Electrophotographic Belt Amorphous Polyester Void Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic belts suffer from void formation around roughness forming particles, leading to peeling of the outer surface during repeated use, which affects the stability and quality of electrophotographic images.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic member with an endless shape is developed, comprising a cylindrical film with a crystalline polyester binder, roughness forming particles, and an amorphous polyester that extends in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions around the roughness forming particles, reducing void formation and peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cylindrical film with roughness forming particles is used to create surface roughness, then image quality is improved, but voids form around the particles causing peeling during repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite resin composition containing both crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester as binders. The crystalline polyester provides structural integrity while the amorphous polyester fills voids around roughness forming particles, creating a composite material that simultaneously achieves surface roughness and peeling resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The amorphous polyester is specifically positioned to surround and fill voids around the roughness forming particles, creating a local quality enhancement in critical areas where voids would cause peeling, while the overall film structure maintains its roughness characteristics
2Strength
If the electrophotographic member is designed for high strength and conductivity, then performance is improved, but the structure becomes complex requiring multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical film serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical strength through its biaxial stretching structure, conducts electricity through the resin composition, creates surface roughness for image quality, and prevents peeling through the amorphous polyester binder. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of structural support, electrical conduction, surface roughness creation, and peeling prevention into a single integrated cylindrical film structure, merging multiple functions that could have been separate components into one unified element
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 proposed solution effectively reduces void formation and peeling of the electrophotographic member, ensuring stable and high-quality image formation even after repeated use, by filling voids around roughness forming particles with amorphous polyester.
Implementation Method 1
the amorphous polyester extends in the first direction and the second direction around at least the roughness forming particles
Implementation Method 2
a crystalline polyester as a binder, and roughness forming particles dispersed in the binder
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic member with an endless shape, the electrophotographic member comprising: a cylindrical film; and a surface layer on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical film, wherein the cylindrical film comprises: a shrinkage rate αp in a first direction serving as a circumferential direction of the cylindrical film and a shrinkage rate αa in a second direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction, both of which are 2.0% or more; and a crystalline polyester as a binder, and roughness forming particles dispersed in the binder, the surface layer includes protruded portions caused by the roughness forming particles on an outer surface opposite to a surface facing the cylindrical film, and the cylindrical film further comprises an amorphous polyester, and the amorphous polyester extends in the first direction and the second direction around at least the roughness forming particles.