An image forming apparatus includes a development cartridge having a developing roller. A coupler for the image forming apparatus includes a shaft and a coupling structure to rotate the developing roller. The coupling structure is disposed at an end part of the shaft, is 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 includes a body, a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure so that the coupling structure is aligned 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, the plurality of protrusions having at least one side with an inclined face.

An image forming apparatus includes a development cartridge having a developing roller. A coupler for the image forming apparatus includes a shaft and a coupling structure to rotate the developing roller. The coupling structure is disposed at an end part of the shaft, is 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 includes a body, a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure so that the coupling structure is aligned 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, the plurality of protrusions having at least one side with an inclined face.

An actuator for externally manipulating a clutch within a machine rotatable about an axis is provided with a driving unit including a plurality of magnetic coils arranged around the axis, each of the coils being arranged to generate a magnetic flux in a direction parallel to the axis; an armature disposed coaxially with the axis and opposed axially to the driving unit, the armature being movable axially; and a plunger coupled with the armature to transmit axial motion to the clutch.

An actuator for externally manipulating a clutch within a machine rotatable about an axis is provided with a driving unit including a plurality of magnetic coils arranged around the axis, each of the coils being arranged to generate a magnetic flux in a direction parallel to the axis; an armature disposed coaxially with the axis and opposed axially to the driving unit, the armature being movable axially; and a plunger coupled with the armature to transmit axial motion to the clutch.

A Sprague carrier for use in a front differential is provided. The Sprague carrier includes an armature plate having a plurality of concentrically located connector apertures. The Sprague carrier also includes a spring-less bearing cage. The spring-less bearing cage includes bearing apertures, bearings coupled within the bearing apertures without springs, and concentrically located connector recesses corresponding to the concentrically located connector apertures of the armature plate. The Sprague carrier further includes connectors engaging the connector apertures of the armature plate and the connector recesses of the bearing cage to couple the armature plate to the bearing cage.

A Sprague carrier for use in a front differential is provided. The Sprague carrier includes an armature plate having a plurality of concentrically located connector apertures. The Sprague carrier also includes a spring-less bearing cage. The spring-less bearing cage includes bearing apertures, bearings coupled within the bearing apertures without springs, and concentrically located connector recesses corresponding to the concentrically located connector apertures of the armature plate. The Sprague carrier further includes connectors engaging the connector apertures of the armature plate and the connector recesses of the bearing cage to couple the armature plate to the bearing cage.

A wedge clutch selectively locks an outer race to an inner race to transfer torque therebetween. The inner race includes a first plurality of tapered surfaces, tapered in a first direction about an axis. The inner race includes a second plurality of tapered surfaces, tapered in an opposite second direction about the axis. At least two wedge plates are provided, each having a plurality of segments with a tapered inner surface disposed on a respective one of the first or second plurality of tapered surfaces of the inner race. The tapered inner surfaces of the wedge plates are tapered in opposite directions. An electromagnetic actuator is provided for each of the wedge plates. Electrically energizing one of the actuators constricts that respective wedge plate, unwedging the wedge plate from between the inner race and outer race and to no longer inhibit relative rotation therebetween.

A resistive and locking system for locking rotation of a shaft. The system includes a housing defining an axis AX therethrough. The housing includes a drive shaft mounted in the housing and extending axially from a bottom end of the housing and a first stage comprising a resistive mechanism provided in the housing. The housing also includes a second stage comprising a locking mechanism arranged in the housing above the first stage. The locking mechanism is biased axially to frictionally engage with and lock the first stage mechanism to prevent rotation of the drive shaft, the locking mechanism including a magnetic unlocking mechanism configured to remove the frictional engagement with the first stage on application of power to the locking mechanism.

In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.

A wedge clutch includes a hub supported for rotation about an axis and having an outer surface about a peripheral of the hub. The outer surface has a plurality of ramped surfaces. A carrier is also supported for rotation about the axis and has an inner surface. An inner surface of the disk is configured to slide along the ramped surfaces of the hub. The disk is moveable between an expanded position in which an outer surface of the disk engages the inner surface of the carrier to lock the clutch and a contracted position in which the clutch is unlocked. An armature is disposed in the disk and is configured to react to an electromagnetic force to alter the disk between the expanded position to the contracted position.