Image Forming Apparatus Universal Joint Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional image forming apparatus has a joint shaft located at a lower and farther position, making it difficult for maintenance workers to access and remove, which complicates the removal of the second roller.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with a concentric second coupling connected to the second roller, forming a universal joint with the joint shaft, allowing easy access and removal by positioning the joint shaft closer to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the joint shaft is positioned lower and farther from the user, then the universal joint can transmit driving force effectively, but the joint shaft becomes difficult to access and remove for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is divided into modular components: the joint shaft, the second coupling integrated with the second roller, and the driving gear. This segmentation allows the joint shaft to be removed independently as a complete unit, improving accessibility for maintenance while preserving the universal joint's driving force transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second coupling is merged with the second roller into a single integrated component. This combination allows the joint shaft to be removed together with the second roller, simplifying the maintenance process by reducing the number of separate removal steps while maintaining the universal joint's functional integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the joint shaft is positioned lower and farther from the user, then the universal joint structure is stable, but the removal of the second roller becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is segmented into removable modules, where the joint shaft and second roller form a removable unit. This segmentation maintains the structural stability of the universal joint during operation while enabling easy removal for maintenance by detaching the entire unit as one piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The second coupling is combined with the second roller into an integrated component, creating a unified removal unit. This merging ensures that when the joint shaft is removed, the second roller is automatically removed as well, simplifying maintenance operations while preserving the universal joint's structural integrity during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple idle gears are used in the transmission mechanism, then the driving force can be transmitted to multiple rollers, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint shaft serves multiple functions: it transmits driving force from the driving gear to the second roller, forms part of the universal joint mechanism, and acts as a removal handle for maintenance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate idle gears, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to distribute driving force to multiple rollers.
Solution Approach 2:
The unnecessary idle gears are extracted from the transmission mechanism. By using the joint shaft and second coupling as the primary transmission elements, the design removes redundant components while preserving the essential function of transmitting driving force to the rollers, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a motor, a driving gear including a first coupling, a first roller, a transmission gear meshed with the driving gear and rotatable integrally with the first roller, a second roller to rotate to convey the sheet toward the image forming device in conjunction with the first roller, an urging member urging the second roller toward the first roller, and a joint shaft connected to the first coupling at one end thereof in an axial direction. The second roller includes a second coupling arranged concentrically with a rotation shaft of the second roller. The second coupling transmits a driving force from the driving gear to the second roller. The second coupling is connected with the other end of the joint shaft in the axial direction. The second coupling in conjunction with the first coupling and the joint shaft form a universal joint.