Mechanical Clutch Driven Motion Conversion Mechanism for Belt Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining high positioning accuracy and preventing toner deterioration when switching between color and monochrome modes, often requiring sensors to control the motion conversion mechanism, which can be costly and limited by space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The driving mechanism employs a mechanical clutch with a motion conversion mechanism that uses a cam and link mechanism to control the state of the motion conversion mechanism without a sensor, utilizing a pair of partially toothless gears and a spring to switch between connected and non-connected states, allowing for precise positioning of the intermediate transfer belt between color and monochrome positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to control the motion conversion mechanism, then the positioning accuracy can be maintained, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motion conversion mechanism is designed to self-determine its state through mechanical design features (toothless portions of gears, cam profiles, link positions) that passively indicate the current state without requiring external sensors. The mechanism serves itself by incorporating built-in state indicators through its mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is completely removed from the system. Instead of using a sensor to detect the state of the motion conversion mechanism, the patent extracts the sensing function and replaces it with a passive mechanical state determination system based on the positional relationships of mechanical components.
2Device complexity
If the motion conversion mechanism is controlled without a sensor, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sensor-based detection system with a purely mechanical state determination system. The mechanical components (gears with toothless portions, cam mechanisms, linkages) physically embody the state information through their geometric configurations and positional relationships, substituting electronic sensing with mechanical encoding.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical components act as intermediaries that translate the operational state into physically distinguishable configurations. The toothless portions of gears, cam profiles, and link positions serve as mechanical mediators that encode state information in a form that can be determined through simple mechanical observation rather than electronic sensing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the rotating units are halted in monochrome mode, then toner deterioration is prevented, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of rotating units based on the imaging mode. In color mode, all rotating units operate simultaneously for high productivity. In monochrome mode, only necessary rotating units operate while others are halted to prevent toner deterioration. The system transitions between these states using the motion conversion mechanism controlled by the actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
Different rotating units have different operational requirements based on their function. The patent applies local quality by allowing some rotating units to operate while halting others in monochrome mode, rather than halting all units uniformly. This selective operation prevents toner deterioration in non-essential units while maintaining productivity in essential units.
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 enables accurate and cost-effective control of the motion conversion mechanism, ensuring high positioning accuracy for the intermediate transfer belt without the need for sensors, thereby preventing toner deterioration and optimizing the driving mechanism's performance across different operation modes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (723) that applies an elastic torque on the first partially toothless gear (721) and the second partially toothless gear (722)
Implementation Method 2
a motion conversion mechanism (7c) that converts a rotational motion with one rotation into a reciprocation motion with one reciprocation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A driving mechanism (7) includes a first gear mechanism (701), a motion conversion mechanism (7c), an actuator (75), and a mechanical clutch (72). The mechanical clutch (72) includes an input gear (721) that includes a plurality of engaging portions (721a, 721b) engageable with a displaced portion on a first position. The mechanical clutch (72) switches to a connected state and a non-connected state corresponding to whether or not the engaging portions (721a, 721b) each engage with the displaced portion of the actuator (75). The connected state is a state where the rotational power of the first gear mechanism (701) is transmitted to the motion conversion mechanism (7c). The non-connected state is a state where the rotational power of the first gear mechanism (701) is not transmitted to the motion conversion mechanism (7c). The plurality of engaging portions (721a, 721b) are formed on a plurality of positions within a range of a default center angle less than 180 degrees in a circumferential direction of the input gear.