Rotational force transmitting apparatus

A rotational force transmitting apparatus comprising a clutch mechanism and a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, the rotational force transmitting apparatus being configured to couple the clutch mechanism and the planetary gear mechanism to each other in an axial direction in a fixing member to output from an output rotation member of the clutch mechanism a rotational force inputted to the sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism,

• wherein:
• the clutch mechanism includes
• a housing chamber having a columnar space,
• the output rotation member coaxially housed in the housing chamber,
• an input rotation member coaxially disposed on the output rotation member,
• engagement elements disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the housing chamber and an outer circumferential surface of the output rotation member, and
• biasing members configured to bias the respective engagement elements toward one side in a circumferential direction;
• the clutch mechanism is configured such that
• cam surfaces are disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the output rotation member so that a distance between each of the cam surfaces and the inner circumferential surface of the housing chamber is gradually reduced toward the one side in the circumferential direction and
• in a case where the input rotation member is rotated toward the other side opposite to the one side in the circumferential direction, the input rotation member is configured to be abutted against the engagement elements and thereafter abutted against the output rotation member to thereby push the output rotation member;
• the planetary gear mechanism includes
• a plurality of first planetary gears rotatably supported by the input rotation member, and
• the sun gear engaging with the plurality of first planetary gears from a center;
• and
• the fixing member has an inner circumferential surface having a substantially columnar shape, the inner circumferential surface on one side in the axial direction constituting the housing chamber, the inner circumferential surface on the other side in the axial direction constituting a first internal gear engaging with the plurality of first planetary gears,
• wherein the clutch mechanism includes
• recesses each of which is adjacent to the one side of the cam surface and is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the output rotation member;
• pressure transmitting parts each of which is provided on the input rotation member, is fitted into the recess with play in the circumferential direction, and is protruded from an inside of the recess in a centrifugal direction;
• and
• in a case where the input rotation member is rotated toward the other side, the pressure transmitting parts are abutted against the engagement elements to thereby push the engagement elements, and thereafter the pressure transmitting parts are abutted against end surfaces in the circumferential direction of the recesses to thereby push the output rotation member.