Image forming apparatus

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that has a feed roller and a feed roller bearing.

2. Background Information

Image forming apparatuses that include a feed roller and a feed roller bearing are well known.

A heat transfer printer is one known example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of an example of a conventional heat transfer printer. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 10. FIGS. 12 through 14 are diagrams for describing the detailed structure of the conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 10. The structure of the conventional heat transfer printer will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 14.

As shown in FIGS. 10-14, a conventional heat transfer printer includes a metal chassis 101, a metallic feed roller 102 designed to feed paper 125, a metallic press roller 103 for pressing on the feed roller 102 with a specific amount of pressure, separating members 104, a resinous feed roller bearing 105 for rotatably supporting one end of the feed roller 102, a resinous feed roller bearing 106 for rotatably supporting the other end of the feed roller 102, resinous press roller bearings 107 for rotatably supporting the press roller 103, a feed roller gear 108 mounted on the feed roller 102, metallic bearing support plates 109 for supporting the press roller bearings 107, tension coil springs 110, a motor 111 for driving the feed roller 102 and the like, a thermal head 112 for printing, a platen roller 113 shown in FIG. 11, a resinous platen roller bearing 114 for rotatably supporting the platen roller 113, a torsion coil spring 115, a motor 116 for driving the thermal head 112, an ink sheet take-up gear 117, a roller axle 118, a rubber paper supply/eject roller 119 mounted on the roller axle 118, a roller axle gear 120 mounted on the roller axle 118, a motor bracket 121, and intermediate gears 122, 123, and 124.

As shown in FIG. 10, the motor bracket 121 is mounted on the first side surface 101a of the chassis 101. Also, an ink sheet insertion part 101c for mounting ink sheets (not shown) is provided to the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101. A spring mounting hole 101d in which one end of the tension coil spring 110 is mounted is formed in the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, an opening 101e for supporting the feed roller bearing 105 is formed in the first side surface 101a of the chassis 101. An opening 101f for supporting the feed roller bearing 106 is formed in the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101.

The feed roller 102 has an outer peripheral surface 102a on the side of the first side surface 101a of the chassis 101, an outer peripheral surface 102b on the side of the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101, a gear insertion part 102c, and a paper conveying portion 102d, as shown in FIG. 12. The feed roller 102 is rotatably supported by the feed roller bearings 105 and 106. Also, the outer peripheral surface 102b of the feed roller 102 is supported in a linear fashion by a feed roller support portion 106a of the feed roller bearing 106 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper 125, as shown in FIG. 14. Also, convex portions having a specific height are formed by roll forming on the surface of the paper conveying portions 102d of the feed roller 102.

The metallic separating members 104 have a larger diameter than that of the press roller 103, and are attached to the outer peripheral surfaces 103a and 103b of the press roller 103. As a result of the separating members 104 coming into contact with the outermost peripheral surface of the feed roller 102, the distal ends of the convex portions on the surface of the paper conveying portions 102d of the feed roller 102 are prevented from coming into contact with the press roller 103. Also, the outer peripheral surfaces 103a and 103b of the press roller 103 are rotatably supported by the press roller bearings 107. The press roller bearings 107 are mounted on the bearing support plate 109 that are mounted to the inner sides of both the first side surface 101a and the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101. The bearing support plates 109 are mounted to the first side surface 101a and the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101 so as to be pivotable around supporting portions 109a, as shown in FIG. 10. Also, the other end of the tension coil spring 110 that urges the press roller 103 to press on the feed roller 102 is attached to a spring mounting portion 109b of the bearing support plate 109.

The thermal head 112 is mounted in between the inner sides of the first side surface 101a and the second side surface 101b of the chassis 101 so as to be pivotable around a supporting axle 112a, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. One end of the torsion coil spring 115 described above and illustrated in FIG. 11 is coupled to the supporting axle 112a. The torsion coil spring 115 functions to urge the thermal head 112 in a direction away from the platen roller 113. Also, during the printing operation, the thermal head 112 pivots in a direction of pressing on the platen roller 113 (the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 10) and presses on the platen roller 113. The thermal head 112 is disposed so as to face the platen roller 113.

Also, the driving force from the motor 111 is transmitted to the feed roller gear 108 via the intermediate gear 122, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The feed roller gear 108 engages the intermediate gears 122 and 123. The intermediate gear 123 transmits the driving force from the feed roller gear 108 to the ink sheet take-up gear 117 fitted on an ink sheet take-up member (not shown). The intermediate gears 123 also transmit the driving force from the feed roller gear 108 to the roller axle 118 via the roller axle gear 120. The paper supply/eject roller 119 is mounted on the roller axle 118.

Next, the operation of feeding paper 125 in the conventional heat transfer printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the driving force of the motor 111 is transmitted to the feed roller gear 108 via the intermediate gear 122. The feed roller 102 thereby rotates. Also, the driving force of the motor 111 is transmitted from the feed roller gear 108 to the ink sheet take-up gear 117 via the intermediate gear 123. The ink sheet take-up member (not shown) thereby rotates. Also, the driving force of the motor 111 is transmitted from the feed roller gear 108 to the roller axle gear 120 via the intermediate gears 123. The roller axle 118 thereby rotates.

During the paper supply operation, the thermal head 112 is pivoted in a direction away from the platen roller 113 (the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 10) by the torsion coil spring 115. Also, during the paper supply operation, the paper 125 is conveyed in the paper supplying direction (the direction of the arrow H in FIG. 10) by the feed roller 102 and the paper supply/eject roller 119.

During the printing operation, the thermal head 112 is pivoted in the direction of pressing on the platen roller 113 (the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 10) by the motor 111, and presses against the platen roller 113. During the printing operation, the paper 125 and the ink sheet (not shown) are conveyed while being held between the thermal head 112 and the platen roller 113. During the printing operation, the paper 125 is conveyed in the paper ejecting direction (the direction of the arrow G in FIG. 10) by the feed roller 102, the press roller 103, and the paper supply/eject roller 119. During the printing operation, the ink sheet (not shown) is conveyed in the paper ejecting direction (the direction of the arrow G in FIG. 10) by the feed roller 102, the press roller 103, and the ink sheet take-up member (not shown).

The conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIGS. 10 through 14 has problems in that when the load of the paper 125 is received, the position where the feed roller 102 contacts the feed roller bearing 106 shifts from the feed roller support portion 106a in the direction of the load of the paper 125 (the conveyance direction of the arrow H in FIG. 14) due to the moment produced by the load of the paper 125, which applies mainly to the feed roller support portion 106a. These problems will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14.

In FIG. 14, the magnitude of the load of the paper 125 is denoted by W, and the perpendicular distance from the feed roller support portion 106a to the line along which the load of the paper 125 is applied is denoted by a. Here, a moment having the magnitude of W×a generated by the load of the paper 125 acts on the feed roller support portion 106a. In this case, the feed roller support portion 106a is positioned on the line along which the pressure of the press roller 103 is applied. Therefore, a moment from the pressure of the press roller 103 does not act on the feed roller support portion 106a. Since the moment from the load of the paper 125 acts on the feed roller support portion 106a, the position where the feed roller 102 contacts the feed roller bearing 106 shifts from the feed roller support portion 106a in the direction in which the load of the paper 125 is applied (the direction of the arrow H in FIG. 14) due to the moment having the magnitude W×a and generated by the load of the paper 125.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-25587 discloses an image forming apparatus wherein a feed roller is supported by two contact portions provided to a feed roller bearing. The positions of the two contact portions are determined such that the feed roller does not move, in spite of the force acting on the feed roller.

In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-25587, the two contact portions provided to the feed roller bearing support the feed roller in a linear fashion, so the surface areas that support the feed roller are extremely small. The contact portions with a small supporting surface areas become abraded easily by the dynamic friction generated due to the pressure applied from the feed roller and the rotation of the feed roller. Abrasion of the contact portions of the feed roller bearing is problematic because the positions at which the contact portions of the feed roller bearing come into contact with the feed roller tend to become misaligned. In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-25587, since the feed roller is prevented from shifting by positioning the contact portions appropriately in the feed roller bearing, the feed roller cannot be prevented from shifting when the positions of the contact portions of the feed roller bearing are misaligned.

In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved image forming apparatus that overcomes the problems of the conventional art. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is capable of preventing the feed roller from shifting.

The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has a chassis, a feed roller rotatably supported by the chassis and configured to convey paper in a first direction with a first load, a press roller rotatably supported by the chassis and configured to press on the feed roller with a predetermined pressing force, and feed roller bearings coupled to the chassis for rotatably supporting the feed roller. At least one of the feed roller bearings has a feed roller support surface that is at least partially formed into an arc shape for supporting an outer peripheral surface of the feed roller, an inner diameter of the arc-shaped portion of the feed roller support surface being substantially equal to an outer diameter of a portion of the feed roller that is supported by the feed roller support surface. A first direction end of the feed roller support surface is configured to be positioned such that a moment on the first direction end generated by the pressing force of the press roller is equal to or greater than a moment on the first direction end generated by the first load of the paper.

In the image forming apparatus described above, the feed roller bearing is formed with a feed roller support surface for supporting the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller, into an arc shape having the inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion of the feed roller supported by the feed roller bearing. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller can be supported by a surface, as opposed to in linear fashion.

Accordingly, abrasion of the feed roller support surface can be effectively reduced because the area at which the feed roller is supported increases as compared with the cases in which the feed roller is supported in linear fashion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the misalignment of the position where the feed roller support surface comes into contact with the feed roller due to the abrasion of the feed roller support portion.

Also, since the feed roller bearing is provided with a feed roller support surface that protruding inward toward the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller, it is possible to form the feed roller support surface into an arc shape easily. The first direction end of the feed roller support surface on the side is positioned such that the magnitude of the moment generated by the pressing force on the feed roller at the first direction end is equal to or greater than the magnitude of the moment generated by the load of the paper at the first direction end. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the feed roller from pivoting around the first direction end in the direction of the paper load. It is thereby possible to prevent the feed roller from shifting in relation to the feed roller bearing.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable the first direction end be positioned so as to satisfy

W×a≦P×b

where W is the first load of the paper, a is a perpendicular distance from the first side end to the first load of the paper, P is the pressing force from the press roller, and b is a perpendicular distance from the first direction end to the pressing force.

With such a configuration, it is possible to ensure that the feed roller does not shift relative to the feed roller bearing. It is also possible to easily determine the position of the first direction end using the above formula.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the chassis has an opening through which the feed roller is inserted, and a width of the opening of the chassis is set to be equal to or less than a width of one of the feed roller bearings. With such a configuration, there is no need to secure a tolerance between the feed roller bearing and the opening in the chassis, and the feed roller bearing can therefore be prevented from shifting horizontally relative to the chassis. Accordingly, the feed roller can thereby be prevented from shifting horizontally.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the arc-shaped portion of the feed roller support surface is formed on an inner side of the feed roller bearing extending along an angle range of 180° or less. With such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller can be supported within an angle range of 180° or less. It is therefore possible to prevent problems wherein the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller does not fit the arc-shaped feed roller support surface even though the inner diameter of the arc-shaped feed roller support surface is formed to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the feed roller. As a result, since the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller can be fitted to the arc-shaped feed roller support surface, the feed roller can be coupled to the feed roller bearing.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the feed roller is configured to convey paper in a second direction with a second load, and a second direction end of the feed roller support surface is positioned above a lowest position of the feed roller support surface.

In the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the second direction end is positioned so as to satisfy:

W′×a′≦P×b′

where W′ is the second load of the paper, a′ is a perpendicular distance from the second side end to the second load of the paper, P is the pressing force from the press roller, and b′ is a perpendicular distance from the second direction end to the pressing force.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the heat transfer printer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the motor and the gears of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the mechanism by which the press roller presses on the feed roller in the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, viewed along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the feed roller bearing and the opening of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the feed roller bearing of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, viewed along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view for describing the steps of assembling the feed roller bearings of the feed roller in the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view for describing the steps of assembling the feed roller bearings of the feed roller in the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of a conventional heat transfer printer;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view along the line 12-12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the feed roller bearing and the opening of the conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the feed roller bearing of the conventional heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 10, viewed along the line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the diagrams.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of a heat transfer printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the motor and the gears of the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the heat transfer printer. FIGS. 4 through 9 are various views illustrating the feed roller and the feed roller bearing of the heat transfer printer shown in FIG. 1.

The structure of the heat transfer printer according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 9. In the present embodiment, a heat transfer printer will be described as one example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the heat transfer printer according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a metal chassis 1, a metallic feed roller 2 that conveys paper 25, a metallic press roller 3 that presses on the feed roller 2 with a specific amount of pressure, a separating member 4, a side plate 5 that has a resinous feed roller bearing 5a and a platen roller bearing 5b, a side plate 6 that has a resinous feed roller bearing 6a and a platen roller bearing 6b, resinous press roller bearings 7 that rotatably support the press roller 3, a feed roller gear 8 mounted on the feed roller 2, metallic bearing support plates 9 that support the press roller bearings 7, tension coil springs 10, a motor 11 for driving the feed roller 2 and the like, a thermal head 12 for printing, a platen roller 13, a torsion coil spring 14, a motor 15 for driving the thermal head 12, an ink sheet take-up gear 16, a roller axle 17, a rubber paper supply/ejection roller 18 mounted on the roller axle 17, a roller axle gear 19 mounted on the roller axle 17, a motor bracket 20, and intermediate gears 21 through 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the motor bracket 20 is mounted on the first side surface 1a of the chassis 1. Also, an ink sheet insertion part 1c through which ink sheets (not shown) are mounted is provided to the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1. A spring mounting hole 1d to which one end of the tension coil spring 10 is mounted is formed in the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1. Also, an opening 1e to which the feed roller bearing 5a is coupled is formed in the first side surface 1a of the chassis 1. An opening 1f in which the feed roller bearing 6a is coupled is formed in the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1.

The feed roller 2 has an outer peripheral surface 2a on the side of the first side surface 1a of the chassis 101, an outer peripheral surface 2b on the side of the second side surface 1b of the chassis 101, a gear insertion part 2c, and a paper conveying portion 2d, as shown in FIG. 5. One end of the feed roller 2 is rotatably supported by the feed roller bearing 5a formed integrally with the side plate 5. The other end of the feed roller 2 is rotatably supported by the feed roller bearing 6a formed integrally with the side plate 6. Also, convex portions having a specific height are formed by the roll forming on the surface of the paper conveying portion 2d of the feed roller 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the feed roller bearing 6a has a semi-cylindrical shape that opens at the top. The inner surface of the feed roller bearing 6a is provided with a feed roller support surface 6c that supports the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2. The feed roller support surface 6c is formed in an arc shape with the inner diameter of the feed roller support surface 6c being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion of the feed roller 2 supported by the feed roller bearing 6a.

Also, the feed roller support surface 6c is formed so as to protrude toward the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2. Paper supply and paper eject ends 6d and 6e are formed at the end portions of the feed roller support surface 6c. Where the magnitude of the load of the paper 25 in the paper supply (first) direction (direction of the arrow D in FIG. 1) is denoted by W, the perpendicular distance from the paper supply end 6d to the line along which the load of the paper 25 is applied is denoted by a, and the magnitude of the pressure from the press roller 3 is denoted by P, then the perpendicular distance b from the paper supply end 6d to the line on which the pressure is applied is set such that the following formula is satisfied.

W×a≦P×b

The position of the paper supply end 6d is thereby determined. This allows the magnitude of the moment generated by the pressure from the press roller 3 about the paper supply end 6d to be equal to or greater than the magnitude of the moment generated by the load of the paper 25 about the paper supply end 6d. As a result, the feed roller 2 is prevented from pivoting around the paper supply end 6d in the direction of the load of the paper 25.

Also, in the present embodiment, the width of the opening 1f in the chassis 1 shown in FIG. 7 is set to be equal to or less than the width of the feed roller bearing 6a. The feed roller bearing 6a is thereby mounted between the inner side surfaces of the opening 1f in the chassis 1 without any gaps, and the feed roller bearing 6a is therefore supported at three locations: the two inner side surfaces and the bottom surface of the opening 1f in the chassis 1.

Furthermore, the feed roller support surface 6c is formed on the inner surface of the feed roller bearing 6a extending along an angle range of less than 180°. Particularly, the paper ejection side end 6e in the paper ejection direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 7) of the feed roller support surface 6c shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is located farther along the paper ejection direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 7) than the lowest point 6f of the feed roller support surface 6c. The lowest point 6f is positioned on the line at which the pressure from the press roller 3 is applied. The paper ejection side end 6e is also located at a position higher than the lowest point 6f of the feed roller support surface 6c.

Particularly, where the magnitude of the load of the paper 25 in the paper ejection (second) direction (direction of the arrow C in FIG. 1) is denoted by W′, the perpendicular distance from the paper ejection side (second direction) end 6e to the line along which the paper ejection direction load of the paper 25 is applied is denoted by a′, and the magnitude of the pressure from the press roller 3 is denoted by P, then the perpendicular distance b′ from the paper ejection side end 6e to the line on which the pressure is applied is set such that the following formula is satisfied.

W′×a′≦P×b′

The position of the paper ejection side end 6e is thereby determined. The feed roller 2 is thereby prevented from being moved in the paper ejection direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 7) by the weight of the feed roller 2 and the pressure from the press roller 3.

The metallic separating members 4 having a larger diameter than that of the press roller 3 are coupled to the outer peripheral surfaces 3a and 3b of the press roller 3, as shown in FIG. 5. By bringing the separating member 4 into contact with the outermost peripheral surface of the feed roller 2, the distal ends of the convex portions on the paper conveying portion 2d of the feed roller 2 are prevented from coming into contact with the press roller 3. Also, the outer peripheral surfaces 3a and 3b of the press roller 3 are rotatably supported by the press roller bearing 7.

Each of the press roller bearings 7 is open at the portion facing the feed roller 2. The press roller bearings 7 are mounted on the bearing support plates 9 provided to the inner sides of both the first side surface 1a and the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1. The bearing support plates 9 are mounted on the first side surface 1a and second side surface 1b of the chassis 1 so as to be rotatable around support portions 9a, as shown in FIG. 4.

The first ends of the tension coil springs 10 that urge the press roller 3 in the direction of applying pressure on the feed roller 2 are mounted in the spring mounting holes 1d (see FIG. 1) of the chassis 1, as described above. Also, second ends of the tension coil spring 10 are mounted on spring mounting portions 9b of the bearing support plates 9.

The thermal head 12 is mounted on the inner sides of the first side surface 1a and the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1 so as to be pivotable around a supporting axle 12a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The torsion coil spring 14 is mounted on the supporting axle 12a next to the first side surface 1a of the chassis 1. The torsion coil spring 14 urges the thermal head 12 in a direction away from the platen roller 13. During the printing operation, the thermal head 12 pivots in a direction in which pressure is exerted on the platen roller 13 (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1), and presses on the platen roller 13. The thermal head 12 is disposed so as to face the platen roller 13.

The driving force from the motor 11 is transmitted to the feed roller gear 8 via the intermediate gear 21, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The feed roller gear 8 engages both the intermediate gears 22 and 23. The intermediate gear 22 transmits the driving force from the feed roller gear 8 to the ink sheet take-up gear 16 fitted over the ink sheet take-up member (not shown). Also, the intermediate gears 23 transmit the driving force from the feed roller gear 8 to the roller axle 17 on which the paper supply/ejection roller 18 is mounted via the roller axle gear 19.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of assembling the feed roller bearings 5a and 6a of the feed roller 2 in the heat transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. The steps of assembling the feed roller 2 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the gear insertion part 2c of the feed roller 2 is fitted in an insertion hole 8a of the feed roller gear 8. From this state, the other end of the feed roller 2 is inserted into the opening 1e and the feed roller bearing 5a from the outer side of the side plate 5. Then, the feed roller 2 is coupled on the feed roller bearings 5a and 6a by moving the feed roller 2 toward the bottom surface of the chassis 1. This results in the state shown in FIG. 9.

OPERATION

Next, the operation of feeding the paper 25 in the heat transfer printer according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. The driving force from the motor 11 is transmitted to the feed roller gear 8 via the intermediate gear 21, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The feed roller 2 thereby rotates. Also, the driving force from the motor 11 is transmitted to the ink sheet take-up gear 16 via the intermediate gear 22. The ink sheet take-up member (not shown) thereby rotates. The driving force from the motor 11 is also transmitted to the roller axle gear 19 via the plurality of intermediate gears 23. The paper supply/ejection roller 18 thereby rotates.

As shown in FIG. 1, when paper is supplied, the thermal head 12 is pivoted in a direction away from the platen roller 13 (the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 1) by the torsion coil spring 14. Also, when paper is supplied, the paper 25 is delivered in the paper supply direction (the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 1) by the feed roller 2 and the paper supply/ejection roller 18.

During the printing operation, the thermal head 12 is pivoted in a direction in which pressure is exerted on the platen roller 13 (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1) by the motor 15, and presses on the platen roller 13. Also during the printing operation, the paper 25 and the ink sheet (not shown) are conveyed while held between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13. The paper 25 is conveyed in the paper ejecting direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 1) by the feed roller 2, the press roller 3, and the paper supply/ejection roller 18. The ink sheet (not shown) is conveyed in the paper ejecting direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 1) by the feed roller 2, the press roller 3, and the ink sheet take-up member (not shown).

In the present embodiment, as described above, the feed roller bearing 6a is provided with a feed roller support surface 6c that is formed in an arc shape with an inner diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion of the feed roller 2 supported by the feed roller bearing 6a. Also, the feed roller support surface 6c supports the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2. Therefore the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2 can be supported in planar fashion, as opposed to in linear fashion. It is therefore possible to better prevent abrasions in the feed roller support surface 6c, because the feel roller support surface 6c supports the feed roller 2 with a greater surface area than when the roller is supported in linear fashion. As a result, it is possible to prevent friction-induced misalignments of the position at which the feed roller support surface 6c comes into contact with the feed roller 2. Also, since the feed roller support surface 6c is formed so as to protrude toward the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2, it is possible to easily form the feed roller support surface 6c into an arc shape.

Also, in the present embodiment, the feed roller 2 can be prevented from pivoting around the paper supply end 6d in the direction of the load of the paper since the paper supply end 6d of the feed roller support surface 6c is formed at such a position that the magnitude of the moment generated by the pressure applied to the feed roller 2 about the paper supply end 6d is equal to or greater than the magnitude of the moment generated by the load of the paper 25 about the paper supply end 6d. The feed roller 2 can thereby be prevented from shifting relative to the feed roller bearing 6a.

Also, in the present embodiment, the width of the opening 1f in the chassis 1 through which the feed roller bearing 6a is inserted is set to be equal to or less than the width of the feed roller bearing 6a. Therefore, there is little gap between the feed roller bearing 6a and the inner surface of the opening If in the chassis 1, and the feed roller bearing 6a can be prevented from shifting horizontally relative to the chassis 1. The feed roller 2 can thereby be prevented form shifting horizontally.

Also, in the present embodiment, the arc-shaped feed roller support surface 6c is formed to extend on the inner surface of the feed roller bearing 6a within an angle range of less than 180°. Thus, the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2 can be supported within an angle range of less than 180°. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems wherein the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2 does not engage with the arc-shaped feed roller support surface 6c even though the arc-shaped feed roller support surface 6c is formed to have an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of portion of the feed roller 2 to be supported by the feed roller bearing 6a. As a result, the outer peripheral surface 2b of the feed roller 2 can be securely supported by the arc-shaped feed roller support surface 6c, and the feed roller 2 can therefore be coupled to the feed roller bearing 6a.

The embodiment currently disclosed should be considered as merely an example in all respects and not as being restrictive. The range of the present invention is expressed by the patent claims and not by the above descriptions of the embodiment, and further includes meanings equivalent to the range of the patent claims and all variations thereof.

For example, although a heat transfer printer is given as an example of an image forming apparatus in the embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses other than heat transfer printers as long as such image forming apparatus has a feed roller.

Also, in the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to the feed roller bearing 6a and the opening 1f on the second side surface 1b of the chassis 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may also be applied to the feed roller bearing 5a and the opening 1e on the first side surface 1a of the chassis 1.

Also, in the embodiment described above, the feed roller bearing 6a is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape that opens at the top as shown in FIG. 4, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The feed roller bearing 6a may also be formed in a cylindrical shape.

As used herein, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a device equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a device equipped with the present invention.

The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function.

Moreover, terms that are expressed as “means-plus function” in the claims should include any structure that can be utilized to carry out the function of that part of the present invention.

The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-203138. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-203138 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Thus, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Image forming apparatus

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