Counter-Directional Cleaning Unit for Resist Roller Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning devices for resist rollers in image forming apparatuses fail to effectively remove foreign matter such as toner and ink, leading to image contamination, as the foreign matter accumulates at the contact start point between the roller and the cleaning web, and remains on the roller surface after cleaning, causing contamination in subsequent printing operations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a unit moving mechanism that displaces the cleaning unit in a counter direction opposite to the rotational direction of the resist roller, allowing the cleaning web to scrape accumulated foreign matter effectively and separate from the roller, thereby reducing residual contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning web is brought into contact with the resist roller while rotating the resist roller, then the cleaning operation can be performed, but the foreign matter is blocked at the contact start point and accumulated on the surface of the resist roller, resulting in image contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by moving the cleaning unit in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the resist roller. Instead of the cleaning unit moving in the same direction as the roller rotation, it moves counter to it, which changes the relative motion between the cleaning web and the roller surface. This reversal prevents foreign matter from accumulating at the contact start point and eliminates the image contamination problem while maintaining effective cleaning.
2Productivity
If the pressure roller is separated away from the resist roller after the cleaning operation, then the cleaning process can be completed, but the accumulated foreign matter remains on the surface of the resist roller
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the cleaning unit in the counter direction opposite to the roller's rotational direction during separation, the cleaning web continues to scrape the roller surface effectively. This counter-directional movement ensures that foreign matter is removed even as the pressure roller separates from the resist roller, preventing residual contamination while completing the cleaning cycle efficiently.
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 ensures that the cleaning web efficiently removes foreign matter from the resist roller, minimizing image contamination by scraping accumulated material in the counter direction, ensuring cleaner rollers and improved printing quality.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning device removes the sheet powder and the others adhered to the resist roller by bringing a cleaning web into pressure-contact with the rotating resist roller
Implementation Method 2
foreign matter such as toner and ink on the sheet, in addition to the sheet powder, may adhere to the outer circumference face of the resist roller
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device includes a cleaning unit and a unit moving mechanism. The cleaning unit brings a web into contact with a conveyance member rotating around an axis and removes foreign matter adhered to the conveyance member. The unit moving mechanism displaces the cleaning unit to a cleaning position where the web is brought into contact with the conveyance member and to a separation position where the web is separated away from the conveyance member. When the unit moving mechanism displaces the cleaning unit from the cleaning position to the separation position, the cleaning unit is displaced in a counter direction opposite to a rotational direction of the conveyance member on a contact face between the conveyance member and the web.