Fixing member and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10877429-B2
Application number	US-201916699223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2019
Priority date	Nov 30, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A fixing member includes a bolt member and a spacer annular in shape. The bolt member includes a base portion, a protruding portion protruding from the base portion, and a threaded portion at a tip of the protruding portion. The spacer is attached to the protruding portion in a slidable manner between the base portion and the threaded portion. A first member is sandwiched between the base portion and the spacer. A second member different from the first member is sandwiched between the spacer and a nut member threadedly engaged with the threaded portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a first member including a bottom plate;
a second member including an elastic body and a support plate that supports the first member with the elastic body interposed therebetween and movably holding the first member; and
a fixing member configured to fix the first member to the second member, wherein
the fixing member includes:
a bolt member; and
a spacer annular in shape, wherein
the bolt member includes:
a base portion;
a protruding portion protruding from the base portion; and
a threaded portion located at a tip of the protruding portion,

the spacer is attached to the protruding portion in a slidable manner between the base portion and the threaded portion;
the second member is sandwiched between the base portion and the spacer, and
the first member is sandwiched between the spacer and a nut member threadedly engaged with the threaded portion.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the protruding portion has a diameter of a first length,
the threaded portion includes a male thread,
the male thread has a root diameter of a second length longer than the first length and an outer diameter of a third length longer than the second length,
the spacer includes a first female thread,
the first female thread of the spacer has an inner diameter of the second length and a root diameter of the third length,
the nut member includes a second female thread, and
the second female thread of the nut member has an inner diameter of the second length and a root diameter of the third length.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the spacer includes a recess extending from the threaded portion to the base portion, and
the threaded portion is capable of being received by the recess.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the base portion includes a base end surface, a front end surface, and an engaging part, the engaging part being to be engaged with a tool,
the base end surface and the front end surface each intersect an axial direction,
the axial direction is a direction along an axis of the bolt member passing through the threaded portion and the base portion,
the base end surface is located at a position more distant from the threaded portion than the front end surface, and
the engaging part is located in the base end surface.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the support plate has a first hole portion and a second hole portion smaller than the first hole portion,
the first hole portion and the second hole portion each penetrate the support plate in an axial direction,
the axial direction is a direction along an axis of the bolt member passing through the threaded portion and the base portion,
the first hole portion and the second hole portion communicate with each other in a direction that intersects the axial direction,
the spacer is allowed to pass through the first hole portion and is not allowed to pass through the second hole portion, and
the base portion is not allowed to pass through neither of the first hole portion nor the second hole portion.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the bottom plate has a third hole, and
the nut member is fixed to the bottom plate so as to overlap with the third hole in the axial direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the spacer includes a protrusion having a diameter smaller than that of the second hole portion and protruding toward the second hole portion.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the bottom plate has a female thread, and
the female thread functions as the nut member.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a conveyance unit including a bottom plate and configured to convey a sheet,
a lifting and lowering unit including an elastic body and a support plate, and configured to lift and lower the conveyance unit, the support plate supporting the conveyance unit with the elastic body therebetween,
a fixing member configured to fix the conveyance unit to the lifting and lowering unit, and
a nut member to be attached onto the fixing member, wherein
the fixing member includes:
a bolt member; and
a spacer annular in shape,

the bolt member includes:
a base portion;
a protruding portion protruding from the base portion; and
a threaded portion located at a tip of the protruding portion,

the spacer is attached to the protruding portion in a slidable manner between the base portion and the threaded portion,
the support plate is sandwiched between the base portion and the spacer,
the bottom plate is sandwiched between the spacer and the nut member threadedly engaged with the threaded portion, and
the length of the elastic body is maintained at a predetermined length due to the spacer between the bottom plate and the support plate.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the support plate has a first hole portion and a second hole portion smaller than the first hole portion,
the first hole portion and the second hole portion each penetrate the support plate in an axial direction,
the axial direction is a direction along an axis of the bolt member passing through the threaded portion and the base portion,
the first hole portion and the second hole portion communicate with each other in a direction that intersects the axial direction,
the spacer is allowed to pass through the first hole portion and is not allowed to pass through the second hole portion, and
the base portion is not allowed to pass through neither of the first hole portion nor the second hole portion.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the bottom plate has a third hole, and
the nut member is fixed to the bottom plate so as to overlap with the third hole in the axial direction.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the spacer includes a protrusion having a diameter smaller than that of the second hole portion and protruding toward the second hole portion.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the bottom plate has a female thread, and
the female thread functions as the nut member.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Yamasaki Shunsuke

Classifications

• F16B37/042

  locking by rotation · CPC title

• F16B35/041 Primary

  Specially-shaped shafts (shape of thread F16B33/02) · CPC title

• B41J11/007 Primary

  Conveyor belts or like feeding devices · CPC title

• G03G21/1685

  for the fixing unit · CPC title

• F16B33/02

  Shape of thread; Special thread-forms ({F16B25/00 takes precedence; used to remove paint or dirt layers F16B35/007, F16B37/002}; used as screw-locking device F16B39/30) · CPC title