Low-Friction Endless Belt for Cleaner Toner Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endless belts in image forming apparatuses face issues with high dynamic friction coefficients leading to strong toner adhesion, which can cause cleaning failures and blade deterioration, affecting transferability and cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
The endless belt is designed with a coefficient of dynamic friction of 0.85 or less, and uses a layer containing resin and silicone with specific molecular weight ranges and SP value differences to reduce adhesion, ensuring all adhered polyester resin particles separate at 6 kPa or less spray pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the coefficient of dynamic friction of the endless belt is high, then toner adhesion is strong, but transferability deteriorates and cleaning failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the coefficient of dynamic friction to be 0.85 or less, and by controlling the adhesion strength of polyester resin particles to separate at 6 kPa or less. This optimization of friction and adhesion parameters resolves the contradiction between maintaining sufficient toner adhesion for transfer and preventing excessive adhesion that causes cleaning failures and deteriorates transferability.
2Force
If the coefficient of dynamic friction of the endless belt is high, then toner adhesion is strong, but cleanliness deteriorates due to cleaning blade deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by optimizing the coefficient of dynamic friction to 0.85 or less and controlling polyester resin particle adhesion to separate at 6 kPa or less. This parameter optimization prevents excessive toner adhesion that would otherwise cause cleaning blade deterioration and cleanliness issues, while still maintaining sufficient adhesion for proper toner transfer.
3Reliability
If polyester resin particles adhere strongly to the outer peripheral surface, then transferability may improve, but cleanliness deteriorates as particles cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the adhesion strength of polyester resin particles to the outer peripheral surface, specifically designing them to separate at 6 kPa or less when air is sprayed. This ensures that particles adhere sufficiently for transferability but can be easily removed for cleanliness maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic action by spraying air at controlled pressure (6 kPa or less) to remove polyester resin particles from the outer peripheral surface. This pneumatic cleaning method effectively removes particles without damaging the belt surface, resolving the contradiction between transferability and cleanliness.
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 enhances transferability and cleanliness by reducing friction and toner adhesion, maintaining cleaning blade posture and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt has a coefficient of dynamic friction of 0.85 or less
Implementation Method 2
all the polyester resin particles having adhered to the outer peripheral surface are spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface at the spray pressure of 6 kPa or less
Data Source
AI summary
An endless belt, in which an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt has a coefficient of dynamic friction of 0.85 or less, and in a case where polyester resin particles having a volume-average particle size of 4.7 μm are caused to adhere to the outer peripheral surface under a load of 0 g/cm2, and then air is sprayed on the outer peripheral surface from above the outer peripheral surface at a spray pressure that keeps increasing, all the polyester resin particles having adhered to the outer peripheral surface are spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface at the spray pressure of 6 kPa or less.