JPH05157126A - Clutch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To certainly carry out transmission and cutoff of rotation while improving durability and operativity as well as preventing generation of noise. CONSTITUTION:Grooves 33 on the side of a rotor 31 are slantingly provided against grooves 23 on the side of a ratchet member 21 in the rotation transmission direction, a round shaft member 41 is communicated free to revolve through to the grooves 23 respectively corresponding to the ratchet member 21 and the rotor 31, and a spring member 55 to energize each of the round shaft members 41 in the direction (R direction) to bite into each of the grooves 33 slantingly provided on the rotor 31 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism suitable for being applied to industrial equipment such as a printer feed device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a schematic structure of a printer to which a conventional spring clutch mechanism is applied is shown in FIGS.
It will be explained based on.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing section, which is composed of a platen 2 and a printing head (not shown). A feeding device 10 is a means for feeding the paper P to the printing unit 1.

Here, the feed device 10 includes a feed roller 11, a pinch roller 12, a transport roller 13,
14 and the drive unit 15 and the like.

Specifically, the feed roller 11 and the pinch roller 12 are formed so that the paper P can be nipped and conveyed. The drive unit 15 is means for driving the feed roller 11 to rotate.
6, a gear 17, a drive motor (not shown), a spring clutch mechanism 51, and the like. Here, the drive shaft 16 is configured to be rotated by a drive motor via a gear 17 and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the spring clutch mechanism 51 is a means for selectively transmitting and interrupting rotation of the drive shaft 16 to the feed roller 11, and includes a hub 52 and a spring 53. And a ratchet member 54.

The hub 52 is fixed to the drive shaft 16 via a spring pin 59 and the like. Also, the spring 53
Is a tip portion 5 of the hub 52 having one end 53a fixed to the feed roller 11 and fitted and engaged with the other end 53b.
It is formed so that the rotation of the drive shaft 16 can be transmitted to the feed roller 11 by tightening 2a with an elastic force.

Further, the ratchet member 54 covers the spring 53 and is brought into a rotation-locked state and a rotation-free state by a ratchet control means (not shown) to release the tightening of the spring 53 with respect to the hub 52 against an elastic force. It is formed so that both (52, 53) can be slid.

However, when the paper is fed using the printer, the drive motor is driven and the drive shaft 16 is rotationally driven via the gear 17 and the like. Then, the ratchet member 54 is made rotation-free by the ratchet control means and rotates synchronously with the drive shaft 16, and transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 16 to the feed roller 11.

On the other hand, when printing is performed, the rotation of the ratchet member 54 is locked by the ratchet control means.
Then, the ratchet member 54 releases the tightening of the spring 53 with respect to the hub 52 against the elastic force, and the two (52, 53) slide. As a result, the drive shaft 1
6 rotates idly, and the rotation of the feed roller 11 is stopped.

[0011]

In the spring clutch device 51 having the above-described structure, the hub 52 and the spring 53 are in sliding contact with each other while the paper is not being fed. Generally long.
Therefore, the sliding contact portion between the hub 52 and the spring 53 is apt to be worn out or seized early and its durability is likely to be deteriorated. Also, noise is likely to occur.

Therefore, conventionally, the hub 52 and the spring 53 are used.
Although oil is applied to the sliding contact portion with the tire at regular intervals, the clutch device 51 must be disassembled and the like for applying oil, which is a troublesome maintenance task.

It should be noted that an electromagnetic clutch is used to transmit rotation.
Although it may be considered to perform the disengagement, the electromagnetic clutch is generally expensive and large in size, and has a drawback that it is difficult to meet the current demands for downsizing and cost reduction.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a clutch mechanism which can prevent noise from being generated, and can reliably transmit / shut off rotation while improving durability and handleability. is there.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention transmits the rotation of a drive shaft to a rotating body by setting a ratchet member in a rotation-free state and rotates the ratchet member in a rotation-locked state with the drive shaft. A clutch mechanism for separating the body, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion of the ratchet member along the inner circumferential direction, and the same number of grooves are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion of the rotating body along the inner circumferential direction. Forming,
The groove on the side of the rotating body is inclined with respect to the rotation transmitting direction, and the round shaft member is rotatably connected to the corresponding groove of the ratchet member and the rotating body, and the round shaft member is connected to the rotating body. It is characterized in that a spring member is provided for urging in a direction to bite into each of the inclined grooves.

[0016]

According to the present invention, when the drive shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction and the rotation of the ratchet member is locked in that state, movement of each round shaft member in the rotation transmitting direction is restricted by each groove of the ratchet member. , The engaging relationship with the inclined grooves of the rotating body is released. Therefore, the rotation of the drive shaft is not transmitted to the rotating body via the round shaft member or the like, and the rotation is stopped.

At this time, since each round shaft member smoothly rolls between the drive shaft and the rotating body, the friction between them becomes small. Therefore, the drive shaft and the like are not worn out at an early stage, and it is not necessary to refuel at regular intervals, so maintenance is unnecessary. Furthermore, the generation of noise is prevented.

On the other hand, when the rotation lock state of the ratchet member is released to the free state, the movement restriction of each round shaft member in the rotation transmitting direction is released, and each round shaft member engages with each groove of the rotating body. To meet.

At this time, since each round shaft member is biased by the spring member in the direction of biting into each groove inclined to the rotating body, it is securely engaged with each groove.

Therefore, the rotation of the drive shaft is reliably transmitted to the rotating body via the round shaft member and the like, and the rotary shaft is rotated in synchronization with the drive shaft.

As a result, the generation of noise can be prevented, and the rotation and transmission can be reliably performed while improving the durability and handleability.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) The clutch mechanism according to the present embodiment is applied to a feed device of a printer having a drive unit 15 and the like, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, a ratchet member 21, a ratchet control means 25, It is configured to include a rotating body (feed hub 31), a round shaft member (pin 41), and a spring member 55.

The same components as those shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

Here, the hollow cylindrical portion 22 of the ratchet member 21 is formed with a plurality of grooves 23 along its inner peripheral direction.

In this embodiment, the hollow cylindrical portion 22 of the ratchet member 21 has eight grooves 23 extending in the axial direction of the ratchet member 21 (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 5).
They are formed along the inner circumferential direction at predetermined pitch intervals.

Further, the ratchet control means 25 is formed so that the ratchet member 21 can be selectively brought into a rotation lock state or a rotation free state. In the present embodiment, the ratchet control means 25 is, as shown in FIG. 9, a lever 26 capable of engaging with each tooth of the ratchet member 21, a spring 28 for engaging the lever 26 with the ratchet member 21, The lever 26 is configured to include an electromagnet 27 for separating the lever 26 from the ratchet member 21 against the elastic force of the spring 28.

When the electromagnet 27 is excited, the lever 26 rotates clockwise and is positioned at the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, and the ratchet member 21 is released from the rotation-locked state and becomes free. .. When the electromagnet 27 is demagnetized, the lever 26 is returned to the position shown by the solid line in the figure by the elastic force of the spring 28, and the rotation of the ratchet member 21 is locked.

On the other hand, the rotating body (the feed hub 31 in this embodiment) is connected to the feed roller 11, and the hollow cylindrical portion 32 thereof has the same number as the ratchet member 21 (that is, eight pieces) along the inner peripheral direction. Groove 33 is formed. As shown in FIG. 6, each groove 33 is provided so as to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ in the rotation transmission direction (arrow R direction).

Further, a round shaft member (in this embodiment, a columnar pin 41 as a whole) is rotatably connected to the corresponding grooves (23, 33) of the ratchet member 21 and the feed hub 31. ..

Furthermore, in the spring member 55, each round shaft member (pin 41) is provided in each groove 33 in which the feed hub 31 is inclined.
The direction of biting in (the arrow R, which is the rotation transmission direction in this embodiment)
Direction). Specifically, the spring member 5
As shown in FIG. 2, 5 is disposed between the ratchet member 21 and the feed hub 31, and one end portion 56 thereof is fixed to the engaging hole 24 provided in the ratchet member 21, and The end portion 57 is detachably fitted into any one of a plurality of locking holes 34 provided in the feed hub 31.

Therefore, by appropriately selecting the locking hole 34 of the feed hub 31 into which the other end 57 of the spring member 55 is inserted, the biasing force with respect to each pin 41 can be adjusted. For example, when the other end portion 57 of the spring member 55 is fitted into the locking hole 34b instead of the locking hole 34a, the urging force of the spring member 55 with respect to each pin 41 is increased and each pin 41 is fed to the feed hub 31. The grooves 33 can be engaged with each other more reliably.

Next, the operation will be described.

In order to feed a sheet using the above-described printer feed device, first, the drive motor is driven to rotate the drive shaft 16 in the direction of arrow R via the gear 17 and the like. At this time, since the movement of each pin 41 in the rotation transmission direction (R direction) is restricted by each groove 23 of the ratchet member 21, it does not engage with each groove 33 of the feed hub 31. Therefore, the drive hub 16 (and hence the feed roller 11) is connected to the drive shaft 16 via the pin 41 and the like.
The rotation is not transmitted and the rotation is stopped. On this occasion,
Since each pin 41 smoothly rolls between the drive shaft 16 and the feed hub 31, the friction between them becomes small.
Therefore, the drive shaft 16 and the like are not worn out at an early stage. Further, it is not necessary to refuel at regular intervals.

Next, the electromagnet 2 of the ratchet control means 25
When the rotation lock state of the ratchet member 21 is released to a free state by exciting 7, the movement restriction of each pin 41 in the rotation transmission direction is released and the corresponding pin 4 is released.
1 engages with each groove 33 that is inclined on the feed hub 31.

At this time, the pins 41 are urged by the spring members 55 in the direction of biting into the inclined grooves 33 of the feed hub 31, so that the pins 41 are securely engaged with the grooves 33. As a result, the feed hub 31 (feed roller 11)
Are rotated in synchronization with the drive shaft 16.

On the other hand, when printing, the rotation of the ratchet member 21 is locked by demagnetizing the electromagnet 27. Then, each pin 41 and each groove 33 of the feed hub 31.
Is disengaged. Therefore, the feed hub 31
Therefore, the rotation of the drive shaft 16 is not transmitted to the (feed roller 11) via the pin 41 or the like, and the rotation is stopped.

According to this embodiment, however, a plurality of grooves 23 are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion 22 of the ratchet member 21 along the inner peripheral direction and the rotating body (feed hub 31) is formed.
The same number of grooves 33 are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion 32 along the inner peripheral direction, the grooves 33 on the side of the rotating body (31) are inclined with respect to the rotation transmission direction (R direction), and rotate with the ratchet member 21. The round shaft members (pins 41) are rotatably connected to the corresponding grooves (23, 33) with the body (31), and the round shaft members (4
Since the spring member (55) for urging 1) in the direction of biting into each groove 33 tilted on the rotating body (31) is provided, the structure between the drive shaft 16 and the rotating body (31) is provided. The rotation is transmitted through the round shaft member (41) and the like.

Here, when the rotation is cut off, each round shaft member (4
In 1), the drive shaft 16 and the rotating body (31) roll smoothly, so that the friction between them is small. for that reason,
The drive shaft 16 and the like are not worn out at an early stage, and there is no need to refuel at regular intervals, so maintenance is unnecessary. Furthermore, no noise is generated.

During rotation transmission, each round shaft member (41) is inclined by the spring member 55 by the spring member 55 so that each groove 3 is inclined.
Since it is urged in the direction to bite into the groove 3, the groove 33 is securely engaged.

As a result, it is possible to reliably transmit and cut off power while improving durability and handleability.

The biasing force of the spring member 55 with respect to the round shaft member (41) can be changed by the cooperation of the plurality of engaging holes 34 provided in the rotating body (31) and the spring member 55. Therefore, it is possible to reliably transmit and cut off power while further improving durability and handleability.

(Second Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the clutch mechanism according to the second embodiment is a ratchet member 2.
1, ratchet control means 25, rotating body (feed hub 3
1), a spring member 55 and a round shaft member (deformation pin 42) which is a characteristic part of the present clutch mechanism.

The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

In this embodiment, the round shaft member is formed by the deforming pin 42.

The deforming pin 42 is a linear portion (straight portion 42a) fitted and inserted in the groove 23 of the ratchet member 21.
And a spherical portion (spherical portion 42b) fitted and inserted in the groove 33 tilted on the rotating body (31).

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

When the drive shaft 16 is rotated in the rotation transmitting direction (R direction) and the rotation of the ratchet member 21 is locked in that state, each deforming pin 42 is moved by the groove 23 of the ratchet member 21 in the rotation transmitting direction (R direction). ) Is restricted, so that the engagement relationship with each of the inclined grooves 33 of the rotating body (31) is released. Therefore, the rotation of the drive shaft 16 is not transmitted to the rotating body (31) via the deformation pin 42 or the like, and the rotation is stopped.

At this time, since each of the deforming pins 42 smoothly rolls between the drive shaft 16 and the rotating body (31), the friction between them (16, 31) becomes small. Therefore, the drive shaft 16 and the like are not worn out at an early stage, and it is not necessary to refuel at regular intervals, and maintenance is unnecessary.

On the other hand, when the rotation lock state of the ratchet member 21 is released to the free state, the movement restriction of each deformation pin 42 in the rotation transmission direction (R direction) is released and the spherical portion 42b of each deformation pin 42 rotates. Engage with each groove 33 in the body (31).

At this time, the spherical portion 42b of the deforming pin 42 is
Since it makes point contact with each groove 33 of the rotating body (31), it does not hit one side. Further, since each deforming pin 42 is urged by the spring member 55 in the direction (R direction) that bites into each groove 33 inclined in the rotating body (31), it is securely engaged with each groove 33. .. Therefore, the deformation pin 4 is attached to the rotating body (31).
The rotation of the drive shaft 16 is surely transmitted via 2 etc., and the rotating body (31) is rotated in synchronization with the drive shaft 16.

As a result, the generation of noise is effectively prevented,
In addition, it is possible to reliably transmit and block rotation while improving durability and handleability.

Although the present invention is applied to the feed device of the printer in the first and second embodiments, it may be applied to other industrial equipment.

[0053]

According to the present invention, a plurality of grooves are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion of the ratchet member along the inner circumferential direction, and the same number of grooves are formed in the hollow cylindrical portion of the rotating body along the inner circumferential direction. , The groove on the rotor side is inclined with respect to the rotation transmission direction,
In addition, a spring member is provided that rotatably connects the round shaft member to the corresponding grooves of the ratchet member and the rotating body, and urges each round shaft member in a direction to bite into each groove inclined to the rotating member. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably generate and transmit power while preventing noise generation and improving durability and handleability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a half sectional view showing a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating sheet feeding.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a rotation cutoff state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a pin and a groove of a feed hub in a rotation cutoff state.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a pin and a groove of a feed hub in a rotation transmission state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a rotation transmission state.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which a ratchet member is brought into a rotation lock state or a rotation free state by using a ratchet control means.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a half cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a drive shaft of the second embodiment, a groove of a ratchet member,
It is a figure which shows the mutual positional relationship of a deformation | transformation pin and a feed hub.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a deforming pin.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the deforming pin and the groove of the feed hub in the rotation transmission state.

FIG. 15 is an overall configuration diagram showing a conventional spring clutch mechanism.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view for explaining details of a conventional spring clutch mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a printer to which a conventional spring clutch mechanism is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 Drive shaft 21 Ratchet member 22 Hollow cylindrical portion of ratchet member 23 Groove of ratchet member 31 Feed hub (rotating body) 32 Hollow cylindrical portion of feed hub 33 Feed hub groove 41 Pin (round shaft material) 42 Deformation pin (round shaft) Material) 55 Spring member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A clutch mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a drive shaft to a rotating body by setting a ratchet member in a rotation-free state and separating the drive shaft and the rotating body by putting the ratchet member in a rotation-locked state. There, a plurality of grooves are formed along the inner circumferential direction in the hollow cylindrical portion of the ratchet member, and the same number of grooves are formed along the inner circumferential direction in the hollow cylindrical portion of the rotating body, and the groove on the rotating body side is formed. Is tilted with respect to the rotation transmission direction, and the round shaft member is rotatably connected to the corresponding grooves of the ratchet member and the rotary member, and each round shaft member is tilted with respect to the rotary member. A clutch mechanism comprising a spring member for urging in a direction to bite into a groove.