Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080213000 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of image bearing members, a plurality of drive sources each including a drive gear, a plurality of driven gears, a visible image forming unit, an endless traveling member, a transfer unit, an image detection unit, and a controller. The controller controls rotation of the plurality of image bearing members according to a velocity fluctuation pattern of each surface of the image bearing members based on a detection time interval between predetermined visible detection images formed on the surface of the image bearing member and transferred therefrom to the endless traveling member detected by the image detection unit. Each of the plurality of driven gears includes a gear portion and an engaging portion integrated therewith. The gear portion includes a geared circumference and the engaging portion engages the image bearing member. | 09-04-2008 |
20080213001 | Image printing apparatus - An image printing apparatus includes a control unit which controls a rotational speed of an image carrier; a detecting unit which detects data of the rotational speed; a storage unit which stores the rotational speeds up to n past rotation cycle of said image carrier; and a determining unit which determines whether a rotational speed difference between a latest rotational speed in a current rotation cycle and a rotational speed in n past rotation cycle before the current rotation cycle at a predetermined interval, which includes the same rotational position in respective rotation cycles and its near position, is more than a predetermined reference value, wherein said control unit controls the rotational speed of said image carrier by using the data of rotational speeds at a predetermined interval including the same rotational position in one or n past rotation cycle before the current rotation cycle, and further said control unit controls a rotational speed in a subsequent rotation cycle next to the current rotation cycle in accordance with a determination result obtained by said determining unit. | 09-04-2008 |
20080226344 | POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE, DRIVE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A power transmitting device that allows a rotation driving unit to stably rotate at a constant angular velocity while overcoming an effect of backlash of a gear which is an element to transmitting power, a drive transmitting apparatus of an image forming apparatus that employs the power transmitting device, and an image forming apparatus that employs the power transmitting device. The power transmitting device includes a weighted rotor that has a weight larger than the rotation object and is connected to the rotation object to rotate along with the rotation object; and a viscous member to reduce a rotation force of the weighted rotor due to a viscosity of a fluid filled therein. The power transmitting device prevents change of the rotation speed of the rotation object due to a gear backlash by using the weight of a weighted rotor and a viscous braking force of a damping grease, and the anti-backlash function can be maintained during a long period of operation. Accordingly, when the power transmitting device is applied to a drive transmitting apparatus of an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus forming stable images can be realized. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226345 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a power transmission device capable of intermittently transmitting power reliably to a plurality of driven bodies from a driving source with a small number of clutches. The power transmission device includes a cam part which rotates by receiving power of the driving source, a clutch device which intermittently transmits the power to the cam part to determine a stop position of the cam part, a first power transmission unit which transmits the power to any one of the plurality of driven bodies according to the stop position of the cam part, and a second power transmission unit which transmits the power to the other driven bodies of the plurality of driven bodies according to the stop position of the cam part. The cam part includes a rotating disc and a plurality of press members which are provided on one surface of the rotating disc to press the first power transmission unit and the second power transmission unit according to the stop position of the rotating disc. | 09-18-2008 |
20080240783 | Methods and Devices for Selectively Driving Developer Members Within An Image Forming Device - A method and device for controlling toner transfer during the formation of a toner image within an image forming device is described herein. One exemplary image forming device includes a toner reservoir that stores toner of a first color, a developer member that receives toner from the toner reservoir, a photoconductive member proximate the developer member that receives toner from the developer member, and a driver. While rotating the photoconductive member, the driver selectively rotates the developer member based on a color content of the image. For example, the driver does not rotate the developer member while rotating the photoconductive member when the toner image being formed lacks the first color. Alternatively, the driver lows the rotational speed of the developer member while rotating the photoconductive member when the toner image being formed lacks the first color. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240784 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING UNIT THEREOF - A color image forming apparatus and an image forming unit thereof, the color image forming apparatus including: photosensitive bodies; a transfer drum to rotate while contacting the photosensitive bodies; a transfer device to transfer visible images overlapped on the transfer drum from the photosensitive bodies onto a printing medium; a photosensitive body driving gear to rotate with the transfer drum, and having a radius smaller than the transfer drum and having a same rotational center as the transfer drum; and photosensitive body gears coupled to the respective photosensitive bodies to be engaged with the photosensitive body driving gear, each of the photosensitive body gears having a radius larger than that of the photosensitive bodies. Accordingly, a size of each of the photosensitive body gears can be larger than that of each of the photosensitive bodies, and thus the photosensitive bodies can rotate stably. | 10-02-2008 |
20080260428 | Rotational Force Transmitting Parts - A rotating force transmitting part for an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having the rotating force applying portion, and wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismountable from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantial perpendicular with an axial direction of the driving shaft, the rotating force transmitting part includes a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the state in which electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when the process cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position. | 10-23-2008 |
20080298841 | PHOTOSENSITIVE-MEMBER DRIVING MECHANISM - It is an object to prevent distortions and deviations of images caused by the eccentricity of a driven gear mounted to a rotational shaft of a photosensitive drum. There are provided a driving gear which is secured to a rotational shaft of a rotational driving power source and is rotated at a constant peripheral speed, a driven gear secured coaxially to a rotational shaft of a cylindrical-shaped photosensitive member, a phase control gear having the same diameter as that of the driven gear and having the same rotational speed variation characteristic as that of the driven gear, and a transmission gear, and a driving force from the driving gear is transmitted to the driven gear through the phase control gear and the transmission gear. | 12-04-2008 |
20080304865 | DRIVE JOINT MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A drive joint mechanism includes a drive shaft ( | 12-11-2008 |
20090003880 | TRACTION-DRIVE TYPE DRIVING-FORCE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A traction-drive force transmission mechanism, includes a sun roller rotatable about a first axis and a plurality of shafts. Each is disposed on an adjacent axis inclined relative to the first axis. Planetary rollers are disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the sun roller and are supported respectively by the shaft. A carrier holds each of the shafts in the inclined posture and is adapted to be rotated about the first axis together with the planetary rollers. A pressing member pressingly moves each planetary roller in a direction for reducing a distance to the first axis so as to press each planetary roller against the outer peripheral surface of the sun roller. Thus a driving force can be transmitted to a traction force between the sun roller and each of the planetary rollers. | 01-01-2009 |
20090010681 | Systems and methods for remanufacturing imaging components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 01-08-2009 |
20090028605 | Image forming apparatus, drive mechanism of image forming apparatus and manufacturing method of a worm gear set - An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image carriers, a common drive source which drives the plurality of image carriers and a drive shaft that is connected to and driven by the drive source. It also has a plurality of worm gears that are provided corresponding to the plurality of image carriers and are formed coaxially with the drive shaft, and a plurality of worm wheels that are respectively meshed with the respective worm gears and respectively transmit drive forces of the worm gears to the image carriers. The plurality of worm gears are made of a resin material, and the worm gears and the worm wheels drive the plurality of image carries by making use of the elastic deformation of the worm gears when the worm gears and the worm wheels are respectively meshed with each other. | 01-29-2009 |
20090035018 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus including: a carriage on which a recording head is mounted and which is reciprocable across an image recording area and a maintenance area; driven portions; a first and a second drive source which generate drive power; and a drive-power transmitting system which transmits the drive power to the driven portions, wherein the system includes: a shaft; a first and a second switching gear supported by the shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and respectively rotated by the drive power of the first and the second drive source; transmission gears each of which is meshable with at least one of the first and the second switching gear, and transmits the drive power of one of the first and the second power source to a corresponding one or ones of the driven portions; and a switching-gear positioning mechanism which positions a set of the first and the second switching gear, depending upon a position of the carriage in the areas, at a selected one of specific positions. | 02-05-2009 |
20090035019 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus including: a reciprocable carriage on which a recording head is mounted; driven portions; a first and a second drive source which generate drive power; and a drive-power transmitting system which transmits the drive power to the driven portions, wherein the system includes: a shaft; a first and a second switching gear supported by the shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and respectively driven to be rotated by the drive power of the first and the second drive source; transmission gears each of which is meshable with at least one of the first and the second switching gear, and transmits the drive power of one of the first and the second power source to a corresponding one or ones of the driven portions; and a switching-gear positioning mechanism which positions a set of the first and the second switching gear, depending upon a position of the carriage, at a selected one of specific positions. | 02-05-2009 |
20090047040 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DRIVE-SWITCHING METHOD - The image forming apparatus is provided with: plural rotating members that are arranged rotatably; plural rotation side coupling members that are provided corresponding to the respective rotating members and transmit drive force to the respective rotating members; plural drive side coupling members that are connected to the respective rotation side coupling members and rotate and drive the respective rotating members via the rotation side coupling members; and an interconnecting unit that connects a predetermined number of the drive side coupling members among the plural drive side coupling members to the corresponding rotation side coupling members. | 02-19-2009 |
20090060578 | Rotor Driving Force Transmission Device and Image Forming Apparatus having the Device - A driving force transmission device superior in reliability with suppressed rotation fluctuation. The driving force transmission device has gearing reception portions, three arm portions and a press member. The gearing reception portions are formed in the inner circumference of a rotor. The arm portions extend from a shaft radially. The arm portions can be elastically deformed. The arm portions have engagement tooth portions for transmitting a driving force of the shaft to the rotor. The press member presses the rotor to bend the arm portions in the direction where the rotor is pressed. In that state, the gearing reception portions gear with the engagement tooth portions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090123181 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided an image forming apparatus that includes couplings for photoreceptor drums, couplings for waste toner transporting screws, and couplings for developing rollers, that transmit driving force to each of a plurality of driving shafts for driving a process portion that performs image formation by an electrophotographic method, and a plurality of coupling attaching/detaching members for attaching/detaching the plurality of coupling members, so as to drive the process portion. In the image forming apparatus, the plurality of coupling attaching/detaching members are provided so as to be movable independently, and the image forming apparatus includes a coupling attaching/detaching member driving mechanism that operates the coupling attaching/detaching members in association with each other. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123182 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including photoconductor drums corresponding to colors, motors, gears to transmit each rotation of the motors to each of the photoconductor drums, each of two gears comprising a portion to be detected intermittently continuing in a circumferential direction at a position having same radius centering around a rotary shaft of the gears, a pair of phase sensors to output detection signals of signal logics according to an existence or a non-existence of the portion to be detected at a point symmetric position centering around the rotary shaft of each of two gears and a control unit to calculate a rotation phase difference between each of the gears based on a logical combination of the detection signals which are output from the pair of phase sensors and to control the motors so as to synchronize rotation of each of the gears based on the calculated rotation phase difference. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123183 | Rotation transmission device and image forming apparatus - A rotation transmission device including a driving member configured to input a driving force; a rotatable member; and a joint configured to transmit the driving force to the rotatable member, wherein the driving member, joint and rotatable member are coaxially arranged, and wherein the driving member are connected with the joint in such a manner that the phase of one-revolution fluctuation of the driving member is different from the phase of one-revolution fluctuation of the joint by an angle of π. | 05-14-2009 |
20090148184 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, DRIVING DEVICE AND DRIVING FRAME THEREOF - An image forming apparatus includes driving device frame having a base plate on which is formed integrally with the base plate one or more supporting shafts for supporting one or more power transmission members that transmit driving power from a driving source to driven bodies of the image forming apparatus. | 06-11-2009 |
20090148185 | DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE OF A ROTATION MEMBER, METHOD FOR DRIVE CONTROL OF A ROTATION MEMBER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE - A drive control apparatus including a drive motor that transmits a rotation drive force to a rotation member in order to rotate the rotation member, a pulse signal outputting unit that outputs a pulse signal for each predetermined angle of rotation or a position for rotation of the rotation member, while the rotation member is rotating, a pulse cycle measuring unit that measures a pulse cycle of the pulse signal, where the pulse cycle is a cycle of a rising or falling edge, a computation processing unit that computes an angular error or a position error of the rotation member based on the pulse cycle and a desired pulse cycle, where the desired pulse cycle corresponds to a desired velocity of the rotation member and a drive control unit that controls the drive motor based on the angular error or the position error. | 06-11-2009 |
20090169259 | Driving-force transmission device and image forming apparatus - A driving-force transmitting member is formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient larger than that of a sleeve bearing, and Δx1>r1×Δt×a−R1×Δt×b is satisfied, where R1 is inner radius of the sleeve bearing, r1 is outer radius of a rotary shaft unit, Δx1 is difference between the inner radius R1 and the outer radius r1 at a reference temperature, Δt is maximum amount of temperature change of the driving-force transmitting member relative to the reference temperature, a is linear expansion coefficient of the sleeve bearing, and b is linear expansion coefficient of the driving-force transmitting member. | 07-02-2009 |
20090190956 | DRIVE SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE MOTOR-AND-GEAR-TRAIN CONFIGURATIONS FOR JITTER AND NOISE REDUCTION AND COLOR DEVELOPER PRESERVATION - A color electrophotographic printing machine has a drive system which includes a frame and first, second and third motor-and-gear-train configurations mounted thereon at a common location and respectively drivingly coupled to first, second and third combinations of multiple color developer drive assemblies, multiple color photoconductive drum drive assemblies, a black developer drive assembly and a black photoconductive drum drive assembly so as to operate the same. The first and second configurations are operable at first and second motor gear mesh frequencies that are different and the third configuration is operable at a motor gear mesh frequency that can be substantially the same as one of the first and second motor gear mesh frequencies. Also, the first combination includes yellow, cyan and magenta color developer drive assemblies, the second combination includes yellow and cyan color photoconductive drum drive assemblies, and the third combination includes a magenta color photoconductive drum drive assembly with the black developer drive assemblies and black photoconductive drum drive assemblies | 07-30-2009 |
20090196655 | Coupling device, and image forming apparatus - A coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member. | 08-06-2009 |
20090208251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A conductive drum flange is provided in a cylindrical member of a photoconductive drum. A first gear is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the drum flange. A nonconductive gear member is provided in a shaft member of a transfer roller. A second gear to which driving force is transmitted from the first gear is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear member. A groove is formed in at least one of two sides of the gear member. A distance for insulation along the side is increased by groove walls of the groove. | 08-20-2009 |
20090220277 | Image forming apparatus - An image-carrier driving unit drives an image carrier. An image forming unit forms an image on the image carrier. A moving-member driving unit drives a moving member that is movable towards and away from the image carrier. A detecting unit detects a position of the moving member at predetermined sampling times while the moving member is moving. A movement control unit performs a feedback control on the moving-member driving unit such that a detection result of the detecting unit follows a target value corresponding to each of the predetermined sampling times when the moving member moves while the image forming unit is forming the image on the image carrier. | 09-03-2009 |
20090220278 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive bodies disposed along a moving direction of a recording medium; a drive mechanism for driving and rotating the plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of exposure units, each exposure unit being associated with a respective one of the photosensitive bodies, the each exposure unit configured to expose the respective photosensitive body; a determining unit for determining an exposure-starting phase that is a rotation phase at an exposure-starting timing with respect to one photosensitive body among the plurality of photosensitive bodies; and a varying unit for varying a exposure-starting time difference between the exposure-starting timing of the one photosensitive body and an exposure-starting timing of an other photosensitive body disposed at a downstream side of the one photosensitive body in the moving direction of the recording medium, based on the exposure-starting phase. | 09-03-2009 |
20090245869 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF ALLOWING DRIVEN MEMBER TO BE MOUNTED ON APPARATUS BODY IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ALLOWING DRIVE FORCE TO BE TRANSMITTED TO BELT UNIT IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including a drive source; a driven member detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first transmission member in the apparatus body, including a base rotatable around a rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the drive source to the driven member; and a second transmission member in the driven member, including a base rotatable around the rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the first transmission member to the driven member. Any of the first and second transmission members includes a projection, and the other includes a receiving port. The receiving port receives the projection when a rotation angle between the first and second transmission members is an angle set in advance while not receiving the projection when the rotation angle is out of the angle, at the time of mounting the driven member on the apparatus body. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245870 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a drive transmission system for driving a rotatable image carrier, a rotating status detecting section for detecting data relating to a rotating status of the image carrier, a rotating speed controller for controlling a rotating speed of the image carrier, and a rotation precision analyzer for calculating rotation precision information, based on the rotating status data detected by the rotating status detecting section. The rotation precision analyzer is operable to cause the rotating speed controller to change the rotating speed of the image carrier in a predetermined range, cause the rotating status detecting section to detect rotating status data in the predetermined rotating speed range, and calculate rotation precision information, based on the rotating status data in the predetermined rotating speed range. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245871 | ROTARY MEMBER DRIVING APPARATUS - A rotary member apparatus includes a main drive unit configured to apply a driving torque to a photosensitive drum through a drive transfer unit, a torque limiter configured to limit the driving torque transmitted from the main drive unit to the photosensitive drum, a compensation drive unit configured to apply a torque for adjusting an angular velocity of the photosensitive drum, an encoder configured to detect the angular velocity of the photosensitive drum, and a compensation drive controller configured to control the torque applied by the compensation drive unit on the basis of a detection result obtained by the encoder. | 10-01-2009 |
20090252534 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment of the present invention, color drift is prevented from occurring in a color image by detecting a position of a rotation informing mechanism integrally held by one of first, second, and third gears to detect a phase change in full rotation of at least one gear, detecting a position of a rotation informing mechanism integrally held by a fourth gear to detect a phase in full rotation, and setting, on the basis of the detected one phase change and the detected other phase change, phases during start of rotation of the respective gears such that a phase of a fourth image held by an image holding member rotated by the fourth gear coincides with phases of first to third images held by respective image holding members rotated by the first, second, and third gears. | 10-08-2009 |
20090257778 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having a color mode and a monochromatic mode, which includes: a transmission member, which can be switched between a transmitted state where a motor transfers a drive force to a single photoreceptor drum and a non-transmitted state where the motor does not transfer the drive force to the single photoreceptor drum; and a controller which switches to the non-transmitted state while executing an image formation in the monochromatic mode, and when a command to execute a next image formation is not instructed, switches to the transmitted state after a phase adjustment of each photoreceptor drum after the image formation in the monochromatic mode, and controls the motor to execute a slight rotation operation at every prescribed period of time by synchronizing plural drums including the single photoreceptor drum with each other through the transmission member. | 10-15-2009 |
20090257779 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming image on a recording medium includes a photosensitive member, a motor, a belt, and a drive member to rotate the belt, the drive member including a driven coupling. The apparatus also includes a drive coupling to rotate by a driving force generated by the motor, the drive coupling being movable in an axial direction to take an engagement position at which the driving force is transmittable to the driven coupling, and a release position. The apparatus further includes a transfer member to transfer a toner image onto the recording medium or the belt, a voltage application unit to apply a voltage to the transfer member, and a control unit to cause the voltage application unit to apply the voltage to the transfer member after the drive coupling moves to the engagement position and the driving force is transmitted to the driven coupling. | 10-15-2009 |
20090263158 | Belt driving device and image forming apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, during a rotation of an intermediate transfer belt performed after a contact-state-changing rotation in which the number of photoconductors contacting the intermediate transfer belt has changed, a control unit of a belt driving device controls the driving speed of a belt driving motor based on a period of the intermediate transfer belt determined in the rotation immediately before the contact-state-changing rotation instead of a period determined in the contact-state-changing rotation. | 10-22-2009 |
20090263159 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including:
| 10-22-2009 |
20090269104 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes first and second rotatable image bearing members, a rotatable belt member which can abut on the first and second image bearing members, a drive mechanism to attach or separate the second image bearing member to or from the belt member, a rotation drive mechanism, and a controller controlling a rotational speed of the second image beating member so that the second image bearing member rotates with a predetermined circumferential speed difference with respect to the belt member at least when image formation is performed by the second image bearing member. When the second image bearing member abuts on or separates from the belt member, the controller controls the rotational speed of the second image bearing member so that a circumferential speed difference between rotational speeds of the second image bearing member and the belt member is smaller than the predetermined circumferential speed difference. | 10-29-2009 |
20090285601 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: | 11-19-2009 |
20090297222 | COLOR-IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color-image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members corresponding to individual colors and disposed along the moving direction of a transfer member to which toner images are to be transferred, wherein the peripheral speed of a photosensitive member that is not forming a toner image on the transfer member is controlled so that a load during forming of a toner image on the transfer member with part of the photosensitive members at least comes close to a reference load generated between all the photosensitive members and the transfer member while all the photosensitive members are forming toner images on the transfer member. | 12-03-2009 |
20090311007 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: a first and a second photoconductor groups constituted of one or more photoconductors respectively; a first and a second drive control sections for controlling the drive of the first and the second photoconductor groups respectively to rotate the photoconductors thereof, wherein the rotational phases of the first photoconductor group and the second photoconductor group are adjusted to be matched therebetween; and the first and the second drive control sections control so that predetermined profile of a target speed is applied to the first and second photoconductor groups wherein, in the target-speed profile, the first photoconductor group starts rotating after a elapse of a predetermined startup delay time from the second photoconductor group starts rotating, and both groups end at a same final speed predetermined for full-color image formation, wherein the startup delay time is predetermined based on measurements of times needed for each of the first and the second photoconductor groups to reach a predetermined speed from starting the rotation with the target-speed profile being applied thereto. | 12-17-2009 |
20100003053 | METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING DRUM DRIVE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - In a tandem type image formation apparatus, a drum drive unit which always simultaneously drives respective photoreceptor drums, is assembled such that it is possible to synchronize cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the respective photoreceptor drums in assembling. In this manner, the photoreceptor drums rotate so as to synchronize the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums even after assembling. Therefore, a phase difference in the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums is determined, and the photoreceptor drums are assembled so as to be shifted by the phase difference. | 01-07-2010 |
20100021207 | DRIVE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drive transmitting mechanism configured to rotate the photosensitive drum of a color copier has a driving shaft, a driven shaft, and first and second coupling members. The first coupling member has a projection extending in a diametrical direction. The first coupling member is attached to the driving shaft, with amount of freedom to oscillate in a direction intersecting at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the projection. The second coupling member has a recess in which the projection is fitted. The second coupling member is attached to the driven shaft, with amount of freedom to oscillate in the lengthwise direction of the recess. The first and second coupling members oscillate in the diametrical direction and slide on the contacting surface in a diametrical direction intersecting at right angles to the diametrical direction, thus suppressing the rotational speed change of the driven shaft, which results from the de-centering and declination between the driving shaft and the driven shaft. | 01-28-2010 |
20100028046 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a single drive source, at least four photosensitive drums, a plurality of drum drive gears which are provided to correspond to the photosensitive drums, and a plurality of intermediate gears which are interposed between the drive source and each of the drum drive gears. A number of the intermediate gears provided for each of the photosensitive drums is same. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034561 | DISMOUNTING AND MOUNTING METHODS FOR COUPLING AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A method for dismounting a coupler from an electrophotographic photosensitive drum flange whose drum is usable with a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The coupler receives a force rotating the drum from the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted and includes force receiving and spherical portions. The method includes the steps of inclining the coupler relative to a flange rotational axis, pushing a pin from one end to the other end thereof, both of which project from the spherical portion when the inclining step inclines the coupler, making part of the pin ride on a surface of a regulator inside the flange, and dismounting the coupler from the flange by applying a force to a free end of the coupler toward the part of the pin riding on the regulator surface. | 02-11-2010 |
20100054811 | Image Forming Apparatus Having a Removable Photosensitive Member Unit - An image forming apparatus can include a body casing, a photosensitive member unit configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the body casing, the photosensitive member unit can be moved between a first position where the photosensitive member unit is stored in the body casing and a second position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing, and between the second position and a third position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing. The image forming apparatus may further include a control member disposed in the body casing, the control member configured to move between a holding position in which the photosensitive member unit is prevented from moving between the second position and the third position and a release position where the photosensitive member unit is allowed to move between the second position and the third position. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061763 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS REDUCING DRIVING NOISE - An image forming apparatus which includes a main body, an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium, a plate to open and close a first side of the main body; a pickup unit which includes a driven gear to rotate in forward and backward directions, a pickup roller to receive a driving force from the driven gear to pick up the printing medium disposed on the plate, and a support frame to rotatably support the pickup roller and to interlock with the forward and backward rotations of the driven gear to move toward and away from the plate, a driving source to drive the image forming unit and the driven gear, and a blocking gear disposed between the driven gear and the driving source, to prevent the support frame, spaced apart from the plate, from moving toward the plate. | 03-11-2010 |
20100080626 | Multicolor image uniformity by reducing sensitivity to gear train drive non-uniformity - A method and system for printing documents using a variety of gear arrangements and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for printing image elements within a document to minimize print artifacts by reducing sensitivity to gear train drive non-uniformity. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080627 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus to which cartridges are detachably mountable includes a cartridge supporting member movable between a set position and an outside position; a driving source; a driving member provided opposite to the driving source through the cartridge supporting member, a first driving force transmission member for transmitting a driving force of the driving source; a second driving force transmission member provided oppositely to the first driving force transmission member through the cartridge supporting member; and a third driving force transmission member provided to the cartridge supporting member. The third driving force transmission member is, in a state in which the cartridge supporting member is located at the set position, connected to the first and second driving force transmission members to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the driving member. | 04-01-2010 |
20100104321 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND VELOCITY CONTROL METHOD OF ROTATING BODY THEREOF - An image forming apparatus is configured to reduce a velocity fluctuation of a rotating body by reducing the AC velocity component of the rotating body. The image forming apparatus may include an image bearing body with a surface on which a toner image is formed; a driving motor configured to drive the image bearing body according to an input signal; and a controller configured to control the driving motor to output a motor output velocity at a period equal to that of an AC velocity component of the image bearing body. A velocity control method for the rotating body includes sampling a continuous motor input signal at a period equal to that of an AC velocity component of a rotating velocity of the rotating body. The sampled signal is transmitted to a driving motor that drives the rotating body, which is driven based upon the discrete motor input signal. | 04-29-2010 |
20100111565 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SYNCHRONIZING IMAGE CARRIER ROTATIONS - An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image carriers that are rotated in the same direction in synchronization with one another. The apparatus includes a detector that detects a rotational position on the each image carrier of the plurality of image carriers, a memory that stores a phase difference between a predetermined position and an eccentric position on each image carrier within the plurality of image carriers, and a controller that controls the eccentric positions on the circumferences of the image carriers to coincide with one another by using the phase differences stored in the memory. | 05-06-2010 |
20100111566 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE DRUMS CONTROLLER - An image forming apparatus aligns phases of plural photoconductive drums. In a ready mode, every time a predetermined time elapses, the image forming apparatus runs idle the plural photoconductive drums in a predetermined angle. The image forming apparatus uses timing of detecting either a leading end or a terminal end of a rib as a trigger for stopping the plural photoconductive drums after idling of the plural photoconductive drums. | 05-06-2010 |
20100111567 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that can improve image quality by correcting for variations in the potential characteristics of a photosensitive member and enhance the responsiveness of an image forming operation. The photosensitive member is rotated by a drive unit and exposed to light from an exposure unit. A first generation unit periodically generates a first signal. A second generation unit generates a second signal. A plurality of generation periods of the second signals are included in one generation period of the first signal. A control unit, while the photosensitive member is controlled to accelerate, counts the second signals in response to input of the first signal, identifies an exposure position when the photosensitive member is switched from the acceleration control to constant-speed control, reads correction data corresponding to the identified exposure position from a storage unit, and controls the light quantity of the exposure unit. | 05-06-2010 |
20100158569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The image forming apparatus may include a plurality of photosensitive media, a driving unit configured to rotate the plurality of photosensitive media, a detecting unit configured to detect a rotational state of each of the plurality of photosensitive media and a controller configured to control the driving member based on the rotational state detected by the detecting unit so that two adjacent photosensitive media among the plurality of photosensitive media stop with a phase angle difference therebetween that is capable of compensating for image registration errors. | 06-24-2010 |
20100178079 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including one or more rotary members rotatably arranged and a power transmission device operable to receive a rotary force and to transmit the received rotary force to one or more of the rotary members. The power transmission device transmits the rotary force to the rotary member(s) in a non-contact manner such that a vibration of one rotary member is not transmitted through the power transmission device to another component of the image forming apparatus. | 07-15-2010 |
20100189466 | IMAGE FORMING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming unit includes a first rotating body having a first gear; a first unit that rotatably supports the first rotating body; a second rotating body having a second gear; a second unit that rotatably supports the second rotating body; and a biasing part that biases the second unit toward the first unit, wherein a drive force is generated by transmitting rotation from the first gear to the second gear in order to transmit the rotation from the first rotating body to the second rotating body, and the biasing part biases the second unit in a biasing direction substantially perpendicular to a driving direction of the drive force. | 07-29-2010 |
20100209144 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: a rotating member; an engaging member to be removably engaged with the rotating member; a driving force transmitting member to be rotated and driven by a driving source; and a connecting portion that connects the engaging member to the driving force transmitting member so that the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member are movable in a misaligned direction and an axial direction. The connecting portion includes a connecting member, a pair of spherical members provided on respective ends of the connecting member, at least one of which is movable in the axial direction with respect to the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member, and a pair of fixing members that fix the pair of spherical members to the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member. | 08-19-2010 |
20100239318 | Image forming apparatus - A printer according to the present invention is a so-called tandem-type printer, and has a configuration that a motor gear is directly connected to an M-photoconductor driving gear and an idler gear is directly connected to a Y-photoconductor driving gear and the M-photoconductor driving gear. A diameter of the Y and M photoconductors driving gear, a distance between transfer sections of the Y and M photoconductors, a motor gear input angle, and an idler input angle are set so that an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting 1 from an ideal amplitude ratio, which indicates a ratio of an ideal amplitude of an eccentric component of the Y-photoconductor driving gear to an actual amplitude of an eccentric component of the M-photoconductor driving gear, is equal to or less than a maximum allowable amplitude ratio. | 09-23-2010 |
20100260518 | PHOTOSENSITIVE-MEMBER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction. The second contact surface defines a second positioning direction being perpendicular to the second contact surface and intersecting both the predetermined reference direction and the first positioning direction, allowing the photosensitive-member unit to be positioned with respect to the main body. | 10-14-2010 |
20100272470 | Image Forming Apparatus - An apparatus includes: a main body; a moving member movable between an accommodation position and a separation position; a driving member rotatably provided in the main body; a passive member rotatably provided in the moving member and is opposed to the driving member in a rotation axis direction; and a driving force transmitting member provided between the driving member and the passive member. The driving force transmitting member is movably supported in the driving member along the rotation axis direction, a first connecting unit is engaged with the driving member and the driving force transmitting member by an unevenness so as to be movable in a first diameter direction, and a second connecting unit is engaged with the driving force transmitting member and the passive member by an unevenness so as to be movable in a second diameter direction. | 10-28-2010 |
20100278559 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a rotatable driving coupling member including a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force and a driving side abutment, wherein the cartridge is demountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the driving coupling member, includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a driven side abutment to be abutted by the driving side abutment, the driven coupling member being slidable in a predetermined direction which is substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the receiving coupling member; wherein at least one of the driving side abutment and the driven side abutment is inclined so that the driven coupling member is retractable away from the driving coupling member in the predetermined direction by a force received by driven side abutment from the driving side abutment, and wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the driven coupling member and the abutment of the receiving abutment is not more than a distance between the rotational axis of the driven coupling member and the driving force receiving portion. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278560 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first drum to be subjected to image formation by exposing to light said first drum at an exposure position to form a latent image and then by transferring a toner image, formed by developing the latent image with toner, onto a transfer material at a transfer position; | 11-04-2010 |
20100290810 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first image supporting member for forming a first image; a second image supporting member arranged adjacent to the first image supporting member for forming a second image; a first drive unit for driving the first image supporting member through a first driving force having a first phase; a second drive unit for driving the second image supporting member through a second driving force having a second phase shifted from the first phase; and a transfer unit for transferring the first image and the second image to a printing medium. | 11-18-2010 |
20100296840 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR TONER CARTRIDGE FOR USE IN PRINTING APPARATUS - A driving device for a toner cartridge includes a cartridge body and a driving portion disposed on the cartridge body. A transmission mechanism is disposed in the cartridge body. The driving portion includes a driving motor and a controller. The controller receives signal transmitted from a controller unit of a printing apparatus to precisely control the operation of the driving motor. The driving motor is connected with the transmission mechanism. Through the driving action of the driving portion, the transmission load of the printing apparatus can be reduced and the stability of the printing system can be improved. Moreover, because the driving portion is built in the cartridge body, the gear transmission mechanism of the cartridge body can be simplified and malfunction can be solved. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296841 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drive transmission device includes: a driving member configured to rotate by a first electric current and having an attracting portion configured to generate magnetic force by a second electric current; a driven member having an attracted portion, the attracted portion facing the driving member and configured to be attached to the attracting portion by the magnetic force, so that the driven member integrally rotates with the driving member when the attracting portion is coupled to the attracted portion; and a controller configured to control the first electric current and the second electric current, the controller configured to apply the first electric current and then the second electric current. | 11-25-2010 |
20100303501 | Driving Force Member - A driving force member for receiving rotational driving force includes a base portion, a projection portion including three planar surfaces, the three planar surfaces arranged such that if they were extended and viewed in cross section perpendicular to the axis of the projection, they would intersect at 120 degrees in the form of an equilateral triangle, the three planar surfaces corresponding to a partial length of each side of the triangle respectively and offset from the center of each respective side of the triangle, and three joining portions joining each of the three planar surfaces, the three joining portions lying entirely within the equilateral triangle. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303502 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a photosensitive drum; a motor configured to rotate forwardly and reversely; a discharging roller to which a driving force is transferred from the motor; an one way clutch configured to transfer the driving force to the photosensitive drum or block a transfer of the driving force; a returning roller returning the recording sheet drawn by the discharging roller; a rotation direction converting mechanism transmitting the driving force to the returning roller to rotate the returning roller in a certain direction; and a time lag mechanism including engaging portions with a gap therebetween, when the rotation direction of the motor being switched, each of the engaging portions being engaged with each other after a predetermined time, thereby delaying the transfer of the driving force from the motor to the returning roller. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303503 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE THEREOF - Disclosed are an image forming apparatus of improved power transmission structure and a developing cartridge thereof. The image forming apparatus may include a main body; a driving unit which includes a driving shaft mounted to the main body and a driving coupler connected to the driving shaft. The driving coupler may be provided with a plurality of driving tips. The image forming apparatus may further include a consumable unit that may be detachably received in the main body. The consumable unit may include a driven shaft, a rotating body rotating with the driven shaft and a passive coupler rotating with the driven shaft. The passive coupler may be provided with a plurality of passive tips. The plurality of driving tips and the plurality of passive tips may come into engaging contact with each other when the consumable unit is operably received in the main body, and may remain in the engaging contact even when the respective rotational axes of the driving shaft and the driven shaft intersect with each other. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303504 | Multicolor imaging system - A multicolor imaging system includes a controller which adjusts a phase difference in rotations of photoreceptors based on information detected by a rotary position detector, and drive elements for photoreceptors which generate a velocity fluctuation in the same cycle as that of a transfer unit. The controller is configured to concurrently adjust the phases of the photoreceptors and those of the drive elements so that a registration error in four color toner image on an intermediate transfer belt is reduced to a minimum. | 12-02-2010 |
20110026969 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A control unit sets a first feedback gain for suppressing an angular speed variation of a first frequency, which causes a misalignment of images to be overlaid with each other, to the first nd feedback unit in a first image forming mode in which images formed on the first and the second image carriers are overlaid, and sets a second feedback gain for suppressing an angular speed variation of a second frequency, which causes a periodic uneven density on an image that is to be formed with a uniform density, to the first feedback unit in a second image forming mode in which an image is formed using the first image carrier. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026970 | Systems and Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033206 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMITTING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A driving force transmitting apparatus includes a driving source; a drive pulley rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source; a follower pulley rotatable with a member to be rotated; a belt member extending around a cylindrical surface of the driving pulley and a cylindrical surface of the follower pulley; and an intermediate transmission member disposed between the driving pulley and the follower pulley, the intermediate transmission member having a rigidity higher than that of the belt member and contacted to the pulleys or opposed to the pulleys with the belt member therebetween. | 02-10-2011 |
20110038652 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is capable of changing the system speed quickly and highly accurately while using a CVT device with an advantage in its quietness to transmit a driving force to rotative parts. | 02-17-2011 |
20110044724 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt member; a drive unit moving the endless belt member; a first detecting unit detecting a rotating speed of the drive unit; a second detecting unit detecting an endless transport speed of the endless belt member; and a control unit controlling the rotating speed of the drive unit based on a first detection signal from the first detecting unit or a second detection signal from the second detecting unit selectively depending on a selection condition. Upon selection of the first detection signal in accordance with the selection condition, the control unit corrects the rotating speed of the drive unit using the second detection signal such that an average value of the endless transport speed of the endless belt member approaches a target average value. | 02-24-2011 |
20110052261 | Swing-gear mechanism and image forming apparatus having multiple speed modes - An image forming apparatus has a high-speed mode and a low-speed mode and includes a speed switch unit configured to select the high-speed mode or the low-speed mode by switching a rotation direction of a drive source. The speed switch unit includes a drive gear attached to a rotating shaft of the drive source; a first drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a first direction to an image carrier; and a second drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a second direction to the image carrier, the second drive gear series having a larger reduction ratio than the first drive gear series. The speed switch unit causes the drive gear to be selectively connected to the first drive gear series or the second drive gear series depending on the rotating direction of the drive source. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058851 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming device comprising: a device main body; a cartridge detachably attachable to the device main body; a main body transmission unit to rotate about a first rotation axis; a main body joint unit to rotate about a second rotation axis allowed to intersect with the first rotation axis; a cartridge transmission unit configured to rotate about a third rotation axis and to transmit a driving force to a rotation body; and a cartridge joint unit configured to be able to rotate about a fourth rotation axis allowed to intersect with the third rotation axis, and configured to rotate coaxially with respect to the main body joint unit and to rotate the cartridge transmission unit when the main body transmission unit rotates in a state where the cartridge is attached to the device main body and the cartridge joint unit is coupled to the main body joint unit. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064471 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT USABLE WITH THE SAME - An image forming apparatus with color registration improved by correcting an eccentricity error of a power transmitting gear, and a power transmission unit usable with the same includes a driving source, at least one image receptor which is rotatably driven by the driving source and on which a latent image is formed by exposure, a power transmission unit which transmits power from the driving source to the image receptor, a developing unit which develops a toner image for the latent image formed on the image receptor, and a transferring unit which transfers the toner image developed on the image receptor onto a printing medium, wherein the power transmission unit includes an image receptor axial gear formed on the same axis as the image receptor, and a plurality of intermediate gears which transmits the power from the driving source to the image receptor axial gear, and wherein the number Tn of teeth of an n-th one of the plurality of intermediate gears with respect to the image receptor axial gear satisfies the following Inequality: I/Rn−0.2≦Tn≦I/Rn+0.2, where, Rn is a reduction ratio from the n-th intermediate gear to the image receptor axial gear and I and n are a natural number. | 03-17-2011 |
20110081166 | CONSTANT-VELOCITY JOINT AND IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - A constant-velocity joint includes an outer ring having an annular space therein and an opening at one axial end thereof. The annular space is defined by a radially outer wall and a radially inner wall of the outer ring. At least one of the radially outer wall and the radially inner wall has three axially extending track grooves circumferentially spaced apart from each other by 120 degrees. A cage is inserted in the annular space. The cage has pockets at positions corresponding to the track grooves, respectively. A ball is received in each of the pockets so as to roll along one of the track grooves. A pair of diametrically opposed protrusions is formed at radially inner and outer open ends of the pockets of the cage to prevent the balls from coming out of the pockets of the cage. | 04-07-2011 |
20110091244 | Constant velocity joint and image forming apparatus - A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097112 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD USABLE WITH THE SAME - A printing method usable with an image forming apparatus includes initiating driving of a plurality of photosensitive bodies and a transfer belt, printing an image by transferring toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive bodies to the transfer belt and finally transferring the toner images, which are transferred to the transfer belt, to paper, and stopping the driving of the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt after the printing is completed. The initiating of the driving of the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt includes applying drive initiating signals with a time interval to a first driving unit and a second driving unit to respectively drive the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt to enable the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt to simultaneously begin rotating/moving. | 04-28-2011 |
20110110688 | Drive transmission mechanism and image forming apparatus including same - A drive transmission mechanism including a drive shaft, a rotational driving member having at least two first protrusions and provided to the drive shaft, a driven member having at least two second protrusions and provided to a rotary shaft of a rotary member, deformable connecting parts provided to at least one of portions between the first protrusions and the rotational driving member and portions between the second protrusions and the driven member, and an elastic member covering the deformable connecting parts. The deformable connecting parts displace one of the first and second protrusions relative to one of the rotational driving member and the driven member in a direction tangential to a direction of rotation of the rotational driving member and the driven member upon contact of the first protrusions with the second protrusions. | 05-12-2011 |
20110116836 | DRIVING UNIT FOR PHOTO CONDUCTOR DRUM CARTRIDGE - A driving unit for a photo conductor drum cartridge is assembled with a shaft of the photo conductor drum cartridge, including a gear and a conducting plate mounted on the gear. The conducting plate is provided with an elastic arm and defines an imaginary axis parallel to the shaft. When the elastic arm of the conducting plate is perpendicular to the imaginary axis, a distance L is defined between a distal end of the elastic arm and the imaginary axis. The distance L is longer than or equal to a radius d of an annular groove portion of the shaft and shorter than a radius D of the shaft. By means of this design, the driving unit can be reusable and provide a convenient detachment of a photo conductor drum. | 05-19-2011 |
20110129255 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A phase synchronization mode is performed at a time of subsequent rotation after image formation. After detection of a phase difference by phase detecting sensors | 06-02-2011 |
20110135342 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming station including photoconductive drums and adapted to form toner images on surfaces of the respective photoconductive drums, and a drive control unit for rotating and driving the photoconductive drums. The image forming station includes a reference pulse output section for generating a reference pulse having a cycle equal to or an integral multiple of a rotation cycle of the photoconductive drums and outputting the reference pulse to the drive control unit. The drive control unit includes a phase peak detector for detecting phase peaks of surface speeds of the photoconductive drums, a phase difference detector for detecting phase differences between an edge of the reference pulse and the phase peaks, and a phase synchronization controller for synchronizing phases of the surface speeds of the photoconductive drums by controlling rotation speeds of the photoconductive drums according to the phase differences. | 06-09-2011 |
20110150530 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including, a photosensitive body for carrying toner images, a transfer section for nipping the recording sheet at a position facing the photosensitive body and transferring the toner images carried on the photosensitive body onto a recording sheet, a driving section for driving the photosensitive body, and a control section for giving instructions to the driving section to conduct a velocity control to rotate the photosensitive body at a predetermined velocity, wherein the control section sets a gain of velocity control to be greater than normal condition, at a time which is at least one of a time when the recording sheet enters the transfer section, or a time when the recording sheet separates from the transfer section. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150531 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD OF EFFECTIVELY DETECTING A SPEED DEVIATION PATTERN OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members, each of which is configured to bear a portion of a pattern image including a plurality of reference images in a given form, an endless moving member facing the plurality of image bearing members and configured to receive the pattern image, an image detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of reference images, a rotational angle detecting unit configured to separately detect each image bearing member at a given rotational angle, and a controller configured to detect a speed deviation pattern for each revolution of each image bearing member. The controller is configured to detect the speed deviation pattern based on a result obtained from a phase component and a quadrature component of a frequency signal generated from the detection result obtained by the rotational angle detecting unit and a result of detecting the plurality of reference images in the pattern image transferred onto the endless moving member. | 06-23-2011 |
20110176832 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a development roller; a transfer roller; a drum driving unit that includes a forwardly and reversely rotatable motor; a forward transport unit; a reverse transport unit; and a transfer potential control unit that is configured to control a surface potential of the transfer roller to have a reverse polarity to that of the developer on the photosensitive drum during the forward rotation of the motor and control the surface potential of the transfer roller to be a potential that has the same polarity as the developer on the photosensitive drum and is equal to or higher than a surface potential of the photosensitive drum during the reverse rotation of the motor. | 07-21-2011 |
20110182623 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A driving force transmission mechanism is provided. The driving force transmission mechanism includes an input member including a concave shape portion; a rotation driving shaft; and a driving force transmission member that is configured to rotate in a rotation direction of the rotation driving shaft together with the rotation driving shaft. A protrusion is formed on a surface of a tip end portion of the driving force transmission member, the surface is opposed to the concave shape portion, the protrusion is configured to be engaged, from an inner side, with an edge of the concave shape portion when the tip end portion is in a contact with the edge of the concave shape portion and is tilted. | 07-28-2011 |
20110229203 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS - An image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing first print output time and preventing slack of an intermediate transfer belt in a monochrome mode. Surfaces of photosensitive drums are electrically charged and exposed to light, thereby allowing electrostatic latent images to be formed thereon. Developers are attached to the electrostatic latent images to form visible images transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. Among the photosensitive drums, a photosensitive drum used in the monochrome mode and the intermediate transfer belt are rotatably driven by a first rotatably driving unit, and photosensitive drums other than the photosensitive drum used in the monochrome mode are driven by a second rotatably driving unit. In the monochrome mode, the rotational speed of the second rotatably driving unit is controlled so as to be equal to or less than that of the first rotatably driving unit without adjusting rotation phases of the photosensitive drums. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243611 | DRIVE MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A drive mechanism of the present invention includes: a housing part composed of a first resin cover and a second resin cover; a first sheet metal member housed in the housing part; a first rotation transmission wheel group disposed on the first sheet metal member on a side directed to the first resin cover; a second rotation transmission wheel group disposed on the first sheet metal member on a side directed to the second resin cover; a positioning part rotatably supporting a first rotation transmission wheel of the first rotation transmission wheel group; and a pin member positioned by inserting into the positioning part via the first resin cover. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249988 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member rotatably supported by a bearing portion provided on a supporting casing; a motor fixed on the supporting casing; a driving gear provided on the supporting casing; and a driven gear for being engaged with the driving gear to be rotated integrally with the photosensitive member. The driven gear includes teeth each of which is crowned such that a tooth thickness is maximum at a maximum tooth thickness position with respect to the gear thickness direction. A maximum force receiving position of the tooth where a force received by the driven gear from said driving gear is maximum when the photosensitive member is driven is different from the maximum tooth thickness position. The tooth thickness decreases from the maximum tooth thickness position toward the maximum force receiving position at a first degree and decreases from the maximum tooth thickness position away from the maximum force receiving position at a second degree, by the crowning. The first degree is larger than the second degree. | 10-13-2011 |
20110268475 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming means for forming a toner image on a first photosensitive drum, a first motor configured to rotationally drive the first photosensitive drum, a second image forming means for forming a toner image on a second photosensitive drum having an outer diameter larger than that of the first photosensitive drum, and a second motor configured to rotationally drive the second photosensitive drum. The first motor is a DC motor, and the second motor is a stepping motor. | 11-03-2011 |
20110280626 | Drive unit, image forming apparatus including same, and driving method therefor - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary shafts, a drive source to rotate at a predetermined low velocity and a predetermined high velocity, a first rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the first rotary shaft, a second rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the second rotary shaft, and a drive block member connected between the drive source and the second rotary shaft to block transmission of the drive force to the second rotary shaft when the drive source rotates at the predetermined high velocity. When the drive source rotates at the predetermined low velocity, the drive source drives the second rotary shaft using a difference in torque between an upper limit in high velocity rotation and an upper limit in low velocity rotation greater than the upper limit in high velocity rotation. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280627 | Drive device and image forming apparatus including same - A drive device to rotatively drive N number of image carriers. The drive device includes a single drive motor to generate torque to be transmitted to the image carriers, N number of drive gears to transmit the torque to the image carriers, an input gear rotatively driven by the torque and engaging a first drive gear to transmit the torque to the first drive gear, and N−1 number of idler gears provided between each of the drive gears, respectively, to transmit the torque from the drive gears provided on an upstream side to the drive gears provided on a downstream side in a direction of transmission of torque. The torque generated by the drive motor is sequentially transmitted from the first drive gear to the Nth drive gear via the idler gears to rotatively drive the image carriers. | 11-17-2011 |
20110293327 | Method for Increasing Useful Life of an Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photoconductive drums, each photoconductive drum transferring a portion of a toner image to an intermediate transfer member. The photoconductive drums are individually rotated to a printing speed such that a downstream photoconductive drum starts rotating prior to an adjacent upstream photoconductive drum starts image transfer. Similarly, an upstream photoconductive drum starts deceleration when its following downstream station has transferred image. | 12-01-2011 |
20110293328 | Rotary drive device and image forming apparatus including same - A rotary drive device to drive a rotary body included in an image forming apparatus. The rotary drive device includes a drive source and a planetary gear mechanism to control torque from the drive source. The planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear rotated by the torque, an annular gear coaxial to the sun gear and having inward-facing teeth, multiple planetary gears provided within the annular gear, and a carrier rotatable coaxially to the sun gear and the annular gear to rotatably support the multiple planetary gears. The annular gear is formed by injecting molten resin into a mold having a cylindrical cavity with teeth shapes along an inner circumference of the cavity from multiple pin gates provided to the mold at equal intervals along a circumference of the cavity. A number of pin gates is a non-integer multiple of a number of planetary gears. | 12-01-2011 |
20110293329 | DRIVING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A driving mechanism includes: a looped metallic transmission belt; a first shaft member; a second shaft member; and a pulley that is connected to the second shaft member so as to be rotatable about a second rotational axis, in which the first shaft member includes: a rotatably supported portion that is disposed at one end; and an extended portion that is disposed at another end so as to be continuous with the rotatably supported portion, in which a portion between the contact portion and the rotatably supported portion is flexurally deformed, the extended portion being rotatable about a diagonal rotational axis that is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the first rotational axis, and the pulley includes a inclined outer surface that is inclined, such that a portion that is most separated from the first shaft member is substantially parallel with the extended portion. | 12-01-2011 |
20110318059 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body unit having a first supported portion and an image holding body that is rotated while holding an image on a surface of the image holding body; and a conveying unit that is disposed below the image holding body unit and has conveying members for conveying a medium on which the image formed on the surface of the image holding body is to be recorded, image holding body support portions that supports both end portions, in an axial direction, of the image holding body, and a first support portion that supports the first supported portion. | 12-29-2011 |
20120003009 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus is capable of preventing operation noise of a drive part from increasing in performing phase adjustment of an image bearing member, reducing consumption power, or achieving a reduction in motor specifications. Based on a rotation phase of a photosensitive drum ( | 01-05-2012 |
20120003010 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT PERFORMS IMAGE FORMATION USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRIVING FORCES IN COMBINATION - An image forming apparatus capable of achieving improved image quality even when image formation is performed using a plurality of types of drive sources different in characteristics. Image forming units for colors form toner images of the respective colors on respective photosensitive drums each of which is driven by a DC motor for rotation. Encoder sensors detect information on the rotational speed of the photosensitive drums. An image forming unit for black forms a black toner image on a photosensitive drum having an outer diameter larger than that of the photosensitive drums for colors, which is driven by a stepper motor for rotation. An intermediate transfer belt transfers toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums to a sheet. A motor controller controls a drive frequency of the stepper motor based on information on the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum for black. | 01-05-2012 |
20120008985 | Driving device usable with image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - A driving device includes a motor, and first and second gears having gear teeth engaged with each other. At least one of the first gear and the second gear includes a crowning portion formed at a tooth surface of each of the gear teeth such that the center of the tooth surface is more convex than both ends of the tooth surface in a tooth width direction. A height of the crowning portion is determined to effectively compensate for misalignment between the first gear and the second gear. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008986 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that enables a high-quality color image having less image deterioration can be formed. First and second developing units develop an electrostatic latent image formed on each of first and second rotating members. First and second drive units drive the respective first and second rotating members. A control unit controls the first and second drive units in order that a phase of the first rotating member and a phase of the second rotating member have a predetermined relationship therebetween after the completion of an image formation, performs a stop process for stopping the first and second drive units, and further varies a period from the completion of controlling the drives of the first and second drive units to the execution of the stop process. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014715 | Image forming Apparatus, Method of Allowing Driven Member to be Mounted on Apparatus Body in Image Forming Apparatus and Method of Allowing Drive Force to be Transmitted to Belt Unit in Image Forming Apparatus - The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including a drive source; a driven member detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first transmission member in the apparatus body, including a base rotatable around a rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the drive source to the driven member; and a second transmission member in the driven member, including a base rotatable around the rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the first transmission member to the driven member. Any of the first and second transmission members includes a projection, and the other includes a receiving port. The receiving port receives the projection when a rotation angle between the first and second transmission members is an angle set in advance while not receiving the projection when the rotation angle is out of the angle, at the time of mounting the driven member on the apparatus body. | 01-19-2012 |
20120014716 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range. | 01-19-2012 |
20120027464 | Drive transmission device, drive device, and image forming apparatus - A drive transmission device includes drive transmission members including a detection target gear, a detection device detecting the rotational position of the target gear and including a position detection member and a detection unit, and a conductive protection member protecting the detection unit. The detection unit and the protection member are assembled to the same member to be installed to an external apparatus. If there is a dimensional error in the protection member causing a portion of the protection member closest to the target gear to shift in position relative to the detection unit beyond a predetermined range, the protection member comes into contact with the detection unit in the assembling process, and is corrected in shape by the detection unit, with the shift in position relative to the detection unit of the portion of the protection member closest to the target gear kept within the predetermined range. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027465 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF PERFORMING ROTATIONAL PHASE CONTROL OF IMAGE BEARING MEMBER - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing degradation of image quality and reducing time required for rotational phase control. Toner images different in color are formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, respectively. The toner images are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt in superimposed relation. A motor controller performs phase control for bringing phases of the respective photosensitive drums into predetermined relation based on a rotational phase difference detected using phase detection sensors. When the rotational phase difference is out of a predetermined range, the motor controller performs the phase control with the photosensitive drums and the intermediate transfer belt separated from each other, whereas when the rotational phase difference is within the predetermined range, the motor controller performs the phase control with the photosensitive drums and the intermediate transfer belt in contact with each other. | 02-02-2012 |
20120039631 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 02-16-2012 |
20120045247 | Systems and Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. Each prong may include an extension member extending perpendicular to the prongs and the cross-sectional area of the extension members may be less than the cross-sectional area of the prongs. | 02-23-2012 |
20120045248 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a rotatable supporting member swingably supporting the rotatable supporting member, the rotatable supporting member being provided with a first gear portion and being rotatable while carrying a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic image with toner; a drive transmission device for transmitting a rotational force to the rotatable supporting member, the drive transmission device being provided with a second gear portion engaged with first gear portion at an engagement position; and an opposing portion provided opposed to the rotatable supporting member with a gap therebetween which is smaller than an amount of engagement between the first gear portion and the second gear portion. | 02-23-2012 |
20120045249 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first photosensitive member and a second photosensitive member that form images having different colors, a transfer belt that transfers the images formed on the first photosensitive member and the second photosensitive member onto a recording sheet, a first motor that rotatingly drives the first photosensitive member and the transfer belt, and a second motor that rotatingly drives the second photosensitive member. After the startup process of the first and second motors has been completed, the rotation speed of the second motor is controlled while maintaining the rotation speed of the first motor unchanged so that the second rotation phase of the second photosensitive member rotatingly driven by the second motor is the same as the first rotation phase of the first photosensitive member rotatingly driven by the first motor. | 02-23-2012 |
20120082480 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, MOTOR UNIT AND IMAGE BEARING MEMBER UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member unit including an image bearing member and a motor including an output shaft coupled with the image bearing member to rotary-drive the image bearing member. The output shaft of the motor includes rotation speed detecting means to detect a rotation speed of the output shaft, the rotation speed detecting means being disposed in a vicinity of a node of a torsion resonance mode of the output shaft of the motor. | 04-05-2012 |
20120087696 | Image forming apparatus and velocity control method of rotating body thereof - An image forming apparatus is configured to reduce a velocity fluctuation of a rotating body by reducing the AC velocity component of the rotating body. The image forming apparatus may include an image bearing body with a surface on which a toner image is formed; a driving motor configured to drive the image bearing body according to an input signal; and a controller configured to control the driving motor to output a motor output velocity at a period equal to that of an AC velocity component of the image bearing body. A velocity control method for the rotating body includes sampling a continuous motor input signal at a period equal to that of an AC velocity component of a rotating velocity of the rotating body. The sampled signal is transmitted to a driving motor that drives the rotating body, which is driven based upon the discrete motor input signal. | 04-12-2012 |
20120114380 | PREEMPTIVE PHOTORECEPTOR VELOCITY MODULATION TO MINIMIZE TRANSIENT BANDING - Described herein is an exemplary method wherein the photoreceptor surface velocity is nominally set at a speed fractionally different than the intermediate belt (ITB) nominal surface speed. The photoreceptor speed can be preemptively altered through a velocity ramp profile whenever an event is scheduled to occur that will result in ITB transient vibration. As a result, the photoreceptor speed is not allowed to cross over or equal the belt speed at any instant during the transient event. This allows the photoreceptor to remain dynamically decoupled from the ITB, since the apparent disturbance torque imposed by the belt remains constant and does not reverse sign. | 05-10-2012 |
20120121294 | Coupling, Image Forming Apparatus and Cartridge - A coupling which may include a driving side member, a driven side member, and an intermediate member interposed between the driving side member and the driven side member. The intermediate member may be configured to transmit a driving force from the driving side member to the driven side member. The driven side member may include a first driven side rotating body having a first engaging portion and a second driven side rotating body having a second engaging portion. Further, the second driven side rotating body may be configured to rotate relative to the first driven side rotating body about a common axis of rotation with the first driven side rotating body. Additionally, the second engaging portion may be disposed outside of the first engaging portion with respect to a radial direction of the first driven side rotating body. | 05-17-2012 |
20120148305 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that rotates by power generated by a driving source. A power transmission system transmits the power from the driving source to the image carrier. The power transmission system includes a coupling member to attenuate oscillation. The coupling member includes a viscous fluid, male and female fittings, and a rotating resistor. The viscous fluid provides a resistance against rotation of the image carrier. The male and female fittings are mutually fitted and rotatably supported on a rotary shaft of the image carrier penetrating through the male and female fittings in a direction in which they are mutually fitted. The rotating resistor is accommodated together with the viscous fluid in an accommodation space defined by a recess of the male fitting and a bottom inner surface of the female fitting. The rotating resistor integrally rotates with the rotary shaft. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155921 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a driving source, a first rotator, a first power transmission system, at least one second rotator, a second power transmission system, and a damper. The driving source generates power. The first rotator is drivingly rotated by the power generated by the driving source. The first power transmission system transmits the power from the driving source to the first rotator. The second rotator is further downstream than the first rotator in a flow of power transmission. The second power transmission system transmits the power from at least one of the first power transmission system and the first rotator to the at least one second rotator. The damper attenuates oscillation between the first power transmission system and the second power transmission system or between the first rotator and the second power transmission system. | 06-21-2012 |
20120163866 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image carrier, a cleaning member and a drive mechanism. The image carrier carries a toner image. The cleaning member removes residual toner on the image carrier by contacting a surface of the image carrier. The drive mechanism rotates the image carrier and for reciprocating the image carrier in an axial direction of the image carrier. | 06-28-2012 |
20120183331 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PHOTO CONDUCTOR DRUM - A transmission device for a photo conductor drum includes a shell, a limiting apparatus mounted in the shell and having a through hole, and a transmission shaft which is coaxial with the through hole at a beginning position. When the transmission shaft is moved axially by an external force to a pressed position, the transmission shaft is inclinable relative to the through hole, and when the external force is released, an elastic member will force the transmission shaft to move back to the beginning position. As a result, while the photo conductor drum is put into a housing of a printer, the transmission shaft can connect a driving shaft without a help of a guider for enabling the photo conductor drum to rotate steady and smoothly. | 07-19-2012 |
20120195637 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195638 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195639 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195640 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195641 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120201571 | Synchronized Drive Unit And Image Forming Apparatus Having The Synchronized Drive Unit - A synchronized drive unit, including a drive member including a pulley; a driven member including a pulley; a relay member including to transmit a power; and timing belts hung around the drive and driven members through the relay member with tension and rotates the drive and driven members in synchronization, wherein each of the timing belts is formed of plural narrow timing belts parallely placed in a rotational axis direction of the pulley and the narrow timing belts are located on the driven member so as to counteract their eccentric components each other. | 08-09-2012 |
20120230731 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes gears for driving a first photosensitive drum and a second photosensitive drum. The gears includes a first drum gear, a second drum gear, and a first drive gear configured to apply a rotational force to the first drum gear and the second drum gear by meshing with the first drum gear and the second drum gear. Specific positional relations among the first photosensitive drum, the second photosensitive drum, the first drum gear, the second drum gear, and the first drive gear are configured based on exposure positions and transfer position. Such an image forming apparatus may reduce an occurrence of an image formation failure even when the dimensional unevenness of the gears occurs. | 09-13-2012 |
20120243908 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a controller configured to switch a circumferential velocity of a development roller from a second circumferential velocity to a first circumferential velocity no later than when development of a photoconductive drum is started and to switch the circumferential velocity of the development roller from the first circumferential velocity to the second circumferential velocity after the development of the photoconductive drum is completed. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251176 | ROTATING PRINTER PHOTORECEPTORS HAVING FIXED-POSITION FEATURES - An electrophotographic printer includes two photoreceptors driven using respective self-centering free ends of respective selectively-engageable output shafts. The output shafts are driven by respective output gears meshed to a common input gear. Respective centering structures on the photoreceptors receive the free ends of the output shafts; those centering structures are at fixed positions. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251177 | Image Formation Apparatus - An image formation apparatus includes a driving source configured to supply a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction, a particular developing unit having a developing roller and accommodating particular color developer, a first gear configured to receive the driving force of the driving source, a second gear configured to transmit the driving force to the developing roller, a particular intermediate gear configured to be engaged with the first and the second gears. A rotational center of the particular intermediate gear is arranged on an upstream side in a moving direction of teeth of the second gear, and a translation member is configured to linearly move between a first position where the particular intermediate gear engages with the first and second gears, and a second position where the particular intermediate gear disengages from the particular intermediate gear. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251178 | IMAGE CARRIER DRIVER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image carrier driver includes an image carrier, a first power transmitter, a rotator, a second power transmitter, and a damper. The image carrier is configured to rotate by power generated by a driving source. The first power transmitter is configured to transmit the power from the driving source to the image carrier. The rotator is disposed further downstream than the image carrier in a flow of power transmission. The second power transmitter is configured to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator. The damper is disposed in the image carrier and is configured to attenuate an oscillation associated with the power transmission and transmitted to the image carrier. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251179 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a translation cam having a cam surface configured to move a developing roller from a contact position contacting a photosensitive member to a retracted position retracted from the photosensitive member and further having a holding surface configured to hold the developing roller at the retracted position. The image forming apparatus further includes a first engaging portion. The translation cam includes a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are configured to engage each other before a functioning surface of the translation cam is switched from the holding surface to the cam surface. | 10-04-2012 |
20120263497 | GEAR DRIVE APPARATUS, DRIVING DEVICE INCLUDING GEAR DRIVE APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCLUDING GEAR DRIVE APPARATUS - A gear drive apparatus includes a gear train including a plurality of gears, and a holding unit accommodating the gear train and a lubricant to be supplied to tooth flanks of each of the plurality of gears, the holding unit including an inlet opening from which the lubricant is poured. The lubricant from the inlet opening is supplied to an engagement area where two gears of the plurality of gears are engaged with each other, or to a tooth flank area of one of the two gears at an upstream part from the engagement area along a rotational direction of the one of the two gears. | 10-18-2012 |
20120263498 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a bearing support portion that is provided in a cover member and supports a bearing member and a spring member and a bearing guide portion that is provided in an apparatus main body and has a guide groove that extends in a first direction and in which an outer peripheral portion of the bearing member is fitted when the cover member is in a close position. The bearing support portion has an opening portion extending in the first and second directions and a contact portion, and the bearing member has a convex portion that is formed on one side relative to an outer peripheral surface and is movable within the opening portion in the first and second directions and a regulation lug that is formed on the other side relative to the outer peripheral surface and, when the cover member is in an open position, can come in contact with the contact portion under a biasing force of the spring member. | 10-18-2012 |
20120308265 | Image Forming Apparatus and Rotating Body Unit - In an image forming apparatus, a rotating body has a follower member that is arranged to confront with a drive member in an axial direction of the drive member. A drive transmitting member transmits drive force from the drive member to the follower member by coupling the drive member and the follower member with each other, while allowing relative positional deviation between the drive member and the follower member on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive member within a prescribed range. The drive member and the follower member have a drive-member side contact part and a follower-member side contact part, respectively. A making-contact member brings the drive-member side contact part and the follower-member side contact part into contact with each other. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308266 | DAMPER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A damper device having: an input member into which a rotary drive force is inputted; an output member which rotates in accordance with the inputted rotary drive force; a columnar viscoelastic member provided between the input member and the output member; a driving-side pressing member which is attached to the input member and which applies a pressing force on one end surface of the viscoelastic member in accordance with the inputted drive force; a passive-side pressing member which is attached to the output member and which receives a pressing force from the other end surface of the viscoelastic member; a first supporting member which supports the driving-side pressing member such that the driving-side pressing member can turn freely relative to the input member; and a second supporting member which supports the passive-side pressing member such that the passive-side pressing member can turn freely relative to the output member. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308267 | DAMPER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A damper device having; an input member into which a rotary drive force is inputted; a passive member which receives the rotary drive force inputted into the input member and rotates; a viscoelastic material which is provided between the input member and the passive member; and a flexible member which prevents displacement of the viscoelastic material in a diametrical direction while not preventing a shake of the viscoelastic material in a rotating direction. | 12-06-2012 |
20130016997 | ROTARY DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotary driving device includes a rotary shaft supported rotatably about an axis thereof on a predetermined supporting member, a rotary load body mounted on the rotary shaft to project radially outward from the rotary shaft in such a manner that the rotary load body can rotate integrally with the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a driver for rotating the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a disk mounted on the rotary shaft coaxially therewith for integral rotation with the rotary shaft, the disk having a mounting hole formed therein, a pendulum loosely fitted in the mounting hole, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position relationship between a central axis position of the mounting hole and a center of gravity position of the pendulum under conditions where the disk is rotating. | 01-17-2013 |
20130058683 | IMAGE BEARING MEMBER DRIVE UNIT THAT DRIVES IMAGE BEARING MEMBER, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE BEARING MEMBER DRIVE UNIT, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image bearing member drive unit which is capable of performing excellent follow-up of random disturbances without increasing the costs and further with reduced energy loss. The image bearing member drive unit is formed by a brushless DC motor, a rotational position detector, a rotary encoder, a drive circuit, a motor driver IC, and a controller. The rotary encoder detects a drive speed of the image bearing member driven by the brushless DC motor. Drive current for the brushless DC motor is controlled according to the detected drive speed and a target speed. When a short brake signal for braking the brushless DC motor is on, current in a direction opposite to the drive current is generated to thereby brake the brushless DC motor. | 03-07-2013 |
20130071141 | ROTATIONAL FORCE TRANSMITTING PART - A device for transmitting a rotational force to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The device includes a flange connectable with the drum. A coupling member is provided with a rotational force transmitting portion engageable with the flange. | 03-21-2013 |
20130084103 | Rotary Body Unit - A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through the friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear had a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than the radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than the radius of the second rotary body. | 04-04-2013 |
20130084104 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A control unit sets a first feedback gain for suppressing an angular speed variation of a first frequency, which causes a misalignment of images to be overlaid with each other, to the first and feedback unit in a first image forming mode in which images formed on the first and the second image carriers are overlaid, and sets a second feedback gain for suppressing an angular speed variation of a second frequency, which causes a periodic uneven density on an image that is to be formed with a uniform density, to the first feedback unit in a second image forming mode in which an image is formed using the first image carrier. | 04-04-2013 |
20130101314 | CLUTCH MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A clutch mechanism includes a transmission element rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, integrally including a plurality of projections including a first planar surface and a second planar surface at each side of the projections in the direction of rotation of the transmission element, a rotation restriction device including a first restriction surface and a second restriction surface to contact the first planar surface and the second planar surface, to lock rotation of the transmission element, and a moving device including an actuator to move the rotation restriction device to contact and separate from the transmission element. The first restriction surface contacts the first planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the first direction, and the second restriction surface contacts the second planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the second direction. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108324 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130114976 | Systems & Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 05-09-2013 |
20130136500 | Multi-Pass Type Image Forming Apparatus - A multi-pass type image forming apparatus allows driving-couplings to couple with and separate from an image-carrier and developing units simultaneously. The apparatus includes a main body, a cover to open or close the main body, an image-carrier unit including an image-carrier and first driven-coupling connected to the image-carrier, developing units including a developing roller and a second driven-coupling connected to the developing roller, first and second driving-couplings to transmit drive power to the first and second driven-couplings, a link unit to move in a first direction in linkage with opening/closing operations of the cover, and a guide unit to be rotatable about the first driving-coupling in linkage with the link unit, the guide unit being moved when rotated about the first driving-coupling so as to couple or separate the first and second driving-couplings to or from the first and second driven-couplings. | 05-30-2013 |
20130142545 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a motor having a winding in which a plurality of coils are connected to one another, the motor configured to rotate an image bearing member by a switchover of a direction of a current flowing through each of the plurality of coils; and a control device configured to switch over the direction of the current flowing through each coil to put a brake on the motor separately from the switchover of the direction of the current flowing through each coil to drive the motor, wherein the control device switches over the direction of the current, according to a brake signal having a period larger than a period of a drive signal for driving the motor, to put a brake on the motor to control a rotation speed of the image bearing member. | 06-06-2013 |
20130149008 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a driving source configured to generate power; a first rotator configured to be drivingly rotated by the power generated by the driving source; a first power transmission system configured to transmit the power from the driving source to the first rotator; a second rotator configured to be drivingly rotated by the power generated by the driving source; and a second power transmission system configured to transmit the power to the second rotator from the first power transmission system. A damper having a torsion spring constant and a torsion viscous damping constant making a maximum positional change value of the first rotator equal to or smaller than a predetermined positional change value is disposed between the first power transmission system and the second power transmission system. | 06-13-2013 |
20130164035 | Image Forming Apparatus And Power-Transmission Assembly of The Same - An image forming apparatus having an improved power-transmission assembly to drive a developing cartridge mounted in a main body of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a main body, at least one driving coupling unit rotatably located in a side region of the main body, at least one driven coupling unit connected to a rotator inside a developing cartridge, and a coupling holder in which the driving and driven coupling units are connected to each other to enable a power-transmission from the driving coupling unit to the driven coupling unit. The driving coupling unit includes a first spherical portion to come into contact with one side of an inner surface of the coupling holder when received in the coupling holder. The driven coupling unit includes a second spherical portion to come into contact with the other side of the inner surface of the coupling holder when received in the coupling holder. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170858 | ROTARY DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotary driving device includes a rotary shaft supported rotatably about an axis thereof on a predetermined supporting member, a rotary load body mounted on the rotary shaft to project radially outward from the rotary shaft in such a manner that the rotary load body can rotate integrally with the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a driver for rotating the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a disk mounted on the rotary shaft coaxially therewith for integral rotation with the rotary shaft, the disk having a mounting hole formed therein, a pendulum loosely fitted in the mounting hole, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position relationship between a central axis position of the mounting hole and a center of gravity position of the pendulum under conditions where the disk is rotating. | 07-04-2013 |
20130183063 | Systems and Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 07-18-2013 |
20130216261 | ROTARY DRIVING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM THEREFOR, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotary driving apparatus that is capable of controlling a rotational speed correctly even when an anomaly occurs. A drive unit rotates a rotating member. A rotating body is rotated with the rotating member. A detection unit detects scales formed on the rotating body. A calculation unit calculates rotation information about the rotating member based on the detection result by the detection unit. A control value setting unit sets a control value to a predetermined value when the rotation information falls outside a predetermined range and a count of determinations that the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range is smaller than a predetermined count, and sets the control value based on the rotation information when the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range and the count of determinations is larger than the predetermined count. A control unit controls the drive unit based on the set control value. | 08-22-2013 |
20130216262 | ROTARY DAMPER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A plurality of first viscoelastic bodies are disposed in insertion holes of a first rotary member. A plurality of second viscoelastic bodies are disposed in guide holes of a second rotary member. Each of the first and the second viscoelastic bodies has an elastic coefficient changing in accordance with aging due to use. A guide member moves a contact member along the insertion hole and the guide hole. The contact member applies a compressive load to the first viscoelastic body. The aging of the second viscoelastic body due to the compressive load applied thereto moves a position of the first viscoelastic body where the compressive load is received from the contact member toward a farther side from a rotational shaft side. | 08-22-2013 |
20130216263 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; an electrostatic image forming device; and a developer carrying member. The developer carrying member is provided so as to be rotated in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the image bearing member at a peripheral speed higher than that of the image bearing member. When the peripheral speed of the image bearing member is Vp (m/sec), the peripheral speed of the developer carrying member is Vs (m/sec), and a time, of movement of the developer from the surface of the developer carrying member to the image bearing member, actually measured in a gap between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member is Tsd (sec), the peripheral speeds Vp and Vs and the time Tsd satisfy the following relationship: (Vs−Vp)×Tsd<3×10 | 08-22-2013 |
20130216264 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process unit includes a photosensitive member that carries an image; a developing device that has a developer carrying member carrying a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive member; a rotating shaft that supports the developing device rotatably for approaching and separating from the photosensitive member; a photosensitive member gear provided to the photosensitive member; and a developing gear provided to the developer carrying member. The photosensitive member gear and the developing gear engage together and driving force can be transmitted, and the rotating shaft is placed on a driving force vector between the gears or on an extended line thereof, the driving force vector being generated from engagement between the photosensitive member gear and the developing gear. | 08-22-2013 |
20130216265 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE CONTAINING THE SAME - A driving force transmission mechanism comprising a photosensitive drum driving member, wherein the photosensitive drum driving member is engaged with an image forming apparatus driving member and receives the driving force from the image forming apparatus driving member; the image forming apparatus driving member comprises a triangular groove having a triangular cross-section and driving force transmission portion disposed in three vertex angles of the triangular groove; the photosensitive drum driving member comprises a non-distorting protrusion which is axially extended from the end face of a drum shaft and engaged with the groove on the image forming apparatus driving member; the protrusion has a position-limiting mechanism and a stressed mechanism; a projecting tooth obliquely disposed on said non-distorting protrusion is taken as the stressed mechanism; and each projecting tooth also has a mating surface which is engaged with the driving force transmission component to transmit the driving force. | 08-22-2013 |
20130251404 | DRIVE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A drive unit includes a drive pulley connected to a drive source, a driven pulley connected to a target to be moved, at least one relay pulley for transmitting power from the drive pulley to the driven pulley, a plurality of belts including a first belt entrained around the drive pulley and the relay pulley, and a second belt entrained around the relay pulley and the driven pulley, a first tension application device, and a second tension application device. The first tension application device contacts the first belt to provide tension thereto. The second tension application device contacts the second belt to provide tension thereto. A cyclic speed variation component of the first belt in one rotation period transmitted to the driven pulley via the relay pulley and a speed variation component of the second belt in one rotation period transmitted to the driven pulley counteract each other. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251405 | ROTATING PART FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE FOR FORMING IMAGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotating part for an image forming apparatus includes a drive member for transmitting power; and a driven member that is rotated by the drive member. The drive member has a male part formed in a direction of a rotation axis, and the driven member has a female part that is formed in the direction of the rotation axis and into which the male part is inserted. The male part is a hexagonal male part whose cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis assumes a hexagonal shape. The female part is a twisted triangular female part that assumes a triangular cross sectional profile in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a triangle which forms a cross section of a base and a cross section of a top is twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259528 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a drive source, a rotating body, a processing unit, and a joint to switch transmission and disconnection of the driving force by moving along an axial direction, is provided. The joint is rotatable by the driving force transmitted from the rotating body in a coaxial position with respect to the rotating body and switches transmission and disconnection of the driving force by moving along the axial direction. The rotating body includes an input rotating body, which is subject to the driving force input in the rotating body and rotatable by the driving force, and an output rotating body, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the input rotating body and rotatable integrally with the input roller to output the driving force. The rotating body provides accommodating space, which accommodates at least a part of the joint when the joint is separated from the processing unit. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259529 | Image Forming Apparatus - Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a movable member configured to be displaced relative to an apparatus main body; a cover configured to be displaced between a position where an opening portion provided on the apparatus main body is opened and a position where the opening portion is closed; a link that displaces the movable member in conjunction with the cover; a driving pulley and a driven pulley; and an endless belt that is looped around and stretched between the driving pulley and the driven pulley and transmits a driving force from the driving pulley to the driven pulley. The belt overlaps with the link in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the driving pulley. | 10-03-2013 |
20130287442 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEDIUM, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM THEREFOR - An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing velocity fluctuation due to variation of friction torque between a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer medium depending on a toner image. An exposure unit forms a latent image on an image bearing member rotated by a first drive unit. A development unit develops the latent image to form a toner image. A primarily transfer unit transfers the toner image to an intermediate transfer medium rotated by a second drive unit. A secondary transfer unit transfers the toner image to a sheet. A control unit controls the drive units so that a peripheral velocity difference between the image bearing member and the intermediate transfer medium becomes a first value at starting, and controls so that the peripheral velocity difference becomes a second value larger than the first value when minute toner reaches the position of the primarily transfer unit. | 10-31-2013 |
20130302066 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a driving portion provided in the housing and configured to generate a driving force; an interchangeable member interchangeably provided in the housing and having a driving-force-receiving portion at which the driving force is received, the interchangeable member being configured to rotate by receiving the driving force at the driving-force-receiving portion; a driving-force-transmitting portion provided in the housing and connecting the driving portion and the interchangeable member to each other, the driving-force-transmitting portion being configured to transmit the driving force from the driving portion to the interchangeable member; and a connecting-and-disconnecting mechanism that allows the driving force to be transmitted between the driving portion and the driving-force-transmitting portion when the interchangeable member rotates, and prevents the driving force from being transmitted between the driving portion and the driving-force-transmitting portion when the interchangeable member is to be attached to the housing. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308981 | SUPPORTING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is a supporting mechanism including a bearing support portion that supports a bearing and is open so that the bearing is removed in a first direction that crosses a rotating shaft that is supported by the bearing, a driving shaft coupling that transmits a driving force to the rotating shaft by being connected to a rotating shaft coupling that is provided at one end of the rotating shaft, and a contact member that includes a bearing contact portion that makes contact with the bearing. | 11-21-2013 |
20130322924 | STRUCTURAL MEMBER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DRIVE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM - Provided is a structural member including an image holding member that holds a latent image, a developing member that develops the latent image, a first driven side coupling portion that is connectable to a first driving side coupling portion and transmits a driving force to the image holding member, and a second driven side coupling portion that is connectable to a second driving side coupling portion and transmits the driving force to the developing member, wherein the first driven side coupling portion includes a first engaged portion that is engaged with a first engaging portion provided on the first driving side coupling portion at no more than two engagement places, and the second driven side coupling portion includes a second engaged portion that is engaged with a second engaging portion provided on the second driving side coupling portion at three or more engagement places. | 12-05-2013 |
20130336676 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: rotators; a drive motor configured to drive the plurality of rotators and including a hall element configured to output a hall signal according to a change of a magnetic field; a counter configured to count the hall signal; an image forming unit forming a color image on a recording medium; and a controller configured to function as: an acquiring unit controlling the image forming unit to form a test pattern on the recording medium, and acquiring correction information based on the formed test pattern; a phase managing unit managing the phases of the rotators based on a count value of the counter from the formation start timing; and a correcting unit correcting the positional deviation based on the phases which are managed by the phase managing unit, and the correction information acquired by the acquiring unit. | 12-19-2013 |
20140003841 | IMAGE FORMATION UNIT AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS | 01-02-2014 |
20140023396 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A drive transmission device includes a first coupling member to be coupled to a drive shaft and including a first contact surface, a second coupling member to be coupled to a driven shaft and including a second contact surface, and an intermediate coupler disposed between the first and second coupling members. The intermediate coupler includes: a first intermediate contact surface opposed to the first contact surface and contacting the first contact surface with a first rolling member interposed in between; and a second intermediate contact surface opposed to the second contact surface and contacting the second contact surface with a second rolling member interposed in between. One of the contact surfaces and a corresponding one of the intermediate contact surfaces are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center of a corresponding one of the rolling members. | 01-23-2014 |
20140029982 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING CARTRIDGE - The present invention provides a driving force transmission mechanism for an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge. The transmission mechanism includes a photosensitive drum driving component ( | 01-30-2014 |
20140037336 | PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND A PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical photoreceptor, a drum gear located at one end of the photoreceptor, a drum shaft extending axially along the photoreceptor from one end of the drum gear for rotatably supporting the photoreceptor, and a projecting member extending longitudinally along the photoreceptor from an end surface of the drum shaft for coupling a twisted surface of a corresponding twisted triangular groove on a driving head of an imaging device. The projecting member, which is provided at one end of the photoreceptor, is operable to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor with respect to the photoreceptor. As a result, the photosensitive drum is prevented from being ejected from the driving head of the imaging device during force transmission between them, while maintaining a stable transmission of driving force between the photosensitive drum and the imaging device. A process cartridge carries the photosensitive drum. | 02-06-2014 |
20140044457 | END PORTION MEMBER, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A bearing member engageable and disengageable from a recessed portion of an image forming apparatus body is included. While the bearing member is engaged into the recessed portion, a cross-sectional area occupancy ratio which is a degree of area occupied by a cross-section of the bearing member to a cross-section of the recessed portion is 15% or higher and 75% or less. An outer peripheral shape of the bearing member in a cross-section is a hexagon, and assuming that a radius of a circumscribed circle of the hexagon is r | 02-13-2014 |
20140056618 | ROTATING-BODY DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotating-body driving device comprising: a rotating body; a driving source; a reduction gear that includes an output shaft and a gear rotating at a non-integer ratio of rotation period to a rotation period of the output shaft, and the reduction gear reducing rotation speed of the driving source; a pulse-signal generating unit; a pulse-count storage unit; a speed-fluctuation storage unit that stores therein a rotation speed fluctuation of the output shaft; and a driving-source control unit, wherein the driving-source control unit detects the speed fluctuation information associated with the accumulated number of pulse signals from the speed-fluctuation storage unit, and performs for the driving source a feedforward control to set off the rotation speed fluctuation. | 02-27-2014 |
20140072342 | TORQUE TRANSMITTING MEMBER, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - There is provided a torque transmitting member that appropriately maintains conductivity between an image forming apparatus body and a photosensitive drum and can suppress the occurrence of conduction failure. A torque transmitting member, which is disposed at an end portion of a photosensitive drum unit and transmits torque, includes: an cylindrical end member that includes a bearing portion at one end portion thereof and a fitting portion, which is inserted into a photosensitive drum, at the other end portion thereof; and a conductive conducting shaft member that is disposed so as to extend along a cylindrical shaft of the end member and includes a conductive material, which is elastically deformed, on at least a part thereof. | 03-13-2014 |
20140079436 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: a rotating member adapted to support an image; a first drive source configured to generate a drive force; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit the generated drive force toward the rotating member, the mechanism including an upstream gear and a downstream gear configured to receive the drive force therefrom; a sensor configured to output a signal indicating a rotational status of the rotating member; a control circuit configured to generate a control signal appropriate for non-uniform rotation of the rotating member, on the basis of the signal outputted by the sensor; and an actuator configured to cause a rotation axis of the first drive source or the transmission mechanism to pivot, in accordance with the control signal, thereby changing a force with which the upstream gear pushes the downstream gear into rotation such that the non-uniform rotation is cancelled out. | 03-20-2014 |
20140093282 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit; a resin-made frame to support the image forming unit; a drive source arranged on a one-end side of a transmission path to generate driving force; a gear arranged on the other-end side of the transmission path to be rotated, while one of axial ends of a shaft of the gear is supported by the frame; a metal-made first supporting member fixed to the frame to support the other of axial ends of the shaft of the gear thereon; a metal-made second supporting member fixed to the frame to support the drive source thereon and; an endless belt; a first pulley supported by the second supporting member to transmit the driving force to the endless belt, the first pulley being; and a second pulley having the endless belt strained there-around and supported by the first supporting member, is provided. | 04-03-2014 |
20140119777 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a body, an image carrier provided in the body and configured to form an image thereon, a first gear to transmit a rotation driving force to the image carrier, a first rotary shaft to which the image carrier and the first gear are attached, a second gear to mesh with the first gear and transmit the rotation driving force to the first gear, a second rotary shaft to which the second gear is attached, a drive source configured to drive to rotate the image carrier via the first gear and the second gear, a first holder to hold the first rotary shaft of the first gear, and a second holder to hold the second rotary shaft of the second gear, and a relative position between the first holder and the second holder therein is adjustable. | 05-01-2014 |
20140119778 | Electrophotographic Drum Gear Flange Socket Configurations - A toner drum gear flange socket adapted for engagement with a force transmitting end of a drive shaft in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The socket includes a bottom wall and an outer cylindrical wall including an inner surface and defining a central axis. Circumferentially spaced apart curved base wall portions extend axially from the bottom wall. Each base wall portion includes an enlarged end portion that defines a radially inwardly extending projection. A leg wall portion extends radially from one end of each curved base wall portion. Each leg wall portion defines an elongated contact surface. The radially inwardly extending projections secure the force transmitting end of the drive shaft within the socket, and the elongated contact surfaces receive driving rotational force from the force transmitting end of the drive shaft. | 05-01-2014 |
20140126932 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a driving force transmission device including a sun gear that rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving source, an internal gear that is arranged coaxially with the sun gear, a planetary gear that engages with the sun gear and the internal gear, a rotary member that is provided coaxially with the sun gear and the internal gear and installed with the planetary gear so as to rotate corresponding to revolution of the planetary gear, and an urging member that urges the planetary gear toward the rotary member. | 05-08-2014 |
20140133886 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR - An electrophotographic photoreceptor is used by being detachably mounted onto an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic application apparatus while being incorporated in a process cartridge. The electrophotographic photoreceptor has a photosensitive drum formed by forming a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate; and a flange that is fitted to an open end of the photosensitive drum and transmits a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body to the photosensitive drum. In the flange, on a surface thereof receiving the rotational driving force, a driven-side power transmission portion that is configured by a cylindrical body disposed concentrically with respect to a central shaft of the photosensitive drum, and engaging projections are provided. | 05-15-2014 |
20140140728 | BEARING MECHANISM FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - A bearing mechanism for connection with a photosensitive drum and an electronic imaging device includes a transmission member for coupling a rotary driving member of the electronic imaging device, a conductive piece at an inner portion of the transmission member, a conductive bar, and a spring member. The transmission member is synchronously rotatably mounted to the photosensitive drum and includes a through hole. The conductive bar is slidably mounted into the through hoe of the transmission member for electrically contacting a conductive shaft of the electronic imaging device. The spring member is electrically connected between the conductive piece and the conductive bar for providing a rebound force forcing the conductive bar to move away from the inner portion of the transmission member. In this way, the axial offset between the transmission member and the rotary driving member can be compensated. | 05-22-2014 |
20140140729 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A driving force transmission unit includes on a driving force transmission path a first driving rotary body with a plurality of first contact portions, a first driven rotary body with a plurality of first contact targets, a second driving rotary body with a plurality of second contact portions, and a second driven rotary body with a plurality of second contact targets. Each of the plurality of the first contact portions and each of the plurality of the first contact targets are disposed such that peaks of periodical shock generated as a first connecting portion defined by one of the first contact portions contacting one of the first contact targets changes from one to another do not overlap with peaks of periodical shock generated as a second connecting portion defined by one of the second contact portions contacting one of the second contact targets changes from one to another. | 05-22-2014 |
20140153967 | CARTRIDGE DRIVE SHAFT GEAR - Image recording devices, such as electrophotographic devices, laser printers, copiers, and fax machines, often have a cartridge that utilizes a drive gear to transmit rotational force from the printer to the print cartridge. Also, it is desirable to remanufacture print cartridge both to reduce waste and to save resources. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a drive gear mechanism that is easily replaced or reused when a print cartridge is remanufactured. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153968 | DRIVE GEAR FOR EXTENDED DRIVE SHAFT - A cartridge drive gear assembly for holding a drum coupling includes a drive gear having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including inner projections which extend into the interior of the drive gear and includes at least two voids disposed on opposing sides of the inner projections, and at least one slot disposed in the inner surface | 06-05-2014 |
20140161489 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes: a mounting portion to which a cartridge is detachably mounted; a drive transmission member for transmitting a driving force by being engaged with a drive-transmitted member provided on the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion; and a protecting member movable between a protecting position where the drive transmission member is prevented from being exposed toward the mounting portion and an open position where the protecting member is retracted from the protecting position to expose the drive transmission member to the mounting portion thereby to permit engagement of the drive transmission member with the drive-transmitted member. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169830 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus, including first and second drive portions respectively transmitting a drive force to first and second photosensitive drums, the first and second drive portions each including: a transmission gear rotated by the drive force; an idler gear rotated in mesh with the transmission gear; and a drive gear rotated in mesh with the idler gear. When a meshing angle of the idler gear is an angle from a meshing position between the idler gear and the transmission gear to a meshing position between the idler gear and the drive gear with respect to a rotation center of the idler gear, the meshing angles of the idler gears of the first and second drive portions are substantially equal to each other, and rotational phases of the idler gears of the first and second drive portions match with each other. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169831 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT PREVENTS SURFACE SPEED DIFFERENCE FROM BEING GENERATED BETWEEN PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER BELT - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing image defects, such as color shift, from being caused, by preventing increased transfer pressure from being applied by a primary transfer section to thereby prevent a surface speed difference from being generated between the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt that rotates in contact with the photosensitive drum, respective brushless DC motors for driving the photosensitive drum for rotation and the intermediate transfer belt for rotation, and a controller for controlling the brushless DC motors. The controller performs control such that the brushless DC motor applies assist torque to the photosensitive drum, for offsetting load torque acting thereon, thereby enabling the photosensitive drum to be friction-driven by the intermediate transfer belt. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178101 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member configured to rotate an image bearing member by contacting and operating the image bearing member, an image bearing member drive unit configured to drive the image bearing member, a control unit configured to output a torque instruction value to the image bearing member drive unit to control an assist torque generated by the image bearing member drive unit, and a measurement unit configured to measure a maximum speed and a minimum speed of the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the control unit controls the image bearing member drive unit using a new torque instruction value determined based on torque instruction values respectively corresponding to a maximum speed and a minimum speed when controlling the image bearing member drive unit so that the maximum speed and the minimum speed are included in a range. | 06-26-2014 |
20140178102 | DRIVING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, DRIVING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An driving apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing bodies each of which is rotatable and capable of bearing a latent image and a developer image, a rotatable belt provided so as to face the image bearing bodies, a plurality of image-bearing-body-driving units for rotating the image bearing bodies, a belt driving unit for rotating the belt, and a control unit. The control unit causes the image-bearing-body-driving units and the belt driving unit to start rotating the image bearing bodies and the belt so that the image bearing bodies and the belt rotate at a first speed. When the control unit detects that the image bearing bodies and the belt rotate at the first speed, the control unit causes the image-bearing-body-driving units and the belt driving unit to accelerate rotation speeds of the image bearing bodies and the belt to a second speed faster than the first speed. | 06-26-2014 |
20140205322 | COUPLING PART, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprises a cylinder having a photosensitive layer formed thereon, with the cylinder being rotatable about an axis thereof. A driving force transmitting part is securely fixed to one axial end of the cylinder. The driving force transmitting part includes (i) a gear encircling a peripheral portion of the driving force transmitting part and (ii) a projection disposed on a side of the gear opposite from the cylinder, with the projection having a base and a free end. At least a portion of a cross-section of the projection at the base is offset from a corresponding portion of a cross-section of the projection at the free end, as seen in a direction of the axis. | 07-24-2014 |
20140270851 | GEAR TRANSMISSION DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT INCLUDING THE GEAR TRANSMISSION DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A gear transmission device includes a drive rotator and a driven external gear. The drive rotator includes a drive internal gear to rotate about a rotary shaft. The driven external gear meshes with the drive internal gear to transmit a drive force to a drive target. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270852 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER AND INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBER SUBJECTED TO DRIVING ROTATION CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY - An image forming apparatus stabilized in transferability of an image from the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums and an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) that rotates in contact with each drum, brushless DC motors for driving the drum and the ITB for rotation. Rotary encoders associated with the drum and the ITB detect respective rotational speeds thereof. A controller sets a target value for the drum-associated rotary encoder for making the surface speeds of the drum and the belt equal to each other during normal printing operation, from a detection value from the drum-associated rotary encoder in a state of the drum being friction-driven by the belt at the primary transfer section, and controls the drum-associated motor such that the target value becomes a detection value. | 09-18-2014 |
20140294444 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CARRIER - An image forming apparatus includes a driving portion configured to generate a driving force, a first magnet configured to rotate when receiving the driving force from the driving portion, a second magnet that faces the first magnet with a gap interposed therebetween and is configured to rotate together with the first magnet while attracting and being attracted by the first magnet with magnetism, a rotating member configured to rotate in a predetermined direction when receiving the driving force from the second magnet, and a backward-rotation-suppressing mechanism configured to suppress rotation of the rotating member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294445 | DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A driving force transmission device includes a first driving member, a second driving member, a moving member and a connection drive section. The connection drive section separates, in conjunction with movement of the moving member in the first direction, the first driving member and the second driving member respectively from a first rotating member and a second rotating member in such a manner as to cause a time difference between a separating operation for separating the first driving member from the first rotating member and a separating operation for separating the second driving member from the second rotating member. | 10-02-2014 |
20140341613 | GEAR TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A gear transmission device includes a first external gear driven by a drive motor attached to a first side of a frame and a first internal gear driven by the first external gear. The first internal gear includes an outer cylinder portion, an end plate, an annular opening, and an inner cylinder portion including a shaft hole. The outer cylinder portion includes internal teeth formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The inner cylinder portion is formed concentrically inside the outer cylinder portion. The end plate connects the outer cylinder portion, the inner cylinder portion, and the shaft hole at one end in an axial direction. In a state in which the annular opening faces a second side of the frame opposite the first side thereof, the first external gear is inserted to the annular opening to mesh with the internal teeth of the outer cylinder portion. | 11-20-2014 |
20140356027 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A drive transmission device that transmits rotation from a drive source of an image forming apparatus to a rotary body detachably attachable relative to a main body thereof in an axial direction includes two external gears, a cylindrical member, and an intermediate-body retainer. The two external gears include teeth on an outer circumferential surface thereof extending in an axial direction. The cylindrical member includes an internal gear formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof to mesh with the external gears, and a flange on a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member, the flange including a projection. The intermediate-body retainer includes a depression to fit with the projection of the flange to prevent the cylindrical member from getting disengaged from the external gears. The external gears constitute a two-stage spline joint that meshes with the internal gear of the cylindrical member. | 12-04-2014 |
20140369716 | Systems and Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. Each prong may include an extension member extending perpendicular to the prongs and the cross-sectional area of the extension members may be less than the cross-sectional area of the prongs. | 12-18-2014 |
20150010333 | VIBRATION TYPE DRIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - For example, the present invention relates to a vibration type driving apparatus which includes: a vibrating body that includes an elastic body provided with a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and a driven body in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion, wherein the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element; the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion; and the connecting portion includes plural uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction. | 01-08-2015 |
20150030353 | TORQUE RECEIVING ASSEMBLY, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A torque receiving assembly, a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge having such torque receiving assembly. The torque receiving assembly having a body having an axis and having an accommodating chamber; a driven shaft disposed coaxially with the body, the driven shaft including a guide stem and a coupling head provided at one axial end of the guide stem, the guide stem having a pair of output arms which extend outwardly in a radial direction, the coupling head having a plurality of projections; wherein a pair of input arms are provided at an inner wall of the accommodating chamber and configured for abutting with the output arms; the guide stem is movable in the axial direction relative to the body, the torque receiving assembly further comprises a distance-limiting mechanism that defines a maximum distance the driven shaft is able to move relative to the body in the axis direction. The photosensitive drum and process cartridge according to the present invention both includes said torque receiving assembly. | 01-29-2015 |
20150043942 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR DRIVING ENDLESS METAL BELT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A driving device includes an endless metal belt having a strip shape, rotational members, and a polisher. The rotational members bear the metal belt to allow the metal belt to run circularly. The polisher is disposed so as to come in contact with the widthwise opposite end edges of the metal belt to thereby polish the opposite end edges of the metal belt in running | 02-12-2015 |
20150050048 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve, a transmission unit disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a shell receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that a relatively larger radius section and a relatively smaller radius section of the elastic member exert elastic force on the sleeve and the transmission unit, respectively. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly. | 02-19-2015 |
20150050049 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve having at least one guiding groove, a transmission unit having a shaft disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a gear member receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that the elastic member exerts elastic force on the shaft of the transmission unit. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly. | 02-19-2015 |
20150050050 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve having at least one guiding groove, a transmission unit having a shaft disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a gear member receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that the elastic member exerts elastic force on the shaft of the transmission unit. The transmission unit has two L-shaped engagement blocks defining a receiving space therebetween. Each L-shaped engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces are is rotatably secured to a base. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly. | 02-19-2015 |
20150050051 | DRIVE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A drive unit includes a drive pulley connected to a drive source, a driven pulley connected to a target to be moved, at least one relay pulley for transmitting power from the drive pulley to the driven pulley, a plurality of belts including a first belt entrained around the drive pulley and the relay pulley, and a second belt entrained around the relay pulley and the driven pulley, a first tension application device, and a second tension application device. The first tension application device contacts the first belt to provide tension thereto. The second tension application device contacts the second belt to provide tension thereto. A cyclic speed variation component of the first belt in one rotation period transmitted to the driven pulley via the relay pulley and a speed variation component of the second belt in one rotation period transmitted to the driven pulley counteract each other. | 02-19-2015 |
20150055983 | Systems and Methods for Remanufacturing Imaging Components - A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. | 02-26-2015 |
20150063869 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus may mechanically synchronize eccentricity and run-out deviation for each photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus that does not individually drive the photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums in which electrostatic latent images are formed, a single motor configured to rotate the photosensitive drums, driving gears configured to transmit a rotating force of the single motor to the plurality of photosensitive drums, and couplers interposed between the photosensitive drums and the driving gears and configured to enable the photosensitive drums and the driving gears to be synchronized with each other in such a manner that any one of the photosensitive drums and the driving gears follows a phase of the other one thereof when the photosensitive drums are coupled to the driving gears. | 03-05-2015 |
20150093150 | ROTATIONAL FORCE DRIVING ASSEMBLY AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The present invention relates to a rotational force driving assembly and a process cartridge used for being engaged with a rotational force driving head inside an electrophotographic image forming device so as to transmit rotary driving force, comprising a photosensitive member hub, a rotational force receiving component, a side plate, and an axis offset adjusting mechanism of the rotational force receiving component, wherein the axis offset adjusting mechanism can slide relative to the side plate; the axis offset adjusting mechanism of the rotational force receiving component is connected with the rotational force receiving component; when the rotational force driving assembly is not installed into the electrophotographic image forming device, and thus is not subjected to external force, the axis offset adjusting mechanism enables the axis of the rotational force receiving component to make parallel offset relative to the axis of the photosensitive member hub; and after the electrophotographic image forming device is arranged in the rotational force driving assembly and is installed in place, the axis offset adjusting mechanism is subjected to the external force to move relative to the side plate, so that the axis of the rotational force receiving component is coincident with the axis of the photosensitive member hub, the rotational force receiving component extends out along the axial direction of the photosensitive member hub to be engaged with the rotational force driving head, and the driving assembly does not interfere with the rotational force driving head. | 04-02-2015 |
20150098728 | DRIVE SWITCHING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drive switching device includes a driving source and a switching unit. The driving source is rotationally driven in one direction. The switching unit is linked with the driving source such that a driving force therefrom is intermittently transmittable to the switching unit, and switches a transmission direction of the driving force from the driving source between a first direction and a second direction every time the switching unit is linked with the driving source. | 04-09-2015 |
20150104214 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members that bear formed images; a driving source that rotationally drives the image bearing members and whose rotational direction is switchable between a first direction and a second direction; a first driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the first direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to the image bearing members; and a second driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the second direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to one or more of the image bearing members and does not transmit the rotational driving force to a remaining one or more of the image bearing members. The first and second driving-force transmitting units are switched therebetween by changing the rotational direction of the driving source. | 04-16-2015 |
20150110525 | ELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD - An electric motor system includes a brushless direct-current motor, a driver circuit, a position sensor, and a control circuit. The motor has an output shaft for transmitting torque. The driver circuit supplies power to the motor according to a control signal input thereto. The position sensor measures an angular, rotational position of the motor shaft. The control circuit controls operation of the motor. The control circuit includes a position sensor terminal, a reference terminal, a differential calculator, a controller, and a gain adjuster. The position sensor terminal receives a feedback signal. The reference terminal receives a reference signal. The differential calculator generates an error signal representing a difference between the measured and targeted rotational positions. The controller generates the control signal based on the error signal through a combination of control actions. The gain adjuster is connected to the controller to adjust a gain of each control action. | 04-23-2015 |
20150125182 | POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A power transmitting device having a structure to allow a photoconductor to stably form a visible image on a printing medium. The power transmitting device interconnects a rotator and a drive motor, the drive motor generating drive power to drive the rotator. The power transmitting device includes at least one gear to be rotated upon receiving power from the drive motor, a rotating shaft having one end penetrating the gear and a coupler to interconnect the other end of the rotating shaft and the rotator. An outer diameter of the coupler, an outer diameter of the rotator and an outer diameter of the gear satisfy the following relation: 0.7D105-07-2015 | |
20150147093 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drive transmission device includes a first pulley rotationally driven by a driving unit; a second pulley; a belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley; and a supply unit for supplying a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are attracted to each other and that the second pulley and the belt are attracted to each other. | 05-28-2015 |
20150293471 | IMAGE FORMING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming unit suppressing occurrences of jitters, includes an image carrier rotating by drive force transmitted via a first route to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer carrier having an elastic layer carrying a developer on a surface thereof and rotating by drive force transmitted via a second route to develop the electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer under a development condition that, with the elastic layer of a thickness from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.45, or that, with the elastic layer of a thickness more than 2.5 mm but not more than 5.0 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.24. | 10-15-2015 |
20150309467 | GEAR TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A gear transmission device includes a first external gear driven by a drive motor attached to a first side of a frame and a first internal gear driven by the first external gear. The first internal gear includes an outer cylinder portion, an end plate, an annular opening, and an inner cylinder portion including a shaft hole. The outer cylinder portion includes internal teeth formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The inner cylinder portion is formed concentrically inside the outer cylinder portion. The end plate connects the outer cylinder portion, the inner cylinder portion, and the shaft hole at one end in an axial direction. In a state in which the annular opening faces a second side of the frame opposite the first side thereof, the first external gear is inserted to the annular opening to mesh with the internal teeth of the outer cylinder portion. | 10-29-2015 |
20150323880 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a rotatable photosensitive member; a light source configured to emit a light beam; a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect the light beam so that the light beam emitted from the light source scans a surface of the photosensitive member; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; a first signal generating unit configured to detect a rotation amount of the rotary polygon mirror to generate a first signal; and a second signal generating unit configured to detect a rotation amount of the photosensitive member to generate a second signal, wherein a rotation amount of the motor is controlled based on the first signal and the second signal so that the first signal is synchronized with the second signal. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323881 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a rotatable photosensitive member; a light source configured to emit a light beam; a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect the light beam to scan a surface of the photosensitive member; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; a first rotation amount detecting unit configured to detect a rotation amount of the rotary polygon mirror; and a second rotation amount detecting unit configured to detect a rotation amount of the photosensitive member, wherein a first period of a first signal from the first rotation amount detecting unit and a second period of a second signal from the second rotation amount detecting unit have a relationship of an integral multiple, and wherein a rotation speed of the motor is controlled so that the first signal and the second signal are synchronized with each other while maintaining the relationship of the integral multiple. | 11-12-2015 |
20150338817 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM - In one aspect of the invention, a transmission device for a photosensitive drum having a drum axis, which is adapted for engagement with a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus, comprises a flange detachably attachable to the photosensitive drum coaxially to the drum axis, the flange having a receiving hole; and a transmission unit disposed to the flange coaxially to the drum axis. The transmission unit includes a shaft disposed in the receiving hole of the flange and being rotatable about the drum axis relative to the flange and movable along the drum axis relative to the flange; and an engagement structure being coaxial with the shaft and defining a receiving space for receiving the drive member. | 11-26-2015 |
20150346670 | ROTATIONAL FORCE TRANSMITTING PART - A rotating force transmitting part for an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having the rotating force applying portion, and wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismountable from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantial perpendicular with an axial direction of the driving shaft, the rotating force transmitting part includes a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the state in which electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when the process cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position. | 12-03-2015 |
20150362883 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus may include first, second, third, and fourth photosensitive media; a first driving source to rotate the first photosensitive medium; a second driving source to rotate the second photosensitive medium; and a planetary gear train to receive rotational forces of the first and second driving sources so as to rotate the third photosensitive medium, wherein the fourth photosensitive medium is rotated by being linked with the third photosensitive medium. | 12-17-2015 |
20150369338 | DRIVE TRANSMITTER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE DRIVE TRANSMITTER - A drive transmitter includes an internally toothed gear, a first support shaft to rotatably support the internally toothed gear without using a bearing, a drive source to apply a driving force to the internally toothed gear, a rotary body to which the driving force is transmitted via the internally toothed gear, and a grease retainer disposed on the first support shaft and to retain grease on at least one of a portion of the first support shaft facing the internally toothed gear and a portion of the internally toothed gear facing the first support shaft. An image forming apparatus includes the drive transmitter. | 12-24-2015 |
20150370214 | DRIVE TRANSMITTER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE DRIVE TRANSMITTER - A drive transmitter includes a group of gears to which grease is applied, at least one gear of the group of gears being an internally toothed gear, multiple pulleys, and a drive belt wound around the multiple pulleys to drive the group of gears. An image forming apparatus includes the drive transmitter. | 12-24-2015 |
20150370215 | DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A driving device includes: a plurality of vibrating members that vibrate when the vibrating members are driven; and a holding part that holds the vibrating members. The holding part includes a first member with which one or more of the vibrating members are brought into contact, and a second member with which one or more of the vibrating members are brought into contact. The first member and the second member are partially coupled to each other. A grounding member for electrically grounding a member held by the holding part is brought into contact with one of the first member and the second member that is more difficult to vibrate. | 12-24-2015 |
20160004204 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided herein is an image forming apparatus and method, the apparatus including an engine configured to form a predetermined pattern having a predetermined multiple number length on a circumference length of each photosensitive drum in an image forming medium using the photosensitive drum, a motor configured to drive the photosensitive drum, and a motor controller configured to sense a cyclic velocity of the photosensitive drum using the formed predetermined pattern, and to control a phase and velocity of the motor using the sensed cyclic velocity. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004205 | DRIVE TRANSMITTER, PROCESS UNIT INCORPORATING THE DRIVE TRANSMITTER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE DRIVE TRANSMITTER - A drive transmitter, which is includable to a process unit and an image forming apparatus, includes a first gear, a second gear, and a rotation regulator. The first gear has at least one tooth. The second gear has multiple teeth, one of which is meshed with the at least one tooth of the first gear and rotated with the first gear. The first gear continuously rotates and the second gear remains stationary when not in mesh. The number of rotations of the second gear per unit time is smaller than the number of rotations of the first gear. The rotation regulator regulates rotation of the second gear such that a tip of the second gear meshing with the first gear is located downstream from an intersection start point in a rotation direction of the second gear and upstream from an intersection end point in the rotation direction. | 01-07-2016 |
20160053815 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Drive transmission device ( | 02-25-2016 |
20160053857 | POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A power transmission apparatus includes a drive gear disposed on a shaft of a motor; a plurality of driven gears disposed to be engaged with the drive gear; and a plurality of driven members configured to receive power from each of the plurality of driven gears, wherein the plurality of driven gears is arranged so that, when the plurality of driven gears are engaged with the drive gear, a gear engagement phase of each of the plurality of driven gears is different. | 02-25-2016 |
20160053859 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM THAT ENSURES EXTENDED SERVICE LIFE IN REDUCED SIZE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A drive transmission mechanism includes an electromagnetic clutch and a drive output gear. The electromagnetic clutch includes a clutch shaft, a clutch input gear, a clutch idler gear, and a clutch output gear. The drive transmission mechanism transmits driving power using a first drive transmission path or a second drive transmission path. The first drive transmission path includes the clutch idler gear, a first idler gear, and a first output gear unit to transmit driving power to a rotated member connected to a first output gear unit irrespective of the energizing or the non-energizing an electromagnetic clutch. The second drive transmission path includes the clutch output gear, a second idler gear, and a second output gear unit to transmit driving power to a rotated member connected to the second output gear unit only when the electromagnetic clutch is energized. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054698 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body and a cartridge having an image carrier and a first coupling configured to rotate the image carrier. The main body includes a second coupling, a rotator and a receiving member. The second coupling is configured to rotate together with the first coupling about a rotation axis coaxially with the first coupling. The rotator includes gear teeth. The rotator is configured to rotate the second coupling in response to receiving the drive force from the drive source, and to rotate together with the second coupling about the rotation axis coaxially with the second coupling. The rotator, which is configured to rotate about the rotation axis coaxially with the first coupling configured to rotate the image carrier, overlaps with the receiving member when viewed from an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis. | 02-25-2016 |
20160077484 | DRIVE MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drive mechanism includes a first transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force of a drive unit to a first rotary member to rotate the first rotary member; a second transmission mechanism including a first drive path along which the second transmission mechanism transmits the driving force to a second rotary member through a first gear train to rotate the second rotary member, and a second drive path along which the second transmission mechanism transmits the driving force to the second rotary member through a second gear train to rotate the second rotary member, the second gear train having a gear ratio that differs from a gear ratio of the first gear train; and a switching mechanism that is operated by the driving force and switches the second transmission mechanism between the first drive path and the second drive path. | 03-17-2016 |
20160091838 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING IMAGE CARRIERS - An image forming apparatus includes: a driving source including only a first driving motor and a second driving motor; a first transfer system that transfers a first driving force generated by the first driving motor; and a second transfer system that transfers a second driving force generated by the second driving motor. The first transfer system transfers the first driving force only to each image carrier and each developing roller. The second transfer system transfers the second driving force to at least a belt driving roller of an intermediate transfer unit, a fixing roller, and a sheet conveyance roller. | 03-31-2016 |
20160098008 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatably supported, a to-be-transferred member onto which an image that is held by the image carrier is transferred, a driving unit that is disposed on a first end portion of the image carrier in an axial direction of the image carrier and that causes the image carrier to rotate, and a retreat mechanism that causes a second end portion of the image carrier to be separated from the to-be-transferred member while a connection between the image carrier and the driving unit is maintained and thereafter causes the image carrier to retreat by disconnecting the image carrier and the driving unit from each other. | 04-07-2016 |
20160146292 | DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE SAME - A driving device includes a first rotary shaft, a second rotary shaft, a drive-transmission device including a plurality of drive-transmission paths, a first output target rotary body, and a second output target rotary body. The plurality of drive-transmission paths selectively transmits a drive force from the first rotary shaft to the second rotary shaft via any one of the plurality of drive-transmission paths. The first output target rotary body is mounted on the first rotary shaft to receive the drive force from the first rotary shaft. The second output target rotary body is mounted on the second rotary shaft to receive the drive force from the second rotary shaft. | 05-26-2016 |
20160161897 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a feeding unit configured to feed a recording medium; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium; a fuser configured to fuse the image formed on the recording medium; a discharging unit configured to discharge the recording medium; a motor configured to drive at least one of the feeding unit, the image forming unit, the fuser, and the discharging unit, and comprise a rotor including at least one pair of permanent magnets and a Hall sensor measuring a position of the permanent magnets; and a controller configured to drive the motor based on a signal received from the Hall sensor. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161898 | GEAR TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A gear transmission device includes a first external gear driven by a drive motor attached to a first side of a frame and a first internal gear driven by the first external gear. The first internal gear includes an outer cylinder portion, an end plate, an annular opening, and an inner cylinder portion including a shaft hole. The outer cylinder portion includes internal teeth formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The inner cylinder portion is formed concentrically inside the outer cylinder portion. The end plate connects the outer cylinder portion, the inner cylinder portion, and the shaft hole at one end in an axial direction. In a state in which the annular opening faces a second side of the frame opposite the first side thereof, the first external gear is inserted to the annular opening to mesh with the internal teeth of the outer cylinder portion. | 06-09-2016 |
20160252847 | CARTRIDGE, ROTARY UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20160252868 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20160252875 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE GROUP | 09-01-2016 |
20160378049 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A drive transmission device includes a first rotary body coupled to a drive source, a second rotary body that receives a drive force transmitted from the drive source, a coupling that couples the first rotary body and the second rotary body, and a spring that presses the coupling toward the second rotary body. Each of the first rotary body and the second rotary body includes a plurality of grooves. The coupling has axially opposed first end and second end coupled to the first rotary body and the second rotary body, respectively. The coupling includes a plurality of couplers on a circumferential surface of each of the first end and the second end. The plurality of couplers are axially movable into and out of the plurality of grooves of each of the first rotary body and the second rotary body. The coupling has a spherical end face at the second end. | 12-29-2016 |
20160378050 | DRIVE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING DRIVE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM - Included is a fixation portion having one end joined with a flat plate, and the other end fixed to a support plate that supports at least a part of a drive transmission portion including a drive transmission member that transits driving force caused in a drive source, and a length in a longitudinal direction and a length in a short direction are set such that a first vibration frequency vibrating in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate and a second vibration frequency vibrating in the short direction of the flat plate respectively resonate with mutually different vibration frequencies caused in the support plate around a portion where the fixation portion and the flat plate are joined. | 12-29-2016 |