Imaging Cartridge Wiper Blade Pressure Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing imaging process cartridges face challenges in effectively removing excess toner from the organic photo conductor (OPC) drum due to surface roughness, leading to toner entrapment and print defects, especially when using newer toners with different electrostatic charge characteristics and dimensions, which can result in inadequate abutment pressure from the wiper blade.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the wiper blade to increase its abutment pressure against the OPC drum by adjusting the position of the guides and mounting holes, allowing the flexible tip to protrude further and apply a greater pressure, ensuring effective cleaning of the OPC drum surface, even with surface imperfections and varying toner characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the wiper blade is positioned to distribute pressure equally along the edge, then the blade structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the abutment pressure against the OPC drum is insufficient to remove newer toners with different characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is modified to have non-uniform pressure distribution along its edge, with increased abutment pressure at specific locations to effectively remove newer toner types from the OPC drum surface, while maintaining simple manufacturing through targeted modifications rather than complete redesign
2Reliability
If the wiper blade applies increased abutment pressure to conform to OPC drum surface imperfections, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the force required increases and may cause wear
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade parameters are modified to optimize the balance between abutment pressure and cleaning effectiveness, allowing the blade to conform to OPC drum surface imperfections and remove entrapped toner while controlling the force applied to prevent excessive wear
3Manufacturing precision
If the wiper blade removes all excess toner effectively, then print quality improves, but the complexity of the wiper blade increases to achieve proper pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is designed with localized pressure enhancement at critical areas where toner entrapment occurs due to OPC drum surface imperfections, achieving complete toner removal without requiring complex overall blade structure
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade modifications are designed to preemptively address toner entrapment issues by creating sufficient abutment pressure before toner can become embedded in surface imperfections, preventing print defects rather than correcting them
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 increased abutment pressure enhances the cleaning effectiveness of the wiper blade, preventing toner entrapment and reducing print defects by ensuring thorough removal of excess toner, thereby maintaining the charging capacity of the OPC drum and improving print quality.
Implementation Method 1
the edge of the wiper blade scrapes off any excess toner that may be remaining on the OPC drum
Implementation Method 2
The wiper blade is positioned to distribute pressure equally along the edge of the blade as the blade is positioned against the OPC drum
Implementation Method 3
The toner may then be transferred to the print media and fused into the media... areas on the OPC drum that are electrostatically discharged
Implementation Method 4
toner having oppositely charged particles may be transferred from a developer or presentation roller to the OPC drum
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for modifying an image processing cartridge. In one aspect, a method of modifying one such imaging process cartridge is disclosed. The method provides the imaging process cartridge, the imaging process cartridge has a waste bin assembly, and the waste bin assembly further has an organic photo conductor (OPC) drum which is coupled with a first wiper blade. The first wiper blade exerts a first abutment pressure when the first wiper blade is coupled to the OPC drum. The method removes the first wiper blade and installs a second wiper blade, wherein the second wiper blade exerts a second abutment pressure when coupled to the OPC drum.