Two-Stage Voltage Control for Image Forming Waste Developer Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming devices generate excessive waste developer during the non-image-forming stage, leading to contamination and poor printing quality due to the transfer of unusually charged developers to the photosensitive element.
Innovation Solution
The method involves applying distinct potential differences between the photosensitive and developer elements in two stages within the non-image-forming stage, with the first stage having a smaller absolute potential difference and the second stage having a larger absolute potential difference, ensuring that the potential difference between the elements is reduced, thereby minimizing waste developer generation and maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a fixed voltage is applied to the developer element and photosensitive element during the non-image-forming stage, then the device operation is simple, but excessive waste developer is generated and transferred to the photosensitive element
Solution Approach 1:
The non-image-forming stage voltage control is segmented into two distinct stages: a first stage with a first potential difference and a second stage with a second potential difference. This segmentation allows different voltage levels to be applied at different times, reducing waste developer transfer while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured control
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage applied to the developer element is made dynamic rather than fixed. The voltage changes from a first voltage level during the first stage to a second voltage level during the second stage, allowing the system to adapt voltage levels to different operational phases and minimize waste developer generation
2Loss of substance
If a large potential difference is applied between the developer element and photosensitive element, then waste developer is reduced, but image quality may be compromised due to excessive voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The potential difference is dynamically adjusted through two stages: the first stage applies a first potential difference that reduces waste developer transfer, while the second stage applies a second potential difference that prepares the system for image forming. This dynamic adjustment ensures both waste reduction and image quality maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage control follows a periodic pattern with two distinct phases within the non-image-forming stage. The first stage reduces waste developer, and the second stage transitions the system toward image forming conditions, creating a rhythmic voltage control pattern that balances waste reduction with image quality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If waste developer accumulates excessively, then the waste developer storage device overflows and contaminates the image forming device, but increasing storage capacity increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage control system performs preliminary action by reducing waste developer generation during the non-image-forming stage before waste accumulation becomes problematic. The two-stage voltage control proactively minimizes waste at its source, preventing overflow and contamination without requiring enlarged storage capacity
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 approach effectively reduces waste developer generation while ensuring high image quality by retaining charged developers on the developer element and preventing excessive transfer to the photosensitive element, thus preventing contamination and maintaining image integrity.
Implementation Method 1
applying voltages to a surface of a photosensitive element and a surface of a developer element of the image forming device to form an electric field
Implementation Method 2
when a developer used by the developer element is a negatively charged developer, a direction from a higher potential to a lower potential of the first potential difference and a direction from a higher potential to a lower potential of the second potential difference are from the developer element to the photosensitive element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An image forming method includes when an image forming device is in a non-image-forming stage, applying voltages to a surface of a photosensitive element and a surface of a developer element of the image forming device to form an electric field. Applying the voltages includes: forming a first potential difference between the photosensitive element and the developer element in a first stage, and forming a second potential difference between the photosensitive element and the developer element in a second stage.