Transfer Member Coating for Embossed Paper Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer members fail to maintain sufficient followability and secondary transfer properties when used with recording media having irregular surfaces, such as embossed paper, leading to image quality defects like distortion and positional displacement.
Innovation Solution
A transfer member comprising a base material layer and a coating layer made of an inorganic-organic hybrid material, with the coating layer having a thickness of 10 µm or less and microhardness between 140 to 600 mN/mm², which enhances durability and conductivity, improving transfer properties on irregular surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional transfer member is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the followability to recording media with irregular surfaces is insufficient, leading to deteriorated secondary transfer property
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer member uses a composite coating layer made of inorganic-organic hybrid material formed by sol-gel method on a porous substrate. This composite structure provides both the mechanical support from the substrate and the functional properties (conductivity, surface characteristics) from the coating layer, enabling improved followability to irregular surfaces while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer member employs a porous substrate as the base material, which provides high surface area and flexibility to conform to irregular recording medium surfaces. The porous structure allows the coating layer to effectively contact and follow the surface contours of embossed or textured paper, improving secondary transfer property
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the coating layer thickness is increased to improve durability, then the durability improves, but the followability to irregular surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the coating layer thickness to 1 µm or less (significantly thinner than conventional coatings) to maintain flexibility and followability to irregular surfaces. Despite the thin thickness, durability is achieved through the use of inorganic-organic hybrid material with appropriate microhardness (140-600 mN/mm²) and the porous substrate structure that provides mechanical support
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the microhardness of the coating layer is increased to improve durability, then the durability improves, but the toner releasability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies a microhardness range of 140-600 mN/mm² for the coating layer, which balances durability and toner releasability. The inorganic-organic hybrid material provides sufficient hardness for durability while the sol-gel formed coating maintains appropriate surface characteristics for toner release. This optimized parameter range prevents both excessive softness (poor durability) and excessive hardness (poor releasability)
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
The solution significantly improves transfer properties and durability, ensuring better image quality and reliability when used with embossed paper and other irregular recording media by maintaining uniform conductivity and hardness, thus reducing image defects.
Implementation Method 1
conductivity is controlled by, for example, a method in which a resin as a base material of the belt is mixed with a conducting agent to impart conductivity
Implementation Method 2
formation of a coating layer composed of an inorganic-organic hybrid material on a substrate of a transfer member by a sol-gel method
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a transfer member for an image forming device for which the transfer properties for recording media having recesses and protrusions on the surface, such as embossed paper, are superior. The transfer member for an image forming device is characterized by including a base material layer and a coating layer formed from an inorganic/organic hybrid material provided on the surface of the base material layer, the thickness of the coating layer being 10 µm or less, and the micro hardness of the coating layer surface being 140 mN/mm2 or greater when measured by a method complying with ISO 14577-1 using a Berkovich indenter with a pressing depth of 0.05 µm.