Belt Cleaning Unit Width Extension for Developer Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image-forming devices are insufficient in cleaning developer from the outer surface of the belt, as the cleaning unit only addresses the region corresponding to the effective image forming area, failing to account for developer leakage from the thin layer forming region.
Innovation Solution
An image-forming device with a cleaning unit that includes a rotating member made of foam material, positioned such that its width is greater than the thin layer forming region, allowing it to effectively clean the developer from the belt's outer surface by extending beyond the ends of the thin layer forming region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the cleaning unit is designed to clean only the effective image forming region, then the cleaning device complexity is reduced, but developer leakage from the thin layer forming region cannot be cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is designed with different cleaning regions corresponding to different functional areas of the belt. The first cleaning region corresponds to the effective image forming region, while the second cleaning region extends beyond it to cover portions of the thin layer forming region. This local differentiation allows the cleaning unit to address developer leakage at the boundaries without requiring a complete redesign of the entire cleaning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning unit is divided into multiple independent cleaning elements or zones along the width of the belt. Each cleaning zone can be independently positioned to target specific regions, allowing the first cleaning region to handle the effective image forming area while the second cleaning region addresses the extended thin layer forming region. This segmentation enables flexible configuration to match the actual contamination patterns.
2Reliability
If the cleaning unit width is increased to cover the entire thin layer forming region, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is designed to extend slightly beyond the strict boundaries of the effective image forming region to cover the thin layer forming region. This partial extension provides sufficient cleaning coverage for developer leakage without requiring the cleaning unit to cover the entire width of the thin layer forming region. The excessive action is minimal and targeted only at the critical boundary areas where leakage occurs.
3Reliability
If the rotating member width is increased to match the belt width, then complete cleaning coverage is achieved, but material consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating cleaning member is designed with a width that corresponds specifically to the cleaning requirements of different belt regions. The first cleaning region uses a narrower width matching the effective image forming region, while the second cleaning region extends the width only as much as needed to cover the thin layer forming region boundaries. This local quality approach ensures foam material is used only where cleaning is actually needed, avoiding waste in areas that do not require cleaning.
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 ensures thorough cleaning of the belt surface, preventing developer leakage and maintaining image quality by ensuring the cleaning region is wider than the thin layer forming region, thus addressing the inadequacies of conventional cleaning units.
Implementation Method 1
The rotating member contacts the outer surface of the belt and cleans developer from the outer surface by rotating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an image-forming device having a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a thin layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The thin layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The thin layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The image-carrying member has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The belt has an outer surface including a cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on the cleanable region. The second width is greater than the first width. The cleanable region is placed with respect to the thin layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the second width is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the first width in the widthwise direction.