Washing machine and coupling apparatus

A washing machine comprising:

• a wash tub;
• a perforated basket rotatably mounted within said tub;
• an agitation element disposed within said basket to agitate at least one article within said basket;
• an outer shaft selectively rotatable about a longitudinal axis and connected to said basket to drive said basket, said outer shaft comprising a plurality of outer shaft external splines on a periphery of said outer shaft;
• an inner shaft coaxially aligned with said outer shaft and connected to said agitation element to drive said agitation element, said inner shaft configured to rotatably drive said outer shaft when said inner shaft is engaged with said outer shaft, said inner shaft comprising a plurality of inner shaft external splines;
• a motor drivingly connected to said inner shaft;
• and
• a coupling mechanism to selectively couple said inner shaft and said outer shaft, said coupling mechanism comprising:
• a coupler movable along a length of said inner shaft with respect to the longitudinal axis between a first position engaging said outer shaft to said inner shaft for rotation therewith, and a second position disengaging said outer shaft from said inner shaft for relative rotation therebetween, said coupler comprising a plurality of first splines engaging said plurality of inner shaft external splines and a plurality of second splines engaging said plurality of outer shaft external splines in said first position;
• and
• an actuator positioned to move said coupler between said first position and said second position.