Rotatable Photoconductor Cleaning Device with Spillage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for image forming apparatuses face issues with scattering and spillage of waste toner when separated from the cleaned body, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device comprising an accommodating container, a collector, and a remover, where the collector and remover are designed to rotate and position themselves to prevent leakage by sealing the receiving port, using a cleaning brush and blade to collect and remove toner, and a toner collection auger to transport waste toner, ensuring containment during separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning device is separated from the photoconductor drum to facilitate maintenance and replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but waste toner may scatter and spill through the opening, causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is rotated to a predetermined position before separation where the opening faces upward, preventing waste toner spillage in advance. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the device is later separated for maintenance, no toner scattering occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is designed with rotational capability around the photoconductor drum, allowing dynamic repositioning of the opening from a downward-facing position (during operation) to an upward-facing position (during separation). This dynamic adjustment prevents toner spillage while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the cleaning device remains in contact with the photoconductor drum during separation, then waste toner containment is improved, but ease of maintenance and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is rotated to position the opening upward before separation, creating a spill-proof configuration in advance. This allows subsequent easy removal and replacement without risk of toner scattering, combining containment with maintenance ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational mechanism enables the cleaning device to transition from a fixed contact position to a separated position with the opening facing upward. This dynamic movement maintains toner containment while facilitating easy maintenance and replacement operations.
3Productivity
If the opening of the accommodating container faces downward during operation, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but waste toner may leak during separation
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device incorporates rotational capability that allows the opening to face downward during operation for effective cleaning, then rotate to face upward before separation to prevent leakage. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Before separation occurs, the cleaning device is rotated to position the opening upward, creating a spill-proof configuration in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the transition from effective cleaning position to separation position does not result in toner leakage.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device includes an accommodating container, a collector, and a remover. The accommodating container has an opening and a receiving port. The collector is in contact with a surface of a cleaned body while rotating, to remove matter on the surface of the cleaned body. The remover has a tip end that is in contact with the surface of the cleaned body to remove the matter. The accommodating container accommodates the collector and the remover. The collector and the remover are exposed to the cleaned body through the opening. The accommodating container receives, through the receiving port, the matter removed from the cleaned body. The accommodating container is supported in such a manner that the accommodating container can rotate to a position where the matter collected in the accommodating container do not leak through the opening, so as to be separated from the cleaned body.