Removable Gear Case for Image Forming Drive Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses require frequent replacement of coupling gears due to high torque loads, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A drive transmitting unit with a gear case that is attachably and detachably mounted to the apparatus body, featuring a hook part, fitting part, and fixing part, allowing for easy replacement and adjustment of gears without altering the main motor or gear train design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coupling gears are designed to handle large torque loads, then reliability is improved, but maintenance time increases due to frequent replacement needs
Solution Approach 1:
The gear system is divided into a removable gear case containing the coupling gears, separated from the main apparatus body. This segmentation allows the gears to be replaced as a complete module without disassembling the entire apparatus, resolving the contradiction by enabling frequent replacement (maintaining reliability) while minimizing maintenance time through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear case is designed with dynamic attachability - it can be quickly attached and detached from the apparatus body through simple operations involving the hook part, fitting part, and fixing part. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt between operational state and maintenance state, resolving the contradiction by making replacement frequent when needed but time-consuming only minimally.
2Ease of repair
If gears are made replaceable, then maintenance ease is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into three independent functional parts: hook part for engagement, fitting part for positioning, and fixing part for securing. This segmentation simplifies the overall design by breaking down the complex attachment process into elementary operations, resolving the contradiction by making replacement easy while keeping each individual component simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the gears themselves detachable from the gear train, the invention inverts the approach by making the entire gear case detachable from the apparatus body. This inversion simplifies the attachment mechanism design because the gears remain fixed within their case, eliminating the need for complex individual gear detachment mechanisms while still achieving ease of repair.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the gear case is permanently fixed, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability decreases for torque changes
Solution Approach 1:
The gear case transitions from a static permanent fixture to a dynamic removable component. The fixing part provides stable fixation during operation, while the hook part enables quick removal when torque adjustments are needed. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by providing both structural stability during use and adaptability for torque changes through controlled removability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear case serves multiple functions: it provides structural stability when fixed, enables torque adjustment when removed, and protects the gears during both states. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single component that can alternatively provide both stability and adaptability depending on operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive transmitting unit includes a plurality of gears and a gear case. The plurality of gears composes a part of a gear train transmitting a rotational force from a main driving part to a rotational element within an apparatus body. The gear case is provided attachably to/detachably from an attachment part defined from a lower surface or aback surface of the apparatus body to inside of the apparatus body while rotatably supporting the plurality of gears. The gear case includes a hook part, a fitting part and a fixing part. The hook part is hooked with a hooked part provided within the attachment part. The fitting part is fitted with a fitted part provided within the attachment part. The fixing part is fixed to the apparatus body through a fastening member.