Brush Transfer Device Fiber Tilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer device in image forming apparatuses with a brush configuration faces challenges in maintaining excellent primary transferability due to fiber tilt and displacement during operation, leading to uneven contact and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a support device that presses conductive fibers between the support device and the transfer belt, ensuring the maximum fiber tilt amount is less than the contact region length, thereby maintaining consistent contact and preventing downstream displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a brush-type transfer device with conductive fibers is used to improve contact evenness with the intermediate transfer belt, then contact uniformity is improved, but the fibers tilt toward the downstream side during operation causing contact region displacement and deteriorating transferability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the support device movable in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The support device includes a movable portion that can shift downstream to compensate for fiber tilt, and a biasing member that provides restoring force to maintain optimal contact pressure between the fibers and the intermediate transfer belt during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the support device along the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt. By allowing the support device to move and adjust its position dynamically, the contact region remains within the effective transfer zone despite fiber tilt, thereby maintaining transferability while preserving contact uniformity.
2Device complexity
If the conductive fibers are allowed to contact the intermediate transfer belt freely using only fiber elasticity, then the structure is simple, but the contact region displaces downstream during use reducing transfer quality
Solution Approach 1:
The support device incorporates a movable portion that can shift in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt, transforming the static fiber contact structure into a dynamic one. This allows the contact region to be actively maintained within the effective transfer zone, preventing downstream displacement while adding minimal structural complexity through the movable mechanism and biasing member.
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 sustainable excellent transferability by maintaining even contact between the transfer device and the transfer belt, preventing image defects like density unevenness and improving overall image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of conductive fibers is pressed between the support device and the transfer belt
Data Source
AI summary
A position of a contact region formed between a transfer belt and a transfer member in the form of a brush is displaced toward a downstream side in a movement direction of the transfer belt with respect to the position in an initial state, whereby it is difficult to acquire excellent transferability. An image forming apparatus, in which a plurality of conductive fibers contacts an inner circumferential surface of the transfer belt, includes a support device configured to support the transfer member in such a manner that the plurality of conductive fibers is pressed between the support device and the transfer belt. A tilt amount of the conductive fiber, which is generated due to a movement of the transfer belt, is smaller than a length of a region where an image bearing member and the transfer belt contact each other in the movement direction of the transfer belt.