Driving Force Transmission Device with Staged Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving force transmission devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently separating and reconnecting driving members from rotating bodies, particularly when the apparatus cover is opened or closed, often requiring simultaneous operations that can lead to increased operational forces and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A driving force transmission device comprising a first driving member, a second driving member, and a connection drive section, where the connection drive section executes a time-differentiated separating and connecting operation for the first and second driving members from their respective rotating members, utilizing a rack and cam gear mechanism to manage the separation and connection of the driving force transmission, thereby reducing the operational forces required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If simultaneous separating operations are executed for multiple driving members, then the operation is completed quickly, but the operational force required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation completion speedVSAvoidoperational force required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the simultaneous separation operation into sequential stages. The connection drive section separates driving members one by one in a predetermined sequence rather than all at once. This segmentation reduces the peak force required at any given moment while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection drive section performs preliminary separation of the first driving member before separating the second driving member. This staged approach prepares the system progressively, reducing the sudden load that would occur with simultaneous separation while still achieving complete separation within a single cover opening motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If simultaneous separating operations are executed for multiple driving members, then the operation is completed in one step, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidconnection drive section complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separation functions into a single connection drive section that controls the separation of both driving members. This merging approach maintains operational simplicity for the user (one cover opening action) while internally managing the complexity through a unified drive mechanism that sequences the separations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection drive section is designed as a multi-functional component that handles the separation of multiple different driving members (first and second driving members) through a single mechanism. This universal design reduces the need for separate drive sections for each driving member, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If driving members are separated simultaneously, then the reconnection process is faster, but the reliability of the separation operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconnection speedVSAvoidseparation operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection drive section performs preliminary separation of the first driving member before the second driving member. This staged separation ensures that each driving member is properly disconnected in sequence, reducing the risk of incomplete or failed separations that could compromise reliability, while still achieving complete separation within a single operational cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a dynamic sequencing mechanism where the separation of driving members occurs in a predetermined sequence based on the cover opening motion. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the separation timing to ensure reliable disconnection of each driving member while maintaining overall operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9235183B2Driving force transmission device that provides a delay between separation of a first driving member and separation of a second driving member, and image forming apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A driving force transmission device includes a first driving member, a second driving member, a moving member, and a connection drive section. The connection drive section separates, in conjunction with movement of the moving member in a first direction, the first driving member and the second driving member respectively from a first rotating member and a second rotating member in such a manner as to cause a time difference between a separating operation for separating the first driving member from the first rotating member and a separating operation for separating the second driving member from the second rotating member.