# US 2008/0185776 A1 · Clutch apparatus, conveyance apparatus and recording apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185776 A1 - Document ID: US20080185776A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/833,597 - Filed: 2007-08-03 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-03 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Tokujiro OKUNO; Hiroyuki TAJIMA; Kiyotaka NAKAMURA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185776A1 ## CPC - F16D 11/06: with clutching members movable otherwise than only axially, e.g. rotatable keys - B65H 3/0607: {cooperating with means for automatically separating the pile from roller or rotary separator after a separation step} - B65H 3/0661: {for separating inclined-stacked articles with separator rollers above the stack} - B65H 3/34: Article-retaining devices controlling the release of the articles to the separators - B65H 3/56: Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile {(B65H3/52 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/565: {for reintroducing partially separated articles in the stack} - F16D 11/16: with clutching members movable otherwise than only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence) - B65H 2220/09: indicating that several of an entity are present - B65H 2301/4222: Squaring-up piles - B65H 2403/421: involving at least a gear with toothless portion - B65H 2403/47: Ratchet - B65H 2403/512: involving radial plate cam - B65H 2403/70: Clutches; Couplings - B65H 2513/412: Direction of rotation of motor powering the handling device - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract [Object] To provide a clutch apparatus that can smoothly switch from a clutch engaged state to a clutch non-engaged state, while tooth jump does not occur even with a small-sized clutch apparatus. [Solving Means] A recessed portion 153 is provided in a cam face of a cam 45. A cam shaft 13 is configured to pivot by a predetermined amount as a cam follower 51 is fitted in the recessed portion, and, when the cam initiates to engage the cam follower, it enters a clutch engaged state. A driven side gear 99 is pivoted by a predetermined amount as the cam follower is fitted in the recessed portion and, thereby, a clutch member 93 is rotated by a predetermined amount in a direction in which a toothed portion 94 is spaced apart from a drive side gear 92. In a state where the cam follower is not fitted in the recessed portion, when the clutch member 93 switches its clutch state, at least a portion of a swing locus of the toothed portion 94 of the clutch member 93 maintains a clearance with a gear tooth of the drive side gear 92. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clutch apparatus for connecting or disconnecting power transmission from a drive side gear, which is driven by a drive motor for rotation, to a driven side gear, comprising: a cam provided on a driven rotary shaft of the driven side gear or a gear that is engaged at a downstream side of drive transmission of the driven side gear; a cam follower provided to press contact the cam; a clutch member that has an engaging pawl and a toothed portion that is engageable with the drive side gear, and that is switchable between a clutch engaged state between the toothed portion and the drive side gear and a clutch non-engaged state therebetween as the clutch member swings; an arm that is pivotable about a pivot fulcrum; a clutch engaging portion that is provided on the arm and engageable with the engaging pawl; and a lever member that swings the clutch member to switch from the clutch engaged state to the clutch non-engaged state in such a manner that the clutch member and the driven side gear engage the engaging pawl with the clutch engaging portion, wherein when the cam follower is fitted in the recessed portion, it enters the clutch engaged state, and the cam follower is configured so that the clutch member is rotated by a predetermined amount in a direction in which the toothed portion is spaced apart from the drive side gear by pivoting the driven side gear by a predetermined amount, wherein when the cam follower is not fitted in the recessed portion, it enters the clutch non-engaged state, and wherein when a clutch state switches, at least a portion of a swing locus of the toothed portion of the clutch member maintains a clearance with a gear tooth of the drive side gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clutch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the engaging pawl engages the clutch engaging portion, the clutch engaging portion pushes the engaging pawl to swing the clutch member and, thereby, the toothed portion of the clutch member is spaced apart from the drive side gear with a clearance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clutch apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a lever pivot gear that is provided coaxially with the lever shaft and that is driven by power transmission that is branched from a drive transmission system to the drive side gear, wherein the lever pivot gear and the lever shaft are coupled through a differential device, wherein the differential device is configured so that, when an engagement between the engaging pawl and the clutch engaging portion is released, the lever member is pivoted in a direction away from the clutch member and, when the engaging pawl is engaged with the clutch engaging portion, the lever member is pivoted in a direction to approach toward the clutch member, and wherein power is transmitted after the clutch member is pivoted to a position at which the clutch engaging portion does not re-engage the engaging pawl even when the lever member is pivoted to approach. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A recording material conveyance apparatus comprising: a drive motor; a clutch apparatus for connecting or disconnecting power transmission from a drive side gear, which is driven by the drive motor for rotation, to a driven side gear; and a feeding roller shaft, to which a feeding roll that applies feeding force to a recording material is fixed and which belongs to the driven side gear, the feeding roller shaft being rotated by power transmitted from the drive side gear, wherein the clutch apparatus is the clutch apparatus according to claim 3. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A recording apparatus comprising: a recording material conveyance apparatus; and a record performing unit that performs recording on a recording material that is fed from the recording material conveyance apparatus, wherein the recording material conveyance apparatus is the recording material conveyance apparatus according to claim 4.