Clutch mechanism and image forming apparatus with same

摘要

A clutch mechanism comprises a planetary gear unit including input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members. Torque entering the input transmission member is outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed and is not outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed and entering a rotatable state. A rotation prohibiting target has an engaging target and is integral with the transmission stopping member. A rotation prohibiting member has a supporting shaft, a swingable portion at its one end and an engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function. The engaging portion disengages the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state. A damper unit absorbs vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation.

主权项

1. A clutch mechanism, comprising:
a planetary gear unit including:
a sun gear;a planetary gear meshing with the sun gear;an inner teeth gear meshing with the planetary gear, the sun gear, the planetary gear, and the inner teeth gear selectively rotating and stopping to provide driving force inputting, outputting, and stopping functions as input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members, torque entering the input transmission member being outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed, the torque not being outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed entering a rotatable state, anda holder to hold the planetary gear, a rotation prohibiting target integral with the transmission stopping member, the rotation prohibiting target having an engaging target; a rotation prohibiting member including:
a supporting shaft located at a prescribed portion thereof;a swingable portion at its one end; andan engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function, the engaging portion disengaging the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state; a switching unit having an actuator to switch the rotation prohibiting member between engaging and disengaging states; and a damper unit to absorb vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation, and the damper unit of the rotation prohibiting member comprises a lever including a wavy portion or one or more cutouts or a spring.