Charging Member Surface Layer for Abnormal Discharge Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charging members in image forming apparatuses face issues with abnormal discharges due to adherent substances and electrical resistance irregularities, particularly when a wide minute gap is maintained between the charging member and the image support body, leading to reduced cleaning effectiveness and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A charging member with an electrically conductive support body, an electrical resistance adjustment layer, and a surface layer containing polyol resin grafted with fluorine or silicon, polyether polyol resin, organic anion salts, and polyisocyanate, which maintains low electrical resistance even with a wider minute gap, preventing abnormal discharges and extending the charging member's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a wide minute gap is maintained between the charging member and the image support body, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but abnormal discharges occur due to electrical resistance irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material composition parameters of the charging member surface layer, incorporating fluorine-containing compounds and specific resin ratios to reduce surface resistance and prevent abnormal discharges while maintaining the wide minute gap for effective cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The charging member uses a composite structure with an electrically conductive support body, electrical resistance adjustment layer, and surface layer containing fluorine-containing compounds, creating a multi-functional material system that simultaneously achieves low resistance and cleaning effectiveness
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the minute gap is widened to reduce adherent substances, then the charging member lifespan is extended, but electrical resistance becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the electrical resistance parameters of the charging member surface by incorporating fluorine-containing compounds and specific resin compositions, enabling stable electrical resistance even at widened minute gaps that extend component lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical resistance adjustment layer acts as an intermediary between the conductive support body and the surface layer, providing stable electrical resistance control that maintains performance at wider gaps
3Productivity
If contact type charging is used, then charging efficiency is high, but adherent substances accumulate on the charging member surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces direct mechanical contact with a non-contact charging system, using electric fields to charge the image support body without physical contact, thereby eliminating adherent substance accumulation while maintaining charging efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the charging mechanism from contact-based to non-contact-based by adjusting the minute gap parameter, reducing adherent substance accumulation while maintaining effective charging through optimized electrical field interaction
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
The solution effectively prevents abnormal discharges and maintains image quality by ensuring stable electrical resistance, allowing for a wider minute gap without compromising performance, thus enhancing the charging member's durability and image forming consistency.
Implementation Method 1
A charging member with an electrically conductive support body, an electrical resistance adjustment layer, and a surface layer containing polyol resin grafted with fluorine or silicon, polyether polyol resin, organic anion salts, and polyisocyanate, which maintains low electrical resistance even with a wider minute gap, preventing abnormal discharges
Implementation Method 2
Such a charging mechanism by the charging roller 112 towards the surface of the photoconductive drum 111 is in fact known to be discharges according to the Paschen's Law in an infinitesimal space between the charging roller 112 and the photoconductive drum 111
Data Source
AI summary
A charging member is provided in which a minute gap between an image support body and the charging member is set widely but even so the charging member does not abnormally discharge easily, the charging member includes a conductive support body 903, an electrical resistance adjustment layer 902 disposed on the conductive support body 903 and a surface layer 901 disposed on the electrical resistance adjustment layer 902 in which the surface layer contains at least (a) polyol resin grafted with fluorine or silicon, (b) polyether polyol resin, (c) organic anion salt that contains fluorine and alkali metal or alkali earth metal and (d) polyisocyanate.