Drive Transmission Mechanism for Quiet Ejection Roller Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses generate operating noise and impact noise when switching between drive force transmission and interruption, particularly due to the use of solenoids to control the ejection roller's forward, reverse, and stop functions.
Innovation Solution
A drive transmission mechanism incorporating a first gear, second gear, third gear, sector gears, a lever, solenoid, and urging members, which allows smooth engagement and disengagement of gears to control the ejection roller's rotation directions without sudden collisions, thereby reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a solenoid is used to control the ejection roller's forward, reverse, and stop functions, then the ejection roller can be controlled to switch between different rotation states, but operating noise and impact noise are generated due to sudden engagement and disengagement of drive force
Solution Approach 1:
The sector gears are rotated in advance by the urging member (spring) to prepare the teeth for smooth engagement. Before the solenoid actuates the lever, the sector gears are already positioned with their teeth aligned and under spring tension, enabling gradual drive force transmission rather than sudden collision. This preliminary positioning action eliminates impact noise while maintaining control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sector gears act as intermediary elements between the solenoid-controlled lever and the ejection roller. Instead of direct solenoid-to-roller connection, the sector gears mediate the drive force transmission through their gradual tooth engagement, converting the solenoid's sudden motion into smooth, continuous rotation control. This intermediary mechanism reduces operating noise while preserving the ability to control forward, reverse, and stop states.
2Speed
If gears are engaged and disengaged suddenly to switch drive force transmission, then the ejection roller can change rotation states quickly, but impact noise occurs due to collision between gear teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The urging member (spring) continuously rotates the sector gears in advance to maintain their teeth in a pre-positioned state ready for engagement. This preliminary rotation ensures that when drive force transmission is needed, the gear teeth are already aligned and can engage gradually without collision, eliminating impact noise while maintaining fast state switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sector gears are designed to rotate dynamically under spring tension, allowing their teeth to gradually engage with the ejection roller's gear teeth rather than locking suddenly. This dynamic engagement process converts the static, collision-prone gear connection into a smooth, continuous motion transfer, reducing impact noise while preserving switching speed.
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
The mechanism effectively minimizes operating noise and impact noise by ensuring smooth transitions between forward, reverse, and stop modes of the ejection roller, enhancing the operational quietness of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The solenoid is connected to the lever and configured to move the lever between an engaging state where the lever engaging portion of the lever engages the engaging portion of the first sector gear and a disengaging state where the lever engaging portion of the lever is disengaged from the engaging portion of the first sector gear.
Implementation Method 2
The first urging member is configured to urge the first sector gear in the predetermined direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive transmission device includes a first gear, a second gear, a switch arm, a third gear, a first sector gear including a first teeth portion and rotatable about a second axis in a predetermined direction, a second sector gear including a second teeth portion and engaging the first sector gear movably with play in the predetermined direction, a lever, a solenoid, and a first urging member. The switch arm has a cam contact surface, and the second sector gear includes a cam configured to contact the cam contact surface. When the first sector gear rotates in the predetermined direction for a predetermined amount from a state where the third gear engages the first gear and where the first teeth portion and the second teeth portion disengage from the second gear, the first teeth portion engages the second gear, and the second teeth portion disengages from the second gear.