Regulating Member Switching Mechanism for Compact Drive Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining drive force transmission states while minimizing apparatus size, as they require expanded carriage movement to switch motive force transmission, leading to increased size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a carriage that includes a sun gear, planet gears, and a regulating member capable of moving in two directions, allowing for various motive force transmission states without needing to move the carriage beyond its end position, utilizing a biasing unit to maintain engagement and a controller to manage surface pressure and drive load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coil spring biases the motive force transmission unit to the first position to maintain drive force transmission, then the drive force transmission state is maintained, but the carriage movement region must be expanded to move the motive force transmission unit to the second position for switching, leading to an increase in apparatus size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static coil spring biasing mechanism with a dynamic regulating member that can be actively positioned along the carriage movement path. The regulating member has multiple engagement positions (first, second, third positions) that correspond to different motive force transmission states, allowing the system to dynamically switch between states without requiring the carriage to move to extreme positions. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable drive force transmission through active control rather than passive spring biasing, thereby reducing the required apparatus size.
2Ease of operation
If the carriage is positioned at the home position with the motive force transmission unit at the first position, then the drive force is transmitted to the pump device, but moving the carriage further outside the home position is required to switch to the second position, expanding the movement region and increasing apparatus size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a regulating member as an intermediary mechanism between the carriage and the motive force transmission unit. This regulating member can be positioned at different locations along the carriage path and engages with the motive force transmission unit to control its position. By using this intermediary, the system can switch motive force transmission states without requiring the carriage itself to move to extreme positions, thereby simplifying operation while reducing apparatus size.
3Device complexity
If a shared drive source drives multiple driving targets with a switching mechanism, then cost and apparatus size are reduced, but the switching mechanism requires expanded carriage movement to function, leading to increased apparatus size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the switching function from the carriage movement itself by introducing a separate regulating member that can be independently positioned. The regulating member divides the switching operation into discrete engagement positions, allowing the shared drive source to switch between multiple driving targets without requiring the entire carriage to traverse an expanded movement region. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining the benefits of a shared drive source while eliminating the need for expanded apparatus size.
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 enables reliable maintenance of drive force transmission states without enlarging the apparatus, reduces surface pressure, and ensures smooth operation by managing drive load and surface pressure through controlled reverse rotation and retry operations.
Implementation Method 1
a planet gear which is driven by the sun gear, a rotational movement member which causes the planet gear to perform planetary motion
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a biasing unit to maintain engagement
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a switching mechanism which switches a motive force transmission state from a motive force source, includes a sun gear which is driven by the motive force source, a planet gear which performs planetary motion around the sun gear, a rotational movement member which causes the planet gear to perform planetary motion by rotationally moving, and a regulating member which engages with a regulated portion which is provided in the rotational movement member to restrict the rotational movement of the rotational movement member.