Image Forming Apparatus Cleaning Blade Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the 'cleaning blade noise' is produced when the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in unused stations, leading to increased friction and vibration due to the lack of toner or externally added material as lubricant, causing deterioration and noise.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a contacting/spacing device that adjusts the contact pressure between the image bearing member and the transferring device, and a controlling device to manage this pressure, ensuring the developing device contacts the image bearing member in active stations and spaces from it in inactive stations, while adjusting contact pressure between the image bearing member and the transferring device to reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in unused image forming stations, then the deterioration of the image bearing member and developing device is suppressed, but cleaning blade noise is produced due to increased friction
Solution Approach 1:
The transferring device is brought into contact with the image bearing member periodically at predetermined intervals during continuous image formation operations. This periodic contact supplies toner or externally added material to the cleaning blade contact portion at regular intervals, maintaining lubrication and reducing friction-induced noise while allowing the developing device to remain spaced for extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The transferring device serves a dual function: it performs the primary function of transferring toner images onto recording material, and simultaneously serves as a lubrication supply mechanism for the cleaning blade. By bringing the transferring device into contact with the image bearing member, toner or externally added material is naturally supplied to the cleaning blade contact portion, eliminating the need for separate lubrication systems.
2Loss of substance
If the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in unused stations, then toner consumption is reduced, but cleaning blade friction increases due to lack of lubricant
Solution Approach 1:
The transferring device contacts the image bearing member periodically at predetermined intervals during continuous operations. This periodic contact replenishes toner or externally added material to the cleaning blade contact portion, maintaining lubrication and reducing friction while allowing the developing device to remain spaced for extended periods, thus minimizing toner consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The transferring device acts as an intermediary mechanism that indirectly supplies lubricant (toner or externally added material) to the cleaning blade contact portion. Instead of directly contacting the image bearing member for lubrication purposes, the transferring device uses its normal transfer operation to inadvertently supply the lubricant, efficiently reducing friction without additional toner consumption.
3Device complexity
If a common driving source is used for multiple image bearing members, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but cleaning blade noise occurs in unused stations due to continuous rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The transferring device brings the image bearing member into contact with it periodically at predetermined intervals during continuous image formation operations. This periodic contact supplies toner or externally added material to the cleaning blade contact portion, maintaining lubrication and reducing friction-induced noise while allowing the image bearing member to continue rotating under the common driving source.
Solution Approach 2:
The transferring device performs multiple functions: it transfers toner images onto recording material and simultaneously serves as a lubrication supply mechanism for all image bearing members including those in unused stations. This multi-functionality allows the common driving source to continue operating all image bearing members without adding separate lubrication systems.
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 solution effectively reduces the deterioration of image forming station members and suppresses cleaning blade noise by maintaining optimal lubrication and contact pressure, extending the life of components and minimizing noise production.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade of an elastic material is contacted to the surface of the image bearing member to scrape the toner remaining on the image bearing member
Implementation Method 2
the toner and/or externally added material of the toner is fed into the contact portion between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade and function as a lubricant to reduce the friction
Implementation Method 3
the toner and/or externally added material of the toner is fed into the contact portion between the image bearing member and the cleaning blade and function as a lubricant to reduce the friction
Implementation Method 4
a developing device configured to develop an image on the image bearing member with a developer
Implementation Method 5
a transferring device configured to transfer the images formed on the image bearing members of the image forming stations onto a recording material
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus operable in a mode of forming an image using only a part of image forming stations. In the mode, a developing device contacts an image bearing member in a part of the image forming stations, and the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in the rest of the image forming stations. The contact pressure between the image bearing member and a transferring device is made smaller in the rest than in the part. The image forming operation in the mode is executed while the image bearing members of the part and the rest are rotated. A controller is configured such that when the operation in the mode is continuously executed for a time period longer than a predetermined period, the contact pressure in the rest is made larger than the above-mentioned smaller contact pressure.