Planet Gear Guide Layout for Low-Load Image Forming Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear transmission devices, such as pendulum gear mechanisms, consistently generate friction forces due to coil springs, leading to constant driving loads, noise, and increased power consumption in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A gear transmission device comprising a sun gear, driven gear, planet gear, auxiliary gear, first guide portion, and second guide portion, where the planet gear moves between engaged and disengaged positions, reducing friction and driving loads by eliminating the need for constant urging forces, and utilizing guide surfaces to facilitate smooth movement and meshing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coil spring is used to press the pendulum gear against the attachment plate, then the gear transmission reliability is improved, but the driving load and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the coil spring component from the pendulum gear mechanism. Instead of using elastic urging force from a spring, the invention uses gravity to press the pendulum gear against the attachment plate, eliminating the need for continuous energy input to maintain contact force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force generation mechanism from elastic (spring) to gravitational (weight). By changing the physical principle from elastic deformation to gravitational attraction, the system achieves reliable gear contact without continuous energy consumption.
2Reliability
If a coil spring is used to maintain gear contact, then the meshing reliability is improved, but friction and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coil spring component that causes continuous friction. By removing the spring and replacing it with a gravity-based contact mechanism, the system reduces unnecessary friction between moving parts and associated noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The pendulum gear naturally moves in a periodic swinging motion. This periodic action ensures that gear meshing occurs only when needed during the swing arc, rather than maintaining constant contact pressure that would generate continuous friction and noise.
3Stability of the object's composition
If constant urging force is applied to the pendulum gear, then the gear engagement stability is improved, but the driving load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the weight of the pendulum gear itself as the urging force. The gravitational force acting on the pendulum gear provides the necessary contact pressure against the attachment plate, eliminating the need for additional active urging mechanisms that would increase driving load.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static constant urging force (spring) to dynamic gravity-based force. The pendulum gear's weight provides consistent urging force during its swing motion, maintaining engagement stability without requiring continuous energy input or complex control 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 configuration reduces driving loads, noise, and power consumption in image forming apparatuses by minimizing friction and optimizing gear movement, enabling smoother operation and reduced wear.
Implementation Method 1
the third shaft moves in the second guide portion with contacting the guide surface of the second guide portion
Data Source
AI summary
A gear transmission device includes a frame, a sun gear including a first shaft having a first axis, a driven gear, a planet gear movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and including a second shaft having a second axis, an auxiliary gear including a third shaft, a first guide portion to guide the second shaft, and a second guide portion to guide the third shaft. At least a portion of the third shaft is positioned opposite to the driven gear relative to a first imaginary line passing the first axis and the second axis of the planet gear located at the disengaged position. As the sun gear rotates with the auxiliary gear in mesh with the planet gear, the third shaft moves with contacting a guide surface and the second shaft moves in a direction opposite to a direction in which the third shaft moves.