Developer Cartridge Gear Mechanism for Detection Timing Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing developer cartridges lack the ability to delay the timing at which the detection protrusion starts to move, which is necessary for accurate recognition of the brand-new state and specification of the cartridge by the control device.

Innovation Solution

The developer cartridge incorporates a gear mechanism with a first gear and a second gear, where the large diameter gear part receives a driving force and rotates from an initial position to a second position where it engages with the second trigger, thereby delaying the movement of the detection protrusion by delaying the engagement of the triggers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the detection protrusion is directly engaged with the actuator and moves immediately upon driving force input, then the structure is simple and response is fast, but the timing cannot be delayed for accurate recognition of brand-new state and specification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognition accuracy of brand-new stateVSAvoidgear mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A second trigger is introduced as an intermediary component between the driving force transmission path and the detection protrusion. The second trigger engages with the first trigger only after a predetermined rotation, thereby mediating the timing of the detection protrusion's movement and enabling delayed activation without direct coupling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear mechanism is segmented into multiple functional components: a first gear with detection protrusion, a second gear with triggers, and engagement parts. This segmentation allows independent control of detection timing from the driving force input, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and timing control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If the detection protrusion moves immediately when driving force is input, then the response time is short, but the ON time for brand-new product detection is too short for accurate recognition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse time delayVSAvoiddetection recognition speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism uses periodic rotation of the second gear relative to the first gear, where the engagement between triggers occurs at specific periodic intervals (after predetermined rotation). This creates a controlled delay in the detection protrusion's movement while maintaining systematic and predictable detection timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9946220B2Developer cartridge having gear with protruding part in which movement of protruding part can be delayed

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A developer cartridge includes a first gear having a first engagement part provided along a circumferential surface of the first gear, and a first trigger protruding from the circumferential surface. The developer cartridge also has a second gear having a small diameter gear part configured to be engaged to the first engagement part, a large diameter gear part rotatable together with the small diameter gear part, and a second trigger configured to contact and rotate the first gear. The large diameter gear part is configured to receive a driving force and rotate to move from a first position at which the large diameter gear part can rotate relative to the second trigger to a second position at which the large diameter gear part rotates together with the second trigger. The second trigger is configured to rotate together with the large diameter gear part to contact the first trigger.