Sheet Conveyor Gear Layout for Reliable Belt Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyor systems in image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining efficient engagement and disengagement of gears during maintenance and operation, leading to potential engagement failures and reduced operability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sheet conveyor system with paired conveyance belts and gears that engage in a sandwich state and disengage in a separation state, where the axial center of the gear rotation shaft moves on a plane perpendicular to the conveyance direction, with specific acute-angle constraints to prevent gear rotation failure and ensure smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the axial center of the gear rotation shaft moves on a plane parallel to the conveyance direction, then the gear engagement and disengagement can be simplified, but gear rotation failure occurs and operability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the movement plane of the gear axial center from parallel to perpendicular relative to the conveyance direction. This dimensional change in the movement trajectory allows the gear to engage and disengage properly without rotating unintentionally, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining operational simplicity
2Ease of operation
If the acute-angle θ is large, then the gear can engage more easily, but the rotation moment decreases and engagement failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the acute-angle θ formed by the movement plane and the interaxial-center plane to fall within a specific range (0° < θ ≤ 30°). This parameter optimization balances the ease of engagement with sufficient rotation moment, preventing engagement failure while maintaining operational ease
3Ease of operation
If the gear protrudes more from the conveyance face, then the engagement is more accessible, but the rotation moment arm decreases and engagement failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the gear engagement in the perpendicular direction rather than extending it forward from the conveyance face. This spatial reconfiguration maintains accessibility while preserving a longer rotation moment arm, preventing engagement failure
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 reduces the occurrence of gear engagement failures, maintains operability during maintenance, and ensures consistent operation by increasing the rotation moment and reducing protrusion from the conveyance face, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the sheet conveyor system.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling member to contact an inner circumferential surface of at least one of the paired conveyance belts and absorb heat of the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyor includes a first conveyance belt, a second conveyance belt, a first driving roller, a second driving roller, a first gear, and a second gear. In switching between sandwich and separation states, an axial center of a rotation shaft of the first or second gear moves on a movement plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey a sheet. Where L represents diameter of a tooth edge circle of the second gear in unit of millimeter and T1 represents a chordal tooth thickness of the second gear, an acute-side angle θ in unit of degree (°) formed by the movement plane and an interaxial-center plane including the axial center of the rotation shaft of each of the first gear and the second gear in the sandwich state is within a range represented by the following Formula 1: Tan−1(2×T1/L)<|θ|<45°.