JP5600768B2 - Drive device and image forming apparatus including the drive device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive device having a clutch unit, and an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier provided with the drive device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier, a sheet is conveyed by a plurality of paper feed rollers arranged in a conveyance path.
Here, among these transport rollers, a plurality of transport rollers arranged in a predetermined area are connected to one drive device (drive unit).
This driving device transmits a rotational driving force from a driving source such as a motor to shaft members arranged at both ends of the conveying roller. Accordingly, the transport roller is driven to rotate and transports the paper in a predetermined transport direction.

  By the way, the drive source used in the image forming apparatus often has a configuration (specification) that constantly outputs a rotational driving force. In this case, for example, the drive device in the image forming apparatus is rotated by a shaft member. An electromagnetic clutch that can be switched between a state where the driving force is transmitted (connected state) and a state where the driving force is not transmitted (non-connected state) is disposed.

  Here, in the electromagnetic clutch incorporated in the drive device, the support member that is rotatably supported on the output shaft and covers the electromagnetic clutch may rotate together with the output shaft.

  On the other hand, a transmission device (driving device) including a rotation preventing portion that suppresses rotation of the support member together with the output shaft and an image forming apparatus including the transmission device have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2008-26472 A

  However, in the case of the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the manufacturer needs to add a new part as a rotation preventing part that suppresses the rotation of the support member.

An object of this invention is to provide the drive device which can suppress that the support member of a clutch rotates without adding a new component.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the driving device.

  The present invention includes a housing, a base plate portion disposed on one side of the housing, a rotational drive source that outputs a rotational driving force, a transmission gear that transmits the rotational driving force from the rotational driving source, An input gear that is rotatably attached to the base plate portion about the first rotation shaft and transmits the rotational driving force from the transmission gear, and opposite to the base plate portion side in the first rotation shaft direction of the input gear An output shaft which is arranged on the side so as to be rotatable around the first rotation shaft, is capable of transmitting the rotational driving force from the input gear, and is capable of outputting the rotational driving force transmitted from the input gear; Depending on the supply state of the input gear, the input gear is in a connected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear is transmitted to the output shaft and in a disconnected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear is not transmitted to the output shaft. The output shaft And a support member that rotatably supports the output shaft, and a support member that rotatably supports the output shaft; and A connector part that protrudes in the direction of one rotation axis and receives an input of current supplied to the clutch part; and a housing part that is formed in the housing and can accommodate the support member, the output shaft Is an insertion hole that can be inserted from the inside to the outside of the housing portion and an opening-like portion that can be engaged with the connector portion, and in the state where the connector is engaged, the connector is inserted into the housing portion. The present invention relates to a drive device including an accommodating portion that is exposed to the outside and includes a rotation preventing portion that restricts rotation of the support member.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said accommodating part is equipped with the ventilation part whose opening area | region is smaller than the said rotation stop part.

  Moreover, it is preferable that one of the detent part or the ventilation part is arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction.

  Further, the anti-rotation portion and the ventilation portion are formed to face each other in the vertical direction, one is formed on the upper side in the vertical direction in the housing portion, and the other is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the housing portion. It is preferred that

  Moreover, it is preferable that the outer edge in the said rotation prevention part has an inclined guide part which guides insertion of the said connector part.

  Further, the accommodating portion is formed in a substantially headed cylindrical shape, and the rotation preventing portion cuts out a part of the outer peripheral wall and a part of the end wall serving as the head in the headed cylindrical shape. Preferably, the connector portion is disposed inside the virtual outer periphery when the end wall of the headed cylindrical shape is completely circular in the direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis. .

  Further, in the case where there are a plurality of the clutch portions, in the two accommodating portions formed next to each other, the two anti-rotation portions are formed so as to face each other, and the two connector portions are It is preferable to arrange them so as to face each other.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the driving device according to any one of the above and a paper feed roller rotated by the driving device, and the rotational driving force from the output shaft is directly or indirectly connected to the output shaft. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed roller having a shaft member to be transmitted and a paper feed roller body coupled to the shaft member.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the drive device which can suppress that the support member of a clutch rotates can be provided, without adding a new component.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including the driving device.

FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the arrangement of each component in the printer 1 as the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a driving device 21 that drives a forward feed roller and a pair of paper feed rollers of a cassette paper feed unit of the printer. It is explanatory drawing of the gear train etc. which rotationally drive the several output shaft of the drive device shown in FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the clutch part with which it is equipped between the output shaft and input gear of a drive device. It is a perspective view which shows the meshing state of the input gear with which the clutch of the drive device was assembled | attached, and the transmission gear which inputs rotational force into this input gear. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the position of the support member of a clutch and the connector in the housing of a drive device. It is explanatory drawing of the shape of the rotation prevention part in which the connector connected to the clutch of a drive device is inserted. It is a perspective view of the joint (shaft coupling) structure which connects the output shaft of a drive device, and the axial part by the side of a cassette paper feeding part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The overall structure of the printer 1 as the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view for explaining the arrangement of each component in the printer 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following description, the left-right direction is the direction of arrow X and the up-down direction is the direction of arrow Z as viewed from the user standing on the front side of the printer 1. Further, when viewed from the user standing on the front side of the printer 1, the front-rear (depth) direction is a direction orthogonal to both the arrow X and the arrow Z. The front-rear (depth) direction of the printer 1 is the axial direction of a photosensitive drum (to be described later) (the arrow Y direction shown in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body M, an image forming unit GK that forms a toner image on a sheet T as a sheet-like transfer material based on predetermined image information, A paper supply / discharge unit KH that supplies the paper T to the image forming unit GK and discharges the paper T on which the toner image is formed.
The outer shape of the apparatus main body M is configured by a case body BD as a casing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit GK includes photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d as image carriers (photosensitive members), charging units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, and a laser as an exposure unit. Scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, toner cartridges 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, toner supply units 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, drum cleaning unit 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, static eliminators 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, intermediate transfer belt 7, primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, secondary transfer roller 8, counter roller 18, fixing Part 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed / discharge unit KH includes a paper feed cassette 52, a manual paper feed unit 64, a conveyance path L for paper T, a registration roller pair 80, a plurality of rollers or roller pairs, A paper unit 50. As will be described later, the transport path L is an aggregate of a first transport path L1, a second transport path L2, a third transport path L3, a manual transport path La, and a return transport path Lb.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the image forming unit GK and the paper supply / discharge unit KH will be described in detail.
First, the image forming unit GK will be described.
In the image forming unit GK, the charging units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are sequentially applied to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d in order as the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d rotate during image formation. Charging by 10d, exposure by laser scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, development by developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, primary transfer by intermediate transfer belt 7 and primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d, Static elimination by the static eliminators 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d and cleaning by the drum cleaning units 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are performed.
Further, in the image forming unit GK, secondary transfer by the intermediate transfer belt 7, the secondary transfer roller 8 and the counter roller 18, and fixing by the fixing unit 9 are performed.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is formed of a cylindrical member and functions as a photosensitive member or an image carrier. Each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is disposed so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 about a rotation axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 7. . An electrostatic latent image can be formed on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d.

  Each of the charging units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d is disposed to face the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Each of the charging units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d uniformly charges the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d to be positive (plus polarity).

  The laser scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d function as exposure units, and are spaced apart from the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Each of the laser scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d includes a laser light source (not shown), a polygon mirror, a polygon mirror driving motor, and the like.

  Each of the laser scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d scans and exposes the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d based on image information input from an external device such as a PC (personal computer). The scanning exposure is performed by each of the laser scanner units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, thereby removing the charges on the exposed portions of the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Thereby, electrostatic latent images are formed on the respective surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d.

  The developing units 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are provided corresponding to the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively, and are disposed to face the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. . Each of the developing units 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d attaches toner of each color to a portion where the electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is removed, Color toner images are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Each of the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d corresponds to four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. Each of the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d includes a developing roller disposed opposite to the surface of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, a stirring roller for stirring the toner, and the like.

  Each of the toner cartridges 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d is provided corresponding to each of the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d, and each color toner supplied to each of the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d. To accommodate. Each of the toner cartridges 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d accommodates yellow toner, cyan toner, magenta toner, and black toner.

  The toner supply units 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d are provided corresponding to the toner cartridges 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d and the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d, respectively. The toners of the respective colors accommodated in 5d are supplied to the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d, respectively. Each of the toner supply units 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d is connected to each of the developing devices 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d by a toner conveyance device (not shown).

  To the intermediate transfer belt 7, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are sequentially primary-transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is stretched over a driven roller 35, a counter roller 18 that functions as a driving roller, a tension roller 36, and the like. Since the tension roller 36 biases the intermediate transfer belt 7 from the inside to the outside, a predetermined tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  Primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d are arranged to face each other on the side opposite to the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d with the intermediate transfer belt 7 interposed therebetween.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 is sandwiched between the primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d and the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively. The sandwiched portion is pressed against the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Primary transfer nips N1a, N1b, N1c, and N1d are formed between the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and the primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d, respectively. In the primary transfer nips N1a, N1b, N1c, and N1d, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptor drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7, respectively. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  To the primary transfer rollers 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d, toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are respectively transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 by a primary transfer bias applying unit (not shown). A primary transfer bias for transferring the toner image is applied.

  The static eliminators 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are arranged to face the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively. The static eliminators 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d respectively irradiate the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d to irradiate light, and the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, and 2c after the primary transfer is performed. 2d, each surface is neutralized (charge is removed).

  Each of the drum cleaning units 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d is disposed to face the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Each of the drum cleaning units 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d removes toner and adhering matter remaining after the primary transfer on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and removes the removed toner and the like to a predetermined level. It is transported to the collection mechanism and collected.

  The secondary transfer roller 8 secondarily transfers the full-color toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 onto the paper T. A secondary transfer bias for transferring the full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 to the paper T is applied to the secondary transfer roller 8 by a secondary transfer bias applying unit (not shown).

  The secondary transfer roller 8 contacts or separates from the intermediate transfer belt 7. Specifically, the secondary transfer roller 8 is configured to be movable between a contact position where the secondary transfer roller 8 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7 and a spaced position where the secondary transfer roller 8 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 7. Specifically, the secondary transfer roller 8 is disposed at a contact position when the full-color toner image primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 is secondarily transferred to the paper T, and in other cases. It is arranged at a separated position.

  A counter roller 18 is disposed on the opposite side of the intermediate transfer belt 7 from the secondary transfer roller 8. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 8 and the opposing roller 18. Then, the paper T is pressed against the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 (the surface on which the toner image is primarily transferred). A secondary transfer nip N <b> 2 is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8. At the secondary transfer nip N2, the full-color toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 is secondarily transferred to the paper T.

  The fixing unit 9 melts and presses the toner of each color constituting the toner image secondarily transferred onto the paper T and fixes the toner on the paper T. The fixing unit 9 includes a heating rotator 9a heated by a heater and a pressure rotator 9b pressed against the heating rotator 9a. The heating rotator 9a and the pressure rotator 9b sandwich and pressurize the paper T onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred, and convey the paper T. When the paper T is conveyed while being sandwiched between the heating rotator 9a and the pressure rotator 9b, the toner transferred to the paper T is fixed on the paper T by being melted and pressurized. Is done.

Next, the paper supply / discharge unit KH will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 52 that stores paper T is disposed below the apparatus main body M. The paper feed cassette 52 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the case body BD of the apparatus main body M in the horizontal direction. In the paper feed cassette 52, a placement plate 60 on which the paper T is placed is disposed. In the paper feed cassette 52, the paper T is stored in a state of being stacked on the placement plate 60. The paper T placed on the placement plate 60 is sent out to the transport path L by the cassette paper feed unit 51 disposed at the paper feed side end of the paper feed cassette 52 (the right end in FIG. 1). ing. The cassette paper feeding unit 51 includes a forward feed roller 61 for taking out the paper T on the placement plate 60 and a paper feed roller pair 81 for feeding the paper T one by one to the transport path L. Is provided.

  The pair of paper feed rollers 81 in the cassette paper feed unit 51 includes a paper feed roller 81a and a separation roller 81b. The paper feed roller 81 a is disposed so as to contact the surface of the paper T fed from the paper feed cassette 52 by the forward feed roller 61, and is rotated to feed the paper T to the transport path L. The separation roller 81b is provided on the opposite side of the paper feed roller 81a across the paper T fed from the paper feed cassette 52 by the forward feed roller 61, and the lower paper T that has been fed over is fed from the upper paper T. To separate.

  The cassette paper feed unit 51 is a unit that integrally supports the forward feed roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81 by a dedicated housing. The cassette paper feeding unit 51 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body M along the axial direction of the forward feed roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81. When the cassette paper feeding unit 51 is attached to the apparatus main body M, the shaft of one end of the forward feed roller 61 and the pair of paper feeding rollers 81 is provided on the apparatus main body M side, and the output of the driving device 21 described later. The front drive roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81 can be driven by the drive device 21 connected to the shaft. Details of the driving device 21 that drives the forward feed roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81 will be described later.

  A manual paper feed unit 64 is provided on the right side surface (right side in FIG. 1) of the apparatus main body M. The manual paper feed unit 64 is provided mainly for supplying paper T having a size and type different from the paper T set in the paper feed cassette 52 to the apparatus main body M. The manual paper feed unit 64 includes a manual feed tray 65 that forms part of the right side surface of the apparatus main body M in the closed state, and a paper feed roller 66. The lower end of the manual feed tray 65 is attached to the vicinity of the paper feed roller 66 so as to be rotatable (openable and closable). The paper T is placed on the open manual feed tray 65. The paper feed roller 66 feeds the paper T placed on the open manual feed tray 65 to the manual feed path La.

  The conveyance path L for conveying the paper T includes a first conveyance path L1 from the cassette paper feeding unit 51 to the secondary transfer nip N2, a second conveyance path L2 from the secondary transfer nip N2 to the fixing unit 9, and a fixing unit. 9 to the paper discharge unit 50, the manual conveyance path La for joining the paper supplied from the manual paper feed unit 64 to the first conveyance path L1, and the third conveyance path L3 from the downstream side to the upstream side. And a return conveyance path Lb for reversing the sheet conveyed to the side and returning it to the first conveyance path L1.

Moreover, the 1st junction part P1 and the 2nd junction part P2 are provided in the middle of the 1st conveyance path L1. A first branch portion Q1 is provided in the middle of the third transport path L3.
The first joining part P1 is a joining part where the manual feed path La joins the first transport path L1. The second junction P2 is a junction where the return conveyance path Lb merges with the first conveyance path L1.
The first branch portion Q1 is a branch portion where the return transport path Lb branches from the third transport path L3.

  In the middle of the first conveyance path L1 (specifically, between the second joining portion P2 and the secondary transfer nip N2), a paper detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the paper T, A registration roller pair 80 is arranged for adjusting the timing with skew (oblique feeding) correction and toner image formation in the image forming unit GK. The paper detection sensor is disposed immediately before the registration roller pair 80 in the transport direction of the paper T (upstream in the transport direction). The registration roller pair 80 conveys the paper T by performing the above-described correction and timing adjustment based on detection signal information from the paper detection sensor.

  An intermediate roller pair 82 is disposed between the first joining portion P1 and the second joining portion P2 in the first transport path L1. The intermediate roller pair 82 is disposed on the downstream side in the paper transport direction with respect to the paper feed roller pair 81, sandwiches the paper T transported from the paper feed roller pair 81, and transports the paper T to the registration roller pair 80.

  The return conveyance path Lb is a conveyance path provided in order to make the opposite surface (unprinted surface) opposite to the already printed surface to the intermediate transfer belt 7 when performing duplex printing on the paper T. By the return conveyance path Lb, the paper T conveyed from the first branching section Q1 to the paper discharge section 50 side is reversed and returned to the first conveyance path L1, and is disposed on the upstream side of the secondary transfer roller 8. It can be conveyed to the upstream side of the roller pair 80. A toner image is transferred to the non-printed surface of the paper T that has been turned upside down by the return conveyance path Lb in the secondary transfer nip N2.

  A rectifying member 58 is provided in the first branch portion Q1. The rectifying member 58 rectifies the transport direction of the paper T that is carried out of the fixing unit 9 and transports the third transport path L3 from the upstream side toward the downstream side in a direction toward the paper discharge unit 50 and the paper discharge unit 50. The conveyance direction of the paper T that conveys the third conveyance path L3 from the downstream side toward the upstream side is rectified in the direction toward the return conveyance path Lb.

  A paper discharge unit 50 is formed at the end of the third transport path L3. The paper discharge unit 50 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body M. The paper discharge unit 50 opens toward the left side of the apparatus body M (left side in FIG. 1). The paper discharge unit 50 discharges the paper T to the outside of the apparatus main body M. The paper discharge unit 50 includes a discharge roller pair 53. The discharge roller pair 53 discharges the paper T conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the third conveyance path L3 to the outside of the apparatus main body M, and reverses the conveyance direction of the paper T in the paper discharge unit 50. The paper T can be transported toward the upstream side of the third transport path L3.

On the opening side of the paper discharge unit 50, a paper discharge stacking unit M1 is formed. The paper discharge stacking unit M1 is formed on the upper surface (outer surface) of the apparatus main body M. The paper discharge stacking unit M1 is a part formed by the upper surface of the apparatus main body M being depressed downward. The bottom surface of the paper discharge stacking unit M1 constitutes a part of the top surface of the apparatus main body M. In the paper discharge stacking unit M1, sheets T formed with a predetermined toner image and discharged from the paper discharge unit 50 are stacked and stacked.
A paper detection sensor (not shown) is disposed at a predetermined position on each conveyance path.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 of the first embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
First, a case where single-sided printing is performed on the paper T stored in the paper feed cassette 52 will be described.
The paper T accommodated in the paper feed cassette 52 is sent out to the first transport path L1 by the forward feed roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81, and then intermediated via the first joining portion P1 and the first transport path L1. It is conveyed to the registration roller pair 80 by the roller pair 82.
In the registration roller pair 80, skew correction of the paper T and timing adjustment with toner image formation in the image forming unit GK are performed.

The paper T discharged from the registration roller pair 80 is introduced between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8 (secondary transfer nip N2) via the first conveyance path L1. A toner image is transferred onto the paper T between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8.
Thereafter, the paper T is discharged from between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8, and is interposed between the heating rotator 9a and the pressure rotator 9b in the fixing unit 9 via the second conveyance path L2. Introduced into the fixing nip. Then, the toner melts in the fixing nip, and the toner is fixed on the paper T.

Next, the paper T is transported to the paper discharge unit 50 through the third transport path L3, and is discharged from the paper discharge unit 50 to the paper discharge stacking unit M1 by the discharge roller pair 53.
In this way, single-sided printing of the paper T stored in the paper feed cassette 52 is completed.

  When single-sided printing is performed on the paper T placed on the manual feed tray 65, the paper T placed on the manual feed tray 65 is sent out to the manual feed path La by the paper feed roller 66, and then the first joining portion. It is conveyed to the registration roller pair 80 via P1 and the first conveyance path L1. Subsequent operations are the same as the one-side printing operation of the paper T accommodated in the paper feed cassette 52 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 when performing duplex printing will be described.
In the case of single-sided printing, as described above, the paper T on which single-sided printing has been performed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 50 to the paper discharge stacking unit M1, and the printing operation is completed.
On the other hand, when performing double-sided printing, the paper T on which single-sided printing has been performed is reversed from the time of single-sided printing and conveyed again to the registration roller pair 80 via the return conveyance path Lb. Then, double-sided printing is performed on the paper T.

  More specifically, the operation is the same as the above-described single-sided printing operation until the paper T on which single-sided printing has been performed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 50 by the discharge roller pair 53. Thus, in the case of double-sided printing, in a state where the paper T on which single-sided printing has been performed is held by the discharge roller pair 53, the rotation of the discharge roller pair 53 is stopped and rotated in the reverse direction. When the discharge roller pair 53 is thus rotated in the reverse direction, the paper T held by the discharge roller pair 53 moves in the reverse direction (the direction from the paper discharge unit 50 toward the first branching unit Q1) along the third conveyance path L3. ).

  As described above, when the paper T is transported in the reverse direction on the third transport path L3, the paper T is rectified to the return transport path Lb by the rectifying member 58, and then, via the second junction P2. Then, it joins the first transport path L1. Here, the paper T is turned upside down from the one-side printing.

  Further, the paper T is subjected to the correction or the adjustment by the registration roller pair 80, and is introduced into the secondary transfer nip N2 through the first conveyance path L1. Since the unprinted surface of the sheet T passes through the return conveyance path Lb and faces the intermediate transfer belt 7, the toner image is transferred to the unprinted surface, and as a result, duplex printing is performed.

Next, the details of the driving device 21 that drives the forward feed roller 61 and the pair of paper feed rollers 81 of the cassette paper feed unit 51 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the driving device 21 that drives the forward feed roller 61 and the paper feed roller pair 81 that constitute the cassette paper feed unit 51. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a gear train and the like that rotationally drives a plurality of output shafts of the drive device 21 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the clutch portion provided between the output shaft of the drive device 21 and the input gear. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a meshed state between an input gear to which the clutch of the drive device 21 is assembled and a transmission gear for inputting a rotational force to the input gear. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the positions of the clutch support member and the connector in the housing of the drive device 21. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the shape of the rotation preventing portion into which the connector connected to the clutch of the drive device 21 is inserted. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a joint (shaft coupling) structure that connects the output shaft of the driving device 21 and the shaft portion on the cassette paper feeding portion 51 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the drive device 21 includes a housing 22, a base plate portion 23, a motor 24 as a rotational drive source, a transmission gear 25, an input gear 26, and an output shaft. 27A, 27B, clutch portions 28A, 28B, support members 29B, 29B, connector portions 30A, 30B, accommodating portions 31A, 31B, and joint members 34A, 34B, 34C.

The housing 22 is attached to one side of the apparatus main body M (the back side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) so that later-described accommodating portions 31A and 31B formed in the housing 22 face the cassette paper feeding portion 51 side. . The housing 22 is made of resin.
As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 22 is integrally formed with two accommodating portions 31A and 31B arranged at a predetermined interval. Details of the accommodating portions 31A and 31B will be described later.

  The base plate portion 23 is disposed on one side of the housing 22 and on the side opposite to the cassette paper feeding portion 51 inside the apparatus main body M. As shown in FIG. 3, the base plate portion 23 is a structural substrate on which a motor 24 and a gear train, which will be described later, are assembled.

  The motor 24 is a rotational driving source that outputs rotational driving force for driving the forward feed roller 61 and the pair of paper feeding rollers 81 of the cassette paper feeding unit 51. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 24 is fixed to the other side of the base plate portion 23 so that the output portion 24 a that outputs the rotational driving force meshes with a gear train GL disposed on one side of the base plate portion 23. Is done. The motor 24 is always driven by power supply from a power supply unit (not shown) during operation of the printer 1.

  The transmission gear 25 is one of the gears constituting the gear train GL disposed on one side (opposite side of the motor 24) of the base plate portion 23, and is a first meshed with the output portion 24a of the motor 24. The rotational driving force from the motor 24 is transmitted via the relay gear 101.

  One clutch part 28A (arranged on the lower side in FIGS. 2 and 3) and its peripheral structure (including a rotation stop mechanism) will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the other clutch portion 28B and its peripheral structure are configured to be symmetrical in the vertical direction with respect to the one clutch portion 28A and its peripheral structure, and thus have the same configuration. The description of 28A can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the input gear 26 is attached to the base plate portion 23 so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis C1. The first rotation axis C1 is the central axis of the input gear 26. Specifically, the first rotation axis C1 is the central axis of the shaft member 102A that rotatably supports the input gear 26. The input gear 26 receives the rotational driving force from the transmission gear 25.

  The output shaft 27A is disposed on the side opposite to the base plate portion 23 side in the first rotation axis C1 direction of the input gear 26 so as to be coaxial with the input gear 26. The output shaft 27A is disposed so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis C1. The output shaft 27A is connected to the input gear 26 via a clutch portion 28A described later, so that the rotational driving force from the input gear 26 can be transmitted and the rotational driving force transmitted from the input gear 26 is output. A possible axis.

  The clutch portion 28A is an electromagnetic clutch in the present embodiment, and by turning on / off an electromagnet (not shown) interposed between the input gear 26 and the output shaft 27A according to a current supply state, The output shaft 27 is switched to a connected state or a non-connected state. In other words, the clutch portion 28A has a state in which the input gear 26 and the output shaft 27A are in a connected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear 26 is transmitted to the output shaft 27A by ON / OFF of the electromagnet, and It can be changed to a non-connected state in which the rotational driving force is not transmitted to the output shaft 27A.

The support member 29A is a member that rotatably supports the output shaft 27 while being arranged so as to cover the clutch portion 28A.
As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 29A includes a multistage cylinder portion 29a whose diameter decreases in three steps from the input gear 26 side toward the tip end side of the output shaft 27A, and the output shaft 27 side of the multistage cylinder portion 29a. And an end wall portion 29b covering the end face (the left end face in FIG. 6). The support member 29A is disposed so as to cover the clutch portion 28A.
An opening 29c through which the output shaft 27A is inserted is formed at the center of the end wall portion 29b of the support member 29A. The support member 29A rotatably supports the output shaft 27A inserted through the opening 29c.
The support member 29A is disposed so as to cover the clutch portion 28A, and rotatably supports the output shaft 27.

The connector unit 30A is a connector for causing the clutch unit 28A to input current (receive input) supplied from a power supply circuit in the printer 1.
The connector portion 30A is disposed so as to protrude in the direction of the first rotation axis C1 on the opposite side of the support member 29A from the input gear 26 side. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connector 30A is disposed on the support member 29A at an intermediate position extending in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis C1 as the second step of the multistage cylindrical portion 29a. This is the side wall portion 29d.

  The connector portion 30A has a terminal portion 30A1 to which a terminal connected to a wiring for supplying current is fitted and connected. The terminal portion 30A1 is arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction in FIGS. Further, the terminal portion 30A1 is formed in a concave shape opened upward in the vertical direction, and a terminal of the wiring is fitted into the concave portion and electrically connected. In the terminal portion 30A1, wiring terminals are inserted from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction.

  Here, the terminal part 30A1 (connector part 30A) on the one clutch part 28A side and the terminal part 30B1 (connector part 30B) on the other clutch part 28B side are arranged to face each other in the vertical direction. (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In other words, the terminal portion 30A1 (connector portion 30A) on the one clutch portion 28A side and the terminal portion 30B1 (connector portion 30B) on the other clutch portion 28B side are arranged at positions close to each other.

  Further, the connector portion 30A is attached to the support member 29A so as not to protrude from the frame of the maximum outer diameter of the accommodating portion 31A by the above arrangement on the support member 29A and the setting of the protruding direction.

  The accommodating portion 31 </ b> A is integrally formed with the housing 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the accommodating portion 31A has a substantially headed cylindrical shape including a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 31a surrounding the outer periphery of the support member 29A and an end wall 31b formed on one end side of the outer peripheral wall 31a. Is formed. The accommodating portion 31A is disposed so as to cover the support member 29A from the cassette sheet feeding portion 51 side, and is disposed so as to accommodate the support member 29A.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the accommodating portion 31A includes an insertion hole 32A, a rotation preventing portion 33A, and a ventilation portion 331A.

  The insertion hole 32A is formed so that the output shaft 27A can be inserted from the inner side to the outer side in the housing portion 31A. The insertion hole 32A is a hole formed so that the output shaft 27A can be inserted from the inner side on the support member 29A side of the housing portion 31A to the outer side on the cassette paper feeding unit 51 side. The insertion hole 32A is formed through the center of the end wall 31b.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotation preventing portion 33A includes a part of the outer peripheral wall 31a in the headed cylindrical shape of the accommodating portion 31A and a part of the end wall 31b serving as the head of the accommodating portion 31A. It is formed so as to cut out.
The anti-rotation portion 33A exposes the end of the connector portion 30A opposite to the support member 29A from the housing portion 31A to the outside. Further, the anti-rotation part 33A can engage the outer periphery of the connector part 30A with the inner edge of the opening of the anti-rotation part 33A, and the anti-rotation part restricts the rotation of the support member 29A via the connector part 30A. Function as.

  The ventilation portion 331A is an opening formed so as to cut out the outer peripheral wall 31a and the end wall 31b of the housing portion 31A, like the rotation preventing portion 33A. In the case of the present embodiment, the ventilation region 331A is set to have an opening area smaller than the rotation preventing portion 33A. The ventilation portion 331A is a portion that contributes to ventilation in the accommodating portion 31A together with the rotation preventing portion 33A.

  Furthermore, at least one of the rotation preventing portion 33A or the ventilation portion 331A is disposed on the upper side in the vertical direction. In this case, the upper side in the vertical direction means that the drive device 21 is positioned on the upper side in the vertical direction when the drive device 21 is attached to the apparatus main body M. In the state where the drive device 21 is attached to the apparatus main body M, as shown in FIG. 6, the end wall 31b of the base plate portion 23 and the accommodating portion 31A is a surface along the vertical direction. The vertical direction is a direction along the arrow Z in FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation preventing portion 33 </ b> A is arranged on the vertically upper side.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the anti-rotation portion 33A and the ventilation portion 331A are formed to face each other in the vertical direction, and one of them is the upper side in the vertical direction in the housing portion 31A. The other is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction of the accommodating portion 31A. An arrow Z in FIG. 4 indicates the vertical direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, on the clutch portion 28A side, the rotation preventing portion 33A is formed on the upper side in the vertical direction, and the ventilation portion 331A is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an inclination that guides insertion of the connector portion 30 </ b> A indicated by an arrow Y <b> 2 in the drawing is provided at the outer edge (outer edge portion) of the opening in which the end wall 31 b is cut out as the rotation stopper 33 </ b> A. A guide 33a having a shape is formed. The guide portion 33a has an inclination to gradually narrow the opening width of the rotation preventing portion 33A from the support member 29A side to the outer surface side of the end wall 31b. When the insertion position of the connector portion 30A is displaced in the direction of the arrow X2 when the connector portion 30A is inserted, the guide portion 33a abuts against the side surface of the connector portion 30A so as to eliminate the displacement of the connector portion 30A. The connector portion 30A is guided (guided) to the center side of the portion 33A.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the connector portion 30 </ b> A is obtained when the end wall 31 b in the headed cylindrical shape of the housing portion 31 </ b> A is completely circular in the direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis C <b> 1. It arrange | positions inside a virtual outer periphery (circle which overlaps with an outer periphery on the end wall 31b).

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 21 supplies a first rotation output unit 41 </ b> A that transmits a rotational force to the pair of paper feed rollers 81 of the cassette paper feed unit 51 and a paper feed roller 81 a of the cassette paper feed unit 51. It has three rotation output units, a second rotation output unit 41B that transmits the rotational force, and a third rotation output unit 41C that transmits the rotational force to the separation roller 81b of the cassette paper supply unit 51.
Of these three rotation output units, the first rotation output unit 41A and the second rotation output unit 41B are both supported by the clutch units 28A and 28B, the support members 29A and 29B covering the clutch units 28A and 28B, and the support members 29A and 29B. It is the structure provided with accommodating part 31A, 31B which accommodates member 29A, 29B.

  The drive device 21 of the present embodiment has a plurality of clutch portions 28A and 28B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the drive device 21 is configured such that the accommodating portions 31A and 31B accommodating the clutch portions 28A and 28B and the supporting members 29A and 2B are arranged at a predetermined interval. Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the two accommodating portions 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B formed next to each other, the two detent portions 33 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B are positioned so as to face each other. Formed in a relationship. The two connector portions 30A and 30B are arranged in a positional relationship so as to face each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the joint member 34 </ b> A is fixedly installed at the tip of the output shaft 27 </ b> A extending from the clutch portion 28 </ b> A. As shown in FIG. 8, the joint member 34 </ b> A is a member that is connected to a shaft member 45 that is fixed to a roller provided in the cassette paper feeding unit 51. The shaft member 45 has an engagement pin 46 protruding from the outer periphery of the tip. On the other hand, the joint member 34A has a structure in which the distal end side is formed so that the distal end of the shaft member 45 is fitted in the axial direction, and an engagement groove 34a that can be engaged with the engagement pin 46 is formed. Has been. The joint member 34A is formed at the tip of the wall between the adjacent engagement grooves 34a, and has a guide surface 34b that guides the engagement pin 46 to the engagement groove 34a.

  In the shaft coupling structure shown in FIG. 8, when the shaft member 45 is pushed in the direction of the arrow X3 by mounting the cassette paper feeding unit 51 to the apparatus main body M, the position of the engagement pin 46 is displaced from the position of the engagement groove 34a. However, since the guide surface 34b guides the engaging pin 46 to the engaging groove 34a, the roller shaft member 45 is securely connected to the output shaft 27A by the mounting operation of the cassette paper feeding unit 51 to the apparatus main body M. can do.

  Each of the forward feed roller 61, the paper feed roller 81a, and the separation roller 81b provided in the cassette paper feed unit 51 includes a roller body and a shaft member 45 fixed to the roller body.

In the drive device 21 described above, the central axes of the first rotation output unit 41A, the second rotation output unit 41B, and the third rotation output unit 41C are coincident with the central axes of the rollers of the cassette paper supply unit 51, respectively. As described above, it is attached to the cassette paper feeding unit 51 in the printer 1.
When the driving device 21 is mounted on the cassette paper feeding unit 51 of the printer 1, the shaft members 45 of the rollers constituting the cassette paper feeding unit 51 correspond to the corresponding joint members by the shaft coupling structure shown in FIG. Coupled to 34A, 34B, 34C. Accordingly, each roller can be driven to rotate by the driving device 21.

When the printer 1 is in operation, the driving device 21 rotates the motor 24 shown in FIG. 3, and the rotational driving force output from the motor 24 is transmitted via the transmission gear 25 of the gear train GL on the base plate portion 23. Is transmitted to the input gear 26 of the rotation output unit.
As shown in FIG. 6, the first rotation output unit 41A and the second rotation output unit 41B having the clutch units 28A and 28B are connected to the input gear 26 and the output shaft 27A by turning on / off the clutch unit 28 according to the current supply state. , 27B are connected / disconnected, and the state is changed (switched) to a state where the rotational driving force is output to the roller / a state where the rotational driving force is not output to the roller.

  In the drive device 21, heat is generated from the gears and the clutch portions 28 </ b> A and 28 </ b> B in the housing 22 during operation (when the motor 24 is driven). Here, since the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B and the ventilation portions 331A and 331B are formed on the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction in the accommodating portions 31A and 31B, the driving device 21 causes the heat generation in the housing 22 to be upward in the vertical direction. The air is released from the formed detent or vent, and the outside air is sucked from the detent or vent formed on the lower side in the vertical direction. Thereby, the drive device 21 can suppress heat buildup inside.

According to the printer 1 of the present embodiment described above, for example, the following effects are exhibited.
In the drive device 21 of the present embodiment, the housing 22, the base plate portion 23 disposed on one side of the housing 22, the motor 24 that outputs the rotational driving force, and the transmission to which the rotational driving force from the motor 24 is transmitted. A gear 25, an input gear 26 that is attached to the base plate portion 23 so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis C 1, and to which the rotational driving force from the transmission gear 25 is transmitted, and the direction of the input gear 26 in the first rotation axis C 1 Is arranged to be rotatable about the first rotation axis C1 (so as to be coaxial with the input gear 26) on the side opposite to the base plate portion side, and the rotational driving force from the input gear 26 can be transmitted and the input gear The output shafts 27A and 27B that can output the rotational driving force transmitted from 26, and a connected state that transmits the rotational driving force from the input gear 26 to the output shafts 27A and 27B in accordance with the current supply state. Clutch portions 28A, 28B and clutch portions 28A, 28B that can change the state of the input gear 26 and the output shafts 27A, 27B to a non-connected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear 26 is not transmitted to the output shafts 27A, 27B. The support members 29A and 29B that rotatably support the output shafts 27A and 27B, and the support members 29A and 29B protrude in the direction of the first rotation axis C1 on the opposite side to the input gear 26 side. The connector portions 30A and 30B for inputting the current supplied to the clutch portions 28A and 28B, and the housing portions 31A and 31B that are formed in the housing 22 and can accommodate the support members 29A and 29B. The output shafts 27A and 27B can be inserted from one side of the housing 22 to the other side through the insertion holes 32A and 32B, the connector portion 30A, 0B is an engageable opening-shaped portion, and in a state where the connector portions 30A and 30B are engaged, the connector portions 30A and 30B are exposed to the outside of the housing 22, and the support members 29A and 29B are rotated. Anti-rotation portions 33A and 33B to be regulated.

Therefore, the support members 29A and 29B are provided with connector portions 30A and 30B to be mounted on the support members 29A and 29B, and detents formed on the housing portions 31A and 31B of the housing 22 housing the support members 29A and 29B. Since the rotation is prevented by the engagement with 33A and 33B, there is no need to provide a dedicated rotation prevention member. Therefore, it is possible to provide the drive device 21 that can suppress the rotation of the support members 29A and 29B of the clutch portions 28A and 28B without adding new parts.
Further, when the housing 22 is made of resin, when the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B and the connector portions 30A and 30B are engaged with each other, the support members 29A and 29B are about to rotate. Therefore, the driving device 21 is improved in quietness.
Further, since the clutch portions 28A and 28B are accommodated in the accommodating portions 31A and 31B of the housing 22, the operation sound of the clutch portions 28A and 28B is hardly leaked to the outside, and the drive device 21 is improved in noise reduction.

In the drive device 21 of the present embodiment, the accommodating portions 31A and 31B include ventilation portions 331A and 331B having a smaller opening area than the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B.
Therefore, one of the anti-rotation portions 33A and 33B and the ventilation portions 331A and 331B functions as an air supply port and the other functions as an exhaust port, thereby improving the air permeability inside the housing portions 31A and 31B and further inside the housing 22. Can be made.
Moreover, since 331A and 331B are made smaller than the detent | locking part 33, it can prevent inserting the connector parts 30A and 30B into the ventilation | gas_flowing parts 331A and 331B at the time of an assembly, and can improve assembly workability | operativity. .

In the drive device 21 of the present embodiment, one of the rotation stoppers 33A and 33B or the ventilation portions 331A and 331B is disposed on the upper side in the vertical direction.
Therefore, it becomes easy for the rising air flow of warm air to flow to the outside of the housing portions 31A and 31B from the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B or the ventilation portions 331A and 331B arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction. The cooling performance for 28A and 28B is further improved.

In the driving device 21 of the present embodiment, the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B and the ventilation portions 331A and 331B are formed to face each other in the vertical direction, and one is formed on the upper side in the vertical direction in the housing portions 31A and 31B. The other is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the accommodating portions 31A and 31B.
Therefore, the ventilation in the accommodating portions 31A and 31B can be natural convection that flows from the lower side in the vertical direction to the upper side in the vertical direction, and the air permeability of the drive device 21 is further improved.

In the driving device 21 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, inclined guide portions 33 a that guide insertion of the connector portions 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are formed on the outer edges of the rotation preventing portions 33 </ b> A and 33 </ b> B.
Therefore, even when the insertion positions of the connector portions 30A and 30B are shifted when the connector portions 30A and 30B are inserted into the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B, the connector portions 30A and 30B are brought into contact with the guide portions 33a, The positions of 30A and 30B can be corrected to the center of the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B, and the drive device 21 is improved in the connector portions 30A and 30B and the assemblability.

In the drive device 21 of the present embodiment, the accommodating portions 31A and 31B are formed in a substantially headed cylindrical shape, and the rotation preventing portions 33A and 33B are a part of the outer peripheral wall 31a and the head in the headed cylindrical shape. The connector portions 30A and 30B are formed so as to cut out a part of the end wall 31b, and the end wall 31b in the headed cylindrical shape is completely circular in the direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis C1. It is arranged inside the virtual outer periphery in the case of.
Therefore, the connector portions 30A and 30B can be arranged efficiently without protruding to the outer periphery of the end wall 31b of the housing portions 31A and 31B, and the drive device 21 improves the space efficiency in the printer 1. And contributes to improved mounting density.

In the drive device 21 of the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of clutch portions 28A, 28B, in the two accommodating portions 31A, 31B formed next to each other, the two detent portions 33A, 33B face each other. The two connector portions 30A and 30B are formed in a positional relationship and are arranged in a positional relationship so as to face each other.
Therefore, the wiring connected to the respective clutch portions 28A, 28B (for example, a power feeding cable) may be drawn together between the connector portions 30A, 30B facing each other and branched for each connector portion, The driving device 21 can simplify the wiring (cable) drawing form in the printer 1.

In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the driving device 21 and the paper feed roller 81a rotated by the driving device 21 are directly or indirectly connected to the output shafts 27A and 27B and are output from the output shafts 27A and 27B. A paper feed roller 81a having a shaft member 45 to which the rotational driving force is transmitted and a paper feed roller body coupled to the shaft member 45 is provided.
Therefore, an image forming apparatus provided with the driving device 21 can be provided.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various forms can be adopted.
The type of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof.
The sheet-shaped transfer material is not limited to paper, and may be a film sheet, for example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 21 ... Drive apparatus, 22 ... Housing, 23 ... Base board part, 24 ... Motor (rotation drive source), 25 ... Transmission gear, 26 ... Input gear, 27A, 27B ... Output Shaft, 28A, 28B ... Clutch part, 29A, 29B ... Support member, 30A, 30B ... Connector part, 31A, 31B ... Housing part, 31a ... Outer peripheral wall, 31b ... End wall, 32A, 32B ... ... Insertion hole, 33A, 33B ... Anti-rotation part, 33a ... Guide part, 34A, 34B, 34C ... Joint member, 51 ... Cassette paper feed part, 61 ... Forward feed roller, 81 ... Paper feed roller Pair 81a... Paper feed roller 81b... Separation roller 331A, 331B.

Claims (5)

A housing;
A base plate portion disposed on one side of the housing;
A rotational drive source that outputs rotational drive force;
A transmission gear to which a rotational driving force from the rotational driving source is transmitted;
An input gear that is rotatably attached to the base plate portion around a first rotation shaft, and that transmits a rotational driving force from the transmission gear;
The input gear is disposed on the side opposite to the base plate portion side in the first rotation axis direction so as to be rotatable about the first rotation shaft, and can transmit the rotational driving force from the input gear and the input gear. An output shaft capable of outputting the rotational driving force transmitted from the gear;
The input gear is in a connected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear is transmitted to the output shaft and in a disconnected state in which the rotational driving force from the input gear is not transmitted to the output shaft in accordance with a current supply state. And a clutch part capable of changing the state of the output shaft,
A support member that is disposed so as to cover the clutch portion and rotatably supports the output shaft;
A connector portion that is arranged to protrude in the first rotation axis direction on the opposite side of the support member to the input gear side, and that receives an input of a current supplied to the clutch portion;
A housing part formed in the housing and capable of housing the support member,
An insertion hole through which the output shaft can be inserted from the inner side to the outer side in the housing portion;
An opening-like portion with which the connector portion can be engaged, and in a state where the connector portion is engaged, the connector portion is exposed to the outside of the housing portion, and the rotation of the support member is restricted. A storage portion having a stop portion,
In the case where there are a plurality of the clutch portions, in the two accommodating portions formed next to each other, the two anti-rotation portions are formed so as to face each other, and the two connector portions face each other. The drive device arranged in such a positional relationship. The accommodating portion includes a ventilation portion having an opening area smaller than that of the detent portion,
2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein one of the anti-rotation portion and the ventilation portion is arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction. The anti-rotation part and the ventilation part are
3. The driving device according to claim 2, wherein the driving device is formed so as to face each other in the vertical direction, one is formed on the upper side in the vertical direction in the housing portion, and the other is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the housing portion. 4. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the rotation stopper has an inclined guide portion that guides insertion of the connector portion. 5. A drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A paper feed roller rotated by the drive device,
A shaft member coupled directly or indirectly to the output shaft, to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from the output shaft;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed roller body coupled to the shaft member.

Images