Cylindrical structural body for use in an image forming apparatus and method of producing the same
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsKenji Narita, Yasuhiro Hujimori, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Makoto Nakamura, Kyota Koetuka, Kenichi Ishiguro, Takeo Araki, Takahiro Yasunaga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cylindrical structural body for use in an image forming apparatus and a method of producing the same are disclosed. The structural includes a cylindrical sleeve and flanges or similar end members respectively affixed to opposite ends of the sleeve. The flanges can be firmly and easily affixed to the sleeve without causing the sleeve to deform. The structural body is therefore low cost and highly accurate.
Claims68
A cylindrical structural body comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve;
- and
- an end member affixed to an end portion of said sleeve in an axial direction of said sleeve;
- said end member including a tapered portion tapered toward an end thereof in an axial direction of said cylindrical structural body over an entire circumference of said tapered portion;
- said end portion of said sleeve being plastically deformed such that an inner periphery of said end portion closely contacts said tapered portion of said end member, whereby said end portion is affixed to said end member.
In a method of producing a cylindrical structural body including a cylindrical end member and a cylindrical sleeve by pressing an axial end portion of said sleeve against said end member, said end portion of said sleeve is pressed against a frustoconical inclined surface formed at one axial end of said end member concentrically with said end member.
In a method of producing a cylindrical structural body including a cylindrical sleeve and an end member affixed to an end portion of said sleeve in an axial direction of said sleeve, said end member having a circumferential surface including a tapered surface tapered toward an outside end of said end member remotest from an axial center of said cylindrical structural body, said tapered surface being formed with incisions at circumferentially spaced locations, said end member is inserted in said end portion of said sleeve, and then said end portion of said sleeve is pressed against a shaping surface corresponding in shape to said tapered surface and including a projection to thereby cause said end portion of said sleeve to plastically deform complementarily to said tapered surface.
A developing roller comprising:
- a cylindrical sleeve;
- and
- an end member affixed to an end portion of said sleeve in an axial direction of said sleeve;
- said end member including a tapered portion tapered toward an end in an axial direction of said developing roller over an entire circumference of said tapered portion;
- said end portion of said sleeve being plastically deformed such that an inner periphery of said end portion closely contacts said tapered portion of said end member, whereby said end portion is affixed to said end member.
In a method of producing a developing roller including a cylindrical end member and a cylindrical sleeve by pressing an axial end portion of said sleeve against said end member, said end portion of said sleeve is pressed against a frustoconical inclined surface formed at one axial end of said end member concentrically with said end member.
A developing device comprising:
- a developing roller including a cylindrical sleeve and an end member affixed to one end of said sleeve in an axial direction of said developing roller;
- a setting portion for rotatably setting said developing roller;
- a facing member facing said developing roller;
- and
- a seal member intervening between said developing roller and said facing member for preventing a developer from leaking to a region other than a region where the developer will be deposited on said developing roller;
- wherein said end member comprises a cylindrical portion having a preselected diameter and a tapered portion closer to an end of said developing roller in an axial direction of said developing roller than said cylindrical portion and sequentially tapered toward an end of said end member in the axial direction of said developing roller over an entire circumference, said sleeve having an end thereof in the axial direction of said developing roller plastically deformed such that an inner periphery of said end portion closely contacts a surface of said tapered portion;
- and
- wherein said seal member contacts a first and a second portion of said sleeve respectively surrounding said cylindrical portion and said tapered portion of said end member, and contacts said first portion with a higher compressibility than said second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.