Intermediate Transfer Belt Scraper for Reverse-Rotation Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with the inefficient removal of external additives and paper dust, leading to increased friction, filming, and potential transfer failures due to the accumulation of these substances on the image-bearing member, which can cause cleaning failures and image defects.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a scraper that contacts the image-bearing member to remove adhering substances, combined with a reverse rotation mechanism to dislodge and collect deposited substances at the contact point, ensuring effective cleaning without damaging the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scraper with high hardness is used to remove adhering substances, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the belt surface may be scraped resulting in generation of scraped powder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the scraper by using a magnetic field to alter its hardness and contact characteristics. The magnetic field causes the scraper particles to arrange themselves in a controlled manner, reducing excessive hardness and preventing surface damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the scraper and the belt surface. This magnetic field acts as a mediator that controls the interaction forces, allowing the scraper to remove adhering substances without directly scraping the surface with full mechanical force.
2Reliability
If the scraper contact portion is not cleaned, then accumulated substance reduces cleaning performance, but adding complex cleaning mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service cleaning mechanism where the magnetic field automatically cleans the scraper contact portion during the normal operation of the apparatus. The magnetic attraction causes accumulated substance to be pulled off the scraper contact portion without requiring separate manual intervention or complex additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical cleaning mechanisms with a magnetic field-based cleaning system. Instead of using mechanical brushes, scrapers, or air blasts to clean the scraper contact portion, the invention uses magnetic attraction forces to automatically remove accumulated substance.
3Reliability
If external additive and paper dust are not sufficiently removed, then frictional resistance increases and filming occurs, but insufficient cleaning leads to transfer failure and image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies cleaning actions in reverse sequence and direction - first using the magnetic field to clean the scraper contact portion, then using the scraper to clean the belt surface. This inverted cleaning sequence ensures that the scraper itself is clean before it contacts the belt, preventing contamination while effectively removing external additives and paper dust.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a cleaning blade configured to clean toner remaining on an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, a scraper configured to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt at a second contact portion downstream of the first contact portion in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt, a driving source configured to drive the intermediate transfer belt in normal and reverse rotation, and a control unit configured to control the driving source so that a reverse rotation operation is executed, wherein the scraper is provided on a lower surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and the control unit controls the driving source so that a moving distance of the intermediate transfer belt in the reverse rotation operation is longer than a circumferential distance L of the intermediate transfer belt.