Toner Supply Ratio Control for Additive Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, low toner consumption leads to prolonged toner residence time, causing additives to separate or become buried on toner surfaces, resulting in deteriorated flowing and transferring capabilities, which affects image quality by producing rough images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with multiple toner supplying devices that adjust the toner supplying ratio based on toner consumption, increasing the additive ratio for low consumption and decreasing it for high consumption, to maintain optimal additive function and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If toner consumption per single print is reduced, then image quality deteriorates due to additive separation and burial on toner surfaces, but increasing toner consumption increases operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the composition parameter of the toner by incorporating a surfact as an additive. This surfact prevents additive separation and burial on toner surfaces during the developing process, thereby maintaining image quality even when toner consumption is reduced. The surfact modifies the surface properties of the toner particles to keep additives evenly distributed.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfact acts as an intermediary substance between the toner particles and the carrier. It mediates the interaction by preventing direct contact and adhesion between the carrier and additives on toner surfaces, thereby preventing additive burial and maintaining flowing capability during the developing process.
2Reliability
If toner residence time in the developing device is prolonged, then additives separate and become buried on toner surfaces, but reducing toner consumption increases operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the toner by adding a surfact. This surfact modifies the surface tension and interaction properties of the toner particles, preventing additive separation and burial even during prolonged residence time in the developing device. The surfact maintains stable additive distribution over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfact provides beforehand cushioning protection to the additives on toner surfaces. It forms a protective layer or modifies surface properties in advance to prevent additive burial during the developing process, thereby maintaining reliable additive distribution even when toner residence time is prolonged.
3Manufacturing precision
If external additives are supplied in large amounts to compensate for low toner consumption, then fogged images and flying toner particles are controlled, but unnecessary toner is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the toner composition parameter by incorporating a surfact as an internal additive. This eliminates the need to supply large amounts of external additives to maintain image clarity. The surfact within the toner structure prevents additive separation and maintains stable developing performance, thereby reducing unnecessary toner consumption.
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
Stably outputs high-quality images by controlling the toner supplying ratio to prevent additive separation and ensure effective toner transfer, reducing unnecessary toner consumption and image roughness.
Implementation Method 1
The electrification amount is determined by the frictional electrification, generated when the carrier and the toner are mixed.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a developing device which uses a developer including a toner and a carrier and to develop the electrostatic latent image and forms a visible toner image, plural toner supplying devices each of which supplies the toner in which mass ratio of an additive against the toner is different, and a control section which controls a ratio of a toner supplying amount to be supplied from each of the plural toner supplying devices, under a condition that toner consumption per a single print is low, the control section is configured to increase the toner supplying ratio of the toner including a high ratio of the additive, and under a condition that the toner consumption per the single print is high, the control section is configured to decrease the toner supplying ratio of the toner including a high ratio of the additive.