Patent ID: 7588385

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a driving source; a rotary element; and a coupling device configured to connect the driving source with the rotary element, the coupling device including, an inner coupling having a first rotating shaft, a first base mounted to one end of the first rotating shaft, and a first group of claws disposed at evenly spaced intervals in a circumferential direction, and an outer coupling having a second rotating shaft, a second base mounted to one end of the second rotating shaft, and a second group of claws disposed at evenly spaced intervals in the circumferential direction and configured to alternately mesh with the first group of claws in the circumferential direction when the outer coupling is moved towards the inner coupling in an axial direction, such that the second group of claws face the first group of claws and that a second axis of the outer coupling is approximately in line with a first axis of the inner coupling, wherein each claw in the first group of claws includes a first claw body portion that directly contacts the first base in a radial direction with respect to the first claw along an entire length of the first claw body portion in the axial direction, wherein each claw in the second group of claws includes a second claw body portion that directly contacts the second base in a radial direction with respect to the second claw along an entire length of the second claw body portion in the axial direction, wherein each claw in at least one of the first and second groups of claws includes a pointed tip portion including a beginning portion and an end portion, such that the pointed tip portion extends in the axial direction from the respective one of the first and second claw body portions at the beginning portion to the end portion, and does not directly contact the respective first or second base in the radial direction of the respective one of the first and second claw, and wherein the end portion is further from the respective first and second base than the beginning portion.