Electrophotographic Member Surface Layer for Uneven Media Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses face challenges in transferring toner images accurately to recording media with surface unevenness exceeding 100 μm, as existing intermediate transfer members with high fluorine rubber content in the surface layer result in insufficient toner transfer due to high surface free energy and reduced flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic member with a surface layer containing fluorine resin and fluorine rubber in a proportion of 0.5 to 1 part by mass, along with a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether as a conductive agent, which adjusts the surface free energy and maintains flexibility, enabling effective secondary transfer of toner images to uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the fluorine rubber content in the surface layer is increased to improve adaptability to surface profile, then the surface free energy increases and flexibility decreases, resulting in insufficient toner transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the fluorine rubber content parameter to a specific range (0.1 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts of fluorine resin) and introduces a conductive agent with controlled surface free energy (20 to 40 mN/m) to achieve the balance between adaptability and toner transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The surface layer is formulated as a composite material containing fluorine resin, fluorine rubber, and a conductive agent (polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether or carbon black), where each component contributes specific properties: fluorine resin provides base structure, fluorine rubber provides elasticity and adaptability, and the conductive agent controls surface free energy and electrical properties for effective toner transfer
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fluorine rubber content is increased to enhance flexibility and adaptability, then the surface free energy increases causing insufficient toner transfer to uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the fluorine rubber content within a specific range (0.1 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts of fluorine resin) and introduces a conductive agent with controlled surface free energy (20 to 40 mN/m) to achieve the balance between flexibility and surface free energy
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive agent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the fluorine rubber's flexibility and the requirement for controlled surface free energy, enabling effective toner transfer while maintaining adaptability
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 allows for accurate secondary transfer of toner images to recording media with surface unevenness exceeding 100 μm, ensuring high-quality electrophotographic images by balancing surface free energy and flexibility, while preventing image defects and excessive transfer voltage.
Implementation Method 1
The surface layer contains a fluorine resin and a fluorine rubber... which adjusts the surface free energy and maintains flexibility, enabling effective secondary transfer of toner images to uneven surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether as a conductive agent, which adjusts the surface free energy and maintains flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic member includes a base layer, an elastic layer, and a surface layer stacked in this order. The surface layer contains a fluorine resin and a fluorine rubber, the fluorine rubber is contained at a proportion of 0.5 parts by mass or more and 1.0 parts by mass or less with respect to 1 part by mass of the fluorine resin, and the surface layer further contains a compound represented by formula (1):CH3(CH2)m—O—((CH2)lO)n—OH (1)In formula (1), m, l, and n each independently represent an integer of 1 or more.