JP2011190922A - Drive transmission device and image forming device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive transmission device which supplies lubricants to drive transmission parts for a long period of time, and can prevent the wear, breakage or the like of drive transmission members, and an image forming device equipped with the drive transmission device. <P>SOLUTION: Drive is transmitted by circumferential faces 85a, 86a serving as the drive transmission parts which abut on each other, and the circumferential faces 85a, 86a have drive shafts 86 serving as a plurality of drive transmission members which are lubricated with the lubricants, and wheels 85. There are arranged lubricant guide members 28a, b serving as lubricant guide means which guide the lubricants 94 adhering to both-side faces being portions other than the circumferential face 85a of the wheel 85 to the circumferential face 85a. The lubricant guide members 28a, b guide the lubricants adhering to the both-side faces of the wheels 85 to the circumferential face 85a, and the lubricants 94 are used for the lubrication of the circumferential face 85a. Furthermore, since the lubricants 94 adhering to the both-side faces can be reduced, the lubricants 94 which are out of use due to scattering from the both-side faces can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive transmission device that transmits a driving force of a drive source to an image carrier or the like via a drive transmission member, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer that includes the drive transmission device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a drive transmission device that transmits a driving force of a drive source to an image carrier or the like of an image forming apparatus, a device using a gear transmission method or a friction transmission method is known. In the gear transmission system, the driving force is transmitted by a gear train in which a driving gear and a driven gear are combined. In general, rotational unevenness occurs for each meshing tooth, and this rotational unevenness is generated in an image forming apparatus. It will occur as uneven density. For this reason, stop the multi-stage deceleration and increase the reduction ratio by one-stage deceleration, so that the frequency at which rotation unevenness occurs for each tooth is high enough that human eyes cannot discriminate even if density unevenness occurs. Ingenuity has been made such as. Moreover, in order to reduce the rotation nonuniformity for every tooth, it is common to use a helical gear.
On the other hand, the friction transmission system transmits a driving force by friction between the peripheral surface of the driving roller and the peripheral surface of the driven roller. For example, the rotation of the motor is decelerated by rotating the peripheral surface of the small-diameter drive shaft connected to the motor of the drive source and the peripheral surface of the large-diameter wheel connected to the shaft of the image carrier. Thus, there is an advantage that uneven rotation due to the meshing of the gear does not occur.

  In each of the above transmission methods, the drive transmission member, which is a drive member or a driven member and which is in contact with or meshes with each other, transmits drive force, and is lubricated with a lubricant to prevent wear and rust. In particular, in the friction transmission method, the drive roller and the driven roller use metal materials such as tool steel and bearing materials (SK material, SKS material, SUJ material) whose peripheral surfaces are subjected to heat treatment such as quenching, and friction. In order to obtain a high coefficient of friction, the abutting portions of both transmitting parts are often used in a state of being always lubricated with a lubricant called traction grease or traction oil. A lubricant called traction grease or traction oil is used in a continuously variable speed reducer or the like, and can obtain a friction coefficient that is about 50% higher than that of a normal lubricant. For this reason, the power that can be transmitted can be set higher by about 50%. Also, a lubricant called traction grease or traction oil is a lubricant whose frictional force is increased based on the principle that the liquid is vitrified when subjected to a shearing force under a very high surface pressure of about 1 GPa (gigapascal). It is.

  In the gear transmission system and the friction transmission system, as a lubrication system that can efficiently supply the lubricant to the drive transmission unit, a system that provides a member for smoothing the lubricant (grease) facing the tooth tip of the gear (for example, Patent Document 1), a method of providing a lubricant reservoir (see, for example, Patent Document 2), a method of lifting up the lubricant (oil) by gear teeth (for example, see Patent Document 3), and the like are disclosed. Yes.

  However, when a relatively high-viscosity lubricant is used as the lubricant, if the lubricant is spread out at the meshing part of the gears or the contact part between the rollers and pushed out of the drive transmission part, It becomes difficult to use for lubrication of a drive transmission part.

  In particular, when grease is used as a lubricant, even if sufficient grease is applied to the drive transmission unit before starting to use the drive transmission device, the grease pushed out of the drive transmission unit As the shaft and driven shaft rotate, it scatters and collects in a dead space such as a corner inside the device. Since the grease collected in the dead space has a high viscosity, it cannot move and return to the lubricant reservoir, and the grease cannot be supplied to the drive transmission unit in a relatively short period of time. If the drive is continued in this state, it will drive in the absence of grease or in a state where the grease is insufficient, there is a risk of gear wear in the gear transmission system, and the roller surface may be damaged in the friction transmission system. May occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to supply a lubricant to the drive transmission unit for a longer period of time and to prevent the drive transmission member from being worn or damaged, and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with this.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a plurality of drive transmission members that transmit driving by a drive transmission section that abuts or meshes with each other, and the drive transmission section is lubricated by a lubricant. Lubricant guide means for guiding the lubricant adhering to the portion other than the drive transmission portion of the drive transmission member to the drive transmission portion is provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the drive transmission device according to the first aspect, the plurality of drive transmission members each transmit a driving force while rotating, and the lubricant guide means includes the plurality of drive transmission members. A lubricant guide member that guides the lubricant adhering to a portion other than the drive transmission portion in a direction facing away from the rotation axis of the drive transmission member at a position facing a portion other than the drive transmission portion of at least one of the drive transmission members. It is characterized by having.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the drive transmission device according to the second aspect, the lubricant guide member is gradually spaced from the portion other than the drive transmission portion of the drive transmission member in the rotational direction of the drive transmission member. It is a planar member comprised so that it may become narrow.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the drive transmission device according to any one of the second to third aspects, the lubricant is supplied by immersing an outer peripheral portion of at least one of the plurality of drive transmission members in the lubricant. It further comprises a lubricant supply means, and is in the rotational direction downstream of the drive transmission member immersed in the lubricant and is in contact with the other drive transmission member. Alternatively, the lubricant guide member is provided on the upstream side in the rotational direction from the meshing portion.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is the drive transmission device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein each of the plurality of drive transmission members is a gear.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the drive transmission device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, each of the plurality of drive transmission members has a circumferential surface in contact with each other, and a driving force is generated by friction between the circumferential surfaces. It is a friction wheel that transmits
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the drive transmission device of the sixth aspect, the lubricant is traction grease.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided the drive transmission device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and an image carrier that is rotationally driven by the drive transmission device.

  According to the present invention, the lubricant guide means guides the lubricant adhering to a portion other than the drive transmission unit to the drive transmission unit, and the lubricant is used for lubrication of the drive transmission unit. Moreover, since the lubricant adhering to parts other than the drive transmission part can be reduced, the lubricant scattered from parts other than the drive transmission part can be reduced. As a result, lubricant that adheres to parts other than the drive transmission part and is not used for lubrication of the drive transmission part, or lubricant that scatters from parts other than the drive transmission part and cannot be used for lubrication is reduced. In addition, there is an effect that the drive transmission portion can be lubricated with a lubricant for a longer period of time to prevent the drive transmission member from being worn or damaged.

1 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member driving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a photoconductor, a photoconductor drive unit, and the like provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photosensitive member driving unit and a reduction gear provided in the photosensitive member driving unit shown in FIG. The top view which looked at the lubricant guide member vicinity from the arrow D direction in FIG.3 (b). The front view which shows the attachment state of a lubricant guide member, and the function which guides a lubricant. (A) is the front view and top view which show an example of a lubricant guide member. (B) is the front view and top view which show another example of a lubricant guide member. The sectional side view which shows schematic structure of the speed reducer which concerns on a modification. It is a figure explaining the function of the lubricant guide member applied to the reduction gear of FIG. 7, (a) is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the main part of the reduction gear, (b) is a side view thereof. The sectional side view which shows schematic structure of the speed reducer which concerns on another modification. The front view which shows schematic structure of the principal part of the speed reducer explaining the effect | action of the lubricant guide member applied to the speed reducer of FIG.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, which is a multicolor image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image. The image forming apparatus 100 is a combination machine of a color laser printer and a facsimile machine, but may be another type of image forming apparatus such as a printer of another type, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine of a copying machine and a printer. . The image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming process based on an image signal corresponding to image information received from the outside. This is the same when the image forming apparatus 100 is used as a facsimile. The image forming apparatus 100 can form an image on a sheet-like recording medium using not only plain paper generally used for copying, but also OHP sheets, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, and envelopes. It is.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is a cylindrical photosensitive member that is a latent image carrier as a plurality of image carriers that can form images as images corresponding to colors separated into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. This is a tandem structure that adopts a tandem structure in which body drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK are arranged in parallel, in other words, a tandem image forming apparatus.

  The photoconductive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK have the same diameter, and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt 11 as a transfer conveyance belt that is an endless belt disposed almost in the center of the main body 99 of the image forming apparatus 100. They are arranged at equal intervals on the side, that is, on the image forming surface side.

  The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the A1 direction that is the moving direction of the transfer belt 11. The photoconductive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK are image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK that are image forming units as image forming units for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images, respectively. Is provided.

  The visible image, that is, the toner image formed on each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK is superimposed and transferred onto a transfer sheet that is a transfer medium that is a recording medium conveyed by the transfer belt 11 that moves in the arrow A1 direction. It has come to be.

  In the superimposing transfer to the transfer belt 11, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK are superimposed on the same position on the transfer paper in the process in which the transfer paper is moved in the A1 direction by the transfer belt 11. By applying voltage by transfer units 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK as transfer chargers disposed at positions facing the respective photoconductive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK with the transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween. , The timing is shifted from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the A1 direction, and the transfer is performed at a transfer position that is opposite to each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK and the transfer belt 11.

  The transfer belt 11 is an elastic belt whose entire layer is formed using an elastic member such as a rubber agent. The transfer belt 11 may be a single-layer elastic belt, an elastic belt using a part of the elastic belt as an elastic member, or a conventionally used fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, or polyimide resin. Or an inelastic belt may be used.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is a transfer conveyance device that includes four image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK, and is disposed to face the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK, and includes a transfer belt 11. And a transfer belt unit 10 as a certain belt unit.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is also transported from the sheet feeding device 61, a sheet feeding device 61 on which transfer paper transported between the photosensitive drums 20 </ b> Y, 20 </ b> M, 20 </ b> C, 20 </ b> BK and the transfer belt 11 is stacked. The recording sheet that has been fed toward the transfer portion between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK and the transfer belt 11 at a predetermined timing that matches the timing of toner image formation by the image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK. It has a registration roller pair 13 that feeds out, and a sensor (not shown) that detects that the leading edge of the transfer paper has reached the registration roller pair 13.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a fixing device 6 as a roller fixing type fixing unit for fixing the toner image onto the transfer paper onto which the toner image has been transferred, and the transfer paper that has passed through the fixing device 6 outside the main body 99. A paper discharge roller 7 for discharging, a paper discharge tray 17 disposed on the side of the main body 99 and for stacking transfer paper discharged to the outside of the main body 99 by the paper discharge roller 7, and yellow, magenta, And a toner bottle (not shown) as a toner hopper filled with cyan and black toners.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a CPU (not shown) and storage means such as a ROM and a RAM (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, image forming such as drive control of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK is performed. Control means 40 for controlling the overall operation of the apparatus 100 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer belt unit 10 includes a transfer inlet roller 72 that also serves as a driving roller as a driving member as a plurality of winding members around which the transfer belt 11 is wound in addition to the transfer belt 11. And a driven roller 73.

  The transfer belt unit 10 is also disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 and is disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 on the upstream side of the charge eliminator 74 in the A1 direction. A position shift detection sensor 75 configured to detect a pattern of each color formed on the transfer belt 11 in the position shift detection mode, and a transfer belt disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 downstream of the static eliminator 74 in the A1 direction. 11 has a cleaning device 18 as a transfer belt cleaning device provided with a transfer cleaning brush (not shown) for cleaning the surface.

  The transfer entrance roller 72 is rotationally driven by driving a motor as a drive source (not shown), and thereby the transfer belt 11 is rotationally driven in the A1 direction. The transfer entrance roller 72 is connected to a power source (not shown) and functions as a charging roller as a charging unit that charges the transfer belt 11 so that the transfer belt 11 electrostatically attracts the transfer paper. The driven roller 73 functions as a tension roller that urges the transfer belt 11 so that the transfer belt 11 is rotationally driven with a constant tension.

  The static eliminator 74 neutralizes the charge on the surface of the transfer belt 11 charged by the transfer entrance roller 72 so that the pattern, other toner, paper dust, and the like on the transfer belt 11 are easily removed by the cleaning device 18.

  The position shift detection sensor 75 detects the pattern of each color formed on the transfer belt 11 by each of the image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK in the position shift detection mode, and respectively detects the image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK. The misalignment of the image forming position by each is read. Based on the read position deviation, the image forming positions by the image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK are adjusted by the control unit 40 so that the position deviation is eliminated. A reflection type photo sensor or a transmission type photo sensor is used as the positional deviation detection sensor 75.

The fixing device 6 includes a fixing roller 62 that is a heating roller having a heat source (not shown), and a pressure roller 63 that is pressed against the fixing roller 62, and adds a transfer sheet carrying a toner image to the fixing roller 62. By passing the toner image through a fixing portion that is a pressure contact portion with the pressure roller 63, the carried toner image is fixed on the surface of the transfer paper by the action of heat and pressure.
The sheet feeding device 61 includes a paper feed tray 15 that is a paper feed cassette on which transfer papers are stacked, and a paper feed roller 16 that feeds transfer papers stacked on the paper feed tray 15.

  Regarding the image stations 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60BK, the configuration will be described as a representative of the configuration of the image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y. Since the configuration of the other image station is substantially the same, in the following description, for the sake of convenience, a reference numeral corresponding to the reference symbol assigned to the configuration of the image station 60Y is attached to the configuration of the other image station. Further, detailed description will be omitted as appropriate, and those with Y, M, C, and K at the end of the reference numerals are configurations for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images, respectively. Will be shown.

  The image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y has a cleaning unit for cleaning the transfer device 12Y and the photosensitive drum 20Y around the photosensitive drum 20Y along a rotation direction B1 which is a clockwise direction in the drawing. A cleaning device 70Y, a charging device 30Y as a charging unit for charging the photosensitive drum 20Y to a high voltage, and a developing device 50Y as a developing unit for developing the photosensitive drum 20Y. is doing.

  The image station 60Y is also disposed above the photosensitive drum 20Y and serves as an optical writing device that is a writing unit that exposes the photosensitive drum 20Y at a position between the charging device 30Y and the developing device 50Y in the direction B1. It has an optical scanning device 8Y as a writing device. The optical scanning device 8Y scans and exposes the surface to be scanned formed by the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y to form an electrostatic latent image, which is a laser beam as a laser beam based on an image signal. LY is emitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image station 60Y also includes a motor 81Y as a drive source for rotationally driving the photoreceptor drum 20Y, and a photoreceptor as a drive transmission device that rotationally drives the photoreceptor drum 20Y by the driving force of the motor 81Y. It has a drive unit 80Y. Details of the photoreceptor drive unit 80Y will be described later.

  With the configuration described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y is uniformly charged by the charging device 30Y as it rotates in the B1 direction, and corresponds to the yellow color by the exposure scanning of the beam LY from the optical scanning device 8Y. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning the beam LY in the main scanning direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and performing sub scanning in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 20Y by rotating the photosensitive drum 20Y in the B1 direction. This is done by scanning in the direction as well.

  To the electrostatic latent image formed in this manner, charged yellow toner supplied by the developing device 50Y adheres, and is developed into a yellow color to be visualized. The toner image, which is a visible image, is transferred to transfer paper that moves in the A1 direction by the transfer device 12Y, and foreign matters such as toner remaining after transfer are scraped off and stored by the cleaning device 70Y, and the photosensitive drum 20Y is charged. It is used for the next charging by the device 30Y.

  Similarly, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the other photosensitive drums 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the formed toner images of the respective colors are the same on the transfer paper that moves in the A1 direction by the transfer units 12C, 12M, and 12BK. Sequentially transferred to the position.

  The transfer paper conveyed between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK and the transfer belt 11 is fed from the sheet feeding device 61, and is sensitized by the registration roller pair 13 based on the detection signal from the sensor. The toner image on the body drum 20 </ b> Y is sent out at a timing when the leading end of the toner image faces the transfer belt 11.

  When the toner images of all colors are sequentially transferred and carried on the transfer paper, the transfer paper peels off from the transfer belt 11 and enters the fixing device 6, and passes through the fixing portion between the fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63. The carried toner image is fixed by the action of heat and pressure, and a color image as a composite color image is formed on the transfer paper by this fixing process. The fixed transfer paper that has passed through the fixing device 6 passes through the paper discharge roller 7 and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 17. On the other hand, the transfer belt 11 that has finished transporting the transfer paper is discharged by the charge eliminator 74 and then cleaned by the cleaning device 18 to prepare for the transfer of the next transfer paper.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the photosensitive member drive units 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80BK as drive transmission devices have substantially the same configuration. Hereinafter, the photoconductor driving units 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80BK will be described as the photoconductor driving unit 80. Accordingly, the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK will be described as the photosensitive drum 20, and the motors 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81BK will be described as the motor 81.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the photosensitive member driving unit 80 reduces the number of rotations of the motor 81 and the motor 81 to the number of rotations required for the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20 and transmits it to the photosensitive drum 20 to transmit it. A reduction device 82 for driving the drum 20 and a coupling 83 for connecting the reduction device 82 and the photosensitive drum 20 are provided.

The motor 81 has a motor shaft 81a which is an output shaft thereof, and a drive shaft 86 as a drive transmission member connected to the tip of the motor shaft 81a. The drive shaft 86 is positioned on the rotation center axis of the output of the motor 81 and is rotationally driven by the motor 81. The output shaft of the motor 81 is substantially provided as a transmission shaft that transmits the driving force of the motor 81 in other words. The motor shaft 81a itself may be used.
The motor 81 is attached to the drive side plate 89b with a gap through the motor fixing member 44 so as not to interfere with the peripheral edge of the encoder disk 91.

  The coupling 83 is disposed at the end of the shaft 21 having the rotation center of the photosensitive drum 20 as the rotation center and at the end of the output shaft 84 of the reduction gear 82, and is coupled to the coupling 83a. A coupling 83b that meshes with the coupling 83b. The coupling 83 can be separated by detaching the coupling 83a and the coupling 83b. The coupling 83a and the coupling 83b are fitted with no play in the engaged state, and the shaft 21 and the output shaft 84 are located on the same axis. Therefore, a decrease in rotational accuracy of the photosensitive drum 20 in the coupling 83 is ignored. It is possible.

  The speed reduction device 82 is driven and fixed to the output shaft 84 so that the photosensitive drum 20 is driven accurately and smoothly and is a relatively small and low-cost mechanism. In other words, a wheel 85 is provided as a drive transmission member which is provided coaxially with the photosensitive drum 20 and abuts against the drive shaft 86. The wheel 85 has a rotation radius larger than the rotation radius of the drive shaft 86. The speed reduction device 82 uses the friction between the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 without using a gear or a planetary roller by rotating the wheel 85 so as to rotate integrally with the photosensitive drum 20 by the drive shaft 86. Decelerate.

  The drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 are formed in a columnar shape with at least the abutting portions as centers of the rotation center, and are in contact with each other on the circumferential surfaces 86a and 85a as drive transmission portions of the columnar portions. Yes. The drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 are friction wheels. In the method of transmitting the driving force using this friction wheel, since the drive transmission is performed between the smooth circumferential surfaces, the rotation unevenness caused by the drive transmission by the gear such as backlash is suppressed. In addition, it is easier to finish the surface of the circumferential surface with higher accuracy than gear processing, and because roundness and the like can easily obtain an accuracy one digit higher than that of the gear, drive transmission is performed extremely accurately and smoothly. There are advantages.

  However, in order to transmit the drive from the drive shaft 86 to the wheel 85 by friction between the circumferential surfaces 86a and 85a, the circumferential surfaces 86a and 85a must be in a pressure contact state. If the circumferential surfaces 86a and 85a are simply pressed by adjusting the arrangement position of the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85, as described above, the drive transmission is performed while suppressing fluctuations in the rotational speed of the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85. Difficult to do. Therefore, the reduction gear 82 includes a pressure contact mechanism 88 as pressure contact means for pressing the drive shaft 86 toward the rotation center of the wheel 85.

  In addition to the output shaft 84 and the wheel 85, the speed reducer 82 includes a housing 89 that includes a wheel 85 and a pressure contact mechanism 88 and supports the motor 81, a bearing 90 that rotatably supports the output shaft 84 with respect to the housing 89, The housing 89 is fixedly supported by the output shaft 84 and has the rotation center of the output shaft 84 as the rotation center, in other words, the encoder disk 91 provided coaxially with the output shaft 84 and the periphery of the encoder disk 91. 89 has an encoder sensor 92 as a rotational speed detecting means which is fixedly supported on the outer surface and detects the rotational speed of the output shaft 84, in other words, a rotational speed.

  The speed reduction device 82 is also located in the lower part of the housing 89 and has a lubricant storage member 93 as a lubricant supply means having a recess 93a for receiving the peripheral edge of the wheel 85, and the wheel 85 stored in the recess 93a and entering the recess 93a. , A motor control circuit as a rotational speed detecting means for controlling the rotational speed, timing and the like of the motor 81 based on the output of the encoder sensor 92 and the oil 94 as a lubricant in which the peripheral edge including the circumferential surface 85a is immersed 41.

  The drive shaft 86 is a shaft-like member made of metal and subjected to quenching and tempering heat treatment, and is connected to the motor shaft 81a. It is preferable to use a needle roller generally used for a needle roller bearing as the drive shaft 86 because both heat treatment and dimensional accuracy are stable. When the drive shaft 86 is constituted by the motor shaft 81a itself, the drive shaft 86 is formed by heat-treating the tip of the motor shaft 81a to a required size.

  The wheel 85 is a disk-shaped member made of metal and subjected to quenching and tempering heat treatment, and is fixed to the output shaft 84 by press-fitting. The fixing mode of the wheel 85 with respect to the output shaft 84 may be another mode. Since it is important for the wheel 85 to have the circumferential surface 85a located on the same axis as the output shaft 84, cutting is performed after fixing the wheel 85 to the output shaft 84, thereby obtaining the necessary accuracy. As a metal material used as the material of the wheel 85, a material such as SUJ2 used for a rolling bearing is preferable in terms of hardness and wear resistance.

  The housing 89 has a part of the side plate 89a of the main body 99 and a drive side plate 89b fixed to the side plate 89a. The side plate 89 a and the driving side plate 89 b are non-moving bodies that do not move with respect to the main body 99, and the housing 89 is also a non-moving body that does not move with respect to the main body 99. The motor 81 is fixedly supported on the driving side plate 89b.

  The bearing 90 is disposed on each of the side plate 89a and the drive side plate 89b, and supports the output shaft 84 in two places so as to be freely rotatable. The coupling 83b is fixed to the output shaft 84 outside the housing 89 on the side plate 89a side.

  The encoder disk 91 is located on the outer side of the side plate 89a on the side opposite to the end where the coupling 83b of the output shaft 84 is disposed. The encoder disk 91 is provided with a large number of radial slits. The encoder sensor 92 is fixed to the outer surface of the side plate 89a. The encoder sensor 92 detects the number of rotations of the output shaft 84 by detecting the slit of the encoder disk 91.

  The motor control circuit 41 keeps the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 20 constant, so that the rotational speed of the drive shaft 86 is kept constant based on the rotational speed of the output shaft 84 detected by the encoder sensor 92. It functions as a rotation speed control means for feedback control of the motor, and is realized as one function of the control means 40.

  Such feedback control is performed because the photosensitive drum 20 is driven by friction between the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85. That is, in friction transmission, even if the rotational speed of the motor 81 is kept constant, the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 20 is affected by the processing accuracy and wear of the diameter of the wheel 85, and by the influence of minute slipping. This is not necessarily the same as the number, and is performed because a deviation may occur.

  In the feedback control, the pulse output of the encoder sensor 92 is input to the motor control circuit 41, and the rotational speed of the motor 81 is controlled so that the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 20 becomes a target constant value. Even if the diameter and shape of the peripheral surface 86a of 86 and the peripheral surface 85a of the wheel 85 vary depending on the processing accuracy, wear, and the like, the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 20 is kept accurately constant.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the press contact mechanism 88 includes a pair of bearings 87 that rotatably support the drive shaft 86, a press contact arm 95 as a bracket that is a support member that supports the bearing 87, and a press contact. A shaft 96 as a pressing arm fulcrum that slidably supports the arm 95 on the driving side plate 89b, and a pressing arm 95 attached to the center of the shaft 96 so that one end of the shaft 95 abuts the pressing arm 95 and the bearing 87 presses the driving shaft 86. A spring 97 that is a press contact spring as a pressing member (pressing member) that presses the driving shaft 86 against the circumferential surface 85 a and a screw 98 that positions the spring 97 are provided. The shaft 96 is a pressing oscillating fulcrum member serving as a fulcrum for oscillating the pressure contact mechanism 88 for pressing the drive shaft 86.

  The screw 98 is supported by the drive side plate 89b by abutting the other end of the spring 97 on one end and screwing the end of the screw 98 on the drive side plate 89b functioning as a fixed bracket. Therefore, by adjusting the screwing position of the screw 98 with respect to the drive side plate 89b, the urging force of the pressure contact arm 95 by the spring 97 is adjusted, and thereby the pressing force of the bearing 87 by the spring 97 against the drive shaft 86 is adjusted, and the drive The pressure contact force between the shaft 86 and the wheel 85 is adjusted, and the friction force between them is adjusted.

  The lubricant storage member 93 functions as a lubrication means that lubricates the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 with the oil 94. The drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 are formed of a metal material or the like subjected to heat treatment such as quenching as described above in order to obtain high rigidity, high durability, and smooth rotation transmission. Therefore, since a lubricant is required between these members, the oil 94 is stored in the lubricant storage member 93, the wheel 85 is always immersed in the member, and the oil 94 is passed through the wheel 85 by the rotation of the wheel 85. Is supplied to the contact point between the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86.

  As the oil 94, general industrial oil may be used, but in the present embodiment, a known traction oil known as a friction transmission driving oil is used. Traction oil is a lubricant that tends to vitrify under extreme pressure conditions, and maintains a coefficient of friction of about 0.1 under extreme pressure. Therefore, the traction oil is excellent in increasing the slip start torque, and is suitable for drive transmission by friction between the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85, that is, drive transmission by rolling friction. When traction oil is used, the friction coefficient at high pressure is increased by 50% compared to the friction coefficient when using normal oil, and the transmittable torque is also increased by 50%.

  Here, the relationship between the transmission torque and the pressure contact force will be described. When a wheel 85 having a diameter of 60 mm is used to transmit torque of 1 N · m (about 10 kg · cm), the drive shaft 86 and the wheel 85 In the pressure contact portion, a frictional force of 1 / 0.03 = 33.3N is required. Since the frictional force is the product of the applied pressure and the friction coefficient μ, when the traction oil is used as the oil 94, the applied force can be transmitted at 33.3 / 0.1 = 333 N (about 33.3 kg) or more. Become.

  A reduction ratio in the reduction gear 82 having such a configuration will be described. The shaft diameter of the drive shaft 86 is sufficient to drive the wheel 85 with a diameter of about 1 mm if the torque is small. When the shaft diameter of the drive shaft 86 is 1 mm, if the speed reduction ratio is 1/20, the diameter of the wheel 85 is 20 mm, and the speed reduction device 82 is very small. Even if the shaft diameter of the drive shaft 86 is 4 mm, the diameter of the wheel 85 when the reduction ratio is 1/20 is within 80 mm, and the mutual interval between the photosensitive drums 20 is about 100 mm. A sufficient space for arranging the speed reduction device 82 with respect to the photosensitive drum 20 is secured. Regarding the mutual interval between the photoconductive drums 20, the normal diameter of the photoconductive drums 20 is 30 mm to 60 mm, and it is considered that each of the photoconductive drums 20 is provided with the developing unit and the cleaning unit as described above. Such a mutual interval is generally 70 mm to 100 mm. Therefore, it can be seen that even when the shaft diameter of the drive shaft 86 is 4 mm, a sufficient space for disposing the speed reduction device 82 with respect to each photosensitive drum 20 is ensured.

Next, the characteristic part of the reduction gear device 82 according to the present embodiment will be described.
In the speed reduction device 82 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a pair of lubricant guide members 28 a and 28 b as lubricant guide means are provided inside the housing 89. It is provided to face. Of the pair of lubricant guide members 28a and 28b, one lubricant guide member 28a is fixed to the side plate 89a so that one end thereof is in contact with the side surface of the wheel 85 or has a slight gap. Has been. Further, the other one lubricant guide member 28b is also fixed to the driving side plate 89b so that one end thereof is in contact with the side surface of the wheel 85 or has a slight gap. The lubricant guide member 28 is fixed by ordinary means such as adhesion and screwing.

  FIG. 4 is a top view seen from the direction of arrow D in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the lubricant guide member 28 is a plate-like member bent into a substantially “<” shape.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an attached state of the lubricant guide member 28 and a function of guiding the lubricant. The shaded portion in the figure indicates the accumulation of traction grease. The lubricant guide member 28 is provided in the vicinity of both side surfaces on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the wheel 85 with respect to the pressure contact portion where the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are in pressure contact. In order to reduce the re-scattering of the lubricant 94 from the wheel 85 due to the centrifugal force, the lubricant guide member 28 is located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the wheel 85 and the shaft of the output shaft 84 with respect to the pressure contact portion. It is desirable to provide in the side part within the range of 30-90 [degrees] centering on the core. The position where the lubricant guide member 28 is attached within the above range may be determined according to the viscosity of the lubricant 94. Further, the width of the lubricant guide member 28 in the left-right direction in the drawing is preferably extended to the vicinity of the output shaft 84 if there is a space inside the drive unit 80 because the range for scraping the lubricant 94 is widened. It is. Thereby, sufficient lubricant 94 can always be supplied to the pressure contact portion. Further, the lubricant guide member 28 has a line extending from the center of the wheel 85 toward the outer periphery so that the lubricant 94 scraped off at the tip thereof is guided in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the wheel 85 as shown in the figure. On the other hand, it is preferably attached with an inclination indicated by an inclination angle α. The inclination angle α is suitably about 15 to 45 [°]. Thus, the lubricant 94 is guided in the direction indicated by the arrow E, and the lubricant 94 attached to the side surface of the wheel 85 can be efficiently scraped toward the outer peripheral surface. By guiding the lubricant 94 in this way, the lubricant 94 can be sufficiently supplied toward the pressure contact portion with the drive shaft 86. Since the lubricant 94 after passing through the press contact portion is pushed and spread by the press contact portion, it is pushed again to the side of the wheel 85 and returns. In addition, a lubricant reservoir member 93 is disposed below the apparatus. If grease having an appropriate degree of adjustment is selected, the lubricant 94 scattered on the surrounding wall surface and the like flows down with time and accumulates in the lubricant reservoir member 93. Come. In this way, sufficient lubricant 94 can be supplied to the pressure contact portion between the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 over a long period of time.

  The drive shaft 86 extends from the opening formed in the drive side plate 89b into the drive unit 80. However, since the oil seal is not provided in the opening, the drive shaft 86 is lubricated to the outside. The agent 94 may leak. For this reason, it is desirable to set the position of the pressure contact portion on the wheel peripheral surface where the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are in pressure contact with each other above the axis of the wheel 85. That is, it is desirable that the position of the pressure contact portion on the circumferential surface of the wheel 85 is located within a range of ± 90 [°] around the axis of the wheel 85 with reference to the upper side in the vertical direction. Within this range, there will be no difference in performance such as drive transmission or leakage of the lubricant 94. Therefore, if it is appropriately determined in consideration of space efficiency when the drive unit 80 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Good.

  As the lubricant 94 used in the present embodiment, either a grease-like or oil-like one can be used as described above, and the effect of providing the lubricant guide member 28 can be exhibited in either case. In the case of oil, it naturally returns to the lubricant reservoir member 93, so that the lubrication is rarely interrupted. On the other hand, in the case of grease, since it takes time to flow down, the lubricant may be interrupted if the lubricant guide member 28 is not provided, and the effect of the lubricant guide member 28 is great. An advantage of using grease is that a seal that prevents the lubricant from leaking outside the unit is simpler than oil.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing specific configuration examples of the lubricant guide member 28. FIG. 6A is a diagram of a configuration example of the lubricant guide member 28 having a shape in which a plate of metal, plastic, rubber or the like is simply bent. The upper diagram is a top view, and the lower diagram is a front view. It is. As shown in the top view, the lubricant guide member 28 has a surface parallel to the side plate 89a and the drive side plate 89b and an inclined surface that narrows toward the wheel 85. The inclination angle θ of this inclined surface is 15. About 45 [°] is appropriate. FIG. 6B is a diagram of a configuration example in which a sheet-like member 28d made of a resin or rubber is attached to the tip of a plate-like member 28c having a shape obtained by bending a metal or plastic plate. The figure is a top view, and the lower figure is a front view. In the case of FIG. 6A, when the wheel 85 is brought into contact with the wheel 85, there is a possibility of causing uneven rotation during driving due to friction, and it is preferable that the wheel 85 is provided in a state of being slightly contactless and non-contacting. In the case of FIG. 6B, the tip is a flexible sheet-like member 28b, and even if the tip is in contact with the surface of the wheel 85 and attached, rotation unevenness is not caused.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the example in which the present invention is applied to a friction transmission type reduction gear has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a gear transmission type reduction gear. 7 to 10 show modifications of the gear transmission type reduction device 82 to which the present invention can be applied. In each modification, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those already described, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a reduction gear 82 according to a modification using a gear transmission system for driving transmission to the photosensitive drum 20. In FIG. 7, the photosensitive drum 20 is provided with a photosensitive shaft 21, and a coupling 83 a configured to be detachable from the drive unit 80 is provided at an end thereof. The drive unit 80 has an output shaft 84 supported by a main body side plate 89a and a drive side plate 89b via a bearing 90, and a coupling 83b that engages with the coupling 83a is provided at an end thereof. Further, an output gear 110 as a drive transmission member is fixed to the output shaft 84. The motor shaft 81a of the motor 81, which is a drive source, is provided with a motor gear 111 as a drive transmission member, and a tooth portion as a drive transmission portion of the motor gear 111 meshes with a tooth portion as a drive transmission portion of the output gear 110, thereby being photosensitive. The body drum 20 is rotationally driven.

  The output gear 110 can be made of metal or resin. The motor gear 111 is made of metal when it is a gear having a structure integrally formed with the motor shaft 81a. In order to stably transmit a high torque, the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 are preferably metal gears that have been subjected to quenching and tempering heat treatment. In the case of a metal gear, lubrication with a lubricant is indispensable in order to prevent wear and obtain a smooth rotation. Even when the output gear 110 is made of resin, it is possible to greatly extend the life by lubrication. The illustrated gear uses a helical gear in order to reduce rotational unevenness. For this reason, the lubricant storage member 93 having a recess 93a that is positioned below the inside of the housing 89 constituted by the side plate 89a of the main body and the drive side plate 89b and that receives the teeth on the periphery of the output gear 110, and is stored in the recess 93a. And an oil or grease lubricant 94 into which the periphery including the tooth portion of the output gear 110 that has entered the recess 93a is immersed.

  In the present modification, as shown in FIG. 7, the lubricant guide members 28 are disposed on both sides of the side surface of the output gear 110. As the lubricant guide member 28, one having the same shape as the above embodiment can be used. In FIG. 7, a pair of lubricant guide members 28 a and 28 b are provided to face the side surface of the output gear 110. Of the pair of lubricant guide members 28a and 28b, one lubricant guide member 28a is fixed to the side plate 89a of the main body so that one end thereof is in contact with the side surface of the output gear 110 or has a slight gap. ing. The other lubricant guide member 28b is also fixed to the drive side plate 89b so that one end thereof is in contact with the side surface of the output gear 110 or has a slight gap. This fixing method is performed by usual means such as adhesion and screwing. As the lubricant 94, a general industrial lubricant for gears can be used, and liquid oil or grease is supplied to the teeth of the output gear 110.

  FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the function of the lubricant guide member 28 applied to the reduction gear of FIG. 7 to guide the lubricant 94, and FIG. 8A shows a schematic configuration of the main part of the reduction gear 82. FIG. 8B is a side view of the front view. The hatched portion in the figure indicates the accumulation or adhesion of grease as the lubricant 94. The lubricant guide member 28 is provided in the vicinity of both side surfaces on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the output gear 110 with respect to the meshing portion where the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 abut. Thereby, sufficient lubricant 94 can be always supplied to the meshing portion. Further, the lubricant guide member 28 has a tip end portion as shown in the drawing, and the lubricant 94 scraped off is guided toward the outer peripheral surface of the output gear 110 with respect to a line from the center of the output gear 110 toward the outer periphery. It is preferable to attach with the inclination shown by the inclination angle α. Thus, the lubricant 94 is guided in the direction indicated by the arrow E, and the lubricant 94 attached to both side surfaces of the output gear 110 can be scraped efficiently toward the outer peripheral tooth surface. By guiding the lubricant 94 in this way, the lubricant 94 can be sufficiently supplied toward the meshing portion with the motor gear 111. Since the lubricant 94 after passing through the meshing portion is pushed and spread by the meshing portion, it is pushed again to the side of the output gear 110 and returns. In addition, a lubricant reservoir member 93 is disposed below the apparatus. If grease having an appropriate degree of adjustment is selected, the lubricant 94 scattered on the surrounding wall surface and the like flows down with time and accumulates in the lubricant reservoir member 93. Come. When oil is used as the lubricant 94, it returns to the lubricant reservoir 93 and accumulates in a short time. In this way, sufficient lubricant 94 can be supplied over a long period of time to the meshing portions of the gear teeth.

  FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a reduction gear device according to another modification, and is an example of a configuration in which the gear configuration has two stages. In FIG. 9, the reduction gear 82 is provided with an output gear 112 on an output shaft 84, and this output gear 112 meshes with an intermediate gear 113 that is rotatably supported by an intermediate gear shaft 114 fixed to the drive side plate 89b. Further, the intermediate gear 113 is configured to mesh with the motor gear 111 and transmit drive. In the speed reducing device 82 having such a configuration, the lubricant storing member 93 having a recess 93a that is positioned below the inside of the housing 89 constituted by the main body side plate 89a and the driving side plate 89b and that receives the peripheral teeth of the output gear 112. And an oil or grease lubricant 94 in which the periphery including the tooth portion of the output gear 112 stored in the recess 93a and entering the recess 93a is immersed.

  The speed reduction device 82 according to the present modified example is provided with the lubricant guide member 129 in contact with both side surfaces of the output gear 112 or with a slight gap, and further in contact with or slightly touching both side surfaces of the intermediate gear 113. The lubricant guide member 130 is provided so as to have a large gap. As described above, by providing the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 on the side surfaces of the output gear 112 and the intermediate gear 113, the lubricant 94 can be efficiently circulated to obtain a long-life and stable speed reduction device 82. it can.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic front view for explaining the function of the lubricant guide member 28 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, it is efficient to provide the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 on the upstream side in the rotation direction from the meshing portion of the gear. The two-stage deceleration is superior to the one-stage deceleration in that it is small and provides a high reduction ratio. The movement of the lubricant 94 by the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 is the same as in the case of the above-described modification, and sufficient lubricant 94 can be supplied to the meshing portion of the gear teeth over a long period of time.

  As the lubricant 94 used in the present modification, either a grease-like or an oil-like one can be used as described above, and the effect of providing the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 can be exhibited in either case. In the case of oil, since it naturally returns to the lubricant storage member 93, the lubrication is rarely interrupted. On the other hand, in the case of grease, since it takes time to flow down, lubrication may be interrupted unless the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 are provided, and the effect of the lubricant guide members 129 and 130 is great. The advantage of using grease is that the seal that prevents the lubricant 94 from leaking out of the photoreceptor driving unit 80 is simpler than oil.

  As the lubricant guide members 129 and 130, the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 6 can be used. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), a metal plate, a plastic plate, or a rubber plate is simply bent, or a metal or plastic plate is bent as shown in FIG. 6 (b). The thing of the structure which affixed the sheet-like member of resin or rubber on the front-end | tip of this plate-shaped member can be used. The characteristics of the lubricant guide member having these configurations are as described above.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, Unless it is specifically limited by the above-mentioned description, this invention described in the claim is described. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

  The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus of a so-called intermediate transfer system in which toner images of respective colors are sequentially transferred onto an intermediate transfer member and transferred to a recording medium in a lump. It is. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called one-drum type image forming apparatus that sequentially forms toner images of respective colors on a single photosensitive drum and sequentially superimposes the color toner images to obtain a color image. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus capable of monochrome image formation.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are used as the drive transmission members, the drive is transmitted by the circumferential surfaces 85a and 86a as the drive transmission portions that are in contact with each other. The surfaces 85a and 86a have a drive shaft 86 and a wheel 85 as a plurality of drive transmission members lubricated with a lubricant. Lubricant guide members 28a and 28b as lubricant guide means for guiding the lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces other than the circumferential surface 85a of the wheel 85 to the circumferential surface 85a are provided. When the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 are used as the drive transmission members, the drive is transmitted by the tooth portions as the drive transmission portions meshing with each other, and the plurality of drive transmission members are lubricated by the lubricant. As a motor gear 111 and an output gear 110. Then, lubricant guide members 28a and 28b as lubricant guide means for guiding the lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces other than the tooth portion of the output gear 110 to the tooth portion are provided.
Further, according to the present embodiment, when the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are used as the drive transmission member, the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 transmit the driving force while rotating respectively, and the guide member 28a. , B guides the lubricant adhering to both side surfaces in a direction away from the output shaft 84 as the rotation shaft of the wheel 85 at a position facing both side surfaces other than the circumferential surface 85 a of the wheel 85. By guiding the lubricant that adheres to both sides of the wheel 85 and is not used for lubrication in a direction away from the output shaft 84, the lubricant 94 is guided to the circumferential surface 85 a that is the outer peripheral surface side of the wheel 85. The circumferential surface 85a can be lubricated. Further, when the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 are used as the drive transmission members, the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 transmit the driving force while rotating, and the guide members 28a and 28b are used as the output gear 110. The lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces is guided in a direction away from the output shaft 84 as the rotation shaft of the output gear 110 at a position facing both side surfaces which are portions other than the teeth portion. By guiding the lubricant that adheres to both side surfaces of the output gear 110 and is not used for lubrication in a direction away from the output shaft 84, the lubricant 94 is guided to the tooth portion on the outer peripheral surface side of the output gear 110. The tooth part can be lubricated.
Further, according to the present embodiment, when the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are used as the drive transmission member, the lubricant guide members 28a and 28b are spaced apart from both side surfaces of the wheel 85 in the rotational direction of the wheel 85. It is the planar member comprised so that it might become narrow gradually toward this. Thereby, as the wheel 85 rotates, the lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces of the wheel 85 carried to the position facing the lubricant guide members 28a, 28b is spaced from the lubricant guide members 28a, 28b. Since it is gradually narrowed, it is guided so as to be pushed to the outer peripheral side of the wheel 85 and can move to the circumferential surface 85a. Further, when the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 are used as the drive transmission members, the lubricant guide members 28a and 28b are gradually spaced from the both side surfaces of the output gear 110 toward the rotation direction of the output gear 110. It is the planar member comprised so that it might become narrow. Thus, the lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces of the output gear 110 carried to the position facing the lubricant guide members 28a, 28b with the rotation of the output gear 110 is exchanged with the lubricant guide members 28a, 28b. Since the interval is gradually narrowed, it is guided to be pushed to the outer peripheral side of the output gear 110 and can move to the tooth portion.
Further, according to the present embodiment, when the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 are used as the drive transmission member, at least the outer peripheral portion of the wheel 85 of the wheel 85 or the drive shaft 86 is immersed in the lubricant 94. A lubricant storage member 93 is further provided as a lubricant supply means for supplying 94. Further, the wheel 85 immersed in the lubricant 94 is further rotated than the portion of the wheel 85 in the rotational direction downstream of the portion immersed in the lubricant 94 and in contact with the drive shaft 86 as another drive transmission member. Lubricant guide members 28a and 28b are provided on the upstream side in the direction. When the outer periphery of the wheel 85 is immersed in the lubricant 94 of the lubricant storage member 93, the lubricant 94 adheres to both sides in addition to the circumferential surface 85a. The lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces of the lubricant guide members 28 a provided on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the wheel 85 from the portion where the circumferential surface 85 a of the wheel 85 contacts the circumferential surface 86 a of the drive shaft 86. b is guided by the circumferential surface 85a of the wheel 85 and used for lubrication at the contact portion. Further, when the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 are used as the drive transmission member, at least the outer periphery of the output gear 110 of the output gear 110 or the motor gear 111 is immersed in the lubricant 94 and the lubricant 94 is supplied. A lubricant storage member 93 as supply means is further provided. The output gear 110 immersed in the lubricant 94 is further downstream than the portion immersed in the lubricant 94 in the rotation direction of the output gear 110 and rotated more than the portion engaged with the motor gear 111 as another drive transmission member. Lubricant guide members 28a and 28b are provided on the upstream side in the direction. When the outer peripheral portion of the output gear 110 is immersed in the lubricant 94 of the lubricant storage member 93, the lubricant 94 adheres to both sides in addition to the tooth portion. The lubricant 94 adhering to both side surfaces is output by the lubricant guide members 28a and 28b provided on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the output gear 110 with respect to the portion where the tooth portion of the output gear 110 meshes with the tooth portion of the motor gear 111. Guided by the tooth portion of the gear 110 and used for lubrication at the meshing portion.
According to the present embodiment, the plurality of drive transmission members are the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 as gears. Therefore, the lubricant 94 adhering to the portion other than the tooth portion of the output gear 110 can be guided and lubricated to the tooth portion, and wear of the output gear 110 and the motor gear 111 can be prevented over a long period of time.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of drive transmission members have circumferential surfaces 85a and 86a that abut each other, and the wheel 85 and the drive as a friction wheel that transmits a driving force by friction between these circumferential surfaces. A shaft 86. Therefore, the lubricant 94 adheres to portions other than the circumferential surfaces 85a and 86a of the wheel 85 and the drive shaft 86 and is lubricated by guiding the lubricant 94 to the circumferential surfaces 85a and 86a. It becomes possible to prevent breakage of 85a and 86a.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the lubricant 94 is traction grease. When traction grease having a viscosity higher than that of oil adheres to the side surface of the wheel 85, the lubricant guide members 28a and 28b guide the circumferential surface 85a and can be used for lubricating the circumferential surface 85a. . Further, scattering of the traction grease attached to the side surface of the wheel 85 can be prevented, and the amount of traction grease that accumulates in a dead space in the apparatus and cannot be used for lubrication can be reduced.

20, 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20BK Photoconductor drum 28a, b Lubricant guide member 40 Control means 41 Motor control circuit 44 Motor fixing member 80, 80Y, 80M, 80C, 80BK Photoconductor drive unit 81, 81Y, 81M, 81C , 81BK motor 82 reduction gear 85 wheel 85a circumferential surface 86 drive shaft 86a circumferential surface 87 bearing 88 pressure contact mechanism 89 housing 89b side plate 92 encoder sensor 93 lubricant storage member 94 lubricant, traction oil, traction grease 95 pressure contact arm 96 shaft 98 Screw 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Output gear 111 Motor gear 129a, b Lubricant guide member 130a, b Lubricant guide member

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-11843 JP 2003-343663 A JP 2003-130190 A

Claims (8)

Drive is transmitted by a drive transmission unit that abuts or meshes with each other, and the drive transmission unit has a plurality of drive transmission members lubricated by a lubricant,
A drive transmission device comprising a lubricant guide means for guiding the lubricant adhering to a portion other than the drive transmission portion of the drive transmission member to the drive transmission portion. The drive transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
The plurality of drive transmission members each transmit a driving force while rotating,
The lubricant guide means is configured to transfer the lubricant attached to a portion other than the drive transmission portion at a position facing a portion other than the drive transmission portion of at least one of the plurality of drive transmission members. A drive transmission device comprising a lubricant guide member for guiding in a direction away from the rotation axis of the member. The drive transmission device according to claim 2,
The lubricant guide member is a planar member configured such that a distance from a portion other than the drive transmission portion of the drive transmission member is gradually narrowed in a rotation direction of the drive transmission member. Drive transmission device. The drive transmission device according to any one of claims 2 to 3,
A lubricant supply means for supplying the lubricant by immersing the outer periphery of at least one of the plurality of drive transmission members in a lubricant;
The drive transmission member immersed in the lubricant is downstream in the rotational direction of the drive transmission member with respect to the portion immersed in the lubricant and upstream of the portion in contact with or meshing with another drive transmission member. A drive transmission device, wherein the lubricant guide member is provided on the side. The drive transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The drive transmission device, wherein each of the plurality of drive transmission members is a gear. The drive transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each of the plurality of drive transmission members is a friction wheel having circumferential surfaces that contact each other and transmitting a driving force by friction between the circumferential surfaces. The drive transmission device according to claim 6, wherein
The drive transmission device, wherein the lubricant is traction grease. A drive transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that is rotationally driven by the drive transmission device.

Images