| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely fixedly connect image carriers and corresponding drive shafts and to prevent separation of the image carriers and the corresponding drive shafts, in a drive device for the image carriers having fixedly connecting means by which the image carriers and the corresponding drive shafts are detachably fixed and connected when the image carriers are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Internal teeth formed from helical gear are formed on the internal circumferential faces of the center holes 49 of the image carriers 2Y, 2M, 2C and 2BK. External teeth formed from helical gear are formed on joints 50 fixed to the leading ends of the drive shafts 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44BK. When the image carriers 2Y, 2M, 2C and 2BK are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the internal teeth and the corresponding external teeth are engaged. The spiral directions of the helical gears of the internal and external teeth are set so that when the drive shafts 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44BK are rotated while the internal and external teeth are kept engaged, the image carriers 2Y, 2M, 2C and 2BK receive thrusting force toward the respective axial lines in the directions of the engagement of the external and internal teeth. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT |
