Coated Driving Roller Friction Control for Belt Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with maintaining precise rotation and transfer of toner images due to changes in friction coefficients and foreign substance adhesion, leading to cleaning failures and image displacement.
Innovation Solution
A driving roller with a surface coating layer containing fine particles is used to adjust and maintain friction between the roller and the intermediate transfer belt, preventing toner adhesion and ensuring stable rotation and transfer of images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the coefficient of friction of the driving roller is increased to rotate the intermediate transfer belt precisely, then the belt rotation precision is improved, but when foreign substance such as toner adheres to the surface of the driving roller, the coefficient of friction decreases substantially causing idle rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The surface properties of the driving roller are modified by forming a coating layer with specific friction characteristics. This coating layer maintains a stable coefficient of friction even when foreign substances like toner adhere to the surface, preventing the friction from decreasing substantially and ensuring continuous precise rotation of the intermediate transfer belt.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving roller employs a composite structure with a coating layer applied on the surface. This coating layer is composed of materials that provide both the necessary friction for precise belt rotation and resistance to friction degradation when toner or other foreign substances adhere to the surface, creating a multi-functional surface structure.
2Productivity
If the electric resistance of the driving roller is adjusted to enhance transfer performance, then the toner image transfer from intermediate transfer belt to transfer sheet is improved, but the friction coefficient changes affecting belt rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The driving roller is designed with different surface properties through the coating layer. The coating layer provides specific electric resistance characteristics that enhance transfer performance while simultaneously maintaining appropriate friction characteristics for precise belt rotation, allowing different functional requirements to be met at the surface level without compromising overall performance.
3Force
If a conventional driving roller surface is used, then the initial friction coefficient is sufficient for belt rotation, but toner adhesion causes friction decrease leading to cleaning failures and image displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer on the driving roller is designed to interact with adhered toner in a beneficial way. When toner adheres to the coating surface, it does not cause the friction coefficient to decrease substantially as it would on conventional surfaces. The coating material properties convert the potentially harmful toner adhesion into a non-disruptive condition, maintaining stable friction and preventing cleaning failures and image displacement.
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 image displacement and cleaning failures by maintaining consistent friction and preventing toner adhesion, ensuring precise and stable image transfer onto transfer sheets.
Implementation Method 1
The coefficient of friction and an electric resistance of a driving roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt are adjusted. The coefficient of friction is adjusted to rotate the intermediate transfer belt precisely.
Data Source
AI summary
A belt device includes a belt that is rotatable and a driving rotator to drive and rotate the belt and to be accidentally adhered with a foreign substance. The driving rotator includes a coating layer as a surface layer. The coating layer includes a plurality of fine particles.