Fixing Device Cleaning Mode Using Maximum-Width Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, particularly those using electrophotographic processes, calcium carbonate-filled recording materials cause electrostatic attraction of paper powder to rotatable members, leading to reduced parting properties and toner contamination, resulting in image defects. Existing cleaning methods with variable width cleaning papers can be unstable and ineffective in removing contamination.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a cleaning mode that uses a maximum-width sheet to form a predetermined toner image, which is then introduced into the fixing device's nip for effective cleaning, along with a notification system to ensure the correct sheet size is used, ensuring thorough removal of toner contamination from rotatable members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cleaning paper with variable width size is used to clean the rotatable member, then the cleaning process can be adapted to different contamination levels, but the cleaning degree becomes unstable and may not properly remove paper powder accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the width parameter of the cleaning paper to be equal to the maximum width of the rotatable member, ensuring consistent and reliable cleaning. This parameter standardization eliminates the instability caused by variable width cleaning papers while maintaining cleaning effectiveness across different contamination levels.
2Ease of operation
If a cleaning paper with small width size is used, then the cleaning process is simpler, but the cleaning paper cannot contact the portion of the rotatable member where paper powder accumulates, resulting in improper removal
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning paper is designed with a width that matches the maximum width of the rotatable member, enabling it to universally cover and clean the entire surface area where paper powder accumulates. This universal coverage ensures that regardless of the specific contamination location, the cleaning paper can effectively contact and remove paper powder from all portions of the rotatable member.
3Ease of manufacture
If calcium carbonate filler is increased in recording material to enhance texture and reduce cost, then sheet whiteness and opacity improve, but paper powder is electrostatically attracted to the rotatable member surface, causing toner contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful electrostatic attraction of paper powder to the rotatable member into a beneficial cleaning opportunity. By designing a cleaning mode that uses a toner image to generate opposite polarity charge, the system attracts and removes the accumulated paper powder from the rotatable member surface, transforming the contamination problem into an effective cleaning mechanism.
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 approach stabilizes the cleaning process, effectively removing toner contamination and preventing image defects by using the maximum-width sheet to cover the entire surface of the rotatable members, ensuring efficient cleaning and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device at a nip
Implementation Method 2
paper powder principally comprising calcium carbonate generating on such a sheet is liable to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the rotatable member
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device at a nip; an executing portion configured to execute an operation in a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing device by forming a predetermined toner image on a sheet using the image forming device and then by introducing the sheet into the nip; and a notifying device for notifying an operator that a maximum-width sheet usable in the image forming device is to be used in the operation in the cleaning mode.