Protective Layer Prevents Powder Noise in Image Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming images using powder on base materials, such as paper, often result in excess powder attaching to background areas, causing image noise due to the powder entering the material's fibers or being pushed into surface recesses, and can damage the material with high-pressure contact for removal.

Innovation Solution

An image forming method and system that involves attaching a protective material to the base material, forming an attachment layer, and then applying powder to this layer, allowing for the removal of excess powder from the protective material without attaching to the base material, thereby preventing image noise and surface damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a remover is used to eliminate excess powder from the base material surface, then powder dirt in background portions is reduced, but powder enters the fiber or recess of the base material making it impossible to eliminate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage noiseVSAvoidpowder elimination completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by attaching the protective material to the base material before applying powder. This preliminary protective layer prevents powder from entering the fiber or recess of the base material in the first place, making subsequent removal complete and effective without compromising elimination completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protective material serves as an intermediary layer between the powder and the base material. It mediates the interaction by providing a removable surface that prevents direct contact between powder and base material, thereby preventing powder entrapment in fibers or recesses while still allowing excess powder to be removed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the remover applies high pressure to contact the base material surface, then excess powder removal is improved, but the base material surface may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcess powder removal efficiencyVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective material acts as an intermediary that absorbs the mechanical stress during the removal process. The remover contacts only the protective material, not the base material, allowing effective excess powder removal through pressure application without risking surface damage to the underlying base material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By preliminarily attaching the protective material, the patent creates a sacrificial layer that can withstand removal forces. This preliminary protective layer enables the use of more effective removal methods that apply higher pressure without directly contacting and potentially damaging the base material surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If powder is applied directly to the base material, then image formation is achieved, but excess powder attaches to background portions causing image noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage formationVSAvoidimage noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into three distinct layers: the base material, the protective material, and the powder layer. This segmentation allows the powder to be applied and removed from the protective material surface without directly contacting the base material, thereby preventing image noise while maintaining image formation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective material serves as an intermediary surface for powder application and removal. It enables easy powder attachment and subsequent removal from background portions without the powder directly contacting the base material, thus preventing image noise while still allowing image formation on the protective material surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11868085B2Image forming method and image forming system
Publication Date: 2024.01.09 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • US11868085B2 patent drawing
  • US11868085B2 patent drawing
  • US11868085B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An image forming method for forming an image on a base material by using powder includes: attaching a protective material to a surface of the base material on which the image is to be formed; forming an attachment layer on at least one of the base material and the protective material attached to the base material; attaching the powder to the attachment layer after attaching the protective material; and removing excess powder attached to the protective material from the protective material without attaching to the attachment layer.