IP Library Granted Patent US 9,188,931
Granted Patent B2
US 9,188,931 · App. 14/321,560 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Vibration type driving apparatus and image forming apparatus

Inventor: Satoshi Tsuchiya (Inagi, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G15/757H02N2/163
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,188,931
App. No.
14/321,560
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

For example, the present invention relates to a vibration type driving apparatus which includes: a vibrating body that includes an elastic body provided with a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and a driven body in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion, wherein the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element; the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion; and the connecting portion includes plural uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction.

Claims (70)

1. A vibration type driving apparatus, comprising:

a vibrating body comprising an elastic body comprising a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and

a driven body in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion,

wherein

the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element;

the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion; and

the connecting portion includes plural uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction.

2. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein plural through holes are provided in the connecting portion.

3. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a volume ratio k of the through holes to the connecting portion is 0.02≦k≦0.7.

4. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein plural grooves are provided in the connecting portion.

5. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the connecting portion has a distribution in a shape of a sine wave.

6. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the driving vibration is excited by m-th order bending vibration that is generated in the vibrating portion when the alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element,

wherein m is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member;

a conveying belt disposed to face the image bearing member; and

the vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 1 that drives to rotate the image bearing member.

8. A vibration type driving apparatus, comprising:

a vibrating body comprising an elastic body provided with a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and

a driven body that is in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion,

wherein

the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element;

the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion;

the connecting portion includes uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction; and

a number indicating quantity of the uneven rigidity components is i times (i is 0.5, 1 or 2) greater than the order of undesired vibration of which frequency is in a driving frequency range of the alternating voltage.

9. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein plural through holes are provided in the connecting portion.

10. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a volume ratio k of the through holes to the connecting portion is 0.02≦k≦0.7.

11. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein plural grooves are provided in the connecting portion.

12. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the connecting portion has a distribution in a shape of a sine wave.

13. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the driving vibration is excited by m-th order bending vibration that is generated in the vibrating portion when the alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element,

wherein m is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

14. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member;

a conveying belt disposed to face the image bearing member; and

the vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 8 configured to rotate the image bearing member.

15. A vibration type driving apparatus, comprising:

a vibrating body comprising an elastic body provided with a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and

a driven body in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion,

wherein

the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element;

the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion;

the connecting portion includes uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction; and

a number indicating quantity of the uneven rigidity components is j times (j is 0.5, 1 or 2) greater than an order of undesired vibration in a harmonic region of n times (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) greater than the driving frequency range of the alternating voltage.

16. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein plural through holes are provided in the connecting portion.

17. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein a volume ratio k of the through holes to the connecting portion is 0.02≦k≦0.7.

18. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein plural grooves are provided in the connecting portion.

19. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the connecting portion has a distribution in a shape of a sine wave.

20. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the driving vibration is excited by m-th order bending vibration that is generated in the vibrating portion when the alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element,

wherein m is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

21. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein n times of the driving frequency in the number indicating quantity of the uneven rigidity components is set to n=2 times.

22. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member;

a conveying belt disposed to face the image bearing member; and

the vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 15 configured to rotate the image bearing member.

23. A vibration type driving apparatus, comprising:

a vibrating body comprising an elastic body provided with a vibrating portion, and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element fixed to the elastic body; and

a driven body in pressure contact with a frictional portion of the vibrating portion,

wherein

the vibrating body and the driven body are relatively moved by driving vibration generated when an alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element;

the elastic body includes a fixing portion for fixing the vibrating body to another member, and a connecting portion for connecting the vibrating portion and the fixing portion; and

the connecting portion includes uneven rigidity components in a circumferential direction, and a number indicating quantity of the uneven rigidity components is p times (p is 0.5, 1 or 2) greater than an order m (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1) of the driving vibration.

24. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein plural through holes are provided in the connecting portion.

25. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein a volume ratio k of the through holes to the connecting portion is 0.02≦k≦0.7.

26. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein plural grooves are provided in the connecting portion.

27. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein a thickness of the connecting portion has a distribution in a shape of a sine wave.

28. The vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the driving vibration is excited by m-th order bending vibration that is generated in the vibrating portion when the alternating voltage is applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element.

29. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member;

a conveying belt disposed to face the image bearing member; and

the vibration type driving apparatus according to claim 23 configured to rotate the image bearing member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2014
From: TSUCHIYA, SATOSHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034484/0287 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2013-140520 · Jul 4, 2013 · national
JP 2014-118116 · Jun 6, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150010333A1 · Jan 8, 2015