Integrated Motor Stay for Gear Alignment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the increased load on single motors due to downsizing and dense arrangement of motor and gear train components leads to instability and alignment issues, resulting in operational noise and reduced heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A driving device design where the supporting shaft for the gear is positioned on a separate metal plate offset from the motor, allowing for a two-layer structure that maintains alignment and reduces interference, thereby stabilizing operation and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the motor and idler gear are mounted on separate stays, then the device can be downsized and densely arranged, but the alignment between the idler gear and motor pinion gear becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the motor stay and idler gear stay into a single integrated stay structure. This merging eliminates the alignment instability caused by separate stays while maintaining the downsized, dense arrangement of the driving device. The integrated stay ensures precise positioning of both the motor and idler gear, resolving the contradiction between compact size and alignment precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate stays are provided for motor and supporting shaft, then components can be independently positioned, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple stay functions into a single stay structure that simultaneously supports both the motor and the supporting shaft for the idler gear. This merging reduces the number of separate stays while maintaining the ability to independently position components through appropriately designed mounting positions and holes in the integrated stay.
3Volume of moving object
If the motor and gear train are densely arranged, then downsizing is achieved, but heat dissipation becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the motor and idler gear in a two-dimensional plane on the integrated stay, with the supporting shaft positioned offset from the motor. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows for dense packing while maintaining adequate spacing for heat dissipation pathways, effectively resolving the contradiction between compact volume and thermal management.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving device includes a motor; a stay supporting the motor; a gear configured to receive a driving force from the motor; and a supporting shaft rotatably supporting the gear, the supporting shaft being supported by the stay. The supporting shaft stands at a side of the stay opposite from a side thereof where the stay supports the motor. The stay supports the motor in a first region and supports the supporting shaft in a second region offset from the first region in a direction of being away from the motor.