Regulating Blade Warping for Consistent Developer Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In development devices with regulating blades made of resin, maintaining a consistent gap between the regulating blade and the developer bearing member is challenging due to thermal contraction variations, leading to uneven developer distribution, especially as the blade length increases.
Innovation Solution
A method involving warping the regulating blade to adjust the gap within a predetermined range and attaching it to a development frame member using an adhesive, ensuring the gap remains consistent along the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the regulating blade length in the longitudinal direction is increased to cover a larger image region, then the coverage area is improved, but the straightness of the coated amount regulating surface deteriorates due to thermal contraction variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-warping the regulating blade in the opposite direction of the expected thermal contraction before final assembly. This preliminary deformation compensates for the thermal effects that will occur during operation, ensuring that the blade maintains proper straightness and gap uniformity after thermal contraction occurs during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by deliberately controlling the temperature and mechanical stress parameters during the blade manufacturing and assembly process. By adjusting these parameters, the resin material's thermal contraction characteristics are managed to achieve the desired straightness and gap consistency in the final assembled state.
2Area of stationary object
If the regulating blade length is increased to accommodate wider sheets, then the image formation capability is improved, but the gap uniformity along the longitudinal direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-warping the regulating blade in the opposite direction of the expected thermal contraction before final assembly. This preliminary deformation compensates for the thermal effects that will occur during operation, ensuring that the blade maintains proper straightness and gap uniformity after thermal contraction occurs during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the regulating blade's gap distance adjustable rather than fixed. The blade can be positioned at different distances from the developer bearing member surface, allowing optimization of gap uniformity across the longitudinal direction while maintaining coverage for wider sheets.
3Ease of manufacture
If the regulating blade is made of resin for ease of manufacture, then the manufacturing ease is improved, but the straightness control deteriorates due to thermal expansion and contraction variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by deliberately controlling the temperature and mechanical stress parameters during the blade manufacturing and assembly process. By adjusting these parameters, the resin material's thermal contraction characteristics are managed to achieve the desired straightness and gap consistency in the final assembled state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-warping the regulating blade in the opposite direction of the expected thermal contraction before final assembly. This preliminary deformation compensates for the thermal effects that will occur during operation, ensuring that the blade maintains proper straightness and gap uniformity after thermal contraction occurs during use.
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 stabilizes the gap between the regulating blade and the developer bearing member, maintaining consistent developer distribution and reducing variations in the amount of developer borne on the surface, even with longer blade lengths.
Implementation Method 1
a warping step comprising imparting, to the regulating blade, a force for warping the regulating blade in such a manner that a gap between the developer bearing member supported by the development frame member and the regulating blade attached to the attaching portion is adjusted to within a predetermined range
Implementation Method 2
an attaching step comprising attaching with an adhesive, the regulating blade to the attaching portion in a state in which the regulating blade is kept warped by the force imparted to the regulating blade in the warping step
Data Source
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AI summary
A force for warping a regulating blade (36) is imparted to the regulating blade (36) in such a manner that a gap (G) between a developer bearing member (70) supported by a development frame member (30) and the regulating blade (36) attached to an attaching portion (41) of the development frame member (30) falls within a predetermined range over a longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member (70). The regulating blade (36) is fixed to the attaching portion (41) in a state in which the regulating blade (36) is warped by the force imparted to the regulating blade (36) and the gap (G) is within the predetermined range over the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member (70).