Drive Transmission Device for Image Formers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive transmission units for image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing size and weight for easier attachment and detachment, while also minimizing noise and runout issues due to increased distance between unit plates, which affects maintainability and performance.
Innovation Solution
A drive transmission device with a metal bracket and resin cover forming a gap, where multiple clutch gears and relay gears are rotatably disposed, and a rotary shaft receives driving force from a motor, with studs coupling the opposing bodies to reduce size and prevent misalignment, using helical gears to reduce noise and runout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the distance between unit plates is increased to reduce noise and runout, then noise and runout are reduced, but the size and weight of the drive transmission unit increase, making attachment and detachment more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive transmission unit is divided into two separate unit plates (first unit plate and second unit plate) that face each other with a gap, allowing the structure to be segmented in a way that reduces overall weight while maintaining functional integrity and reducing noise through the distributed gear arrangement between the plates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a combination of metal and resin materials in the construction of the unit plates and housing components, creating a composite structure that reduces weight while maintaining structural strength and noise reduction properties
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the distance between unit plates is increased to reduce noise and runout, then noise and runout are reduced, but the size of the drive transmission unit increases, making attachment and detachment more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the drive transmission unit into two separate unit plates with a gap between them, the structure achieves noise reduction through distributed gear support while the segmented design allows for more compact overall dimensions compared to a solid plate structure
3Weight of stationary object
If the drive transmission unit is made compact to reduce size and weight, then attachment and detachment become easier, but alignment between gears may be misaligned and noise may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gear structure is designed to self-align through the gap between the unit plates, where the gear tips naturally position themselves facing the gap during attachment, and the rotary shaft with one end passed through the second unit plate provides self-centering support that maintains alignment without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms
4Reliability
If complex external members are used to transmit rotation force, then transmission reliability is improved, but the size and weight of the drive transmission unit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex external transmission members by implementing a simplified structure where the rotary shaft directly transmits rotation force through the gap between unit plates, with gears rotatably disposed within the gap, removing unnecessary external components while maintaining transmission reliability
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 solution enables direct transmission of rotation force to drive transmission targets without complex external members, reduces noise and runout, and maintains alignment, enhancing maintainability and performance by minimizing size and weight.
Implementation Method 1
a gear or gears to rotate in the gap formed between the two members... the photoconductor gear and the gear in the gap mesh, the driving force is transmitted from the drive transmission unit to the photoconductor
Data Source
AI summary
A drive transmission device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and detachably attached to an apparatus body configured to include a driven body to which a driving force is transmitted, includes a first opposing body and a second opposing body disposed facing each other and forming a gap therebetween, a gear rotatably disposed in the gap formed between the first opposing body and the second opposing body, and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from a drive source and rotate in the gap. One rotational axial end of the rotary shaft being passed through the second opposing body and rotatably supported by the second opposing body in the gap.