Patent ID: 7769324
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: B41J,B65H,F16H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel; a common drive source that drives the plurality of image carriers; a drive shaft that is connected to and driven by the drive source; a plurality of worm gears that are provided corresponding to the plurality of image carriers and are formed coaxially with the drive shaft; and a plurality of worm wheels that are respectively meshed with the respective worm gears and respectively transmit drive forces of the worm gears to the image carriers, wherein the plurality of worm gears are made of a resin material, the worm gears and the worm wheels drive the plurality of image carries by making use of the elastic deformation of the worm gears when the worm gears and the worm wheels are respectively meshed with each other, the drive shaft is made of a metal material, the plurality of worm gears are fixed to the drive shaft by pressfitting molded resin over the drive shaft, and the drive shaft differs in a diameter thereof corresponding to positions where the plurality of worm gears are pressfitted.