Coupler for an image-forming apparatus
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorHarald Portig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler for transferring rotary motion from a drive gear to a photoconductive drum or ITM belt within an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, the coupler includes a substantially cylindrical body having first and second ends having extensions extending outward for mating respectively with the drive gear and photoconductive drum. One surface of each of the extension may include a rounded drive surface. One end of the coupler may further include a wall that mounts against a dome extending outward from one of the drive gear or photoconductive drum. One of the drive gear or photoconductive drum may further include axially aligned ridges that are straddled by the coupler to allow for the coupler to axially slide and maintain contact with the photoconductive drum and drive gear even during misalignment.
Claims24
A coupler to translate angular motion from a drive gear of an image forming apparatus to a drum, the coupler comprising:
- a body having a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of flanges radially extending from said body first end and being spaced a distance apart to form three spaced openings;
- and
- three prongs radially extending from and evenly spaced about said second end.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a main image forming body having a drive gear, said drive gear having a plurality of ridges;
- a photoconductive drum having a drum drive assembly mounted thereto, said photoconductive drum mounted within the image forming apparatus with said drum drive assembly positioned adjacent to said drive gear ridges;
- a coupler extending between said main image forming body and said photoconductive drum, said coupler having a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from a first end for mating with said plurality of ridges of said drive gear, said coupler having a second end with a plurality of extensions extending outwardly therefrom to mate with said drum drive assembly, said coupler transmitting angular motion of said drive gear to said photoconductive drum.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- at least one drive gear having a circular gear wheel and an opening within said gear wheel, said opening having a plurality of ridges extending substantially perpendicular to said circular gear wheel;
- a drum drive assembly operatively connected to each of at least one photoconductive drum within the image forming apparatus, said drum drive assembly having a plurality of drive surfaces and a dome extending outward therefrom;
- a coupler extending between a main image forming body and said drum drive assembly, said coupler having a plurality of drive surfaces extending from a first end to contact said plurality of ridges of said gear wheel, said coupler having a plurality of drive surfaces extending from a second end to contact said drive assembly drive surfaces, said coupler further comprising a wall extending adjacent to said second end to contact said dome.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming body having a drive gear, said drive gear having a plurality of ridges;
- at least one intermediate transfer medium (ITM) belt gear, said ITM belt gear having a plurality of driving surfaces and a dome extending outward therefrom;
- and
- a coupler extending between said image forming body and said ITM belt gear, said coupler having a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from a first end for mating with said plurality of ridges of said image forming body drive gear, said coupler having a second end with a plurality of extensions extending outwardly therefrom to mate with said ITM belt gear driving surfaces, said coupler having a wall positioned proximate to said second end for contacting said dome.
A method of transmitting the angular motion of drive gears to a photoconductive drum of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) mounting a first end of a coupler within a drive gear of the image forming apparatus, the coupler having a plurality of openings sized to straddle ridges within the drive gear;
- b) positioning a coupler wall against a dome of a drive member;
- c) rotating the drive gear and the coupler;
- and
- d) seating a plurality of extensions positioned on a second end of said coupler against drive surfaces on said drive member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.