Dual-Purpose Roller for Wet Developing Device Toner Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wet type developing devices require frequent replacement of regulation and cleaning blades, leading to high production costs, complex adjustments, and potential damage to the anilox and developing rollers, which complicates the regulation of liquid toner supply and erasure of electrostatic latent images.

Innovation Solution

A dual-purpose roller with a porous surface, capable of both regulating liquid toner supply and erasing residual toner, is introduced, featuring a nip width adjustment mechanism and a liquid toner recovery system to maintain absorption performance and prevent toner adhesion, allowing for efficient and uniform toner supply without damaging the rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If regulation blades and cleaning blades are used to regulate liquid toner supply and erase residual toner, then the functions are achieved, but the blades wear early and require frequent replacement, increasing production costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade durabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the regulation blade and cleaning blade into a single integrated component that performs both functions. The regulation portion controls liquid toner supply from the anilox roller, while the cleaning portion removes residual toner from the developing roller, eliminating the need for separate blades and reducing replacement frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated blade component is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - regulating liquid toner flow and cleaning the developing roller surface. This multi-functional design reduces the number of consumable parts and simplifies the overall system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If regulation blades and cleaning blades are used, then toner supply regulation and erasure are achieved, but adjustment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment simplicityVSAvoidadjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the regulation and cleaning functions into one integrated blade assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate adjustments needed. The unified structure allows for simpler positioning and alignment compared to coordinating multiple independent blades

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If regulation blades contact the anilox roller surface, then liquid toner supply is regulated, but the roller surface may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller surface integrityVSAvoidliquid toner supply regulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of the regulation surface by coating it with PTFE (Teflon), which has low friction and non-stick properties. This allows the regulation blade to control liquid toner flow without adhering to or damaging the anilox roller surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If cleaning blades are made of urethane, then residual toner can be scraped, but the developing roller surface may still be damaged by abrasion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeveloping roller surface integrityVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning blade incorporates a PTFE-coated portion that changes the friction and adhesion parameters at the cleaning interface. This coating allows effective removal of residual toner while preventing abrasive damage to the developing roller surface through its non-stick properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 dual-purpose roller system reduces production costs, simplifies adjustments, and prevents roller damage, ensuring consistent and precise liquid toner supply and effective erasure of electrostatic latent images, while maintaining long-term absorption ability.

Implementation Method 1

a surface part of the dual purpose roller consists of a porous member which has flexibility and elasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the history of the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the developing roller can be erased

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3349068B1Wet type developing device
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY
  • EP3349068B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3349068B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3349068B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A wet type developing device is provided that allows the regulation of a liquid toner supply by the anilox roller to a surface of a developing roller and the erasure of a history of an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the developing roller to be performed with one dual purpose roller. A wet type developing device 4 including a developing roller 10 and an anilox roller 20, the wet type developing device comprises: a dual purpose roller 30 being opposite to the surface of the anilox roller 20, leaving a gap therebetween, upstream of a region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller 20 and the developing roller 10 and being in contact with the surface of the developing roller 10 upstream of the region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller 20 and the developing roller 10 and being rotationally driven, wherein a surface part of the dual purpose roller 30 consists of a porous member which has flexibility and elasticity.