US 11,927,909 B2
Magnetic coupling structure for an image forming apparatus
Elizabeth A. Swanson, Boise, ID (US); Gabriel S. McDaniel, Boise, ID (US); and Jeffrey H. Luke, Boise, ID (US)
Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Appl. No. 18/024,492
Filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/053067
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 2, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/066183, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324844 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01); F16D 27/02 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [F16D 27/02 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01); G03G 21/186 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1657 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupler for an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a shaft; and
a coupling structure to rotate a developing roller of the image forming apparatus, disposed on an end part of the shaft, movable along an axial direction of the shaft and coupleable with another coupling structure of a print engine of the image forming apparatus, the coupling structure including:
a body,
a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure to align the coupling structure with the another coupling structure, and
a plurality of protrusions which protrude from the body in the axial direction to engage with the another coupling structure.