Bias Voltage Supply for Image Forming Apparatus Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses have a high cost and increased size due to multiple power supply units for cleaning brush rollers, and inefficient toner removal leads to reduced photoconductive drum lifetime and increased running costs, especially when printing in monochrome mode.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a single bias voltage supply for multiple cleaning devices, using an electrostatic cleaning brush roller and a cleaning blade in tandem to remove toner, reducing the need for multiple power supplies and minimizing toner abrasion on the cleaning blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power supply unit applies bias voltage to cleaning brush rollers of all image-forming units (black, yellow, magenta, cyan), then toner removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply unit is designed to universally supply bias voltage to cleaning brush rollers of multiple image-forming units (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan) through a single device. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate power supply units for each cleaning brush roller, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining effective toner removal across all units.
2Reliability
If bias voltage is applied to cleaning brush rollers in monochrome mode, then cleaning performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply unit incorporates dynamic control capability to adjust its operation based on the printing mode. In monochrome mode, the unit selectively applies bias voltage only to the black image-forming unit's cleaning brush roller, while in color mode, it supplies voltage to all cleaning brush rollers. This dynamic adaptation maintains cleaning performance while optimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary voltage application to unused color units.
3Ease of operation
If multiple power supply units are used for each cleaning brush roller, then individual voltage control is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power supply functions into a single integrated power supply unit that can service multiple cleaning brush rollers. This merged design maintains the capability to individually control voltage to each cleaning brush roller through internal switching and control circuitry, while significantly reducing the overall device size by eliminating redundant power supply components for each image-forming unit.
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 number of power supplies, extends the lifetime of photoconductive drums, and decreases running costs by effectively removing toner and silica deposits, maintaining image quality and reducing lubricant consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage application member to apply a voltage to a cleaning brush roller for adhering toner electrically
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning brush roller to be rotatable and to contact with a surface of a photoconductive drum
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming device, a plurality of second image forming devices, a first bias voltage supply device, and a second bias voltage supply device. The first image forming device and the second image forming device form a toner image. The first bias voltage supply device applies a bias voltage to a first component of the first image forming device. The second bias voltage supply device applies a bias voltage to a second component of each of the plurality of second image forming devices.