Single Motor Driving Device for Image Forming Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving devices for image forming apparatuses require multiple motors or complex motor direction changes, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies, especially when dealing with large inertial loads and the need to drive multiple components.
Innovation Solution
A driving device that includes a motor, gears, a power transmitter with a cam mechanism, and a clutch to selectively transmit rotational force to two gears without changing the motor's direction, allowing for efficient connection and disconnection of gears to drive multiple components without altering the motor's rotational direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple motors are used to drive multiple components, then the driving capability is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single motor is designed to drive multiple components (photosensitive drum and developing roller) through a power transmitter mechanism, making the motor multi-functional. This eliminates the need for separate motors for each component, reducing cost while maintaining driving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A power transmitter mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single motor and the multiple components. It selectively transmits rotational force to different components based on operational requirements, enabling one motor to control multiple elements without direct connection to each.
2Device complexity
If forward rotation and backward rotation of one motor is used to drive multiple components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the time required for changing rotational direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmitter uses a cam mechanism that dynamically changes the transmission path based on rotational position. As the cam rotates, it selectively engages different gears to drive different components, allowing continuous operation without stopping to reverse motor direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism creates periodic engagement patterns where different gears are activated at different phases of the cam rotation. This periodic switching allows the motor to maintain constant rotation while achieving variable drive patterns for different components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the motor rotational direction is changed to drive different components, then the versatility is improved, but the reliability decreases due to inertial load changes
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission path is segmented into multiple gears (first gear, second gear) that can be selectively engaged. Each gear provides a different transmission ratio and drives a different component, allowing the system to adapt to different load requirements without changing motor rotation direction, thus maintaining stability.
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 solution enables efficient and cost-effective transmission of driving force to multiple components, simplifies the driving circuit, and improves durability by maintaining consistent driving directions, reducing the need for additional motor sources and minimizing inertial load changes.
Implementation Method 1
a cam configured to set the power transmitter to one of a release mode in which the motor is disconnected from the first and second gears, a first connection mode in which one of the first and second gears is connected to the motor, and a second connection mode in which the other of the first and second gears is connected to the motor
Implementation Method 2
a clutch configured to selectively transfer the rotational force applied in the one direction from the motor to the cam
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving device including a first gear and a second gear, a power transmitter configured to transfer a rotational force applied in one direction from the motor to the first and second gears; a cam configured to set the power transmitter to one of a release mode in which the motor is disconnected from the first and second gears, a first connection mode in which one of the first and second gears is connected to the motor, and a second connection mode in which the other of the first and second gears is connected to the motor; and a clutch configured to selectively transfer the rotational force applied in the one direction from the motor to the cam.