Polyvinylidene Fluoride Intermediate Transferer for Toner Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intermediate transfer belts in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges with poor toner detection accuracy due to high glossiness issues, leading to disfigurement and mechanical property deterioration, and high costs associated with polyimide or polyamideimide thermoplastic resins.
Innovation Solution
A polyvinylidene fluoride resin-based intermediate transferer is developed, incorporating a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a conductive agent, and a polymer with a polyalkyleneoxide structure, which enhances surface glossiness and toner detection accuracy while maintaining mechanical properties and reducing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If polyimide or polyamideimide thermoplastic resins are used to form the intermediate transfer belt, then mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy are improved, but production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the thermoplastic resin from conventional polyimide or polyamideimide to polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin with specific copolymer content (5-30 parts by weight per 100 parts polyvinylidene fluoride). This parameter change maintains mechanical properties while significantly reducing production cost by using a more economical resin system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining polyvinylidene fluoride resin with vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, conductive agents, and specific additives. This composite approach achieves the required mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and surface properties without using expensive polyimide or polyamideimide resins.
2Reliability
If carbon black and electroconductive resin are added to improve conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but surface glossiness deteriorates and toner detection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of conductive agents (carbon black at 1.0-20 parts by weight per 100 parts polyvinylidene fluoride resin) and introduces specific additives (polymer with polyalkyleneoxide structure at 1.0-10 parts by weight per 100 parts polyvinylidene fluoride resin). This parameter optimization achieves adequate conductivity while maintaining surface glossiness and toner detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a polymer with polyalkyleneoxide structure as an intermediary substance that mediates between the conductive agent and the resin matrix. This intermediary improves the dispersion and distribution of carbon black particles, preventing excessive surface roughness while maintaining electrical conductivity, thereby preserving both toner detection accuracy and surface glossiness.
3Shape
If high glossiness is achieved to improve appearance, then surface appearance is improved, but toner concentration sensor detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the surface properties by controlling the resin composition (polyvinylidene fluoride with specific copolymer content) and additive concentration. This parameter optimization achieves a balanced surface glossiness that maintains appearance quality while allowing sufficient optical contrast for toner detection by the concentration sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local quality differentiation by optimizing the distribution and concentration of conductive agents and additives within the resin matrix. This ensures that surface properties (glossiness) and bulk properties (conductivity, mechanical strength) are independently optimized, allowing high glossiness without compromising toner detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate transferer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride resin including polyvinylidene fluoride and a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a conductive agent and an additive. The additive includes a polymer including a polyalkyleneoxide structure having a number-average molecular weight not less than 1,000. The polyvinylidene fluoride resin includes the vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in an amount of from 5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride. The intermediate transferer includes the conductive agent in an amount of from 1.0 to 20 parts by weight and the additive in an amount of from 1.0 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin.