Image Forming Apparatus Bonding Toner Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses lack the ability to adjust toner amounts at bonded portions effectively, leading to inconsistent bonding forces and potential staining issues during the booklet making process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a pressurizing member for bonding sheets via a bonding toner, where the toner amount applied on the first surface of the uppermost sheet is smaller than on the second surface, allowing for controlled bonding and reduced staining by optimizing the toner distribution across opposing surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform amount of bonding toner is applied on both surfaces of sheets, then the bonding process is simple, but the bonding force is inconsistent and staining occurs on the pressurizing member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different amounts of bonding toner to different surfaces: a first amount on the surface that contacts the pressurizing member and a second amount on the opposing surface. This local differentiation optimizes bonding force distribution and prevents toner transfer to the pressurizing member while maintaining process simplicity.
2Strength
If a large amount of bonding toner is applied on the first surface to ensure strong bonding, then bonding force increases, but toner attaches to the pressurizing member causing staining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent differentiates toner application amounts between the first surface (contacting pressurizing member) and second surface (opposing surface). By applying a controlled first amount on the pressurizing member-contact surface and a second amount on the opposing surface, sufficient bonding force is achieved while preventing excessive toner transfer and staining.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the toner amount on the first surface is reduced to prevent staining, then staining is reduced, but bonding force becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a first amount of bonding toner on the surface contacting the pressurizing member and a second amount on the opposing surface. This localized differentiation ensures that the first surface has sufficient toner for strong bonding while the controlled amount prevents excessive transfer and staining, and the second surface provides additional bonding contribution.
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 enables the formation of booklets with enhanced bonding forces and reduced toner attachment to the pressurizing member, improving the quality and consistency of the bonding process.
Implementation Method 1
a bonding portion including a pressurizing member and configured to bond sheets together via the bonding toner by performing a bonding operation of pressurizing and heating a sheet stack by the pressurizing member
Implementation Method 2
bonds sheets together via the bonding toner by performing a bonding operation of pressurizing and heating a sheet stack
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, and a bonding portion including a pressurizing member and configured to bond sheets together. The bonding portion is configured to, in a state in which a succeeding sheet is stacked on a sheet stack that has been bonded in a previous bonding operation, perform a next bonding operation to bond a first surface of an uppermost sheet of the bonded sheet stack to a second surface of the succeeding sheet opposing the first surface. An amount of bonding toner that the image forming portion applies on the first surface per unit area of the first surface is smaller than an amount of the bonding toner that the image forming portion applies on the second surface per unit area of the second surface.