Organic Photoreceptor Hardness and Cleaning Blade Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with image deletion, raindrop-like spots, and toner slipping due to surface resistance reduction and improper contact between the photoreceptor and cleaning blade, leading to poor long-term cleanability.
Innovation Solution
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus with a protective layer containing metal oxide fine particles in a cured resin and a cleaning blade with specific hardness and angle of contact, ensuring appropriate universal hardness of the photoreceptor surface and controlled film strength to prevent image deletion and toner slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the film strength of the photoreceptor surface is reduced to prevent image deletion, then cleanability is improved, but toner fine particles adhere firmly to the surface causing raindrop-like spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the hardness of the photoreceptor surface layer within 220-280 N/mm² and the cleaning blade hardness within 60-70 JIS-A. This parameter optimization allows the surface to be soft enough for effective cleaning while hard enough to prevent toner adhesion, resolving the contradiction between cleanability and preventing raindrop-like spots
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating metal oxide fine particles (such as silica, alumina, or zirconia) into the protective layer of the photoreceptor. This composite structure provides both wear resistance and appropriate softness for cleaning, enabling effective debris removal without causing toner fine particle adhesion
2Stability of the object's composition
If the hardness of the cleaning blade is increased to prevent raindrop-like spots, then surface integrity is improved, but scratches are formed on the photoreceptor surface causing toner slipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the hardness parameters of both the photoreceptor surface layer (220-280 N/mm²) and the cleaning blade (60-70 JIS-A). This coordinated parameter adjustment ensures the blade is hard enough to prevent surface degradation but not so hard as to create scratches, while the photoreceptor surface maintains appropriate softness for toner release
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction between blade and surface with a more controlled friction-based cleaning mechanism. By optimizing the hardness match between components, the cleaning action is substituted from aggressive mechanical scratching to controlled friction that removes debris without damaging the surface
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a protective layer with high wear resistance is provided on the photoreceptor surface, then lifetime is extended, but surface resistance is reduced causing image deletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating metal oxide fine particles into the protective layer, creating a structure that combines wear resistance with appropriate surface resistance. This composite approach allows the layer to maintain its protective function while preventing image deletion through controlled surface properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by setting the hardness of the protective layer within 220-280 N/mm², which is high enough to extend lifetime but not so high as to cause surface resistance reduction. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between durability and preventing image deletion
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 prevents image deletion, raindrop-like spots, and toner slipping, maintaining long-term cleanability by optimizing the interaction between the photoreceptor and cleaning blade, ensuring effective wear and removal of debris without excessive surface damage.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blade abutted on the surface of the photoreceptor to remove the toner remaining on the photoreceptor
Implementation Method 2
at least a unit for supplying a lubricant onto a surface of the organic photoreceptor
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an organic photoreceptor in which at least a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are laminated in order on a conductive support includes at least a unit for supplying a lubricant onto a surface of the organic photoreceptor and a unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the organic photoreceptor with a cleaning blade, and satisfying the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the protective layer of the organic photoreceptor contains at least metal oxide fine particles in a cured resin obtained by curing a polymerizable compound; (2) a universal hardness of the surface of the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 220 to 280 N/mm2; and (3) a JIS-A hardness of a portion of the cleaning blade to be abutted on the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 70 to 78°.