Cleaning Device Contact Member Protrusion for Stable Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning devices for image carriers face issues with maintaining stable contact pressure and preventing adhesive strayage, leading to inadequate removal of residual toner and potential surface scratches or uneven cleaning due to varying frictional resistance.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a contact member bonded to a metallic plate spring supporting member, where the contact member protrudes from the end and the supporting member is positioned upstream of the contact point, preventing adhesive strayage and ensuring consistent contact pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the contact member is pressed against the image carrier to remove residual toner, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the contact member deforms and curls up due to frictional force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcontact member deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning member is divided into a supporting member (metallic plate spring) and a contact member (elastic material), allowing the supporting member to bear the pressing force while the contact member performs cleaning without direct contact with the image carrier surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting member acts as an intermediary between the pressing mechanism and the contact member, transmitting force while preventing direct friction between the contact member and image carrier that causes deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If adhesive is applied to bond the contact member to the supporting member, then bonding strength is improved, but adhesive strayage occurs on the contact member end surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidadhesive strayage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied only to the end surface of the supporting member rather than the contact member, creating a localized bonding area that prevents adhesive from straying onto the contact member's end surface while maintaining sufficient bonding strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying adhesive to the contact member end surface, the adhesive is applied to the supporting member end surface, inverting the conventional approach to prevent adhesive strayage while maintaining bonding integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the contact member is made to protrude from the supporting member end, then contact pressure stability is improved, but adhesive strayage is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact pressure stabilityVSAvoidadhesive strayage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact member protrudes in the longitudinal dimension from the supporting member end, creating a dimensional separation that allows stable contact pressure while preventing adhesive from straying onto the contact member's end surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration maintains stable contact pressure and prevents deformation of the contact member, ensuring effective removal of residual toner over time without surface scratches or density unevenness.

Implementation Method 1

a supporting member formed with a metallic plate spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the contact member being bonded to the supporting member with an adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

the contact member is moved in the opposite direction of the moving direction of the image carrier, and is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier, to remove residual matter on the surface of the image carrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9915910B2Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A cleaning device includes a cleaning member configured to move in the opposite direction from a moving direction of an image carrier and come into contact with a surface of the image carrier to remove residual matter from the surface of the image carrier, wherein the cleaning member includes a supporting member formed with a metallic plate spring and a contact member formed with an elastic material and bonded to an end of the supporting member, an edge portion at an end of the contact member being brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier, the end of the contact member protrudes from the end of the supporting member, and the end of the supporting member is located on an upstream side of a normal line of the image carrier at the contact position of the edge portion in the moving direction of the image carrier.