Electrophotographic Conductive Layer for Low-Temperature Ghosting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrophotographic apparatuses face challenges in maintaining high image quality and durability under low temperature environments, with issues such as ghosting and resistance unevenness due to uneven distribution of conductive agents, particularly in conductive rollers.

Innovation Solution

The use of a conductive layer comprising a first resin with urethane bonds, ether bonds, or aromatic rings, and a second resin with specific (meth)acrylic structures, along with a sulfonylimide anion and metal cations, to stabilize cations and enhance ion dissociation, ensuring uniform conductivity and preventing resistance fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If an ionic conducting agent is used to reduce resistance unevenness, then conductivity uniformity is improved, but ghosting occurs under low temperature environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductivity uniformityVSAvoidimage quality stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ionic conducting agent by specifying a particular structure for the anion (formula 1) with specific groups (sulfonyl, imide, and fluorinated alkyl groups) and restricting the cation to alkali metal ions. This parameter optimization enables effective ion dissociation even at low temperatures, preventing ghosting while maintaining conductivity uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite ionic conducting agent system combining a specifically structured anion (with fluorinated alkyl groups, sulfonyl groups, and imide groups) with alkali metal cations. This composite structure enhances the agent's performance in low-temperature environments by improving ion mobility and dissociation efficiency, thereby preventing image quality degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conductive particles such as carbon black are used, then resistance stability over time is improved, but local high-resistance or low-resistance segments are generated due to uneven dispersion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance stabilityVSAvoidconductivity uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical mixture of conductive particles (carbon black) with a chemically integrated ionic conducting agent system. The ionic conducting agent, with its specific anion-cation structure, provides electrical conductivity through ion dissociation rather than through particle-to-particle electron conduction, eliminating the dispersion issues inherent in particle-based systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If a conventional conductive layer is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but image quality deteriorates under low temperature conditions due to ghosting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidimage quality under low temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the chemical parameters of the ionic conducting agent by specifying the anion structure (formula 1) and cation type, enabling the material to maintain effective ion dissociation at low temperatures. This parameter optimization allows the conductive layer to prevent ghosting and maintain image quality without complicating the manufacturing process.

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

This configuration stabilizes the formation of high-quality electrophotographic images under low temperatures by preventing ghosting and resistance fluctuations, ensuring consistent image quality and durability.

Implementation Method 1

an ionic conducting agent including a (meth)acrylic resin having a specific structure and capable of stabilizing cations and enhancing ion dissociation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon dissociation: Electrolyte

Implementation Method 2

a structure expressed by a following formula (1), wherein R12 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R13 represents a straight chain or branch alkylene group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, R14 represents a fluorine atom or a straight chain or branch perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X+ represents at least one selected from the group consisting of a lithium ion, a sodium ion, and a potassium ion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Coulomb's Law

Data Source

PatentUS20250231522A1Electrophotographic member, electrophotographic process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and ionic conducting agent

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 CANON KK

AI summary

An electrophotographic member comprising: a conductive substrate; and a conductive layer on the substrate, in which the conductive layer comprises a first resin and a second resin, the first resin is a resin having at least one selected from the group consisting of an urethane bond, an ether bond, and an aromatic ring, and the second resin comprises a (meth)acrylic resin having a structure expressed by the following formula (1), and a structure expressed by the following formula (2).