Notched Gear Bearing Structure for Post-Assembly Greasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gear mechanisms in image forming apparatuses require significant time and effort to apply grease to bearings and rotation shafts before assembly, and once assembled, it becomes difficult to access these components for grease application due to shielding or covering.
Innovation Solution
A gear mechanism design featuring a collar portion and a notched portion in the bearing portions, allowing grease to be applied after assembly, with the notched portion formed by partially cutting away the collar portion, enabling exposure of the rotation shaft for grease application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grease is applied to bearings and rotation shafts before assembling gears, then proper lubrication is ensured, but assembly time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The collar portion is designed with a notched structure in advance, creating a grease application passage that enables post-assembly grease application. This preliminary structural preparation allows lubrication to be performed after gear assembly without disassembly, resolving the contradiction between ensuring proper lubrication and reducing assembly time.
2Stability of the object's composition
If gears are assembled into a complete gear mechanism, then structural integrity is achieved, but access to bearings and rotation shafts for grease application becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The collar portion is segmented with a notched portion that creates an opening or passage. This segmentation allows grease to access the rotation shaft and bearing through the notched portion while the rest of the collar maintains its structural integrity and support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The notched portion acts as an intermediary passage that connects the external grease application point to the internal bearing and rotation shaft. This intermediary structure enables grease application without requiring disassembly of the gear mechanism, maintaining both structural integrity and operational accessibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gears are provided in the gear mechanism, then functional requirements are met, but the time and effort to apply grease to each gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notched portion structure in the collar portion provides a universal grease application interface that can be used for all gears in the mechanism. Instead of requiring separate grease application procedures for each gear, the same notched collar design enables efficient grease application to multiple gears, improving assembly productivity while maintaining the ability to provide multiple gears for functional requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A gear mechanism includes: at least one gear including a rotation shaft; and at least one bearing portion. The at least one gear can meshingly engage with another gear that applies a force to the at least one gear. The at least one bearing portion includes: a collar portion supporting the rotation shaft; and a notched portion exposing a portion of the rotation shaft to an outside. A first imaginary plane defines a first region and a second region of the at least one bearing portion. The first imaginary plane extends in an axial direction and contains a first linear line passing through a center of the rotation shaft and perpendicular to a direction of a line of action of the force. The first region is positioned downstream of the first linear line in the direction of the line of action. The notched portion is formed in the second region.