Lubricant Membrane for Image Bearer Discharge Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lubricants used in image forming apparatuses, such as fatty acid metallic salts, deteriorate quickly due to discharge, leading to reduced lubricity and shortened image bearer life.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant mixture of boron nitride and fatty acid metallic salt is used, with a membrane forming device applying the lubricant frictionally to the image bearer's surface, forming a lubricant membrane that maintains high lubricity and resistance to discharge-induced deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lubricants (fatty acid metallic salt) are used on the image bearer surface, then friction coefficient is decreased and lubricity is improved, but the lubricant deteriorates quickly due to discharge and lubricity is lost rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite lubricant system combining boron nitride particles (5-50 μm diameter) with fatty acid metallic salt. The boron nitride serves as a discharge-resistant base lubricant that maintains structural integrity under discharge conditions, while the fatty acid metallic salt provides enhanced lubricity. This composite approach allows the lubricant to simultaneously achieve low friction coefficients and resistance to discharge-induced deterioration, resolving the contradiction between initial lubricity and long-term durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the lubricant composition by introducing boron nitride particles with specific size parameters (5-50 μm diameter) and controlling their concentration (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter change transforms the lubricant from a simple fatty acid metallic salt into a composite system where the particle size and concentration are optimized to provide both immediate lubricity reduction and long-term stability under discharge conditions.
2Force
If lubricant is coated on the image bearer surface, then friction between image bearer and contacting members is reduced, but the lubricant deteriorates due to discharge and life of image bearer is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The boron nitride particles act as an intermediary substance between the fatty acid metallic salt lubricant and the discharge environment. They form a protective framework that shields the fatty acid metallic salt from discharge-induced deterioration, allowing the lubricant to maintain its friction-reducing properties over extended periods and thereby prolonging image bearer life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies lubricant with specific local properties: boron nitride particles concentrated in regions subject to discharge (such as near the discharge apparatus and transfer apparatus) to provide discharge resistance, while maintaining fatty acid metallic salt distribution for lubricity. This localized quality enhancement ensures that areas most vulnerable to discharge receive the protective boron nitride shielding.
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 lubricant mixture effectively reduces friction coefficients and prolongs image bearer life by forming a uniform, long-lasting lubricant membrane on the image bearer's surface, even under discharge conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane forming device that frictionally applies the lubricant to the surface of the image bearer and forms a lubricant membrane on the surface
Implementation Method 2
When the lubricant is coated on the surface of the image bearer, a friction coefficient of the surface is decreased and a friction caused between the surface of the image bearer and a member contacting the image bearer can be decreased
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer that carries a toner image, and a lubricant supplying device that supplies lubricant to the surface of the image bearer. A lubricant supplying device is provided in the image forming apparatus and includes a lubricant block and a brush roller. The brush roller shaves and supplies the lubricant from the lubricant block to the image bearer via the brush roller. The lubricant is made by molding under pressure.