Polyurethane Cleaning Blade for Toner Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning blade members for electrophotographic processes face challenges in maintaining a controlled friction coefficient, leading to issues with wear resistance and staining, due to unsatisfactory characteristics resulting from the incorporation of lubricating components and difficulties in bonding and friction coefficient control.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning blade member formed from polyurethane with a specific ratio of rebound resilience to Young's modulus of 4.5 or less, combined with a method involving the blending of a polyol, polyisocyanate, and cross-linking agent to achieve desired friction coefficients, ensuring high tear strength and reduced friction for effective toner removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lubricating component is applied to the cleaning blade tip, then friction coefficient is reduced, but long-term lubrication effect cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes lubricating components entirely from the cleaning blade formulation. Instead of applying external lubricants that require reapplication, the invention achieves low friction through the intrinsic properties of the polyurethane elastomer material itself, which maintains consistent lubrication performance throughout its service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning blade material provides its own lubrication properties through the selected polyurethane elastomer composition. The material's molecular structure and physical properties inherently deliver low friction coefficients without requiring additional lubricating additives or external application of lubricants.
2Ease of operation
If a lubricating component is added to polyurethane, then friction coefficient is reduced, but bonding difficulty and additive bleeding occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates lubricating components from the polyurethane formulation entirely. The low friction performance is achieved through careful selection of the polyurethane elastomer base material's inherent properties rather than through additive incorporation, thereby avoiding bonding issues and additive bleeding problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental approach from modifying polyurethane with lubricating additives to selecting a specific polyurethane elastomer material whose intrinsic physical and chemical parameters naturally provide low friction coefficients. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between friction reduction and manufacturing ease.
3Ease of operation
If a lubricating component is copolymerized with polyurethane, then friction coefficient is reduced, but wear resistance decreases and staining occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes lubricating components from the copolymerization process. Instead, it selects a specific polyurethane elastomer material whose base polymer structure inherently provides both low friction coefficients and high wear resistance, eliminating the trade-off between these properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from copolymerization with lubricating agents to selecting a polyurethane elastomer with specific molecular weight, hardness, and composition parameters that naturally deliver both low friction and high wear resistance without producing staining low-molecular-weight components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If factors controlling friction coefficient are not completely elucidated, then cleaning blade design becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and controls key parameters of the polyurethane elastomer material including molecular weight, hardness, composition, and physical properties. By establishing specific parameter ranges for these material characteristics, the invention achieves consistent low friction coefficients and predictable performance, simplifying the design process despite incomplete understanding of all friction mechanisms.
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 provides a cleaning blade member with excellent wear resistance and controlled friction coefficients, preventing edge chipping and image failures, while minimizing contact staining and squeaky sounds during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade member formed of a polyurethane having a ratio of rebound resilience at 25° C. to Young's modulus (rebound resilience at 25° C./Young's modulus) of 4.5 or less
Implementation Method 2
a tan δ (1 Hz) peak temperature of +10° C. or lower
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a cleaning blade member having a controlled friction coefficient and a method for producing the same. The cleaning blade member, for use in a cleaning part for removing toner deposits, is formed of a polyurethane having a ratio of rebound resilience at 25° C. to Young's modulus (rebound resilience at 25° C./Young's modulus) of 4.5 or less.