Cleaning Roller Paper Powder Absorption Shaft
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently collecting paper dust and residual toner, leading to disturbances in printing operations and increased apparatus size due to separate mechanisms for each development unit and cleaning roller.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a configuration where the most upstream cleaning roller has a paper powder absorption shaft to attract and absorb paper powder, while subsequent rollers focus on collecting toner without absorption shafts, allowing for reduced apparatus size and improved cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a paper powder collection mechanism is provided for each development unit in addition to the cleaning roller, then paper dust collection capability is improved, but the size of the overall image forming apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the cleaning roller for removing toner and the paper powder collection mechanism. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids increasing apparatus size while maintaining effective paper dust collection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cleaning roller and paper powder collection mechanism into a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate mechanisms at each development unit, thereby reducing overall apparatus size while preserving paper dust collection effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning rollers are made larger to improve cleaning capability, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning roller is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - cleaning the photosensitive drum and collecting paper powder. This multi-functionality allows effective cleaning without requiring larger or additional cleaning rollers, thus avoiding apparatus size increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the cleaning roller, specifically applying positive voltage during paper powder collection mode. This parameter change enables the same cleaning roller to effectively collect paper powder without requiring physical enlargement of the roller.
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 effectively collects paper powder and toner, minimizing residual toner on photosensitive drums, reducing apparatus size, and enhancing cleaning capabilities without increasing the size of the cleaning rollers.
Implementation Method 1
a paper powder absorption shaft which attracts and absorbs paper powder from the cleaning roller
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members which are aligned along a conveying direction of a transfer medium and on each of which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; developing units which supply a plurality of colors of developing agent to the photosensitive members, respectively; and cleaning rollers which slidably contact the photosensitive members to collect at least one of paper powder and developing agent adhering to surfaces of the photosensitive members, respectively. A most upstream cleaning roller which slidably contacts a most upstream photosensitive member in the conveying direction is provided with a paper powder absorption shaft which attracts and absorbs paper powder from the cleaning roller. A most downstream cleaning roller which slidably contacts a most downstream photosensitive member in the conveying direction is not provided with the paper powder absorption shaft.