Transmission device for photosensitive drum

Abstract

A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve having at least one guiding groove, a transmission unit having a shaft disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a gear member receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that the elastic member exerts elastic force on the shaft of the transmission unit. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

having a sidewall 32S along the imaginary axis L, an axial hole 322 defined through by the sidewall 32S of the main body 32 along the imaginary axis L, two guiding grooves 324 formed on the sidewall 32S of the main body 32 and being through the sidewall 32S of the main body 32, communicated with the axial hole 322, and two pillars 34 protruding from the sidewall 32S of the main body 32. Only one of the guiding grooves 324 is shown in the figures, and the other groove 324 is located opposite to the groove 324 shown in the figures.

As shown in FIG. 5, each guiding groove 324 has a bottom side 324B substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis L, two lateral sides respectively extending from two ends of the bottom side 324B toward to the first direction D1, and a top side 324T connected between the two lateral sides. The top side 324T is parallel to the bottom side 324B. Each of the two lateral sides has a first portion 324L extending from a respective end of the bottom side 324B and is parallel to the imaginary axis L, and a sloped portion 324S extending from the first portion toward the imaginary axis L, such that a length of the top side 324 is shorter than that of the bottom side 324B.

FIGS. 6A-6E show different embodiments of sleeves, respectively. Each sleeve can be used in the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the sleeves are essentially the same, except that the guiding grooves are different from each other. The guiding groove 324a of the sleeve shown in FIG. 6A is identical to the guiding groove 324 of the sleeve 30 shown in FIG. 5. For the guiding grooves 324b, 324c, 324e and 324f of the sleeves respectively shown in FIGS. 6B, 6C, 6E and 6F, the top side is formed of an arc defining a vertex Vb, Vc, Ve, or Vf, toward the first direction D1. The arc can be a circular arc, an oval/ellipse arc, or the likes. In one embodiment, the two lateral sides of a guiding groove may be gradually merged to define a vertex toward the first direction D1, as shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F. In another embodiment, the top side of a guiding groove is parallel to the bottom side of the guiding groove, and each of the two lateral sides and the bottom side of the guiding groove define an angle less than 90 degrees but greater than zero degree, such that a length of the top side is shorter than that of the bottom side, as shown in FIG. 6D. It should be appreciated to one skilled in the art that other types of guiding grooves can also be utilized to practice the present invention.

According to the invention, as assembled, the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 is disposed in the axial hole 322 and capable of rotating and moving axially. The pin 40 is inserted into the opening 73 of the transmission unit 20 in such a way that the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 has two protrusions 75 extending along the shaft's radial direction, as shown in FIG. 2B. The protrusions 75, which are formed by the two parts of the pin 40 that protrude out of the opening 73, are movably received in the guiding grooves 324, respectively.

It should be appreciated to one skilled in the art that the opening 73 of the transmission unit 20 can also be provided without penetrating the shaft 70. For example, the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 may have only one protrusion 75 and the sleeve 30 only needs to be provided with one guiding groove 324. Besides, the protrusion 75 of the shaft 70 is not limited to be formed by the pin 40 inserted into the opening 73. For example, the protrusion 75 can be protruded from the shaft body 74 integrally; in that condition, the guiding groove 324 should have an open end so that the protrusion 75 can enter the guiding groove 324 through its open end, and the open end of the guiding groove 324 should be capped by an annular cap provided at, but not limited to, the shaft 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the gear member 60 is adapted for engaging with the photosensitive drum and has a top portion 66, a gear portion 67 extending from the top portion 66 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, a bottom portion 68 extending from the gear portion 67 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, a top wall 64 located at the side of the top portion 66, and a bottom wall 65 located at the side of the bottom portion 68. In addition, the top portion 66 of the gear member 60 may have at least one slot 69. The peripheral configuration of the gear member 60 is similar to the conventional ones. Inside the gear member 60, there is a housing 61 defined along the imaginary axis L for receiving the main body 32 of the sleeve 30 so that the sleeve 30 is coupled with the gear member 60 unrotatably around the imaginary axis L. In the first embodiment of the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum, the sleeve 30 is molded in the gear member 60.

In certain embodiments, the gear member 60 has an installation slot formed on the top wall 64, and two limiting recesses communicated with each other. The housing 61 extends along the imaginary axis L and opened on the top wall 64. The installation slot extends from the housing 61 toward the two opposite radial directions of the housing 61 and opened on the top wall 64. The limiting recesses are located adjacent to the installation slot, extending parallel to the imaginary axis L and not opened on the top wall 64. The sleeve 30 may further have two pillars 34 protruding from the main body 32. In assembly, the two pillars 34 of the sleeve 30 are inserted into the housing 61 through the installation slot, and then the sleeve 30 is turned to cause the pillars 34 to enter the limiting recesses so that the sleeve 30 is limited in the gear member 60. The details of such embodiments are disclosed in the pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/965,856, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, and not repeated herein.

According to the invention, the assembly process of the transmission device is very simple. First, the elastic member 50 is disposed in the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, as shown in FIG. 9A. The axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30 is in communication with the housing 61 of the gear member 60. Then, the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 is inserted in the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, as shown in FIG. 9B. Next, the pin 40 is inserted into the opening 73 of the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 through the through slots 69 of the gear member 60 and the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30. As such, the two end portions (i.e., protrusions 75) of the pin 40 are retained and moveably limited in the guiding grooves 324, and two ends of the elastic member 50 are abutted against the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60 and the second end 72 of the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20, respectively, so that a force generated by the elastic member 50 exerts on the second end 72 of the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20 along the imaginary axis L, which makes the pin 40 (i.e., protrusions 75) of the shaft 70 in a position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30 in a normal state of the transmission device.

When the transmission device 100 is used, the gear member 60 is fastened to a photosensitive drum which is adapted for installation in a toner cartridge (not shown), and the engagement structure 80 of the transmission unit 20 sticks out of an end of the toner cartridge. When the user puts the toner cartridge into a housing of an electronic image forming apparatus (not shown), the engagement structure 80 of the transmission unit 20 will be engaged with a drive member 90 (shown in FIGS. 10-24) located in the housing in such a way that a part of the drive member 90 is received in the receiving space 86 and the engagement concaves 823 are received and engaged with two pillars 92 of the drive member 90 respectively so that the photosensitive drum will be driven to rotate by the drive member 90.

FIGS. 10-14 shows a process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected with a drive member 90, wherein the engagement blocks 82 are hereinafter denoted as a first engagement block 82A and a second engagement block 82B for the convenience of illustrating the engaging process more clearly.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11A-11D, the outer surface 825 of the first engagement block 82A is touched by the drive member 90, where the pin 40 (i.e., protrusions 75) of the shaft 70 is in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30. At this time, the gear member 60 rotates counterclockwise and the transmission unit 20 pushes the drive member 90 toward the first direction D1, which makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 translate along the top side of the guiding groove 324 first and then slide down along one sloped portion of the lateral sides of the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIG. 12A-12D, where the elastic member 50 is compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60, as shown in FIG. 12B. When the transmission unit 20 continuously pushes the drive member 90, the pin 40 of the shaft 70 continuously moves in the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 13A-13C, and meanwhile, the elastic member 50 is further compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60, as shown in FIG. 13B, which make the drive member 90 slide into the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20. When the drive member 90 is received in the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20, the compressed force generated by the elastic member 50 pushes the shaft 70 and makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 back in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30, where the engagement concaves 823 are engaged respectively with the pillars 92 of the drive member 90, as shown in FIGS. 14A-14C.

The foregoing process is equivalent to the process of which the drive member 90 pushes the transmission unit 20 toward the gear member 60, i.e., toward the second direction D2, to make the transmission unit 20 rotates clockwise and move inwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, and the protrusions 75 are guided by the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30 to cause the transmission unit 20 to rotate so that one of the pillars 92 of the drive member 90 slides along the inclined top surface 822 of the first engagement block 82A, and passes over the vertex 821 of the first engagement block 82A. After that, the transmission unit 20 is no longer pushed by the drive member 90 so as to be forced by the elastic rebound force generated by the relatively smaller radius section 52 to move outwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, i.e., toward the first direction D1, and rotate at the same time. Then, the engagement concaves 823 are engaged with the pillars 92 of the drive member 90 respectively.

As a result, when the drive member 90 rotates counterclockwise, the pillars 92 will push the engagement blocks 82A and 82B respectively to drive the transmission device 100 rotate counterclockwise, too. At this time, the engagement between the engagement concaves 823 and the pillars 92 causes the rotating transmission unit 20 unable to move inwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, i.e., toward the second direction D2 so the drive member 90 will drive the transmission device 100 to rotate continuously. It should be appreciated to one skilled in the art that the pillars 92 of the drive member 90 abut against the recesses 823a of the engagement concaves 823 in FIG. 14, but also can be set to abut against the limiting surfaces 823b of the engagement concaves 823. The two conditions both can result in the transmission effect, which means the transmission device 100 can be driven to rotate no matter the pillars 92 of the drive member 90 abut against the recesses 823a or the limiting surfaces 823b.

FIGS. 15-19 show another process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected with a drive member 90. The process is opposite to the forgoing process shown in FIGS. 10-14.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16A-16D, the outer surface 825 of the first engagement block 82A is touched by the drive member 90, where the pin 40 of the shaft 70 is in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30. At this time, the gear member 60 rotates clockwise and the transmission unit 20 pushes the drive member 90 toward the first direction D1, which makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 translate along the top side of the guiding groove 324 first and then slide down along the other sloped portion of the lateral sides of the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIG. 17A-17C, where the elastic member 50 is compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60. When the transmission unit 20 continuously pushes the drive member 90, the pin 40 of the shaft 70 continuously moves in the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 18A-18B, and meanwhile, the elastic member 50 is further compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60, as shown in FIG. 18A, which make the drive member 90 slide into the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20. When the drive member 90 is received in the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20, the compressed force generated by the elastic member 50 pushes the shaft 70 and makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 back in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30, where the engagement concaves 823 are engaged respectively with the pillars 92 of the drive member 90, as shown in FIGS. 19A-19C.

FIGS. 20-24 show yet another process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected with a drive member 90.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21A-21D, the base 81 of the first engagement block 82A is touched by the drive member 90, where the pin 40 of the shaft 70 is in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30. At this time, the transmission unit 20 pushes the drive member 90 toward the first direction D1, which makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 move down in the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIG. 22A-22B, where the elastic member 50 is compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60. When the transmission unit 20 continuously pushes the drive member 90, the pin 40 of the shaft 70 continuously moves down in the guiding groove 324 toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIG. 23, and meanwhile, the elastic member 50 is further compressed toward the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60, as shown in FIG. 23, which make the drive member 90 slide into the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20. When the drive member 90 is received in the receiving space 86 of the transmission unit 20, the compressed force generated by the elastic member 50 pushes the shaft 70 and makes the pin 40 of the shaft 70 back in the middle position against the top side or vertex of the guiding grooves 324 of the sleeve 30, where the engagement concaves 823 are engaged respectively with the pillars 92 of the drive member 90, as shown in FIGS. 24A-24C.

FIGS. 25-28 show a process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is separated from the drive member 90 by moving from the position shown in FIG. 25 toward the up direction, where the engagement blocks 82 are also denoted as a first engagement block 82A and a second engagement block 82B and the pillars 92 are also denoted as a first pillar 92A and a second pillar 92B, for the convenience of illustrating the separating process more clearly. At first, the second engagement block 82B is separated from the second pillar 92B directly, and the first engagement block 82A and the first pillar 92A push each other so that the transmission unit 20 in FIG. 25 rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIGS. 26A-26D. At this time, because the drive member 90 is stationary, the rotating transmission unit 20 overcomes the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 and moves inwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, i.e., toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 27A-27C, so that the first engagement block 82A is separated from the first pillar 92A. At this time, because the first engagement block 82A is still abutted against the body of the drive member 90, and the transmission device 100 continuously moves toward the up direction, the transmission unit 20 and the sleeve 30 overcome the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 to cause the first pillar 92A to pass over the vertex 821 of the first engagement block 82A and then separated from it, as shown in FIGS. 28A-28C. As a result, the transmission device 100 is separated from the drive member 90.

FIGS. 29-32 show another process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is separated from the drive member 90 by moving from the position shown in FIG. 25 toward the right direction, where the engagement blocks 82 are also denoted as a first engagement block 82A and a second engagement block 82B, and the pillars 92 is also denoted as a first pillar 92A and a second pillar 92B, for the convenience of illustrating the separating process more clearly. At first, the first engagement block 82A is separated from the pillars 92A directly, and the second engagement block 82B and the second pillar 92B push each other so that the transmission unit 20 in FIG. 25 rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIGS. 29A-29D and 30A-30C. At this time, because the drive member 90 is stationary, the rotating transmission unit 20 overcomes the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 and moves inwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, i.e., toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 31A-31C, so that the second engagement block 82B is separated from the second pillar 92B. At this time, because the second engagement block 82B is still abutted against the body of the drive member 90, and the transmission device 100 continuously moves toward the right direction, the transmission unit 20 and the sleeve 30 overcome the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 to cause the second pillar 92B to pass over the vertex 821 of the second engagement block 82B and then separated from it, as shown in FIGS. 32A-32C. As a result, the transmission device 100 is separated from the drive member 90.

FIGS. 33-36 show yet another process how the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment of the present invention is separated from the drive member 90 by moving from the position shown in FIG. 25 toward the up-left direction, where the engagement blocks 82 are also denoted as a first engagement block 82A and a second engagement block 82B and the pillars 92 are also denoted as a first pillar 92A and a second pillar 92B, for the convenience of illustrating the separating process more clearly. At first, the second engagement block 82B is separated from the second pillar 92B directly, and the first engagement block 82A and the first pillar 92A push each other so that the transmission unit 20 in FIG. 25 rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIGS. 33A-33D. At this time, because the drive member 90 is stationary, the rotating transmission unit 20 overcomes the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 and moves inwards along the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30, i.e., toward the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 34A-34C and 35A-35C, so that the first engagement block 82A is separated from the first pillar 92A. At this time, because the first engagement block 82A is still abutted against the body of the drive member 90, and the transmission device 100 continuously moves toward the up-left direction, the transmission unit 20 and the sleeve 30 overcome the elastic rebound force generated by the elastic member 50 to cause the first pillar 92A to pass over the vertex 821 of the first engagement block 82A and then separated from it, as shown in FIGS. 36A-36C. As a result, the transmission device 100 is separated from the drive member 90.

According to the present invention, the transmission device 100 for a photosensitive drum is simpler in structure than the conventional ones, and the way that the transmission device 100 is connected with and separated from the drive member 90 of an electronic image forming apparatus is different from the conventional ones. By the feature that the transmission unit 20 can move along the imaginary axis L and rotate about the imaginary axis L at the same time and the specially designed shape of the engagement blocks 82 of the transmission unit 20, no matter what angle the transmission device 100 is presented when entering or exiting the housing of the electronic imaging device, the transmission unit 20 will be connected with the drive member 90 firmly and separated from the drive member 90 smoothly.

The processes of how the transmission device 100 is connected with and separated from the drive member 90 are only possible ones of many conditions. For example, when the transmission device 100 is going to be connected with the drive member 90, the drive member 90 might first touch one of the engagement blocks 82 at its inner surface 824, or at its outer surface 825, as the condition illustrated before. In addition, the transmission device provided by the present invention can also be provided with the guiding block formed on the engagement block 82, the drive member 90 might touch the guiding bevel of one of the guiding blocks (not shown) at first; in that condition, the guiding bevel helps guiding the drive member 90 to enter the receiving space 86. However, the transmission device provided by the present invention can also be provided with more than two engagement blocks 82. Besides, the shape of the engagement concave 823 of each engagement block 82 is not limited to that provided in this embodiment, as long as the engagement concave 823 can be engaged with the pillar 92 of the drive member 90, and at the same time the pillar 92 can be hooked by a part of the engagement concave 823, e.g., the limiting surface 823b in the embodiment, to cause the transmission unit 20 unable to move toward the second direction D2 when the transmission unit 20 is driven to rotate.

Furthermore, the way that the sleeve 30 and the elastic member 50 are mounted in the gear member 60 is not limited to that provided in the embodiment. For example, the pillars 34 of the sleeve 30 and the limiting recesses of the gear member 60 can be replaced by recesses and protrusions, respectively. In another example, the bottom wall 65 of the gear member 60 can be mounted to the bottom potion 68 detachably so that the transmission unit 20 and the sleeve 30 coupled together and the elastic member 50 can be installed into the gear member 60 from its bottom; in this condition, the gear member 60 can be provided without the installation slot 62. The way that the sleeve 30 and the elastic member 50 are mounted in the gear member 60 also can be the design provided in the following embodiments.

FIGS. 37 and 38 show a transmission device 200 for a photosensitive drum according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the transmission device 100, the transmission device 200 includes a transmission unit 20, a sleeve 30, an elastic member 250, and a gear member 260. The transmission unit 20 and the sleeve 30 are identical to that of the transmission device 100, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. However, the gear member 260 is different from of the transmission device 100. In addition to the structure of the gear member 60, as shown in FIG. 4, i.e., the gear member 260 has a top portion 266, a gear portion 267 extending from the top portion 266 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, a bottom portion 268 extending from the gear portion 267 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, the gear member 260 also has two limiting recesses 263 that are communicated with the housing 261 for receiving the pillars 34 of the sleeve 30. Furthermore, the gear member 260 has an installation slot 262 that is communicated with the limiting recesses 263 and opened on the top wall 264, as shown in FIG. 38.

The elastic member 250 is also different from of the transmission device 100. In this exemplary embodiment, the elastic member 250 has a relatively larger radius section 251 and a relatively smaller radius section 252 extending from the relatively larger radius section. The relatively larger radius section 251 is disposed in the housing 261 of the gear member 260 and has two ends abutted against the bottom wall 265 of the gear member 260 and the sleeve 30, respectively. The relatively smaller radius section 252 is disposed in the axial hole 322 of the sleeve 30 and has an end abutted against the second end 72 of the shaft 70 of the transmission unit 20.

FIG. 39 shows a transmission device 300 for a photosensitive drum according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the transmission devices 100, the transmission device 200 includes a transmission unit 20, a sleeve 330, an elastic member 250, and a gear member 360. The transmission unit 20 is identical to that of the transmission devices 100, as shown in FIG. 3. The elastic member 250 is the same as that of the transmission device 200, as shown in FIG. 37. The sleeve 330 and the gear member 360 are different from that of the transmission devices 100.

The main body 332 of the sleeve 330 has a bottom end 325 and a plurality of slots 326 concaved from the bottom end 325. There is an elastic block 327 formed between every two adjacent slots 326, and the sleeve 330 further has a plurality of convexities 336 protruding from some of the elastic blocks 327.

The gear member 360 has a top portion 366, a gear portion 367 extending from the top portion 366 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, a bottom portion 368 extending from the gear portion 367 along the imaginary axis L toward the second direction D2, a top wall 364 located at the side of the top portion 366, and a bottom wall 365 located at the side of the bottom portion 368. The bottom wall 365 of the gear member 360 is detachably mounted to the bottom portion 368 of the gear member 360. The gear member 360 further has a coupling portion 367 protruding from the bottom wall 365 toward the top wall 364 of the gear member 360. The coupling portion 367 is annular member having a coupling concave 671 at the center. Besides, the coupling portion 367 has a top end 672 and a plurality of slots 673 concaved from the top end 672 toward the bottom wall 365. There is an elastic block 674 formed between every two adjacent slots 673, and there is a through groove 675 located at each elastic block 674 and extending along the imaginary axis L. In this embodiment, the bottom portion 368 of the gear member 360 has two fitting slots 662, as shown in FIG. 40, and the bottom wall 365 of the gear member 360 has two fitting blocks 652 inlaid in the fitting slots 662 respectively to make the bottom wall 365 unrotatable relative to the bottom portion 368 of the gear member 360. The amounts of the fitting slots 662 and the fitting blocks 652 are unlimited as long as their amounts are the same. The bottom wall 365 can also be connected with the bottom portion 368 of the gear member 360 integrally; however, the design that the bottom wall 365 is separable from the bottom portion 368 of the gear member 360 as in this embodiment is more convenient in assembly. In addition, the design that the bottom portion has the fitting blocks and the bottom wall has the fitting slots also can achieve the aforesaid effect.

By the elasticity of the elastic blocks 327 and 674, the sleeve 330 is mounted in the coupling concave 671, and the convexities 336 are inserted into the through grooves 675 and movable along the through grooves 675 so that the sleeve 330 is unrotatable relative to the gear member 360.

Referring to FIG. 41, a transmission device 400 for a photosensitive drum is shown according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The transmission device 400 includes a sleeve 430 and a gear member 460 that are different from those in the aforesaid embodiments.

The main body 432 of the sleeve 430 has a relatively larger radius section 328 and a relatively smaller radius section 329 connected with the relatively larger radius section 328. The relatively larger radius section 328 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 328a protruded from the outer surfaces of the relatively larger radius section 328. The guiding grooves 324 are located at the relatively smaller radius section 329. The top wall 464 of the gear member 460 has a plurality of slots 642 communicated with the receiving hole (i.e., housing) 461. There is an elastic block 644 formed between every two adjacent slots 642, and each elastic block 644 has a stair 646. There are further a plurality of limiting grooves (not shown) formed in the wall of the receiving hole 461. The plurality of protrusions 328a in the relatively larger radius section 328 is corresponding to the plurality of limiting grooves in the wall of the receiving hole 461. The amounts of the protrusions 328a and the limiting grooves 468 are unlimited as long as their amounts are the same. By the elasticity of the elastic blocks 644, the relatively larger radius section 328 of the sleeve 430 is inserted into the receiving hole 461 and limited in the receiving hole 461 by the stairs 646, and the protrusions 328a are disposed in the limiting grooves, respectively. As a result, the sleeve 430 is unrotatable relative to the gear member 460. In addition, this exemplary embodiment is very simple in structure. The stairs 646 also can be the bottom edges of the elastic blocks 644 which are not stair-shaped.

In addition, the way that the sleeve 430 is mounted in the gear member 60 is not limited to that provided in the embodiment. For example, the relatively larger radius section 328 of the sleeve 430 is provided with a limiting groove, the wall of the housing 461 is provided with a limiting block protruded in the housing 461. As assembled, the relatively larger radius section 328 of the sleeve 430 is limited in the housing 461 by the stairs 646, and the limiting block is disposed in the limiting groove 328a. Accordingly, the sleeve 430 is unrotatable relative to the gear member 460.

In one embodiment, the transmission device includes a shaft having a first end, an opposing second end, and at least one protrusion extending along a radial direction of the shaft; an engagement portion having a base extending from the first end of the shaft, at least one engagement block helically extending from a side of the base toward a first direction, and a receiving space formed therein; a sleeve having a main body, an axial hole defined through the main body along an axis, and at least one guiding groove formed on the main body and communicated with the axial hole, wherein when the shaft is disposed in the axial hole, the shaft is rotatable and movable axially, and the at least one protrusion of the shaft is movably retained in the at least one guiding groove; a gear member for engaging with the photosensitive drum, having a housing formed for receiving the main body of the sleeve axially such that the sleeve is coupled with the gear member unrotatably around the axial axis; and an elastic member being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve and having two ends abutted against a bottom wall of the gear member and the second end of the shaft, respectively.

In another embodiment, the transmission device includes a gear member for engaging with the photosensitive drum, having a housing and a sleeve disposed in the housing, wherein the sleeve has a main body, an axial hole defined through the main body along an axis, and at least one guiding groove formed on the main body and communicated with the axial hole, and is coupled with the gear member unrotatably around the axis; an elastic member being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve; and a transmission unit comprising a shaft having a first end, an opposing second end, and at least one protrusion extending along a radial direction of the shaft; and an engagement structure having a base extending from the first end of the shaft, at least one engagement block helically extending from a side of the base toward a first direction. The shaft is disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve, such that two ends of the elastic member are respectively abutted against a bottom wall of the gear member and the second end of the shaft, the shaft is rotatable and movable axially, and the at least one protrusion of the shaft is movably retained in the at least one guiding groove.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.

Claims

1. A transmission device for a photosensitive drum, which is adapted for engagement with a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus provided with two pillars, the transmission device comprising:

(a) a transmission unit comprising:

a shaft extending along an imaginary axis and having a first end facing toward a first direction, a second end facing toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, and at least one protrusion extending along a radial direction of the shaft; and

an engagement structure having a base extending from the first end of the shaft, two engagement blocks helically extending from two opposite sides of the base toward the first direction, and a receiving space defined between the engagement blocks for receiving the drive member;

(b) a sleeve having a main body having a sidewall along the imaginary axis, an axial hole defined through by the sidewall of the main body along the imaginary axis, and at least one guiding groove formed on the sidewall of the main body and being through the sidewall of the main body and communicated with the axial hole, the shaft of the transmission unit being disposed in the axial hole and capable of rotating and moving axially, and the at least one protrusion of the shaft being movably retained in and being guided through the at least one guiding groove;

(c) a gear member for engaging with the photosensitive drum, having a housing defined along the imaginary axis for receiving the main body of the sleeve so that the sleeve is coupled with the gear member unrotatably around the imaginary axis; and

(d) an elastic member being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve and having two ends abutted against a bottom wall of the gear member and the second end of the shaft of the transmission unit, respectively.

2. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each engagement block has an outer surface extending towards the imaginary axis toward the first direction, an inner surface facing the receiving space, an inclined top surface at a first junction between the outer surface and the inner surface, an engagement concave at a second junction between the outer surface and the inner surface, and a vertex located between the inclined top surface and the engagement concave, wherein an included angle between an extending direction of the inclined top surface and the imaginary axis is not equal to 90 degrees, and the engagement concaves of the engagement blocks are opened toward opposite directions for allowing the pillars of the drive member to enter the engagement concaves through openings of the engagement concaves.

3. The transmission device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engagement concave of each engagement block of the transmission unit has a recess and a limiting surface located between the recess and the vertex and inclined from the vertex toward the inclined top surface.

4. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement structure of the transmission unit further comprises two guiding blocks extending from two other opposite sides of the base, wherein each said guiding block is provided with a guiding bevel extending towards the imaginary axis toward the first direction.

5. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the transmission unit is formed of a plate having an opening defined in a middle portion between the engagement blocks.

6. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one guiding groove has a bottom side substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis, and two lateral sides respectively extending from two ends of the bottom side toward to the first direction.

7. The transmission device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two lateral sides are gradually merged to define a vertex toward the first direction.

8. The transmission device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one guiding groove further has a top side connected between the two lateral sides.

9. The transmission device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top side is formed of an arc defining a vertex toward the first direction.

10. The transmission device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top side is parallel to the bottom side, and each of the two lateral sides has a first portion extending from a respective end of the bottom side and being parallel to the imaginary axis and a sloped portion extending from the first portion toward the imaginary axis, such that a length of the top side is shorter than that of the bottom side.

11. The transmission device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top side is parallel to the bottom side, and each of the two lateral sides and the bottom side define an angle less than 90 degrees but greater than zero degree, such that a length of the top side is shorter than that of the bottom side.

12. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises two pillars protruding from the main body.

13. The transmission device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gear member further has two limiting recesses being communicated with the housing for receiving the pillars of the sleeve.

14. The transmission device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gear member further has an installation slot communicated with the limiting recesses and opened on the top wall.

15. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve further has a plurality of convexities protruding from the main body, and the gear member further has a coupling portion protruding from the bottom wall toward the top wall; the coupling portion is an annular member having a coupling concave at a center thereof and provided with a plurality of through grooves extending along the imaginary axis; the sleeve is mounted in the coupling concave, and the convexities of the sleeve are inserted into the through grooves of the coupling portion movably.

16. The transmission device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main body of the sleeve has a bottom end and a plurality of slots concaved from the bottom end; an elastic block is formed between every two adjacent said slots; the convexities of the sleeve are located at the elastic blocks.

17. The transmission device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the coupling portion of the gear member has a top end and a plurality of slots concaved from the top end toward the bottom wall; an elastic block is formed between every two adjacent said slots; and the through grooves of the coupling portion are located at the elastic blocks.

18. The transmission device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a bottom portion of the gear member has a fitting slot, and the bottom wall of the gear member, which is detachably mounted to the bottom portion, has a fitting block inlaid in the fitting slot.

19. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body of the sleeve has a larger radius section and a smaller radius section extending from the larger radius section; the larger radius section of the sleeve is provided with a plurality of protrusions protruded from the outer surfaces of the larger radius section, and the at least one guiding groove is located at the smaller radius section of the sleeve; the top wall of the gear member has a plurality of slots communicated with the housing; a plurality of limiting grooves formed in the wall of the housing; an elastic block is formed between every two adjacent said slots, and each elastic block has a stair; the larger radius section of the sleeve is limited in the housing by the stairs, and the plurality of protrusions are disposed in the plurality of limiting grooves, respectively.

20. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body of the sleeve has a larger radius section and a smaller radius section extending from the larger radius section; the larger radius section of the sleeve is provided with a limiting groove, and the at least one guiding groove is located at the smaller radius section of the sleeve; the top wall of the gear member has a plurality of slots communicated with the housing in which a limiting block protrudes; an elastic block is formed between every two adjacent said slots, and each elastic block has a stair; the larger radius section of the sleeve is limited in the housing by the stairs, and the limiting block is disposed in the limiting groove.

21. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft of the transmission unit has an opening in which a pin is inserted; the protrusion is a part of the pin sticking out of the opening.

22. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear member has a top portion, a gear portion extending from the top portion along the imaginary axis toward the second direction, and a bottom portion extending from the gear portion along the imaginary axis toward the second direction.

23. The transmission device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the top portion of the gear member has at least one slot.

24. The transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member having a larger radius section and a smaller radius section extending from the larger radius section, the larger radius section being disposed in the housing of the gear member and having two ends abutted against the bottom wall of the gear member and the sleeve, respectively, the smaller radius section being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve and having an end abutted against the second end of the shaft of the transmission unit.

25. A transmission device for a photosensitive drum, comprising:

(a) a shaft having a first end, an opposing second end, and at least one protrusion extending along a radial direction of the shaft;

(b) an engagement portion having a base extending from the first end of the shaft, at least one engagement block helically extending from a side of the base toward a first direction, and a receiving space formed therein;

(c) a sleeve having a main body having a sidewall along the imaginary axis, an axial hole defined through by the sidewall of the main body along an axis, and at least one guiding groove formed on the sidewall of the main body and being through the sidewall of the main body and communicated with the axial hole, wherein when the shaft is disposed in the axial hole, the shaft is rotatable and movable axially, and the at least one protrusion of the shaft is movably retained in and being guided through the at least one guiding groove;

(d) a gear member for engaging with the photosensitive drum, having a housing formed for receiving the main body of the sleeve axially such that the sleeve is coupled with the gear member unrotatably around the axial axis; and

(e) an elastic member being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve and having two ends abutted against a bottom wall of the gear member and the second end of the shaft, respectively.

26. A transmission device for a photosensitive drum, comprising:

(a) a gear member for engaging with the photosensitive drum, having a housing and a sleeve disposed in the housing, wherein the sleeve has a main body having a sidewall along an axis, an axial hole defined through by the sidewall of the main body along an the axis, and at least one guiding groove formed on the sidewall of the main body and being through the sidewall of the main body and communicated with the axial hole, and is coupled with the gear member unrotatably around the axis;

(b) an elastic member being disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve; and

(c) a transmission unit, comprising:

a shaft having a first end, an opposing second end, and at least one protrusion extending along a radial direction of the shaft; and

an engagement structure having a base extending from the first end of the shaft, at least one engagement block helically extending from a side of the base toward a first direction,

wherein the shaft is disposed in the axial hole of the sleeve, such that two ends of the elastic member are respectively abutted against a bottom wall of the gear member and the second end of the shaft, the shaft is rotatable and movable axially, and the at least one protrusion of the shaft is movably retained in and being guided through the at least one guiding groove.