Rigid Cylindrical Transfer Member for Color Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic color printing devices face challenges with accurate registration of multiple toner powder images due to the flexible nature of photoreceptor belts, leading to a large footprint and high run costs, as well as complexity in adding additional color stations.
Innovation Solution
A printing device featuring a rigid cylindrical transfer member with concentric layers, including a dielectric intermediate layer and an outer conductive layer, which allows direct transfer of toner images from photoreceptor drums to a compact, rotating surface, enabling precise registration and efficient image formation on print media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a photoreceptor belt is used to transfer multiple toner powder images, then color images can be produced, but accurate registration of multiple toner powder images becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the transfer member from flexible (photoreceptor belt) to rigid (drum with concentric layers). This parameter change enables accurate registration of multiple toner powder images while maintaining the capability to produce color images through multiple photoreceptor drums.
2Productivity
If multiple photoreceptor drums and transfer stations are used, then toner powder images can be transferred, but the device footprint becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transfer functions into a single rigid drum structure with concentric layers. Multiple photoreceptor drums transfer to different radial positions on the same drum, consolidating what would require multiple separate transfer stations into one compact component, thereby reducing device footprint while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension of a cylindrical drum to accommodate multiple transfer surfaces. Instead of arranging transfer stations linearly in a planar layout, the invention stacks transfer functions radially, allowing multiple toner image transfers to occur in a compact vertical/cylindrical space, significantly reducing the device footprint.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a photoreceptor belt with multiple color stations is used, then variable color images can be produced, but adding additional color stations becomes complicated and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color imaging function into independent photoreceptor drums, each handling a specific color or color range. This modular segmentation allows individual photoreceptor drums to be added, removed, or modified independently, making it easy to adjust the number of color stations without complicating the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid drum with concentric layers serves as a universal transfer surface that can accommodate multiple photoreceptor drums with different color capabilities. This universal transfer mechanism simplifies the addition of color stations, as the same drum structure can handle various color configurations without requiring specialized transfer components for each color.
4Area of stationary object
If a flexible photoreceptor belt is used, then the device can be compact, but registration of multiple toner images becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rigidity parameter of the transfer member from flexible to rigid. The rigid drum structure maintains compact dimensions while providing stable, precise registration surfaces for multiple toner powder images, eliminating the registration inaccuracies inherent in flexible belts.
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 achieves high print quality and speed while reducing the device's footprint, lowering run costs, and simplifying the addition of color stations, with improved registration and flexibility for variable toner colors.
Implementation Method 1
An electrical conductor is provided for electrically biasing one of the rigid cylindrical core and the conformable intermediate layer, where present
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer member for a printing device includes a shaft, a rigid cylindrical core member, mounted on the shaft, an outer layer supported on the rigid cylindrical core member, and optionally a conformable intermediate layer, spacing the cylindrical core member from the outer layer. The outer layer defines an outer surface of the transfer member, and is configured for receiving a toner image thereon. The cylindrical core and outer layer have a same axis of rotation as the shaft. The rigid cylindrical core and/or the conformable intermediate layer, where present may be electrically biased, relative to a photoconductor drum of the printing device.