World's Smallest Torque Limiter for Office Equipment!

Measures: Φ14 mm diameter X 12 mm

The NTN Corporation has successfully developed the "world's smallest torque limiter for office equipment". This limiter is not only small in size, it also permits rotation in two directions. It will be used in the paper feed sections of printers and copiers.

Progress is continually being made to shrink the size of office equipment since it must be more compact to concentrate the various equipment functions into a limited amount of space. The paper feed section, where the torque limiter is used, is no exception and current needs call for shrinking the size of the rubber roller and torque limiter used in the paper feed section.

In ordinary products, the torque is adjusted after assembly. In our new product, the torque is determined by controlling the part dimensions. This design approach eliminates having to make a post-assembly torque adjustment. This also allows us to reduce the diameter and length of the spring and make the outer diameter and length of the outer plastic case 20% smaller. These size reductions allow integrating our torque limiter into a smaller diameter rubber roller. Other benefits were big space savings overall, fewer parts, and vastly improved maintenance.

Another innovation is that our product can rotate in both directions. This change makes it easy to remove paper jams. In ordinary products, the paper tears when you try to remove it because the roller cannot rotate backwards.
One more important feature is that the inner ring is made with oil impregnated sintered metal which makes operation virtually maintenance-free.

FEATURES

• Tiny dimensions!

a. Previous product dimensions: Φ18 mm X 18mm

b. New product dimensions: Φ14 mm X 12mm

(Shrinking these outer dimensions was important since it permitted integrating the torque limiter into the rubber roller of the paper feed section.)

• Rotates in two directions!

(Changing the spring and internal component engagement makes it easier to remove paper jams in the printer or copier.)

Note: This "world's smallest torque limiter for office equipment" is on exhibit at the "MOTION ENGINEERING JAPAN 2005 - The 14^th Motion & Power Transmission Exhibition Exhibits" at Makuhari Messe from April 20 to April 22.