Image Forming Apparatus Powder Application for Adhesive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in forming images on label papers with adhesive layers, as the adhesive can protrude and cause contamination and adhesion issues during the printing process, especially in high temperature and humidity environments, leading to poor image quality and equipment contamination.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit and an applying unit, where a liquid mixture with powder is applied to the label paper to reduce adhesive adhesion, comprising a mixture of powder with a particle diameter between 0.5 μm and 14 μm and a volatile liquid, such as hydrofluoroether, to create a tack depression effect and prevent adhesive protrusion and adhesion to the image forming unit components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid mixture with powder is applied to the recording medium, then adhesive adhesion is reduced and protrusion is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to the additional applying unit
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid mixture containing powder particles is applied as an intermediary substance between the adhesive layer and the image forming unit. The powder particles act as a mediator that reduces adhesion between the adhesive and the image forming unit, preventing adhesive protrusion and contamination while allowing the image forming process to proceed normally
2Object-generated harmful factors
If powder is applied to reduce adhesive adhesion, then contamination of image forming unit is prevented, but the manufacturing precision may be affected due to powder application uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid mixture's parameters are optimized to achieve uniform powder distribution. The liquid component facilitates even dispersion of powder particles across the adhesive layer, ensuring consistent adhesion reduction without creating unevenness that would affect image quality. The volatile nature of the liquid ensures complete evaporation, leaving only uniformly distributed powder
3Reliability
If liquid mixture is applied to the recording medium, then adhesive protrusion is prevented, but the processing time increases due to drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid mixture utilizes phase transition from liquid to vapor to achieve its function. The volatile liquid component evaporates completely after applying the powder, transitioning from liquid phase to vapor phase. This phase transition allows the liquid to serve its purpose of distributing powder uniformly and then disappear completely, leaving no residue and requiring minimal drying time
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid component acts as a temporary, disposable medium that serves its purpose during the application process and then disappears through evaporation. It is not meant to remain in the final product but rather to facilitate the powder application and then vanish, minimizing the time required for the process to complete
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 effectively reduces adhesive adhesion and protrusion, preventing contamination of the image forming unit components and maintaining image quality by interposing the powder between the adhesive layer and the image forming unit, thereby ensuring reliable and consistent printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid mixture includes the powder reducing adhesion of the adhesive layer and volatile liquid
Implementation Method 2
the powder reducing adhesion of the adhesive layer and volatile liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and an applying unit that causes powder included in a liquid mixture to be interposed between the recording medium and the image forming unit by applying the liquid mixture to the recording medium, or to the image forming unit which comes into contact with the recording medium, wherein the recording medium includes an image forming layer, an adhesive layer, and a base layer, and the liquid mixture includes the powder reducing adhesion of the adhesive layer and volatile liquid.