RUBBER COMPOSITION, SHEET CONVEYING ROLLER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20140296049A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: MINE, Akihiro, TAMURA, Toshihiro, HYODO, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,637,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 492/28
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 19/00 Compositions of rubbers not provided for in groups C08L7/00 - C08L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6511 Feeding devices for picking up or separation of copy sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6529 Transporting G03G15/6555 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6552 Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00683 Chemical properties

Abstract

A rubber composition contains a higher ethylene content EPDM and a lower ethylene content EPDM as a rubber component. The proportion of the higher ethylene content EPDM is 30 to 80 mass % based on the overall amount of the rubber component. The rubber composition is less susceptible to reduction in friction coefficient μ and has a proper hardness, a smaller permanent elongation and an excellent abrasion resistance after crosslinking. Therefore, the rubber composition is suitable for a sheet conveying roller and an image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet conveying roller.

Claims

1. A rubber composition comprising a rubber component, and a peroxide crosslinking agent,

wherein the rubber component comprises:

(1) an ethylene propylene diene rubber having an ethylene content of not less than 62%; and

(2) an ethylene propylene diene rubber having an ethylene content of not greater than 55%,

wherein the ethylene propylene diene rubber (1) is present in a proportion of not less than 30 mass % and not greater than 80 mass % based on an overall amount of the rubber component.

2. The rubber composition according to claim 1, further comprising a crosslinking assisting agent.

3. The rubber composition according to claim 1, which provides a crosslinked product having a permanent elongation of not greater than 12%.

4. The rubber composition according to claim 2, which provides a crosslinked product having a permanent elongation of not greater than 12%.

5. A sheet conveying roller formed from the rubber composition according to claim 1.

6. An image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet conveying roller according to claim 5.