Bearing for a transport roller

Abstract

To relatively easily perform attachment and detachment.SOLUTION: Each of the bearings 5 includes a main body 51 having an outer peripheral surface fitted into the 71a of the through-hole of the fixing plate 71 and a fitting portion (hole 51a) into which one shaft end portion of the rotating shaft 2 is slidably fitted, a flange portion 52 provided at an intermediate position in the central axis direction on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 51 so as to extend radially outward and abutting on one side surface of the fixing plate 71, and a plurality of arms 53 provided on the main body 51 and configured to press the flange portion 52 against one side surface of the fixing plate 71. Each of the arms 53 is connected to the bottom portion of the main body 51, and extends toward the insertion opening side of the hole 51a so as to be parallel to the central axis of the main body 51. Each arm 53 is elastically movable with the coupled portion as a fulcrum. A hook 56 that generates a force for pressing the flange portion 52 against the fixing plate 71 by being hooked on the other side surface of the fixing plate 71 is provided on the tip side in the extending direction of each arm 53.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to bearings for transport rollers. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes that "the bearing member rotatably supports the axial end of a rotating member, and comprises a cylindrical first member attached to the outer periphery of the axial end of the rotating member, and a cylindrical second member attached to the outer periphery of the first member and detachably fitted into an attachment hole formed in an attachment plate, which is a fixed member, while restricting its axial position." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-95931 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above Patent Document 1, engaging claw portions are provided at several points around the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the second member, and such a second member is snapped into a mounting hole in the mounting plate, which is the fixed member. When removing the second member from the mounting plate, it is necessary to remove it by simultaneously pressing the multiple engaging claw portions from the outer diameter side and pulling it, but it has been pointed out that there is little space to insert fingers on the outer diameter side of the engaging claw portions, making it difficult to operate when removing the second member, and other problems make it difficult to remove the second member.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a bearing for a conveying roller that can be attached and detached relatively easily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a bearing that is fixed to a non-rotatable fixed plate having a through hole and is used to rotatably support one end of a rotating shaft of a conveying roller, the bearing comprising: a bearing body having an outer peripheral surface that is fitted into the through hole of the fixed plate and having an insertion portion into which one end of the rotating shaft is slidably fitted; a flange portion that is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body so as to extend radially outward at an intermediate position in the direction of the central axis and abuts against one side of the fixed plate; and a plurality of arms that are provided on the bearing body and press the flange portion against one side of the fixed plate, each of the arms being connected to a portion of the bearing body opposite to the insertion opening of the insertion opening and extending toward the insertion opening side of the insertion part so as to be parallel to the central axis of the bearing body, and each of the arms being able to move elastically with the connected portion as a fulcrum, and a hook is provided at the tip end of each arm in the extension direction so as to be hooked onto the other side of the fixed plate to generate the pressing force.

[0007] With this configuration, the hook of the arm is hooked onto the other side of the fixed plate, thereby fixing the bearing body to the fixed plate. By fitting one end of the rotating shaft of the conveying roller into the fitting portion of the fixed bearing body, it is possible to rotatably support one end of the rotating shaft.

[0008] To remove the bearing body from the fixed plate, the arm is elastically moved away from the bearing body, thereby pulling the hook of the arm away from the other side of the fixed plate, and the bearing body can be pulled out from the through hole in the fixed plate.

[0009] In this way, the conveying roller and the bearing can be smoothly and quickly removed from the conveying roller by a relatively simple operation of simply elastically moving the arm.

[0010] Incidentally, the above-mentioned bearing may be configured such that the bearing body is further provided with a guide plate having a transport surface that comes into surface contact with one side of the paper transported by the transport roller.

[0011] According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress or prevent curling of the edge of the sheet to be conveyed near one shaft end of the conveying roller.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned bearing, the bearing body is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a bottomed hole at the center thereof serves as the insertion portion, the arms are formed as a pair and are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides around the central axis of the bearing body so that the longitudinal directions of the pair of arms are parallel to the central axis of the bearing body, and the pair of arms are connected to the bottom of the bearing body via a relay portion and can move elastically with the connected portion as a fulcrum.

[0013] According to this configuration, the number of arms is specified to be two. As a result, the force pressing the flange against one side of the fixed plate is stronger than when there is one arm, so the bearing is more firmly fixed, and the arms can be more easily operated than when there are more than two arms.

[0014] In addition, in the above bearing, the hook is formed approximately V-shaped when viewed in a plane, and has a first extension piece extending perpendicularly from each of the pair of arms toward the other side, and a second extension piece extending diagonally from the first extension piece toward the base side of the first extension piece, and the first extension piece can be configured to be hooked onto the other side of the fixed plate.

[0015] According to this configuration, one end of the rotating shaft of the conveying roller is inserted into the through hole of the fixed plate, with the tip side of the one end of the one shaft protruding from the through hole, and the hole of the bearing body is fitted into this protruding one end of the one shaft, and the bearing body is pushed toward the one end of the one shaft so that the outer surface of the bearing body is fitted into the through hole of the fixed plate.

[0016] During this pushing process, first, when the inclined surfaces of the second extension pieces of the hooks of the pair of arms abut against the outer edge of the fixed plate, the pushing load along the central axis of the bearing body is changed direction, and the pair of arms are moved elastically so that the entire hook is moved away from the bearing body.

[0017] As the pushing continues, the first extension piece of the hook overcomes the outer peripheral edge of the fixed plate, and the elastic restoring force of the pair of arms returns the hook to a state approaching the bearing body, causing the first extension piece of the hook to abut against the other side of the fixed plate and pressing the flange portion of the bearing body against one side of the fixed plate.

[0018] As a result, the bearing body is fixed to the fixed plate in a non-rotatable state, and the conveying roller is rotatably supported by the bearing body.

[0019] In this way, when installing the bearing of the present invention, the bearing can be smoothly and quickly fixed to the fixed plate in an unrotatable state by simply pushing the bearing body toward the fixed plate and one shaft end without moving the pair of arms, and the bearing can be made to rotatably support one shaft end of the conveying roller.

[0020] In this way, the bearing according to the present invention can be attached to and detached from the fixed plate by simply manipulating the pair of arms with hands or the like. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a bearing for a conveying roller that can be attached and detached relatively easily. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a bearing for a conveyor roller according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from above and front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the bearing of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the conveying roller and the bearing are separated from the cover in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation state of the bearing in FIG. 2, taken along line (4)-(4) in FIG. 8, as viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bearing of FIG. 1 at a different angle. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bearing of FIG. 2 as viewed from below. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an initial stage when the bearings are attached to the conveying roller and the fixed plate. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a continuation of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] A bearing for a conveyor roller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a bearing 5 for the transport roller 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The transport roller 1 is used in a paper transport path (not shown) of an image forming device having a scanner function, a copier function, a printer function, a facsimile function, etc., and includes a rotating shaft 2, a gear 3, two rubber rollers 4, 4, a bearing 5, etc.

[0025] Two rubber rollers 4, 4 are fixed to the middle of this rotating shaft 2 at a distance from each other and rotate integrally, a bearing 5 is provided at one end (one end of the shaft), and a gear 3 is fixed to the other end (the other end of the shaft).

[0026] Gear 3 receives rotational driving force from a rotational power source (not shown). Rubber roller 4 is paired with a driven rubber roller (not shown) and transports paper (not shown) along the paper transport path. The driven rubber roller is exposed through rectangular openings 72a and 72b provided in a predetermined area of ​​cover 7 (see Figures 2 and 3) that covers the top of the paper transport path.

[0027] The bearing 5 rotatably supports one end of the rotating shaft 2 of the conveying roller 1, and as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, comprises a bearing body 51, a flange portion 52, a pair of arms 53, 53, and a guide plate 54.

[0028] The bearing body 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. One end of the rotating shaft 2 of the conveying roller 1 is slidably fitted into a bottomed hole 51a with a circular cross section provided in the center of the bearing body 51. This hole 51a corresponds to the fitting portion described in the claims.

[0029] The bearing body 51 is fixed to a non-rotatable fixed plate 71. This fixed plate 71 is, for example, a raised piece cut out in a predetermined area of ​​the cover 7 of the paper transport path. An opening 73 is provided in the cut-out area of ​​the cover 7.

[0030] The cover 7 is formed of, for example, an appropriate metal material, and a circular through-hole 71a is provided in the central region of the fixed plate 71. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical bearing body 51 with a bottom is fitted into this through-hole 71a.

[0031] The flange portion 52 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body 51 at a middle position in the central axis direction so as to extend radially outward.

[0032] The pair of arms 53 are formed in the shape of strips, and are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides with the central axis of the bearing body 51 as the center so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to the central axis of the bearing body 51 .

[0033] One end of each of the pair of arms 53 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the bottom of the bearing 5 via a relay portion 55. The bottom corresponds to the portion opposite the insertion opening of the hole 51a serving as the insertion portion. The relay portion 55 is formed in a substantially T-shape in plan view. The pair of arms 53 are elastically swingable with the portion connected to the bearing body 51 as a fulcrum.

[0034] A hook 56 is provided on the other longitudinal end (free end) side of the pair of arms 53. The hook 56 is formed in a substantially V-shape in a plan view, and has a first extending piece 56a and a second extending piece 56b.

[0035] The first extending pieces 56a extend perpendicularly from the pair of arms 53 toward each other. The second extending piece 56b extends obliquely from the first extending piece 56a toward the base side of the first extending piece 56a.

[0036] The guide plate 54 is connected to a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body 51 and to the underside of the relay portion 55, and the outer surface of this guide plate 54 becomes the conveying surface 54a with which the conveying roller 1 comes into face-to-face contact with one side of the paper (not shown) to be conveyed.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, this guide plate 54 is formed in an approximately rectangular shape when viewed from above, and a flat raised portion 54b and an inclined portion 54c are provided in a predetermined area of ​​the outer surface of this guide plate 54, i.e., the conveying surface 54a.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, this flat raised portion 54b and inclined portion 54c are designed to fit into the opening 73 of the cover 7, and serve to prevent the paper being transported by the rubber roller 4 and driven rubber roller (not shown) of the transport roller 1 below the cover 7 from entering the opening 73, and also to suppress or prevent the edges of the paper from curling.

[0039] The bearing 5 having this configuration and shape is entirely made of, for example, POM resin. POM resin is an abbreviation for polyoxymethylene, and is also called polyacetal or acetal resin. It is a thermoplastic resin that has high self-lubricating and friction resistance among materials known as plastics. In other words, this bearing 5 is considered a sliding bearing.

[0040] Next, a method for attaching the bearing 5 to the transport roller 1 and a method for attaching the bearing 5 to the fixed plate 71 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] One end of the rotating shaft 2 of the conveying roller 1 is inserted into the through hole 71a of the fixed plate 71, with the tip side of the one end of the one shaft protruding from the through hole 71a, and the hole 51a of the bearing body 51 is fitted into this protruding one end of the one shaft, and the bearing body 51 is pushed toward the one end of the one shaft so that the outer surface of the bearing body 51 is fitted into the through hole 71a of the fixed plate 71.

[0042] During this pushing process, first, as shown in Figure 7, when the inclined surfaces of the second extension pieces 56b of the hooks 56 of the pair of arms 53 abut against the outer edge of the fixed plate 71, the pushing load along the central axis of the bearing body 51 is changed direction, and the pair of arms 53 are elastically moved in a direction away from the bearing body 51, i.e., open outward, so that the entire hooks 56 are moved away from the bearing body 51.

[0043] As the pushing continues, as shown in Figure 8, when the first extension piece 56a of the hook 56 overcomes the outer peripheral edge of the fixed plate 71, the elastic restoring force of the pair of arms 53 causes the hook 56 to return inward, that is, toward the bearing body 51, so that the first extension piece 56a of the hook 56 abuts against the other side of the fixed plate 71 and the flange portion 52 of the bearing body 51 is pressed against one side of the fixed plate 71.

[0044] As a result, the bearing body 51 is fixed to the fixed plate 71 in a non-rotatable state, and the conveying roller 1 is supported by the bearing body 51 so as to be rotatable.

[0045] In this way, by simply inserting one end of the rotating shaft 2 of the conveying roller 1 into the through hole 71a of the fixed plate 71, and without moving the pair of arms 53, fitting the hole 51a of the bearing body 51 onto the one end of the shaft, and then fitting the outer surface of the bearing body 51 into the through hole 71a of the fixed plate 71, and pushing the one end of the shaft deep into the hole 51a of the bearing body 51, the bearing 5 can be smoothly and quickly fixed to the fixed plate 71 in an unrotatable state, and the one end of the shaft of the conveying roller 1 can be rotatably supported by the bearing 5.

[0046] Then, a method for removing the bearing 5 from the conveying roller 1 and the fixed plate 71 will be described.

[0047] By hooking a finger on the second extension piece 56b of the hook 56 and elastically moving the pair of arms 53 in a direction away from the bearing body 51, i.e., opening outward, the hooks 56 of the pair of arms 53 are pulled away from the other side of the fixed plate 71, and the bearing body 51 can be pulled out from the through hole 71a of the fixed plate 71.

[0048] In this way, the conveying roller 1 and the bearing 5 can be smoothly and quickly removed from the conveying roller 1 by a relatively simple operation of simply elastically moving the pair of arms 53.

[0049] Moreover, the second extension piece 56b of the hook 56 is inclined, and a wedge-shaped space is provided between it and the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body 51, making it easy to hook a finger onto the second extension piece 56b and operate it.

[0050] As described above, according to the first embodiment to which the present disclosure is applied, the bearing 5 can be smoothly and quickly attached to and detached from the conveying roller 1 and the fixed plate 71 with a relatively simple operation.

[0051] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described first embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0052] (Embodiment 2) In this second embodiment, although not shown, the bearing body 51 shown in the first embodiment is formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0053] In the case of such a cylindrical bearing body 51, the through hole at the center thereof serves as the fitting portion described in the claims, and relay portion 55 of arm 53 is coupled to one end face on the opening side of the through hole in bearing body 51. This embodiment 2 provides the same functions and effects as the above-mentioned embodiment 1.

[0054] (Embodiment 3) Although not shown, in this embodiment 3, the number of arms 53 shown in the above embodiment 1 is three or more. This embodiment 3 can obtain the same functions and effects as the above embodiment 1.

[0055] (Embodiment 4) In this fourth embodiment, although not shown, the guide plate 54 shown in the first embodiment is formed separately from the bearing body 51, and the guide plate 54 is removably attached to the bearing body 51. This fourth embodiment provides the same functions and effects as the first embodiment. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] The present disclosure can be suitably used in bearings for conveyor rollers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Conveyor roller 2 rotation axes 3 gears 4 rubber rollers 5. Bearings 51 Bearing body 51a hole 52 Tsuba 53 Arm 54 Signboard 54a Conveying surface 54b Plane ridge 54c slope section 55 Relay Section 56 Hook 56a 1st extension piece 56b 2nd extension piece 7 Cover 71 Fixed plate 71a Through hole 72a, 72b Openings for rubber rollers 73 Bearing opening

Claims

1. A bearing fixed to a non-rotatable fixed plate having a through hole and used to rotatably support one end of a rotating shaft of a conveying roller, a bearing body having an outer peripheral surface that is fitted into the through hole of the fixed plate and having a fitting portion into which one shaft end of the rotating shaft is slidably fitted; a flange portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body at a middle position in the central axis direction so as to extend radially outward and abut against one side surface of the fixing plate; a plurality of arms provided on the bearing body for pressing the flange against one side surface of the fixing plate; each arm is coupled to a portion of the bearing body opposite to the fitting opening of the fitting portion, and extends toward the fitting opening of the fitting portion so as to be parallel to a central axis of the bearing body; A bearing for a conveying roller, characterized in that each arm can move elastically with the connected part as a fulcrum, and a hook is provided at the tip of each arm in the extension direction, which generates the pressing force by being hooked onto the other side of the fixed plate.

2. 2. The bearing for a conveyor roller according to claim 1, A bearing for a transport roller, wherein the bearing body is further provided with a guide plate having a transport surface that comes into surface contact with one side of the paper transported by the transport roller.

3. 3. The bearing for a conveyor roller according to claim 1 or 2, The bearing body is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a bottomed hole in the center thereof serves as the fitting portion, the arms are a pair, and are arranged symmetrically about the central axis of the bearing body so that the longitudinal directions of the pair of arms are parallel to the central axis of the bearing body, A bearing for a conveying roller, characterized in that the pair of arms are connected to the bottom of the bearing body via a relay part, and can move elastically with the connected part as a fulcrum.

4. 4. The bearing for a conveying roller according to claim 3, The hook is formed in a substantially V-shape in a plan view, and has first extension pieces extending perpendicularly from the pair of arms toward each other, and second extension pieces extending obliquely from the first extension pieces toward a base side of the first extension pieces, A bearing for a conveying roller, wherein the first extension piece is hooked onto the other side surface of the fixed plate.

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