Polyurethane Cleaning Blade Edge Treatment for Abrasion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning blades in electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses suffer from short service life due to abrasion, necessitating improvements in abrasion resistance and elasticity to extend their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning blade with surface treatment layers containing isocyanate silane on a polyurethane rubber edge to reduce friction and enhance abrasion resistance, formed by impregnating the edge with a treatment liquid and drying it to achieve a specific modulus difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning blade is made from thermosetting polyurethane rubber to ensure abrasion resistance, then the service life is extended, but the elasticity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface treatment layer with different properties from the base material. The surface layer contains isocyanate silane and has a specific elastic indentation modulus that differs from the rubber portion, providing localized abrasion resistance at the contact surface while maintaining the overall elasticity of the cleaning blade through the softer rubber substrate.
2Reliability
If the elastic indentation modulus of the surface layer is increased to reduce friction, then the abrasion resistance is improved, but the contact pressure distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the elastic indentation modulus of the surface layer relative to the rubber portion. The specification that the difference in elastic indentation modulus between the surface layer and rubber portion is -0.01 MPa or less optimizes the balance between abrasion resistance and contact pressure distribution, ensuring uniform pressure while maintaining surface durability.
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 significantly reduces abrasion and extends the service life of the cleaning blade by minimizing edge wear and maintaining effective contact with the photoconductor member.
Implementation Method 1
surface treatment layers containing an isocyanate silane on a polyurethane rubber edge to reduce friction and enhance abrasion resistance, formed by impregnating the edge with a treatment liquid and drying it
Implementation Method 2
impregnating at least a region of the material that includes a part corresponding to an edge that is brought into contact with a photoconductor member with a treatment liquid containing an isocyanate silane
Implementation Method 3
drying the treatment liquid, whereby the surface treatment layers are formed
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning blade includes an elastic member having an edge that is brought into contact with a photoconductor member. The elastic member includes surface layers formed of a polyurethane rubber that contains an isocyanate silane and a rubber portion formed of a polyurethane rubber that does not contain an isocyanate silane. The surface layers include at least the edge. The value obtained by subtracting the elastic indentation modulus of the rubber portion from the elastic indentation modulus of a surface of the surface layers is −0.01 MPa or less.