JPH04280282A - Rotary drum mounting mechanism in image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deformation of a rotary drum, and ensure the proper transmission of the rotation thereof by providing a connection member in such a way as causing the concurrent rotation of the rotary drum, upon driving a flange member for rotation. CONSTITUTION:A coil spring laid at a front side flange member causes a rotary drum 12 to be eccentric backward in an axial direction, and presses the drum 12 to the annular bearing surface of a rear side flange member 10. The connection projection piece 76 of a drive connection member 70 is extended at an acute angle with the internal surface of the rotary drum 12 at the upstream side of the rear side flange member 10 in a rotational direction. Also, the end of the connection projection piece 76 is defined with an acute apex and, therefore, when the rear side flange member 10 is rotated in an arrow direction 50, the end 80 of the connection projection piece 76 bites the internal surface of the rotary drum 12. According to this construction, the rotation of the rear side flange member 10 is properly transmitted to the rotary drum 12 via the drive connection member 70, and both the flange member 10 and drum 12 rotate concurrently in the arrow direction 50.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a rotating drum mounting mechanism in an image generating machine such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printing machine, and more particularly, to a rotating cylindrical drum mounting mechanism in which a photoreceptor is disposed on the circumferential surface. The present invention relates to a rotating drum mounting mechanism in an image generating machine for mounting a drum on a flange member in a detachable manner and rotating together with the flange member.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In image generating machines such as electrostatographic copying machines and laser beam printing machines, a rotating drum having a photoreceptor disposed on its peripheral surface is used. Such a rotating drum can be driven to rotate as required, and can be detachably attached for purposes such as cleaning the photoconductor when it becomes contaminated or replacing the rotating drum when the photoconductor has deteriorated. is important. Furthermore, it is usually necessary to ground the rotating drum, which is made of electrically conductive material, through suitable means.

In a typical example of a rotating drum mounting mechanism,
A stationary support shaft is fixed at a predetermined position within the image generator, a pair of flange members are rotatably mounted on the support shaft at an interval in the axial direction, and the pair of flange members are configured to rotate together with the support shaft. is equipped with a rotating drum. One of the pair of flange members is drivingly connected to a rotational drive source, which may be an electric motor, through a transmission means such as a transmission gear, and is driven to rotate in a desired direction by the drive source. In order to ensure that the rotation of the rotationally driven flange member is transmitted to the rotating drum so that the rotating drum is rotated together with the flange member,
- Japanese Patent No. 176873 discloses that a notch is formed at one end of a rotating drum, a protrusion that engages with the notch is formed on a flange member, and the rotation of the flange member is transmitted to the rotating drum through cooperation between the notch and the protrusion. It's forcing me. The rotating drum is usually made of aluminum with an oxide film applied to the inner peripheral surface. In this case, since the oxide film applied to the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum is non-conductive, this film is locally removed to expose the conductive aluminum itself, and the electrical connection wire is connected to the exposed area. One end of the drum is fixed to ground the rotating drum.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention]
In the transmission mode disclosed in Publication No. 2-176873, it is necessary to add additional machining to one end of the rotating drum to form a notch, and (a) manufacturing due to the additional machining is required. (b) Deformations are created in the rotating drum due to the additional machining, reducing roundness and thus negatively impacting the image produced on the photoreceptor. There's a problem.

[0005] Furthermore, in the conventional electrical connection method described above, it is necessary to locally remove the non-conductive film on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and this removal action increases manufacturing costs. do.

Therefore, the main technical problem of the present invention is to improve the rotating drum mounting mechanism so that it can be rotationally driven without a considerable increase in manufacturing costs and without creating undesirable deformations in the rotating drum. To ensure that the rotation of a flange member is transmitted to a rotating drum.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that even when a non-conductive film is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum,
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotating drum mounting mechanism that allows the rotating drum to be grounded without the need to locally remove such non-conductive coatings.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned main technical problem, in the present invention, a driving connecting member made of an elastic metal material and having a connecting protruding piece is fixed to a flange member, and the driving connecting member is fixed to a flange member. The connecting protruding piece of the connecting member is arranged so that the upstream side thereof forms an acute angle with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum when viewed in the direction of rotation of the flange member, and the tip is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, so that the flange member When driven to rotate, the tip of the connecting protruding piece of the drive connecting member bites into the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, causing the rotating drum to rotate together with the flange member.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other technical problems, the present invention provides a rotating drum made of a conductive material such that the tip of the connecting protruding piece bites into the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum. Grounding is provided via the drive connection member which destroys the non-conductive coating.

That is, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned main technical problem, a cylindrical rotating drum having a photoreceptor disposed on its circumferential surface is attached to a flange member that is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. In a rotating drum mounting mechanism of an image generator, which is mounted to be detachably attached and rotated together with the flange member, a drive connecting member made of an elastic metal material and having a connecting protrusion piece is fixed to the flange member. The connecting protruding piece of the driving connecting member has an upstream side that forms an acute angle with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum when viewed in the rotational driving direction of the flange member, and a tip thereof that forms an acute angle with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum. Rotation characterized by being pressed, and when the flange member is rotationally driven, the tip of the connecting protruding piece bites into the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, causing the rotating drum to rotate together with the flange member. A drum mounting mechanism is provided.

Preferably, the drive coupling member is made of spring steel, and the tip of the coupling protrusion of the drive coupling member is defined by a sharp apex.

In the rotating drum mounting mechanism of the present invention which achieves the above-mentioned other technical problems, the rotating drum is made of a conductive material and is grounded via the drive connection member. The flange member is rotatably mounted on a stationary support shaft, a cylindrical connection member made of a conductive material is disposed on the stationary support shaft, and the drive connection member is connected to the connection member. It is preferable that the rotary drum has a connecting protruding piece pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the rotary drum, and that the rotating drum is grounded via the drive connecting member and the connecting member.

Furthermore, a pair of flange members is rotatably mounted on the stationary support shaft, and each of the pair of flange members has a cylindrical support outer circumferential surface on which the rotating drum is fitted, and a support outer circumference. an annular receiving surface extending radially outwardly from an axially outer edge of the surface, the drive coupling member being secured axially inwardly to one of the flange members; Elastic biasing means is movably mounted and elastically biases the other of the flange members inward in the axial direction, and the receiving surface of the other of the flange members elastically biases the other of the flange members. It is preferable that one end edge of the rotating drum is pressed by the action, and the other end edge of the rotating drum is pressed against the one receiving surface of the flange member.

[0014]

[Operation] In the rotating drum mounting mechanism of the present invention, the rotation of the flange member is reliably transmitted to the rotating drum by the action of the drive connecting member fixed to the flange member. The drive coupling can be constructed sufficiently simply and inexpensively, and the drive coupling does not significantly increase the manufacturing costs. No additional machining is required on the rotating drum itself, and there is no risk of undesirable deformations being created in the rotating drum.

Furthermore, in the rotating drum mounting mechanism of the present invention, the tip of the connecting protruding piece of the drive connecting member bites into the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, thereby preventing the presence of a non-conductive film on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum. If this happens, the film will be destroyed. Therefore, even if a non-conductive film exists on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, the rotating drum can be grounded via the drive connection member without locally removing the film.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of a rotary drum mounting mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment includes a front upright support plate 2 and a rear upright support plate spaced longitudinally within the imager housing (not shown). 4 is arranged, and such an upright support plate 2
and 4, a substantially horizontally extending stationary support shaft 6 is fixed in a suitable manner. A pair of flange members, namely a front flange member 8 and a rear flange member 10, are rotatably mounted on the support shaft 6, which is an elongated cylindrical member, at intervals in the axial direction. A rotating drum 12 is attached to the front flange member 8 and the rear flange member 10. The rotating drum 12 has a substantially horizontally extending cylindrical shape, and a suitable photoreceptor is disposed on its circumferential surface.

The front flange member 8 can be made of any suitable synthetic resin material. The front flange member has an annular plate part 14 as well as an inner cylinder part 16 and an outer cylinder part 18 that concentrically protrude rearward in the axial direction from the annular plate part 14. A bearing member 20 is disposed within the substantially cylindrical inner tube portion 16, and the front flange member 8 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 6 via the bearing member 20. The substantially cylindrical outer tube portion 18 has a truncated conical introduction outer circumferential surface 22 whose diameter gradually decreases toward the rear, and a cylindrical support outer circumferential surface 24 continuing therefrom. The front flange member 8 is also formed with an annular receiving surface 26 extending radially outward from the axially outer edge (front edge) of the supporting outer peripheral surface 24 . A male thread is formed at the front end of the support shaft 6, and a nut member 28 is screwed onto the male thread. An annular housing groove 30 is formed inside (rear side) in the axial direction of the nut member 28, and an end portion of a compression coil spring 32 is housed within this housing groove 30. coil spring 32
The other end is brought into contact with the outer surface (front surface) of the bearing member 20 disposed on the inner flange member 8 . The coil spring 32 moves the bearing member 20 axially inside (rear side)
An elastic biasing means is configured to elastically bias the elastic biasing means. The protruding end of the inner cylindrical portion 16 of the front flange member 8 is provided with an annular receiving portion that protrudes radially inward, and the bearing member 2
The biasing action of the coil spring 32 is transmitted from 0 to this annular receiving portion, and thus the front flange member 8 is elastically biased inward (rearward) in the axial direction. The front end of the rotating drum 12 is guided by the outer cylindrical portion 20 of the front flange member 18, more specifically, by the introduction outer circumferential surface 22 thereof, and is fitted onto the supporting outer circumferential surface 22, and the front edge of the rotating drum 12 is fitted onto the supporting outer circumferential surface 22. It is brought into contact with the surface 26. Therefore, the coil spring 3
The elastic biasing action of 2 is transmitted to the rotating drum 12 via the front flange member 18, and the rotating drum 12 is elastically biased inward (to the rear) in the axial direction.

Continuing the explanation with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 as well as FIG. 1, the rear flange member 10 can also be made of a suitable synthetic resin material. The rear flange member 10 has a generally cylindrical shape as a whole. Rear flange member 1
0, a pair of bearing members 38 and 40 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction, and the bearing members 38 and 40
A rear flange member 10 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 6 via. As shown in FIG. 1, a positioning ring 42 is disposed between the rear upright support plate 4 and the bearing member 40, and a positioning ring 42 is provided between the rear upright support plate 4 and the bearing member 40.
2, the rear flange member 1
0 is restricted from moving outward in the axial direction (to the rear), and thus the axial position of the rear flange member 10 (and therefore the axial position of the rotating drum 12) is restricted. A transmission member 44 is fixed to the rear portion of the rear flange member 10 in an appropriate manner. This transmission member 44 has two integrally formed gears 46 and 48. The gear 46 is connected to a rotary drive source (which may be an electric motor) via a transmission gear train (not shown).
(not shown), and the gear 48 is engaged with an input gear (not shown) of other means disposed about the periphery of the rotating drum 12. Thus, when the rotational drive source is energized, the rear flange member 10 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 50 in FIG.
The rotation of the rear flange member 10 is transmitted to the other means via the gear 48.

A disk-shaped portion 52 projecting outward in the radial direction is formed at the front end of the rear flange member 10, and a cylinder projecting inward (frontward) in the axial direction is formed on the front surface of this disk-shaped portion 52. A shaped portion 54 is formed. The cylindrical portion 54 has a truncated conical introduction outer circumferential surface 56 whose diameter gradually decreases toward the front, and a cylindrical support outer circumferential surface 58 continuing therefrom. The outer diameter of the supporting outer circumferential surface 58 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the supporting outer circumferential surface 24 of the front flange member 8, and
The inner diameter is substantially the same as that of No. 2. An annular receiving surface 6 extending radially outward is provided on the axially outer side (rearward side) of the support outer circumferential surface 58.
0 is formed. As can be clearly understood by referring to FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 54 is interrupted at two diametrically opposed (in other words, angularly spaced apart by 180 degrees) portions. In each of these interruptions, a rectangular mounting area 64 is defined by a channel-shaped protruding wall 62 . A notch 66 is formed in the radially inner portion of the protruding wall 62 . A screw hole 68 is formed in the mounting area 64 and extends in the axial direction.

A drive connecting member 70 is fixed to each of the two mounting areas 64 on the rear flange member 10. As shown in FIG. Each of the drive connecting members 70 is made of a suitable elastic metal material, preferably spring steel such as SUS304CSP (JIS standard). As clearly shown in FIG. 2, each drive connecting member 70 formed by cutting and bending a metal plate includes a rectangular fixed portion 72, a central portion 74 standing upright from one side of this fixed portion 72, and a central portion 74. It has a connecting protruding piece 76 that protrudes from the central portion 74 to one side, and a connecting protruding piece 78 that protrudes from the center portion 74 to the opposite side. The connecting protruding piece 76 is connected to the central portion 7
4 in a predetermined direction, that is, in the direction indicated by an arrow 50 in FIG. The protruding edge of the connecting protrusion 76 extends radially outwardly at an angle to the right in FIG. 1, so that the tip 80 of the connecting protrusion 76 is defined by a sharp apex forming an acute angle α. On the other hand, the connecting protruding piece 78 extends in the opposite direction from the central portion 74, i.e., as indicated by the arrow 50 in FIG.
It extends obliquely in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by , and has a curved tip. A hole 82 is formed in the fixing portion 72 of the drive connecting member 70, and a set screw (not shown) is inserted through the hole 82 and attached to the rear flange member 1.
The drive connecting member 70 is fixed to the rear flange member 10 by screwing into the screw hole 68 formed in the mounting area 64 of the drive connecting member 70 . As can be understood by referring to FIG. 3, the tip 80 of the connecting projection piece 76 of the drive connecting member 70 projects slightly radially outward from the interrupted portion of the cylindrical portion 54 in the rear flange member 10. The connecting protrusion 78 of the drive coupling member 70 extends radially inwardly through the notch 66 formed in the protruding wall 62 of the rear flange member 10 .

Continuing the explanation with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the rotating drum 12 has both ends fitted into the supporting outer circumferential surface 24 of the front flange member 8 and the supporting outer circumferential surface 58 of the rear flange member 10, respectively. installed by. The coil spring 32 disposed on the front side of the front flange member 8 elastically biases the rotating drum 12 rearward in the axial direction via the front flange member 8, so that the rear end edge of the rotating drum 12 touches the rear flange member. Annular receiving surface 60 at 10
Thus, the axial position of the rotating drum 12 is regulated. When the rotating drum 12 is mounted on the front flange member 8 and the rear flange member 10 as required, the tip of each connecting protrusion piece 76 of the drive connecting member 70 is attached to the inner periphery of the rotating drum 12, as shown in FIG. Forced to press against the surface. In the direction indicated by the arrow 50 in FIG. 3, that is, on the upstream side when viewed from the direction of rotation of the rear flange member 10, the connecting protruding piece 76 of the drive connecting member 70 forms an acute angle β with the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum 12. The distal end 80 of the connecting projection 76 extends and also in the illustrated embodiment is defined by a sharp apex so that when the rear flange member 10 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 50 in FIG. The tip 80 of the connecting protruding piece 76 of 70 bites into the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12, thus ensuring that the rear flange member 10 rotates to the rotating drum 12 (and therefore also to the front flange member 8) via the drive connecting member 70. The rotary drum 12 (and the front flange member 8) together with the rear flange member 10 are rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 50. When the rotating drum 12 is made of aluminum, a non-conductive aluminum oxide film is often formed on its inner peripheral surface. The tip 80 penetrates into the non-conductive oxide film and thereby locally destroys the film, so that the drive coupling member 70 is automatically removed from the rotating drum 12 without the need for special operations to remove the film.
electrically connected to. When removing the rotating drum 12 from the front flange 8 and the rear flange member 10,
By slightly rotating the rotating drum 12 in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by the arrow 50, the connecting protruding piece 76 of the drive connecting member 70 can be separated from the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 with sufficient ease.

On the stationary support shaft 6, there is a rear flange member 1.
A mounting member 82 located adjacent to and in front of 0 is also mounted. The mounting member 82, which can be formed from a suitable synthetic resin material, has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a plurality of slits 84 formed at intervals in the circumferential direction on its front side (the left side in FIG. 1). . A disk portion 86 is formed at the rear end of the mounting member 82 and projects outward in the radial direction. The mounting member 82 is fixed at a desired position on the support shaft 6 in an appropriate manner. As will be clearly understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, two diametrically opposed (in other words, 180 degree angularly spaced apart) portions of the mounting member 82 include an axially rearward portion. A wedge portion 88 is formed that projects radially outwardly. Further, a recess 90 is formed on the rear side of the wedge portion 88 . Furthermore, at the rear of the recess 90, there is a protrusion 9 that protrudes radially outward.
2 is formed. Mounted on such mounting member 82 is a cylindrical connecting member 94 which may be formed from a suitable electrically conductive material such as brass. Prior to mounting the mounting member 82 on the support shaft 6, the connecting member 94 is mounted on the mounting member 82 by moving the connecting member 94 from the inner end of the mounting member 82 to the recess 90 in the axial direction. . During such a mounting operation, the wedge portion 88 of the mounting member 82 is elastically bent radially inward by the connecting member 94, and when the connecting member 94 passes, the wedge portion 88 is elastically restored, thus causing the mounting member 82 to bend elastically. A connecting member 94 is placed on the recess 90.
is restrained. A notch 96 is formed at the rear end of the connecting member 94, and by engaging this notch 96 with the protrusion 92 of the mounting member 82, rotation of the connecting member 94 relative to the mounting member 82 is prevented. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connecting terminal piece 98 is disposed between the mounting member 82 and the connecting member 94. The connecting terminal piece 98, which can be formed from a conductive elastic material such as a spring steel plate, is folded back from one end of the main part 100 together with a folded part 102 extending in the opposite direction, and a radial distance from the other end of the main part 100. A protrusion 1 extending outward in the direction and then inward in the axial direction.
04. The main portion 100 and the folded portion 102 of the connecting terminal piece 98 are positioned within one of the recesses 90 of the mounting member 82, and are elastically deformed and held between the mounting member 82 and the connecting member 94. The protruding portion 104 of the connecting terminal piece 98 protrudes radially outward and axially inward from the mounting member 82 and the connecting member 94. One end of an electrical connection line 106 is connected to this protrusion 104 . The connection wire 106, which may be a normal connection wire with an insulating coating, enters the support shaft 6 through an opening 108 formed in the support shaft 6, extends through the support shaft 6, and extends from the rear end. put out The other end of the connection line 106 is grounded via a well-known photoreceptor surface potential correction circuit (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the connecting protruding pieces 7 of the pair of drive connecting members 70 fixed to the rear flange member 10
8 is elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member 94 by its own elasticity. Thus, the rotating drum 12
is grounded via the drive coupling member 70, the connection member 94, the connection terminal piece 98, and the connection wire 106.

Although preferred embodiments of the rotating drum mounting mechanism constructed according to the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, it is possible to modify or modify.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, only the rear flange member is provided with a drive connection member, but if desired, a similar drive connection member may be provided on the front flange member. In addition, although two drive connection members are provided on the rear flange member, instead of this, only one drive connection member or three or more drive connection members spaced apart in the circumferential direction may be used. It is also possible to arrange members.

[0026]

Effects of the Invention In the rotating drum mounting mechanism of the present invention, the flange member (
The rotation of the rear flange member) is reliably transmitted to the rotating drum. There is no need for additional processing of the rotating drum itself, and there is no risk of undesirable deformation of the rotating drum. Furthermore, even if a non-conductive film is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum, the film is destroyed by the tip of the connecting protruding piece of the drive connecting member biting into the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and therefore the film is destroyed. The rotary drum can be grounded via the drive connection without requiring additional operations to locally remove the rotary drum.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a rotating drum mounting mechanism constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the rotating drum mounting mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the rotating drum mounting mechanism of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

6: Stationary support shaft 8: Front flange member 10: Rear flange member 12: Rotating drum 24: Cylindrical support outer peripheral surface of front flange member 26: Annular receiving surface 32 of front flange member: Coil spring (elastic biasing means) 58 : Cylindrical support outer circumferential surface 60 of the rear flange member: Annular receiving surface 70 of the rear flange member: Drive connection member 76: Connection protrusion piece 78 of the drive connection member: Connection protrusion piece 80 of the drive connection member: Connection protrusion piece of the drive connection member Tip 82: Mounting member 94: Cylindrical connection member 98: Connection terminal piece 106: Connection wire

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical rotary drum having a photoreceptor disposed on its circumferential surface is detachably attached to a flange member that is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction and rotated together with the flange member. In a rotating drum mounting mechanism in an image generating machine, a driving connecting member made of an elastic metal material and having a connecting protruding piece is fixed to the flange member, and the connecting protruding piece of the driving connecting member is fixed to the flange member. The upstream side as seen in the rotational driving direction forms an acute angle with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, and the tip thereof is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum, and when the flange member is rotationally driven, the connecting protrusion A rotating drum mounting mechanism characterized in that the tip of the piece bites into the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum to rotate the rotating drum together with the flange member. 2. The rotating drum mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive coupling member is formed from spring steel. 3. The rotating drum mounting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the connecting protruding piece of the drive connecting member is defined by a sharp apex. 4. The rotating drum mounting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotating drum is made of an electrically conductive material and is grounded via the drive connection member. 5. The flange member is rotatably mounted on a stationary support shaft, and a cylindrical connection member made of an electrically conductive material is disposed on the stationary support shaft, and the drive connection 5. The rotating drum mounting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the member has a connecting protrusion that is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member, and the rotating drum is grounded via the drive connecting member and the connecting member. 6. A pair of flange members is rotatably mounted on the stationary support shaft, and each of the pair of flange members has a cylindrical support outer circumferential surface into which the rotating drum is fitted and a support outer circumferential surface. an annular receiving surface extending radially outwardly from an axially outer edge of the surface, the drive coupling member being secured axially inwardly to one of the flange members; Elastic biasing means is movably mounted and elastically biases the other of the flange members inward in the axial direction, and the receiving surface of the other of the flange members elastically biases the other of the flange members. The rotating drum according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rotating drum is pressed against one end edge of the rotating drum and the other end edge of the rotating drum is pressed against the one receiving surface of the flange member. Attachment mechanism.