JPH08145047A - Flange and paddle roller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a paddle roller provided in a developing unit within an image forming device, for agitating toner and carrier, which can prevent a member for fixing a flange part to a shaft part from coming off due to rotational vibration of a paddle part during agitation of a developer, and which can prevent the developer from leaking outside of the developing unit. CONSTITUTION: A shaft part 5 is extended through a through hole is formed in a center part, and a pawl 8 which is extended from a step part 6 is bent toward a side panel 23 of a flange part 2, and is meshed in a groove 7 in the shaft part 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paddle roller in which a toner and a carrier can be agitated in a developing machine of an image forming apparatus by having a structure in which a flange can be fixed to a shaft portion without using a fixing pin. Is. Laser printers, laser copying machines, and the like use a developer in which powdery toner and powdery carrier are mixed. Since the developer needs to be uniformly mixed, the developer is stirred by a paddle roller in the developing machine. The paddle blade on the outer peripheral surface of the paddle roller that uniformly stirs the developer is formed of a spiral body having a three-dimensional spiral shape over the entire length of the paddle roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventional paddle roller. Reference numeral 1 is a paddle roller, 2 is a flange portion for sandwiching both ends of a plurality of paddle portions, 23 is a side plate of the flange portion, 24 is a stop hole of the flange portion, 6 is a step portion of the flange portion, 3 is a flange portion of both ends. A plurality of paddle parts 5 sandwiched between the shaft parts are fixed to the flange part.

The shaft portion 5 is made of stainless steel or the like and has rod-shaped fixing holes (not shown) for fixing the flange portion 2 at both left and right ends. The flange portion 2 is a molded product obtained by injection-molding ABS resin, and has a disk shape in which the side plate 23 of the flange portion has a diameter D1, a width L1, a step portion diameter D2, and a width L2. The step portion 6 of the flange portion 2 has a stop hole 24 for fixing the shaft portion 5.

The paddle part 3 is a molded product obtained by injection-molding ABS resin, and a predetermined number of the paddle parts 3 are connected. On the outer peripheral surface of the paddle roller, there are four spiral paddle blades for stirring the developer. The outer diameter of the paddle portion 3 is the same as the outer diameter (D1) of the flange portion 2. FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a conventional paddle roller.

On the contact surface between the flange portion 2 and the paddle portion 3 or the paddle portion 3, a concave portion having a concave groove shape or a convex portion having a convex protrusion shape is provided so that they can mesh with each other. More specifically, 21 is a concave portion of the side plate of the flange portion that meshes with the convex portion of the paddle portion, 22 is a convex portion of the side plate of the flange portion that meshes with the concave portion of the paddle portion, and 31 is another paddle portion. The convex portion or the concave portion of the paddle portion that meshes with the convex portion of the flange side plate, and 32 is the convex portion of the paddle portion that meshes with the concave portion of the flange side plate and the concave portion of another paddle portion.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, one end surface of the paddle portion 3 is provided with a concave groove-shaped concave portion 31, and the other end surface of the paddle portion 3 is provided with a convex protruding portion 32. The side plate of the flange portion is provided with a concave portion having a concave groove shape or a convex portion having a convex protrusion shape. The function of the uneven part is the paddle part 3
The concave portions 31 of the other paddle portions are meshed with the convex portions 32 of the other paddle portions to connect the plurality of paddle portions 3 to a predetermined length. At this time, the shape of the paddle blades on the outer periphery of the paddle portion 3 is set to be a spiral shape of a three-dimensional twist continuous with the entire length of the paddle roller.
Further, the rotational driving force is transmitted by the engagement between the paddle portion 3 and the paddle portion 2 or the concave portion and the convex portion of the paddle portions.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a conventional flange portion and paddle portion. A through hole is opened at the center of the flange portion 2 and there is almost no gap with the shaft portion 5. However, a hole larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 5 is opened in the center of the paddle portion 3. The concave portion or the convex portion of the side plate 23 of the paddle portion 3 and the flange portion has a length L4, a width L3, a predetermined depth (in the case of a convex portion; a predetermined height), and a cross-sectional shape of a prism. Is. The side plate 23 of the flange portion and the concave or convex portion of the paddle portion 3 can mesh with each other. The phase difference θ2 between the concave portion and the convex portion provided on the end surface of the paddle portion 3 is 90 degrees. The phase difference θ1 between the convex portion provided on one end surface of the paddle portion 3 and the concave portion provided on the other end surface is 45.
It is provided at an angle of degrees.

The method of assembling the paddle roller 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, the step portion 6 of the flange portion 2 is directed to the left side with respect to the paper surface, and the shaft portion 5 is penetrated through the central hole of the flange portion 2 and is positioned at a predetermined position. Then, the stop hole of the shaft portion 5 (not shown) and the stop hole 24 of the flange portion 2 are aligned with each other, and a pin (not shown) is press-fitted to fix the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 2. Then, from the other end where the flange portion 2 is fixed to the shaft portion 5, the convex portion 32 of the paddle portion 3 is penetrated through the shaft portion 5 in the left direction and meshed with the concave portion 21 of the side plate 23 of the flange portion. Then, the other paddle portions 3 are penetrated through the shaft portion 5 in the same manner, and the paddle portions 3 are meshed with each other. At the time of assembly, the flange side plate 23 and the concave portions of the paddle portion 3 and the concave portions are coated with an adhesive. Then, the concave portion and the convex portion are engaged with each other and fixed by adhesion. After that, a predetermined number of paddle parts 3 are connected in the same manner.

Next, the attachment of the flange portion 2 at the other end will be described. The shaft portion 5 is passed through the center hole of the flange portion 2 with the step portion 6 of the flange portion 2 facing the right side of the drawing. Then, similarly to the above, the concave portion 31 of the paddle portion and the convex portion 22 of the flange portion are engaged with each other and fixed by adhesion. After that, a pin (not shown) is press-fitted into the stopper hole 24 to fix the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 3 to the completion.

[0010]

Conventional paddle roller 1
The fixing pin is press-fitted into the stopper hole 24 of the step portion 6 of the flange portion 2 to fix the shaft portion 5. The paddle roller 1 is rotated to stir the developer. The paddle roller 1 is rotated and stirred to transfer the developer. Then, due to the rotational vibration generated due to this, the fixing pin for fixing the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 2 gradually loosens and finally falls off. The developer is not sufficiently agitated due to the fixing pin falling off, which adversely affects the print quality. In other words, the fixing pin may fall off, resulting in a failure of the printer or copying machine in the developing machine. As a measure to prevent the fixing pin from falling off, there are lock paint and a split pin structure. However, the present invention is made in consideration of the number of parts and the number of assembling steps.

The paddle blades rotate to stir the developer.
At this time, the paddle blade acts as a screw to transfer the developer. The force with which the developer is transferred acts to expand the one side plate of the flange portion outward. As a result, the bond between the flange portion 2 and the paddle portion 3, the bond between the paddle portion 3 or between the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 2 is loosened, and the gap is expanded. Then, the powdery developer enters the gap. Eventually, it is transmitted through the gap between the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 2. The paddle roller is connected to a rotary drive source (not shown) outside the developing machine, and the developer leaks through the connecting portion (not shown). As a result, the developing device becomes defective in the printer device and the copying device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new paddle roller in which the components of the paddle roller 1 do not fall off even if the components of the paddle roller 1 rotate and vibrate, and the developer does not leak from the developing machine. .

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the paddle roller of the present invention has a through hole through which a shaft portion penetrates in a central portion, and the paddle roller is bent in a direction from a step portion to a side plate of a flange portion, It adopts a configuration in which a claw that meshes with the groove of the part is provided.

[0014]

With this structure, the flange portion and the claw can be integrated, and the shaft portion and the flange portion can be fastened by locking the claw in the groove of the shaft portion. By sandwiching the paddle portion between the flanges at both ends, the shaft portion, the flange portion, and the paddle portion can be fastened. With this configuration, the number of assembly steps and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the fixing pin does not fall off even if rotational vibration occurs due to the developer being stirred and transferred by the paddle roller.
Also, the force at the time of transfer tends to expand one side plate of the flange portion outward. The claws on the flange then repel this outward force. This is because the bent hook-shaped claws mesh with the groove, and the bent part of the claws serves as a spring. Then, the force of expanding the claw 8 is pushed back inward. This prevents the developer from entering the gap between the flange portion 2 and the paddle portion 3 or the gap between the paddle portion 3 and the paddle portion 3.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the paddle roller of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The same parts as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the paddle roller, showing the left end portion in detail. FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the groove of the shaft portion.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the flange portion. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the material and shape of the shaft portion 5 are the same as those of the conventional example, but a groove having a width W, a length L5, and a depth H at two positions above and below the shaft portion 5. 7 is provided to form the side wall P of the groove and the front and rear walls Q of the groove. The grooves 7 are provided at two places on the left and right ends of the shaft portion 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the flange portion 2 is A
It is a molded product obtained by injection molding a BS resin. External dimensions,
On the contact surface with the paddle portion 3, the shape of the concave portion 21 or the convex portion 22 and the center of the flange portion 2 is provided with a hole D3 having a size equivalent to the diameter of the shaft portion and a gap with the shaft portion 5 is formed. Almost no points are the same as the conventional example. However, instead of having the stop hole 24 for fixing the flange portion 2, the step portion 6 of the flange portion 2 is used.
Hook-shaped claw 8 bent in the direction of the side plate 23 of the flange portion from the
Is different. The claw 8 is integrally formed with the flange portion 2 and has an elastic force peculiar to a molded product of ABS resin. Further, the claws 8 of the flange portion 2 are provided at two positions vertically facing the groove 7 provided in the shaft portion 5. The shape of the claw 8 is a hook shape having a width W, a length L and a depth H. Upper and lower claws 8
The distance between the claw 8 and the claw 8 is narrower than the diameter of the shaft, but when penetrating the shaft part 5, it is repelled by the elastic force of the claw 8 to be widened.

FIG. 1 shows the structure in which the flange portion 2 is provided at the left end, but when the paddle roller 1 is assembled, the right and left flange portions 2 are also provided on the right end side of the shaft portion 5, and both flanges are provided. The paddle part 3 is sandwiched between the parts. As shown in FIG. 1, a method of assembling the paddle roller 1 will be described taking the left end portion as an example. The step portion 6 of the flange portion is placed on the left side with respect to the paper surface, and one end of the shaft portion 5 is penetrated through the hole of the flange portion 2 and positioned at a predetermined position. And the groove 7 of the shaft portion 5
And the claw 8 of the flange portion 2 are engaged with each other. As a result of being engaged,
The movement of the shaft in the front-rear direction is fixed by the front-rear wall Q of the groove and the claw 8, and the movement of the shaft in the rotation direction is fixed by the side wall P of the groove and the claw 8. As a result, the flange portion 2 and the shaft portion 5 are connected. Fix it.

In the following, a predetermined number of paddle parts 3 are connected to the flange part 2 in the same manner as described in the conventional example. Then, the flange portion 2 and the paddle portion 3, or the contact surface between the paddle portion 3 and each other, the concave portion and the convex portion are engaged with each other and fixed by adhesion as in the conventional example. Then, another flange portion 2 is inserted from the other end of the shaft portion 5. When inserting, another step 6 of the other flange 2 from the other end of the shaft 5 is made to face the right side with respect to the plane of the drawing, and the hole at the center of the flange 2 is penetrated to be positioned at a predetermined position. Then, similarly to the above, the convex portion 22 of the flange side plate 23 is meshed with the concave portion 31 of the paddle portion 3 to position the paddle portion 3 and the flange portion 2. The claws 8 of the flange portion 2 provided at the left and right ends of the shaft portion 5 are locked in the grooves 7 of the shaft portion 5. As a result, the shaft portion 5 and the flange portion 2 are connected, and the paddle roller 1 having the paddle portion 3 sandwiched between the flanges is assembled. When the paddle roller 1 is provided in the developing machine, the rotational driving force of the shaft portion 5 can be transmitted to the paddle roller 1.

Then, when the developer is agitated while the paddle roller rotates, the developer is transferred by the paddle blade. Due to this, the developer agitated by the paddle blades of the paddle roller gives a force for expanding one flange portion 2.
Further, since the bent hook 2 is engaged with the groove of the flange 2 to be pressed, the bent portion of the hook serves as a spring. And it repels the force to expand outward. The claw 8 is always pushed back inward in the axial direction. As a result, the gap between the flange portion 2 and the paddle portion 3 or the paddle portion 3
It prevents the developer from entering the gap between them.

Although the two claws 8 are provided on the flange portion 2 in the above embodiment, the number and position are not limited.

[0022]

As described above, even if the developer is agitated by the paddle roller of the present invention and rotational vibration of the developer occurs, the claws that take the place of the fixing pin are integrally formed with the flange, so that the printer device is provided. No defects occur in the copying machine. Moreover, since the number of parts is reduced because the pins are not used, the number of assembling steps is reduced.

Further, the developer acts to spread the side plate of the one flange portion outward while being agitated, but resists this action and the pawl 8 is configured to constantly pressurize inward of the shaft. The developer does not enter between the roller parts, that is, between the paddle part, the flange part, and the shaft part. As a result, the developer does not leak from the developing machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a paddle roller of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a groove of a shaft portion used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a conventional flange portion and paddle.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a conventional paddle roller

FIG. 6 Conventional paddle roller

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paddle roller 2 Flange portion 21 Flange portion concave portion 22 Flange portion convex portion 23 Flange portion side plate 3 Paddle portion 31 Paddle portion concave portion 32 Paddle portion convex portion 5 Shaft portion 6 Flange portion step 7 Groove of shaft 8 Flange of flange 24 Stop hole L1 Width of flange L2 Width of step L3 Width of concave or convex L4 Length of concave or convex L5 Length of groove D1 Flange or paddle External dimensions D2 External dimensions of steps H Groove depth P Groove side wall Q Groove rear wall

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flange having a through hole through which a shaft portion penetrates in a central portion, bent in a direction from a step to a side plate of the flange portion, and provided with a claw that meshes with a groove of the shaft portion. . 2. A paddle roller using a flange according to claim 1, wherein the paddle portion is sandwiched between the flange portions.