Planetary Gear Mechanism for Bidirectional Roller Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving space-saving designs due to the need for a pendulum gear mechanism that requires additional space for swinging, limiting the compactness of the device.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a planetary gear mechanism with a rotation restraint member and a switching mechanism, allowing the sun gear, carrier, and ring gear to switch between locked and released states, enabling the sun gear to rotate in one direction when locked and the opposite direction when released, thereby eliminating the need for a pendulum gear and allowing for space-saving design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pendulum gear mechanism is used to switch the rotating direction of the output gear, then the rotating direction can be changed, but the apparatus requires additional space for the pendulum gear to swing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional pendulum gear mechanism with a planetary gear mechanism that uses a locking member to control the rotation direction. Instead of using a swinging pendulum gear to switch between forward and reverse rotation, the invention uses a compact planetary gear system where a locking member can selectively lock or release the carrier, thereby controlling whether the planetary gears rotate with the sun gear or remain stationary. This substitution eliminates the need for large swinging space while maintaining the bidirectional rotation switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gear mechanism employs a nested structure where the planetary gears are arranged around the sun gear within the carrier. The locking member is positioned to engage with the carrier, creating a compact nested arrangement that eliminates the need for external swinging space required by pendulum gear mechanisms. This nested configuration allows the entire gear system to be contained within a small footprint while achieving the same functional result.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pendulum gear is used to transmit driving force and switch transmission paths, then the output gear rotation direction can be changed, but the apparatus main body cannot achieve space-saving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the pendulum gear transmission path switching mechanism with a planetary gear system that achieves transmission path switching through a locking member. The locking member selectively engages with the carrier to either allow the planetary gears to rotate with the sun gear (forward transmission) or lock the carrier in place (reverse transmission through ring gear). This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for the pendulum gear's swinging motion and associated space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of switching transmission paths through the swinging motion of a pendulum gear in one dimension, the patent uses a locking mechanism that operates in a different dimensional space - the locking member engages radially with the carrier's locking groove. This dimensional change allows transmission path switching without requiring the linear swinging space that would increase the apparatus main body volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus including a driving source, a planetary gear mechanism including first, second and third elements, a rotation restraint member configured to switch the planetary gear mechanism between a locked state where rotation of the second element is locked and a released state where the second element is capable of rotating, and a switching mechanism configured to switch the planetary gear mechanism between a first state where any two elements of the first, second and third elements are separated and a second state where the two elements are coupled, wherein the third element is configured to rotate in a first direction when the planetary gear mechanism is in the locked state and first state and to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the planetary gear mechanism is in the released state and second state.