Image generating apparatus

Abstract

An image generating apparatus capable of rotating and rotatably supporting a gear while reducing the number of components is obtained. This image generating apparatus comprises a normally and reversely rotatable drive gear, a driven gear meshing with the drive gear and a rotating arm of resin integrally provided with a rotation fulcrum portion rotatably mounted on the drive gear, a support shaft rotatably supporting the driven gear and a spring portion outwardly inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to the extensional direction of the support shaft.

1 . An image generating apparatus comprising: 
 a normally and reversely rotatable drive gear;    a driven gear meshing with said drive gear; and    a rotating arm of resin integrally provided with a rotation fulcrum portion rotatably mounted on said drive gear, a support shaft rotatably supporting said driven gear and a spring portion outwardly inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to the extensional direction of said support shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ink sheet for printing an image on a paper and a take-up gear for taking up said ink sheet, wherein 
 said support shaft of said rotating arm is formed with an arcuate outer peripheral portion at least by half on a region other than that formed with said spring portion,    said rotating arm rotates in the direction of rotation of said drive gear due to frictional force between said driven gear and said support shaft caused by said spring portion urging said driven gear, and    said driven gear meshes with or separates from said take-up gear due to rotation of said rotating arm.    
   
   
       3 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said spring portion of said rotating arm is integrally provided with a stop portion for inhibiting said driven gear from slipping off said support shaft.    
   
   
       4 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said driven gear further includes a receiving hole receiving said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm, and    said stop portion is provided with a hook engaging with an edge of said driven gear after said spring portion is inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       5 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said driven gear further includes a receiving hole receiving said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm,    said spring portion further includes a shaft portion arranged along the axial direction of said receiving hole of said driven gear and provided with said stop portion on an end thereof, and    the axial length of said shaft portion of said spring portion is substantially identical to the axial length of said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       6 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said driven gear further includes a receiving hole receiving said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm, and    said spring portion is so provided on said rotating arm that said shaft portion of said spring portion comes into surface contact with the inner surface of said receiving hole of said driven gear and urges the inner surface of said receiving hole of said driven gear when said spring portion is inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       7 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said spring portion is rendered substantially parallel to the axial direction of said receiving hole of said driven gear when said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm are inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       8 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm have arcuate outer peripheral portions respectively, and    said arcuate outer peripheral portions of the bottoms of said spring portion and said support shaft are substantially arranged on the circumference of a circle.    
   
   
       9 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said driven gear further includes a receiving hole receiving said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm, and    said spring portion urges the inner surface of said receiving hole in a direction intersecting with the axial direction of said support shaft.    
   
   
       10 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said support shaft of said rotating arm has an arcuate outer peripheral portion, and    said spring portion is arranged at a prescribed interval from said arcuate outer peripheral portion of said support shaft.    
   
   
       11 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said rotating arm further includes a regulating portion for regulating the quantity of rotation of said rotating arm, and    a reinforcing rib is formed on a peripheral portion of said regulating portion of said rotating arm for suppressing deformation of said rotating arm.    
   
   
       12 . An image generating apparatus comprising: 
 an ink sheet for printing an image on a paper;    a take-up gear for taking up said ink sheet;    a normally and reversely rotatable drive gear driving said take-up gear;    a driven gear meshing with said drive gear; and    a rotating arm of resin including a rotation fulcrum portion rotatably mounted on said drive gear and a support shaft rotatably supporting said driven gear, wherein    said rotating arm is integrally provided with a spring portion outwardly inclined by a prescribed angle with respect to the extensional direction of said support shaft of said rotating arm,    said driven gear further includes a receiving hole receiving said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm while said spring portion is so provided on said rotating arm that said shaft portion of said spring portion comes into surface contact with the inner surface of said receiving hole of said driven gear and urges the inner surface of said receiving hole of said driven gear when said spring portion is inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear,    said spring portion of said rotating arm is integrally provided with a stop portion for inhibiting said driven gear from slipping off said support shaft while said stop portion is provided with a hook engaging with an edge of said driven gear after said spring portion is inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear,    said support shaft of said rotating arm is formed with an arcuate outer peripheral portion at least by half on a region other than that formed with said spring portion,    said rotating arm rotates in the direction of rotation of said drive gear due to frictional force between said driven gear and said support shaft caused by said spring portion urging said driven gear, and    said driven gear meshes with or separates from said take-up gear due to rotation of said rotating arm.    
   
   
       13 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said spring portion further includes a shaft portion arranged along the axial direction of said receiving hole of said driven gear and provided with said stop portion on an end thereof, and    the axial length of said shaft portion of said spring portion is substantially identical to the axial length of said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       14 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said spring portion is rendered substantially parallel to the axial direction of said receiving hole of said driven gear when said support shaft and said spring portion of said rotating arm are inserted into said receiving hole of said driven gear.    
   
   
       15 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 said spring portion has an arcuate outer peripheral portion, and    said arcuate outer peripheral portions of the bottoms of said spring portion and said support shaft are substantially arranged on the circumference of a circle.    
   
   
       16 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said spring portion urges the inner surface of said receiving hole in a direction intersecting with the axial direction of said support shaft.    
   
   
       17 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said spring portion is arranged at a prescribed interval from said arcuate outer peripheral portion of said support shaft.    
   
   
       18 . The image generating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said rotating arm further includes a regulating portion for regulating the quantity of rotation of said rotating arm, and    a reinforcing rib is formed on a peripheral portion of said regulating portion of said rotating arm for suppressing deformation of said rotating arm.