Composite Sealing Member for Image Forming Apparatus Leakage
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in preventing the leakage of image forming materials, such as toner or ink, between components like a doctor blade and a housing, which can lead to inefficiencies and material loss.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member utilizing non-woven material, specifically a combination of low modulus polymeric foam and a non-woven layer, is placed between the blade and the housing to seal gaps and prevent leakage, with adjustable force application and materials like urethane or fluorocarbon polymers used for effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a sealing member is placed between the blade and housing to prevent leakage, then material loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is constructed as a flexible composite structure consisting of a foam layer and a non-woven fabric layer. The flexible nature of this composite material allows it to conform to the gap between the blade and housing, effectively preventing toner leakage without requiring complex rigid sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member uses a composite material structure where a foam layer provides compressibility and conformability to the gap, while a non-woven fabric layer provides abrasion resistance and structural integrity. This composite approach enables effective sealing with a relatively simple single-component design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a foam-based sealing member is used to seal gaps, then adaptability to gap variations is improved, but manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam layer in the sealing member can be compressed to varying degrees, changing its thickness and density parameters. This allows the sealing member to adapt to different gap sizes between the blade and housing while maintaining effective sealing, without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible foam-based sealing member can deform and conform to irregular gap geometries, providing adaptability to variations in the space between the blade and housing. This flexibility compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures consistent sealing performance.
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 prevents the leakage of image forming materials, ensuring efficient operation and reducing material loss by sealing gaps between the blade and housing, while allowing for adjustable force application and durable, abrasion-resistant sealing.
Implementation Method 1
A sealing member utilizing non-woven material, specifically a combination of low modulus polymeric foam and a non-woven layer, is placed between the blade and the housing to seal gaps and prevent leakage, with adjustable force application
Implementation Method 2
The sealing member may be used in a cartridge placed within the image forming apparatus... durable, abrasion-resistant sealing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to seals which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The seals may prevent the leakage of image forming materials, e.g. as between a blade and an image forming apparatus housing.