Developing Cartridge Sheet Cleaning for Toner Overflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with paper dust and toner overflowing from storage, leading to soiling and adherence to components, resulting in unsatisfactory image output.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a photosensitive member unit with a sheet to remove deposited matter from the photosensitive drum and a developing unit with a storage portion to collect the removed matter, preventing overflow and maintaining component cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the photosensitive member unit life span is increased, then the storage capacity for paper dust and toner is exceeded, but paper dust and toner overflow out of the storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cleaning function into two segments: a sheet member that removes deposited matter from the photosensitive drum, and a storage portion that collects the removed matter. This segmentation prevents overflow by providing a dedicated collection area, resolving the contradiction between extended usage and harmful overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet member acts as an intermediary between the photosensitive drum and the storage portion. It transfers deposited matter from the drum surface to the storage portion, preventing direct contact and overflow onto adjacent components, thus resolving the harmful overflow effect.
2Quantity of substance
If paper dust and toner overflow out of the storage, then the storage capacity is exceeded, but they soil the adjacencies and adhere to components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the removed matter (paper dust and toner) from the potential overflow path by directing it into a dedicated storage portion. This extraction prevents the harmful effects of soiling and adhesion to adjacent components while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful overflow of paper dust and toner into a beneficial contained storage system. The sheet member guides the removed matter into the storage portion, transforming a harmful overflow problem into a controlled collection benefit that maintains component cleanliness.
3Reliability
If a sheet member is added to remove deposited matter, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a thin sheet member to perform the cleaning function. This thin film approach provides effective cleaning action while minimizing the addition of complex structural elements, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
Prevents paper dust and toner from overflowing, ensuring consistent image quality by containing residues within the storage portions, thereby maintaining the performance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the photosensitive drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum at an end portion of the photosensitive drum
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum; a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the drum at an end portion of the drum with respect to a rotational axis direction of the member; and a developing unit detachably mounted to the member unit, the developing unit including a developing roller configured to supply toner to the drum, and a storage portion configured to store the deposited matter removed from the surface of the drum by the sheet.