Drive Control Unit Temporarily Stops Image Supporting Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively removing deteriorated toner during continuous printing operations, leading to issues such as variance in image density, low reproducibility, and blurred images due to toner accumulation and frictional heat, which complicates cleaning.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a drive control unit that temporarily stops the image supporting member before toner discharge, allowing for the removal of foreign objects between the supporting and removing members, ensuring efficient toner scraping off and preventing cleaning problems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning blade continuously scrapes toner during continuous printing operation, then toner removal is maintained, but foreign objects accumulate at the abutting portion between the image supporting member and removing member
Solution Approach 1:
The drive control unit temporarily stops the drive unit before discharging deteriorated toner, which is a preliminary action to prevent foreign object accumulation. By stopping before the discharge event, the system prepares the cleaning interface to avoid foreign objects adhering to the abutting portion, thereby maintaining effective toner removal without contamination
2Loss of substance
If toner is discharged during continuous printing operation, then deteriorated toner is removed, but foreign objects accumulate at the abutting portion making subsequent scraping ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary stop of the drive unit before discharging deteriorated toner. This preliminary action ensures that the abutting portion between the image supporting member and removing member is free from foreign objects that would otherwise accumulate during the discharge process, maintaining reliable cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The drive control unit implements periodic stopping during continuous printing operations, temporarily halting the drive unit at intervals before toner discharge events. This periodic action prevents continuous foreign object accumulation while still maintaining the continuous printing capability, balancing productivity with cleaning effectiveness
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 solution enables effective removal of deteriorated toner during continuous printing, maintaining image quality and simplifying the cleaning process by preventing toner accumulation and frictional heat-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
a removing member disposed to abut against the image supporting member for removing developer
Implementation Method 2
frictional heat is generated, and toner may be crashed or agglomerated due to the frictional heat
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided with a developing unit for attaching developer to a static latent image formed through charging and exposing to form a developer image; an image supporting member for supporting the developer image formed with the developing unit; a removing member disposed to abut against the image supporting member for removing developer; a drive unit for driving the image supporting member; a drive control unit for controlling the drive unit; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to a medium. It is configured such that the drive control unit controls the drive unit to temporarily stop before developer is discharged.