Charging Roller with Inclined Spherical Particles for Slippage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed and small-sized electrophotographic apparatuses experience slippage and charge potential differences between the charging roller and photosensitive member, leading to horizontally streaky non-uniformity in electrophotographic images when using charging rollers with roughened-surface forming particles exposed.
Innovation Solution
A roller for electrophotography with an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer containing spherical particles, where part or all of the particle planes are exposed to the surface, forming an acute internal angle with the tangential plane, preventing toner sticking and slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roughened-surface forming particles are exposed to the surface of the charging roller, then toner sticking is prevented and charging performance is improved, but slippage occurs at high speed causing horizontally streaky non-uniformity in images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the spherical particles from random or horizontal exposure to inclined exposure at specific angles (5-45 degrees relative to the tangential plane). This parameter change in particle orientation simultaneously achieves low dynamic friction during rotation (preventing slippage) and maintains effective contact points for charging, thereby resolving the contradiction between charging performance and slippage resistance.
2Productivity
If the charging roller operates at high speed with small diameter, then productivity is improved, but slippage between the photosensitive member and charging roller increases causing charge potential differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameter of particle orientation to create inclined planes on spherical particles. This structural parameter change reduces the coefficient of dynamic friction during rotation, enabling high-speed operation without slippage, thereby maintaining charge potential uniformity even at high productivity speeds.
3Ease of operation
If spherical particles are exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, then the coefficient of dynamic friction lowers preventing toner sticking, but slippage occurs at the initial stage of rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric orientation of spherical particles by creating inclined planes at specific angles rather than random or symmetric horizontal exposure. This asymmetric configuration creates directional friction characteristics that provide both low dynamic friction for toner release and sufficient static friction to prevent initial rotation slippage.
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 prevents toner sticking and slippage, ensuring stable formation of high-grade electrophotographic images by maintaining low dynamic friction during rotation and high static friction when stationary, thus minimizing image non-uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
the coefficient of dynamic friction lowers to bring an effect that toners, external additives, paper dust and so forth can be kept from sticking to its surface
Implementation Method 2
an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer as a surface layer
Data Source
AI summary
A roller for electrophotography has an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer as a surface layer. The elastic layer holds spherical particles each having a plane on their peripheral surfaces, in such a way that part or the whole of the plane comes exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and the plane of each of the spherical particles standing exposed to the surface of the elastic layer and a plane that is i) orthogonal to a straight line passing through an axis of a section orthogonal to an axis of the roller for electrophotography and being directed toward the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography and is ii) tangential to the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography form an acute internal angle.