Transfer Roller Surface Waviness Control via Pressed Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

In transfer devices with a second transfer roller having a surface layer in tight contact with an elastic layer without bonding, waviness of the surface layer can cause toner components to adhere to the outer side, leading to filming issues during the transfer process.

Innovation Solution

A transfer device is designed with a second transfer roller that includes an elastic layer and a surface layer in tight contact, a scraping member to remove attached substances, and a pressed member that rotates in the same direction as the roller to press against the surface layer, reducing waviness and preventing toner adherence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a surface layer is disposed in tight contact with an elastic layer without bonding, then the structure simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but waviness of the surface layer causes toner adherence and filming issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidfilming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A pressed member is introduced as an intermediary element between the surface layer and the surrounding environment. This pressed member applies controlled pressure to the surface layer, suppressing waviness and preventing toner adherence without requiring chemical bonding between the surface layer and elastic layer, thus maintaining structural simplicity while eliminating filming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the surface layer is modified by applying pressure through the pressed member. This changes the surface topology parameter (reducing wave height) dynamically during operation, preventing toner adherence while maintaining the unbonded structure for ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a scraping member is added to scrape off attached substances, then filming is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefilmingVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a scraping member to remove toner after adherence occurs, a pressed member is positioned upstream to prevent waviness formation before toner can adhere. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex scraping mechanisms while preventing filming proactively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful waviness is extracted or suppressed at its source by the pressed member, preventing the formation of conditions that would require scraping. This removes the need for additional scraping components, maintaining device simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the pressed member rotates in the forward direction with respect to the second transfer roller, then toner slipping is reduced and transfer efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressed member is designed to rotate in the same forward direction as the second transfer roller, merging the pressing function with the rotational motion already present in the system. This coordinated rotation improves transfer efficiency by preventing toner slipping while utilizing existing motion, avoiding the need for separate complex drive mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively reduces toner slipping and filming on the second transfer roller by maintaining the maximum wave height of the surface layer below half the toner particle diameter, resulting in improved transfer efficiency and reduced toner adherence.

Implementation Method 1

a pressed member that is pressed against the surface layer on a downstream side of a contact portion with the intermediate transfer body and on an upstream side of the scraping member in a rotating direction of the second transfer roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a scraping member that is in contact with the second transfer roller to scrape an attached substance off the surface layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9885982B2Transfer device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.02.06 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A transfer device includes a second transfer roller that has an elastic layer and a surface layer disposed in tight contact with an outer side of the elastic layer and rotates to transfer a toner image on a surface of an intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, a scraping member that is in contact with the second transfer roller to scrape an attached substance off the surface layer, and a pressed member that is pressed against the surface layer on a downstream side of a contact portion with the intermediate transfer body and on an upstream side of the scraping member in a rotating direction of the second transfer roller and rotates in a forward direction with respect to rotation of the second transfer roller.