Drive force transmission device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016342137-A1
Application number	US-201514944641-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	May 21, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drive force transmission device includes a frame that supports therein plural gears transmitting a rotational drive force and that has a flat portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rotational drive force is transmitted. The drive force transmission device has an air channel that allows air sucked from an outside of the frame to pass therethrough so as to exhaust the air to the outside of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drive force transmission device comprising:
a frame that supports therein a plurality of gears transmitting a rotational drive force and that has a flat portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rotational drive force is transmitted, wherein the drive force transmission device has an air channel that allows air sucked from an outside of the frame to pass therethrough so as to exhaust the air to the outside of the frame.

2 . The drive force transmission device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame has one surface and another surface, wherein a plurality of air inlets are formed on a one surface side of the frame, wherein a single air outlet is formed on another surface side of the frame, and wherein the air channel has a continuous closed sectional shape that connects the plurality of air inlets to the single air outlet.

3 . The drive force transmission device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a lid member is provided, wherein a wall portion is provided so as to stand erect on the flat portion of the frame, wherein a recess portion having an opening is defined by the wall portion, and wherein the air channel is a closed structure formed by the recess portion and the lid member that is disposed on and joined to the wall portion on an opening side of the recess portion.

4 . The drive force transmission device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a plurality of air inlets and an air outlet are provided, and wherein at least one of the plurality of air inlets is disposed closer to the air outlet than the other air inlet of the plurality of air inlets or the other air inlets of the plurality of air inlets.

5 . The drive force transmission device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a lid member having an outer surface is provided, wherein the flat portion has a rear surface, and wherein the plurality of gears are disposed and supported at a position or positions further to a rear side than the rear surface of the flat portion where the air channel is formed and at a position or positions further to an outer side than the outer surface of the lid member for the air channel.

6 . The drive force transmission device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the air channel is formed in the frame formed of synthetic resin.

7 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body; the drive force transmission device according to claim 1 having an air outlet; a drive motor that rotates the plurality of gears of the drive force transmission device; a rotating body that is rotated by receiving the rotational drive force from the drive force transmission device; a filter member connected to the air outlet of the drive force transmission device; and an exhaust fan that exhausts the air having passed through the air channel of the drive force transmission device to an outside of the apparatus body through the filter member and the air outlet of the drive force transmission device.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Goda Toshihiro
• Iijima Chihiro
• Yagata Kazuyuki
• MIYAGAWA Shohei

Classifications

• G03G21/206 Primary

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title

• G03G15/09

  using magnetic brush · CPC title

• F16H57/027

  characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers · CPC title

• G03G21/1661 Primary

  means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus (G03G21/1604, G03G21/1642 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2221/1657

  transmitting mechanical drive power · CPC title