Tandem Electrophotographic Device Hardness Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tandem type electrophotographic image forming devices face challenges in suppressing image flow and toner slipping, leading to reduced photoreceptor lifetime and increased frequency of image flow issues due to inadequate cleaning and surface depletion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a tandem type electrophotographic image forming device with a specific configuration that includes a lubricant supplier and a cleaner, where the universal hardness of adjacent image forming units is set to satisfy a predetermined difference, optimizing the surface hardness and lubricant distribution to enhance cleaning efficiency and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a cured surface layer is used as a protective layer to reduce surface depletion, then the lifetime of the organic photoreceptor is prolonged, but cleaning failure occurs and image flow frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the universal hardness of the protective layer within a specific range (180-320 N/mm²) and adjusting the elastic deformation ratio (5-20%) to optimize the balance between surface durability and cleaning performance. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the sweet spot where the protective layer is hard enough to resist wear but soft enough to allow effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a cured resin layer with specific physical properties (controlled hardness and elasticity) to create a protective layer that exhibits both wear resistance and cleaning compatibility. The composite structure integrates the benefits of durability while mitigating the cleaning failure issue through carefully selected material properties.
2Strength
If the protective layer is made more abrasion resistant to reduce surface depletion, then photoreceptor lifetime increases, but toner slipping occurs more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the physical parameters of the protective layer, specifically controlling the universal hardness (180-320 N/mm²) and elastic deformation ratio (5-20%). This optimization ensures the protective layer has sufficient abrasion resistance to protect the photoreceptor while maintaining adequate toner adhesion properties.
3Productivity
If a cleaning blade is used to remove residual toner, then cleaning efficiency improves, but the cleaning blade deforms and cleaning failure occurs due to hard protective layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the protective layer's universal hardness (180-320 N/mm²) and elastic deformation ratio (5-20%) to create a balance where the protective layer is durable yet compliant enough to allow the cleaning blade to function effectively without deformation or failure.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses image flow and toner slipping, prolongs the lifetime of the organic photoreceptor, and enhances the overall performance of the image forming device by ensuring optimal surface depletion and reduced friction between the photoreceptor and cleaning blade.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant supplier that supplies a lubricant to a surface of the organic photoreceptor
Implementation Method 2
a cleaner that removes a toner remaining on the surface of the organic photoreceptor with a cleaning blade
Implementation Method 3
The electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating the charged surface of the photoreceptor with light
Implementation Method 4
a developer that supplies a toner to the organic photoreceptor and develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image
Data Source
AI summary
A tandem type electrophotographic image forming device using an organic photoreceptor, includes a plurality of image forming units each including at least: an electrostatic latent image former; a developer; a lubricant supplier; and a cleaner, wherein at least one combination composed of the two adjacent image forming units including toners having different colors satisfies the following formula (1) if a universal hardness of an organic photoreceptor A included in the image forming unit disposed on an upstream side is represented by Ha, and a universal hardness of an organic photoreceptor B included in the image forming unit disposed on a downstream side is represented by Hb.[Numerical formula 1]Hb−Ha≥10 N/mm2 (1)