JP2011174581A - Rotating-element assembly and image forming device incorporated with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotating-element assembly that allows a user with no skilled skills to replace a rotating element without using an exclusive tool, and an image forming device incorporated with the same. <P>SOLUTION: The rotating-element assembly includes a wall having each edge forming a first notch having a prescribed depth, a support element freely attachably/detachably mounted to the first notch, a shaft supported by the support element, and a rotating element supported by the shaft. The support element includes each deforming part that is elastically deformable between a first position along each edge and a second position separating from each edge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotating element assembly and an image forming apparatus incorporating the rotating element assembly.

  Devices incorporating rotating elements such as rollers, cams and gears are used in various technical fields. For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions is designed to transport a sheet within a housing of the image forming apparatus using a large number of rollers as rotating elements. .

  The wear of the rotating element depends on the environment in which the rotating element is used. For example, when the rotating element is used in an environment where the rotating element comes into frictional contact with an arbitrary object, a relatively frequent replacement operation of the rotating element is required.

  In general, the rotating element is attached to the shaft using a connecting member such as an E-type stop ring. The mounting of the rotating element using such a conventional connecting member requires a dedicated tool and skilled skills.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a gear including a wall portion that is inserted through a shaft and covers a pin that protrudes from the peripheral surface of the shaft, and a claw portion that is inserted into a groove portion formed on the peripheral surface of the shaft. Disclosed as a rotating element. The rotating element of Patent Document 1 can be connected to a shaft without using an E-type stop ring.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19716

  The rotating element of Patent Document 1 has a structure that allows the shaft and the rotating element to be connected relatively easily. However, the connection between the rotating element and the wall supporting the shaft is not considered.

  When the rotating element is incorporated into any device, the rotating element and shaft are connected to a wall, such as a device housing or a bracket built into the device. When a general user who does not have the skill to replace a rotating element tries to replace a worn or damaged rotating element, it is necessary to simplify the connecting operation of the rotating element and the shaft to the wall. . Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for simplifying the connecting operation of the rotating element and the shaft to the wall portion. Therefore, the disclosed technique of Patent Document 1 contributes to the efficiency of the assembly work for combining the shaft and the rotary element in a factory, for example, but contributes to the efficiency of the exchange work of the rotary element after being shipped to the market. It is not a thing.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a rotating element assembly that allows a user having no skill to replace a rotating element without using a dedicated tool. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus incorporating the rotating element assembly.

  A rotating element assembly according to one aspect of the present invention includes a wall portion having an edge portion forming a first cutout portion having a predetermined depth, and a support element that is detachably attached to the first cutout portion, A shaft supported by the support element; and a rotating element supported by the shaft, wherein the support element is between a first position along the edge and a second position spaced from the edge. And a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed (claim 1).

  According to the said structure, a shaft and a rotation element will be supported by a wall part by attaching a support element to the 1st notch part of the predetermined depth formed of the edge part. The support element includes a deformable portion that is elastically deformable between the first position and the second position. The deformable portion in the first position is along the edge, and the deformable portion in the second position is separated from the edge. The user can easily remove the supporting element, the shaft, and the rotating element from the wall portion by elastically deforming the deforming portion from the first position to the second position. In addition, the support element, the shaft and the rotation element are firmly fixed to the wall portion by attaching the support element having the deformation portion elastically deformed to the second position to the first cutout portion and then returning the deformation portion to the first position. It will be attached to. Thus, even a user who does not have skilled skills can replace the rotating element without using a dedicated tool.

  In the above configuration, the edge portion includes a first edge portion and a second edge portion facing each other, and the deformation portion includes a first deformation portion along the first edge portion in the first position, and the first edge portion. It is preferable that the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion partially protrude from the wall portion, including a second deformable portion along the second edge at one position.

  According to the above configuration, the user can easily deform these deformed portions from the first position to the second position by pinching the protruding portions of the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion. Thus, even a user who does not have skilled skills can replace the rotating element without using a dedicated tool.

  In the above configuration, the first notch is formed by the first edge, the second edge, and a bottom edge extending between the first edge and the second edge, and the support element is The base portion extends between the end portion of the first deformation portion and the end portion of the second deformation portion, and includes a base portion along the bottom edge, and the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion are connected to the base portion. It is preferable that the connecting portion is elastically rotated from the first position to the second position about the connection portion.

  According to the above configuration, when the user picks the protruding portions of the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion, the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion from the first position elastically about the connecting portion with the base portion. Rotate to position. Thus, even a user who does not have skilled skills can replace the rotating element without using a dedicated tool.

  In the above configuration, the base portion includes a support portion in which a hole portion into which the shaft is inserted is formed, and the shaft is inserted into the hole portion so as not to rotate, and the first portion. A second part rotatably connected to the second part, and the second part preferably includes a transmission member that supports the rotating element and transmits a driving force for rotating the rotating element. (Claim 4).

  According to the said structure, the 1st part of a shaft is inserted in the hole of the support part formed in the base so that rotation is impossible. Therefore, the support portion only needs to exhibit a support function for the shaft, and the structure of the support element is simplified. The second portion of the shaft is rotatably mounted relative to the first portion and is configured to support the rotating element. Therefore, the rotation function of the rotation element is suitably maintained.

  The said structure WHEREIN: It is preferable that the groove part in which the said edge part is inserted is formed in the said deformation | transformation part (Claim 5).

  According to the said structure, since the edge part which forms a 1st notch part is inserted in the groove part formed in the deformation | transformation part, a support element will be firmly fixed to a wall part.

  The said structure WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said edge part is formed with the 2nd notch part, and the said deformation | transformation part is formed with the nail | claw part which protrudes from the said groove part and is engaged with the said 2nd notch part. (Claim 6).

  According to the said structure, it is suppressed by the engagement between a nail | claw part and a 2nd notch part that a support element unintentionally falls from a 1st notch part.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a rotating element assembly that supplies the sheet to the image forming unit, and the rotating element assembly includes: A wall formed with a first notch, a support element detachably attached to the first notch, a shaft supported by the support element, and a rotating element supported by the shaft; And the support element is formed between a first position that forms the first notch and extends along an edge extending in the depth direction of the first notch, and a second position that is separated from the edge. And a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed (claim 7).

  According to the above configuration, the rotating element assembly supplies the sheet to the image forming unit, and the image forming unit forms an image on the sheet. By attaching the support element to the first cutout formed in the wall portion of the rotating element assembly, the shaft and the rotating element are supported by the wall portion. The support element includes a deformable portion that is elastically deformable between the first position and the second position. The deformable portion at the first position is along the edge extending in the depth direction of the first notch, and the deformable portion at the second position is separated from the edge. The user can easily remove the support element, the shaft, and the rotating element from the wall portion by deforming the deformation portion from the first position to the second position. In addition, the support element, the shaft and the rotation element are firmly fixed to the wall portion by attaching the support element having the deformation portion elastically deformed to the second position to the first cutout portion and then returning the deformation portion to the first position. It will be attached to. Thus, even a user who does not have skilled skills can replace the rotating element without using a dedicated tool.

  The present invention enables a rotating element to be replaced without using a dedicated tool even by a user who does not have skilled skills.

1 is a schematic diagram of a rotating element assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of the wall part which supports the support element of the rotation element assembly shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the support element of the rotation element assembly shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a support element attached to the wall shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a support element attached to the wall shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a support element deformed to a second position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shaft supported by a support element. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shaft shown in FIG. 7. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus in which a rotating element assembly is incorporated. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an internal structure of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a rotating element assembly in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a rotating element assembly incorporated in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right” and the like, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the explanation and do not limit the present invention. Not what you want. In the following description, the term “rotating element” means any rotating body supported by a shaft. The rotating body may rotate with the shaft or may rotate with respect to the shaft. Examples of the rotating body include a roller, a gear, and a cam, but other rotating bodies may be used as the rotating element. In the following description, the term “wall” that supports the rotating element may be the wall of the rotating element assembly housing that surrounds the rotating element, and may be any device in which the rotating element assembly is incorporated. It may be a wall. Alternatively, the “wall” may be any support wall that supports the rotating element. In the following description, the term “sheet” means copy paper, coated paper, OHP sheet, cardboard, postcard, tracing paper, and other sheet materials that are subjected to an image forming process. The term “sheet leading edge” means the edge of the sheet positioned at the leading edge in the sheet conveyance direction. The terms “upstream”, “downstream” and similar terms used in the following description mean “upstream”, “downstream” and similar concepts in the sheet conveyance direction.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the principle of a rotating element assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rotating element assembly of FIG. 1 is used, for example, as a transport device or a part of a transport device for transporting sheets and other articles, but in other embodiments, the driving force is transmitted to other devices. It may be used as a drive device for Alternatively, the rotating element assembly may be used as any device that utilizes the rotation of the rotating element to achieve a predetermined purpose.

  A rotating element assembly 700 shown in FIG. 1 includes a motor 710 used as a drive source, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 720, and a drive unit 730 and a driven unit 740 that are at least partially accommodated in the casing 720. Including. In the present embodiment, the driven portion 740 is described as a member to be replaced. For example, when the driven unit 740 applies a force in the transport direction D to a stationary object, the driven unit 740 is likely to be worn by friction with the object. When the rotating element assembly 700 is used in such an environment, the follower 740 is preferably configured to be easily replaced.

  The drive unit 730 includes a shaft 731 that passes through the first side wall 721 of the housing 720 along the conveyance direction D and protrudes toward the motor 710 side. A first gear 711 is attached to the shaft of the motor 710. A second gear 732 that meshes with the first gear 711 is attached to the end of the shaft 731. The 1st side wall part 721 supports the shaft 731 rotatably. The drive unit 730 further includes a cylindrical roller 733 for conveying sheets and other articles. The roller 733 rotates integrally with the shaft 731. The driving unit 730 further includes a third gear 734 disposed between the first side wall 721 and the roller 733. The third gear 734 is attached to the shaft 731 and rotates integrally with the shaft 731.

  The rotating element assembly 700 further includes an idle gear 722 disposed within the housing 720. The idle gear 722 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 723 that protrudes inward from the first side wall portion 721.

  The driven portion 740 is detachable from the first side wall portion 721 and the shaft 741 extending between the first side wall portion 721 and the second side wall portion 724 of the housing 720 formed to face the first side wall portion 721. And a cylindrical roller 743 for conveying sheets and other articles. In this embodiment, the roller 743 is used as a rotating element to be replaced. One end portion of the shaft 741 is supported by the support element 742, and the other end portion is accommodated in a groove portion 725 formed in the second side wall portion 724. The support element 742 engages with the first side wall portion 721 as will be described later. When the engagement between the support element 742 and the first side wall portion 721 is released, the driven portion 740 is movable along the groove portion 725 toward the opening portion of the housing 2. As a result, the driven unit 740 is removed from the housing 2. Instead of the groove portion 725, the second side wall portion 724 may have the same shape as the first side wall portion 721, and the support element 742 may be detachably attached to the second side wall portion 724.

  The follower 740 further includes a fourth gear 744 disposed between the support element 742 and the roller 743. The fourth gear 744 meshes with the idle gear 722 and rotates integrally with the shaft 741. Further, the roller 743 supported by the shaft 741 rotates together with the shaft 741. Thus, the driving unit 730 and the driven unit 740 are rotated by the operation of the motor 710.

  FIG. 2 partially shows the first side wall portion 721. The 1st side wall part 721 is demonstrated, referring FIG. 1 together with FIG.

  The first side wall portion 721 is formed with a substantially U-shaped first cutout portion 750 cut out downward from the upper edge 726 of the first side wall portion 721. The support element 742 is detachably attached to the first cutout portion 750. The first notch 750 extends in the depth direction of the first notch 750 and faces the first edge 751 and the second edge 752 and the lower end of the first edge 751 and the second edge 752. It is formed by a bottom edge 753 extending between the lower ends. A second notch 754 is formed at a substantially intermediate position between the first edge 751 and the second edge 752. These second cutout portions 754 face each other and expand in the width direction of the first cutout portion 750.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support element 742 that is detachably attached to the first cutout portion 750 of the first side wall portion 721. The support element 742 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in conjunction with FIG.

  The support element 742 molded from an elastically deformable resin material into a substantially U shape generally includes a first deformable portion 761 and a second deformable portion 762 that extend in the vertical direction, and a lower end of the first deformable portion 761 and a second deformable portion. 2 including a base portion 763 connected to the lower end of the deformable portion 762. When the user applies a force so that the upper end portions of the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 are close to each other, the lower ends of the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 that are connected to the base portion 763 are moved. The first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 rotate about the shaft.

  The base portion 763 includes a support portion 764 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The support portion 764 is formed with a substantially D-shaped hole 765 that passes through the support portion 764. The end of the shaft 741 is fitted into the hole 765. As a result, the shaft 741 is suitably supported by the support element 742.

  A substantially rectangular parallelepiped projecting portion 766 projects from the outer peripheral surfaces of the first deforming portion 761 and the second deforming portion 762. The support element 742 further includes a pair of protrusions 767 that extend along the outer peripheral surfaces of the first deformation portion 761, the second deformation portion 762, and the base portion 763, below the protrusion 766. A groove 768 is formed between the pair of protrusions 767. The first edge 751, the second edge 752, and the bottom edge 753 described with reference to FIG. 2 are inserted into the groove 768. The first deformation portion 761 and the second deformation portion 762 include a claw portion 769 that protrudes from the groove portion 768. The claw portion 769 is engaged with the second notch portion 754 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support element 742 attached to the first wall 721. The support element 742 is further described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIG.

  The outer peripheral contour of the support element 742 is complementary to the contour of the first cutout portion 750 formed in the first side wall portion 721. Accordingly, when the support element 742 is inserted into the first notch 750, the first edge 751, the second edge 752, and the bottom edge 753 are inserted into the groove 768. When the support element 742 is completely fitted into the first notch 750, the lower surface of the protrusion 766 of the support element 742 contacts the upper edge 726 of the first side wall 721. Upper end portions of the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 protrude upward with respect to the upper edge 726 of the first side wall portion 721. The user can elastically deform the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 so as to approach each other by pinching the upper end portions of the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762. In the following description, the user does not apply force to the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762, and the position of the first deformable portion 761 along the first edge 751 of the first notch 750 and / or the first The position of the second deforming portion 762 along the two edge portions 752 is referred to as a first position for convenience. Further, the user applies a force to the first deformable portion 761 and / or the second deformable portion 762, and the position of the first deformable portion 761 separated from the first edge 751 of the first notch 750 and / or the second. The position of the second deformation portion 762 that is separated from the edge portion 752 is referred to as a second position for convenience.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support element 742 including the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 in the first position, and FIG. 6 shows the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion in the second position. 7B is a cross-sectional view of support element 742 with 762. FIG. The deformation of the support element 742 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 can be elastically rotated from the first position to the second position around the connection portion with the base portion 763. . When the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 are in the first position, the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 respectively follow the first edge portion 751 and the second edge portion 752 and perform the first deformation. The first edge portion 751 and the second edge portion 752 are inserted into the groove portion 768 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the portion 761 and the second deformation portion 762. Further, a triangular plate-like claw portion 769 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of each of the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 is in a second notch 754 formed in the first edge portion 751 and the second edge portion 752. Protrusively. As a result, the first side wall portion 721 and the support element 742 are engaged with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the user applies a force F to the upper end portion of the first deformable portion 761 and the upper end portion of the second deformable portion 762, the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 respectively It rotates so that it may separate from the 1st edge part 751 and the 2nd edge part 752. As a result, the first edge portion 751 and the second edge portion 752 are detached from the groove portions 768 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first deformation portion 761 and the second deformation portion 762. Similarly, the claw portion 769 is detached from the second cutout portion 754. Thereafter, when the user lifts the support element 742 upward, the support element 742 is removed from the first side wall portion 721.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the claw portion 769 is a plate member having a substantially right triangle shape. The outer peripheral contour of the claw portion 769 includes a contact edge extending in the horizontal direction with respect to the first deformation part 761 and the second deformation part 762 in the first position, and the first deformation part 761 and the second deformation part from the tip of the contact edge. An inclined edge extending toward 762. The contact edge is in contact with an edge part that forms the upper boundary of the second notch 754. In the process in which the support element 742 is inserted into the first cutout portion 750, the first and second edge portions 751 and 752 are brought into contact with each other, and the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 are moved to the second position. Force F is generated. As a result, the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 rotate elastically so as to approach each other. When the claw portion 769 reaches the second notch portion 754, the force F disappears, and the first deformable portion 761 and the second deformable portion 762 elastically return to the first position. As a result, the claw portion 769 engages with the second notch portion 754. Thus, the user can attach the support element 742 to the first side wall portion 721 relatively easily.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shaft 741 and the roller 743 supported by the support element 742 and the second side wall portion 724 of the housing 720. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shaft 741 and the roller 743 shown in FIG. The shaft 741 and the roller 743 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8.

  The shaft 741 includes a first portion 771 that is non-rotatably supported by the support element 742 and the second side wall portion 724, and a second portion 772 that is rotatably supported by the first portion 771. The first portion 771 disposed on the support element 742 side includes a first end portion 773 fitted into a hole 765 formed in the support element 742 and an inner circle formed adjacent to the first end portion 773. Plate 774a. The first end 773 is formed as a column having a cross-sectional shape complementary to the hole 765. The first end 773 is fitted into the hole 765 of the support element 742, whereby the first portion 771 is supported by the support element 742 so as not to rotate. In the present embodiment, the first end 773 has a substantially D-shaped cross section, but in other embodiments, the first end 773 may have any non-circular cross section. Alternatively, the first end 773 may be non-rotatably connected to the support element 742 using a key and keyway combination or other suitable structure.

  The first portion 771 disposed on the second side wall portion 724 side includes a second end portion 775 inserted into a groove portion 725 formed in the second side wall portion 724 and an inner disk connected to the second portion 772. 774b and a connecting shaft 776 extending between the second end 775 and the inner disc 774b. A base end portion of the connection shaft 776 adjacent to the second end portion 775 is formed with a large diameter, and the shaft 741 is positioned in the axial direction.

  The second portion 772 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Both end portions of the second portion 772 are fitted to the inner disks 774a and 774b of the first portion 771, and are rotatably connected to the first portion 771. A roller 743 and a fourth gear 744 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the second portion 772. The roller 743 and the fourth gear 744 rotate integrally with the second portion 772. For example, the roller 743 is formed of a material suitable for an article to be conveyed. For example, when the rotating element assembly 700 is used to transport a sheet material such as paper or OHP, the roller 743 is formed from a material such as rubber or cork. In the present embodiment, the fourth gear 744 is used as a transmission member for transmitting the driving force for rotating the roller 743 to the shaft 741, but a pulley or other suitable transmission member is used instead of the third gear. May be used. Thus, the second portion 772 is suitably rotated while supporting the roller 743.

  FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus in which the rotating element assembly 700 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is incorporated. The image forming apparatus in FIG. 9 is a printer. However, in another embodiment, the image forming apparatus may be a copier, a facsimile, a multifunction machine having these functions, or another apparatus capable of forming an image on a sheet.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 2, a tray 510 that projects to the front side of the housing 2, and a cassette 300 that is disposed below the tray 510. The housing 2 accommodates various devices necessary for forming an image on a sheet (for example, elements constituting an image forming unit described later). The tray 510 is rotatably attached to the housing 2 with the lower edge of the tray 510 as an axis. As described above, the tray 510 shown in FIG. 9 is in a protruding position protruding from the housing 2. The user can place the sheet on the tray 510 in the protruding position. The sheet on the tray 510 is fed toward an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet by a sheet feeding structure described later. When the user rotates the tray 510 so as to approach the housing 2 from the protruding position, the tray 510 is accommodated in the recessed area 21 formed in the housing 2. The cassette 300 is formed to be detachable with respect to the housing 2. The user can pull out the cassette 300 from the housing 2 to the front side and store the sheet in the cassette 300. After the desired sheet is stored in the cassette 300, the user can insert the cassette 300 into the housing 2. In the following description, the sheet placed on the tray 510 is referred to as a first sheet for convenience, and the sheet accommodated in the cassette 300 is referred to as a second sheet for convenience. The image forming apparatus 1 can selectively convey the first sheet and the second sheet to the image forming unit and form a toner image on the sheet.

  The operation panel 22 is disposed above the tray 510. The user can operate the operation panel 22 to cause the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a desired operation. The operation panel 22 may include a button for adjusting the density of the toner image, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 forms a toner image on a sheet according to a user input to the operation panel 22 and an image signal (a signal including information on an image to be printed) sent from an external device (for example, a personal computer). .

  The sheet fed from the tray 510 or the cassette 300 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 23 formed on the upper surface of the housing 2 after the toner image is formed by the image forming unit. A substantially triangular prism-shaped space is formed on the upper side of the sheet discharge tray 23, and sheets subjected to image forming processing are accumulated in the space.

  FIG. 10 schematically shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9 in conjunction with FIG.

  The sheet conveyed from the tray 510 or the cassette 300 is guided to a conveyance path formed in the housing 2, and is supplied to an image forming unit 410 that forms a toner image on the sheet and a fixing unit 430 that fixes the toner image on the sheet. Be transported. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 23 through the discharge unit 450.

  The transport path is a first paper feed transport path that extends toward the back wall 24 of the housing 2 with a paper feed structure 520 that pulls the first sheet into the housing 2 and feeds the first sheet to the image forming unit 410. 530 and a second paper feed conveyance path 310 extending upward from a downstream end (right end in FIG. 10) of the cassette 300 positioned below the first paper feed conveyance path 530. The first paper feed transport path 530 and the second paper feed transport path 310 join upstream of the registration roller pair 320 that feeds the sheet to the image forming section 410 in synchronization with the image forming process of the image forming section 410.

  The conveyance path further includes a section from the registration roller pair 320 to the fixing unit 430, a main conveyance path 330 that guides the sheet, a section from the fixing unit 430 to the discharge unit 450, and a discharge conveyance path 340 that guides the sheet. The image forming unit 410 forms a toner image on the sheet moving along the main conveyance path 330, and the fixing unit 430 fixes the toner image on the sheet. When the user causes the image forming apparatus 1 to perform single-sided printing, the discharge unit 450 discharges the sheet sent from the fixing unit 430 to the discharge conveyance path 340 to the outside of the housing 2. The discharged sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray 23.

  When the user causes the image forming apparatus 1 to perform double-sided printing, the discharge unit 450 sends the sheet sent from the fixing unit 430 to the discharge conveyance path 340 out of the case 2 by a predetermined amount, and then enters the case 2. Perform a pullback switchback operation. The conveyance path further includes a return conveyance path 350 for guiding the sheet pulled back by the discharge unit 450. The return conveyance path 350 extends from the discharge portion 450 toward the back wall 24 of the housing 2 and then extends downward. Thereafter, the return transport path 350 extends toward the second paper feed transport path 310 and joins the second paper feed transport path 310.

  Conveyance rollers for conveying the sheet guided to these conveyance paths at appropriate positions of the first sheet conveyance path 530, the second sheet conveyance path 310, the main conveyance path 330, the discharge conveyance path 340, and the return conveyance path 350 A pair 360 is provided.

  As described above, the first sheet placed on the tray 510 is fed into the first paper feed conveyance path 530 by the paper feed structure 520. The sheet feeding structure 520 is disposed so as to be able to come into contact with the lift plate 521 that pushes up the leading edge of the sheet on the tray 510 that is inclined downward toward the housing 2, and the leading edge of the sheet pushed up by the lift plate 521. A sheet feeding roller 522 and a separation pad 523 disposed below the sheet feeding roller 522. When the sheet feed roller 522 rotates, the sheet passes between the sheet feed roller 522 and the separation pad 523 and is fed into the first sheet feed conveyance path 530. The separation pad 523 gives a frictional force to the sheet passing between the paper feed roller 522 and the separation pad 523. Therefore, when the paper feed roller 522 tries to send a plurality of sheets to the first paper feed conveyance path 530, the separation pad 523 is other than the uppermost sheet (a sheet that directly contacts the paper feed roller 522). Friction force acting in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction is applied to the sheet, and the conveyance into the first paper feed conveyance path 530 is hindered. As a result, the sheets are fed one by one into the first paper feed conveyance path 530.

  Another cassette 300 used as another paper supply source includes a lift plate 305 that supports sheets. The lift plate 305 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the sheet in the cassette 300. Above the downstream end of the lift plate 305, the rotating element assembly 700 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is incorporated. In the present embodiment, the roller 743 of the driven portion 740 of the rotating element assembly 700 is used as a pickup roller for taking out a sheet from the cassette 300. The roller 733 of the driving unit 730 is used as a paper feed roller that supplies the sheet sent from the roller 743 to the image forming unit 410 through the second paper feed conveyance path 310. The roller 743 contacts the leading edge of the sheet pushed up by the lift plate 305. As a result, when the roller 743 rotates, the sheet is sent downstream from the cassette 300. Here, since the roller 743 plays a role of conveying a stationary sheet on the lift plate 305, the abrasion of the roller 743 is accelerated relatively quickly due to friction between the peripheral surface of the roller 743 and the sheet. Therefore, the structure and / or principle of the rotating element assembly 700 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is preferably used to provide a relatively easy replacement operation for the roller 743 by the user.

  Downstream of the roller 743 of the driven unit 740, a roller 733 of the driving unit 730 and a separating roller 313 positioned below the roller 733 are disposed. The roller 743 of the driven unit 740 feeds the sheet between the roller 733 of the driving unit 730 and the roller 313. The roller 733 of the drive unit 730 rotates to send the sheet further downstream. On the other hand, the rolling roller 313 rotates in a direction to return the sheet to the cassette 300. The rolling roller 313 is connected to the gear mechanism including the first gear 711, the second gear 732, the third gear 734, the idle gear 722, and the fourth gear 744 described with reference to FIG. You may rotate in the direction to return to 300. When the roller 743 of the driven unit 740 sends out a plurality of sheets, the separation roller 313 pushes sheets other than the uppermost sheet (the sheet that directly contacts the roller 733 of the driving unit 730) back to the cassette 300. As a result, the sheets are fed one by one to the second paper feed conveyance path 310.

  The sheet sent to the second paper feed conveyance path 310 is sent out toward the registration roller pair 320 by a conveyance roller pair 360 provided in the second paper feed conveyance path 310. The above-described return conveyance path 350 joins upstream of the conveyance roller pair 360 of the second paper feed conveyance path 310. Accordingly, the conveyance roller pair 360 of the second paper feed conveyance path 310 also sends out the sheet supplied to the second paper feed conveyance path 310 through the return conveyance path 350 to the registration roller pair 320 in the same manner. The first paper feed transport path 530 and the second paper feed transport path 310 merge upstream of the registration roller pair 320. Accordingly, the registration roller pair 320 supplies the sheet conveyed through the first paper feed conveyance path 530 or the second paper feed conveyance path 310 to the image forming unit 410.

  The image forming unit 410 includes a yellow toner container 900Y, a magenta toner container 900M, a cyan toner container 900C, and a black toner container 900K. Below these containers, developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to the respective colors of YMCK are disposed. The image forming unit 410 forms an image on a sheet using toner stored in the toner containers 900Y, 900M, 900C, and 900K.

  The image forming unit 410 includes a photoconductor drum 17 (a photoconductor on which a latent image is formed by an electrophotographic method) that carries a toner image of each color. As the photosensitive drum 17, a photosensitive drum using an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material can be used. The photosensitive drums 17 are supplied with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners from the toner containers 900Y, 900M, 900C, and 900K, respectively.

  Around the photosensitive drum 17, a charger 16, a developing device 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K), a transfer device (transfer roller) 19 and a cleaning device 18 are arranged. The charger 16 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 17. The surface of the photosensitive drum 17 after charging is exposed by the exposure unit 94 to form an electrostatic latent image. For example, the exposure unit 94 irradiates a laser beam based on an image signal (a signal including image information) from an external device. The developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K develop the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 17 using the toners of the respective colors supplied from the toner containers 900Y, 900M, 900C, and 900K, respectively ( Visualization). The transfer roller 19 forms a nip portion with the photosensitive drum 17 across the intermediate transfer belt 921, and primarily transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 17 onto the intermediate transfer belt 921. The cleaning device 18 cleans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 17 after the toner image is transferred.

  Each developing device 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K includes a developing case 20. A two-component developer having a magnetic carrier and toner is accommodated in the developing case 20. Further, in the developing case 20, two stirring rollers 11 and 12 (developer stirring members) are rotatably arranged in parallel near the bottom of the developing case 20 with the longitudinal direction as an axial direction.

  A developer circulation path is set on the inner bottom surface of the developing case 20, and the stirring rollers 11 and 12 are disposed in the circulation path. A partition wall 201 erected from the bottom of the developing case 20 is provided in the axial direction between the stirring rollers 11 and 12. The partition wall 201 divides the circulation path. A circulation path is formed so as to circulate around the partition wall 201. The two-component developer is charged while being stirred and conveyed on the circulation path by the stirring rollers 11 and 12.

  The two-component developer circulates in the developing case 20 while being stirred by the stirring rollers 11 and 12, and the toner is charged. The two-component developer on the stirring roller 11 is attracted and conveyed by the magnetic roller 14 located on the upper side. The sucked two-component developer forms a magnetic brush (not shown) on the magnetic roller 14. The layer thickness of the magnetic brush is regulated by the doctor blade 13. The toner layer on the developing roller 15 is formed by a potential difference between the magnetic roller 14 and the developing roller 15. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed by the toner layer.

  The exposure unit 94 includes various optical system devices such as a light source, a polygon mirror, a reflection mirror, and a deflection mirror. Light based on an image signal is provided on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 17 provided in each of the image forming units 410. To form an electrostatic latent image.

  The intermediate transfer unit 92 includes an intermediate transfer belt 921, a driving roller 922, and a driven roller 923. On the intermediate transfer belt 921, toner images are overcoated from a plurality of photosensitive drums 17 (primary transfer). The overcoated toner image is secondarily transferred to a sheet supplied from the cassette 300 or the tray 510 by the secondary transfer unit 98. A driving roller 922 and a driven roller 923 that rotate the intermediate transfer belt 921 are rotatably supported by the housing 2.

  The sheet fed from the registration roller 320 is supplied between the intermediate transfer belt 921 and the transfer roller 981 constituting the secondary transfer unit 98. Thereafter, the sheet is sent to the fixing unit 430 while carrying the toner image transferred by the secondary transfer unit 98.

  The fixing unit 430 includes a heating roller 432 including a heater 431 and a pressure roller 433 pressed against the heating roller 432. The sheet sent out from the secondary transfer unit 98 is sent between the heating roller 432 and the pressure roller 433. The toner on the sheet is melted by receiving heat energy from the heating roller 432 and is fixed to the sheet by receiving pressure from the pressure roller 433. After fixing the toner on the sheet, the fixing unit 430 sends the sheet to the discharge unit 450 via the discharge conveyance path 340.

  The discharge unit 450 includes a discharge roller pair 451. The discharge roller pair 451 is formed so as to be capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation. Thereby, the above-described switchback operation is achieved.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view around the rotating element assembly 700 incorporated in the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rotating element assembly 700 incorporated in the image forming apparatus 1 as seen from below. The rotating element assembly 700 incorporated in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 together with FIGS. 11 and 12.

  In the present embodiment, the casing 720 of the rotating element assembly 700 incorporated in the image forming apparatus 1 opens downward. Rollers 743 and 733 partially protrude from the opening of the housing 720 and come into contact with the conveyed sheet.

  In order to replace the roller 743, the user pulls out the cassette 300 from the housing 2. As a result, a space is created below the rotating element assembly 700. The user can operate the support element 742 that extends the arm into the space and supports the roller 743. The user can remove the driven portion 740 from the housing 720 of the rotating element assembly 700 by elastically rotating the first deforming portion 761 and the second deforming portion 762 of the support element 742 so as to approach each other. . Thereafter, the replacement of the worn roller 743 is completed by attaching a new follower 740 to the housing 720.

  The present invention can be applied to various devices that perform a predetermined operation using the rotation of a rotating body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 410 ... Image forming part 721 ... 1st side wall part (wall part)
750 ... 1st notch 741 ... Shaft 742 ... Support element 743 ... Roller 744 ... 4th gear 751 ... 1st edge 752 ... 2nd edge 753 ..Bottom edge 754 ... second notch 761 ... first deformation 762 ... second deformation 763 ... base 765 ... hole 768 ... groove 769 ... nail Part 771... First part 772... Second part

Claims (7)

A wall with an edge forming a first notch of a predetermined depth;
A support element detachably attached to the first notch,
A shaft supported by the support element;
A rotating element supported by the shaft,
The rotating element assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element includes a deformable portion that is elastically deformable between a first position along the edge and a second position spaced from the edge. The edge includes a first edge and a second edge facing each other,
The deformation portion includes a first deformation portion along the first edge at the first position, and a second deformation portion along the second edge at the first position,
The rotating element assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion partially protrude from the wall portion. The first notch is formed by the first edge, the second edge, and a bottom edge extending between the first edge and the second edge,
The support element includes a base portion that extends between an end portion of the first deformable portion and an end portion of the second deformable portion and extends along the bottom edge,
3. The rotating element according to claim 2, wherein the first deforming portion and the second deforming portion are elastically rotated from the first position to the second position about a connecting portion with the base. Assembly. The base includes a support portion in which a hole into which the shaft is inserted is formed,
The shaft includes a first portion that is non-rotatably inserted into the hole portion, and a second portion that is rotatably connected to the first portion,
4. The rotating element assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second part includes a transmission member that supports the rotating element and transmits a driving force for rotating the rotating element.   5. The rotating element assembly according to claim 1, wherein a groove portion into which the edge portion is inserted is formed in the deformable portion. A second notch is formed at the edge,
6. The rotating element assembly according to claim 5, wherein the deforming portion is formed with a claw portion that protrudes from the groove portion and engages with the second notch portion. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A rotating element assembly for supplying the sheet to the image forming unit,
The rotating element assembly comprises:
A wall portion formed with a first notch;
A support element detachably attached to the first notch,
A shaft supported by the support element;
A rotating element supported by the shaft,
The support element is elastic between a first position that forms the first notch and extends along an edge extending in the depth direction of the first notch, and a second position that is separated from the edge. An image forming apparatus comprising a deformable deformable portion.

Images