Cleaning Device Scraping Member Friction Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for image holding bodies face increased frictional forces due to toner accumulation, which hinders efficient toner removal and can lead to reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a scraping member that contacts the image holding body's outer surface as it moves upward, featuring a trapping member to catch falling toner and raising members that elevate trapped toner back to the scraping member's distal end, reducing frictional force buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a portion of the toner that is about to fall from the distal end of the scraping member is dammed up to form a toner accumulation, then the frictional force that is generated between the scraping member and the outer circumferential surface of the image holding body increases, but the toner of the toner accumulation may aggregate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the aggregated toner from the scraping member by introducing a cleaning member that rotates in the axial direction and contacts the distal end of the scraping member. This rotating cleaning member removes the aggregated toner accumulation, preventing it from hindering the scraping function while maintaining the frictional force increase that suppresses toner fall-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning member utilizes the rotational motion of the image holding body itself to generate cleaning action. As the image holding body rotates, it brings fresh surfaces into contact with the cleaning member, which continuously removes aggregated toner without requiring external cleaning mechanisms or additional energy input beyond the existing rotational motion.
2Productivity
If the scraping member scrapes the residual toner on the outer circumferential surface by a distal end of the scraping member being in contact with, in the outer circumferential surface, a region in which image holding body moves upward from below, then the toner that has been scraped by the scraping member falls downward from the distal end of the scraping member, but the frictional force that is generated between the scraping member and the outer circumferential surface of the image holding body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member acts as an intermediary between the scraping member and the aggregated toner. It mediates the interaction by continuously removing the toner accumulation that would otherwise increase friction, allowing the scraping member to maintain effective toner removal while the cleaning member handles the friction management through its rotational cleaning action.
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 suppresses the increase in frictional force between the scraping member and the image holding body, ensuring efficient toner removal and maintaining image quality by preventing toner aggregation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one raising member that raises up toner trapped in the trapping member, toward the distal end of the scraping member
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device, for cleaning an image holding body that rotates while holding a toner image on an outer circumferential surface of the image holding body, includes: a scraping member that scrapes toner sticking to the outer circumferential surface of the image holding body in a rotating state by a distal end of the scraping member being in contact with, in the outer circumferential surface, in a region in which the image holding body moves upward from below; a trapping member in which toner scraped from the outer circumferential surface to fall is trapped; and at least one raising member that raises up toner trapped in the trapping member, toward the distal end of the scraping member.