Elastic Cleaning Blade with Backup Region for Toner Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning blades in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively removing residual toner due to degradation of following capability, fatigue, and chipping, leading to decreased cleaning efficiency and increased toner escape between the blade and the contact object.
Innovation Solution
The use of an elastic cleaning blade with a contact edge and a backup region of different material or property, where the converted Martens hardness is within the range of 0.9 to 2.9 N/mm2, and a thickness of the edge region not exceeding 0.50 mm, combined with a spring to maintain constant contact pressure, enhances the blade's ability to follow the contact object without fatigue and chipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning blade is used to remove residual toner, then cleaning capability is improved, but the blade experiences fatigue and chipping leading to degradation of following capability
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blade is designed with a multi-layer structure where the edge region has different material properties (lower hardness, higher elasticity) compared to the backup region. This local differentiation allows the edge to maintain following capability and resist chipping while the backup provides structural support, thereby resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade comprises composite construction with at least two different materials: an edge region material with specific elasticity and hardness properties for contact with the photoconductor, and a backup region material providing structural strength. This composite approach enables the blade to simultaneously achieve high cleaning capability and resistance to fatigue and chipping.
2Strength
If the edge region thickness is reduced to improve following capability, then the blade can better follow the contact object, but the blade becomes more susceptible to chipping and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
By making the edge region thickness smaller than or equal to 0.50 mm, the blade achieves excellent following capability to conform to the photoconductor surface. The multi-layer structure compensates for the reduced thickness by providing a robust backup region, thus preventing chipping and fatigue while maintaining the thin edge for better contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring component applies preliminary contact pressure to press the contact edge toward the contact object, ensuring the blade maintains optimal contact before actual cleaning operation begins. This preliminary action prevents excessive stress on the thin edge region during operation, reducing the risk of chipping and fatigue.
3Reliability
If the converted Martens hardness is increased to prevent chipping, then resistance to chipping improves, but the following capability and cleaning efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The edge region is designed with lower converted Martens hardness (0.9 to 2.9 N/mm²) to maintain elasticity and following capability for effective cleaning, while the backup region has higher hardness to prevent chipping. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different hardness requirements to different functional zones of the blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines a softer edge region material that provides excellent following capability and cleaning efficiency with a harder backup region material that prevents chipping. The combination allows the blade to simultaneously achieve high cleaning efficiency and resistance to chipping without compromise.
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 configuration improves the cleaning blade's ability to maintain effective contact and prevent toner escape, ensuring consistent cleaning performance and reducing the risk of fatigue and chipping, thereby enhancing the overall cleaning capability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic blade includes a contact edge to contact a contact object
Implementation Method 2
a spring to press the contact edge of the elastic blade toward the contact object
Data Source
AI summary
An elastic blade includes a contact edge to contact a contact object, an edge region including the contact edge and having a thickness smaller than or equal to 0.50 mm, and a backup region different in material or property from the edge region. The backup region is adjacent to the edge region on a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the contact edge extends. The elastic blade has a converted Martens hardness X (N/mm2) in a range of from 0.9 to 2.9. The converted Martens hardness is defined as:X=SASA+SB×hA+SBSA+SB×hBwhere SA represents a cross-sectional area (mm2) of the edge region, SB represents a cross-sectional area (mm2) of the backup region, hA represents a Martens hardness (N/mm2) of the edge region, hB represents a Martens hardness (N/mm2) of the backup region, and t represents the thickness (mm) of the edge region including the contact edge.