Lubricant Applicator Flicker Member for Uniform Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lubricant applicators in image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform lubricant application due to contamination issues, leading to insufficient separation of particles and unstable cleaning performance, which affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant applicator with a plate-shaped flicker member having an opening with a mesh structure, positioned upstream of the brush roller, which elastically rocks and separates contaminating particles, preventing reattachment and ensuring consistent lubricant application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brush roller is used to apply lubricant to the image bearing member, then the frictional force between the image bearing member and cleaning blade is decreased, but the brush roller becomes contaminated with remaining lubricant and toner over time, affecting uniformity of lubricant application
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roller surface is segmented into multiple functional zones along the rotation direction: a lubricant application zone, a flicker zone with flicker members, and a cleaning zone. This segmentation allows different operations (lubricant application, particle separation, and contamination removal) to occur in distinct regions, preventing contamination from affecting lubricant application uniformity while maintaining cleaning performance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Flicker members are introduced as intermediary elements between the lubricant supply and the image bearing member contact point. These flicker members actively separate contaminating particles from the lubricant film on the brush roller surface, acting as a mediator that prevents contamination from reaching the image bearing member and affecting application uniformity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a flicker member is brought into contact with the brush roller to separate contaminating particles, then particle separation is improved, but brush bristles may fall out and reattach separated particles, reducing separation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The flicker members are positioned upstream in the rotation direction of the brush roller, performing particle separation before the brush roller contacts the image bearing member. This preliminary action ensures that contaminating particles are removed in advance, preventing them from being transferred to the image bearing member or reattached by fallen bristles.
Solution Approach 2:
The flicker members are designed with elastic properties, allowing them to dynamically flex and vibrate during contact with the brush roller. This dynamic motion enhances particle separation effectiveness by creating varying contact forces that dislodge adhered particles more effectively than static structures.
3Device complexity
If the brush roller continuously scrapes lubricant without particle separation, then the structure is simple, but contaminating particles affect the amount of lubricant applied and uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The flicker members are integrated directly onto the brush roller surface, merging the particle separation function with the lubricant application function in a single component structure. This combination adds minimal complexity while effectively preventing contamination from affecting lubricant application uniformity.
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 enhances the uniformity of lubricant application, reduces friction between the image bearing member and cleaning blade, and stabilizes cleaning performance, resulting in improved image quality by minimizing image noise and maintaining the durability of the cleaning device.
Implementation Method 1
the flicker member having elasticity to be allowed to elastically rock by coming into contact with the brush roller
Implementation Method 2
a brush roller that applies a scraped lubricant to a surface of an image bearing member
Implementation Method 3
a cleaning device that removes the remaining toner from the image bearing member using a cleaning blade
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant applicator incorporated in a cleaning device disposed in an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an image containing toner is formed, includes: a lubricant supplying unit that supplies lubricant; a brush roller that scrapes off the lubricant to apply the lubricant to a surface of the image bearing member; and a flicker member positioned on an upstream side from the lubricant supplying unit in a rotation direction of the brush roller, the flicker member coming into contact with the brush roller, wherein the flicker member is a plate-shaped member in which an opening is formed, the flicker member having elasticity to be allowed to elastically rock by coming into contact with the brush roller, and the opening is formed in a region with which the brush roller comes into contact.