One-way clutch device, driver, and image forming apparatus

A driver comprising:

• a driving source to rotate forward and backward and generate a driving force;
• and
• a driving force transmitter to transmit the driving force,
• the driving force transmitter including:
• a first one-way clutch device;
• and
• a second one-way clutch device disposed opposite the first one-way clutch device,
• each of the first one-way clutch device and the second one-way clutch device including:
• an input member to receive the driving force from the driving source, the input member to rotate in a driving force transmitting rotation direction to transmit the driving force and a driving force interrupting rotation direction opposite to the driving force transmitting rotation direction to interrupt transmission of the driving force;
• an output member to output the driving force;
• and
• a joint to engage the output member, the joint including a plurality of first projections disposed opposite the output member, the first projections projecting in an axial direction of the joint and being arranged in a circumferential direction of the joint,
• the output member including a plurality of second projections disposed opposite the joint, the second projections projecting in an axial direction of the output member and being arranged in a circumferential direction of the output member,
• each of the first projections and the second projections including:
• a first slope having a height that decreases gradually from a tip of each of the first projections and the second projections in the driving force transmitting rotation direction;
• and a second slope having a height that decreases gradually from the tip of each of the first projections and the second projections in the driving force interrupting rotation direction.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a driver;
• a first rotator coupled with the driver;
• and
• a second rotator coupled with the driver,
• the driver including:
• a driving source to rotate forward and backward and generate a driving force;
• and
• a driving force transmitter to transmit the driving force,
• the driving force transmitter including:
• a first one-way clutch device;
• and
• a second one-way clutch device disposed opposite the first one-way clutch device,
• each of the first one-way clutch device and the second one-way clutch device including:
• an input member to receive the driving force from the driving source, the input member to rotate in a driving force transmitting rotation direction to transmit the driving force and a driving force interrupting rotation direction opposite to the driving force transmitting rotation direction to interrupt transmission of the driving force;
• an output member to output the driving force;
• and
• a joint to engage the output member, the joint including a plurality of first projections disposed opposite the output member, the first projections projecting in an axial direction of the joint and being arranged in a circumferential direction of the joint,
• the output member including a plurality of second projections disposed opposite the joint, the second projections projecting in an axial direction of the output member and being arranged in a circumferential direction of the output member, each of the first projections and the second projections including:
• a first slope having a height that decreases gradually from a tip of each of the first projections and the second projections in the driving force transmitting rotation direction;
• and a second slope having a height that decreases gradually from the tip of each of the first projections and the second projections in the driving force interrupting rotation direction.