Self-Aligning Drive Coupling for Misaligned Image Forming Rotors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving force transmission mechanisms in image forming apparatuses face issues with misalignment of shaft centers, leading to uneven rotation and rotational speed fluctuations due to dimensional errors, which affect the alignment and operation of coupling portions.
Innovation Solution
The mechanism employs a driven-side coupling with a cylindrical receiving member and first engaging members, and a driving-side coupling with second engaging members featuring inclined surfaces to automatically align and stabilize the rotational force transmission, even when shaft centers are misaligned, using a screw coupling and screw driving gear configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coupling portions are used to transmit rotational force, then rotational force transmission is achieved, but shaft center misalignment causes uneven rotation and rotational speed fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling portion is designed with a spherical surface that allows automatic adjustment of the shaft center position. The spherical geometry enables dynamic adaptation to misalignment conditions, transforming a static rigid connection into a dynamic self-adjusting mechanism that maintains rotational stability despite manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the coupling portion by introducing a spherical surface instead of a conventional cylindrical or flat interface. This parameter change allows the coupling to accommodate shaft center misalignment while maintaining reliable rotational force transmission
2Productivity
If multiple shafts are positioned simultaneously, then assembly is efficient, but shaft center misalignment occurs in coupling portions
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical coupling portion enables the shafts to self-align during assembly. The spherical geometry provides automatic centering functionality, allowing multiple shafts to be positioned simultaneously without requiring precise pre-alignment, thus maintaining both assembly efficiency and shaft center alignment
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid coupling connections are used, then structural stability is maintained, but misalignment causes uneven rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical coupling interface transforms the rigid static connection into a dynamic self-adjusting system. The spherical surface allows controlled movement and adaptation, maintaining connection stability while enabling automatic alignment to prevent uneven rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A driving force transmission mechanism is a mechanism for transmitting rotational force of the second rotor having a driving-side coupling to a first rotor having a driven-side coupling. The driving-side coupling includes a body and a plurality of second engaging members engaging with first engaging members of the driven-side coupling, each of the plurality of second engaging members has at an abutting point on an abutting surface of a corresponding first engaging member a first inclined surface inclined so as to be away from a rotation axis of the body from a downstream side toward an upstream side in a rotation direction of the body.