Synchronized Drive Unit Using Segmented Timing Belts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive transmission mechanisms using gears are costly and prone to speed and positional variations due to the need for precise processing and many gears, while timing belt systems face issues with cyclic component displacement and length variations affecting image quality in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A synchronized drive unit comprising a drive member, a driven member, and a relay member with timing belts hung around them to transmit power in synchronization, where the timing belts are formed of plural narrow belts to counteract eccentric components, reducing rotational variation and allowing for lower-cost production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional drive transmission mechanism using only gears is used, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but device complexity increases and cost increases due to needing many gears
Solution Approach 1:
The timing belt is divided into two separate belts, each handling half of the drive task. This segmentation allows each belt to be simpler while collectively achieving the precision needed, reducing the need for complex gear trains.
Solution Approach 2:
A relay member (idler pulley) is introduced as an intermediary between the drive pulley and driven pulley. This relay member enables the use of timing belts instead of direct gear engagement, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining synchronization.
2Device complexity
If precision gears are used to reduce the number of gears, then device complexity decreases, but manufacturing cost increases due to higher precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standard, off-the-shelf timing belts and pulleys instead of custom-machined precision gears. These are cheaper, mass-produced components that can be easily replaced, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate precision through the dual-belt configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from using high-precision gears to using standard timing belts with specific tension parameters. By optimizing belt tension and using the relay member to distribute load, the system achieves acceptable precision with lower-cost components.
3Device complexity
If a single timing belt is used, then device complexity is low, but speed variation occurs due to one cyclic component displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The single timing belt is segmented into two parallel belts. Each belt has its own cyclic variations, but when both belts drive the same pulley together, their variations tend to average out, reducing overall speed fluctuation and improving consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The two timing belts are positioned and tensioned to counterbalance each other's eccentric components and cyclic variations. The relay member facilitates this counteracting effect, where the variations in one belt are compensated by the other, resulting in smoother operation.
4Device complexity
If the timing belt has maximum or minimum length, then device complexity is low, but speed variation noticeably deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the long timing belt into two shorter belts, the system avoids the speed variation problems associated with maximum-length single belts. Each shorter belt has reduced cyclic variations, and their combined effect provides consistent speed transmission.
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
The solution effectively cancels one rotational variation component of the timing belt, improving precision and reducing costs by using two belts to counteract eccentric components, resulting in high-quality image formation with reduced speed and positional variations.
Implementation Method 1
timing belts hung around the drive and driven members through the relay member with tension
Implementation Method 2
the narrow timing belts are located on the driven member so as to counteract their eccentric components each other
Data Source
AI summary
A synchronized drive unit, including a drive member including a pulley; a driven member including a pulley; a relay member including to transmit a power; and timing belts hung around the drive and driven members through the relay member with tension and rotates the drive and driven members in synchronization, wherein each of the timing belts is formed of plural narrow timing belts parallely placed in a rotational axis direction of the pulley and the narrow timing belts are located on the driven member so as to counteract their eccentric components each other.