Roller

Abstract

To provide a novel roller capable of preventing movement or falling-off of a feeding part to or from a roller body even when a force is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the feeding part inward in a radial direction at the peripheral-direction outside end of the outer peripheral surface of the feeding part.SOLUTION: A peripheral-direction end surface 20 of a roller body 4 is extended to incline inside a notch 8 seen in the peripheral direction from an outer peripheral edge toward the inside in a radial direction, and a peripheral-direction end surface 36 of a feeding part 6 is extended to incline inside seen in the peripheral direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the inside in the radial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller, particularly a roller used when separating and conveying sheets of paper.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a roller used when separating and conveying sheets of paper, a roller including a roller main body portion and a delivery portion has been widely put to practical use. As such a roller, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a notch extending in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion, and the delivery portion is a roller attached to the notch formed in the roller main body portion. The rollers are arranged in combination in a state where the outer peripheral surfaces are in close contact with other rollers arranged in parallel or appropriate fixing members, and a required force (so-called nip force) is applied radially inward to the outer peripheral surface of the roller from other rollers or fixing members. When the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion of the rotating roller comes into contact with or closely adheres to the sheets of paper, a frictional force acts between the delivery portion and the sheets of paper due to the above force, and the roller separates and conveys the sheets of paper. Therefore, since relatively high outer shape accuracy is required for the roller, in order to enhance its outer shape accuracy, after the roller main body portion and the delivery portion are combined, the entire outer peripheral surface of the roller is cut or polished with a grindstone or the like. Also when the outer peripheral surface of the roller is cut or polished with a grindstone or the like, a required force is applied radially inward to the outer peripheral surface of the roller. Further, in the roller shown in Patent Document 1 below, the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion defining the circumferential end of the notch faces the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion, and engaging concave portions and engaging convex portions that engage with each other are respectively formed on the circumferential end surface of the opposing roller main body portion and the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion. By the engagement of the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion, the delivery portion is prevented from moving relative to the roller main body portion or falling off from the roller main body portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the roller disclosed in the above Patent Document 1, since both the circumferential end faces of the roller body portion that define the circumferential ends of the notch and both the circumferential end faces of the delivery portion are parallel, for example, when the roller rotates to convey paper sheets, or when the outer peripheral surface of the entire roller is cut or polished and a force in the radially inner direction is applied to the circumferential end of the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion, due to such a force, the circumferential end face of the delivery portion may elastically displace in the circumferentially inner direction, i.e., the side that is separated from the circumferential end face of the roller body portion facing it in the circumferential direction. This is because when the force is applied to the circumferential end of the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion, the circumferential end of the delivery portion is likely to fall inward in the circumferential direction based on the so-called lever principle with the inner end of the circumferential end face as the fulcrum. If the circumferential end face of the delivery portion displaces in the circumferentially inner direction, i.e., the side that is separated from the circumferential end face of the roller body portion facing it in the circumferential direction, the engagement between the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion may be released, and there is a risk that the delivery portion may move relative to the roller body portion or fall off from the roller body portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to provide a novel roller in which, even when a force in the radially inner direction is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion at the circumferentially outer end of the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion, the delivery portion is sufficiently prevented from moving relative to the roller body portion or falling off from the roller body portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] As a result of intensive studies, the present inventor has found that by extending the circumferential end face of the roller body portion inwardly inclined in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side inside the notch, and extending the circumferential end face of the delivery portion inwardly inclined in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side, the above main technical problem can be solved.

[0007] That is, according to the present invention, as a roller capable of solving the above main technical problems, it includes a roller main body portion and a feeding portion. A notch extending in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion. The feeding portion is mounted in the notch formed in the roller main body portion. The circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion that defines the circumferential end of the notch faces the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion. Engaging concave portions and engaging convex portions that engage with each other are respectively formed on the circumferential end surface of the opposing roller main body portion and the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion. In the roller, the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion inclines and extends inward in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side inside the notch, and the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion inclines and extends inward in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side. the engaging concave portion is open on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion, and the outer Week surface of the engaging convex portion is continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion. A roller is provided, which is characterized in that.

[0008] Before It is preferable that an upright piece that stands up from the outer peripheral surface and engages with the feeding portion in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the roller main body portion where the notch is formed. In this case, it is preferable that a recess that engages with the upright piece is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the feeding portion. An engaging hole portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the roller main body portion where the notch is formed, and an engaging protrusion that hangs down from the inner peripheral surface and engages with the engaging hole portion in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the feeding portion. Preferably, the engaging concave portion is formed on the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion, and the engaging convex portion is formed on the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion respectively.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] In the roller of the present invention, due to the fact that the circumferential end faces of the roller body parts facing each other and the circumferential end face of the delivery part extend inwardly inclined in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side on the circumferential end face of the roller body part and on the circumferential end face of the delivery part, respectively, when a force is applied radially inward on the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential outer end of the delivery part, the circumferential end face of the delivery part is elastically displaced so as to be pressed against the circumferential end face of the roller body part facing it. Therefore, when the above force is applied, the engagement between the engaging convex part and the engaging concave part is surely released, and it is sufficiently and surely prevented that the delivery part moves relative to the roller body part or drops off from the roller body part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a roller configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing the same.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a roller indicated by the reference numeral 2 as a whole includes a roller body part 4 and a delivery part 6, and its outer shape is substantially circular when viewed in the axial direction.

[0013] The roller main body 4 is formed by molding a relatively hard synthetic resin by an appropriate molding method. If desired, the roller main body 4 may be made of metal. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 together with FIG. 1, the roller main body 4 is generally cylindrical, and a shaft hole 7 penetrating in the axial direction is formed at the center. The roller main body 4 is fixed to a shaft (not shown) inserted through the shaft hole 7 and can rotate about the rotation axis o. A notch 8 extending in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 4, and the roller main body 4 is partitioned into a portion 4a where the notch 8 is formed and a portion 4b where the notch 8 is not formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch 8 (and thus the portion 4a) is formed over the entire axial direction of the roller main body 4. The cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4a is an arc shape except for the portion where the engaging groove indicated by the number 10 is formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging groove 10 corresponds to an engaging hole portion that engages with an engaging protrusion 28 (to be described later) formed in the feeding portion 6 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The cross-section of the engaging groove 10 is an arc shape and is open to the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4a. Such engaging grooves 10 are formed one by one at both circumferential ends of the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4a, and both extend linearly in the axial direction and penetrate. On the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4a, standing end walls 12 that extend and stand in the circumferential direction are formed at both axial ends thereof, and a standing intermediate wall 14 that extends and stands in the circumferential direction is formed at the axial intermediate portion thereof. The standing end walls 12 and the standing intermediate wall 14 are collectively referred to as standing pieces. Note that the standing end walls 12 and the standing intermediate wall 14 do not exist in the portion where the engaging groove 10 is formed. The standing end wall 12 has a longer extension length from the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 4 and a smaller axial width than the standing intermediate wall 14. On the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4b, two arc-shaped outer peripheral grooves 16 extending continuously in the circumferential direction are formed at intervals in the axial direction, and arc-shaped remaining portions 18 exist on both axial sides of the outer peripheral groove 16. Therefore, three remaining portions 18 exist at intervals in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the portion 4b, and circumferential end faces 20 that define the circumferential ends of the notch 8 are provided in each of the remaining portions 18. In the illustrated embodiment, an engaging recess 22 that is locally displaced is formed in the circumferential end face 20, and the engaging recess 22 is also open on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 4.The circumferential end face 20 and the engaging recess 22 will be further mentioned later.

[0014] The feeding portion 6 is formed of a synthetic resin material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, such as rubber, and is attached to the notch 8 formed in the roller main body portion 4 by the mounting method described later. If desired, the feeding portion 6 may be made of an elastomeric synthetic resin material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. The cross-sectional shape of the feeding portion 6 is generally arc-shaped, and its outer diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the portion 4b of the roller main body portion 4, and its inner diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the portion 4a of the roller main body portion 4. The axial width of the feeding portion 6 is the same as the axial width of the roller main body portion 4. On the inner peripheral surface of the feeding portion 6, end recesses 24 that axially engage with the standing end walls 12 formed in the roller main body portion 4 at both axial ends thereof are continuously formed in the circumferential direction, and intermediate recesses 26 that axially engage with the standing intermediate wall 14 at the axial intermediate portion thereof are continuously formed in the circumferential direction. The end recesses 24 and the intermediate recesses 26 are collectively referred to as recesses. On the inner peripheral surface of the feeding portion 6, engaging protrusions 28 that hang down from the inner peripheral surface at both circumferential ends and axially engage with the engaging grooves 10 formed in the roller main body portion 4 are also formed. Such engaging protrusions 28 extend linearly in the axial direction. On the outer peripheral surface of the feeding portion 6, an outer peripheral groove 30 and a remaining portion 32 that continuously extend in the circumferential direction at the same axial width and position as the outer peripheral groove 16 and the remaining portion 18 of the roller main body portion 4 are provided. On the outer peripheral surface of the remaining portion 32, a number of grooves 34 that linearly extend in the axial direction are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. On the circumferential end face 36 of the remaining portion 32, an engaging convex portion 38 that engages with the engaging recess 22 formed in the circumferential end face 20 of the roller main body portion 4 is formed.

[0015] The above-mentioned delivery part 6 combines a pre-formed roller main body part 4 as an inner mold (core) with a cylindrical outer mold having an inner circumferential surface that defines the outer circumferential surface of the delivery part 6, and pours a rubber material into the space part (i.e., notch 8) defined between the inner mold and the outer mold, and is integrally formed in a state of being fitted into the roller main body part 4. At this time, an adhesive is applied in advance to the outer circumferential surface of the part of the roller main body part 4 where the notch 8 is formed. After the rubber material poured into the above space part is cured and the delivery part 6 is formed, it is preferable that the delivery part 6 is adhered to the roller main body part 4 by the above adhesive. Also, the delivery part 6 does not necessarily have to be integrally formed with the roller main body part 4, and the delivery part 6 and the roller main body part 4 may be combined after being formed with separate molds respectively. When the delivery part 6 and the roller main body part 4 are formed with separate molds respectively, the delivery part 6 is attached to the roller main body part 4 by elastically engaging the engaging groove 10 of the roller main body part 4 and the engaging protrusion 28 of the delivery part 6. Therefore, only the delivery part 6 can be replaced as needed and the roller main body part 4 can be reused. In this case, since the shape of the delivery part 6 with respect to the roller main body part 4 can be appropriately changed and formed, if the engaging protrusion 28 of the delivery part 6 is set larger in advance with respect to the engaging groove 10 of the roller main body part 4, compared with the case where the delivery part 6 is integrally formed with the roller main body part 4 as described above, the fitting force between the engaging protrusion 28 and the engaging groove 10 can be increased, and thereby the delivery part 6 can be attached to the roller main body part 4 without using an adhesive. If desired, even when the delivery part 6 and the roller main body part 4 are formed with separate molds respectively, the delivery part 6 and the roller main body part 4 may be adhered with an adhesive.

[0016] When the delivery part 6 is mounted in the notch 8 formed in the roller main body part 4, the inner peripheral surface of the delivery part 6 is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the part 4a of the roller main body part 4, and the circumferential end surface 36 of the delivery part 6 is in surface contact with the circumferential end surface 20 of the roller main body part 4, respectively, and the roller 2 is substantially circular when viewed in the axial direction. At this time, in the roller 2 of the present invention, it is important that the circumferential end surface 20 of the roller main body part 4 extends inwardly inclined in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the inside of the notch 8 when viewed in the circumferential direction, and the circumferential end surface 36 of the delivery part 6 extends inwardly inclined in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the inside when viewed in the circumferential direction (in FIG. 1, a two-dot chain line indicates a straight line r1 showing the radial direction passing through the boundary between the roller main body part 4 and the delivery part 6 on the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2). Further, in the illustrated embodiment, as can be understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 together with FIG. 2, the engaging recess 22 is open on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body part 4, and the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body part 4 is continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the delivery part 6.

[0017] And the roller 2 formed as described above is usually cut or polished on its outer peripheral surface with a grindstone or the like in order to improve the outer shape accuracy. Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 5, when the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2 is cut or polished by a grindstone or the like, a force F is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2 in the direction toward the rotation axis o, that is, in the radially inward direction. Also, when the roller 2 is mounted on an external device and actually used, the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2 is in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of another roller arranged parallel to the rotation axis o or the outer surface of an appropriate fixing member, or indirectly in contact via the paper sheets being conveyed, and a force F is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2 in the direction toward the rotation axis o, that is, in the radially inward direction (in FIG. 5, a straight line r2 obtained by extending the arrow of the force F is shown by a two-dot chain line). At this time, in the roller 2 configured according to the present invention, the circumferential end surfaces 20 of the roller body portion 4 facing each other and the circumferential end surface 36 of the delivery portion 6 are inclined and extend inward in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side. In the inner side of the notch 8 in the case of the circumferential end surface 20 of the roller body portion 4, and in the inner side when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side in the case of the circumferential end surface 36 of the delivery portion 6. Due to this, when a force F is added radially inward on the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential outer end portion of the delivery portion 6, the circumferential end surface 36 of the delivery portion 6 is elastically displaced so as to be pressed against the circumferential end surface 20 of the roller body portion 4 facing it. Therefore, when the above force F is added, it is sufficiently ensured that the engagement between the engagement convex portion 38 and the engagement concave portion 22 is released, and the delivery portion 6 does not move relative to the roller body portion 4 or fall off from the roller body portion 4.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement concave portion 22 is open on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body portion 4, and the outer peripheral surface of the roller body portion 4 is continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion 6. Therefore, when the roller 2 rotates and the delivery portion 6 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of a grindstone (not shown), the outer peripheral surface of another roller, or the upper surface of an appropriate table on which paper sheets are conveyed from the circumferential outer edge on the outer peripheral surface of the engagement convex portion 38. Due to the relatively narrow axial width of the outer peripheral surface of the engagement convex portion 38, when the outer peripheral surface of the delivery portion 6 contacts a grindstone or the like, it is prevented that the delivery portion 6 rolls up from the roller body portion 4, and the delivery portion 6 smoothly abuts against a grindstone or the like.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the roller shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. The roller of this embodiment is different from the roller 2 shown in FIG. 1 in that three engaging grooves 10' and three engaging protrusions 28' for axially engaging the roller main body portion 4' and the feeding portion 6' are formed. By increasing the number of the engaging grooves 10' and the engaging protrusions 28' that engage with each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, it is further prevented that the feeding portion 6' falls off from the roller main body portion 4'.

[0020] As described above, the roller configured according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the engaging recesses are formed on the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion, and the engaging protrusions are formed on the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion, respectively. However, the engaging recesses may be formed on the circumferential end surface of the feeding portion, and the engaging protrusions may be formed on the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion, respectively.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0021] 2: Roller 4: Roller main body portion 6: Feeding portion 8: Notch 20: Circumferential end surface (of the roller main body portion) 22: Engaging recess 36: Circumferential end surface (of the feeding portion) 38: Engaging protrusion

Claims

1. A roller including a roller main body portion and a delivery portion, a notch extending in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion, the delivery portion is mounted in the notch formed in the roller main body portion, and the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion defining the circumferential end of the notch faces the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion. In the roller, an engaging concave portion and an engaging convex portion engaging with each other are formed on the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion and the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion facing each other, respectively. The circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion extends inwardly and obliquely in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side inside the notch, and the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion extends inwardly and obliquely in the circumferential direction when viewed in the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral edge toward the radially inner side. The engaging concave portion is open on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the engaging convex portion is continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body portion. A roller characterized by this.

2. The roller according to claim 1, wherein an upright piece standing up from the outer peripheral surface and engaging with the delivery portion in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the roller main body portion where the notch is formed.

3. The roller according to claim 2, wherein a recess engaging with the upright piece is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the delivery portion.

4. An engaging hole portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the roller main body portion where the notch is formed, and an engaging protrusion that hangs down from the inner peripheral surface and engages with the engaging hole portion in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the delivery portion. The roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The roller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engaging concave portion is formed on the circumferential end surface of the roller main body portion, and the engaging convex portion is formed on the circumferential end surface of the delivery portion, respectively.

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