17866647. IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS simplified abstract (CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA)

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IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Organization Name

CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor(s)

Takeshi Kinoshita of Chiba (JP)

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17866647 titled 'IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an image forming apparatus that includes a fixing member, a recovery roller, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The cleaning unit consists of a cleaning web, a first roller, a second roller, and a third roller. The controller is responsible for stopping the rotation of the second roller if the torque applied to the rotor exceeds a certain threshold.

  • The image forming apparatus includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording material.
  • A recovery roller is used to recover toner that adheres to the fixing member.
  • The cleaning unit consists of a cleaning web, a first roller, a second roller, and a third roller.
  • The cleaning web is wound around the first roller and is supplied to the second roller.
  • The third roller presses the cleaning web against the recovery roller to clean it.
  • The controller monitors the torque applied to the rotor of the motor that drives the second roller.
  • If the torque exceeds a threshold while the rotor is rotating, the controller stops the rotation of the rotor.

Potential Applications

  • This technology can be applied in various image forming apparatus such as printers, copiers, and multifunction devices.
  • It can improve the performance and reliability of the cleaning process in these devices.

Problems Solved

  • The patent addresses the issue of toner adhering to the fixing member and the need for a cleaning mechanism to remove it.
  • It solves the problem of excessive torque on the rotor of the motor that drives the second roller, which can lead to damage or malfunction of the cleaning unit.

Benefits

  • The cleaning unit effectively removes toner from the recovery roller, ensuring high-quality prints and prolonging the lifespan of the image forming apparatus.
  • The controller's ability to stop the rotation of the second roller prevents damage to the cleaning unit and improves overall device reliability.
  • The patent provides a solution that can be easily implemented in existing image forming apparatus, reducing the need for costly modifications or redesigns.


Original Abstract Submitted

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member that fixes, onto a recording material, a toner image that has been transferred onto the recording material, a recovery roller that recovers toner adhering onto the fixing member, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning web that cleans the recovery roller, a first roller around which the cleaning web is wound in advance, a second roller that winds the cleaning web supplied from the first roller, and a third roller that presses the cleaning web against the recovery roller to clean the recovery roller. The controller stops a rotation of a rotor of a motor that drives the second roller, in a case where a value corresponding to a torque applied to the rotor exceeds a threshold while the rotor is rotating.