Patent ID: 7271820
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An idler mechanism, comprising: a first driven gear; a second driven gear, the second driven gear meshing with the first driven gear; a drive gear that is rotatably supported around a pivot axis; a bent-shaped idler arm disposed on the pivot axis, the idler arm being pivotable between the first and second driven gear due to rotational torque generated by rotation of the driven gear; a first idler gear that is disposed at one side of the idler arm and is driven by the drive gear, the first idler gear meshing with the first driven gear when the idler arm is pivoted toward the first driven gear; and a second idler gear that is disposed on the other side of the idler arm and is driven by the drive gear, the second idler gear meshing with the second driven gear when the idler arm is pivoted toward the second driven gear; wherein at least one of the first and second idler gears is always meshing with respective one of the first and second driven gears.