Bearing apparatus and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

A bearing apparatus includes a rotating member, a fixed member opposing the rotating member and an ink-like resin material. Opposing surfaces of the rotating member and the fixed member form a bearing part and the ink-like resin material is applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces by transfer printing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bearing apparatus comprising: 
 a rotating member;    a fixed member opposing the rotating member; and    an ink-like resin material,    wherein opposing surfaces of the rotating member and the fixed member form a bearing part, and the ink-like resin material is applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces by transfer printing.    
     
     
         2 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a thrust fluid dynamic surface is formed on both opposing surfaces of the rotating member and the fixed member, so as to form a fluid dynamic thrust bearing part, and wherein at least one of the thrust fluid dynamic surfaces has a resin sliding film, the resin sliding film forming a thrust dynamic pressure-generating groove.  
     
     
         3 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotating member comprises an annular wall surface erected coaxially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating member, and a planar disk-shaped part formed so as to be surrounded in an inner radial direction by the annular wall surface, and wherein the planar disk-shaped part of the rotating member has a resin sliding film so as to form a thrust bearing part.  
     
     
         4 . A method for manufacturing a bearing apparatus comprising: 
 transfer-printing a resin sliding film onto at least one of opposing surfaces of a rotating member and a fixed member;    using a soft pad onto which is affixed an ink-like resin material; and    pressing the soft pad up against the at least one opposing surface to be printed onto.    
     
     
         5 . The method for manufacturing a bearing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprisings: 
 forming a depression part in a plate member corresponding to a thrust fluid dynamic surface onto which the resin sliding film is to be formed, causing an ink-like resin material to flow into the depression part of the plate member, and then removing unwanted ink-like resin material from the plate member;    pressing a soft pad up against the plate member, so as to cause the ink-like resin material within the depression part of the plate member to become affixed to the soft pad; and    pressing the soft pad onto which the ink-like resin material has been affixed up against at least one of the opposing thrust fluid dynamic surfaces of the rotating member and the fixed member, so that the ink-like resin material on the soft pad member side is transferred to that thrust fluid dynamic surface.    
     
     
         6 . A bearing apparatus comprising: 
 means for rotating;    means for remaining fixed opposing the means for rotating; and    means for eliminating friction,    wherein opposing surfaces of the means for rotating and the means for remaining fixed form a bearing part and the means for eliminating friction is applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces by transfer printing.    
     
     
         7 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating members is a stator assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed members is a rotor assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the thrust dynamic pressure-generating groove is spiral shaped.  
     
     
         10 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 2 , the thrust dynamic pressure-generating groove is herringbone shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the fluid dynamic thrust bearing part is a fluid seal.  
     
     
         12 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluid seal is formed by a capillary seal part.  
     
     
         13 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the resin sliding film is an amidoimide resin.  
     
     
         14 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the resin sliding film is an imid resin.  
     
     
         15 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the resin sliding film is epoxy-based resin.  
     
     
         16 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed member is made of a copper-based material to facilitate forming of small-diameter holes therein.  
     
     
         17 . The bearing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member includes a cap-shaped member made of a ferrite-based stainless steel.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising forming a fluid dynamic thrust bearing part between opposing surfaces of the rotating member and the fixed member.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising providing a resin sliding film forming a thrust dynamic pressure-generating groove.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising erecting an annular wall relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating member.