Cleaning Blade Material Selection via Stress-Elongation Integral
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses fail to accurately evaluate the suitability of cleaning blade materials, leading to a shorter-than-predicted life due to nonuniform stress distribution and excessive deformation, resulting in abnormal wear and reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus selects a cleaning blade material based on the definite integral of tensile stress with respect to elongation percentage, ensuring the integral value is within a predetermined upper limit, which correlates with actual stress distribution and deformation, thereby reducing wear and extending blade life. The contact angle of the cleaning blade is set between 5° and 15° to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a material with low elongation percentage is selected for the cleaning blade, then the deformation of the tip section is reduced, but the cleaning efficiency and adaptability to the image carrying member surface may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for material selection from conventional single-point stress measures (100% modulus, 300% modulus) to the definite integral of stress-elongation curve. This parameter transformation provides a more comprehensive evaluation of material performance under the actual nonuniform stress distribution experienced by the cleaning blade, enabling selection of materials that optimize both deformation control and cleaning efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional stress-based material selection is used, then the material selection process is simple, but the blade life is shorter than predicted due to inaccurate evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical engineering approach of using single-point stress measures with a more sophisticated evaluation method based on the definite integral of the stress-elongation curve. This substitution allows for accurate prediction of blade life by accounting for the actual nonuniform stress distribution, while still maintaining a systematic and reproducible material selection process.
3Strength
If the cleaning blade material is optimized for low deformation, then the wear resistance improves, but the stress distribution uniformity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
By transforming the material evaluation parameter from single-point stress measures to the definite integral of stress-elongation, the patent enables selection of materials that simultaneously optimize wear resistance and stress distribution uniformity. The integral value captures the cumulative effect of stress across the entire elongation range, providing a more accurate prediction of both wear performance and stress distribution characteristics.
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 approach results in a longer-lasting cleaning blade with reduced deformation and wear, maintaining high-quality image formation by accurately assessing material suitability and optimizing the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
the definite integral of a tensile stress with respect to an elongation percentage on an interval between the elongation percentage of zero and the elongation percentage at which the stress is a predetermined value is a predetermined upper limit value or less
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member which carries an image composed of a developer, a lubricant application device which applies a lubricant onto the image carrying member, and a cleaning blade which abuts against the image carrying member to scrape the developer. The cleaning blade is formed of a material whose tensile stress-elongation test shows that the definite integral of a tensile stress with respect to an elongation percentage on an interval between the elongation percentage of zero and the elongation percentage at which the stress is a predetermined value is a predetermined upper limit value or less.