Cleaning Device Restriction Part Prevents Screw Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices face issues with the conveyance screw coming into contact with the cleaning brush or collection roller due to vibration during operation, which can lead to mechanical failures and inefficiencies in toner removal from photoreceptors.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device design that includes a brush-like rotation body for collecting toner, a collection member for holding toner, a blade member for scraping off toner, a conveyance member for conveying toner, and a restriction part positioned above the conveyance member to prevent contact between the conveyance member and the brush-like rotation body and collection member, ensuring proper alignment and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the conveyance screw is disposed below the cleaning brush and collection roller to convey toner, then the productivity of toner removal is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to contact between the conveyance screw and rotating components caused by vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner removal efficiencyVSAvoidoperational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into a first support portion that supports the collection roller and a second support portion that supports the conveyance screw. This segmentation allows independent positioning and vibration isolation of the conveyance screw, preventing contact with rotating components while maintaining toner conveyance functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second support portion acts as an intermediary structure between the conveyance screw and the housing. It provides mechanical support while isolating the conveyance screw from vibrations generated by the rotating cleaning brush and collection roller, thereby preventing harmful contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the conveyance screw is positioned close to the collection roller for compact design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability worsens due to increased risk of contact from vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcomponent alignment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the support structure into distinct first and second support portions, the patent achieves compact arrangement of components while maintaining reliable separation between the conveyance screw and rotating components. The segmented support allows close proximity positioning without direct contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11347175B2Cleaning device capable of preventing a conveyance member from contacting a brush-like rotation body and a collection member, drum unit, and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A cleaning device includes: a brush-like rotation body that collects residual toner adhering to a photoreceptor from the photoreceptor and holds the residual toner; a collection member that is disposed so as to be in contact with the brush-like rotation body and collects the residual toner held by the brush-like rotation body from the brush-like rotation body; a blade member that scrapes off the residual toner collected by the collection member from the collection member; a conveyance member that is disposed below the brush-like rotation body and the collection member and conveys the residual toner scraped off from the collection member by the blade member; and a restriction part that is disposed above the conveyance member and restricts contact of the conveyance member with the brush-like rotation body and the collection member.