Scraper Holder Design for Developing Device Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing two-layered scraper structure for toner detection sensors in developing devices experiences mutual displacement due to long-term rotation, leading to degraded cleaning performance and accumulation of developer on the detection surface.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a scraper holder that divides the conveying blade to hold a scraper with a polyethylene sheet and nonwoven fabric, where the polyethylene sheet is more wear-resistant and has a lower coefficient of friction, while the nonwoven fabric has a higher coefficient of friction, effectively suppressing wear and mutual displacement, and enhancing cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nonwoven fabric is used as a scraper for cleaning the detection surface, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the scraper becomes worn over time making it difficult to suppress accumulation of developer
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper is constructed as a composite structure with a wear-resistant substrate layer and a nonwoven fabric cleaning layer. The substrate provides durability and resistance to wear from contact with the detection surface, while the nonwoven fabric layer provides effective cleaning performance. This composite structure allows the scraper to maintain both high cleaning efficiency and long-term durability without the nonwoven fabric wearing out prematurely.
2Reliability
If a two-layered scraper structure is used with different materials, then wear resistance and friction properties are improved, but mutual displacement of layers occurs due to long-term rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The wear-resistant substrate layer and the nonwoven fabric cleaning layer are integrally combined into a single unified scraper structure. This integration ensures that both layers move together as one unit during rotation, preventing mutual displacement between layers while maintaining the beneficial properties of each material. The unified structure eliminates the stability issue caused by separate layered construction.
3Device complexity
If adhesive layer is used to bond layers of two-layered scraper, then the structure is simplified, but long-term rotation causes mutual displacement of layers degrading cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is completely removed from the scraper structure. Instead of using separate layers bonded by adhesive, the wear-resistant substrate and nonwoven fabric cleaning layer are integrally formed as a single unit. This eliminates the adhesive bonding interface that would fail under long-term rotation, preventing layer displacement while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 configuration maintains effective cleaning performance over a long period by reducing wear and accumulation on the detection surface, ensuring accurate toner concentration measurement and prolonged scraper durability.
Implementation Method 1
a coefficient of friction between the second member and the detection surface is higher than a coefficient of friction between the first member and the detection surface
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device (3a-3d) includes a development container (20); a stirring-conveying member (25); a toner detection sensor (51), and a scraper (52) that cleans a detection surface (51a) of the toner detection sensor (51). The scraper (52) includes a first member (52a) that contacts the detection surface (51a) of the toner detection sensor (51) during forward rotation of the stirring-conveying member (25), and a second member (52b) that contacts the detection surface (51a) of the toner detection sensor (51) during reverse rotation of the stirring-conveying member (25). The stirring-conveying member (25) includes a scraper holder (60) that holds the scraper (52) along inclination of a conveying blade (25b). The scraper holder (60) includes a first holding portion (61) that holds one side-end of the scraper (52) and a second holding portion (62) that holds another side-end of the scraper (52).