Resin Regulating Blade Bonding for Development Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In development apparatuses, resin-molded regulating blades face challenges in maintaining straightness and consistent sleeve-to-blade gaps due to thermal contraction and agent pressure, leading to variations in development agent coating amounts, which complicates the bonding process and increases production time.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the deflection and adhesive fixation of the regulating blade across the entire maximum image region, combined with the use of a hardening accelerator to reduce adhesive hardening time and ensure consistent bonding, addresses the issues of straightness and production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the regulating blade is made longer in the longer-side direction to accommodate wider sheets, then the coating amount regulating surface length increases, but the straightness of the coating amount regulating surface deteriorates due to varying thermal contraction rates
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating blade is pre-deflected in the longer-side direction before bonding to the development frame. This preliminary deflection compensates for the expected thermal contraction variations, ensuring that the coating amount regulating surface maintains required straightness after the blade cools and contracts during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's curvature parameter is intentionally modified during the bonding process by applying a deflection force. This changes the blade's shape from its natural curved state to a pre-corrected state that accounts for thermal contraction, thereby maintaining straightness after temperature changes.
2Manufacturing precision
If the regulating blade is deflected and fixed across the entire maximum image region to maintain straightness, then the bonding area increases, but the adhesive hardening time increases
Solution Approach 1:
A hardening accelerator is introduced as an intermediary substance applied to the adhesive bonding area. This catalyst speeds up the chemical reaction of adhesive hardening, reducing the hardening time even though the bonding area covers the entire maximum image region of the regulating blade.
3Strength
If the adhesive layer thickness is increased to ensure complete coverage across the blade width, then the bonding strength increases, but the adhesive hardening time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardening accelerator acts as a catalyst that enables the adhesive to achieve sufficient hardening speed even with increased layer thickness. This allows the adhesive layer to be thick enough for complete coverage and strong bonding while maintaining acceptable hardening times through the chemical acceleration effect.
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 ensures the regulating blade maintains the required straightness and consistent sleeve-to-blade gaps, reducing production time and enhancing the reliability of the development apparatus by stabilizing the adhesive hardening process.
Implementation Method 1
use of a hardening accelerator to reduce adhesive hardening time
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of attaching a regulating blade made of resin to an attachment portion of a development frame which is made of resin and includes the attachment portion for attaching the regulating blade includes applying an adhesive to the attachment portion, applying a hardening accelerator to the regulating blade, and attaching the regulating blade to the attachment portion via the adhesive applied to the attachment portion and the hardening accelerator applied to the regulating blade. The regulating blade is disposed opposite to and not in contact with a development rotary member configured to bear and convey a developer toward a position at which an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member is developed, and configured to regulate an amount of the developer to be borne on the development rotary member.