Endless Cleaning Surface for Print Apparatus Residue Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic printing, contaminants such as print agent residue and dust accumulate on intermediate transfer members, reducing print quality and requiring frequent cleaning, which can disrupt the printing process and increase costs due to the need for consumable cleaning substances.
Innovation Solution
A print apparatus with a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface coated with thermoplastic print agent, heated to act as an adhesive, effectively removes contaminants from the intermediate transfer member without interrupting the printing process, using the same print agent for cleaning and minimizing consumable usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cleaning methods are used to remove contaminants from intermediate transfer members, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but printing process interruption and consumable usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning surface is coated with thermoplastic print agent that uses the same material being cleaned to perform the cleaning function. The heated print agent layer adheres to contaminants and transfers them to the cleaning surface, allowing the system to clean itself without external intervention or consumable cleaning substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning surface is heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic print agent acts as an adhesive. This temperature parameter change enables the print agent to transition from its normal printing state to an adhesive state, allowing it to effectively capture and remove contaminants from the intermediate transfer member.
2Reliability
If traditional cleaning methods are used to remove contaminants from intermediate transfer members, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but consumable cleaning substances and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the thermoplastic print agent already present in the printing process to perform cleaning functions. By coating the cleaning surface with this print agent and heating it to act as an adhesive, the system eliminates the need for separate consumable cleaning substances, reducing material loss and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoplastic print agent serves dual functions: it is used for the primary printing process and also serves as the cleaning medium for removing contaminants from the intermediate transfer member. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cleaning substances, reducing overall consumable usage.
3Reliability
If the cleaning surface is heated to high temperatures to improve cleaning effectiveness, then residue removal is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning surface is heated to a specific temperature range (e.g., 50-100°C) at which the thermoplastic print agent transitions to an adhesive state. This controlled parameter change enables effective residue removal while minimizing excessive energy consumption that would result from much higher temperatures.
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 continuous or periodic cleaning of intermediate transfer members with negligible interruption to printing, reducing energy consumption and costs by utilizing existing print agents, maintaining print quality, and allowing for temperature control to manage residue removal efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
The layer of thermoplastic print agent 106 on the endless cleaning surface 108 is heated
Implementation Method 2
the thermoplastic print agent 106 acts as an adhesive... transfer any residue, dust or the like from the intermediate transfer member 104 to the layer of print agent 106
Data Source
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AI summary
In an example, a print apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer member to receive thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive surface, a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface to receive a layer of thermoplastic print agent from the intermediate transfer member and a heater, to heat the endless cleaning surface. The endless cleaning surface may be to engage with the intermediate transfer member when heated to transfer residue from the intermediate transfer member to the layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface.