Fixing Device Shear Force Metallic Toner Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving a high metallic effect when forming images with metallic toner, as the existing methods do not effectively distribute metallic pigment flakes to enhance surface roughness and reflectivity.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a heating portion to melt metallic toner and applies a shearing force in the transportation direction of the recording medium, causing the metallic pigment flakes to spread and form a wider coating, thereby improving surface roughness and metallic effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If metallic toner is heated and melted to form an image, then the metallic pigment flakes can be distributed to enhance surface roughness and reflectivity, but applying shear force to spread the flakes may cause excessive toner consumption or loss of image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies shear force as a physical parameter to the molten metallic toner to spread the pigment flakes horizontally. This parameter change transforms the vertical stacking of flakes into a horizontal distribution, enhancing surface roughness and reflectivity without requiring additional toner application. The controlled shear force during the fixing process achieves the desired metallic effect while maintaining toner efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If metallic pigment flakes are stacked vertically in the toner layer, then the toner application is simple, but the metallic effect is reduced due to light absorption by upper layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes shear force, a mechanical action, to disrupt the vertical stacking of metallic pigment flakes during the fixing process. This mechanical intervention causes the flakes to reorient and spread horizontally across the toner layer, allowing light to interact with more flake surfaces simultaneously. The result is an enhanced metallic effect while maintaining the simplicity of the original toner application process.
3Manufacturing precision
If shear force is applied to spread metallic pigment flakes horizontally, then surface roughness and metallic effect are improved, but the complexity of the fixing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shear force application with the existing fixing process by integrating it into the toner fixing stage. The shear force is applied through the interaction between the fixing device components during normal operation, combining the flake spreading function with the existing heating and pressing operations. This integration achieves improved surface roughness and metallic effect without requiring a separate, complex processing step.
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 solution enhances the metallic effect by evenly distributing metallic pigment flakes, improving reflectivity and image quality, with the ability to switch between quality-first and highly metallic modes to optimize toner consumption and effect.
Implementation Method 1
a heating portion that heats and melts the metallic toner on the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
A first shearing force is applied to the molten metallic toner in a transportation direction of the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a metallic toner image on a recording medium using a metallic toner containing flakes of metallic pigment; and a heating portion that heats and melts the metallic toner on the recording medium. A first shearing force is applied to the molten metallic toner in a transportation direction of the recording medium.