Bright Toner Image Formation Apparatus Glossiness Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image formation apparatuses using bright toner with metal pigments face issues with glossiness when the layer thickness is reduced, leading to strip-shaped portions without toner and decreased image quality, especially when bright color is used alone or combined with other colors.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes separate image formation units for bright and non-bright toners, with a controller adjusting transfer efficiency and waste toner collection to maintain sufficient brightness and prevent toner loss, allowing for optimal layer thickness and image quality in both monochrome and color printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the layer thickness of bright toner is reduced to improve glossiness, then high glossiness can be obtained, but metal pigment particles get caught between the development blade and development roller causing strip-shaped portions without toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the gap between the development blade and development roller to a specific range (0.01 to 0.05 mm) to optimize toner layer thickness control. This parameter change allows sufficient bright toner transfer while preventing metal pigment particles from being caught, thereby maintaining both glossiness and image quality without strip-shaped defects
2Illumination intensity
If the layer thickness of bright toner is reduced to enhance brightness, then higher brightness can be achieved, but toner transfer efficiency decreases causing loss of bright toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the gap between development blade and development roller to precisely control toner layer thickness, and adjusts development roller rotation speed to balance transfer efficiency with brightness enhancement. This ensures minimal bright toner loss while achieving the desired brightness effect
3Manufacturing precision
If the gap between development blade and development roller is reduced to control toner layer thickness, then thinner toner layers can be formed, but metal pigment particles are removed from the development roller surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the gap between development blade and development roller within the specific range of 0.01 to 0.05 mm, which is large enough to prevent metal pigment particle removal while small enough to achieve precise layer thickness control. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and toner attachment reliability
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 configuration ensures high glossiness and image quality by controlling the transfer efficiency and waste toner management, effectively reducing the layer thickness of bright toner images and distributing waste toner efficiently, thus enhancing brightness and preventing toner wastage.
Implementation Method 1
the photosensitive drum that forms a toner image by attaching the toner from the development roller to an electrostatic latent image formed on a peripheral side surface of the photosensitive drum
Implementation Method 2
a transfer unit configured to transfer the first toner image and the second toner image to a transfer body
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a first image formation unit that forms a first toner image on a first image carrier by using a bright toner containing a bright pigment; a second image formation unit that forms a second toner image on a second image carrier by using a non-bright toner containing no bright pigment; a transfer unit that transfers the first and second toner images to a transfer body; and a controller that controls the transfer unit. The controller is configured to perform control such that a transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body is lower than the transfer efficiency of the bright toner in a case where the second toner image is not superimposed to the first toner image formed on the transfer body.