JPH0632800U - Drive coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A drive connection of a type in which a gear device provided in a unit that can be pulled out from the device body is meshed with a gear device capable of forward and reverse rotation provided in the device body when the unit is mounted. The device is provided with a configuration that maintains sufficient meshing in both forward and reverse rotations. A gear device 50 includes a pivot member 57 pivotally supported by a main body of the device, a pivot member 57 rotatably supported at a position offset from a pivot shaft 56 by the pivot member 57, and the gear device 50 is a unit when the unit is mounted. The drive gear 58 meshes with the passive gear 51 of FIG. The drive gear 58 is urged in the direction in which it meshes with the passive gear 51, and the pivot member 57 is provided with a restricting member 65 that is positioned so as to be in contact with or in proximity to the engaging portion 67 of the apparatus body.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a drive connecting device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a unit that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body, and particularly, a passive gear provided in the unit is connected to a drive gear of the apparatus main body. Kind of drive connection device.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Some of the constituent devices in the image forming apparatus, such as a paper feeding device, a developing device, a cleaning device or a fixing device, are unitized so that they can be drawn out from the main body of the device, and their maintenance or Repair work is simplified. As a drive device for this type of device, the pull-out unit itself is provided with its own independent drive source, and when the unit is attached, the passive part of the unit is connected to the drive part of the device main body to provide a driving force. The configuration to obtain is known. In particular, the latter is advantageous in that the drive source can be minimized and therefore the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

The latter device of the related art includes a drive gear device provided in the main body of the device, and a passive gear device provided in the unit and connected to the drive gear when the unit is mounted. The drive gear device (or the passive gear device) includes a pivot member that is pivotally provided on the main body (or unit) of the device and a drive gear that is provided on the pivot member so as to be able to mesh with the passive gear (or the drive gear). (Or passive gear), the passive gear meshes with the drive gear as the unit is mounted. In such a conventional structure, there is an advantage that proper engagement between the drive gear and the passive gear can be easily obtained.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in the image forming apparatus, for example, a paper feed roller that sends out roll paper is required to rotate the paper feed roller forward and backward in order to feed or rewind the roll paper. Such forward / reverse rotation can be performed by switching the rotation direction of the drive gear.However, in the above-described conventional coupling device, when the drive gear is reversely rotated, the rotational force thereof is in a direction opposite to the urging direction of the pivot member. Therefore, the drive gear (or the passive gear) is lifted to make the engagement with the passive gear (or the drive gear) shallow or loose, which causes inconveniences such as connection failure and tooth damage.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a passive gear provided in a unit that can be pulled out from the apparatus body is a drive gear that is provided in the apparatus body and is capable of forward and reverse rotation as the unit is mounted. In a drive coupling device of a type that meshes with a device, the drive gear device described above includes a pivot member pivotally supported by the device main body and a pivot member rotatably in a position deviated from the pivot shaft. A drive gear that is pivotally supported and that meshes with the receiving gear when the unit is mounted; a biasing means that biases the pivot member so as to pivot the drive gear in the direction of meshing with the passive gear; A restricting member, which is rotatably mounted on the member and is positioned so as to be in contact with or close to an engaging portion formed on the unit when the unit is mounted, the restricting member is configured to contact the engaging portion so that Opposite to biasing direction To restrict the pivoting of the pivot member.

Further, the passive gear device is pivotally supported by a unit in a pivotable manner, and is pivotally supported by the pivot member at a position deviated from the pivot shaft when the unit is mounted. A passive gear that meshes with the drive gear; a biasing means that biases the pivot member so as to pivot the passive gear in a direction that meshes with the drive gear; and a swingable member provided on the pivot member. Alternatively, it may be constituted by an engaging portion formed on the main body of the apparatus when the unit is mounted, and a regulating member positioned so as to come into contact with or approach the engaging portion.

[0007]

[Action]

 In such a configuration, when the drive gear rotates in the reverse direction and the force acts in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the pivot member, that is, in the direction in which the mesh between the drive gear and the passive gear is lifted, the restricting member engages. It abuts against the part to prevent this rising. Further, since the restricting member is swingably provided, even when the unit collides with the engaging portion when the unit is pulled out or mounted, the regulating member overcomes the collision and escapes.

[0008]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus 1 into which a drive connecting device according to the present invention can be incorporated. The device includes a roll paper feeding unit 2 arranged on the front side (right side in FIG. 1) of the main body of the apparatus, an image forming unit 3 arranged at the center, a fixing unit 4 arranged at the rear, and a transfer material discharging unit. The unit 5 includes a document transport unit 6 and an optical projection unit 7 arranged on the upper portion. As is well known, the original conveyed by the original conveying section 6 is projected onto the photosensitive drum of the image forming section 3 by the optical projection section 7, and a toner image corresponding to the original is formed in the image forming section. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper supplied from the roll paper supply unit, fixed, and then ejected by the ejection unit 5. The roll paper feeding unit 2, the image forming unit 3, the fixing unit 4, and the optical projection unit 7 are each unitized and pulled out from the apparatus main body or detachably provided.

Although the present invention is applicable to each sheet feeding unit, the present invention will be described by taking the sheet feeding unit 2 as an example. The paper feeding unit 2 has paper feeding units 25 to 27 in which roll papers 21 to 24 of different sizes are loaded, and each of the paper feeding units is independently provided so as to be pulled out from the apparatus main body and pulled out. Roll paper can be loaded in this state. A pair of paper feed rollers 28 to 31 is provided for each roll of paper, and the roll paper is fed while being unwound by rotation in the forward direction. As shown in the drawing, each roll paper is sent to the image forming section 3 through a common path. Therefore, it is required to pull back the roll paper of the unused size so as to retract from the common path, and the pair of paper feed rollers 28 to 31 are provided so as to be reversible for this pull back. On the other hand, with this pullback, the slack of the paper occurs between the roll paper and the pair of paper feed rollers. Therefore, the roll paper itself is rotated in the reverse direction to rewind the paper.

The drive connecting device according to the present invention is useful for such a pair of paper feed rollers and the forward and reverse rotation of the paper feed rollers. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling device 50 includes a drive gear device 52 provided in the main body of the device and a passive gear 51 provided in the paper feeding units (25 to 27).

The passive gear 51 is fixed to an axial end portion of a shaft 53 rotatably supported by a side plate of the unit, and rotates in either forward or reverse directions by being driven by a drive gear described later. Reference numeral 54 denotes one roller of the pair of paper feed rollers (28 to 31), which is fixed to the central portion of the shaft 53 in the axial direction and rotates integrally with the passive gear. The passive gear 51 and the paper feed roller 54 are pulled out in the direction of arrow A together with the unit 25 and mounted in the direction of arrow B. It should be noted that the unit 25 is provided with a pin 67 that serves as an engaging portion to be described later.

The drive gear device 52 has a pivot member 57 pivotally provided on the main body of the device by a shaft 56, and the portion of the pivot member 57 in the mounting direction, which is deviated from the shaft 56, has a unit. A drive gear 58 that meshes with the passive gear 51 of the unit when mounted and a roller 59 that cooperates with the roller 54 of the unit to form a paper feed roller pair are rotatably provided by shafts 61 and 62, respectively. The pivot member 57 is biased by biasing means such as a tension spring 63 so as to pivot the drive gear 58 in the direction in which the drive gear 58 meshes with the passive gear 51, that is, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. This counterclockwise pivoting is regulated by the contact of the swinging member portion with a suitable stopper, that is, the drive gear 58 is regulated to the optimum position for meshing with the passive gear 51. It is forbidden to be overly located.

In this way, with the mounting operation of the unit, the drive gear 58 firmly meshes with the passive gear 51 by the action of the pivot member biased as described above, and transmits the rotation thereof. The drive of the drive gear 58 is obtained via a transmission gear 64 provided so as to mesh with the drive gear 58. The transmission gear 64 is pivotally supported by the pivot shaft 56 and is connected to a drive source (not shown) capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. Therefore, the drive gear 58 and the passive gear 51 rotate in the forward and reverse directions according to the forward and reverse drive of the drive source.

When the drive gear 58 rotates in the positive direction C, the drive gear 58 acts so as to pivot from the passive gear 51, that is, in the clockwise direction about the pivot 56. Such uplift causes improper meshing between the teeth and causes malfunction or damage to the teeth.

Therefore, at the position opposite to the drive gear 58 about the pivot 56, the restricting member 65 is swingably provided on the pivot member 57 by the shaft 66. The regulating member 65 is in a state of being hung as shown in FIG. 2 by its own weight in the normal state or by an appropriate spring means not shown, and its lower end arc portion is provided on the unit 25 when the unit 25 is mounted. It is provided so as to be in contact with or very close to the engaging portion 67. With such a configuration, the restricting member 65 restricts the pivotal movement of the pivoting member 57 in the clockwise direction by contact with the engaging portion 67, whereby the force is generated in the direction in which the drive gear 58 is rotated to lift the gear. Even if it works, the restricting member 65 prevents this and maintains a sufficient mesh of the gears.

Since the restricting member 65 is swingably provided as described above, when it collides with the engaging portion 57 of the main body of the apparatus or other devices or members during the mounting operation of the unit 25, It is possible to move freely so as to avoid members, etc., and avoid damage to them.

In the above example, the configuration in which the pivot member and the regulating member are provided on the apparatus main body side and the drive gear provided on the pivot member is engaged with the passive gear fixed to the unit side has been described. However, conversely, the pivot member and the regulating member may be provided on the unit side, and the drive gear may be provided on the apparatus main body side. That is, in this case, the gear 51 acts as a drive gear provided on the main body of the apparatus, and the gear 58 acts as a passive gear provided on the pivot member of the unit.

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, it is possible to obtain and maintain an effective meshing between gears without requiring a guide device having a particularly high guiding accuracy, and with a small number of parts, which simplifies the mechanism. And simplification can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a drive transmission mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the mechanism of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 50 Coupling device 51 Passive gear 52 Drive gear device 57 Pivoting member

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A drive coupling device of a type in which a passive gear provided in a unit that can be pulled out with respect to a device body is meshed with a drive gear device that is provided in the device body and is capable of forward and reverse rotation, in association with a mounting operation of the unit. The drive gear device includes a pivot member pivotally supported by the main body of the device, a pivot member pivotally supported by the pivot member at a position offset from the pivot shaft, and the passive gear when the unit is mounted. A driving gear that meshes with the biasing member, a biasing means that biases the pivoting member so as to pivot the driving gear in a direction that meshes with the passive gear, and the swinging member is provided on the pivoting member. A restricting member positioned so as to be able to abut or come close to the engaging portion, the restricting member contacting the engaging portion causes the pivoting member to pivot in a direction opposite to the biasing direction. It is characterized by regulating Drive coupling device. 2. A passive gear device provided in a unit that can be pulled out from the device main body,
In a drive coupling device of a type that meshes with a drive gear capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions provided in a main body of the device, the passive gear device includes a pivot member pivotally supported by the unit and the pivot member. And a passive gear that is rotatably supported at a deviated position and that meshes with the drive gear when the unit is mounted, and biases the pivot member to pivot the passive gear in the direction of meshing with the drive gear. Includes a biasing means and a regulating member that is swingably provided on the pivoting member and is positioned so as to come into contact with or approach an engaging portion formed on the apparatus body when the unit is mounted, and the regulating member includes the engaging member. A drive coupling device characterized in that the pivotal movement of the pivoting member in the direction opposite to the biasing direction is restricted by contact with the portion.