US 5,583,630 AGranted

Oldham coupling for a revolving type developing device

AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.

InventorsNoriyuki Kimura, Minoru Suzuki, Takatsugu Fuzishiro

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Abstract

A joint having an OLDHAM state coupling at a leading edge thereof is held movably in a direction which is parallel to a joint axis at a full-color printer body. A coupling gear is substantially connected to a developing roller disposed in each mono-color developing unit, which makes up a revolving type developing device. At the time of developing by one of the mono-color developing units, the joint is capable of moving in parallel to the axis of the joint in the state of being rotated toward the coupling. A projection is further provided at the leading edge of the coupling, and a claw is further provided at the end of the coupling gear. Thereby, smooth engagement between the coupling gear and the coupling is made by the help of the OLDHAM state coupling, the projection and the claw. As a result, the driving force is transmitted from the joint to the developing roller disposed in the developing unit, so that the developing roller can rotate at a predetermined speed and direction.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A revolving type developing device having at least three mono-color developing units, each unit having at least a developing roller and a toner supplying roller therein and disposed around an axis of said developing device, the revolving type developing device comprising:

a driving force transmitting means for transmitting a driving force to said developing roller, said driving force transmitting means being disposed in a body and movable toward said developing device in parallel to an axis of said developing roller;
and
a driving force receiving means for receiving the driving force from the body and transmitting the driving force to the developing roller, which is disposed in the developing device;
said driving force transmitting means comprising and OLDHAM joint and a first projection or recess means for engaging with the driving force receiving means, which is provided to said driving force transmitting means at a leading edge thereof;
and
said driving force receiving means comprising a second projection or recess means for engaging with the first projection or recess means of the driving force transmitting means, which is provided to said driving force receiving means at a leading edge thereof, said second projection or recess means of the driving force receiving means being coaxial with an axis of the toner supplying roller;
wherein the driving force is transmitted from said body to said developing roller at a time in which said driving force transmitting means is moved in parallel to said axis of the developing roller and said first and second projection or recess means are engaged with each other.

4 more elements

a driving force transmitting means for transmitting a driving force to said developing roller, said driving force transmitting means being disposed in a body and movable toward said developing device in parallel to an axis of said developing roller;
and
a driving force receiving means for receiving the driving force from the body and transmitting the driving force to the developing roller, which is disposed in the developing device;
said driving force transmitting means comprising a first projection or recess means for engaging with the driving force receiving means, which is provided to said driving force transmitting means at a leading edge thereof;
and
said driving force receiving means comprising a second projection or recess means for engaging with the first projection or recess means of the driving force transmitting means, which is provided to said driving force receiving means at a leading edge thereof;
wherein:
the driving force is transmitted from said body to said developing roller at a time in which said driving force transmitting means is moved in parallel to said axis of the developing roller and said first and second projection or recess means are engaged with each other;
said first projection or recess means of said driving force transmitting means comprises a coupling member having a tapered projection means;
said second projection or recess means of said driving force receiving means comprises a coupling gear which is fixed to the toner supplying roller;
and
said coupling gear comprises a concaved portion and a claw, said tapered projection means of said coupling member being adapted to be engaged with said concaved portion and said claw of said coupling gear.

9 more elements

a driving force transmitting means for transmitting a driving force to said developing roller, said driving force transmitting means being disposed in a body and movable toward said developing device in parallel to an axis of said developing roller;
and
a driving force receiving means for receiving the driving force from the body and transmitting the driving force to the developing roller, which is disposed in the developing device;
said driving force transmitting means comprising a first projection or recess means for engaging with the driving force receiving means, which is provided to said driving force transmitting means at a leading edge thereof;
and
said driving force receiving means comprising a second projection or recess means for engaging with the first projection or recess means of the driving force transmitting means, which is provided to said driving force receiving means at a leading edge thereof;
wherein:
the driving force is transmitted from said body to said developing roller at a time in which said driving force transmitting means is moved in parallel to said axis of the developing roller and said first and second projection or recess means are engaged with each other;
said first projection or recess means of said driving force transmitting means comprises a coupling member having a tapered projection means;
and
said second projection or recess means of said driving force receiving means comprises a coupling gear which is fixed to the toner supplying roller;
said revolving type developing device further comprising:
a first gear formed on an outer surface of a sleeve of the coupling gear, said first gear having a first set of teeth which mesh with a second gear that is coaxial with and connected to the developing roller.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.