Dual Heating Transfer Image Density Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image density unevenness occurs in high-temperature and high-humidity environments due to increased water content and reduced resistance in toner and recording paper, leading to inefficient charge injection and transfer.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a first heating device to heat the toner image on an intermediate transfer body and a second heating device to heat the recording paper before the second transfer, reducing water content and maintaining resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating is not applied to the toner image and recording paper before transfer, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but image density unevenness occurs in high-temperature and high-humidity environments due to increased water content and reduced resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating to the toner image on the intermediate transfer body and to the recording paper before the transfer process. This preliminary action reduces water content and maintains resistance in advance, preventing image density unevenness during transfer in high-temperature and high-humidity environments without requiring complex real-time control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the toner image and recording paper through heating devices. By controlling the temperature to reduce water content and maintain resistance, the transfer efficiency is improved and image density uniformity is achieved in challenging environmental conditions
2Productivity
If heating devices are added to heat the toner image and recording paper, then charge injection efficiency and transfer efficiency are improved, but the apparatus complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Heating is applied in advance to the toner image and recording paper before transfer to optimize their physical state. This preliminary action ensures efficient charge injection and transfer while allowing the use of moderate heating power over a short duration, rather than requiring high power continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The heating devices are applied locally to specific regions where needed - the toner image on the intermediate transfer body and the recording paper - rather than heating the entire apparatus. This localized approach improves transfer efficiency while minimizing overall energy consumption
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
This configuration reduces image density unevenness in high-temperature and high-humidity environments by improving charge injection efficiency and maintaining transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating device to heat the toner image on an intermediate transfer body
Implementation Method 2
a second heating device to heat the recording paper before the second transfer
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging device that charges a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electrostatic charge image creating device that creates an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing device that houses an electrostatic charge image developer containing toner and develops the electrostatic charge image created on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor into a toner image by supplying the electrostatic charge image developer, an intermediate transfer body having a surface onto which the toner image is transferred, a first transfer device that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to the surface of the intermediate transfer body, a second transfer device that transfers the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer body to a surface of recording paper, a fixing device that fixes the toner image onto the surface of the recording paper, a first heating device that heats the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body before the second transfer device transfers the toner image to the surface of the recording paper, and a second heating device that heats the recording paper before the second transfer device transfers the toner image to the surface of the recording paper.