Obtuse-Angled Lubricant Regulating Blade for Abrasion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricant regulating blades in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experience excessive abrasion due to stick-slip vibration, leading to uneven lubricant distribution and premature failure, which results in defective images and contamination of components.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant regulating blade with a ridge line forming an obtuse angle between 95 degrees to 140 degrees, supported in a counter-type manner, is designed to reduce abrasion by effectively blocking excess lubricant and toner, ensuring uniform lubricant application and extended blade life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a lubricant regulating blade is used to control lubricant supply, then uniform lubricant distribution is achieved, but the blade experiences excessive abrasion and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by forming the ridge line at an obtuse angle (95-140 degrees) relative to the direction of movement of the image bearing member surface. This asymmetric angular configuration optimizes the blade's contact geometry to reduce stick-slip vibration while maintaining effective lubricant regulation, thereby extending blade service life without compromising lubricant distribution uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the dynamic stick-slip vibration phenomenon by optimizing the ridge line angle to minimize vibrational forces during the blade's movement across the image bearing member surface. This dynamic optimization reduces abnormal wear while preserving the blade's lubricant regulating function
2Manufacturing precision
If the lubricant regulating blade contacts the surface to regulate lubricant, then lubricant layer height is controlled, but stick-slip vibration causes excessive abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric obtuse angle configuration (95-140 degrees) of the ridge line optimizes the contact mechanics between the blade and image bearing member surface. This asymmetric geometry reduces the propensity for stick-slip vibration while maintaining effective lubricant layer height control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the critical geometric parameter of the ridge line angle to an obtuse range (95-140 degrees), which fundamentally alters the contact dynamics to minimize vibrational forces and abrasion while preserving lubricant regulation precision
3Device complexity
If lubricant is supplied upstream from the cleaning blade contact portion, then the cleaning blade can regulate lubricant depth, but uneven lubricant distribution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric obtuse angle ridge line configuration enables the lubricant regulating blade to compensate for the upstream positioning effect, ensuring uniform lubricant distribution even when supplied before the cleaning blade contact portion, while maintaining structural simplicity
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 obtuse-angled lubricant regulating blade significantly reduces abrasion, maintains performance over time, and prevents defective images by ensuring proper lubricant distribution and minimizing contamination of components.
Implementation Method 1
Existing lubricant regulating blades in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experience excessive abrasion due to stick-slip vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant supplier, installable in a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus, includes a ridge line extending crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the image forming member and contacting the surface of the image forming member at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis of the image forming member, a first face opposed to the image forming member and located upstream from a contact portion of the ridge line and the surface of the image forming member in a direction of movement of the surface of the image forming member, and a second face opposed to the image forming member and located downstream from the contact portion in the direction of movement of the surface of the image forming member. The first face and the second face intersect at the ridge line and form an obtuse angle therebetween.