Elastically Contacting Sheet Fixing Surface Design for Toner Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the toner sealing sheet and residual toner collection sheet in place, particularly when the container frame is downsized, leading to potential leakage and user contact issues due to protrusion beyond the fixing surface.
Innovation Solution
The toner sealing sheet and residual toner collection sheet are fixed to the container frame with a design that prevents protrusion, where the fixing surface protrudes towards the upstream side beyond the central portion, ensuring secure attachment and preventing leakage, even with a narrow fixing surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the container frame is downsized to reduce the overall size of the cleaning device, then the device complexity and size are reduced, but the toner sealing sheet and residual toner collection sheet may protrude beyond the fixing surface causing leakage and user contact issues
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing surface is extended in the axial direction of the image bearing member beyond the central portion of the container frame. This dimensional extension in the axial direction provides sufficient attachment area for the sheets without increasing the radial size of the container frame, thus preventing sheet protrusion while maintaining compact device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner sealing sheet and residual toner collection sheet are preliminarily positioned and secured to the extended fixing surface before the device operates. This preliminary securing ensures that the sheets remain in place during operation, preventing leakage and user contact issues that would otherwise occur with downsized containers.
2Area of stationary object
If the fixing surface is made narrow to downsize the container frame, then the device size is reduced, but the sheets cannot be securely attached leading to potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the radial area of the fixing surface which would enlarge the container frame, the fixing surface is extended in the axial direction of the image bearing member. This provides sufficient attachment perimeter for securing the sheets without increasing the overall device footprint, thereby preventing toner leakage while maintaining compact size.
3Ease of operation
If the sheets are allowed to protrude for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but user contact with toner occurs causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing surface extension in the axial direction allows the sheets to be fully contained within the device boundaries while still being accessible for maintenance. The sheets are secured along this extended axial perimeter, preventing them from protruding beyond the device housing and thus preventing user contact with toner during normal operation.
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 design effectively prevents toner leakage and user contact with the sheets, allowing for the downsizing of the cleaning device, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus while maintaining operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible sheet elastically contacting the image bearing member
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device wherein a cleaner container is provided with an opening, opposing an image bearing drum, for permitting a developer removed from the drum by a cleaning member to enter the container. The cleaning member is fixed at a downstream side of the opening with respect to a rotational moving direction of the drum. The container is provided with a fixing surface for a flexible sheet at an upstream side of the opening with respect to the direction. The sheet is fixed to the fixing surface at an end portion thereof opposite an end portion thereof where the sheet contacts the drum, and at an end portion of the fixing surface with respect to a drum axis direction, the fixing surface protrudes toward a upstream side with respect to a rotational moving direction of the drum beyond a central portion of the fixing surface.