Patent ID: 6178303
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A contact depth controlling mechanism comprising:a first rotary member;a second rotary member having an elastic surface and adapted to be rotated in contact with the first rotary member;a contact depth controller roller having an outer circumferential surface to abut against the first rotary member and an inner circumferential surface to be in free engagement with a shaft of the second rotary member, for keeping a contact depth of the second rotary member abutting against the first rotary member at a predetermined level while the contact depth controller roller is in rotative free engagement with an end of the shaft of the second rotary member; anda controller for performing a rotation control so as to rotate the second rotary member with a predetermined circumferential velocity difference with respect to the first rotary member,wherein the contact depth controlling roller is formed to have an outer diameter such that a circumferential velocity of the outer circumferential surface of the contact depth controlling roller is substantially equal to a circumferential velocity of the first rotary member, and an inner diameter such that a circumferential velocity of the inner circumferential surface of the contact depth controlling roller is substantially equal to a circumferential velocity of the shaft of the second rotary member.