Fixing Belt with Conductive Layer for Frictional Electrification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with fixing devices using belts often experience quality issues due to frictional electrification, which affects the quality of the images formed.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a belt member comprising a first insulating layer, an electrically-conductive layer, and a second insulating layer, where the electrically-conductive layer's volume resistance is within a specific range (9.11Ω≤log RV1≤13.34Ω at 100 volts) to minimize frictional electrification and adhesion of toner or other materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a belt is used for fixing developer images, then the fixing function is achieved, but frictional electrification occurs causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The belt is constructed as a composite material with multiple layers including an insulating layer and a conductive layer. The insulating layer prevents excessive charge accumulation while the conductive layer dissipates static electricity, thereby reducing frictional electrification effects while maintaining the fixing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls the volume resistance of the belt within a specific range (10^8 to 10^13 ohm·cm) to optimize the balance between preventing charge accumulation and dissipating static electricity. This parameter control reduces frictional electrification while maintaining effective image fixing.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the belt material is made more conductive to reduce electrification, then frictional electrification decreases, but adhesion of toner and other materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The belt uses a composite structure with both insulating and conductive layers. The insulating layer prevents toner adhesion by maintaining appropriate surface resistance, while the conductive layer dissipates frictional electrification. This composite approach resolves the trade-off between electrification and adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different layers of the belt have different electrical properties tailored to specific functions. The insulating layer provides high resistance to prevent adhesion, while the conductive layer provides lower resistance to dissipate static charges. This local differentiation of material properties solves the contradiction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the belt material is made more insulating to prevent adhesion, then adhesion of toner decreases, but frictional electrification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer composite structure allows the insulating layer to prevent toner adhesion while the conductive layer handles frictional electrification dissipation. This division of functional responsibilities resolves the contradiction between preventing adhesion and reducing electrification.
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 reduces electrostatic offset and adhesion to the fixing belt, resulting in higher-quality image formation by minimizing electric charge accumulation and preventing toner adhesion, thus enhancing image quality.
Implementation Method 1
image forming apparatus having a fixing device that uses a belt to fix a developer image on a medium may form an image with quality influenced by frictional electrification occurring at the belt of the fixing device
Implementation Method 2
an electrically-conductive layer... RV1 represents a volume resistance of the electrically-conductive layer
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a belt member. The belt member includes a first insulating layer, an electrically-conductive layer, and a second insulating layer in order. The following conditional expression (1) is satisfied,9.11Ω≤log RV1≤13.34Ω (1)where RV1 represents a volume resistance of the electrically-conductive layer on a condition that an applied voltage is 100 volts.