Endless Belt Surface Hardness for Cleaning Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the reliability of cleaning performance over time due to surface wear of the endless belt, leading to deteriorated mirror surface smoothness and reduced cleaning effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an endless belt featuring a surface layer with a mirror surface smoothness of 40 to 200 and a pensile hardness of 2H to 7H, ensuring consistent cleaning performance by combining a thin surface layer with a durable base layer, and using a urethane rubber cleaning blade for effective toner removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endless belt uses a main layer formed of an elastic resin, then the belt has good flexibility and cleaning performance, but the surface wears with time in use and mirror surface smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The endless belt is constructed as a composite structure with a base layer made of elastic resin and a surface layer made of a material with high mirror surface smoothness and wear resistance. This composite structure combines the flexibility and cleaning performance of the elastic resin with the surface durability and smoothness of the surface layer material, resolving the contradiction between initial cleaning performance and long-term surface durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material properties to different parts of the endless belt: the base layer provides flexibility and elastic recovery, while the surface layer provides high mirror surface smoothness and wear resistance. This local differentiation of material qualities allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, maintaining cleaning performance reliability over extended service life.
2Productivity
If the cleaning blade abuts against the endless belt for cleaning, then toner is removed effectively, but the surface of the endless belt wears and mirror surface smoothness deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface properties of the endless belt by applying a surface layer with specifically controlled mirror surface smoothness and hardness parameters. This surface layer is designed to withstand the mechanical action of the cleaning blade while maintaining smoothness, thereby preserving cleaning effectiveness without suffering from the harmful effect of surface wear and smoothness deterioration.
3Reliability
If the endless belt surface is made softer for better cleaning contact, then cleaning performance is improved, but surface wear increases and mirror surface smoothness deteriorates faster
Solution Approach 1:
The endless belt employs a composite structure where the base layer maintains appropriate softness for cleaning contact, while the surface layer provides enhanced wear resistance and mirror surface smoothness. This composite material approach allows the belt to exhibit both good cleaning performance and high surface durability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality differentiation by making the surface layer harder and more wear-resistant than the base layer, while maintaining overall belt flexibility. The surface layer's enhanced hardness and wear resistance allow it to withstand cleaning blade contact without excessive wear, preserving mirror surface smoothness while maintaining effective cleaning contact.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a belt including an abutting surface and a cleaning member disposed to abut against the abutting surface for removing a foreign substance on the abutting surface. The abutting surface has a mirror surface smoothness of 40 to 200, and a pensile hardness of 2H to 7H.