Helical Elastic Layer Thickness Ratio for Cleaning Member Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with deformation of elastic layers in cleaning members, particularly after storage in high-temperature, high-humidity environments, leading to image defects such as banding.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning member with a core and an elastic layer helically wound around it, where the elastic layer's thickness is controlled to satisfy specific ratios relative to the strip's thickness before winding, minimizing deformation and maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic layer is made thicker to improve cleaning performance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but deformation increases especially after storage in high-temperature, high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the thickness ratio between the elastic layer and the strip-shaped elastic member. By maintaining the thickness ratio within 0.7-1.0, the elastic layer achieves sufficient cleaning performance while minimizing deformation during storage and operation. This quantitative parameter control resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and dimensional stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic layer is made thinner to reduce deformation, then stability is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing an optimal parameter range for the thickness ratio. By ensuring the ratio remains within 0.7-1.0, the elastic layer maintains thin enough dimensions to prevent deformation while being thick enough to provide effective cleaning performance, thus balancing both requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the strip-shaped elastic member is wound with higher tension to reduce deformation, then stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the manufacturing process by transforming the complex tension control problem into a straightforward thickness ratio specification. By controlling the final thickness ratio to be within 0.7-1.0, the invention eliminates the need for complex tension adjustment mechanisms during winding, making the manufacturing process easier while maintaining stability.
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 deformation of the elastic layer, reducing image defects like banding and maintaining cleaning performance even after storage in challenging environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic layer (100B) that is formed by a strip-shaped elastic member (100C) helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core (100A)
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core and an elastic layer that is formed by a strip-shaped elastic member helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core. The cleaning member satisfies the following formula (1):0.7<t/T<1.0 (1)where t (mm) denotes a thickness of the elastic layer, the thickness being taken in a central portion in a helical width direction of the elastic layer, and T (mm) denotes a thickness of the central portion of the strip-shaped elastic member in a width direction before wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core.