Intermediate Transfer Belt Cleaning with Liquid Coating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for cleaning an intermediate transfer belt in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses using a liquid developer often cause damage to the soft belt due to the increased solid ratio, leading to deformation and inefficiency in removing the carrier liquid and toner particles.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a cleaning system that includes an elastic intermediate transfer belt coated with a cleaning liquid and a cleaning roller to remove extraneous materials without damaging the belt, utilizing a sponge roller for liquid coating and a cleaning roller with a bias voltage to attract and remove solids, thereby reducing the need for strong forces and minimizing belt deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cleaning blade is used to remove the liquid developer from the intermediate transfer belt, then the carrier liquid is removed and the solids ratio is increased, but the solids stick to the belt surface like wet powder and require stronger cleaning force that deforms and damages the soft belt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebelt integrityVSAvoidsolids sticking to belt surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cleaning liquid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the cleaning blade and the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning liquid coats the belt surface before cleaning, acting as a mediator that prevents solids from sticking to the belt during the cleaning process, thereby eliminating the need for excessive cleaning force that would damage the soft belt.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the cleaning interface is changed by applying a liquid coating to the belt surface. This parameter change (from dry to wet surface) reduces the adhesion between solids and belt, allowing effective cleaning with minimal force and preventing belt deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If stronger force is applied to clean the solids from the intermediate transfer belt, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the soft belt surface is deformed and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidbelt strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning liquid serves as a mediator that reduces the direct mechanical interaction between the cleaning blade and the belt surface. By coating the belt with liquid, the solids can be removed more easily with reduced cleaning force, thus maintaining cleaning effectiveness while protecting the belt from damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism is enhanced by replacing purely mechanical force with a combination of chemical/physical action from the cleaning liquid and reduced mechanical force. The liquid reduces adhesion forces, substituting part of the mechanical cleaning requirement with a chemical-physical cleaning action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If the carrier liquid is removed from the liquid developer on the intermediate transfer belt, then the solids ratio is increased, but this makes subsequent cleaning more difficult and requires stronger forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier liquid removalVSAvoidcleaning process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning liquid is applied to the intermediate transfer belt before the cleaning blade removes the solids. This preliminary action of coating the surface with liquid prevents the solids from sticking during the subsequent cleaning operation, avoiding the need for stronger forces and simplifying the overall cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning liquid acts as an intermediary that facilitates the removal of solids by preventing adhesion between the solids and the belt surface. This intermediary layer makes the cleaning process easier and less complex by reducing the mechanical force requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach allows for effective cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt without causing damage, ensuring the belt's integrity and improving the cleaning process by using a cleaning liquid to reduce the solid ratio and facilitate the removal of residual developer components.

Implementation Method 1

coating the intermediate transfer belt with a cleaning liquid... using a cleaning liquid to reduce the solid ratio

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDilution:

Implementation Method 2

a cleaning roller with a bias voltage to attract and remove solids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS7590368B2Image forming apparatus and method of cleaning intermediate transfer belt

Publication Date: 2009.09.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt that has an elastic layer to which a toner image on an image carrier developed using a liquid developer is primarily transferred, a cleaning roller that cleans an extraneous material remaining on the intermediate transfer belt after secondary transfer, and a coating member that coats the intermediate transfer belt with a cleaning liquid.