US Patent 7201262 One-way rotational transfer mechanism

A one-way rotational transfer mechanism includes a rotary input shaft; a rotary output shaft provided around the rotary input shaft; a circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion formed on the rotary input shaft to form at least one accommodation space having different radial widths at different circumferential positions; a differential rotating member installed in the accommodation space, the differential rotating member revolving around the axis of the rotary input shaft in a same direction as a rotational direction of the rotary input shaft while revolving at a slower speed; and a freely movable torque transfer member installed in the accommodation space. The circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion is shaped so that the torque transfer member wedges between the circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion and an inner peripheral surface of the rotary output shaft to transfer torque from the rotary input shaft to the rotary output shaft.