Analysis of Cleaning Blade Behavior by Using Visualization Technology

Abstract

Recently, for the purpose of high-resolution or longer life in the electrophotographic recording system is used chemical toner or long-life photoreceptor. The role of the cleaning process is regarded as important to secure reliability, but there are many unexplained phenomena, such as the dynamic behavior of toner particles and the influence of these particles. Therefore, visualization system using a glass drum was developed to grasp various phenomena. It was to simulate an actual machine and performed a trial to elucidate a phenomenon based on effect and cause. As a result, the basic phenomena of a cleaning blade such as a stick-slip phenomenon were visualized and revealed details of those. By analyzing the flow of toner and additive in the pre-nip, it was clarified the wear mechanism, that is, the polishing effect of the additive particles is considered to be the main factor of the wear of the photoreceptor.