Cam-and-Pin Transmission with Guide Holes for Error Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission mechanisms face issues with motion transmission errors due to shape and assembly errors, and wear-related problems in pin contacts, particularly in miniaturized designs.
Innovation Solution
A transmission mechanism featuring a cam with positive curvature, pins arranged along its side surface, a guide plate with corresponding guide holes, and a pair of gears that sandwich the cam, where each pin contacts only one gear, reducing errors and wear by precise guidance and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pins contact both internal tooth plates on input shaft side and output shaft side, then motion transmission is achieved, but shape errors and phase errors cause pin tilt and motion transmission errors
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is divided into separate functional components: the cam profile handles motion conversion while the guide plate with guide holes provides precise positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with optimized tolerances, reducing the cumulative effect of shape and phase errors that would affect pin alignment when contacting both tooth plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate acts as an intermediary element between the cam and the output shaft. The guide holes in the guide plate precisely guide the pins, ensuring accurate positioning and preventing pin tilt. This intermediary component compensates for manufacturing errors in the cam and tooth plates, maintaining motion transmission accuracy.
2Duration of action of moving object
If pins are arranged along annular groove and freely rolling, then motion conversion is achieved, but wear of pins is facilitated and long life cannot be expected
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful annular groove contact is eliminated by extracting the guiding function into a separate guide plate component. The pins no longer roll along the cam's annular groove which causes wear, but instead are guided by precisely fitted guide holes in the guide plate, significantly reducing wear and extending service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate serves as an intermediary that protects the pins from direct contact and wear with the cam groove. The guide holes provide a controlled, low-friction path for pin movement, separating the motion conversion function from the guiding function and thereby reducing wear on the pins.
3Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is pursued, then compact size is achieved, but motion transmission errors increase due to amplified shape and assembly errors
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the transmission mechanism into cam, guide plate, and tooth plate components, each can be miniaturized independently with optimized geometries. The guide plate's guide holes provide precise positioning that compensates for scaling effects, maintaining accuracy even as overall size is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate acts as a scaling-invariant intermediary component. The guide holes maintain consistent dimensional relationships and tolerances regardless of overall mechanism size, preventing error amplification during miniaturization while allowing compact design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration minimizes motion transmission errors and extends the lifespan of the mechanism by ensuring accurate pin alignment and reducing wear, enhancing the reliability of miniaturized transmission systems.
Implementation Method 1
the first shaft including a cam concentric with the first shaft and fixed to the first shaft, the side surface of the cam having a positive curvature when viewed from the first rotational axis
Implementation Method 2
a guide plate concentric with the second shaft, in the guide plate a plurality of guide holes being provided along a rotational direction of the second shaft, each pin being accommodated in a corresponding guide hole
Implementation Method 3
a pair of gears concentric with the second shaft, the pair of gears being arranged so as to sandwich the cam. Each pin comes into contact with only any one of the pair of gears
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a transmission mechanism which is suited to miniaturization and can reduce motion transmission errors. This transmission mechanism includes: a cam; a plurality of pins arrayed along a side surface of the cam; guide plates provided with a plurality of guide holes; and a pair of gears disposed so as to sandwich the cam. Each pin contacts only one of the pair of gears, and is guided to the corresponding guide hole in conjunction with the rotation of the cam and moves along the cam and the corresponding gear, thereby causing the guide plates or the pair of gears to rotate with respect to the cam.