Planetary Gear Drivetrain Release Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatus drivetrains with restricted rotation can suffer damage due to excessive load when rotational force is applied in the restricted direction, as existing solutions either reduce drivetrain strength or risk damage during normal operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a planetary gear mechanism with a restricting member and a stopping member that allows rotation in one direction while restricting it in the opposite direction, preventing damage by releasing the driving force when the drivetrain is locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rigidity of a support portion of a driving member is lowered to allow flexing and tooth skipping, then damage to the drivetrain is prevented, but the strength of the drivetrain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drivetrain is segmented into multiple functional components: a restricting member that limits rotation of the driven gear in one direction, a planetary gear mechanism with an input portion, output portion, and portion to be stopped, and a stopping member that selectively stops rotation of the portion to be stopped. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function in protecting the drivetrain while maintaining overall strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gear mechanism acts as an intermediary between the driven gear and the stopping member. When the driven gear's rotation is restricted, the planetary gear mechanism transmits the driving force through its internal gears, and the stopping member stops the portion to be stopped, thereby releasing the driving force without directly impacting the driven gear or requiring reduction of drivetrain strength.
2Reliability
If a stopping mechanism is added to prevent damage when rotation is restricted, then drivetrain protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear mechanism serves multiple functions: it transmits driving force from the input portion to the output portion, provides a portion to be stopped that can be selectively restrained, and through its gear interactions, automatically releases driving force when the driven gear rotation is restricted. The stopping member simply needs to stop rotation of the portion to be stopped in one direction, and the planetary gear mechanism handles the rest, making the stopping mechanism simpler and more universal.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus including: a restricting member; a driven gear including a portion to be restricted; a planetary gear mechanism including input portion to transmit a driving force from a driving source, output portion for transmitting the driving force to the driven gear; and a stopping member that is configured to stop rotation, which is oriented in a first rotation direction, and allow rotation of the portion to be stopped in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, wherein when the input portion rotates in a first direction, the stopping member stops the rotation, and the output portion rotates the driven gear in a release direction opposite to the restriction direction, and when the rotation of the driven gear in the restriction direction is restricted and the input portion rotates to be oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction.