Regulating Blade Vibration for Toner Agglomerate Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using electrophotographic methods, toner agglomerates that pass through the regulating blade during vibration can re-collect in the developing device, leading to reduced developer fluidity and image defects, as existing methods either disrupt normal operation or fail to effectively discharge agglomerates during non-image formation periods.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a vibrating member that vibrates the regulating blade during non-image forming periods while rotating the developer bearing member, ensuring toner agglomerates are transferred from the regulating blade to the image bearing member, thereby preventing re-collection in the developing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the regulating blade is vibrated during non-image formation period to remove toner agglomerates, then image defects are prevented, but the vibrated toner agglomerates may return to the developing device and reduce developer fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful toner agglomerates from the developing device by vibrating the regulating blade to discharge them onto the image bearing member. This prevents the agglomerates from returning to the developer, resolving the contradiction between preventing image defects and maintaining developer fluidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful vibrated toner agglomerates into a beneficial outcome by timing the vibration during non-image formation periods. The agglomerates that would normally harm the system are instead discharged onto the image bearing member where they serve no harmful purpose, thus converting a potential harm into a harmless or beneficial action.
2Reliability
If the regulating blade is moved spatially to release caught foreign matter, then the foreign matter is removed, but the coating amount increases and image forming operation is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic vibration to the regulating blade during non-image formation periods to remove foreign matter and toner agglomerates. This periodic action allows the system to maintain normal high-speed operation during image formation while periodically cleaning the regulating blade, thus resolving the contradiction between foreign matter removal and image forming efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the cleaning action (vibration to remove foreign matter) in advance during non-image formation periods, before the next image forming operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the regulating blade is clean and ready for the next image formation, eliminating the need to disrupt operation during actual image forming.
3Loss of substance
If toner replacement control is performed to discharge deteriorated toner, then developer fluidity is maintained, but additional time is required for the discharge process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cleaning function (removing toner agglomerates from the regulating blade) with the existing toner replacement process. By vibrating the regulating blade during non-image formation periods when toner replacement already occurs, the system achieves both cleaning and toner discharge simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between maintaining developer fluidity and minimizing additional time.
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 approach effectively prevents image defects by ensuring toner agglomerates are discharged onto the image bearing member, maintaining developer fluidity and reducing downtime, while optimizing toner usage and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrating member which vibrates the regulating member when the vibrating member is driven
Implementation Method 2
a developer bearing member which rotates while bearing developer containing toner and which supplies the image bearing member with the toner
Implementation Method 3
an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member where an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing device developing the electrostatic latent image at a developing position facing the image bearing member, the developing device including a developer bearing member which rotates while bearing developer containing toner and which supplies the image bearing member with the toner, and a regulating member regulating a layer thickness of the developer born by the developer bearing member. In addition, a vibrating member vibrates the regulating member when the vibrating member is driven, and a control unit performs a mode of vibrating the regulating member while rotating the developer bearing member during a non-image forming period and of transferring from the developer bearing member to the image bearing member the toner passing through the regulating member during vibration of the regulating member.