Cleaning Web Rips Prevention in Fixing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing apparatuses using a heat fixing method often experience an offset phenomenon where toner adheres to the fixing roller, leading to residual toner being transferred to subsequent recording materials, causing undesirable stains in high-quality output products. Additionally, the formation of recessed portions in cleaning webs for advance end notice can result in web rips and malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus and fixing apparatus that incorporate a cleaning web with a recessed portion, a pressure member, a moving mechanism, a detection unit, and a displacement mechanism to adjust the relative position between the cleaning web and pressure member, ensuring the rear end of the recessed portion is not pressed towards the rotation member, thereby preventing web rips and maintaining effective toner removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a recessed portion is formed in the cleaning web for advance end notice, then the cleaning web can indicate its position, but the recessed portion may curl and cause web rips when pressed against the roller
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the recessed portion position using a sensor before the cleaning web reaches the nip region. Based on this advance detection, the pressure roller position is adjusted in advance to prevent the recessed portion from being pressed, thereby preventing web rips before they can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure roller position is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The displacement mechanism allows the pressure roller to change its position along the cleaning web width direction based on the detected recessed portion location, enabling the system to adapt and avoid pressing the vulnerable recessed area
2Productivity
If the cleaning web is pressed firmly against the rotation member, then toner removal effectiveness is improved, but the recessed portion may be folded and ripped
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects the recessed portion position in advance and adjusts the pressure roller position before the cleaning web with the recessed portion enters the nip region. This preliminary action ensures that even with firm pressing for effective toner removal, the recessed portion is avoided, preventing web rips while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor detects the position of the recessed portion and provides feedback to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to adjust the pressure roller position dynamically, creating a closed-loop control that balances effective toner removal with prevention of web damage
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 web rips and ensures continuous cleaning performance by adjusting the pressure on the cleaning web, preventing toner adhesion and ensuring high-quality output products by maintaining the integrity of the cleaning web during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning web configured to remove toner adhering to the rotation member
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus and a fixing apparatus include a cleaning web configured to remove toner adhering to a rotation member, the cleaning web including a recessed portion in at least a part thereof, and a displacement mechanism configured to situate a relative position between the rotation member and a pressure member configured to press the cleaning web toward the rotation member at a first position where the cleaning web is pressed toward the rotation member by the pressure member and at a second position where the rotation member and the pressure member are farther from each other than at the first position. The displacement mechanism situates the relative position at the second position based on an output of a detection position configured to detect a position of the recessed portion, so that a rear end of the recessed portion is not pressed toward the rotation member by the pressure member.