Helically Wound Cleaning Member Elastic Layer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning members for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses suffer from reduced cleaning performance due to permanent compressive strain, especially in high-temperature high-humidity environments, leading to inadequate cleaning of components such as charging and transfer members.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning member with an elastic layer divided into multiple sections, where the width and thickness of the sections at the ends are greater than those in the central region, is designed to reduce compressive deformation and maintain cleaning performance by distributing pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the elastic layer is made with uniform width and thickness, then the manufacturing is simple, but the cleaning performance deteriorates due to permanent compressive strain
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic layer is designed with non-uniform width and thickness, where the width and thickness are greater at the end portions and smaller at the central portion. This local variation in dimensions allows different regions of the elastic layer to have different mechanical properties, enabling the end portions to better withstand compressive forces while maintaining effective cleaning pressure in the central region, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and cleaning performance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic layer is divided into distinct regions with different dimensional characteristics - end portions with greater width and thickness, and a central portion with smaller width and thickness. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, with the end portions providing structural support and the central portion providing effective cleaning action, thereby maintaining reliability while keeping the overall structure manufacturable.
2Strength
If the elastic layer width and thickness are increased at end portions, then the compressive strain resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the elastic layer dimensions throughout, the invention applies increased width and thickness only at the end portions where compressive forces are most problematic. This localized approach provides the necessary strength and strain resistance exactly where needed, while keeping the central portion simpler and more effective for cleaning, thereby improving compressive strain resistance without significantly increasing overall 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 suppresses the reduction in cleaning performance caused by permanent compressive strain, ensuring consistent and efficient cleaning of components in various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic layer that is helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core from one end to another end of the core
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning member includes a core and an elastic layer that is helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core. The elastic layer is divided into three or more elastic layer sections in a width direction, and a width of the elastic layer sections at both ends in the width direction is greater than a width of the one or more elastic layer sections in a central region between the elastic layer sections at both ends in the width direction. Alternatively, the elastic layer is divided into three or more elastic layer sections in the width direction, and a minimum thickness of the elastic layer sections at both ends in the width direction is smaller than a minimum thickness of the one or more elastic layer sections in the central region between the elastic layer sections at both ends in the width direction.