Image Forming Apparatus Surface Discharge for Varnish Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming devices using the electronic photography method face issues with uneven varnish application and adhesiveness due to oil or wax used as mold release agents on the transfer material, leading to operational inefficiencies and increased costs, as well as difficulties in sealing or writing on the treated surface.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a surface processing device that includes a discharging unit to generate a discharge on the fixed transfer material, improving the wettability and reducing the presence of oil or wax, allowing for uniform varnish coating and enhanced correctivity without the need for special adhesives or prolonged processing times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oil or wax is applied to the fixing member to prevent offset and winding phenomena, then mold releasability is improved, but unevenness of varnish application and adhesiveness between transfer material and film deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a surfactant to the transfer material surface before the fixing process to prevent oil or wax from causing unevenness in subsequent varnish application. This preliminary action ensures that the surface is prepared in advance to avoid adhesion problems during later coating operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a surfactant as an intermediary substance that mediates between the oil/wax on the transfer material surface and the varnish coating. The surfactant modifies the surface properties to allow both the mold release function and uniform varnish application to coexist
2Reliability
If oil or wax is applied to the fixing member to prevent offset and winding phenomena, then mold releasability is improved, but adhesiveness between transfer material and film deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant is applied to the transfer material surface before fixing to pre-modify the surface properties, ensuring that the subsequent varnish or film can adhere properly despite the presence of oil or wax from the mold release agent
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as an intermediary that bridges the incompatible surfaces - allowing the oil/wax mold release agent to function while simultaneously enabling the varnish or film adhesive to bond to the transfer material surface
3Manufacturing precision
If transfer material is left until oil decreases due to immersion to enable coating processing, then uniform varnish application is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting for natural oil migration during immersion, the patent applies a surfactant in advance to actively manage the surface properties, enabling immediate coating processing without time delays while achieving uniform varnish application
4Manufacturing precision
If special adhesive or varnish with surfactant or alcohol is used to enable coating processing, then uniform varnish application is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the surfactant application step from the adhesive or varnish formulation and applies it separately to the transfer material surface before coating. This allows the use of standard, less expensive adhesives or varnishes while still achieving uniform application and good adhesion
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 enables efficient coating of varnish or film on the transfer material while improving correctivity and operational efficiency by enhancing the surface wettability and reducing the presence of oil or wax, thus overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a discharging unit which generates a discharge on or near the fixed surface of the transfer material
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including: a toner image forming unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a transfer material, the toner image being an image formed of toner, the toner containing wax; a fixing device which fixes the toner image using a fixing member on which a mold release agent including oil is applied; and a surface processing device which processes the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the toner image is fixed using the fixing member on which the mold release agent including the oil is applied, wherein the surface processing device further includes a discharging unit which generates a discharge on or near the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the fixed toner image is formed.