Lubricant Applying Device for Photoconductor Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in image forming apparatuses is the difficulty in cleaning fine, spherical polymer toner from the photoconductor surface, as conventional methods either damage the photoconductor or degrade image quality due to uneven lubricant application, and existing lubricant application techniques do not effectively address the cleaning of spherical toners.

Innovation Solution

A lubricant applying device with a solid lubricant and a brush roller that applies lubricant in a non-contact manner, followed by a smoothing element to form a thin layer, ensuring uniform lubrication and reducing frictional coefficient, while maintaining effective cleaning performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a cleaning blade is pressed more strongly against the photoconductor surface to clean excess toner, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the photoconductor surface is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidphotoconductor damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A lubricant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the cleaning blade and the photoconductor surface. The lubricant reduces friction and prevents direct contact damage while enabling effective toner removal. The lubricant application device applies lubricant to the photoconductor surface before cleaning, allowing the cleaning blade to operate with reduced pressure while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a lubricant is applied to the photoconductor surface to enable cleaning of fine spherical toner, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the image quality degrades due to non-uniform lubricant application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lubricant is applied in advance to the photoconductor surface before the cleaning operation. This preliminary action ensures that the lubricant is evenly distributed across the surface, creating optimal conditions for cleaning fine spherical toner without compromising image quality. The lubricant application device uses a brush roller that uniformly deposits lubricant before the cleaning blade operates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state and application parameters of the lubricant by using a brush roller mechanism that controls the amount and distribution of lubricant applied. This ensures uniform lubricant film thickness, preventing both insufficient lubrication (which would reduce cleaning capability) and excessive lubrication (which would degrade image quality).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a powdery lubricant is used instead of solid bar lubricant, then the application flexibility is improved, but the manufacturing and packaging difficulty increases and environmental contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and packaging difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state of the lubricant from powder to a controlled liquid or semi-liquid form that can be uniformly applied by a brush roller. This parameter change maintains the flexibility and effectiveness of lubricant application while eliminating the manufacturing, packaging, and environmental problems associated with powdery lubricants. The brush roller mechanism allows precise control of lubricant application in a non-powdery form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 stabilizes the frictional coefficient on the photoconductor surface, enabling high-resolution image formation with reduced torque and energy consumption, preventing image quality degradation and extending lubricant application stability over time.

Implementation Method 1

stabilizes the frictional coefficient on the photoconductor surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

applies a lubricant in a non-contact manner, followed by a smoothing element to form a thin layer, ensuring uniform lubrication

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS7826786B2Image forming apparatus, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge, and toner

Publication Date: 2010.11.02 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

In an image forming apparatus, an area applied with a lubricant, i.e., an area of a lubricant layer having a uniform thickness, is obtained by spreading the lubricant by a lubricant smoothing blade. The area applied with a lubricant covers an area cleaned by a cleaning blade, i.e., a contact portion of the cleaning blade with a photoconductor.