Coupling mechanism for material supply module
US7606515B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/757
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coupling mechanism includes a driven coupling for mating with a driving coupling. The driven coupling includes a cylinder flange, a concentric shaft that extends axially outwardly from the flange, and a cylindrical driven coupling member that extends axially outwardly from the concentric shaft. The driven coupling member includes a flexible membrane that encases non-rigid fill material, such as, e.g., a flowable granular material or a non-Newtonian fluid. The driven coupling member has a non-twisted, triangular cross-section, and is configured such that, when it is operationally engaged with the driving coupling, the non-rigid material substantially solidifies, thereby providing a substantially non-flexible structure for the membrane. The driven coupling may be connected to, for example, a photoreceptor drum of a material supply module, and the driving coupling may be connected to a reprographic device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.