Curved Grid Electrode for Uniform Photoconductor Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging devices for image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent contact and uniform charging of the photoconductor's surface due to the curvature of the image carrier, leading to uneven image density and potential vibrations of the electrode, which affect the quality of the images produced.
Innovation Solution
A charging device with a grid electrode that is elastically deformed and curved to follow the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor, utilizing attachment members and leaf springs to maintain a consistent distance and prevent vibrations, ensuring uniform charging by applying a bias voltage to the grid electrode to control the charge potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat electrode member is used for charging the cylindrical image carrier, then the device structure is simple, but the charging uniformity deteriorates due to the curvature mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode member is transformed from a flat plate to a curved surface that matches the cylindrical shape of the image carrier. This curvature adaptation ensures uniform contact and consistent charging across the entire surface of the rotating image carrier, resolving the charging uniformity issue while maintaining structural feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode member is designed as a flexible thin plate that can be elastically deformed to follow the curved surface of the image carrier. This flexibility allows the electrode to adapt to the cylindrical geometry without requiring a complex rigid curved structure, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving uniform charging.
2Device complexity
If the electrode member is rigid and flat, then the device complexity is low, but the electrode vibrations occur during image carrier rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode member is designed as a flexible thin plate that can elastically deform to follow the curved surface of the rotating image carrier. This flexibility absorbs vibrations and maintains stable contact without requiring complex vibration damping mechanisms, thus improving reliability while keeping device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the electrode member is changed from rigid to flexible, allowing it to adapt to the curved surface and reduce vibrations during rotation. This parameter change in material properties or structural flexibility resolves the stability issue without adding complex control systems.
3Device complexity
If the electrode member does not follow the curved surface, then the attachment structure is simple, but the contact consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode member is designed as a flexible thin plate that naturally conforms to the curved surface of the image carrier through elastic deformation. This self-adapting design maintains consistent contact without requiring complex attachment mechanisms or adjustment systems, thus improving contact consistency while keeping the attachment structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode member transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape during operation. This dynamic capability allows the electrode to maintain optimal contact with the rotating curved surface, ensuring consistent charging contact without complex mechanical adjustments.
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 ensures consistent and uniform charging of the photoconductor surface, reducing unevenness in image density and preventing electrode vibrations, thereby enhancing the quality and reliability of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
the electrode member is elastically deformed and curved to follow the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor
Implementation Method 2
a charging member that charges an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical image carrier
Implementation Method 3
a pushing member disposed between the electrode member and the image carrier, the pushing member pushing the electrode member toward the curved surface
Data Source
AI summary
A charging device includes a charging member that charges an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical image carrier; an electrode member that has the shape of a plate having a longitudinal direction in an axial direction of the image carrier and that is disposed above the charging member; an attachment member that has a curved surface which is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier, the electrode member being attached thereon; and a pushing member disposed between the electrode member and the image carrier, the pushing member pushing the electrode member toward the curved surface so that the electrode member is curved to follow the curved surface.