Conductive Roller Hysteresis Control for Image Parallelism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive rollers in image forming apparatuses often suffer from insufficient cleaning performance, leading to soiling of the back sides of printed materials and challenges in maintaining image parallelism due to inadequate hysteresis loss in the elastic layer.
Innovation Solution
A conductive roller design featuring a support member, an elastic layer with a cylindrical elastic foam, and a conductive covering layer, where the elastic layer has a hysteresis loss of 44% or less, enhancing cleaning performance and allowing for easier adjustment of image parallelism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic layer has high hysteresis loss, then cleaning performance is improved, but image parallelism adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the hysteresis loss of the elastic layer to be 44% or less, and by adjusting the ratio of Young's modulus between the elastic layer and surface layer to be 0.05 or more and 0.5 or less. These parameter optimizations resolve the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point where cleaning performance is sufficient while image parallelism becomes easier to adjust.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining an elastic layer and a surface layer with specific material properties. The elastic layer provides cleaning function through controlled hysteresis loss, while the surface layer with higher Young's modulus provides image transfer precision. This composite structure allows each layer to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and image parallelism adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If the elastic layer has low hysteresis loss, then image parallelism adjustment becomes easier, but cleaning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a lower bound for hysteresis loss at 44% or less, preventing it from becoming too low. This parameter constraint ensures that cleaning performance is maintained while allowing sufficient reduction to improve image parallelism adjustment ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of elastic layer and surface layer allows the elastic layer to maintain adequate hysteresis for cleaning while the surface layer compensates for image transfer requirements, resolving the contradiction between low hysteresis benefits and cleaning performance maintenance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the elastic layer uses conventional materials, then manufacturing is simpler, but anti-soiling properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining an elastic layer with a surface layer having specific Young's modulus characteristics. This composite structure provides superior anti-soiling properties on the back side of printed materials while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established multi-layer roller manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different mechanical properties to different layers: the elastic layer has controlled hysteresis loss for cleaning function, while the surface layer has higher Young's modulus for anti-soiling and image transfer. This localized property differentiation resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and anti-soiling performance.
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 conductive roller achieves superior anti-soiling properties and improved image parallelism by reducing hysteresis loss in the elastic layer, ensuring effective cleaning and precise image transfer.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic layer has a hysteresis loss of 44% or less
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive roller includes a support member, an elastic layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the support member, and a surface layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a cylindrical elastic foam and a conductive covering layer covering an exposed surface of the elastic foam, and the elastic layer has a hysteresis loss of 44% or less.