Rotatable Wiper for Lens Optical Surface Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The optical surface of the lens in electrophotographic image forming devices can become contaminated with toner, leading to inaccurate detection of the remaining toner level and potential issues with image quality due to variations in the amount of overlap between the wiper and the optical surface.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a wiper that is movable and tiltable in the axial direction to correct variations in the amount of overlap with the optical surface, ensuring proper cleaning and maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed wiper is used to clean the optical surface, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness varies due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly errors causing inconsistent overlap amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is designed with rotational freedom around the optical axis, transforming it from a static fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the wiper to automatically adapt its angular position to achieve consistent cleaning overlap despite variations in manufacturing tolerances and assembly errors, resolving the contradiction between simple installation and precise overlap consistency.
2Manufacturing precision
If the wiper is made movable and tiltable, then the cleaning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is configured with rotational freedom around the optical axis without requiring complex active control mechanisms. This passive dynamic design allows the wiper to self-adjust to the optimal cleaning position through simple mechanical freedom, achieving precise cleaning overlap while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable wiper design enables self-adjustment to the correct angular position based on the actual alignment between the wiper edge and optical surface. The system uses the inherent mechanical freedom to automatically compensate for assembly variations without requiring external control systems, sensors, or actuators, thus improving precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If the wiper rotates with the rotation member, then the cleaning action is enhanced, but the wiper wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper rotates periodically with the rotation member, providing intermittent cleaning actions rather than continuous contact. This periodic rotation enhances cleaning effectiveness by periodically refreshing the contact between wiper and optical surface while reducing cumulative wear compared to continuous pressing contact, as the wiper periodically engages and disengages from the surface.
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 movable and tiltable wiper effectively corrects alignment and tilt errors, ensuring the optical surface is properly cleaned, which in turn allows for accurate toner level detection and improved image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The optical surface is cleaned by a cleaning member. The cleaning member is brought into frictional contact with the optical surface to remove foreign matters such as toner adhering to the optical surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a housing to accommodate toner, a rotation member installed in the housing, a lens including an optical surface oriented in an axial direction of the rotation member, and a wiper installed in the rotation member and configured to repeatedly wipe the optical surface while the rotation member rotates and supported by the rotation member so as to be movable in the axial direction.