing uneven rotation or the like.

Further, the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 has the internal tooth gear and the external tooth portion 155b formed on the outer periphery of the internal tooth portion 155a of the tubular portion 1 having the internal tooth formed on the inner circumference. Compared with the case where the tooth gears are arranged side by side in the axial direction, the length can be shortened in the axial direction, and the size of the device can be reduced.

The drive output gears 152Y, 152M, and 152C of each color have the same shape, and include a driven gear portion 152a, a pulley portion 152b, and a drive-side coupling portion 152c having a spline hole (see FIG. 3). The idler gear pulley 151 has an idler gear portion 151a and a pulley portion 151b. The idler gear pulley 151 and the drive output gears 152Y, 152M, and 152C of each color are rotatably supported by drive pins fixed to the drive bracket 162. In this way, by making the drive output gears 152Y, 152M, and 152C of each color have the same shape, it is possible to standardize the parts and reduce the parts management cost and the like. The drive output gear 152C and the drive output gear 152Y may be configured to include only the pulley portion 152b and the drive side coupling portion 152c.

The first timing belt 153 is hung around the pulley portion 151b of the idler gear pulley 151 and the pulley portion 152bY of the drive output gear 152Y. Further, the second timing belt 154 is hung around the pulley portion 152bM of the M color drive output gear 152M and the pulley portion 152bC of the C color drive output gear 152C. As the first timing belt 153 and the second timing belt 154, a V-belt or the like can be used.

The first Tightener 156 abuts on the belt surface on the outer circumference of the first timing belt 153 to apply tension to the first timing belt 153. Further, the second Tightener 157 abuts on the belt surface on the outer circumference of the second timing belt 154 to apply tension to the second timing belt 154. Further, by providing the first Tightener 156 and the second Tightener 157 on the drive bracket 162 or the like so as to be swingable, the tension from the first timing belt 153 and the second timing belt 154 can be managed to be constant.

The developing unit of each color has unit-side developing gear rows 180Y, 180M, 180C, respectively. The unit-side developing gear trains 180Y, 180M, 180C of each color include the driven side couplings 181Y, 181M, 181C which are spline axes, the developing input gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, the developing idler gears 183Y, 183M, 183C, and the developing output. It has gears 184Y, 184M, and 184C. The development input gears 182Y, 182M, 182C are provided coaxially with the driven side couplings 181Y, 181M, 181C, and the development idler gears 183Y, 183M are provided on the development output gears 184Y, 184M, 184C provided on the shaft of the development roller. The driving force is transmitted via the 183C.

The driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the Y-color developing unit 23Y via the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155, the idler gear pulley 151, the first timing belt 153, and the drive output gear 152Y. Then, the driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the developing roller 81Y via the driven side coupling 181Y on the developing unit 23Y side, the developing input gear 182Y, the developing idler gear 183Y, and the developing output gear 184Y, and the developing roller 81Y rotates. Drive.

The driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the developing unit 23M via the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155 and the drive output gear 152M. Then, the driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the developing roller 81M via the driven side coupling 181M on the developing unit 23M side, the developing input gear 182M, the developing idler gear 183M, and the developing output gear 184M, and the developing roller 81M rotates. Drive.

The driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the developing unit 23C via the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155, the drive output gear 152M, the second timing belt 154, and the drive output gear 152C. Then, the driving force of the color developing motor 160 is transmitted to the developing roller 81C via the driven side coupling 181C on the developing unit 23C side, the developing input gear 182C, the developing idler gear 183C, and the developing output gear 184C, and the developing roller 81C rotates. Drive.

In the present embodiment, the gear that meshes with the motor gear 164 of the color developing motor 160 is the internal tooth portion 155a of the developing internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155. As a result, the meshing rate with the motor gear 164 can be increased, and uneven rotation, noise, and vibration can be suppressed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the rear side plate 141, the unit side developing gear trains 180Y, 180M, 180C, the developing rollers 81Y, 81M, 81C, and the photoconductors 24Y, 24M, 24C.
As shown in FIG. 8, the photoconductor drive shafts 53aY, 53aM, 53aC penetrate the rear side plate 141 of the apparatus. Then, the tip end side portions of the photoconductor drive shafts 53aY, 53aM, 53aC penetrating from the rear side plate 141 enter the spline holes of the photoconductor engaging portions 24aC, 24aM, 24aY and are driven and connected.

Further, the drive side coupling portions 152cY, 152cM, 152cC also penetrate the rear side plate 141. Then, the drive-side coupling is inserted into the spline holes of the drive-side coupling portions 152cY, 152cM, 152cC and is driven and connected.

Further, the rear side plate 141 is formed with positioning holes 142Y, 142M, 142C for positioning the process units 26Y, 26M, 26C.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing how the color process units 26Y, 26M, and 26C are positioned on the device.
As shown in FIG. 9, the color process units 26Y, 26M, 26C are provided with positioning pins 26aY, 26aM, 26aC, and the positioning pins 26aY, 26aM, 26aC are the positioning holes 142Y, 142M of the rear side plate 141. By inserting it into 142C, the process units 26Y, 26M, 26C are positioned on the apparatus main body.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of the vicinity of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the process unit 26M is positioned on the apparatus main body, the positioning pin 26a of the process unit 26M faces the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conventional developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155.
As shown in FIG. 11A, the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155, which is a drive transmission member, has a tubular portion 1 having an external tooth portion 155b on the outer peripheral surface and an internal tooth portion 155a on the inner peripheral surface, and a shaft. A tubular shaft support portion 3 having a shaft insertion hole 155c into which the drive pin 163a is inserted, an axial end portion of the tubular portion 1 (process unit side end portion), and one end portion of the shaft support portion 3. The shape is such that one end side of the tubular portion 1 is closed considerably with the connecting portion 2 that connects the two.

Load torque is applied to the meshing portion between the external tooth portion 155b and the idler gear pulley 151, the meshing portion between the external tooth portion 155b and the driven gear portion 152a of the drive output gear 152M, and the meshing portion between the internal tooth portion 155a and the motor gear 164, respectively. Is added. Since the tooth surfaces of the external teeth of the external tooth portion 155b and the internal teeth of the internal tooth portion 155a are inclined surfaces, the load torques applied to these tooth surfaces are in the circumferential direction and f1, f2, in FIG. 11B. It acts in the radial direction as shown in f3.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the idler gear pulley 151 and the driven gear portion 152a mesh with each other on the upper side of the outer tooth portion 155b, and the motor gear 164 meshes with the lower side of the inner tooth portion 155a. Therefore, the load torques f1, f2, and f3 in the radial direction at each meshing portion face downward, and a force that presses the tubular portion 1 downward is generated.

The developed internal and external tooth integrated gear 155 is made of a highly slidable resin material from the viewpoint of reducing meshing noise, but the highly slidable resin material has a relatively low flexural modulus. As a result, due to the radial load torques f1, f2, and f3 in each meshing portion as shown in FIG. 11B, the connecting portion 2 is tilted with respect to the axial direction as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 11A. As a result, the tubular portion 1 is tilted with respect to the axial direction.

When the tubular portion 1 is tilted with respect to the axial direction, one-sided contact in which the tooth contact is concentrated in a part in the tooth width direction occurs in the meshing portion of the outer tooth portion 155b and the inner tooth portion 155a, and one in the tooth width direction. Stress concentrates on the part. In the present embodiment, in the meshing portion between the internal tooth portion 155a and the motor gear 164, the load torque of a plurality of gears meshing with the external tooth portion 155b is applied to the meshing portion of the internal tooth portion 155a, so that the load torque is applied to the internal tooth portion 155a. The load torque is large. Further, in the present embodiment, since the tubular portion 1 is tilted as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 11A, so-called tip contact occurs in which the tooth of the motor gear 164 hits the tip side of the tooth of the internal tooth portion 155a, and the tooth The stress load applied to the root becomes large. Further, the radius of the internal tooth is shorter than that of the external tooth, and the module of the internal tooth portion 155a is smaller than the module of the external tooth portion 155b from the viewpoint of obtaining a high reduction ratio. Therefore, the inner tooth portion 155a has a weaker tooth strength than the outer tooth portion 155b. As a result, when the tubular portion 1 is tilted, a problem may occur in which the internal tooth portion 155a is cracked on the connecting portion side of the internal teeth. Therefore, it is conceivable that the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus, but the slidability may decrease and the noise may increase.

Further, the thickness of the connecting portion 2 is increased or the connecting portion 2 is provided with a reinforcing rib to increase the strength of the connecting portion 2 and prevent the connecting portion 2 from being deformed so as to be tilted in the axial direction. It is also possible to do it. However, by increasing the thickness of the connecting portion 2 or providing the connecting portion 2 with reinforcing ribs, the developed internal and external tooth integrated gear 155 becomes large in the axial direction. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the process unit 26M is positioned on the apparatus main body, the tip of the positioning pin 26aM is in close contact with the connecting portion 2 of the developing internal and external tooth integrated gear 155. As a result, when the thickness of the connecting portion 2 is increased or the reinforcing rib is provided in the connecting portion 2 to increase the size of the developing internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 in the axial direction, the tip of the positioning pin 26aM hits the connecting portion 2. .. If the tip of the positioning pin 26aM is prevented from hitting the connecting portion 2, the image forming apparatus becomes large in the axial direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the developed internal and external tooth integrated gears 155 are made of two resin materials having different flexural modulus. Hereinafter, the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the external tooth portion 155b, the connecting portion 2, and the shaft support portion 3 of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 are made of a slidable resin material such as POM, and the internal tooth portion. 155a was composed of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of a slidable resin material such as ABS and PBT. By forming the internal tooth portion 155a with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, the bending strength of the internal tooth can be increased. As a result, the tubular portion 1 is tilted with respect to the axial direction due to the load torque in the radial direction applied to each meshing portion of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155, and the meshing between the internal tooth portion 155a and the motor gear 164 is one-sided. And even if it hits the tip, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracks in the internal teeth. Thereby, the durability of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 can be enhanced.

On the other hand, since the external tooth portion 155b is made of a sliding resin material, it is possible to suppress meshing noise, suppress an increase in noise, and ensure quietness. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the two gears of the idler gear pulley 151 and the driven gear portion 152a are in mesh with each other, the external tooth portion 155b is made of a slidable resin material to effectively suppress noise. Can be done. Further, since the shaft support portion 3 is also made of a slidable resin material, the shaft support portion 3 and the drive pin 163a can be slid well, the wear of the shaft support portion 3 can be suppressed, and the developed internal teeth can be suppressed. The durability of the external tooth integrated gear 155 can be improved.

As described above, in the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 of the present embodiment, the external tooth portion 155b and the shaft support portion 3 are made of a slidable resin material, and the internal tooth portion 155a is bent more than the slidable resin material. By using a resin material having a high elastic modulus, it is possible to achieve both durability and quietness.

Further, as described above, the load torque between the internal tooth portion 155a and the motor gear 164 is larger than the load torque between the gear that meshes with the external tooth portion 155b, and the internal tooth portion when the tubular portion 1 is tilted and hits one side. The amount of wear on the tooth surface of 155a is larger than that of the external tooth portion 155b. However, by forming the internal tooth portion 155a with a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the external tooth portion 155b, the strength of the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion 155a can also be increased. As a result, wear on the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion 155a can be suppressed, and durability can be improved.

Further, when the module of the internal tooth portion 155a is large and the tooth bending strength of the internal tooth portion 155a is to some extent, only the tooth surface portion of the internal tooth portion 155a may be made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus. .. When the bending strength of the tooth of the internal tooth portion 155a is to some extent, the tooth of the internal tooth portion 155a is not cracked even if one-sided contact or tip contact occurs. In this case, there is a problem that the tooth surface is worn early due to one-sided contact. Therefore, by forming only the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion 155a with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, it is possible to suppress the wear of the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion 155a and enhance the durability.

[Modification 1]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modification 1 of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155.
In FIG. 13, the internal tooth portion 155a and a part of the connecting portion 2 are made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the slidable resin material. A part of the connecting portion 2 made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the slidable resin material is connected to the internal tooth portion 155a, and a part of the connecting portion 2 and the internal tooth portion 155a are bent. It is an integrally molded resin material with a high elastic modulus. Further, a part of the resin material having a high flexural modulus, which constitutes a part of the connecting portion 2, extends to the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft support portion 3.

As shown in FIG. 13, the strength of the connecting portion 2 can be increased by forming a part of the connecting portion 2 with a resin material having a high flexural modulus. As a result, the deformation of the connecting portion 2 is suppressed by the load torque in the radial direction generated in the meshing portion of the internal tooth portion 155a and the meshing portion of the external tooth portion 155b. As a result, the inclination of the tubular portion 1 in the axial direction can be suppressed, the one-sided contact of the external tooth portion 155b and the internal tooth portion 155a can be suppressed, and the decrease in durability can be further suppressed.

Further, due to the load torque in the radial direction, the connecting portion 2 is deformed so as to be inclined with respect to the axial direction with the connecting portion with the shaft supporting portion 3 as a fulcrum. Therefore, by providing a resin material having a high flexural modulus up to the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft supporting portion 3, the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft supporting portion 3 is reinforced, and the connecting portion 2 is axially oriented. It is possible to satisfactorily suppress deformation that tilts with respect to the relative.

Further, a resin material having a flexural modulus higher than that of a part of the sliding resin material of the connecting portion 2 shown in FIG. 13 and the internal tooth portion 155a are connected, and a part of the connecting portion 2 and the internal tooth portion 155a are connected. By forming an integrally molded resin material with a high flexural modulus, the tubular portion 1 is prevented from being deformed in the radial direction due to the load torque in the radial direction with the connecting portion with the connecting portion 2 as a fulcrum. be able to. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the one-sided contact of the external tooth portion 155b and the internal tooth portion 155a.

Further, the connecting portion 2 can be reinforced without increasing the thickness of the connecting portion 2 or providing the reinforcing ribs, and it is possible to prevent the developing internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 from becoming large in the axial direction, and the positioning pin. It is possible to prevent the 26aM from coming into contact with each other and the image forming apparatus from becoming larger in the axial direction.

In FIG. 13, a part of the connecting portion 2 is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus, but the entire connecting portion may be made of a resin material having a high bending elastic modulus.

[Modification 2]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a modification 2 of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155.
In this modification 2, a part of the connecting portion 2 and the outer peripheral surface portion of the shaft support portion 3 are made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the slidable resin material. A part of the connecting portion 2 made of a resin material having a flexural modulus higher than that of the slidable resin material is connected to the outer peripheral surface portion of the shaft support portion 3, and a part of the connecting portion 2 and the shaft support portion 3 are connected. The outer peripheral surface is integrally molded with a resin material having a high flexural modulus.

In this way, by connecting a part of the connecting portion 2 and the outer peripheral surface portion of the shaft support portion 3 with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft supporting portion 3 is reinforced, and the connecting portion is reinforced. Deformation that tilts with respect to the axial direction of 2 can be suppressed. As a result, the tubular portion 1 is prevented from tilting in the axial direction, the outer tooth portion 155b and the inner tooth portion 155a can be prevented from hitting one side, and a decrease in durability can be suppressed.

Further, in the second modification, since the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b are made of a sliding resin material, it is possible to suppress the meshing noise of both the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b. Therefore, noise can be suppressed as compared with the case where the internal tooth portion 155a is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus. In this modification 2, the entire connecting portion 2 may be made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus.

[Modification 3]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a modified example 3 of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155.
In this modification 3, the internal tooth portion 155a, a part of the connecting portion 2, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the shaft support portion 3 are made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus. In this modification 3, the developed internal tooth external tooth integral is surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 1 of the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155, the inner surface of the connecting portion 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft support portion 3. The internal space of the gear 155 is surrounded by a resin material having a high flexural modulus.

By forming the internal tooth portion 155a, a part of the connecting portion 2, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the shaft support portion 3 with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, the connecting portion 2 is axially oriented as compared with the configuration of the modified example 1. On the other hand, it is possible to suppress deformation that tilts. As a result, the one-sided contact of the external tooth portion 155b and the internal tooth portion 155a can be suppressed as compared with the modified example 1, and the decrease in durability can be further suppressed.

Further, in the modifications 2 and 3, in the configuration in which the drive pin 163a is rotatably supported by the device and the developing internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 rotates integrally with the drive pin 163a, the entire shaft support portion 3 is supported. It may be composed of a resin having a high flexural modulus.

Further, when the outer tooth portion 155b is configured to be more prone to tooth cracking than the inner tooth portion 155a when the tubular portion 1 is tilted in the axial direction, the outer tooth portion 155b is bent. It is made of a resin material having a high elastic modulus, and the internal tooth portion 155a is made of a slidable resin. As a result, both durability and quietness can be achieved.

The above description is an example, and the effect peculiar to each of the following aspects is exhibited.
(Aspect 1)
A shaft support portion 3 having a shaft insertion hole 155c into which a shaft such as a drive pin 163a is inserted, a tubular portion 1 having an inner tooth portion 155a on the inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion 155b on the outer peripheral surface, and a shaft. In a drive transmission member such as a developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 provided with a connecting portion 2 for connecting the support portion 3 and the tubular portion 1, the external tooth portion 155b and the internal tooth portion 155a bend from each other. It is composed of different resin materials.
Since the tooth surface of the external tooth portion 155b and the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion 155a of the drive transmission member such as the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 are inclined surfaces, the load torque applied to these tooth surfaces is the circumferential direction and the radius. Act in the direction. The drive transmission member is generally composed of a resin material having high slidability from the viewpoint of quietness, but the resin material having high slidability has a relatively low flexural modulus and acts in the radial direction described above. Due to the influence of the load torque, the connecting portion 2 may be tilted with respect to the axial direction, and the tubular portion 1 may be tilted with respect to the axial direction. When the tubular portion 1 is tilted with respect to the axial direction, one-sided contact in which the tooth contact is concentrated in a part in the tooth width direction occurs in the meshing portion of the outer tooth portion 155b and the inner tooth portion 155a, and one in the tooth width direction. Stress concentrates on the part. As a result, of the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b, the root of the tooth of the tooth portion to which the load torque is larger may be cracked. For example, in Patent Document 1, in which a plurality of gears mesh with the external tooth portion 155b and one gear meshes with the internal tooth portion 155a, the load torque of the plurality of gears meshing with the external tooth portion 155b in the meshing portion of the internal tooth portion 155a. Is added. As a result, when the tubular portion 1 is tilted, the teeth of the internal tooth portion 155a may be cracked. Therefore, it is conceivable that the drive transmission member is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus, but the slidability may decrease and the noise may increase.
Therefore, in the first aspect, the outer tooth portion 155b and the inner tooth portion 155a are made of resin materials having different bending elastic moduli. As a result, of the external tooth portion 155b and the internal tooth portion 155a, one of the tooth portions to which a large load torque is applied at the meshing portion is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus to prevent tooth cracking. It can be suppressed and the durability can be improved. On the other hand, for the other tooth portion, a resin material having a lower flexural modulus and higher slidability than that of one tooth portion can be used, an increase in noise can be suppressed, and quietness can be ensured.

(Aspect 2)
In the first aspect, the internal tooth portion 155a is made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the external tooth portion 155b.
According to this, as described in the embodiment, even if the tubular portion 1 is tilted with respect to the axial direction and one-sided contact or tip contact occurs on the internal tooth portion 155a, the teeth of the internal tooth portion 155a are cracked. It does not occur, and the durability of the drive transmission member such as the developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 can be improved.

(Aspect 3)
In the second aspect, at least the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion is made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus.
According to this, as described in the embodiment, wear of the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion can be suppressed, and the durability of the drive transmission member can be enhanced.

(Aspect 4)
In the second or third aspect, at least a part of the connecting portion 2 and the internal tooth portion 155a are made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus.
According to this, as described in the deformation example 1, the deformation of the connecting portion 2 can be suppressed, and the tubular portion 1 can be suppressed from tilting in the axial direction. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of one-sided contact at the meshing portion of the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b. As a result, cracking of teeth and wear of teeth can be suppressed, and durability can be improved.

(Aspect 5)
In the fourth aspect, at least a part of the shaft support portion 3, at least a part of the connecting portion 2, and the internal tooth portion 155a are made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus.
According to this, as described in the modified example 3, the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft supporting portion 3 is reinforced with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, and the connecting portion 2 is deformed so as to be tilted in the axial direction. Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress tilting of the tubular portion 1 with respect to the axial direction, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of one-sided contact at the meshing portions of the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b. As a result, cracking of the tooth and wear of the tooth surface can be suppressed, and durability can be improved.

(Aspect 6)
In any of aspects 2 to 5, the external tooth portion 155b is made of a slidable resin material.
According to this, the noise in the meshing portion of the external tooth portion 155b can be suppressed, and the quietness can be enhanced.

(Aspect 7)
A shaft support portion 3 having a shaft insertion hole 155c into which a shaft such as a drive pin 163a is inserted, a tubular portion 1 having an inner tooth portion 155a on the inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion 155b on the outer peripheral surface, and a shaft. In a drive transmission member such as a developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155 having a connecting portion 2 for connecting the support portion 3 and the tubular portion 1, at least a part of the shaft support portion 3 and the connecting portion 2 is more than any other. It was composed of a resin material with a high flexural modulus.
According to this, as described in the modified example 2, the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the shaft supporting portion 3 is reinforced with a resin material having a high flexural modulus, and the connecting portion 2 is deformed so as to be tilted in the axial direction. Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress tilting of the tubular portion 1 with respect to the axial direction, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of one-sided contact at the meshing portions of the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b. As a result, cracking of the tooth and wear of the tooth surface can be suppressed, and durability can be improved.

(Aspect 8)
In the seventh aspect, the outer tooth portion 155b and the inner tooth portion 155a are made of a slidable resin material.
According to this, as described in the modified example 2, the noise of the meshing portion of the internal tooth portion 155a and the external tooth portion 155b can be suppressed, and the quietness can be enhanced.

(Aspect 9)
In a drive transmission device such as a development drive gear train 15 provided with a drive transmission member such as a development internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155, the drive transmission member according to any one of aspects 1 to 8 is used as the drive transmission member.
According to this, it is possible to achieve both quietness and durability.

(Aspect 10)
As a drive transmission device in an image forming apparatus including a rotating body such as a developing roller 81 and a driving transmission device such as a developing drive gear train 15 that transmits the driving force of a drive source such as a color developing motor 160 to the rotating body. , The drive transmission device according to the ninth aspect was used.
According to this, it is possible to achieve both quietness and durability.

1: Cylindrical part 2: Connecting part 3: Shaft support part 10: Photoreceptor unit 15: Development drive gear row 23: Development unit 24: Photoreceptor 24a: Photoreceptor engaging part 26: Process unit 26a: Positioning pin 50: Photoreceptor gear row 51: Color photoconductor motor 51a: Motor gear 52i: Idler gear 53: Photoreceptor gear 53C: Photoreceptor gear 53M: Photoreceptor gear 53Y: Photoreceptor gear 53a: Photoreceptor drive shaft 81: Development roller 141: Rear Side plate 142: Positioning hole 150: Color drive device 151: Idler gear pulley 151a: Idler gear portion 151b: Pulley portion 152: Drive output gear 152a: Driven gear portion 152b: Pulley portion 152c: Drive side coupling portion 153: First timing belt 154: Second timing belt 155: Developed internal tooth external tooth integrated gear 155a: Internal tooth portion 155b: External tooth portion 155c: Shaft insertion hole 156: First Tightener 157: Second Tightener 160: Color development motor 160a: Motor shaft 162: Drive bracket 163: Gear bracket 163a: Drive pin 164: Motor gear 180: Unit side development gear row 181: Driven side coupling 182: Development input gear 183: Development idler gear 184: Development output gear

JP-A-2017-2924

Claims (10)

A shaft support having a shaft insertion hole into which the shaft is inserted,
A tubular portion having an inner tooth portion on the inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion on the outer peripheral surface,
In a drive transmission member provided with a connecting portion for connecting the shaft support portion and the tubular portion.
A drive transmission member characterized in that the outer tooth portion and the inner tooth portion are made of resin materials having different bending elastic moduli. In the drive transmission member according to claim 1,
A drive transmission member characterized in that the internal tooth portion is made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the external tooth portion. In the drive transmission member according to claim 2,
A drive transmission member characterized in that at least the tooth surface of the internal tooth portion is made of the resin material having a high flexural modulus. In the drive transmission member according to claim 2 or 3.
A drive transmission member characterized in that at least a part of the connecting portion and the internal tooth portion are made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus. In the drive transmission member according to claim 4,
A drive transmission member characterized in that at least a part of the shaft support portion, at least a part of the connecting portion, and the internal tooth portion are made of a resin material having a high flexural modulus. The drive transmission member according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
A drive transmission member characterized in that the external tooth portion is made of a slidable resin material. A shaft support having a shaft insertion hole into which the shaft is inserted,
A tubular portion having an inner tooth portion on the inner peripheral surface and an outer tooth portion on the outer peripheral surface,
In a drive transmission member provided with a connecting portion for connecting the shaft support portion and the tubular portion.
A drive transmission member characterized in that at least a part of the shaft support portion and the connecting portion is made of a resin material having a bending elastic modulus higher than that of the others. In the drive transmission member according to claim 7.
A drive transmission member characterized in that the outer tooth portion and the inner tooth portion are made of a slidable resin material. In a drive transmission device provided with a drive transmission member,
A drive transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the drive transmission member according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is used as the drive transmission member. With a rotating body,
In an image forming apparatus provided with a drive transmission device for transmitting the driving force of a drive source to the rotating body.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive transmission device is used as the drive transmission device.

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