Metal and plastic Oldham coupler with added retraction spline and plastic over molded features
US8257185B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/751
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An Oldham coupler assembly capable of transferring rotary power between two shafts in a developer unit of an image forming apparatus that includes an input plate and an output plate made of metal and a star plate made in plastic mechanically coupled and positioned in between the input plate and the output plate. A spline component made of metal is rigidly and integrally attached to the input plate, the spline component including a tubular spline portion that includes a plurality of wear strips made of plastic, the output plate having a plastic material coated along a portion of an outside diameter of the output plate. The input and output plates further include a plurality of openings to receive a plurality of wheels and pins. This structure allows a sufficiently stiff drive system to substantially eliminate fine line jitter by raising the natural frequency of the drive system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.