Intermediate Transfer Member Conductive Coating for Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intermediate transfer members in electrostatographic systems often experience charge exchange with toner particles, leading to incomplete toner transfer, low resolution images, and color shifting, especially when using phosphate ester and polyamideimide (PAI) compositions, which also require labor-intensive manufacturing processes and high humidity conditions.

Innovation Solution

A conductive intermediate transfer member comprising a mixture of a phosphate ester, polyamideimide (PAI), and a conductive component like carbon black, which provides excellent conductivity, humidity insensitivity, and self-releasing properties from metal substrates, allowing for easy manufacturing and improved image transfer quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If phosphate ester and polyamideimide composition is used in intermediate transfer members, then transfer efficiency is improved, but charge exchange with toner particles occurs leading to incomplete transfer and image deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer efficiencyVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the intermediate transfer member by incorporating specific conductive components (carbon black, metal oxides, or conducting polymers) alongside phosphate ester and polyamideimide. This parameter change adjusts the surface conductivity to minimize charge exchange with toner particles while preserving high transfer efficiency, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining phosphate ester, polyamideimide, and conductive components in specific ratios. This composite structure leverages the high transfer efficiency of phosphate ester/PAI while the conductive components suppress charge exchange, simultaneously achieving both improved productivity and maintained reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If phosphate ester and polyamideimide coating is applied to metal substrate, then transfer performance is improved, but manufacturing becomes labor-intensive requiring puzzle cut seams and conditioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a release layer as an intermediary between the phosphate ester/PAI coating and the metal substrate. This release layer enables the coating to be easily removed after curing, eliminating the need for labor-intensive puzzle cut seam assembly and lengthy high-temperature/high-humidity conditioning steps, thus improving ease of manufacture while preserving transfer performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the problematic adhesion特性 of the phosphate ester/PAI coating to the metal substrate by introducing a release layer that mediates the interface. This allows the coating to be easily separated (taken out) from the substrate after curing, eliminating manual assembly operations and complex conditioning processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional intermediate transfer member is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but weldable seams require labor-intensive manual assembly and lengthy conditioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseam assemblyVSAvoidconditioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The release layer acts as an intermediary that enables easy separation of the coating from the substrate, allowing weldable seams to be assembled without labor-intensive manual puzzle cut seam assembly. The release layer facilitates this simplified assembly while the cured coating's properties eliminate the need for lengthy high-temperature/high-humidity conditioning, simultaneously improving ease of manufacture and reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves high transfer efficiency with minimal resolution issues and color deterioration, enabling automatic or simple hand peeling of the coating from substrates, while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and wear resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive component like carbon black, a metal oxide, or a conducting polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

which coating mixture after being applied to a substrate, such as a metal substrate, possesses self release characteristics from the metal substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-release characteristic:

Data Source

PatentUS8366969B2Phosphate ester polyamideimide mixture containing intermediate transfer members

Publication Date: 2013.02.05 XEROX CORP

AI summary

An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes for example, a polyamideimide, a phosphate ester and a conductive component, like carbon black.