Cleaning Blade Toner Supply for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using cleaning blades, excessive friction leads to abnormal vibration, improper cleaning, and blade abrasion, while existing methods for lubrication and paper powder removal are inefficient, particularly with recycled paper, which increases productivity losses and member wear.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a toner supply mechanism to maintain sliding properties between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade, using a toner barrier to prevent paper powder deposition, with the supplying operation triggered by both traveling distance and cumulative image formation number thresholds to optimize lubrication and cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the supplying operation is executed on the basis of the cumulative image formation number, then the lubrication can be maintained, but unnecessary toner consumption and productivity loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dual feedback mechanisms: cumulative image formation number feedback triggers supplying operations for lubrication maintenance, while traveling distance feedback ensures timely intervention before paper powder deposition occurs. This dual-feedback approach optimizes the balance between maintaining sliding properties and preventing productivity loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplying operation is executed in advance based on predicted thresholds (cumulative image formation number or traveling distance) before actual friction problems or paper powder deposition occur. This preliminary action prevents abnormal vibration and cleaning blade damage while minimizing unnecessary toner consumption.
2Reliability
If the supplying operation is executed frequently to maintain sliding property, then cleaning performance is improved, but toner consumption increases and member lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors both cumulative image formation number and traveling distance to determine when supplying operations are actually needed. This feedback-based approach executes supplying operations only when thresholds are reached, maintaining cleaning performance while minimizing unnecessary toner consumption and member wear.
3Device complexity
If paper powder is allowed to deposit before removal, then cleaning complexity is reduced, but improper cleaning and productivity loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system executes supplying operations in advance based on traveling distance thresholds before paper powder has time to deposit and cause improper cleaning. This preliminary action maintains the toner barrier that prevents paper powder deposition, thereby preventing cleaning problems before they occur while maintaining continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner supplied to the contact portion acts as an intermediary substance that forms a barrier between the image bearing member and paper powder. This toner barrier prevents direct contact and deposition of paper powder, eliminating the need for complex paper powder removal mechanisms while maintaining continuous image formation productivity.
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 maintains sliding properties, reduces improper cleaning, and prolongs the lifespan of components by efficiently managing lubrication and paper powder deposition, enhancing overall cleaning performance and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant (principally, an external additive of the toner) is supplied between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade, so that a sliding property therebetween can be maintained
Implementation Method 2
the toner is supplied to the contact portion between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade... and thus deposition itself of the paper powder is suppressed by forming a barrier with the toner in the neighborhood of the contact portion
Implementation Method 3
a frictional force between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade increases... when the frictional force is excessively large, abnormal vibration (shuddering) of the cleaning blade occurs
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a movable photosensitive member, a toner image forming portion, a movable intermediary transfer member, an image transfer portion, a cleaning blade, a job executing portion, a toner supply executing portion capable of executing a supplying operation for supplying the toner to a contact portion in a non-image-forming period, a storing portion configured to store a first integrated value obtained by integrating a value corresponding to a distance of movement of the intermediary transfer member and a second integrated value obtained by integrating a number of images formed in the job, and a controller configured to cause the toner supply executing portion to execute the supplying operation and configured to set the first and second integrated values at initial values when the first integrated value reaches a first threshold or when the second integrated value reaches a second threshold, during execution of the job.