Liquid Developer Carrier Resistivity Control in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recurring recycling of liquid developers in image forming apparatuses leads to a decrease in volume resistivity of the carrier liquid, causing image defects, which can be mitigated by periodic container exchange but increases operational costs and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a separating device that uses a first and second carrier supplying device to manage the carrier liquid, incorporating a resistance detecting device to adjust the carrier liquid's resistivity and a content detecting device to maintain optimal toner levels, ensuring the carrier liquid's quality is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carrier liquid is repeatedly recycled, then the productivity is improved by reducing material consumption, but the volume resistivity of the carrier liquid decreases causing image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the carrier liquid by adding a substance with high volume resistivity (such as a specific ester or carbonate compound) to the recycled carrier liquid. This parameter adjustment restores the volume resistivity to an acceptable range, allowing continued recycling without image defects while maintaining productivity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the volume resistivity of the carrier liquid is continuously monitored. When the resistivity falls below a predetermined threshold, the system automatically adds the high-resistivity substance to restore the property, ensuring image quality is maintained throughout the recycling process.
2Reliability
If the container is periodically exchanged, then the image quality is maintained by preventing resistivity degradation, but the operational cost and maintenance load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the carrier liquid to self-regenerate its volume resistivity through the automatic addition of high-resistivity substances based on monitored resistivity levels. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for periodic container exchanges, reducing maintenance burden while maintaining image quality throughout extended operational periods.
3Ease of operation
If the carrier liquid is recycled without composition adjustment, then the operational cost is reduced, but the volume resistivity decreases leading to image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the volume resistivity of the carrier liquid and provides feedback control by automatically adding high-resistivity substances when resistivity falls below thresholds. This feedback mechanism maintains image quality during recycling without requiring frequent container replacements, optimizing both operational cost and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the chemical composition parameters of the carrier liquid by introducing substances with high volume resistivity. This parameter modification allows the carrier liquid to maintain acceptable resistivity levels during extended recycling, reducing operational costs while preventing image defects.
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 solution effectively suppresses the decrease in volume resistivity of the reused carrier liquid, reducing the likelihood of image defects and lowering operational costs by optimizing the recycling process.
Implementation Method 1
a separating device configured to separate the toner and the carrier liquid from the liquid developer collected at the image forming portion
Implementation Method 2
a resistance detecting device configured to detect a volume resistivity of a liquid in the accommodating portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image with a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid, a separating device configured to separate the toner and the carrier liquid from the liquid developer collected at the image forming portion, a first carrier supplying device supplies a first carrier liquid separated by the separating device, and a second carrier supplying device including a second carrier container to accommodate a second carrier liquid in which a ratio of the first substance to the second substance is smaller than that in the first carrier liquid separated by the separating device or no first substance is contained. An accommodating portion accommodates the liquid developer including the first carrier liquid, the second carrier liquid, and the toner, wherein the liquid developer accommodated in the accommodating portion is supplied to the image forming portion.