Developing Device Biaxial Circulation for Glossy Image Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices using two-component developers face challenges in producing highly glossy images with low fixing temperature without causing hot offset and high temperature preservability issues, and in maintaining consistent toner concentration to prevent uneven image density.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a biaxial one-way circulation system that includes a developer supplying passage, a collecting passage, and an agitating passage, where the developer is circulated in a way that prevents direct mixing with used developer, ensuring consistent toner concentration and agitating the mixed developer to maintain desired properties, using a transparent toner with viscoelastic properties and a lubricant for improved glossiness and hot offset resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a low temperature fixable transparent toner is used to produce glossy images, then fixing energy is reduced and glossiness is improved, but toner preservability deteriorates and spent toner problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the toner by incorporating specific functional materials (wax, lubricant, silane-modified polymer) in controlled proportions. This allows the toner to maintain low melting point for energy-efficient fixing while improving stability and preservability through compositional optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite toner material combining multiple components: low melting point wax (30-70 parts), lubricant (5-20 parts), silane-modified polymer (10-40 parts), and other additives. This composite structure enables the toner to simultaneously achieve low fixing temperature, high glossiness, and improved preservability by leveraging the complementary properties of each component
2Device complexity
If transparent toner is circulated in a simple developing device, then device complexity is reduced, but toner concentration becomes uneven causing inconsistent image density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the developing device into functionally separate passages: a first passage for supplying fresh developer to the developing roller, and a second passage for collecting and agitating used developer. This segmentation prevents mixing of fresh and used developer, maintaining consistent toner concentration in the supply passage while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a doctor blade as an intermediary element that controls the thickness and flow of developer on the developing roller. This ensures uniform toner supply to the image bearing member, preventing density variations caused by uneven developer distribution while maintaining a simple device architecture
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 enables the stable production of highly glossy images at low fixing temperatures, preventing hot offset and preserving toner quality, while ensuring consistent image density and glossiness across the printed material.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent toner which includes a resin and a lubricant and has a viscoelastic property such that a loss tangent (tan δ), which is defined as a ratio (G"/G") of loss modulus (G") thereof to storage modulus (G") thereof, has a peak of not less than 3 at a temperature of from 80°C. to 160°C.
Implementation Method 2
toner capable of melting at a relatively low temperature is needed
Implementation Method 3
a transparent toner which includes a resin and a lubricant
Implementation Method 4
a developer supplying passage having a developer supplying member to feed the developer in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the developer bearing member to supply the developer to the developer bearing member; a developer collecting passage having a developer collecting member to collect the developer, which has passed through the development region, while feeding the developer in the first direction
Data Source
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AI summary
In an image forming method, a color toner image and a transparent toner image are formed using a first developing device (4,105A-D) containing a first developer including color toner and carrier, and a second developing device (4,105E) containing a second developer including transparent toner and carrier. At least the second developing device includes a developer bearing member (5,302) bearing the second developer for developing an electrostatic image; a developer supplying passage (9,304P) supplying the developer to the developer bearing member while feeding the developer in a first direction; and a developer feeding passage (7,10,305P) separated from the developer supplying passage at a central portion thereof and feeding the developer used for development in a direction parallel to the first direction The transparent toner includes a resin and a lubricant and has viscoelastic property such that loss tangent has a peak with height of not less than 3 at a temperature of from 80°C to 160°C