Driving apparatus, image forming apparatus, method of driving control and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9436121-B2
Application number	US-201514918753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

There is provided a driving apparatus comprising: a driving unit configured to rotate a driving shaft; a speed setting unit for setting a rotational speed of the driving shaft; a driving shaft joint connected with the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft for transmitting driving-force to a driven apparatus, the driving shaft joint being fitted into a driven shaft joint connected with the driven apparatus that is made detachable; a rotational position detection unit configured to detect a predetermined rotational position of the driving shaft joint; and a driving control unit configured to control the driving unit; wherein upon the driven apparatus being detached, the driving control unit controls the driving unit to stop the rotating driving shaft based on a detection result of the rotational position detection unit after the speed setting unit sets the rotational speed of the driving shaft to be a first rotational speed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving apparatus comprising:
a driving unit configured to rotate a driving shaft;
a speed setting unit configured to set a rotational speed at which the driving unit rotates the driving shaft;
a driving shaft joint connected with the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft for transmitting driving-force to a driven apparatus, the driving shaft joint being fitted into a driven shaft joint connected with the driven apparatus that is made detachable;
a rotational position detection unit configured to detect a predetermined rotational position of the driving shaft joint; and
a driving control unit configured to control the driving unit; wherein
upon an instruction indicating that the driven apparatus will be detached being given to the driving control unit, the driving control unit controls the driving unit to stop the rotating driving shaft based on a detection result of the rotational position detection unit after the speed setting unit sets the rotational speed of the driving shaft to be a first rotational speed, the first rotational speed being less than a normal rotational speed of the driving shaft set in normal operation of the driven apparatus.

2. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driving unit is a DC motor.

3. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the DC motor has a brake function, and
upon the instruction indicating that the driven apparatus will be detached being given, the driving control unit has the brake function of the DC motor operate based on the detection result of the rotational position detection unit.

4. An image forming apparatus including the driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:
a tonner supply unit configured to supply toner to the driven apparatus; and
a residual amount detection unit configured to detect a residual amount of the toner in the tonner supply unit; wherein
the driven apparatus includes
a developing unit configured to develop an image by using the toner and
a toner outlet for ejecting redundant toner, and

upon the instruction indicating that the driven apparatus will be detached being given, the speed setting unit sets the rotational speed of the driving shaft to be a second rotational speed until the residual amount of the toner detected by the residual amount detection unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the second rotational speed being greater than the first rotational speed.

6. A method of driving control for a driving apparatus including
a driving unit configured to rotate a driving shaft, a driving shaft joint connected with the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft for transmitting driving-force to a driven apparatus, the driving shaft joint being fitted into a driven shaft joint connected with the driven apparatus that is made detachable, the method comprising the steps of:
setting a rotational speed at which the driving unit rotates the driving shaft to be a first rotational speed, the first rotational speed being less than a normal rotational speed of the driving shaft set in normal operation of the driven apparatus;
detecting a predetermined rotational position of the driving shaft joint; and
upon an instruction indicating that the driven apparatus will be detached being given, controlling the driving unit to stop the rotating driving shaft based on a detection result of the step of detecting.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for causing a computer to perform the method as claimed in claim 6 .

Assignees

• Yamaguchi Kohhei
• Iwasaki Hiroyuki
• Ishizaki Yusuke
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamaguchi Kohhei
• Iwasaki Hiroyuki
• Ishizaki Yusuke

Classifications

• G03G15/0806 Primary

  on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller (complete developer unit G03G15/0896) · CPC title

• H02H5/00

  Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal non-electric working conditions with or without subsequent reconnection (using simulators of the apparatus being protected H02H6/00; specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00) · CPC title

• G03G21/16 Primary

  Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G2215/0129

  horizontal medium transport path at the secondary transfer · CPC title