Conductive Elastic Layer with Resin Microballoons for Heat Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic pressure rollers face challenges in achieving high thermal insulation and electrical conductivity while maintaining dimensional stability, leading to issues with heat fixing assembly performance and electrostatic offsetting.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic member with a conductive elastic layer containing connected open-cell foams derived from resin microballoons and an ion conducting agent, which enhances thermal insulation and dimensional stability, and includes a release layer for antistatic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If resin microballoons are incorporated into the elastic layer to reduce thermal conductivity, then thermal insulation properties are improved, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system combining resin microballoons (for thermal insulation) with ion conducting agents (for electrical conductivity). The elastic layer contains both resin microballoons creating voids for thermal insulation and ion conducting agents dispersed throughout to provide electrical conductivity, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a heterogeneous structure where resin microballoons are distributed to provide thermal insulation at specific locations while ion conducting agents are dispersed throughout the matrix to ensure electrical conductivity. This allows different regions of the elastic layer to optimize for their respective functions.
2Reliability
If carbon black is incorporated to improve electrical conductivity, then electrostatic offsetting is prevented, but aggregation of resin microballoons is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aggregating agent as an intermediary substance that mediates between carbon black and resin microballoons. The aggregating agent has affinity for both carbon black and resin microballoons, allowing it to bridge them together and prevent carbon black from interfering with the aggregation of resin microballoons, thus maintaining both electrical conductivity and proper microballoon aggregation.
3Productivity
If the pressure roller is heated rapidly to reduce startup time, then productivity is improved, but dimensional stability deteriorates due to gas expansion in voids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses porous materials (resin microballoons creating connected open-cell foam voids) in the elastic layer. These voids are filled with gas that can expand when heated, but the porous structure allows controlled expansion that accommodates thermal effects. The connected open-cell structure provides thermal insulation that slows heat penetration, reducing rapid thermal expansion and improving dimensional stability during heating.
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 provides stable heat fixing with reduced power consumption, improved thermal insulation, and prevention of electrostatic offsetting, ensuring efficient toner image fixation and dimensional stability during temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
contains an ion conducting agent
Implementation Method 2
A method in which air voids are arranged in the elastic layer of a pressure roller in order to lower the thermal conductivity of the elastic layer
Implementation Method 3
it is required that the resin microballoons are aggregated in a liquid rubber composition
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to providing an electrophotographic member including a conductive elastic layer having high thermal insulation properties and excellent dimensional stability. The electrophotographic member having an elastic layer which includes a plurality of voids derived from resin microballoons connected to and made open to each other and contains an ion conducting agent.