Power Transmission Clutch Sequencing to Suppress Gear Meshing Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printers and scanners, meshing noise occurs when gears in the power transmission system engage due to backlash after clutch activation, leading to operational noise and potential wear.
Innovation Solution
A power transmission apparatus with a control method that switches between transmission and non-transmission states, using a load switching mechanism to manage gear engagement and reduce noise, employing an electromagnetic clutch and solenoid to control load states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the clutch is turned on after the motor is started to transmit power from the motor to the drive roller, then power transmission is achieved, but meshing noise occurs when gear teeth engage due to backlash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by turning on the clutch before starting the motor, rather than after. This sequence allows the gears to be in meshing position before power is applied, eliminating backlash-related meshing noise when the motor starts. The clutch engagement precedes the motor activation, preparing the transmission system in advance to avoid harmful noise during power transmission initiation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clutch is engaged after motor start, then power transmission switching is achieved, but operational noise increases during clutch activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary engagement of the clutch before motor activation, establishing the power transmission path in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the motor starts, the gears are already properly meshed, preventing noise during the switching operation. The adaptability of power transmission switching is maintained while eliminating the harmful noise that would occur during clutch engagement after motor start.
3Ease of operation
If gear backlash is present during clutch engagement, then clutch switching functionality is maintained, but wear increases on gear teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch is engaged in advance before the motor starts rotating, allowing the gear teeth to be properly positioned and meshed before any rotational movement occurs. This preliminary engagement eliminates the relative motion and impact that would cause wear on gear teeth during clutch switching. The ease of clutch switching operation is preserved while significantly reducing gear tooth wear by eliminating backlash during the engagement process.
Data Source
AI summary
A power transmission apparatus includes a drive source, a power transmission switching section configured to switch between a transmission state in which power of the drive source is transmitted to a driven section and a non-transmission state in which power of the drive source is not transmitted to the driven section, a load switching section configured to switch between a first load state, which is a load while the driven section is driven, and a second load state, which is a load smaller than the load of the first load state, and a control section, wherein the control section switches the power transmission switching section from the non-transmission state to the transmission state while the load is in the second load state, and then uses the load switching section to switch the load from the second load state to the first load state.