Drive device, image forming apparatus, and grease composition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9951862-B2
Application number	US-201514719471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A drive device includes a gear having a hole; a shaft that passes through the hole; and a grease composition that is held in a clearance between the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the hole. The gear rotates on a peripheral surface of the shaft. At least one of the gear and the shaft is made of a resin. The clearance is in a range of 10 to 110 μm. The grease composition contains a hydrocarbon base oil and lithium soap serving as a thickener. A weight ratio of the hydrocarbon base oil to the lithium soap is in a range of 94.5:5.5 to 96.0:4.0. A consistency of the grease composition is in a range of 360 to 400.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive device comprising:
a gear, a hole being present in the gear;
a shaft, configured to pass through the hole; and
a grease composition, in a clearance between the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the hole, wherein
the gear is configured to rotate on a peripheral surface of the shaft,
at least one of the gear and the shaft being made of a resin,
the clearance is in a range of 10 to 110 μm,
the grease composition includes a hydrocarbon base oil and lithium soap,
a weight ratio of the hydrocarbon base oil to the lithium soap is in a range of 94.5:5.5 to 96.0:4.0, and
a consistency of the grease composition is in a range of 360 to 400, wherein the grease composition includes olefin resin powder as a solid lubricant, and wherein the olefin resin powder is a polyethylene powder.

2. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is made of a stainless steel or a free-cutting steel.

3. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the gear is made of a polyacetal resin.

4. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein a kinematic viscosity of the hydrocarbon base oil is equal to or smaller than 20 mm 2 /s at 40° C.

5. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the grease composition held in the clearance contains a styrene thickener.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the drive device according to claim 1 .

7. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is made of a metal or an alloy.

8. The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of gears, the plurality of gears including the gear; and
a grease composition, held on a tooth flank of one of the plurality of gears, wherein a tooth flank of another of the plurality of gears is engaged with the one of the plurality of gears.

9. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the grease composition includes olefin resin powder that is substantially insoluble in the base oil.

10. The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the grease composition includes olefin resin powder that is dispersed in the base oil as solid particles.

Assignees

• Kabata Toshiyuki
• Seo Kumiko
• Ishida Masahiro
• Matsuda Naoki
• Tanaka Teruyoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kabata Toshiyuki
• Seo Kumiko
• Ishida Masahiro
• Matsuda Naoki
• Tanaka Teruyoshi

Classifications

• B65H2601/521

  Noise · CPC title

• B65H2402/46

  Table apparatus · CPC title

• C10N2040/04

  Oil-bath; Gear-boxes; Automatic transmissions; Traction drives · CPC title

• F16H55/17

  Toothed wheels (worm wheels F16H55/22; chain wheels F16H55/30) · CPC title

• C10M2205/046

  used as thickening agents · CPC title