Transfer Belt Electrode Member for Potential Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses of the transfer belt type, unstable electric potentials between the intermediary transfer belt and the transfer belt lead to electric discharge and toner scattering at the secondary transfer portion, affecting image quality by causing white spots and blurring of lines or characters.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of sheet-like electrode members on the inner surfaces of the transfer belt and intermediary transfer belt upstream of the secondary transfer portion helps regulate the surface potentials, preventing abnormal electric discharges by increasing the electrostatic capacity and stabilizing the potential difference between the belts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the recording material is electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt on the upstream side of the secondary transfer portion, then the recording material can be separated easily on the downstream side, but electric discharge and toner scattering occur at the secondary transfer portion
Solution Approach 1:
A potential regulating plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the transfer belt and the recording material. This plate regulates the electric potential of the recording material, preventing excessive potential differences that cause electric discharge and toner scattering, while still allowing effective electrostatic attraction for separation downstream
Solution Approach 2:
The electric potential parameters of the recording material are actively regulated and controlled. By adjusting and maintaining the potential within an appropriate range through the potential regulating plate, the system prevents harmful electric discharge while preserving the necessary electrostatic attraction for easy separation
2Device complexity
If the electric potential is allowed to fluctuate freely on the transfer belt, then the system operates with simple structure, but the potential unstably fluctuates causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The potential regulating plate is designed to automatically regulate the electric potential of the recording material through its own electrical characteristics. The plate self-adjusts to maintain stable potential without requiring external control systems, preserving structural simplicity while ensuring reliable potential stability
Solution Approach 2:
The potential regulating plate creates equipotential conditions on the recording material surface by conducting excess charge to ground or redistributing charge uniformly. This ensures stable potential distribution across the recording material, preventing fluctuations that would degrade image quality
3Productivity
If the potential difference between the intermediary transfer belt and transfer belt is large, then the toner image transfer is effective, but electric discharge occurs causing white spots and blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The potential regulation is applied locally at critical positions where electric discharge is most likely to occur. The potential regulating plate is positioned to specifically control the potential of the recording material at the upstream side of the secondary transfer portion, maintaining effective potential difference for transfer while preventing discharge at vulnerable locations
Solution Approach 2:
The potential regulating plate applies preliminary anti-action by pre-regulating the electric potential of the recording material before it reaches the secondary transfer portion. This preventive measure counteracts the tendency toward excessive potential difference, ensuring that while sufficient potential exists for effective transfer, harmful discharge is prevented in advance
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 solution effectively reduces toner scattering and electric discharge, resulting in improved image quality by maintaining stable potentials and preventing disturbances to the toner image during the transfer process.
Implementation Method 1
an attraction portion for electrostatically attracting the recording material to the transfer belt
Implementation Method 2
The introduction of sheet-like electrode members on the inner surfaces of the transfer belt and intermediary transfer belt upstream of the secondary transfer portion helps regulate the surface potentials, preventing abnormal electric discharges by increasing the electrostatic capacity and stabilizing the potential difference between the belts.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediary transfer belt for carrying the toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer belt for carrying and conveying a recording material; an attraction portion for electrostatically attracting the recording material to the transfer belt; a transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the intermediary transfer belt onto the recording material attracted to the transfer belt; and an electrode member, disposed downstream of the attraction portion and upstream of the transfer portion with respect to a movement direction of the transfer belt, being contacted to an inner surface of the transfer belt.