JPH0712352Y2 - Sheet member conveying roller in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a sheet member conveying roller in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile, and more specifically, a cantilevered supporting shaft. The present invention relates to a sheet member conveying roller including a conveying roller supported by the support shaft so as to be pulled out toward its free end side.

[Prior Art] In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a support shaft a supported in a cantilever manner and the support shaft a can be pulled out to its free end side. Transport roller b supported in a stable state
And a rotation transmission fitting portion for transmitting the rotation of the support shaft a to the transfer roller b between the support shaft a and the transfer roller b (for example, a diametrical pin is projected on the support shaft a, It is configured by forming a groove into which the pin can be fitted in the transport roller b.)
c is provided, an annular groove d is formed on the peripheral surface of the support shaft a on the free end side, and an E ring e is engaged in the annular groove d to prevent the transport roller b from moving in the axial direction. The sheet member conveying roller described above is already known.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

Compared with a general sheet member conveying roller in which a support shaft of the conveying roller is supported by both front and rear side plates f and g of the image forming apparatus, the sheet member conveying roller described above has a conveying roller b.
When carrying out other replacements and other maintenance, it is very excellent in that the transport roller b can be attached / detached without removing the support shaft a connected to the drive source, but there is room for improvement in the following points. .

That is, in order to remove the transport roller b from the support shaft a, it is necessary to insert the tool into the minute gap between the E ring e and the support shaft a to remove the E ring e, and the tool is indispensable.

In addition, like a sheet member conveying roller provided in a cassette case type sheet feeding unit in the image forming apparatus,
When it is necessary to remove the transport roller from the loading port of the cassette case, it is very difficult to use the tool because the working space is small, and the E-ring e is detached from the spindle a at the tip of the tool. At that time, the E-ring e sometimes jumped into the inside of the device.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a sheet member conveying roller in an image forming apparatus in which a conveying roller can be easily attached and detached and replaced without using a tool.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

To achieve the above object, the technical means taken by the present invention are as follows. That is, the sheet member conveying roller in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a support shaft supported in a cantilever manner, and a transfer roller supported by the support shaft in a state where the support shaft is detachable toward its free end side. A rotation transmission fitting portion for transmitting the rotation of the support shaft to the transfer roller is provided between the support shaft and the transfer roller, and a recess is formed on the peripheral surface near the free end of the support shaft. , Which is elastically deformable in its diameter direction and which is integrally provided with a locking projection for preventing the transport roller from moving in the axial direction by engaging with the recess, and the locking projection is disengaged. The handle is integrally formed so as to project beyond the free end of the support shaft.

Further, the sheet member conveying roller in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a support shaft supported in a cantilever manner, and a transfer roller supported by the support shaft so as to be detachable toward its free end side. And forming a recess on the peripheral surface near the free end of the support shaft,
A locking member that is elastically deformable in the diametrical direction and that engages with the recess to prevent the transport roller from moving in the axial direction and to transmit the rotation of the support shaft to the transport roller. A protrusion is integrally provided, and a knob for releasing the engagement is integrally formed on the locking protrusion so as to project beyond the free end of the support shaft.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, when exchanging the transport roller, the knob protruding from the free end of the spindle is pinched by the fingertip, and the locking projection is deformed against its elastic restoring force to engage with the recess. In this state, it is possible to easily remove the transport roller from the spindle without using any tool by simply sliding the transport roller to the free end side of the spindle.

Also, when the transport roller is attached to the support shaft, by sliding the transport roller onto the support shaft from the free end side, when the transport roller comes to the predetermined position, the locking projections have an elastic restoring force. Will automatically engage the recess.

Further, according to the present invention, the locking projection for preventing the transfer roller from moving in the axial direction and the engagement releasing knob continuous with the locking projection are integrally formed on the transfer roller. The number of parts can be reduced, and the work of exchanging the transfer rollers is easier and can be performed with one hand.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a cassette case type sheet feeding section in a copying machine. 1 is a cassette case that accommodates sheet members in a stacked state, 2 is a cassette case receiving portion, and 3a and 3b
Is a front and rear side plate provided at a predetermined interval, 4 is a side plate 3
It is a cassette guide plate provided between a and 3b.
A is a sheet member conveying roller provided with a support shaft 5 supported in a cantilever manner, and a conveyance roller 6 supported by the support shaft 5 in a state where it can be pulled out toward its free end side. The rear end side of the support shaft 5 is supported by the side plate 3b through a bearing 7, and the intermediate portion is supported by a hanging piece 8 cut and raised downward from the cassette guide plate 4 through a bearing 9 to provide a free end portion. Between the side plate 3a and the side plate 3a, there is formed a space required to remove the transport roller 6. That is, when the transport roller 6 is replaced or maintained, the transport roller 6 can be attached and detached without removing the support shaft 5 connected to the drive source. Reference numeral 10 is a drive gear connected to a drive source (not shown), and 11 is a clutch mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transfer roller 6 includes a roller body 6a, 6a made of synthetic resin, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 6b connecting the both 6a, 6a, and a peripheral surface of the roller body 6a, 6a. And surface layers 6c and 6c made of a material having a high friction coefficient such as rubber.

A pin 12a projecting in the diametrical direction is provided at a predetermined position of the support shaft 5, and a groove 12b into which the pin 12a is fitted is formed in the rear end surface of the roller body 6a on the transport roller 6, whereby the pin 12a is supported. A rotation transmission fitting portion 12 that transmits the rotation of the shaft 5 to the transport roller 6 is configured.

A thin groove-shaped recess 13 is formed on the peripheral surface of the support shaft 5 in the vicinity of the free end thereof.
Inside the front roller body 6a, a locking projection 14 is elastically deformable in the diameter direction of the transport roller 6 and engages with the recess 13 to prevent the transport roller 6 from moving in the axial direction.
Are provided integrally. A tab 15 for releasing the engagement is integrally formed on the locking projection 14 so as to project in the axial direction from the free end of the support shaft 4.

According to the above-described embodiment, when removing the transport rollers 6 for replacing the transport rollers 6 whose surface layers 6c, 6c are worn or for other maintenance, it is not necessary to remove the support shaft 5 connected to the drive source. Insert the hand into the space between the support shaft 5 and the side plate 3a (see FIG. 2) from the loading port of the cassette case 1, pinch the knob 15 with a fingertip, and as shown by an arrow X in FIG. Elastically deform in the diameter direction of the
In this state, the carrying roller 6 can be slid to the free end side of the support shaft 5 and pulled out from the support shaft 5, as shown by the phantom line in FIG.

When mounting the transport roller 6, attach the transport roller 6 to the support shaft 5.
Fit it in the space on the free end side and slide it in the direction opposite to the direction of extraction. When the transport roller 6 is pushed to a predetermined position, that is, when the pin 12a of the rotation transmitting fitting portion 12 and the groove 12b are fitted, the locking projection 14 is recessed by its elastic restoring force. To prevent the transport roller 6 from moving in the axial direction.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a part of the free end side of the support shaft 5 is D-cut to form a flat surface portion 12a ', and one end side of the shaft hole of the transport roller 6 is formed on the flat surface portion 12
These different diameter holes 12b 'with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a'
It is characterized in that the rotation transmitting fitting portion 12 is constituted by a'and 12b '. The other structure is the same as that of the previous embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a shape in which the recess 13 is not continuous in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 5 (for example,
(A hole penetrating in the diametrical direction of the support shaft 5), and the locking projection 14 engaging with the recess 13 prevents the transfer roller 6 from moving in the axial direction. It is characterized in that it is configured to have the function of transmitting to 6 as well. According to this embodiment, the rotation force is transmitted by the locking projections 14, so that the rotation transmission fitting portion 12 can be omitted and the processing cost can be reduced. The other structure is the same as that of the previous embodiment.

7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a pair of locking projections 14 that engage with the recesses 13 of the support shaft 5 and disengagement knobs 15 are provided so as to face each other in the diametrical direction. Forms fulcrum protrusions 15a, 15a, and when both grips 15, 15 are sandwiched and brought close to the fulcrum protrusions 15a, 15a, both locking protrusions 14, 14 are deformed in the direction in which they are separated from each other, and It is characterized in that it is configured so that the engagement with 13, 13 is released. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess
13 and 13 are formed by holes penetrating in the diametrical direction, and the locking projections 14 and 14 function to prevent the transport roller 6 from moving in the axial direction, and the rotation of the support shaft 5 is transmitted to the transport roller 6. Although it is configured to have the function to perform both, it may be implemented by providing another rotation transmission mechanism 12 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 and the embodiment of FIG.

In any of the embodiments, the recess 13 of the locking projection 14
The cross-sectional shape of the part that enters can be set appropriately. For example,
One side of the locking projection 14 (the front surface in the traveling direction when the transport roller 6 is attached to the support shaft 5) is an inclined surface, and the locking projection 14 is smoothly moved onto the support shaft 5 by a sliding operation when the transport roller 6 is attached. By making the surface on the opposite side (the surface that controls the retaining) perpendicular to the axis, the engagement with the recess 13 can be ensured and the retaining function can be enhanced.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, the knob can be pinched with the fingertip, and the locking projection can be deformed against its elastic restoring force to release the engagement with the concave portion. The conveyor roller can be removed from the spindle by simply sliding the conveyor to the free end side of the spindle, so you can remove and replace the conveyor roller without removing the spindle connected to the drive source and without using any tools. Since the locking projection integrally formed with the transport roller is engaged / disengaged with the recess of the support shaft, the E ring like the conventional example described at the beginning jumps into the device. Will also be resolved.

Also, when the transport roller is attached to the support shaft, by sliding the transport roller onto the support shaft from the free end side, when the transport roller comes to the predetermined position, the locking projections have an elastic restoring force. Will automatically engage the recess.

Further, according to the present invention, the locking projection for preventing the transfer roller from moving in the axial direction and the engagement releasing knob continuous with the locking projection are integrally formed on the transfer roller. The number of parts can be reduced, and the work of exchanging the transfer rollers is easier and can be performed with one hand.

In addition, according to the second invention, since the locking projection has both the function of blocking the movement of the transport roller in the axial direction and the function of transmitting the rotation of the support shaft to the transport roller, the rotation of the support shaft is prevented. It is possible to reduce the processing cost by omitting the rotation transmitting fitting portion for transmitting the torque to the conveying roller.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a cassette case type sheet feeding section, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. Perspective view,
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view. FIGS. 5 to 7 are front views in vertical section of the sheet member conveying rollers showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an operation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and 10 are explanatory views of a conventional example. A ... Sheet member conveying roller, 5 ... Spindle, 6 ... Conveying roller,
12 ... Rotation transmitting fitting portion, 13 ... Recessed portion, 14 ... Locking protrusion, 15 ...
Picking.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A support shaft supported in a cantilever manner and a carrying roller supported by the support shaft in a state where it can be pulled out toward its free end side. A rotation transmitting fitting portion for transmitting the rotation to the conveying roller is provided, and a concave portion is formed on the peripheral surface near the free end of the support shaft. The conveying roller is elastically deformable in the diametrical direction and engages with the concave portion. By engaging with each other, a locking projection for integrally preventing the movement of the transport roller in the axial direction is integrally provided, and a knob for releasing the engagement is projected on the locking projection from the free end of the support shaft. A sheet member conveying roller in an image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet member conveying roller is formed integrally. 2. A support shaft supported in a cantilever manner, and a transport roller supported by the support shaft in a state where it can be pulled out toward its free end side, and a recess is formed on the peripheral surface near the free end of the support shaft. The transfer roller is elastically deformable in its diameter direction and engages with the recess to prevent the transfer roller from moving in the axial direction and to transmit the rotation of the support shaft to the transfer roller. A sheet for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that a locking projection for holding the locking projection is integrally formed with a knob for releasing the engagement so as to project from the free end of the support shaft. Member transport roller.