Shaft coupling apparatus

Claim 1

An electrophotgraphic printing machine of the type having at least one rotary driven shaft member adapted to be coupled to at least one shaft member journaled for rotary movement, wherein the improvement includes: a frame member mounted on one end portion of one of the shaft members for movement in unison therewith, said frame member comprising a tubular housing having one end portion thereof mounted to interfit telescopically over the end portion of the shaft member, the tubular housing having a pair of substantially diametrically opposed elongated slots in the circumferential surface and extending substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; a receiving member attached to said frame member, said receiving member includes a disc member secured thereto in the region of one end portion therof and a pair of substantially diametrically opposed rods affixed to the disc member extending in an outwardly direction therefrom substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, the disc member being mounted slidably and pivotably in the bore of the tubular member with the opposed rods extending into the corresponding slots in the tubular member of said frame member; a rod member mounted substantially fixedly on one end portion of the other shaft member and arranged to engage said receiving member; biasing means for resiliently urging said receiving member to a normal position relative to said frame member for enabling said rod member to mate with said receiving member; and means for interlocking said rod member with said receiving member so that the pair of shaft members are coupled rotatably to one another.