Helical Pinion Drive Transmission for Easy Gear Replacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving apparatuses for electrophotographic image forming devices face challenges in maintaining gear precision and ease of maintenance, as the pinion gear is difficult to detach and replace without replacing the entire motor, due to insufficient press-in strength and backlash issues.
Innovation Solution
A driving apparatus design featuring a drive transmission member with tilted engagement surfaces that transmit rotational movement to a helical pinion gear, allowing for sufficient press-in strength and easy detachment, ensuring the pinion gear remains attached without direct shaft pressing, thus improving maintainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the pinion gear is directly pressed onto the rotation shaft to ensure sufficient press-in strength and gear precision, then the gear precision is maintained, but the pinion gear becomes difficult to detach and replace
Solution Approach 1:
The drive transmission mechanism is segmented into three separate components: the rotation shaft, the drive transmission member (spline shaft), and the pinion gear. The drive transmission member acts as an intermediary component that can be independently replaced, allowing the pinion gear to be detached without replacing the entire motor assembly while maintaining precise transmission through the spline engagement mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The drive transmission member (spline shaft) serves as an intermediary component between the rotation shaft and the pinion gear. It provides both secure mechanical connection through spline engagement and facilitates easy replacement by allowing the pinion gear to be detached from the spline shaft without affecting the motor's rotation shaft
2Reliability
If the pinion gear is fixed to the rotation shaft to prevent it from coming off, then the pinion gear remains securely attached, but the motor and pinion gear must be replaced together when maintenance is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into modular components where the drive transmission member is fixed to the rotation shaft but the pinion gear is separately attachable to the drive transmission member. This segmentation allows the pinion gear to be independently replaced while maintaining reliable attachment through the spline engagement mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The drive transmission member acts as an intermediary that provides reliable attachment between the rotation shaft and pinion gear through spline engagement, while simultaneously enabling easy replacement by serving as a detachable interface that can be separated without damaging the motor or pinion gear
3Manufacturing precision
If a helical gear is used as the pinion gear to improve image quality, then high precision rotation is achieved, but the pinion gear experiences thrust force that pushes it off the rotation shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The drive transmission member (spline shaft) acts as an intermediary that absorbs and manages the thrust force generated by the helical pinion gear's engagement with the driven gear. The spline engagement mechanism provides both rotational transmission and axial positioning, preventing the pinion gear from being pushed off while maintaining high-precision rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism is changed from direct radial engagement to spline engagement with inclined surfaces. This parameter change in the engagement geometry allows the thrust force to be resolved into components that are absorbed by the spline structure, maintaining both the helical gear's precision benefits and structural stability
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 effectively maintains gear precision and allows for single replacement of the pinion gear without replacing the motor, enhancing maintainability and reducing gear precision degradation, while preventing torque loss and shaft runout.
Implementation Method 1
a drive transmission member engaged with the drive output member to drive the drive output member by rotational movement of the rotation shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A driving apparatus includes a drive output member configured to, when driving a member to be driven, receive a first force from the member to be driven in a direction in which the drive output member comes off a rotation shaft of a motor, and when driven by a drive transmission member, receive a second force from the drive transmission member in a direction opposite to that of the first force. The second force is equal to or greater than the first force.