Slide bearing

Abstract

A slide bearing having a simple configuration and low friction torque. A slide bearing (1) for supporting heat rollers, such as a fixing roller and a pressing roller which are used for an image forming device, the slide bearing (1) comprising an outer ring (3) and an inner ring (2). Either the outer ring (3) or the inner ring (2) consists of resin, and the other consists of a sintered metal. The outer peripheral surface of the inner ring (2) is a convex surface, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring (3) is a concave surface corresponding to the convex surface. The outer ring (3) is bisected in the radial direction, and the inner ring (2) is sandwiched between the bisected halves of the outer ring (3). The inner peripheral surface of the outer ring (3) and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring (2) are in sliding contact with each other.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a sliding bearing, and more particularly, to a sliding bearing used for supporting heated rollers (heat rollers) such as fixing rollers and pressure rollers of fixing devices of image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines. Background technique [0002] Generally, in the fixing device of an image forming apparatus, a toner is attached to an electrostatic latent image formed by an optical device, the toner image is transferred to a copy paper, and the image is fixed. In this fixing process, the toner image is passed between a fixing roller with a built-in heater and a pressure roller. Thereby, the transfer image composed of the toner image is fused to the copy paper by heat fusion. [0003] The fixing roller is made of soft metal with a wire-shaped or rod-shaped heater installed in the shaft center portion, and is formed into a cylindrical shape in which a shaft portion with a small diamet...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, this resin sliding bearing also has a problem that the frictional moment is about 2 to 5 times higher than that of the deep groove ball bearing.

In particular, when the roughness of the bearing sliding surface of the heating roller is rough, there is a problem that the frictional moment becomes larger and wear becomes larger at the same time, which cannot satisfy the design.

[0013] In addition, even if grease is applied to the sliding surface of the bearing in order to reduce the frictional moment, there may be insufficient grease in the part receiving a strong load, which cannot meet the design requirements.

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