FLANGE, FLANGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF PROCESSING FLANGE

Abstract

To provide a flange to be attached to an end of a photoconductor drum, the flange including: a drum engagement part capable of being engaged with an inner surface of the photoconductor drum; and a center hole, wherein the flange is prepared by cutting at least one of a surface of the engagement part and an inner surface of the center hole so that the axis of the center hole coincides with the axis of the photoconductor drum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view showing an appearance of a flange of the present invention prior to cutting process.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flange of FIG. 1 after cutting process, which is provided with a groove at the bottom of the drum bumping part thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an appearance of another flange of the present invention prior to cutting process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the shape (prior to cutting process) of a gear-free flange of the present invention, which is provided with a protruding part.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a system configuration of a flange processing device (system) according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a configuration for removing a thread-like chipping by air suction at the spindle of the lathe.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of a device for uniformly blowing cooled air to a stacker.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pattern in which the bite moves upon cutting of the center shaft hole.

FIG. 9 is another schematic diagram for explaining a pattern in which the bite moves upon cutting of the center shaft hole.

FIG. 10 shows data obtained after cutting process.

FIG. 11 shows concentricity and roundness values for an article processed by a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which are measured by a roundness analyzer made by TOKYO SEIMITSU.

FIG. 12 shows processing results obtained using diaphragm chucks other than a 6-jaw diaphragm chuck.

FIG. 13 shows variations in outer diameter of flange when room temperature varied from 22° C. to 27° C.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a gear-attached flange, including its center axis.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a gear-attached flange, including its center axis.

Claims

1. A flange to be attached to an end of a photoconductor drum, the flange comprising: a drum engagement part capable of being engaged with an inner surface of the photoconductor drum; anda center hole,wherein the flange is prepared by cutting at least one of a surface of the drum engagement part and an inner surface of the center hole so that the axis of the center hole coincides with the axis of the photoconductor drum.

2. The flange according to claim 1, further comprising a protruding part whose maximum outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the drum engagement part.

3. The flange according to claim 1, wherein cutting is performed with the protruding part being clamped to a lathe chuck.

4. The flange according to claim 1, wherein the flange is attached to the photoconductor drum so that the drum engagement part is housed inside the photoconductor drum.

5. The flange according to claim 1, further comprising a flange part which is larger in outer diameter than the drum engagement part, wherein a groove is formed in the drum engagement part at a position near the flange part, and the diameter of the drum engagement part is 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm smaller at the groove than at other areas of the drum engagement part.

6. A method for processing a flange which include a drum engagement part capable of being engaged with an inner surface of a photoconductor drum and a center hole and which is to be attached to an end of the photoconductor drum, the method comprising: cutting at least one of a surface of the drum engagement part and an inner surface of the center hole so that the axis of the center hole coincides with the axis of the photoconductor drum in a state where the flange is engaged with the inner surface of the photoconductor drum.

7. The method for processing a flange according to claim 6, wherein the flange further comprises the protruding part, and cutting is performed with the protruding part being clamped to a lathe chuck.

8. The method for processing a flange according to claim 6, further comprising: providing a groove in the drum engagement part at a position near the flange part of the flange,wherein the diameter of the drum engagement part is 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm smaller at the groove than at other areas of the drum engagement part.

9. The method for processing a flange according to claim 7, wherein an air balloon chuck is used as the lathe chuck for clamping the flange.

10. The method for processing a flange according to claim 7, wherein a diaphragm chuck is used as the lathe chuck for clamping the flange.

11. The method for processing a flange according to claim 10, wherein the number of jaws provided to the chuck is 6 to 8.

12. A flange processing device comprising: stocking means capable of housing a plurality of flanges therein;cutting means for cutting the flanges; andsupplying means for supplying the flanges housed in the stocking means to the cutting means,wherein each of the flanges is a flange which is to be attached to an end of a photoconductor drum and which comprises a drum engagement part capable of being engaged with an inner surface of the photoconductor, and a center hole, wherein the flange is prepared by cutting at least one of a surface of the drum engagement part and an inner surface of the center hole so that the axis of the center hole coincides with the axis of the photoconductor drum.

13. The flange processing device according to claim 12, further comprising: molding means for molding a flange,wherein the stocking means houses the flange molded by the molding means and comprises a cooling unit for cooling the flange.

14. The flange processing device according to claim 12, wherein the stocking means comprises a plurality of trays on which the flanges are arranged, and the stocking means is connected to the cutting means.

15. The flange processing device according to claim 12, wherein the cutting means comprises a suction unit for removing a thread-like chipping generated upon cutting of the flange, by suction from the inside of the lathe chuck.

16. The flange processing device according to claim 12, wherein the cutting means comprises a bite, and at least one of the angles at which the bite enters and withdraws out of the flange during cutting of the center hole is 3° to 45°.

17. The flange processing device according to claim 12, wherein the cutting depth is 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm.