Toner Conveyance Member Positioning in Image Forming Cleaning Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face cleaning failures due to inefficiencies in toner collection and conveyance, particularly when the cleaning unit's conveyance member is positioned below the collection member, leading to accumulation and reduced cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a collection member that contacts the image bearing member, a conveyance member positioned above the collection member, a rotatable flexible agitation member to agitate toner, and an accommodation unit that includes a wall portion within the rotation orbit of the agitation member, facilitating efficient toner conveyance and collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the conveyance member is positioned below the collection member, then the structure is simpler, but toner accumulation occurs and cleaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the conveyance member above the collection member instead of below. This inversion allows the conveyance member to effectively remove accumulated toner from the collection member, preventing toner buildup and maintaining cleaning performance while keeping the structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Quantity of substance

If toner accumulates in the accommodation unit, then the structure can handle large toner volume, but cleaning failure occurs due to reduced conveyance efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner accommodation capacityVSAvoidtoner conveyance efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous toner conveyance by positioning the conveyance member above the collection member, allowing it to continuously remove toner from the collection member and transport it to the accommodation unit. This continuous action prevents toner accumulation that would otherwise reduce conveyance efficiency, while still maintaining large toner accommodation capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyance member acts as an intermediary between the collection member and the accommodation unit. It efficiently transfers toner from the collection member to the accommodation unit, ensuring smooth toner flow and preventing accumulation that would hinder conveyance efficiency, while the accommodation unit maintains its large capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the agitation member rotates freely, then toner agitation is effective, but toner may be scattered outside the accommodation unit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner agitation effectivenessVSAvoidtoner scattering

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of toner scattering into a benefit by strategically positioning the conveyance member above the collection member. The conveyance member captures the agitated toner particles that might otherwise scatter, and transports them to the accommodation unit. This transforms what would be a harmful scattering effect into an effective toner conveyance mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 prevents cleaning failures by ensuring effective toner agitation and conveyance, maintaining cleaning performance and reducing toner accumulation, thereby enhancing the reliability of the image forming process.

Implementation Method 1

a rotatable flexible agitation member configured to agitate the toner collected by the collection member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11209766B2Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 CANON KK

AI summary

A cleaning device includes a conveyance member, an agitation member, and an accommodation unit. The conveyance member extends in a width direction of an image bearing member orthogonal to a moving direction of the image bearing member, and conveys toner in the width direction by rotation. The accommodation unit includes a wall portion located inside a rotation orbit of an outermost peripheral portion of the agitation member, downstream of the collection member and upstream of the conveyance member in a rotation direction of the agitation member when viewed in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance member.