Spirally Wound Cleaning Member Elastic Layer Peeling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning members in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with peeling of the elastic layer in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, leading to decreased performance and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for pressure-bonding treatments.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning member with a spirally wound elastic layer having a width less than or equal to the core radius and 1 mm or more, which reduces the deformation and restoring force of the elastic layer, preventing peeling without the need for pressure-bonding treatments, and ensuring secure contact with the core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic layer is made wider to improve cleaning contact, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the peeling resistance deteriorates in high-temperature and high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the elastic layer, specifically setting the width W1 to be less than or equal to the core radius R and at least 1 mm. This parameter optimization balances the adhesive force (which improves with wider width) and the restoring force (which increases with curvature), preventing peeling without requiring expensive pressure-bonding treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a flat elastic layer to a spirally wound configuration around the core. This dimensional change creates a controlled curvature that reduces the restoring force of the elastic layer, thereby reducing peeling tendency while maintaining effective cleaning contact width
2Reliability
If pressure-bonding treatment is applied to prevent peeling, then the peeling resistance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the elastic layer to self-adhere to the core through optimized geometric parameters. The width and curvature are designed such that the adhesive force naturally balances the restoring force, eliminating the need for external pressure-bonding treatments and their associated complexity
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the width-to-radius ratio and minimum width parameter, the patent achieves natural peeling prevention through parameter design alone, replacing complex manufacturing processes with simple geometric constraints
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 solution effectively prevents peeling of the elastic layer in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, maintaining performance and reducing manufacturing costs by adjusting the elastic layer's width and curvature to balance deformation and adhesive force.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic layer including a strip-shaped elastic member that is spirally wound around a region of an outer peripheral surface of the core ranging from one end to another end of the core
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning member includes a core, and an elastic layer including a strip-shaped elastic member that is spirally wound around a region of an outer peripheral surface of the core ranging from one end to another end of the core, wherein a width W1 of the elastic layer is less than or equal to a radius R of the core and is 1 mm or more.