Separate Cleaning Blade and Roller Holders for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses using a rigid blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt face challenges in maintaining the uniformity of the blade's edge angle due to deformation caused by the drive torque of the roller, leading to reduced cleaning performance over time.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a rigid blade and a pre-brush, where the rigid blade holder and pre-brush holder are installed with a gap between them, preventing the drive torque of the pre-brush from influencing the rigid blade and maintaining the edge angle uniformly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a roller is installed upstream of the rigid blade to remove paper dust, then cleaning performance is improved, but the housing of the blade holder is deformed by the drive torque of the roller, changing the posture of the rigid blade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning device into two separate holders: a first holder for the rigid blade and a second holder for the roller. By segmenting the housing structure, the drive torque of the roller is isolated from the rigid blade holder, preventing deformation and maintaining the edge angle uniformity of the blade while still achieving effective paper dust removal.
2Device complexity
If the roller and rigid blade are housed together, then device complexity is reduced, but the drive torque of the roller deforms the housing and changes the blade posture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmentation by creating separate first and second holders for the rigid blade and roller respectively. This structural division eliminates the transmission of drive torque to the blade holder, maintaining blade precision while managing device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the roller from the rigid blade holder housing, placing it in a separate second holder. This extraction removes the source of deformation (roller drive torque) from the blade holder system, preserving the edge angle uniformity while still enabling the roller to perform its paper dust removal function upstream of the blade.
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 ensures consistent cleaning performance over a long period by preventing deformation of the rigid blade holder and maintaining the edge angle of the rigid blade, thereby extending the lifespan of both the blade and the pre-brush.
Implementation Method 1
a rigid blade which cleans the surface of the image carrier in contact with the image carrier which has transferred the toner image onto the paper
Implementation Method 2
a roller which is upstream of the rigid blade in a rotation direction of the image carrier, and cleans the surface of the image carrier upstream of the rigid blade by coming in contact with the image carrier which has transferred the toner image onto the paper
Implementation Method 3
The roller is installed in such a manner as to counter-rotate with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The roller has a function of removing paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt, before the paper dust reaches the rigid blade.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which transfers, onto paper, a toner image formed on a belt-shaped image carrier including an elastic layer on a surface thereof, and forms an image includes a rigid blade which cleans the surface of the image carrier in contact with the image carrier which has transferred the toner image onto the paper; a roller which is upstream of the rigid blade in a rotation direction of the image carrier, and cleans the surface of the image carrier upstream of the rigid blade by coming in contact with the image carrier which has transferred the toner image onto the paper; a rigid blade holder which holds the rigid blade; and a roller holder which holds the roller. The rigid blade holder and the roller holder are installed with a gap therebetween.