# US 8,787,793 B2 · Image carrier driver and image forming apparatus with damper configured to attenuate oscillation associated with power transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,793 B2 - Document ID: US8787793B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/416,110 - Filed: 2012-03-09 - Published: 2012-10-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-31 - Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Yoshiyuki Toso; Shoichi Yoshikawa; Tadayasu Sekioka; Noboru Oomoto; Takashi Fujiwara; Naoki Miyagawa - Inventors: Yoshiyuki Toso; Shoichi Yoshikawa; Tadayasu Sekioka; Noboru Oomoto; Takashi Fujiwara; Naoki Miyagawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787793B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 2215/0634: Developing device - G03G 2221/163: for the developer unit - G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image carrier driver includes an image carrier, a first power transmitter, a rotator, a second power transmitter, and a damper. The image carrier is configured to rotate by power generated by a driving source. The first power transmitter is configured to transmit the power from the driving source to the image carrier. The rotator is disposed further downstream than the image carrier in a flow of power transmission. The second power transmitter is configured to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator. The damper is disposed in the image carrier and is configured to attenuate an oscillation associated with the power transmission and transmitted to the image carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image carrier driver comprising: an image carrier configured to rotate by power generated by a driving source; a first power transmitter configured to transmit the power from the driving source to the image carrier; a rotator disposed further downstream than the image carrier in a flow of power transmission; a second power transmitter configured to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator; and a damper disposed in the image carrier and configured to attenuate an oscillation associated with the power transmission and transmitted from the second power transmitter to the image carrier, wherein the damper operatively connects the image carrier and the second power transmitter so that the damper transmits the power from the image carrier to the second power transmitter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic body configured to couple the image carrier to the second power transmitter so as to rotate the second power transmitter in conjunction with the image carrier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the damper comprises a rotating resistor configured to rotate in conjunction with the image carrier, a viscous fluid configured to provide resistance to rotation of the rotating resistor, and an elastic body configured to couple the image carrier to the second power transmitter so as to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator. ### Claim 4 An image forming apparatus comprising: a power source; and an image carrier driver comprising: an image carrier configured to rotate by power generated by the driving source; a first power transmitter configured to transmit the power from the driving source to the image carrier; a rotator disposed further downstream than the image carrier in a flow of power transmission; a second power transmitter configured to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator; and a damper disposed in the image carrier and configured to attenuate an oscillation associated with the power transmission and transmitted from the second power transmitter to the image carrier, wherein the damper operatively connects the image carrier and the second power transmitter so that the damper transmits the power from the image carrier to the second power transmitter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic body configured to couple the image carrier to the second power transmitter so as to rotate the second power transmitter in conjunction with the image carrier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the damper comprises a rotating resistor configured to rotate in conjunction with the image carrier, a viscous fluid configured to provide resistance to rotation of the rotating resistor, and an elastic body configured to couple the image carrier to the second power transmitter so as to transmit the power from the image carrier to the rotator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier possesses a hollow interior, and the damper is connected to the hollow interior of the image carrier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image carrier possesses a hollow interior, and the damper is connected to the hollow interior of the image carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the damper possesses opposite axial free ends, with at least one of the axial free ends being housed within the image carrier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the damper possesses opposite axial free ends, with at least one of the axial free ends being housed within the image carrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the entire damper is housed within the image carrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the entire damper is housed within the image carrier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the first power transmitter is connected to the image carrier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first power transmitter is connected to the image carrier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image carrier driver according to claim 1, wherein the second power transmitter includes a first portion contacting the rotator and a second portion extending into the image carrier and contacting the damper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second power transmitter includes a first portion contacting the rotator and a second portion extending into the image carrier and contacting the damper.