Cleaning Apparatus Support Member for Transfer Belt Toner Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face decreased cleaning performance due to relative positional variations among the photosensitive drum, cleaning blade, and compression coil spring, leading to inconsistent toner removal on the intermediate transfer belt.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus with an endless belt, a rotary member, a bearing for rotational support, a cleaning unit with a pivotably supported cleaning blade, and an urging member, all integrated with a support member having distinct portions for rotational, pivotal, and urging support, which stabilizes the cleaning unit's position and force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for supporting the cleaning blade and compression spring, then assembly and maintenance become easier, but relative positional variations occur leading to decreased cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cleaning blade holder and compression spring support into a single integrated support member. This support member includes a blade holder portion that holds the cleaning blade and a spring support portion that supports the compression spring, eliminating relative positional variations between separate components while maintaining assembly simplicity.
2Ease of repair
If multiple separate parts are used for the support structure, then adjustment and replacement become easier, but the structure becomes more complex and positional stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member integrates multiple functions into a single component structure. It includes a blade holder portion for holding the cleaning blade, a spring support portion for supporting the compression spring, and a pressing portion that transmits pressing force, all in one integrated piece that reduces complexity while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
While integrated, the support member is designed with distinct functional portions (blade holder portion, spring support portion, pressing portion) that can be conceptually segmented for understanding and maintenance purposes, allowing targeted replacement or adjustment of specific functional areas.
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 enhances the cleaning performance by reducing positional variations and maintaining consistent pressing force, ensuring effective removal of toner from the intermediate transfer belt, thereby improving the overall cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a compression coil spring urging the cleaning blade toward the photosensitive drum
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning blade coming into contact with the photosensitive drum and cleaning the toner on the photosensitive drum
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus includes an endless belt configured to bear a toner image, a rotary member configured to be wound around by the belt, and configured to rotate integrally with the belt, a bearing configured to rotatably support the rotary member, a cleaning unit configured to come into contact with a surface of the belt and collect an adhering matter adhered onto the surface, an urging member configured to urge the cleaning unit toward the surface of the belt, and a support member configured from a single member and including a first supporting portion, a second supporting portion, and a third supporting portion. The first supporting portion rotatably supports the belt via the bearing and the rotary member. The second supporting portion pivotably supports the cleaning unit. The third supporting portion supports the urging member.