Intermediary Gear Transmission for Low-Spring Image Forming Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive transmission devices for image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing the elastic force of springs required for rotating the follower gear, leading to increased size, cost, and operation noise due to the need for extensive springs and additional components like reverse rotation preventing levers.
Innovation Solution
A drive transmission device comprising a driving gear, a follower gear, an intermediary gear, and an output gear, where the elastic member enables the follower gear to rotate by the driving force from the driving gear, and the intermediary gear transmits the driving force to the output gear without rotating it, reducing the number of components and operation noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large elastic force spring is used to rotate the follower gear, then the follower gear can be rotated reliably, but the device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission path is segmented into two independent stages: (1) driving gear to follower gear for reliable rotation initiation, and (2) intermediary gear to output gear for force multiplication. This segmentation allows the spring to only need to overcome static friction in the first stage, reducing the required elastic force and spring size while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary gear is introduced as a mediator between the follower gear and output gear. It receives rotational input from the follower gear and transmits it to the output gear, enabling the system to use a smaller spring while still achieving reliable rotation of the heavy output gear through mechanical advantage in the second transmission stage.
2Reliability
If a reverse rotation preventing lever is added, then reverse rotation is prevented, but the number of components and operation noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reverse rotation preventing lever is extracted and replaced by the inherent non-contact portion design in the gear engagement mechanism. The toothless portion on the follower gear and corresponding design on the intermediary gear naturally prevent reverse rotation without requiring a separate lever component, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear system is designed to prevent reverse rotation through its own structure - the non-contact portions and toothless portions create a mechanical configuration where reverse rotation is inherently blocked by the engagement geometry itself, eliminating the need for external prevention mechanisms.
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
This solution allows for efficient rotation of the follower gear with a smaller elastic force, reducing the size and cost of the device while minimizing operation noise by eliminating the need for additional components like reverse rotation preventing levers.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member that moves the follower gear from a state in which the follower gear is not rotated by the driving gear to a state in which the follower gear is rotated by the driving gear
Data Source
AI summary
A drive transmission device includes a driving gear, a follower gear, an intermediary gear, an output gear, and an elastic member. Transmission of a driving force from the driving gear to the follower gear and transmission of the driving force from the intermediary gear to the output gear are disabled, in a non-transmission state. In a transmission state, (i) the follower gear is moved by an elastic force of the elastic member to enable rotation of the follower gear by the driving force from the driving gear, and thereafter, (ii) the intermediary gear is rotated by the follower gear without rotating the output gear, and thereafter, the intermediary gear is enabled to transmit the driving force to the output gear.