Image Forming with Conductive Edge Support for Complete Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face difficulties in transferring images onto portions of a recording medium where a member, such as an electrode or grounding member, makes contact with the image formation surface, leading to incomplete or hindered image transfer.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a transport unit that transports a recording medium with an electrically conductive support unit, which becomes conductive with the image formation surface by contacting the peripheral edge or other portions of the recording medium, allowing a transfer electric field to be formed without direct contact with the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a member such as an electrode or grounding member is brought into contact with the image formation surface to form the transfer electric field, then the transfer electric field can be formed, but image transfer is difficult onto portions where this member makes contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductive support unit as an intermediary component that provides electrical connection to the recording medium without contacting the image formation surface. This mediator (support unit) allows the transfer electric field to be formed while preventing direct contact between the electrode/grounding member and the image formation surface, thus avoiding image transfer defects.
2Manufacturing precision
If a support unit is used to provide electrical connection without contacting the image formation surface, then image transfer completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive support unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection to the recording medium, maintains proper spacing to prevent contact with the image formation surface, and supports the recording medium during transport. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving complete image transfer.
3Reliability
If the support unit contacts the peripheral edge or non-image area of the recording medium, then electrical conduction is ensured without hindering image transfer, but the support unit configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having the support unit contact only specific areas (peripheral edges or non-image areas) of the recording medium rather than the entire surface. This localized contact approach ensures reliable electrical conduction for forming the transfer electric field while avoiding interference with the image transfer process on the image formation surface, and simplifies the support unit design compared to requiring full-surface contact.
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 ensures reliable conduction and image transfer without hindrance, simplifies the support unit's configuration, and allows for frameless image formation on conductive and non-conductive media.
Implementation Method 1
a support unit that has electric conductivity, supports the recording medium so as to be conductive with the image formation surface of the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
transfers an image formed with particles onto the image formation surface by an electric field formed between the transfer unit and the image formation surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a recording medium whose image formation surface has electric conductivity; a transfer unit that makes contact with the image formation surface of the recording medium transported by the transport unit and transfers an image formed with particles onto the image formation surface by an electric field formed between the transfer unit and the image formation surface; and a support unit that has electric conductivity, supports the recording medium so as to be conductive with the image formation surface of the recording medium, and is transported to the transfer unit together with the recording medium by the transport unit.