Oriented Flake Toner Alignment via Bias Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses fail to effectively align flake shape toner particles on a recording medium, resulting in inadequate brilliance and uniformity of the metallic luster in the formed images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a bias applying unit that applies a bias voltage to the toner image transferred onto a recording medium, ensuring the major axis directions of flake shape toner particles align, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image with improved particle orientation, using flake shape toner particles with average dimensions of 7 μm to 20 μm in length and 1 μm to 3 μm in thickness containing metallic pigments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If flake shape toner particles are transferred onto a recording medium without bias voltage application, then the transfer process is simple, but the major axis directions of the flake shape toner particles are not aligned and the metallic luster is not uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The bias voltage is applied to the toner image on the photoreceptor before transfer, which preliminarily orients the flake shape toner particles with their major axes in the direction of the electric field. This preliminary orientation ensures that when the toner is transferred to the recording medium, the particles maintain their aligned state, achieving uniform metallic luster without requiring complex post-transfer alignment mechanisms.
2Illumination intensity
If flake shape toner particles with larger dimensions are used, then the metallic luster brilliance is enhanced, but the particle alignment becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the flake shape toner particles: major axis length of 5-20 μm and thickness of 0.5-3 μm. These controlled parameters ensure that the particles are large enough to provide brilliant metallic luster while remaining small enough to be effectively oriented by the bias voltage field. The controlled aspect ratio (length-to-thickness ratio) further ensures uniform alignment behavior during the electrophotographic process.
3Manufacturing precision
If bias voltage is applied to align flake shape toner particles, then the uniformity of metallic luster is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias voltage is applied only during the critical transfer phase when the toner image is on the photoreceptor surface, rather than continuously. The voltage is applied partially - only long enough to orient the particles before and during transfer - which is sufficient to achieve uniform metallic luster while avoiding excessive energy consumption that would result from continuous application.
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 brilliance and uniformity of the metallic luster in the formed images by aligning the flake shape toner particles, resulting in improved image quality and visual appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a bias applying unit that applies a bias voltage to the toner image transferred onto the recording medium such that major axis directions of the flake shape toner particles face substantially the same direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on a photoreceptor, a developing unit that accommodates a developer containing flake shape toner particles and develops the latent image using the developer to form a toner image on a surface of the photoreceptor, a transfer unit, a bias applying unit, and a fixing unit, wherein the flake shape toner particles have an average major axis length of from 7 μm to 20 μm and an average thickness of from 1 μm to 3 μm and contain a flake shape metallic pigment.