Developing Member Conductive Layer for High-Speed Toner Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-speed electrophotographic processes, existing developing members face challenges in maintaining high image quality and durability due to insufficient electric charge supply, leading to variations in toner charge and potential fog images, as conventional conductive agents struggle to keep pace with the rapid process speed.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic developing member with an electro-conductive layer comprising a matrix of first rubber and domains of second rubber and electronic conductive agent, where the impedance characteristics are optimized to ensure efficient electric charge transfer across a wide frequency range, preventing stagnation and ensuring consistent charge supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electronic conductive agents (carbon black) or ionic conductive agents are used in the electro-conductive layer, then conductivity is achieved through charge transfer, but the transfer speed cannot follow high-speed process requirements, causing insufficient charge supply to toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of charge transfer mechanism from ionic/conventional electronic conduction to quantum tunneling conduction through the use of organic EL conductive agents. This parameter change enables charge transfer speeds that can follow high-speed process requirements while maintaining reliable charge supply consistency to the toner.
2Reliability
If the electro-conductive layer uses conventional conductive mechanisms, then the structure is simple, but the process cannot maintain high image quality and durability in high-speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining organic EL conductive agents with the electro-conductive layer matrix. This composite structure enables new conductive mechanisms that maintain simple overall device structure while achieving high reliability in high-speed operation through the unique properties of the organic EL conductive agents.
3Reliability
If charge transfer relies on conventional electro-conductive paths, then the system is stable, but fog images occur due to insufficient charge supply to toner in high-speed processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the conventional mechanical/ionic charge transfer mechanism with quantum tunneling-based organic EL conduction. This substitution enables sufficient charge supply to toner in high-speed processes, eliminating the harmful fog image formation while maintaining system stability.
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 developing member effectively suppresses variations in electric charge supply, improving the overall charged quantity of toner and reducing the occurrence of fog images, thereby maintaining high image quality and durability even at high speeds.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic conductive agent such as carbon black is dispersed in an electro-conductive layer, electric charges are transferred in an electro-conductive path connected by the electronic conductive agent from an electro-conductive support to a surface of an electro-conductive member
Implementation Method 2
the conductivity is exhibited by the transfer of anions and cations such as quaternary ammonium
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic developing member includes an electro-conductive support and an electro-conductive layer provided on the support, wherein the electro-conductive layer has a matrix containing a first rubber and a plurality of domains dispersed in the matrix, and the domain contains a second rubber and an electronic conductive agent and when a frequency is log-log-plotted on a horizontal axis and an impedance is log-log-plotted on a vertical axis with respect to an impedance measured by applying an alternating current voltage having an amplitude of 1 V on the electro-conductive layer while changing a frequency between 1.0×10−2 Hz to 1.0×107 Hz under a specific environment, an inclination of an impedance on a high frequency side is −0.8 or more and −0.3 or less and an impedance on a low frequency side is 1.0×104Ω to 1.0×1011Ω.