End member which allows transmission of rotary power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804551-B2
Application number	US-201615273236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Provided is an end member which allows appropriate transmission of rotary power, and smooth attachment and detachment with respect to an apparatus body. The end member includes a tubular bearing member and a shaft member that is held by the bearing member. The shaft member includes a turning shaft which moves in an axial line direction in accordance with turning about an axial line, a rotary power reception member which is arranged at one end of the turning shaft and includes an engagement member engaging with a drive shaft of an image forming apparatus body, and a regulation member which is pressed to engage with or be detached from the turning shaft or the rotary power reception member, whereby the engagement member switches between an engagement posture and a non-engagement posture with respect to the drive shaft

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end member to be arranged at an end of a columnar rotor mounted in an image forming apparatus body, the end member including:
a tubular bearing member; and
a shaft member that is held by the bearing member, wherein the shaft member includes:
a shaft which moves in an axial line direction,
a rotary power reception member which is arranged at one end of the shaft and includes an engagement member engaging with a drive shaft of the image forming apparatus body without inclination respect to rotational axis, and
a regulation member which is positioned to engage with or be separated from the shaft or the rotary power reception member,

wherein a position of the regulation member with respect to the shaft or the rotary power reception member is adjustable along the axial line direction such that the engagement member switches between an engagement posture and a non-engagement posture with respect to the drive shaft.

2. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the regulation member includes a first projection and the rotary power reception member includes a second projection, and wherein, in the engagement posture, the first projection is moved in the axial line direction to overlap with the second projection along the axial line direction so as to transmit rotary drive force from the drive shaft to the end member.

3. The end member according to claim 2 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are spaced apart in the axial line direction in the non-engagement posture such that rotary drive force is not transmitted.

4. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft member has a cylindrical shape.

5. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft member includes a rotary power transmission pin that transmits a rotary power applied from the drive shaft to the bearing member.

6. The end member according to claim 5 , wherein the shaft member includes a hole that extends radially about the shaft member to accommodate the rotary power transmission pin.

7. The end member according to claim 6 , wherein the regulation member includes a regulation shaft including a long hole elongated in the axial line direction and extending radially about the regulation shaft to accommodate the rotary power transmission pin.

8. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member extends radially outward from the rotary power reception member.

9. The end member according to claim 8 , wherein the rotary power reception member includes a pair of the engagement members extending in radially opposite directions.

10. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic member urges the shaft away from the bearing member in the axial line direction.

11. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the regulation member includes a frustoconical contact portion.

12. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is not inclined.

13. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the regulation member has a conical shape or a pyramid shape.

14. An end member to be arranged at an end of a columnar rotor mounted in an image forming apparatus body, the end member including:
a tubular bearing member; and
a shaft member that is held by the bearing member, wherein the shaft member includes:
a shaft which moves in an axial line direction,
a rotary power reception member which is arranged at one end of the shaft and includes an engagement member engaging with a drive shaft of the image forming apparatus body without inclination respect to rotational axis, and
a regulation member which as one with the bearing member and is positioned to engage with or be separated from the shaft or the rotary power reception member,

wherein a position of the regulation member with respect to the shaft or the rotary power reception member is adjustable along the axial line direction such that the engagement member switches between an engagement posture and a non-engagement posture with respect to the drive shaft.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Chem Corp

Inventors

• Ikeda Shuichi
• Matsuoka Yohei
• Iijima Shinichi
• Mitsumori Teruyuki
• Kato Daishi
• Takata Hiroshi

Classifications

• G03G21/186

  Axial couplings · CPC title

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G2221/1657

  transmitting mechanical drive power · CPC title

• G03G15/757 Primary

  Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears · CPC title

• G03G21/1846

  using a handle for carrying or pulling out of the main machine, legs of casings · CPC title