Duplex Sheet Conveyance Motor Reduction via Differential Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses require multiple motors to control the conveyance of multiple sheets during duplex printing, leading to increased production costs due to the need for more motors as the number of sheets to be kept waiting in the sheet re-feeding path increases.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a configuration with a first and second driving source to control the conveyance members, utilizing a restriction portion to manage the driving force, allowing two driving sources to handle three sheets by stopping and restarting conveyance, thereby reducing the number of motors needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple motors are used to independently control conveyance of multiple sheets, then sheet collision is avoided and sheets can wait at appropriate positions, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple conveyance functions into a single motor by using a differential mechanism. The differential mechanism allows one motor to drive multiple conveyance members (first and second conveyance members) independently through planetary gears, achieving the function of multiple motors with a single motor unit, thus reducing production cost while maintaining reliable sheet conveyance control
Solution Approach 2:
The single motor is designed to perform multiple functions by driving different conveyance members for different sheets simultaneously. The differential mechanism enables the motor to control conveyance of multiple sheets at different speeds and timings, making one motor universal for multiple sheet handling tasks
2Device complexity
If fewer motors are used to reduce production cost, then device complexity decreases, but ability to control multiple sheets independently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The differential mechanism segments the power transmission path into multiple independent outputs. Each planetary gear set in the differential mechanism can independently control a different conveyance member, allowing one motor to provide segmented, independent control to multiple sheets without sacrificing adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The differential mechanism introduces dynamic control capability where the rotational speeds of different conveyance members can vary independently. This dynamic control allows each sheet to be conveyed at different speeds and stopped at different positions, maintaining independent control adaptability with fewer motors
Data Source
AI summary
A first conveyance member reverses a sheet received from a first conveyance path. Second through fourth conveyance members are disposed on a second conveyance path and convey a sheet from the first conveyance member toward the first conveyance path. A restriction portion is capable of restricting driving force of a first driving source from acting on a sheet through the second conveyance member. A controller executes a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation, a second driving source stops driving the third and fourth conveyance members while a first sheet is being nipped at the fourth conveyance member, and a second sheet is conveyed to be abutted with the third conveyance member. In the second operation, the second driving source starts driving the third and fourth conveyance members while the restriction portion restricts driving force of the first driving source from acting on the second sheet.