Patent ID: 9684258
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first photosensitive drum; a first drum coupling configured to receive a first drum driving force therein and transmit the first drum driving force to the first photosensitive drum; a first developing roller configured to be in contact with the first photosensitive drum, the first developing roller defining a first axis extending in an axial direction; a first driving-force inputting section configured to receive a first developing-roller driving force therein and transmit the first developing-roller driving force to the first developing roller; a first developing coupling connectable to the first driving-force inputting section for transmitting the first developing-roller driving force thereto, the first developing coupling being a separate member from the first drum coupling; a second photosensitive drum; a second drum coupling configured to receive a second drum driving force therein and transmit the second drum driving force to the second photosensitive drum; a second developing roller configured to be in contact with the second photosensitive drum, the second developing roller defining a second axis extending in the axial direction; a second driving-force inputting section configured to receive a second developing-roller driving force therein and transmit the second developing-roller driving force to the second developing roller; a second developing coupling connectable to the second driving-force inputting section for transmitting the second developing-roller driving force thereto, the second developing coupling being a separate member from the second drum coupling; and a connecting mechanism configured to move the first developing coupling in the axial direction to permit the first developing coupling to be connected to and disconnected from the first driving-force inputting section, and configured to move the second developing coupling in the axial direction to permit the second developing coupling to be connected to and disconnected from the second driving-force inputting section, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a movable member configured to linearly move in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the movable member including a first cam portion configured to contact the first developing coupling and a second cam portion configured to contact the second developing coupling, and wherein the movable member of the connecting mechanism is configured to move between a first position and a third position via a second position, the movable member at the first position causing the first developing coupling and the second developing coupling to be connected to the first driving-force inputting section and the second driving-force inputting section respectively, the movable member at the second position causing the first developing coupling to be connected to the first driving-force inputting section but causing the second developing coupling to be disconnected from the second driving-force inputting section, the movable member at the third position causing the first developing coupling and the second developing coupling to be disconnected from the first driving-force inputting section and the second driving-force inputting section, respectively, and wherein the movable member comprises a drum-coupling penetration hole and a first developing-coupling penetration hole around which the first cam portion is disposed and a second developing-coupling penetration hole around which the second cam portion is disposed, the first drum coupling and the second drum coupling penetrating through the drum-coupling penetration hole, the first developing coupling penetrating through the first developing-coupling penetration hole and the second developing coupling penetrating through the second developing-coupling penetration hole such that the movable member linearly moves in the predetermined direction to move the first developing coupling by the first cam portion and the second developing coupling by the second cam portion without moving the first drum coupling and the second drum coupling.