Stepped Photoreceptor Support Geometry for Color Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic photoreceptors with long lengths and large areas experience color unevenness due to deviations in thickness and vibrations caused by socket and spigot processing, leading to image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A support for electrophotographic photoreceptors with a cylindrical body design where the inner diameter at both ends is larger than the central part, featuring a stepped part, and a coaxiality of 0.3 mm or less between the outer and inner diameters, achieved through precise socket and spigot processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If socket and spigot processing is performed on the support, then the photoreceptor can be assembled with the drive mechanism, but vibrations occur and color unevenness appears in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary balancing processing on the support before assembly, adjusting the center of gravity to within 5 g·mm of the rotational axis. This preliminary action prevents vibrations and color unevenness during operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and image quality.
2Productivity
If the photoreceptor length and area are increased for large-scale printing, then productivity improves, but thickness deviations cause fine line misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary thickness adjustment processing on the support to ensure uniform thickness across the entire surface. This preliminary action compensates for thickness deviations that would otherwise cause fine line misalignment in large-scale printing, enabling both increased printing area and maintained precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing methods to different regions of the support. The central region undergoes precise thickness control while the peripheral regions are optimized for structural support, allowing large overall dimensions while maintaining local precision for fine line alignment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the support thickness is increased to reduce vibrations, then image quality improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the support thickness to a specific range (3-7 mm) that provides sufficient vibration damping without excessive weight or manufacturing complexity. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal thickness that reduces vibrations while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical body having an inner diameter at each of both end parts in an axial direction larger than an inner diameter at a central part in the axial direction, the cylindrical body having a stepped part between the inner diameter at each of the both end parts in the axial direction and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction, wherein a coaxiality C between an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or less.