초록 ▼

A coupling apparatus, a development cartridge, and an electrophotographic printer having the coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus transfers a rotation force in a connected state. The coupling apparatus has a first coupler having a cylindrical-type connection portion at an end and a spiral rib

A coupling apparatus, a development cartridge, and an electrophotographic printer having the coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus transfers a rotation force in a connected state. The coupling apparatus has a first coupler having a cylindrical-type connection portion at an end and a spiral rib spirally protruded at an outer circumference of the connection portion; and a second coupler having a circular-type main hole depressed at an end corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove formed at an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib. The connection portion and the spiral rib are relatively connected with the main hole and the spiral groove by being pressed, and transmit a rotation force by being rotated together.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A connectable/separable coupling apparatus to transfer a rotation force, comprising:a first coupler comprising: a cylindrical-type connection portion at an end thereof, and a spiral rib spirally protruding from an outer circumference of the connection portion; and a second coupler comprising: a c

1. A connectable/separable coupling apparatus to transfer a rotation force, comprising:a first coupler comprising: a cylindrical-type connection portion at an end thereof, and a spiral rib spirally protruding from an outer circumference of the connection portion; and a second coupler comprising: a circular-type main hole depressed at an end thereof, corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove formed at an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib, the connection portion and the spiral rib being connected with the main hole and the spiral groove, respectively, by being pressed, and the rotation force being transmitted from the first coupler to the second coupler by rotating the first and second couplers together. 2. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.3. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.4. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, comprising three of the spiral ribs and three of the spiral grooves, disposed at equal intervals.5. A connectable/separable coupling apparatus to transfer power in a connected state, the coupling apparatus comprising:a driving gear engaged with a driving motor; a first coupler comprising: a first end connected with the driving gear, a cylindrical-type connection portion at a second end, and a spiral rib spirally protruding at an outer circumference of the connection portion; and a second coupler comprising: a circular-type main hole depressed at an end thereof corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove formed at an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib, the connection portion and the spiral rib being connected with the main hole and the spiral groove, respectively, by being pressed, and a rotation force being transmitted from the first coupler to the second coupler by rotating the first and second couplers together. 6. The coupling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.7. The coupling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.8. The coupling apparatus according to claim 5, comprising three of the spiral ribs and three of the spiral grooves, disposed at equal intervals.9. The coupling apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:a slave gear integrally formed with the second coupler, wherein the driving gear and the first coupler are integrally formed. 10. The coupling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first coupler further comprises:a cylindrical-type body having the connection portion integrally formed at a first end of the cylindrical-type body; and a flange portion extending from a second end of the cylindrical-type body and connected with the driving gear by being integrally formed to have a greater outer circumference than an outer circumference of the cylindrical-type body. 11. A connectable/separable coupling apparatus to transfer power in a connected state, the coupling apparatus comprising:a slave shaft; a slave gear connected with an end of the slave shaft; a slave coupler connected to and rotated with the slave gear, the slave coupler comprising: a cylindrical-type connection portion, and a spiral rib spirally protruding from an outer circumference of the connection portion; a driving motor; a driving gear engaged with the driving motor; and a driving coupler comprising: a first end connected with the driving gear, a circular-type main hole depressed at a second end of the driving coupler corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove formed at an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib, the connection portion and the spiral rib being respectively connected with the main hole and the spiral groove by being inserted therein, and a rotation force being transferred from the driving gear to the slave gear by rotating the driving gear and the slave gear together. 12. The coupling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.13. The coupling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.14. The coupling apparatus according to claim 11, comprising three of the spiral ribs and three of the spiral grooves, disposed at equal intervals.15. The coupling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:the driving gear and the driving coupler are integrally formed, and the slave gear and the slave coupler are integrally formed. 16. The coupling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the driving coupler further comprises:a cylindrical-type body having the main hole and the spiral groove formed at a first end thereof; and a flange portion extending from a second end of the body and connected with the driving gear by being integrally formed to have a greater outer circumference than an outer circumference of the body. 17. A development cartridge disposed at an electrophotographic printer comprising a driving motor; a driving gear to transmit power by being connected with the driving motor; a first coupler coaxially connected to and rotated with the driving gear, having a cylindrical-type connection portion at an end thereof, and a spiral rib protruded from an outer circumference of the connection portion; and a development cartridge settlement unit to expose the connection portion to an outside, the development cartridge being removably connected with the development cartridge settlement unit, and to develop an image on a printing paper, the development cartridge comprising:a cartridge frame; a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed at the cartridge frame; and a second coupler coaxially connected with an end of the photosensitive drum, comprising: a circular-type main hole depressed at an end corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove formed at an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib, the first coupler being connected with the second coupler by being rotated and inserted into the second coupler, a rotation force of the driving motor being transmitted from the first coupler to the second coupler by rotating the first and second couplers together. 18. The development cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.19. The development cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.20. A development cartridge disposed at an electrophotographic printer comprising a driving motor; a driving gear to transmit power by being connected with the driving motor; a driving coupler coaxially connected to and rotated with the driving gear, having a circular-type main hole at an end thereof and a spiral groove spirally depressed at an inner circumference of the main hole; and a development cartridge settlement unit to expose an end of the driving coupler to an outside, the development cartridge being removably connected with the development cartridge settlement unit, and to develop an image on a printing paper, the development cartridge comprising:a cartridge frame; a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed at the cartridge frame; and a slave coupler coaxially connected with the photosensitive drum and rotated, the slave coupler comprising: a pole-type connection portion at an end thereof corresponding to the main hole, and a spiral rib spirally protruding at an outer circumference of the connection portion corresponding to the spiral groove, the connection portion and the spiral rib being relatively rotated and inserted into the main hole and the spiral groove, respectively, to connect the couplers and transmit a rotation force. 21. The development cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.22. The development cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc configuration.23. An electrophotographic printer comprising:a main body having a cartridge fixing unit; a development cartridge removably connected with the cartridge fixing unit to develop an image on a printing paper; a driving motor installed in the main body; a driving gear to transmit a rotation force from the driving motor and to rotate; a driving coupler comprising: a first end coaxially connected with the driving gear, a cylindrical-type connection portion, and a spiral rib spirally protruded from an outer circumference of the connection portion at a second end of the driving coupler, movably disposed in an axial direction to be exposed to the cartridge fixing unit; and a connecting and separating unit to connect and separate the development cartridge with and from the main body, the development cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum, a development unit to develop the image on the photosensitive drum, a slave coupler coaxially connected to the photosensitive drum, having a cylindrical-type main hole at a first end of the slave coupler corresponding to the connection portion, and a spiral groove depressed in an inner circumference of the main hole corresponding to the spiral rib, the rotation force being transmitted to the slave coupler when connected with the driving coupler, a power of the driving motor being transmitted to the photosensitive drum, and the couplers being connected by relative rotation thereof. 24. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 23, further comprising:a support shaft installed in the main body to support and coaxially rotate the driving gear and the driving coupler; a connection unit disposed in the fixing unit to connect the driving coupler with the slave coupler; and a separating unit to separate the driving coupler from the slave coupler so as to connect and separate the development cartridge with and from the fixing unit. 25. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 23, further comprising:shaft holes formed at the first and second couplers to rotatably embrace the support shaft, wherein the driving gear and the driving coupler are integrally formed. 26. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 23, wherein the slave coupler further comprises:a body comprising the main hole and the spiral groove; a slave shaft at a second end of the body and connected with an end of the photosensitive drum; and a slave gear at the slave shaft to transmit the power of the driving motor from the driving coupler to the development unit. 27. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 23, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.28. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 23, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.29. An electrophotographic printer comprising:a main body comprising a cartridge fixing unit; a development cartridge removably disposed at the cartridge fixing unit to develop an image on a printing paper; a driving motor installed in the main body; a driving gear to transmit a rotation force from the driving motor and to rotate; a driving coupler rotated by being coaxially connected with the driving gear, the driving coupler comprising: a circular main hole at an end thereof, and a spiral groove spirally depressed at an inner circumference of the main hole, the driving coupler being movably disposed in an axial direction to expose the end of the driving coupler to the fixing unit; and a connecting and separating unit to connect and separate the development cartridge with and from the main body, the development cartridge comprising: a photosensitive drum; a development unit to develop the image on the photosensitive drum; and a slave coupler coaxially connected with an end of the photosensitive drum, having a connection portion having a sectional area corresponding to the main hole at an end thereof, and a spiral rib spirally protruding from an outer circumference of the connecting and separating unit and corresponding to the spiral groove, a power of the driving motor being transmitted to the photosensitive drum, and the first and second couplers being connected by a relative rotation thereof. 30. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 29, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an involute curve or a cycloid curve.31. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 29, wherein the spiral rib comprises a side formed as an arc.32. A coupling apparatus to transfer a rotation force, comprising:a first coupler comprising a spiral rib spirally protruding therefrom; and a second coupler comprising a hole formed therein, and a spiral groove formed within the hole and corresponding to the spiral rib, the rotation force being from one of the first and second couplers to another one of the first and second couplers by rotating the first and second couplers together. 33. The coupling apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:the first coupler is driven by a motor and rotates about a first axis, the second coupler drives a photosensitive drum and rotates about a second axis different from the first axis, and the photosensitive drum rotates at a constant speed. 34. The coupling apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the spiral rib and the spiral groove comprise a twisted shape.35. The coupling apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the spiral rib and the spiral groove comprise an involute curve or a cycloid curve.36. The coupling apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the second coupler drives the first coupler.37. A development cartridge disposed at an electrophotographic printer comprising a driving motor and a first coupler driven by the driving motor and comprising a first spiral rib, the development cartridge comprising:a second coupler driven by the first coupler, the second coupler comprising a second spiral rib corresponding to the first spiral rib; and a photosensitive drum driven by the second coupler. 38. The development cartridge according to claim 37, wherein the first coupler is connected with the second coupler by relative rotation therebetween.39. The development cartridge according to claim 37, wherein the first spiral rib comprises a groove and the second spiral rib comprises a protrusion.40. The development cartridge according to claim 37, wherein the second spiral rib comprises a groove and the first spiral rib comprises a protrusion.41. An electrophotographic printer comprising:a driving motor; a first coupler driven by the driving motor and comprising a first spiral rib; and a development cartridge comprising: a second coupler driven by the first coupler, the second coupler comprising a second spiral rib corresponding to the first spiral rib, and a photosensitive drum driven by the second coupler. 42. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 41, wherein:the first coupler rotates about a first axis, the second coupler rotates about a second axis different from the first axis, and the photosensitive drum rotates at a constant speed.