Taper Coupling Mediator for Drive Shaft Oscillation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with rotation irregularity and oscillation between the image bearing member and drive shaft, leading to image blurring and color shifts due to accumulated gear tolerance and rattling, which prior art techniques fail to fully address.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a drive shaft with a taper coupling and a pressing member to securely engage the drive shaft and image bearing member, along with a transmission pin and fixing pins to manage rotation and oscillation, preventing the transmission of oscillation from the drive coupling to the image bearing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a drive coupling with play is used to prevent rotation irregularity, then rotation irregularity is reduced, but rattling and oscillation between drive shaft and image bearing member increases
Solution Approach 1:
A taper coupling is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive coupling and the image bearing member. The taper coupling includes a tapered portion that engages with a corresponding tapered groove, providing a mediator that prevents direct rattling contact while maintaining the play necessary to reduce rotation irregularity. This intermediary structure transmits rotation while blocking the transmission of oscillation and rattling forces.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a spline structure is used to prevent rattling, then rattling is reduced, but rotation irregularity deteriorates due to oscillation at contact portions
Solution Approach 1:
The taper coupling serves as a mediator that replaces the direct spline contact structure. Instead of using rigid spline teeth that create oscillation at contact portions, the tapered coupling with its gradual engagement profile provides a smoother transition, reducing both rattling and the oscillation-induced rotation irregularity while maintaining effective power transmission.
3Reliability
If play is introduced in the drive coupling to accommodate eccentricity, then rotation irregularity is prevented from increasing, but image quality deteriorates due to transmitted oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The taper coupling acts as a filter that blocks the transmission of oscillation and rattling forces from the drive coupling to the image bearing member. By maintaining play in the drive coupling for eccentricity accommodation while introducing the taper coupling as a mediator, the system preserves rotation stability without allowing oscillation-induced image quality deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful oscillation and rattling components are extracted and isolated at the taper coupling interface, preventing them from reaching the image bearing member. The taper coupling effectively separates the rotational motion (which needs to be transmitted) from the oscillatory motion (which needs to be blocked), allowing the play in the drive coupling to function without compromising image quality.
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 significantly reduces rotation irregularity and color shifts, ensuring a good image quality by effectively coupling the drive shaft and image bearing member without rattling and maintaining precise rotation alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a tip portion having a tapered chuck structure and coming in surface contact with the drive shaft and the flange of the image bearing member by an elastic force of the tapered chuck structure
Data Source
AI summary
The image forming apparatus has a drive shaft; a drive coupling supported in an axial direction to couple the drive shaft and a flange with play; a taper coupling supported inside the drive coupling with play to hold the drive shaft and the flange; and a pressing member for pressing the taper coupling, which consists of a tip portion having a tapered chuck structure and coming in surface contact with the drive shaft and the flange by the elastic force of the tapered chuck structure and the pressing force of the pressing member, and an axial portion having a cylindrical structure whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the drive coupling.