Toner Cleaning Device with Titanium Oxide Additive

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electrophotographic image forming methods, excessive charging of toner in the cleaning device leads to leak current and black spot generation due to friction with cleaning blades and rollers, causing damage to photoconductors and poor polishing of the electrophotographic photoconductor surfaces.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating titanium oxide as an additive agent in the toner, with a specific fluorescence X-ray intensity ratio between the titanium oxide in the toner before use and within the cleaning device, set to a predetermined range (X2/X1 ≥ 1.2), to prevent excessive charging and air gap formation, thereby reducing leak current and black spot generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If toner is used in the cleaning device to polish the photoconductor surface, then polishing effect is improved, but excessive charging occurs due to friction with cleaning blades and rollers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolishing effectVSAvoidexcessive charging

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the electrical parameters of the toner by adding titanium oxide, which has specific electrical properties that prevent excessive charge accumulation. The titanium oxide modifies the charge characteristics of the toner particles, allowing them to maintain appropriate charge levels during friction with cleaning blades and rollers while still providing effective polishing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite toner material consisting of base toner particles combined with titanium oxide particles. This composite structure combines the polishing properties of the base toner with the electrical charge control properties of titanium oxide, achieving both effective polishing and prevention of excessive charging simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If toner is stored in the cleaning device for extended periods, then polishing continues to occur, but charge accumulates and causes leak current to the photoconductor surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolishing durationVSAvoidleak current

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The titanium oxide in the toner provides self-regulating charge dissipation properties. As charge accumulates during prolonged storage in the cleaning device, the titanium oxide automatically facilitates charge leakage prevention, allowing the toner to self-regulate its electrical properties without external intervention and maintain safe operating levels throughout extended use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If cleaning blade friction is increased to improve toner distribution, then polishing effectiveness improves, but charge accumulation increases leading to black spots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolishing effectivenessVSAvoidblack spots

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of friction-induced charge accumulation into a beneficial property by using titanium oxide to control charge distribution. The friction that previously caused harmful charge buildup now works together with the titanium oxide to maintain optimal charge levels, improving toner distribution and polishing effectiveness while preventing black spot formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Effectively prevents excessive charging and leak current, maintaining high image quality by ensuring the fluorescence X-ray intensity ratio of titanium oxide in the toner before and after use satisfies the specified relationship, thereby reducing black spot generation and improving the polishing effect on the electrophotographic photoconductor surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the toner contains a titanium oxide as an additive agent... prevent excessive charging and air gap formation, thereby reducing leak current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge dissipation: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a cleaning blade for scraping out the toner on a latent image carrier body surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

using a polishing roller and a cleaning blade in combination... polishing and cleaning the amorphous silicon drum surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS7773933B2Cleaning device and method for an electrophotographic photoconductor

Publication Date: 2010.08.10 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of preventing excessive charging in the toner within the cleaning device for effectively preventing generation of the black spots derived from the leak current. In the image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning device having a cleaning blade for scraping out the toner on a latent image carrier body surface and the image forming method using the same, the toner contains a titanium oxide as an additive agent, and with the premise that the fluorescence X ray intensity of the titanium oxide added to the toner before use is X1, and the fluorescence X ray intensity of the titanium oxide added to the toner within the cleaning device is X2, X1 and X2 satisfy the following relationship formula (1):X2/X1≧1.2 (1).