JP2010072071A - Belt unit and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce skew of a belt without using a guide belt. <P>SOLUTION: On an axial edge side of a driven roller 13C, a tension roller collar 13G having higher rotational resistance than the driven roller 13C is provided. When a transfer belt 13A skews and the edge of the transfer belt 13A is brought into contact with the tension roller collar 13G, braking force toward the direction for stopping the rotation of transfer belt 13A acts in the region in contact with the tension roller collar 13G, and tensile force generated there is increased. Therefore, the transfer belt 13A moves diagonally from the tension roller collar 13G side, where the tensile force is increased, to the width directional central side where the tensile force is lower than the above region, so that skew of the transfer belt 13A is corrected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a belt unit that rotates an endless belt and an image forming apparatus using the belt unit.

  As is well known, the belt unit includes an endless belt, a driving roller that rotationally drives the belt, a driven roller that is driven between the driving roller and the belt that rotates along with the rotation of the belt.

  However, if the tension acting on the belt is not uniform in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction and the thickness direction of the belt), the belt will rotate so that the belt moves in a direction from a larger tension to a smaller tension. End up running.

On the other hand, in many belt units for image forming apparatuses, belts having guide belts provided at both ends in the width direction of the belt main body (for example, see Patent Document 1) are used. The drive roller and the driven roller are sandwiched from both sides in the axial direction to prevent the belt from skewing.
JP 2007-193205 A

However, since the guide belt is a very expensive material with strict quality requirements in terms of wear resistance, friction coefficient, etc., the manufacturing cost of the belt unit has been increased.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to suppress the skew of the belt without using a guide belt.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an endless belt, a driving roller that rotationally drives the belt, and the driving roller are stretched over the belt. A driven roller that rotates following rotation, and a braking body that is provided on at least one side of the axial end of the driven roller and that rotates following the belt when the belt contacts when the belt moves toward the end. The rotational resistance of the braking body is greater than the rotational resistance of the driven roller.

  Thus, in the invention described in claim 1, since the braking body larger than the rotational resistance of the driven roller is provided on the axial end portion side of the driven roller, the belt is skewed and the end portion of the belt is braked. When contacted with the body, a braking force in a direction to stop the rotation of the belt acts on the portion that contacts the braking body, and the tension generated at this portion increases.

  Therefore, since the belt moves so as to skew from the braking body side where the tension is increased to the center side in the width direction where the tension is smaller than this portion, the belt can be prevented from skewing without using the guide belt. .

  In the second aspect of the invention, the rotation shaft of the driven roller is supported so as to be displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, and the rotation shaft is arranged in a direction in which the tension generated in the belt increases. A pressing means for pressing is provided.

  Accordingly, in the invention described in claim 2, since the braking body is provided at the axial end portion of the tension roller that applies tension to the belt, it is possible to effectively suppress the skew of the belt. it can.

  Further, the invention described in claim 3 is provided with damping means for imparting rotational resistance to the braking body, and the rotating shaft is caused by a reaction force generated when the damping means imparts rotational resistance to the braking body. The belt is pressed in the direction in which the tension generated in the belt increases.

  Thus, in the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the function of increasing the tension by applying a braking force to the belt, the function of increasing the tension by displacing the rotating shaft acts. It can be surely suppressed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the damping means applies a rotational resistance force to the braking body while meshing with a gear portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of the braking body, and further the damping means is the damping means. It is characterized in that it is arranged so as to include a component in a direction in which the tension generated in the belt increases due to the reaction force generated at the meshing portion between the brake and the braking body.

Thus, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the function of increasing the tension by displacing the rotating shaft can be surely exhibited.
Further, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the braking body is provided on both axial ends of the driven roller.

Thereby, in the invention according to claim 5, it is possible to reliably suppress the skew of the belt.
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a friction coefficient of a portion of the braking body that contacts the belt is larger than a friction coefficient of a portion of the driven roller that contacts the belt.

Thus, in the invention described in claim 6, the braking force can be reliably applied from the braking body to the belt.
The invention described in claim 7 is characterized by comprising image forming means and the belt unit described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

In this embodiment, a belt unit according to the present invention is applied to a belt unit for an image forming apparatus, and the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1. 1 is a central sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2A is a view showing characteristics of a belt unit 13 according to this embodiment. 2B is a right side view of FIG. 2A, FIG. 3 is a view showing the operation of the belt unit 13 according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4A to 4D are first views. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the angle which the reference line Lo and the 2nd reference line L2 make, and reaction force F1.

2. Configuration of image forming apparatus 2.1. Schematic Structure of Image Forming Apparatus In the housing 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a developer image is transferred to a recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) such as a recording sheet or an OHP sheet. An electrophotographic image forming unit 5 for forming an image on a sheet is accommodated. As is well known, the image forming unit 5 includes a process cartridge 7, an exposure unit 9, a fixing unit 11, and the like.

  Further, since the image forming unit 5 according to the present embodiment is a direct tandem color laser printer, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) process cartridges 7 are arranged in series along the sheet conveyance direction. It is installed.

  Specifically, the process cartridge 7K for black, the process cartridge 7Y for yellow, the process cartridge 7M for magenta, and the process cartridge 7C for cyan are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction.

  The process cartridges 7K to 7C differ only in the color of the developer stored therein, and have substantially the same structure. Specifically, the process cartridges 7K to 7C carry a developer image. And a charger 7B for charging the photosensitive drum 7A. In FIG. 1, for the sake of space, the reference numerals of the photosensitive drum 7A and the charger 7B are attached only to the cyan process cartridge 7C.

  In the configuration described above, when the charged photosensitive drum 7A is exposed by the exposure device 9 to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7A, a charged developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum 7A. The developer image is carried (formed) on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7A.

  Further, a transfer roller 15 for transferring the developer carried on the photosensitive drum 7A onto the sheet is provided at a position facing the photosensitive drum 7A across the transfer belt 13A that conveys the sheet, and is carried on the photosensitive drum 7A. The developer image thus transferred is transferred onto a sheet conveyed by the transfer belt 13A. Then, the sheet on which the developer image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 11 and heated, and the developer image transferred onto the sheet is fused (fixed) to the sheet.

3. Belt unit 3.1. Outline of Belt Unit The belt unit 13 includes a transfer belt 13A, a driving roller 13B, a driven roller 13C, a frame (not shown) that holds the driving roller 13B and the driven roller 13C, and the like. Is detachably assembled to the apparatus main body.

  The transfer belt 13A is an endless belt member made of a resin material (in this embodiment, a thermoplastic elastomer), and is stretched between the driving roller 13B and the driven roller 13C.

  The drive roller 13B rotates by transferring power 13A by obtaining power from a drive source such as an electric motor (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body, and the driven roller 13C rotates the transfer belt 13A. And follow rotation.

  The rotation shaft 13H of the driven roller 13C is a frame that is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and in which the tension generated on the transfer belt 13A increases or decreases (in this embodiment, the left-right direction in FIG. 1). And is pressed in a direction (in this embodiment, rightward in FIG. 1) in which the tension is increased by an elastic biasing means such as a compression coil spring 13F.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the driven roller 13C functions as a tension roller that generates a predetermined tension on the transfer belt 13A, and the transfer belt 13A has a frictional force generated at a contact portion between the transfer belt 13A and the driving roller 13B. Thus, they rotate integrally at the same speed without slipping with respect to the drive roller 13B.

3.2. Tension roller collar (braking body)
As shown in FIG. 2A, tension roller collars 13G are provided on both ends of the driven roller 13C in the axial direction so as to be rotatable coaxially with the driven rollers 13C. As shown in FIG. 3, when the transfer belt 13A moves toward the end in the axial direction and comes into contact with the tension roller collar 13G, it is a braking body that receives the rotational force from the transfer belt 13A and rotates with the transfer belt 13A.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the tension roller collar 13G is a columnar or cylindrical one having substantially the same diameter as the driven roller 13C, and is relatively around the rotation shaft 13H of the driven roller 13C. It is rotatably supported.

  Further, on the driven roller 13C side of the outer peripheral surface of the tension roller collar 13G, there is provided a friction surface 13J that receives a rotational force from the transfer belt 13A when it contacts the inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt 13A. A spur gear portion 13K is provided on the side of the outer peripheral surface of 13G opposite to the driven roller 13C across the friction surface 13J.

  On the gear portion 13K side, as shown in FIG. 2B, a damper gear 13L is provided that applies rotational resistance to the tension roller collar 13G while rotating while meshing with the gear portion 13K. The damper gear 13L is a damping means that generates a rotational resistance using the viscous resistance of oil sealed inside.

  Further, the damper gear 13L has a component in a direction (direction indicated by an arrow A) in which the tension generated in the transfer belt 13A is increased by the reaction force F1 generated in the meshing portion between the damper gear 13L and the tension roller collar 13G (gear portion 13K). Are arranged to be included.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, the tension roller collar 13G receives a force opposite to the direction of rotation of the tension roller collar 13G as a reaction force F1 from the damper gear 13L.

  At this time, since the reaction force F1 is a force generated at the meshing portion of the gear portion 13K and the damper gear 13L, its direction passes through the rotation center O1 of the tension roller collar 13G and the rotation center O2 of the damper gear 13L. This is a direction inclined by an angle corresponding to the pressure angle α of the gear portion 13K with respect to the direction L1 orthogonal to the reference line Lo.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the angle formed by the first reference line L1 and the second reference line L2 becomes the pressure angle α, and the reaction force F1 in the direction from the driving roller 13B side to the driven roller 13C side is the tension roller collar. A damper gear 13L is arranged so as to act on 13G.

  Note that the second reference line L2 is parallel to the direction perpendicular to the direction of the tension generated in the transfer belt 13A (the left-right direction in FIG. 2B), and is assumed to pass through the rotation center O1 of the tension roller collar 13G. Say a line.

4). Features of Image Forming Apparatus (especially Belt Unit) According to this Embodiment In this embodiment, a tension roller collar 13G that generates a rotational resistance larger than the rotational resistance of the driven roller 13C is formed on the axial end portion side of the driven roller 13C. As shown in FIG. 3, when the end of the transfer belt 13A comes into contact with the tension roller collar 13G as shown in FIG. A braking force in a direction to stop the rotation of 13A acts, and the tension generated at this portion increases.

  Therefore, the transfer belt 13A moves from the tension roller collar 13G side where the tension is increased so as to skew toward the center in the width direction where the tension is smaller than this portion, so that the skew of the transfer belt 13A is corrected.

  In this embodiment, since the tension roller collar 13G is provided on both ends of the driven roller 13C in the axial direction, even if the transfer belt 13A is skewed in any direction, the skew is corrected. The skew of the transfer belt 13A can be reliably suppressed.

  By the way, in this embodiment, when the transfer belt 13A is skewed and the transfer belt 13A contacts the tension roller collar 13G, a transfer force is applied to a portion of the transfer belt 13A that contacts the tension roller collar 13G. Since the skew of the belt 13A is corrected, it is necessary to reliably apply a braking force to the transfer belt 13A at a portion (friction surface 13J) where the tension roller collar 13G and the transfer belt 13A are in contact with each other.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the friction coefficient of the portion of the tension roller collar 13G that contacts the transfer belt 13A (friction surface 13J) is made larger than the friction coefficient of the portion of the driven roller 13C that contacts the transfer belt 13A. The configuration is such that a braking force can be reliably applied from the tension roller collar 13G to the transfer belt 13A.

  In this embodiment, when the transfer belt 13A is skewed and the transfer belt 13A comes into contact with the tension roller collar 13G, the tension roller collar 13G side (hereinafter referred to as a contact side) disposed on the side on which the transfer belt 13A comes into contact. )), The reaction force F1 acts on the tension roller collar 13G disposed on the opposite side of the tension roller collar 13G.

  For this reason, the rotation shaft 13H of the driven roller 13C is supported so as to be displaceable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction thereof, and thus the contact side is displaced so as to be separated from the driving roller 13B by the reaction force F1, and therefore the transfer belt. Tension increases on the contact side of 13A.

  Accordingly, the transfer belt 13A moves from the tension roller collar 13G side where the tension is increased so as to skew toward the center in the width direction where the tension is smaller than this portion, and the skew of the transfer belt 13A is corrected.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the function of increasing the tension by applying a braking force to the transfer belt 13A, the function of increasing the tension by displacing the rotary shaft 13H (the driven roller 13C) acts. The skew of the transfer belt 13A can be reliably suppressed.

  Although the driven roller 13C is displaced by the reaction force F1, the damper gear 13L does not move. However, since the displacement amount of the driven roller 13C is very small, the engagement between the damper gear 13L and the gear portion 13K will not be disengaged. .

  In this embodiment, the driven roller 13C functions as a tension roller that applies tension to the transfer belt 13A, and a tension roller collar 13G is provided at the axial end of the driven roller 13C that forms the tension roller. Since the configuration is adopted, the skew of the transfer belt 13A can be effectively suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the tension generated in the transfer belt 13A is increased by utilizing the reaction force F1 generated in the meshing portion of the gear portion 13K and the damper gear 13L, so that the rotating shaft 13H (driven roller 13C) is displaced. Therefore, the function of increasing the tension due to this can be surely exhibited.

  Incidentally, since the pressure angle α of the gear portion 13K according to the present embodiment is 20 °, the first reference line Lo is used in increasing the tension generated in the transfer belt 13A using the reaction force F1 generated in the meshing portion. In order to effectively increase the tension of the transfer belt 13A, the reaction force F1 generated at the meshing portion can be effectively increased as shown in FIG. 4A by setting the angle formed by the second reference line L2 to 20 °. We are using.

  As shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, the tension of the transfer belt 13A increases even when the angle formed by the first reference line Lo and the second reference line L2 is other than 20 °. Although a component can be generated, if an angle other than the pressure angle α is used, the reaction force F1 generated at the meshing portion cannot be effectively used.

5). Correspondence between Invention Specific Items and Embodiments In this embodiment, the tension roller collar 13G corresponds to the braking body described in the claims, and the compression coil spring 13F corresponds to the pressing means described in the claims. The damper gear 13L corresponds to the damping means described in the claims.

(Second Embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the diameter size of the tension roller collar 13G (friction surface 13J) is constant. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the diameter size φ1 on the driven roller 13C side of the friction surface 13J. The friction surface 13J is conically tapered so that is smaller than the diameter φ2 on the gear portion 13K side.

  In this embodiment, the diameter dimension φ1 on the driven roller 13C side of the friction surface 13J is made smaller than the diameter dimension φo of the driven roller 13C, and the diameter dimension φ2 on the gear portion 13K side of the friction surface 13J is set to the driven roller. A flange-shaped flange portion 13M is provided between the friction surface 13J and the gear portion 13K and protruding in the radial direction over the entire circumference while being larger than the diameter dimension φo of 13C.

  With the configuration described above, in this embodiment, when the transfer belt 13A is skewed and moves from the driven roller 13C to the tension roller collar 13G, the transfer belt 13A smoothly receives the tension roller collar 13G (friction surface 13J). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transfer belt 13A from being damaged when moving to the tension roller collar 13G.

  Further, since the friction surface 13J is conically tapered so that the diameter dimension φ1 on the driven roller 13C side of the friction surface 13J is smaller than the diameter dimension φ2 on the gear portion 13K side, the transfer belt 13A becomes more skewed. A large braking force and tension act on the transfer belt 13A. Therefore, the skew of the transfer belt 13A can be effectively suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the diameter dimension φ1 on the driven roller 13C side of the friction surface 13J is made smaller than the diameter dimension φo of the driven roller 13C, and the diameter dimension φ2 on the gear portion 13K side of the friction surface 13J is set to the driven roller. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the diameter dimension φ1 on the driven roller 13C side is the same as the diameter dimension φo of the driven roller 13C, or the friction surface. The diameter dimension φ2 on the gear portion 13K side of 13J may be the same as the diameter dimension φo of the driven roller 13C.

(Third embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, the tension roller collar 13G is provided on the axial end portion side of the driven roller 13C that also serves as the tension roller. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. This tension roller 13N is provided.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the driven roller 13C rotates in a stationary manner with respect to the frame like the driving roller 13B, and the tension roller 13N is displaced in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction. Thus, tension is applied to the transfer belt 13A.

  In FIG. 7, the driven roller 13C according to the present embodiment does not serve as a tension roller. Therefore, the driven roller collar 13P is shown instead of the tension roller collar 13G. The configuration of the driven roller collar 13P is shown in FIG. This is the same as the tension roller collar 13G.

  Also in this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, the braking force acts on the transfer belt 13 from the driven roller collar 13P on the contact side of the transfer belt 13A, and the tension increases, so that the transfer belt 13A is Then, it moves from the side of the driven roller collar 13P where the tension is increased so as to skew toward the center in the width direction where the tension is smaller than this part, and the skew of the transfer belt 13A is corrected.

  In the driven roller collar 13P shown in FIG. 7, the friction surface 13J is a simple circumferential surface as in the first embodiment, but the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the second embodiment is not limited thereto. Similar to the configuration, the friction surface 13J may be conically tapered.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the tension roller collar 13G (the driven roller collar 13P) is provided on both ends in the axial direction of the driven roller 13C. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one end in the axial direction of the driven roller 13C. Only the tension roller collar 13G (driven roller collar 13P) may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tension roller collar 13G (driven roller collar 13P) receives the braking force from the damper gear 13L via the gear portion 13K, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the gear The portion 13K may be eliminated, and a braking force may be applied to the tension roller collar 13G (driven roller collar 13P) from the damper gear 13L via a belt or frictional force.

  In the above-described embodiment, the damper gear 13L uses oil viscous resistance. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may use, for example, friction resistance.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotational resistance is applied to the tension roller collar 13G (driven roller collar 13P) by the damper gear 13L. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tension roller collar 13G (driven roller collar) A configuration may be adopted in which a predetermined rotational resistance is generated in a bearing that rotatably supports the collar 13P).

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the angle formed by the first reference line Lo and the second reference line L2 is 20 °, but the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. As shown in (d), the angle formed by the first reference line Lo and the second reference line L2 may be an angle other than 20 ° (pressure angle α).

  In the above-described embodiment, the belt unit according to the present invention is applied to the direct tandem image forming apparatus. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a belt unit other than the image forming apparatus or The present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses other than the direct tandem system.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it matches the gist of the invention described in the claims.

1 is a central sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows the characteristic of the belt unit 13 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a right view of Fig.2 (a). It is a figure which shows the action | operation of the belt unit 13 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the relationship between the angle which the 1st reference line Lo and the 2nd reference line L2 make, and reaction force F1. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the belt unit 13 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the belt unit 13 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the belt unit 13 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 5 ... Image forming part, 7 ... Process cartridge,
7A ... photosensitive drum, 7B ... charger, 7C ... process cartridge,
7K ... process cartridge, 7M ... process cartridge,
7Y ... Process cartridge, 9 ... Exposure device, 11 ... Fixing device,
13 ... Belt unit, 13A ... Transfer belt, 13B ... Drive roller,
13C ... driven roller, 13F ... spring, 13G ... tension roller collar,
13H ... Rotating shaft, 13J ... Friction surface, 13K ... Gear part, 13L ... Damper gear,
13M: collar, 13N: tension roller, 15 ... transfer roller.

Claims (7)

An endless belt,
A driving roller for rotating the belt;
A driven roller that is laid across the belt between the drive rollers and that rotates following the rotation of the belt;
A braking body that is provided on at least one side of the axial end of the driven roller and that rotates following the belt when the belt contacts the belt when the belt moves to the end;
The belt unit according to claim 1, wherein a rotational resistance of the braking body is greater than a rotational resistance of the driven roller. The rotational axis of the driven roller is supported so as to be displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction thereof,
The belt unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing unit that presses the rotating shaft in a direction in which a tension generated in the belt increases. Comprising damping means for imparting rotational resistance to the braking body;
The rotary shaft is pressed in a direction in which a tension generated in the belt increases by a reaction force generated when the damping means imparts rotational resistance to the braking body. The belt unit described in 1. The damping means imparts a rotational resistance force to the braking body while meshing with a gear portion formed on an outer peripheral portion of the braking body and rotating,
Further, the damping means is arranged so as to include a component in a direction in which the tension generated in the belt is increased by a reaction force generated in a meshing portion between the damping means and the braking body. The belt unit according to claim 3.   The belt unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the braking body is provided on both axial ends of the driven roller.   6. The friction coefficient of a portion of the braking body that contacts the belt is larger than a friction coefficient of a portion of the driven roller that contacts the belt. 6. Belt unit. Image forming means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the belt unit according to claim 1.

Images