Cleaning Brush Bristle Impact Force via Dual Contact Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices in image forming apparatuses experience a reduction in toner removal performance due to bristles of the cleaning brush contacting a downstream contact member after being restored from their deformed states resulting from contact with an upstream contact member.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a cleaning brush that rotates and contacts a surface with toner, a first contact member that contacts the bristles without changing its position relative to the brush, and a second contact member positioned downstream from the first contact member, which contacts the bristles on an extension line from the cleaning brush's axial center and base, enhancing toner removal by increasing the impact force on the bristles as they restore from their flexed states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the bristles of the cleaning brush contact the downstream contact member after being restored from their deformed states, then the structure is simple, but the toner removal performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are divided into multiple segments (first contact member and second contact member) arranged at different positions along the rotation direction of the cleaning brush. This segmentation allows the bristles to contact each segment sequentially, maintaining continuous contact and improving toner removal performance without significantly increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The contact members are positioned not only in the radial direction but also distributed along the rotation direction of the cleaning brush, creating a two-dimensional contact arrangement. This dimensional extension ensures that bristles remain in contact with at least one contact member throughout their rotation, preventing toner accumulation while maintaining a relatively simple structure
2Force
If the bristles are restored from their deformed states before contacting the downstream contact member, then the impact force is reduced, but the device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are positioned to utilize the dynamic restoration process of the bristles. The first contact member deforms the bristles, and as the cleaning brush rotates, the bristles naturally restore to their original shape while contacting the second downstream contact member, generating impact force without requiring additional active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The first contact member preliminarily deforms the bristles before they reach the second contact member. This preliminary deformation ensures that when the bristles contact the second contact member during their restoration phase, sufficient impact force is generated to effectively remove toner, optimizing the cleaning action through pre-positioning rather than active control
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 described configuration effectively suppresses the reduction in toner removal performance by increasing the impact force on the bristles, preventing toner accumulation and reducing the likelihood of soiling on recording media.
Implementation Method 1
the bristles of the cleaning brush contact a downstream contact member on an extension line extended from a line between an axial center of the cleaning brush and a base of the bristles that move away from the first contact member
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device includes: a cleaning brush that has bristles that rotate and contact a surface, to which toner has adhered, of a cleaning member to be cleaned, the cleaning brush removing the toner adhered to the surface of the cleaning member; a first contact member that contacts the bristles without a position of the first contact member relative to a position of the cleaning brush being changed; and a second contact member that contacts the bristles at a location downstream from the first contact member in a direction of rotation of the cleaning brush and without a position of the second contact member relative to the position of the cleaning brush being changed, and that is disposed on an extension line extended from a line between an axial center of the cleaning brush and a base of the bristles that move away from the first contact member.