Development Device Blade Rubber Support Sheet Metal Seal Pressure Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In development devices, it is challenging to optimize the balance between contact pressure between the blade rubber section and the development roller and seal pressure of the side edge seals, leading to potential toner leakage due to excessive seal pressure at the nip portion.
Innovation Solution
The development device design includes a support sheet metal with varying widths and edge positions to ensure proper compression of side edge seals, allowing for a balanced contact pressure and seal pressure, with features like slits and attachment sheet metals to facilitate even contact and prevent toner leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the support sheet metal has uniform width in the axial direction, then the manufacturing is simple, but the seal pressure becomes excessive at the nip portion causing toner leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet metal is designed with varying width in the axial direction, where the first end portion has a smaller width than the center portion. This local variation in geometry allows the first side edge seal to be positioned closer to the nip portion, creating appropriate seal pressure locally without affecting other areas, thus preventing toner leakage while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The support sheet metal features asymmetric width distribution along the axial direction, with the first end portion being narrower than the center portion. This asymmetric design enables differential positioning of side edge seals relative to the nip portion, optimizing seal pressure distribution and preventing toner leakage at the critical nip area
2Reliability
If the seal pressure of side edge seals is optimized at the distal end portion, then the sealing is adequate there, but the seal pressure becomes too high at the nip portion
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet metal is designed with local width variation, making the first end portion narrower than the center portion. This allows the first side edge seal to be positioned closer to the nip portion, creating appropriate local seal pressure at the nip area while maintaining adequate sealing at the distal end portion through the broader center section
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the pressure distribution problem by introducing a spatial dimension - varying the width of the support sheet metal along the axial direction. This dimensional change enables different seal pressures at different axial positions, optimizing both nip portion sealing and distal end sealing simultaneously
3Productivity
If the blade rubber section contacts the development roller with high pressure, then toner transfer is efficient, but the side edge seals cannot maintain adequate seal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet metal features local width variation with the first end portion being narrower, which positions the first side edge seal closer to the nip portion. This local geometric modification ensures that seal pressure is maintained independently of the blade rubber contact pressure, allowing high toner transfer efficiency without compromising sealing reliability
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 design effectively prevents toner leakage by maintaining a balanced contact pressure and seal pressure, ensuring the blade rubber section maintains adequate contact with the development roller without excessive pressure, thereby ensuring efficient toner handling.
Implementation Method 1
each of the side edge seals is compressed between the support sheet metal and the development roller in a thickness direction of the side edge seals
Implementation Method 2
A repulsive force from each compressed side edge seal acts on the support sheet metal and the development roller
Implementation Method 3
contact pressure acting between the blade rubber section and the development roller
Data Source
AI summary
A development device includes a layer thickness regulating blade including a support sheet metal, a blade rubber section, and a side edge seal, the support sheet metal having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, in an axial direction of a development roller. In a width direction of the support sheet metal, the first end portion of the support sheet metal in the axial direction is shorter than the center portion of the support sheet metal in the axial direction. In the width direction, a distal-end edge of the first end portion of the support sheet metal is closer to a base end portion of the support sheet metal than a distal-end edge of the blade rubber section.