Laminated Cleaning Blade Edge Hardness for Friction Heat Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning blades in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses fail to effectively prevent filming on the image carrier due to deformation caused by friction heat, leading to image density unevenness and cleaning failures when using low temperature fixing toners.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning blade with a Martens hardness of 1.0 N/mm2 or more at the leading-edge ridge line portion, formed from a laminated structure with a high hardness edge layer and a backup layer, and optionally impregnated with ultraviolet ray hardening resin to reduce deformation and enhance cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a low hardness polyurethane rubber blade member is used, then good cleaning performance is achieved, but the blade member deforms due to friction heat causing filming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a high hardness rubber material (edge layer) with a low hardness rubber material (backup layer) to create a laminated blade member structure. The edge layer maintains shape stability under friction heat while the backup layer provides cleaning compliance, resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct layers with different properties: the edge layer has high hardness for shape stability at the critical contact region, while the backup layer has low hardness for overall cleaning performance. This local differentiation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a high hardness rubber material is used for the edge layer, then shape stability is improved, but cleaning compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The laminated composite structure allows the high hardness edge layer to provide shape stability while the low hardness backup layer provides cleaning compliance. The combination enables both properties to coexist without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade member is segmented into two functional layers: the edge layer for shape stability and the backup layer for cleaning compliance. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function.
3Stress or pressure
If the blade member deforms due to friction heat, then contact pressure is reduced, but filming occurs on the image carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The high hardness edge layer resists deformation under friction heat, maintaining consistent contact pressure on the image carrier. This prevents the toner from penetrating and gumming that would cause filming, while the overall blade structure remains compliant for effective 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 effectively suppresses filming and cleaning failures by maintaining the edge portion's shape and contact pressure, ensuring consistent image quality and extended operational life.
Implementation Method 1
impregnated with ultraviolet ray hardening resin
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning blade includes a blade member formed of a strip-shaped rubber material and having a leading-edge ridge line portion to contact a moving surface of a cleaning target member and remove adhering matter from the surface of the cleaning target member. The blade member has a Martens hardness of 1.0 N/mm2 or more in a vicinity of the leading-edge ridge line portion measured from an opposing surface of the blade member, the opposing surface including the leading-edge ridge line portion and opposing the cleaning target member, or measured from a leading-edge surface of the blade member, the leading-edge surface including the leading-edge ridge line portion and disposed adjacent to the opposing surface of the blade member.