Developing Roller Toner Patch for Uniform Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses suffer from non-uniform film thickness on the image supporting member due to uneven distribution of stearate, leading to varying coefficients of friction and inadequate cleaning, resulting in uneven toner film thickness in the main-scanning direction.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a developing device that includes a supply part for toner, polish, and antifriction, where the toner patch is formed on the image supporting member to decrease toner adherence with increasing distance from a predetermined point, and a cleaner removes the toner patch to maintain a uniform coefficient of friction and film thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If stearate is used as an antifriction additive in the developer, then the coefficient of friction of the image supporting member is reduced, but the stearate distributes unevenly along the main-scanning direction causing non-uniform film thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform toner patch with varying stearate concentration along the main-scanning direction. The toner patch has a higher stearate content at the upstream portion and lower stearate content at the downstream portion, matching the local friction characteristics at each position. This localized adaptation ensures uniform film thickness by compensating for the non-uniform stearate distribution in the developer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-forming a toner patch with controlled stearate distribution before the cleaning process. This pre-formed patch counteracts the non-uniform stearate distribution that would otherwise cause friction variations and film thickness non-uniformity during subsequent cleaning operations.
2Ease of operation
If a cleaner blade is used to clean the image supporting member, then toner residue is removed, but the blade scrapes the surface unevenly due to varying coefficient of friction, resulting in non-uniform film thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a toner patch with spatially varying stearate concentration that matches the local friction characteristics. The upstream portion has higher stearate content to reduce friction where the cleaner blade applies more pressure, while the downstream portion has lower stearate content where less scraping occurs. This localized compensation ensures uniform film thickness across the entire cleaning surface.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the developer is circulated by stirring members, then toner is evenly distributed in the developer, but stearate separates from toner particles unevenly during circulation, causing non-uniform stearate distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a toner patch with non-uniform stearate distribution that deliberately compensates for the separation behavior during circulation. The patch has higher stearate content at the upstream portion where separation occurs more readily, and lower stearate content at the downstream portion, ensuring that the final stearate distribution on the image supporting member is uniform despite the circulation-induced separation.
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 apparatus ensures a uniform film thickness and coefficient of friction along the image supporting member, reducing toner consumption and preventing non-uniformity, while maintaining a constant antifriction level, thus enhancing image formation consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a developing roller configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, the polish and the antifriction received from the supply member to the image supporting member
Implementation Method 2
the cleaner blade scrapes the surface of the image supporting member more in the portion having a higher coefficient of friction
Implementation Method 3
a polish serving to polish the image supporting member
Implementation Method 4
an antifriction serving to lower a coefficient of friction of the image supporting member
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus having: an image supporting member; an electrostatic latent image forming section; and a developing device. In the developing device, a supply member receives toner, polish and antifriction at a supply part. The supply member supplies the toner, the polish and the antifriction to a developing roller while conveying the toner, the polish and the antifriction in a predetermined direction along a rotation axis of the image supporting member. A developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, the polish and the antifriction to the image supporting member. A toner patch is formed on the image supporting member, in a facing area capable of facing the developing roller, such that the amount of toner adhering to the image supporting member decreases with increasing distance in the predetermined direction from the supply part. A cleaner removes the toner patch from the image supporting member.