Electro-conductive Layer for Stable Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic apparatuses face challenges in maintaining high image quality and durability under severe environments, particularly due to resistance fluctuations in electro-conductive rollers caused by ionic electro-conductive agents bleeding and resistance changes with temperature and humidity.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic member with an electro-conductive layer containing a resin having a cationic organic group and specific anions such as fluorinated sulfonylimide or borate anions, which suppresses resistance increase during long-term electrification under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an ionic electro-conductive agent is added to an electro-conductive roller to reduce non-uniformity of electrical resistance, then the non-uniformity is reduced and low-resistance sites are suppressed, but the agent may bleed to the surface causing contamination and resistance fluctuation under extreme environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the electro-conductive agent by using specific ionic liquids with defined molecular structures (Formula 1) and selecting from 19 specific anions. This parameter change suppresses bleeding while maintaining electrical conductivity uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electro-conductive layer combining specific cationic structures (Formula 1) with selected anions to form an ionic liquid-based material that exhibits both uniform conductivity and resistance to bleeding, resolving the contradiction between uniformity and stability.
2Reliability
If an ionic electro-conductive agent is used to achieve desired resistance values, then the resistance can be controlled, but the resistance fluctuates under high-temperature and high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the electro-conductive agent by selecting ionic liquids with specific molecular structures and anions that exhibit thermal and humidity resistance, thereby maintaining stable resistance values under extreme environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional ionic electro-conductive agents with specially designed ionic liquids that have enhanced stability, effectively creating a more durable material that resists degradation under extreme environments.
3Reliability
If conventional ionic electro-conductive agents are used, then electro-conductivity can be achieved, but contamination of other members occurs due to bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the electro-conductive agent to use ionic liquids with specific molecular structures and anions that suppress bleeding, thereby maintaining electro-conductivity while preventing contamination of contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specifically designed ionic liquid as an intermediary material between the roller substrate and the environment, which provides the necessary electro-conductivity while acting as a barrier that prevents bleeding and contamination.
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 effectively stabilizes the resistance of the electrophotographic member, ensuring high-quality image formation and reducing the occurrence of ghost images, even after prolonged use in varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an ionic electro-conductive member obtained by adding the ionic electro-conductive agent can reduce the non-uniformity of the electrical resistance value
Implementation Method 2
Japanese Patent No. 4193193 discloses a method involving using an ionic liquid having a specific chemical structure as a method for the suppression of the bleeding of the ionic electro-conductive agent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrophotographic member conducive to the formation of a high-quality electrophotographic image, the member showing a small increase in resistance even after long-term electrification under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic member as a charging member and/or a developer carrying member. Specifically, provided is an electrophotographic member including a substrate and an electro-conductive layer, in which the electro-conductive layer contains a resin having a structure unit represented by the following structural formula (1) and a specific anion:in the structural formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and Z represents a cationic organic group.