Developer Carrying Member Speed Control for Drum Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses using electrophotographic technology face issues with abnormal noise due to increased friction coefficient of the photosensitive drum, leading to stick-slip and vibration, which is not effectively addressed without increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a control unit that manages the rotation speed of the image bearing member and developer carrying member to switch between contact and separated states, maintaining a higher speed during developer supply to reduce friction and prevent stick-slip, thereby minimizing abnormal noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a coating layer containing lubricant particles is provided on the collection sheet member to decrease the friction coefficient, then abnormal noise is suppressed, but the production cost increases due to material cost and additional work
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lubricant function from the collection sheet member by providing the lubricant particles on the cleaning member instead. This separates the noise reduction function from the collection function, allowing the collection sheet to be simpler and cheaper while still achieving the desired friction reduction effect through the lubricant-containing cleaning member
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning member acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers lubricant particles to the photosensitive drum surface. Instead of incorporating lubricant directly into the collection sheet, the cleaning member serves as a mediator that transfers the lubricating effect to the appropriate location, reducing noise without complicating the collection sheet structure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the friction coefficient of the photosensitive drum surface is maintained low throughout its life, then abnormal noise is suppressed, but this requires continuous lubricant supply which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant particles are preliminarily provided on the cleaning member before the cleaning operation begins. This preliminary placement of lubricant ensures that the photosensitive drum surface receives the necessary lubrication at the start of each cleaning cycle, maintaining low friction and suppressing abnormal noise without requiring complex continuous supply mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning member is designed to carry and supply its own lubricant particles during the cleaning operation. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain low friction coefficients automatically through the inherent design of the cleaning member, without requiring external lubricant supply systems or additional control mechanisms
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 approach effectively reduces abnormal noise caused by vibration, enhancing operational silence without increasing the cost of the image forming apparatus by controlling the rotation speeds and contact states of the image bearing and developer carrying members.
Implementation Method 1
the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the photosensitive drum increases. If the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the photosensitive drum increases, the cleaning member easily causes stick-slip
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a developer carrying member configured to contact with the image bearing member and to be separated from the image bearing member; a control unit for controlling the image bearing member and the developer carrying member; and a contact member disposed in contact with the image bearing member. The control unit is configured to sequentially execute: (1) rotating the image bearing member at a first speed in a separated state; (2) switching the image bearing member and the developer carrying member from the separated state to a contact state in a state in which the image bearing member rotates at the first speed; and (3) rotating the image bearing member by decreasing a rotation speed of the image bearing member from the first speed to a second speed smaller than the first speed in the contact state.