JP5873786B2 - Paper feeding device and driving device provided with driving device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a driving device for rotating the rotating member, an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a driving device that rotates a rotating body, a device that transmits a rotational driving force to a paper feeding device is known. Such a sheet feeding device is mounted on an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and feeds the sheet one sheet at a time to the image forming unit. The driving device transmits a rotational driving force to a paper feeding roller provided in the paper feeding device.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a paper feeding device including a tray on which sheets are stacked, a rotating shaft connected to a driving device, and a paper feeding roller supported on the rotating shaft. In addition, the sheet feeding device includes a cam member that is integrally disposed on the rotation shaft. As the cam member rotates, the tip of the cam member periodically abuts on the tray, so that the sheets stacked on the tray abut on the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller. As a result, the sheets are fed one by one by the feed roller.

JP 2002-274683 A

  When the cam member and the tray periodically come in contact with the rotation of the cam member as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the rotational torque of the rotating shaft is increased at the time of the contact. At this time, the torque of the gear and the drive motor constituting the drive device may fluctuate, which may prevent stable rotation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus that include a driving device that rotates a rotating body that generates periodic torque fluctuations, torque fluctuations transmitted to a driving system are reduced. The purpose is to reduce as much as possible.

A sheet feeding device including a driving device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a rotation shaft, a first rotation region that is driven to rotate around the rotation shaft and generates a first rotation torque in one rotation, and A rotating body including a second rotating region in which a second rotating torque larger than the first rotating torque is generated; driving means for generating a rotational driving force for rotating the rotating body; and a predetermined number of gears on the peripheral surface A first gear that is supported by the rotary shaft and rotated integrally with the rotary shaft, and has the same number of gear teeth as the first gear on a peripheral surface, and meshed with the first gear; A second gear for transmitting the rotational driving force generated by the driving means to the first gear, and among the gear teeth of the first gear, a second corresponding to the second rotational region. the gear teeth, plus than the first gear teeth corresponding to the first speed region Is transferred to, among the gear teeth of the second gear, third gear teeth meshing with said second gear teeth of the first gear, the sum of the transition coefficient between said second gear teeth A drive device that has been shifted to the negative side so as to be zero, a lift plate on which sheets are stacked, a sheet conveyance path for conveying the sheet on the lift plate in a predetermined sheet conveyance direction, and the lift An urging means for urging the lift plate so as to move the leading edge in the sheet conveying direction of the sheets stacked on the plate, and a rotation means disposed so as to be able to contact the leading edge of the sheet A sheet feeding roller that is driven to feed the sheet in the sheet conveying direction; the rotation shaft that pivotally supports the sheet feeding roller; and the rotation shaft that is integrally rotatable with the rotation shaft; Can periodically contact the lift plate And having a cam member as the rotating body.

According to this configuration, the rotating body has a first rotation region in which the first rotation torque is generated in one rotation and a second rotation in which the second rotation torque larger than the first rotation torque is generated. And an area. For this reason, the fluctuation | variation of the rotational torque of a rotary body may be transmitted to a drive means via a 1st gear and a 2nd gear. Even in such a case, according to the above configuration, the second gear tooth corresponding to the second rotation region among the gear teeth of the first gear is transferred to the plus side. Of the gear teeth of the second gear, the third gear teeth that mesh with the second gear teeth of the first gear are shifted to the minus side so that the sum of the transfer coefficients becomes zero. For this reason, when the second rotational torque is transmitted from the first gear to the second gear, the lever ratio between the gears is partially increased. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear and the drive means side is suitably reduced. According to this configuration, the cam member periodically contacts the lift plate, so that the sheets stacked on the lift plate are sequentially sent out by the paper feed roller. At this time, the torque fluctuation caused by the contact between the cam member and the lift plate is caused on the rotating shaft. Even in such a case, the lever ratio between the gears is partially increased when the second rotational torque is transmitted from the first gear to the second gear. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear and the drive means side is suitably reduced. Therefore, the driving force of the driving device is stably maintained, and the sheet is suitably fed by the sheet feeding roller.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the gear tooth corresponding to the region where the maximum torque is generated in the second rotation region is transferred to the largest plus side among the second gear teeth.

  According to this configuration, the lever ratio between the gears changes most correspondingly to the region where the maximum torque is generated in the second rotation region. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear is further reduced.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the paper feeding device described above and an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet.

  According to this structure, the fluctuation | variation of the rotational torque transmitted to a drive means is reduced as much as possible. Therefore, the rotational driving force generated by the driving unit is stably maintained, and the sheet is stably supplied toward the image forming unit.

According to the present invention, torque fluctuation transmitted to the drive system is reduced as much as possible in a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus that include a drive device that rotates a rotating body that generates periodic torque fluctuation.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the structure of a sheet conveying apparatus provided with a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the gear part of the drive device 500 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating meshing | engagement of the gear of the drive device 500 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the gear shift coefficient of the drive device 500 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the lever ratio of the gear of the drive device 500 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the rotational torque of the 2nd gear 502 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, a monochrome printer is illustrated as the image forming apparatus 1, but the image forming apparatus may be a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions, and an image forming apparatus that forms a color image. It may be.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing structure, and a paper feeding unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a fixing unit 40, and a toner container 50 housed in the main body housing 10. .

  A front cover 11 is provided on the front side of the main body housing 10, and a rear cover 12 is provided on the rear side. When the front cover 11 is opened, the toner container 50 is exposed. Thereby, the user can take out the toner container 50 from the front side of the main body housing 10 when the toner runs out. The rear cover 12 is a cover that is opened at the time of sheet jam or maintenance. The units of the image forming unit 30 and the fixing unit 40 can be taken out from the rear side of the main body housing 10 by opening the rear cover 12. Further, on the side surface of the main body housing 10, a left cover 12L (FIG. 1) and a right cover 12R (not shown in FIG. 1) opposite to the left cover 12L extend in the vertical direction. It is arranged. An intake port 12La for taking in air into the main body housing 10 is disposed at the front portion of the left cover 12L. Further, on the upper surface of the main body housing 10, a paper discharge unit 13 for discharging the sheet after image formation is provided. Various devices for executing image formation are provided in an internal space defined by the front cover 11, the rear cover 12, the left cover 12L, the right cover 12R, and the paper discharge unit 13.

  The paper feeding unit 20 (paper feeding device) includes a paper feeding cassette 21 that stores sheets P on which image forming processing is performed (FIG. 2). A part of the sheet feeding cassette 21 protrudes further forward from the front surface of the main body housing 10. An upper surface of a portion of the sheet cassette 21 accommodated in the main body housing 10 is covered with a sheet cassette top plate 21U.

  The sheet feeding cassette 21 is provided with a sheet accommodation space SP in which the bundle of sheets P is accommodated, and a lift plate 21P on which the sheet P is stacked and lifts the bundle of sheets P for feeding. A sheet feeding portion 21 </ b> A is provided on the rear end side of the sheet feeding cassette 21. The sheet feeding unit 21A is provided with a sheet feeding roller 21B for feeding the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle on the lift plate 21P one by one in the sheet conveying direction.

  The image forming unit 30 performs an image forming process for forming a toner image on a sheet fed from the paper feeding unit 20. The image forming unit 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31 and a charging device 32, an exposure device (not shown), a developing device 33, a transfer roller 34, and a cleaning device 35 disposed around the photosensitive drum 31. The image forming unit 30 is disposed between the left cover 12L and the right cover 12R.

  The photosensitive drum 31 rotates around its axis, and an electrostatic latent image and a toner image are formed on its peripheral surface. As the photosensitive drum 31, a photosensitive drum using an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material can be used. The charging device 32 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31, and includes a charging roller that contacts the photosensitive drum 31. The cleaning device 35 has a cleaning blade and the like, cleans the toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 after the toner image is transferred, and conveys the toner to a collecting device (not shown). Further, the photosensitive drum 31, the charging device 32, and the cleaning device 35 are integrally configured as a drum unit.

  The exposure apparatus has a laser light source and optical equipment such as a mirror and a lens, and irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with light modulated based on image data given from an external device such as a personal computer. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 33 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 to form a toner image. The developing device 33 includes a developing roller 331 that carries toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum 31, a first conveying screw 332 and a second conveying screw 333 that circulate and convey the developer inside a developing housing (not shown). including.

  The transfer roller 34 is a roller for transferring a toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 31 onto a sheet, and forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 31. The transfer roller 34 is given a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner.

  The fixing unit 40 performs a fixing process for fixing the transferred toner image on the sheet. The fixing unit 40 includes a fixing roller 41 having a heating source therein, and a pressure roller 42 that is pressed against the fixing roller 41 and forms a fixing nip portion with the fixing roller 41. When the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is passed through the fixing nip portion, the toner image is fixed on the sheet by heating by the fixing roller 41 and pressing by the pressure roller 42.

  The toner container 50 stores toner to be supplied to the developing device 33. The toner container 50 includes a container main body 51 serving as a main storage location of toner, a cylindrical portion 52 projecting from a lower portion on one side surface of the container main body 51, and a lid member 53 covering the other side surface of the container main body 51. And a rotating member 54 that is contained in the container and conveys toner. The toner stored in the toner container 50 is supplied into the developing device 33 from the toner discharge port 521 provided on the lower surface of the front end of the cylindrical portion 52 when the rotating member 54 is driven to rotate. A container top plate 50H covering the upper side of the toner container 50 is located below the paper discharge unit 13 (see FIG. 2).

  In the main body housing 10, a main conveyance path 22F (sheet conveyance path) and a reverse conveyance path 22B are provided to convey the sheet. The main conveyance path 22 </ b> F passes through the image feeding unit 21 and the fixing unit 40 from the sheet feeding unit 21 </ b> A of the paper feeding unit 20, and the paper discharge port 14 provided to face the paper discharge unit 13 on the upper surface of the main body housing 10. It extends to. The main conveyance path 22F is a conveyance path for conveying the sheet on the lift plate 21P of the paper feed cassette 21 in a predetermined sheet conveyance direction. The reverse conveyance path 22B is a conveyance path for returning a sheet printed on one side to the upstream side of the image forming unit 30 in the main conveyance path 22F when performing duplex printing on the sheet.

  A registration roller 23 is disposed upstream of the transfer nip portion between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 34 in the main conveyance path 22F. In other words, the registration roller 23 is disposed on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the paper feed roller 21B. The registration roller 23 regulates the position in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet. Further, the sheet is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 23, and after skew correction is performed, the sheet is sent to the transfer nip portion at a predetermined timing for image transfer. A plurality of transport rollers for transporting the sheet are disposed at appropriate positions on the main transport path 22F and the reverse transport path 22B. For example, a pair of paper discharge rollers 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 14.

  The reverse conveyance path 22 </ b> B is formed between the outer side surface of the reverse unit 25 and the inner surface of the rear cover 12 of the main body housing 10. A transfer roller 34 and a registration roller 23 are mounted on the inner surface of the reversing unit 25. The rear cover 12 and the reversing unit 25 can be rotated about the axis of the fulcrum 121 provided at the lower end thereof. When a sheet jam occurs in the reverse conveyance path 22B, the rear cover 12 is opened. When a sheet jam occurs in the main conveyance path 22F, or when the unit of the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing device 33 are taken out, the reversing unit 25 is opened in addition to the rear cover 12.

<Structure of sheet feeding portion 21A>
Next, the structure of the sheet feeding portion 21A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the sheet feeding portion 21A.

  Referring to FIG. 3, in addition to the aforementioned lift plate 21P, paper feed roller 21B, and registration roller 23, the sheet feeding portion 21A includes an arm 210 (arm portion), a biasing spring 21S (biasing means), and a shaft. 216 (rotary shaft portion), an eccentric cam 60 (cam member), and a drive portion 500 (drive means).

  The lift plate 21P is a plate-like member having a predetermined width in the front-rear direction and extending in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lift plate 21 </ b> P is disposed inside the main body housing 10 and in the rear portion of the paper feed cassette 21. In the present embodiment, the lift plate 21P is made of a sheet metal member. A plurality of sheets P are stacked on the lift plate 21P.

  The arms 210 are provided opposite to each other from both ends of the lift plate 21P in the sheet width direction (left-right direction). The arm 210 is composed of a plate-like member extending in the front-rear direction. The arm 210 includes an arm protrusion 211 (protrusion piece) and an arm fulcrum part 212 (shaft support part). The arm protrusion 211 is disposed at the rear end of the arm 210. The arm protrusion 211 is a protruding piece protruding upward. The arm fulcrum portion 212 is disposed at the front end portion of the arm 210. The arm fulcrum part 212 is a hole having a predetermined depth in the left-right direction. A shaft portion (not shown) disposed in the main body housing 10 is inserted into the arm fulcrum portion 212. The arm fulcrum portion 212 pivotally supports the lift plate 21P so as to be rotatable.

  The biasing spring 21S is disposed between the lower surface of the lift plate 21P and the bottom of the main body housing 10 (see FIG. 2). A pair of urging springs 21 </ b> S is disposed at the rear end of the lift plate 21 </ b> P and at both ends in the left-right direction. The rear portion of the lift plate 21P is urged upward by the urging spring 21S. In other words, the biasing spring 21S biases the lift plate 21P so as to move the leading edge in the sheet transport direction of the sheets P stacked on the lift plate 21P upward. At this time, the front side portion of the lift plate 21P is supported by the arm fulcrum portion 212. That is, the lift plate 21P is urged by the urging spring 21S so that the rear portion of the lift plate 21P rotates up and down with the arm fulcrum 212 as a fulcrum in cross-sectional views in the front-rear and vertical directions.

  The shaft 216 pivotally supports the paper feed roller 21B. The shaft 216 extends in the sheet width direction (left-right direction). The paper feed roller 21B is fixed to a substantially central portion of the shaft 216 in the left-right direction (the width direction of the sheet P). The shaft 216 and the paper feed roller 21B can rotate integrally. Note that, in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the shaft 216, the circumferential length of the paper feed roller 21B is set to be longer than the distance between the paper feed roller 21B and the registration roller 23 in the main transport path 22F.

  A pair of eccentric cams 60 is disposed at both ends of the shaft 216 in the left-right direction. The eccentric cam 60 is a projecting piece that projects from the shaft 216 in the rotational radius direction of the shaft 216. The eccentric cam 60 is pivotally supported on the shaft 216 so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft 216. The eccentric cam 60 is disposed to face the arm protrusion 211 of the arm 210. The end of the rear side of the lift plate 21 </ b> P is urged upward by the urging spring 21 </ b> S, so that the eccentric cam 60 contacts a part of the arm protrusion 211 of the arm 210.

  The driving unit 500 transmits a rotational driving force to the shaft 216. The drive unit 500 includes a motor 500M, a first gear 501 and a second gear 502. The motor 500M generates a rotational driving force that rotates the shaft 216. The first gear 501 is fixed to the left end of the shaft 216. The second gear 502 is connected to the motor 500M and transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 500M. When the first gear 501 and the second gear 502 are engaged with each other, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the second gear 502 to the first gear 501. As a result, the sheet feeding roller 21B and the eccentric cam 60 supported by the shaft 216 are rotated by the rotational driving force generated by the motor 500M. FIG. 4 is a side view showing how the first gear 501 and the second gear 502 are engaged in the drive unit 500. In the circumferential direction of the first gear 501, an eccentric cam 60 protrudes from the shaft 216 in the range of the region Z in FIG.

<Operation of Sheet Feeding Unit 21A>
In a state where the image forming apparatus 1 is not performing the image forming operation, the lift plate 21P is disposed at the lowermost position. At this time, the lift plate 21P receives an upward biasing force by the biasing spring 21S. However, the eccentric cam 60 is in contact with the arm protrusion 211. For this reason, the biasing spring 21S is elastically deformed, and the lift of the lift plate 21P is restricted. Even when the maximum number of sheets P are stacked on the lift plate 21P, when the lift plate 21P is disposed at the lowermost position, the uppermost sheet P and the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 21B Are not touching.

  Then, with the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 21 (FIG. 2). When the drive unit 500 rotates the shaft 216 via the second gear 502 and the first gear 501 corresponding to the image formation timing in the image forming unit 30, the eccentric cam 60 and the paper feed roller 21B are rotationally driven. Is done.

  By rotating the eccentric cam 60, the eccentric cam 60 is detached from the arm protrusion 211, and the lift plate 21P is allowed to move upward. Eventually, the leading edge of the uppermost sheet P among the sheets P stacked on the lift plate 21P comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 21B. As a result, the lift of the lift plate 21P is stopped.

  In the state where the lift of the lift plate 21P is stopped, the paper feed roller 21B and the eccentric cam 60 are further rotated with the rotational driving force transmitted from the motor 500M. The sheet P is sent out toward the main transport path 22F (FIG. 2) on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction by the rotation of the paper feed roller 21B. Thereafter, when the eccentric cam 60 is rotated approximately once, the eccentric cam 60 pushes the arm protrusion 211 downward while coming into contact with the arm protrusion 211 again. As the lift plate 21P descends, the urging force of the sheet P against the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 21B is lost. However, as described above, in the cross-sectional view orthogonal to the shaft 216, the circumferential length of the paper feed roller 21B is set longer than the distance between the paper feed roller 21B and the registration roller 23 in the main transport path 22F. For this reason, the leading edge of the sheet P has already entered the nip portion of the registration roller 23 when the lift plate 21P is lowered. For this reason, the conveyance of the sheet P is continued by the registration roller 23. The eccentric cam 60 comes into contact with the arm protrusion 211, and the stacked sheets P are separated from the sheet feeding roller 21B, so that a sheet interval is formed between the preceding sheet and the preceding sheet. Thereafter, as the shaft 216 rotates, the eccentric cam 60 is detached from the arm protrusion 211 again, whereby the next sheet feeding operation is repeated.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the lift plate 21P is periodically moved up and down as the eccentric cam 60 rotates. At this time, the eccentric cam 60 abuts on the arm protrusion 211, whereby the rotational torque of the shaft 216 is increased. In particular, when many sheets are stacked on the lift plate 21P, the rotational torque is greatly increased. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the rotational torque per rotation of the eccentric cam 60. Corresponding to the portion indicated by the region Z in FIG. 4, the eccentric cam 60 abuts on the arm protrusion 211, so that the rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 increases greatly. In other words, referring to FIG. 5, in region R (first rotation region) other than region Z in FIG. 4, the rotational torque of eccentric cam 60 is 50 gf · cm (first rotation torque). Further, in the region Z (second rotational region) of FIG. 4, the rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 is larger than 50 gf · cm and reaches a maximum of 150 gf · cm (second rotational torque). Such an increase in rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 is transmitted from the shaft 216 to the second gear 502 via the first gear 501. Further, the fluctuation of the rotational torque is transmitted from the second gear 502 to the motor 500M. If the fluctuation of the rotational torque is transmitted to the upstream side of the drive system such as the second gear 502 and the motor 500M, the motor 500M may malfunction. As a result, the rotation fluctuation of the paper feed roller 21B occurs, resulting in sheet feeding failure.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present embodiment, it is possible to transmit the torque fluctuation of the shaft 216 caused by the eccentric cam 60 contacting the arm protrusion 211 to the motor 500M as much as possible. Deterred.

In the present embodiment, the first gear 501 and the second gear 502 are subjected to partial gear tooth transfer processing. Specifically, out of the gear teeth of the first gear 501, the gear teeth (second gear teeth) corresponding to the region Z are transferred to the plus side with respect to the gear teeth (first gear teeth) corresponding to the region R. ing. Of the gear teeth of the second gear 502, the gear teeth (third gear teeth) meshing with the gear teeth transferred to the plus side of the first gear 501 are minus so that the sum of transfer coefficients becomes zero. Has been transferred to the side. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a transition form of the first gear 501 and the second gear 502. FIG. 7 is a graph showing transfer coefficients of the first gear 501 and the second gear 502.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in first gear 501, gear teeth 501 </ b> A (first gear teeth) are arranged in region R (region other than region Z). On the other hand, in the region Z of the first gear 501, gear teeth 501B (second gear teeth) transferred to the plus side of the gear teeth 501A are arranged. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer coefficient in the positive transfer of the gear teeth 501B of the first gear 501 is continuously changed. Then, when the eccentric cam 60 contacts the arm protrusion 211, the plus transition of the gear teeth 501B is set to the maximum corresponding to the region Zmax where the maximum torque is generated.

  On the other hand, in the second gear 502, the gear teeth 502A are arranged to face the gear teeth 501A of the first gear 501. On the other hand, gear teeth 502B (third gear teeth) transferred to the minus side of the gear teeth 502A are arranged opposite to the gear teeth 501B of the first gear 501. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer coefficient in the negative transfer of the gear teeth 502B of the second gear 502 is continuously changed. Then, corresponding to the region Zmax of the first gear 501, the negative transition of the gear teeth 502 </ b> B is set to the maximum. The sum of the transfer coefficients of the gear teeth 501B of the first gear 501 and the gear teeth 502B of the second gear 502 is set to be zero.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the transferred gear teeth 501B and 502B are arranged in the first gear 501 and the second gear 502 corresponding to the region where the rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 is increased. As a result, in the first gear 501 and the second gear 502, the positional relationship between the meshing position of the gear teeth and the rotation center of each gear is partially changed. FIG. 8 is a graph showing fluctuation of the lever ratio per cycle in the meshing between the first gear 501 and the second gear 502. As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the lever ratio is partially increased by the meshing of the gear teeth 501B and 502B corresponding to the region Z. FIG. 9 is a graph showing fluctuations in rotational torque for one rotation of the second gear 502 when the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 9, the rotational torque in the region Z transmitted from the first gear 501 to the second gear 502 is reduced by the meshing of the transferred first gear teeth 501B and second gear teeth 502B.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the eccentric cam 60 includes the region R (first rotation region) in which the first rotational torque is generated in one rotation and the second larger than the first rotational torque. And a region Z (second rotation region) in which rotational torque is generated. For this reason, fluctuations in the rotational torque of the eccentric cam 60 may be transmitted to the motor 500M via the first gear 501 and the second gear 502. Even in such a case, according to the above configuration, the gear teeth 501B corresponding to the region Z among the gear teeth of the first gear 501 are transferred to the plus side. Of the gear teeth of the second gear 502, the gear teeth 502B meshing with the gear teeth 501B of the first gear 501 are transferred to the minus side so that the sum of the transfer coefficients becomes zero with the gear teeth 501B. Yes. For this reason, when the second rotational torque is transmitted from the first gear 501 to the second gear 502, the lever ratio of the gear is partially increased. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear 502 and the motor 500M side is suitably reduced. Further, the amount of transmission of the second rotational torque can be reduced without changing the axial positions of the first gear 501 and the second gear 502.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the gear teeth 501B of the first gear 501 corresponding to the region Zmax in which the maximum torque is generated in the region Z are transferred to the largest plus side. For this reason, the lever ratio between the gears changes most corresponding to the region Zmax. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear 502 is further reduced.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the eccentric cam 60 periodically contacts the arm protrusion 211 of the lift plate 21P, so that the sheets stacked on the lift plate 21P are sequentially sent out by the paper feed roller 21B. At this time, the shaft 216 is subjected to torque fluctuation caused by the contact between the eccentric cam 60 and the lift plate 21P. Even in such a case, when the second rotational torque is transmitted from the first gear 501 to the second gear 502, the lever ratio between the gears is partially increased. As a result, the second rotational torque transmitted to the second gear 502 and the motor 500M side is suitably reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the motor 500M from malfunctioning due to fluctuations in rotational torque. As a result, the rotational driving force of the motor 500M is stably transmitted to the eccentric cam 60 and the paper feed roller 21B. Further, an image is stably formed on the sheet sent out by the paper feed roller 21B.

  The sheet feeding unit 21A, the sheet feeding unit 20 including the sheet feeding unit 21 and the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, Variations can be made.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the mode in which the first gear 501 and the second gear 502 are transferred corresponding to the region Z has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Also in the region R other than the region Z, a mode in which a predetermined transition is performed may be employed.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the eccentric cam 60 of the sheet feeding portion 21A has been described as the rotating body in which torque fluctuation occurs in one rotation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first gear 501 and the second gear 502 may be applied to other rotating bodies that are arranged in the image forming unit 30 or the like and generate torque fluctuations.

20 Paper Feeder (Paper Feeder)
21 Paper feeding cassette 210 Arm 211 Arm protrusion 212 Arm fulcrum 216 Shaft (rotating shaft)
21A Sheet feeding part (drive device)
21B paper feed roller 21U paper feed cassette top plate 21P lift plate 21S bias spring (biasing means)
22F Main transport path (sheet transport path)
22B Reverse transport path 23 Registration roller 34 Transfer roller 500 Drive unit (drive means)
501 First gear 501A Gear teeth (first gear teeth)
501B Gear teeth (second gear teeth)
502 Second gear 502A Gear teeth 502B Gear teeth (third gear teeth)
60 Eccentric cam (cam member)
SP sheet storage space R region R (first rotation region)
Z region Z (second rotation region)

Claims (3)

A rotation axis;
A first rotation region that is driven to rotate about the rotation axis and generates a first rotation torque in one rotation, and a second rotation region that generates a second rotation torque that is greater than the first rotation torque. A rotating body comprising:
Driving means for generating a rotational driving force for rotating the rotating body;
A first gear provided with a predetermined number of gear teeth on a peripheral surface, pivotally supported by the rotary shaft, and rotated integrally with the rotary shaft;
A second gear that has the same number of gear teeth as the first gear on a peripheral surface, meshes with the first gear, and transmits the rotational driving force generated by the driving means to the first gear. ,
Of the gear teeth of the first gear, the second gear teeth corresponding to the second rotation region are transferred to the plus side of the first gear teeth corresponding to the first rotation region, and Of the gear teeth of the second gear, the third gear teeth meshing with the second gear teeth of the first gear have a transfer coefficient sum of zero with the second gear teeth. A drive device that has been transferred to the negative side ;
A lift plate on which sheets are stacked;
A sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet on the lift plate in a predetermined sheet conveying direction;
An urging means for urging the lift plate so as to move a leading edge of the sheet stacked on the lift plate in the sheet conveying direction upward;
A paper feed roller that is disposed so as to come into contact with the leading edge of the sheet, is rotationally driven, and feeds the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction;
The rotating shaft that pivotally supports the paper feed roller;
A cam member as the rotating body, which is disposed on the rotating shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating shaft, and can periodically contact the lift plate;
A sheet feeding device comprising: 2. The gear tooth corresponding to a region where the maximum torque is generated in the second rotation region is transferred to the largest plus side among the second gear teeth. Paper feeder. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
An image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images