Flexible Supporting Part Stabilizes Contacting Forces in Photoconductor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for image forming apparatuses face challenges in prolonging the lifespan of image supporting bodies and cleaning devices due to varying contacting forces, which lead to increased abrasion and potential cleaning failures, especially when the frictional force between the image supporting body and the elastic body fluctuates.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a flexible supporting part, fixed at two different locations, which reduces the variation in contacting forces by resolving frictional forces into compression and rotational components, thereby minimizing abrasion and maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contacting force of the elastic body is increased to prevent cleaning failure, then cleaning performance is improved, but abrasion of the image supporting body and cleaning device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the supporting part from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform elastically. This flexibility enables the system to adapt the contacting force dynamically, reducing peak forces that cause abrasion while maintaining sufficient average force for effective cleaning. The flexible supporting part absorbs mechanical stress through deformation, preventing both cleaning failure and excessive wear.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the contacting force is reduced to decrease abrasion, then lifespan is prolonged, but cleaning power decreases leading to cleaning failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the supporting part by making it flexible rather than rigid. The flexible supporting part can deform and recover, allowing the contacting force to be reduced on average (extending lifespan) while still maintaining sufficient cleaning power when needed. The elastic deformation provides a cushioning effect that reduces wear while preserving cleaning effectiveness through the recovery phase.
3Ease of manufacture
If a rigid supporting part is used to maintain structural stability, then manufacturing is simplified, but variation in contacting forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid supporting part with a flexible component that can deform elastically. This flexible supporting part acts as a compliant element that absorbs variations in force and maintains more consistent contacting pressure on the image supporting body. The flexibility allows the structure to adapt to minor misalignments and wear, stabilizing the contacting force while remaining manufacturable.
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 prolongs the lifespan of both the image supporting body and the cleaning device by stabilizing contacting forces, reducing abrasion, and preventing cleaning failures, while also suppressing noise and peeling issues.
Implementation Method 1
when the frictional force between the image supporting body and the elastic body fluctuates
Implementation Method 2
a flexible supporting part, fixed at two different locations, which reduces the variation in contacting forces
Implementation Method 3
The cleaning device scrapes off transfer remaining toner which was not transferred onto the transferring body and remains on the surface of the image supporting body
Data Source
AI summary
A photo conductor cleaning device removes substances adhered to a surface of a photo conductor which moves around the axis of rotation. The photo conductor cleaning device is equipped with a device main body, a tip blade, and a flexible supporting sheet metal plate which holds the tip blade and makes the tip blade contact with the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is fixed to the device main body by two fixing portions which are places at different locations, as seen from a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is supported at the both ends by the two fixing portions support.