Image forming apparatus in which drive transmission member engages drive input member

• US 8,126,366 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Hattori, Yoshiteru
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAINGER, QUANA MASHELL
• Application Number:
  US12/340,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20090169247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 399/167
• US Class Current: 399/167
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/186 Axial couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1657 transmitting mechanical drive power

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus main body; a process unit having a drive input member; and a drive transmission member, wherein, the drive transmission member comprises: a guide core member having a distal end core portion which has a first outside diameter; and a proximal end core portion which has a second outside diameter that is larger than the first outside diameter; a reciprocating member in which the guide core member is inserted, the reciprocating member comprising: a distal end cylindrical portion which has a first inside diameter; and a proximal end cylindrical portion which has a second inside diameter that is larger than the first inside diameter; and a pressing member interposed between the guide core member and the reciprocating member for connecting the guide core member and the reciprocating member.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body;

a process unit configured to be provided in the apparatus main body and having a drive input member; and

a drive transmission member provided in the apparatus main body and configured to engage with the drive input member so as to transmit a driving force to the drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drive input member within a predetermined range,

wherein the drive transmission member comprises;

a guide core member comprising;

a distal end core portion which is formed at an end portion lying on a downstream side in an engagement direction of the drive transmission member with the drive input member and which has a first outside diameter; and

a proximal end core portion which is formed upstream of the distal end core portion in the engagement direction and which has a second outside diameter that is larger than the first outside diameter;

a reciprocating member in which the guide core member is inserted along the engagement direction, the reciprocating member comprising;

a distal end cylindrical portion which has a first inside diameter; and

a proximal end cylindrical portion which is formed upstream of the distal end cylindrical portion in the engagement direction and which has a second inside diameter that is larger than the first inside diameter; and

a pressing member disposed around the guide core member and next to the reciprocating member for connecting the guide core member and the reciprocating member, wherein an outer diameter of the pressing member is greater than the second inside diameter.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process unit is a process cartridge that is configured to be detachably mounted in the apparatus main body, and

the image forming apparatus further comprises:

a body frame provided in the apparatus main body and having an abutment portion which is configured to be brought into abutment with the process cartridge; and

a preventive member which moves between a preventive position at which the preventive member is disposed in a mounting and dismounting path of the process cartridge within the apparatus main body so as to prevent the abutment of the process cartridge with the abutment portion, and a permissive position at which the preventive member retreats from the mounting and dismounting path so as to permit the abutment of the process cartridge with the abutment portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the process unit is one of a plurality of process units, the process units configured to be arranged in parallel with one another in the apparatus main body, and

the drive transmission member is one of a plurality of drive transmission members, the drive transmission members being provided in the apparatus main body,

the image forming apparatus further comprising:

a translation member that is configured to move in a straight line in a direction in which the process units are aligned, the translation member configured to advance or retreat the respective drive transmission members altogether in the engagement direction when the translation member reciprocates in the straight line.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a moving direction of the driving translation member intersects the engagement direction of the drive transmission member at a substantially right angle.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

a length of the distal end cylindrical portion is shorter than a length of the distal end core portion in the engagement direction of the drive transmission member with the drive input member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

a length of the proximal end cylindrical portion is shorter than a length of the proximal end core portion in the engagement direction of the drive transmission member with the drive input member.