Cleaning Blade Elastic Modulus and Surface Composition for Toner Filming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in suppressing toner filming on the transfer opposing belt and reducing wear on the cleaning blade, especially when using toner particles with unevenly distributed wax having a low melting temperature.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a cleaning blade made of polyurethane resin with an indentation elastic modulus of 15 MPa to 35 MPa and a surface layer composition where F and Si account for 75% or more of the total F and Si within 200 nm from the contact surface, enhancing friction reduction and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning blade with high indentation elastic modulus (>35 MPa) is used to clean the transfer opposing belt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but toner filming on the belt surface occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the indentation elastic modulus parameter of the cleaning blade from >35 MPa to 5-35 MPa, and adjusts the surface composition (F and Si content ≥75% within 200 nm depth). These parameter changes make the cleaning blade softer and more compliant, preventing toner particles from being pressed into the belt surface while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through optimized surface chemistry.
2Reliability
If a cleaning blade with high indentation elastic modulus is used, then cleaning performance is improved, but wear on the cleaning blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure where the cleaning blade combines polyurethane resin base material with a surface layer enriched in fluorine and silicon elements. This composite approach provides both mechanical durability from the polyurethane matrix and low-friction wear resistance from the F-Si surface layer, extending blade life while maintaining cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the indentation elastic modulus to 5-35 MPa (softer range) and changes surface composition (F and Si ≥75% within 200 nm). The softer modulus reduces mechanical stress and wear on the blade, while the fluorine-silicon surface layer provides low friction and wear resistance, collectively extending cleaning blade life.
3Reliability
If toner particles with low melting temperature wax are used, then transferability is improved, but toner filming on the transfer opposing belt occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the indentation elastic modulus of the cleaning blade to 5-35 MPa and modifies surface composition (F and Si ≥75% within 200 nm depth). These parameter changes create a softer, more compliant cleaning surface that can gently remove toner without pressing melted wax into the belt, preventing filming while maintaining the transferability benefits of low-melting-point toner.
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 effectively suppresses toner filming on the transfer opposing belt and reduces wear on the cleaning blade, ensuring stable cleaning performance without the need for a load adjusting mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade which is brought into contact with and cleans an outer peripheral surface of the transfer opposing belt, and that has an indentation elastic modulus of 15 MPa or more and 35 MPa or less on a surface which is brought into contact with the transfer opposing belt, in which a total amount of F and Si present within 200 nm from a surface which is brought into contact with the transfer opposing belt accounts for 75% or more of a total amount of F and Si present within 5 μm from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image holder; a charging unit that charges a surface of the image holder; an electrostatic charge image forming unit that forms an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the image holder; a developing unit that accommodates an electrostatic charge image developer containing a toner having toner particles and that develops an electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of the image holder as a toner image by the electrostatic charge image developer, in which a release agent present in a region within 800 nm from a surface of the toner particles is 70% or more of a release agent in entire toner particles and a melting temperature of the release agent is 65° C. or higher and 80° C. or lower; a transfer unit that has a transfer opposing belt which comes into contact with a surface of the recording medium on an opposite side to a surface to which the toner image is transferred and that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image holder to the surface of the recording medium; and a cleaning device having a cleaning blade that is brought into contact with and cleans an outer peripheral surface of the transfer opposing belt, that is constituted of a polyurethane resin, and that has an indentation elastic modulus of 15 MPa or more and 35 MPa or less on a surface which is brought into contact with the transfer opposing belt, in which a total amount of F and Si present within 200 nm from the surface which is brought into contact with the transfer opposing belt accounts for 75% or more of a total amount of F and Si present within 5 μm from the surface.