Cleaning Blade Coating to Reduce Torque and Tip Turn-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning blades used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experience increased torque due to friction with the image bearer, leading to potential rotation failure, wear, and incomplete cleaning, especially during continuous printing of full solid images.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning blade with a covering layer having an average luminance histogram of 15,000 to 25,000 at 100 µm inward from the tip ridge, containing fine particles and a binding component, which enhances lubricity and prevents turning-up, thereby reducing torque and maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning blade is used to remove residual toner from an image bearer, then cleaning performance is improved, but friction between the blade and image bearer increases torque leading to potential rotation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by coating the cleaning blade with a lubricant containing fluorine compounds (such as vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, or hexafluoropropylene). This coating changes the surface properties of the blade, reducing the coefficient of friction between the blade and image bearer, thereby decreasing the torque required for rotation while maintaining effective cleaning contact
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant coating acts as an intermediary substance between the cleaning blade and the image bearer. This intermediate layer reduces direct friction and contact stress, allowing the blade to slide smoothly over the image bearer surface during cleaning operations, thus preventing torque increase and rotation failure
2Reliability
If the cleaning blade contacts the image bearer surface to clean it, then toner removal is achieved, but the contact portion wears and turns up causing incomplete cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the blade surface by applying a lubricant coating containing fluorine compounds. This coating changes the surface energy and friction characteristics, reducing wear on the contact portion during cleaning operations, thereby extending blade service life while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant coating serves as a protective intermediary layer between the blade contact portion and the image bearer surface. This intermediate layer absorbs contact stress and prevents direct abrasive wear, preventing the contact portion from wearing and turning up, thus extending the operational life of the cleaning blade
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 prevents torque increase and maintains cleaning performance even during high-density printing, ensuring stable operation and complete residue removal without blade wear.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade coated with a lubricant containing a fluorine compound has been used for the purpose of reducing a force due to friction against an image bearer
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning blade includes: a blade substrate including an elastic member having a tip portion to contact with a surface of an object to clean the object; a blade support supporting the blade substrate; and a covering layer on the tip portion of the elastic member, and the covering layer has an average value of luminance histogram of 15,000 or more and 25,000 or less at a point 100 µm inward from a tip ridge of the tip portion of the elastic member.