Separating Member Aperture for Toner Return in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the separating member accumulates toner from the photoconductor drum, leading to potential staining of recording sheets during separation.
Innovation Solution
A separating member with a triangular aperture positioned farther away from the contact portion than the photoconductor drum, allowing toner to return to the drum instead of accumulating on the member, reducing staining and maintaining the member's strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separating member is brought into contact with a photoconductor drum to separate sheets, then sheet separation is achieved, but toner accumulates on the separating member surface causing sheet staining
Solution Approach 1:
The separating member incorporates through-holes (apertures) that allow it to function as a porous structure. This enables toner particles to pass through the separating member rather than accumulating on its surface, thereby preventing sheet staining while maintaining effective sheet separation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful function (toner accumulation) from the separating member by providing through-holes that allow toner to be removed or passed through. This separates the sheet separation function from the toner accumulation problem, allowing the former to be maintained while the latter is eliminated
2Ease of operation
If the separating member contacts the photoconductor drum, then separation function is performed, but the structure becomes complex and strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The separating member is designed as a simple sheet structure with through-holes, avoiding complex mechanisms such as rotating separators or multiple components. This porous sheet design maintains structural simplicity while enabling the separation function and toner passage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The separating member performs multiple functions simultaneously: it separates sheets through contact with the photoconductor drum and allows toner to pass through its through-holes. This multi-functionality is achieved in a single simple component, reducing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus or cartridge is provided that includes an image carrier configured to be rotated while carrying a developer and transfer the developer onto a recording sheet at a transfer position. The image forming apparatus or cartridge may include a separating member disposed downstream from the transfer position in a rotating direction of the image carrier. The separating member may include a contact portion configured to contact the image carrier to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier, and an aperture configured to allow the developer to pass through the separating member from a first side of the separating member to a second side of the separating member opposite the first side, wherein the aperture is positioned farther away from the image carrier than the contact portion.