Fuser Cleaning Web Winding Control for Toner Collection

Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in collecting toner scattered during the printing without margin process, as existing cleaning methods either waste cleaning materials or fail to remove toner effectively depending on whether the margin printing function is used or not.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a paper sheet guide, adsorption member, cleaning means, and control section that adjusts the winding quantity of a belt-shaped cleaning member based on the printing without margin setting, ensuring effective toner collection by increasing winding when the setting is active and preventing waste when inactive.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If web cleaning is performed frequently to collect scattered toner during printing without margin, then toner collection effectiveness is improved, but cleaning member waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner collection effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning member waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection of scattered toner. The drive section varies the winding quantity of the cleaning member according to the amount of toner detected by the detection section, enabling the system to optimize between thorough cleaning and resource conservation based on actual conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection section continuously monitors scattered toner and provides feedback to the control section, which then adjusts the drive section's winding quantity accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the cleaning member is used efficiently - only when and to the extent that scattered toner is present

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of substance

If web cleaning is performed infrequently to conserve cleaning member, then cleaning material waste is reduced, but toner collection effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning member wasteVSAvoidtoner collection effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection section continuously monitors scattered toner and provides feedback to the control section, which then adjusts the drive section's winding quantity accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the cleaning member is used efficiently - only when and to the extent that scattered toner is present

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The detection section automatically detects the presence and amount of scattered toner, enabling the system to self-regulate cleaning operations without manual intervention. The system serves itself by identifying when cleaning is needed and adjusting the cleaning intensity accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a fixed winding quantity is used for cleaning member, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different printing modes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning control complexityVSAvoidadaptability to printing modes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection of scattered toner. The drive section varies the winding quantity of the cleaning member according to the amount of toner detected by the detection section, enabling the system to optimize between thorough cleaning and resource conservation based on actual conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning system is designed to handle multiple printing modes (with margin and without margin) using a single adaptive mechanism. The detection section and variable drive section work together to make the same cleaning apparatus effective across different printing scenarios, eliminating the need for separate cleaning systems for different modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Ensures efficient collection of scattered toner, preventing waste of cleaning materials and maintaining cleaning effectiveness regardless of the margin printing setting, thereby enhancing the overall printing process.

Implementation Method 1

an adsorption member that is given an electric potential difference in relation to the toner, thereby causing the toner scattered onto the surface of the adsorption member to stick to the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS9075382B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.07.07 SHARP KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a pre-fusing paper sheet guide, a fuser unit and a control section. The pre-fusing paper sheet guide is disposed adjacent to the fuser unit on its upstream side. The fuser unit includes a pressing roller having, an electrically conductive surface, a grounding structure grounding a pressing roller's surface, and a cleaning mechanism cleaning the pressing roller's surface. The cleaning mechanism includes a web and a take-up roller. The control section sets a winding quantity x of the web to 0.7 mm when a setting for printing without margin is not made, and sets the winding quantity x to 2.1 mm when the setting for printing without margin is made. If the number of sheets accumulated through the image forming process becomes not less than 18, the control section causes the take-up roller to wind the web by the winding quantity x, and performs an image forming process.