Fabric Application Member for Photoconductor Drum Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in minimizing wear on photoconductor drums and cleaning blades while preventing the accumulation of discharge products, which can lead to defects like white patches in the formed images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a lubricant application device with a fabric member holding toner, which scrapes a solid lubricant and applies it to the photoconductor drum, reducing wear and preventing defects by maintaining an optimal coefficient of friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lubricant application device uses a conventional application member (non-fabric material), then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the wear on photoconductor drums and cleaning blades increases and discharge products accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the application member from conventional non-fabric materials to a fabric member with specific properties (open porous structure, specific fiber composition). This parameter change enables the member to hold toner effectively while applying lubricant, thereby reducing wear on the photoconductor drum and cleaning blade without significantly complicating the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The application member is constructed as a composite structure combining a fabric substrate with held toner particles. This composite material approach allows the member to exhibit both the structural integrity of fabric and the functional properties of toner (electrostatic charge, lubricant interaction), achieving wear reduction while maintaining device simplicity.
2Reliability
If the application member surface is made of non-fabric material, then the manufacturing is easier, but discharge products accumulate and white patch defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface property parameter of the application member by using a fabric member that can hold toner. This parameter change prevents discharge product accumulation and white patch defects while maintaining ease of manufacture, as fabric members are commercially available and can be directly mounted without complex manufacturing processes.
3Reliability
If the application member holds toner effectively, then wear reduction and defect prevention are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric member utilizes its inherent electrostatic properties to hold toner automatically without requiring additional complex mechanisms. The toner is held on the fabric surface through electrostatic attraction, and this self-service mechanism ensures consistent lubricant application while avoiding increased device complexity.
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 effectively reduces wear on photoconductor drums and cleaning blades, prevents defects such as white patches, and ensures consistent lubricant application, enhancing the durability and image quality of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of the application member is a fabric member that holds toner
Implementation Method 2
an application member that scrapes a lubricant from a solid lubricant and applies the scraped lubricant onto the image holder
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image holder; a developing device that creates a toner image by developing a latent image held on the image holder; and an application member that scrapes a lubricant from a solid lubricant and applies the scraped lubricant onto the image holder, wherein a surface of the application member is a fabric member that holds toner.