Cleaning Blade Angle Optimization for Liquid Developer Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming devices using liquid developers, there is a challenge in removing residual toner particles effectively after the operation is stopped, leading to agglomeration and deposition on device surfaces due to high toner concentration and viscosity, and existing solutions are complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a cleaning roller and blade configuration where the cleaning blade is positioned at specific angles to efficiently scrape off the liquid developer, reducing toner concentration and viscosity, and a flushing mechanism to prevent agglomeration and deposition, utilizing a simple constitution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the liquid developer is left on the cleaning roller and blade after operation, then the device structure remains simple, but toner particles aggregate and deposit on member surfaces due to carrier liquid vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blade is positioned to perform preliminary scraping of liquid developer from the cleaning roller before the carrier liquid can vaporize and cause toner aggregation. This timely removal action prevents the harmful effect without requiring complex additional cleaning mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the cleaning blade scrapes off liquid developer with high toner concentration, then the cleaning function is improved, but the liquid developer viscosity increases making it harder to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blade performs preliminary scraping at a position where the liquid developer has not yet accumulated excessive viscosity. By removing the liquid developer before it dries or becomes too thick, the system maintains effective cleaning without being hindered by increased viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning blade is designed with specific geometric parameters (width, thickness, inclination angle) that optimize its scraping capability. The blade's dimensions and angle are carefully controlled to effectively remove liquid developer while accommodating variations in viscosity caused by toner concentration.
3Reliability
If a pump and nozzle system is used to blow liquid developer toward the blade, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex pump and nozzle system from the cleaning mechanism. Instead of using a blowing system, the cleaning blade directly scrapes the liquid developer from the cleaning roller, achieving effective cleaning with a simple mechanical structure that reduces device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning blade system operates without requiring external pumping or blowing mechanisms. The liquid developer is removed through the blade's direct contact and scraping action, allowing the system to clean itself without additional complex components.
4Productivity
If the cleaning blade is positioned at specific angles, then the liquid developer removal efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blade's geometric parameters (width, thickness, inclination angle) are optimized to achieve effective liquid developer removal. By carefully selecting these parameters within reasonable ranges, the system improves productivity while maintaining manufacturability and avoiding excessive precision requirements.
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 effectively removes liquid developer from the cleaning roller and prevents toner particles from remaining on the cleaning blade, maintaining device performance and image quality while simplifying the device structure and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade for scraping off the liquid developer on the cleaning roller in contact with the cleaning roller
Implementation Method 2
a developer container storing the liquid developer and capable of supplying the stored liquid developer to the developer carrying member
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container is capable of supplying a liquid developer to a portion, of a surface of a cleaning roller, between a cleaning position X and a contact position Y with respect to a rotational direction of the cleaning roller. A free end of a cleaning blade is positioned in a range of 65° or more and less than 95° as a positive angle of the rotational direction of the cleaning roller when a line passing through a center of the cleaning roller and an upper end portion of the cleaning roller with respect to a direction of gravitation is at 0° (reference line G). In this case, the cleaning blade is disposed so that an angle α between a line F perpendicular to a line E connecting the center of the cleaning roller and the free end of the cleaning blade, and the cleaning blade is in a range of 35° or more and less than 60° .