Urging Roller PFA Surface Layer Toner Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urging rollers for cleaning devices in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with toner transfer onto the sponge layer, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
The development of an urging roller with a fluororesin PFA surface layer and a bonding material between the elastic layer and wire, which enhances toner parting properties and prevents wire deviation, improving cleaning efficiency and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sponge layer is used in the urging roller to provide elasticity and cleaning contact, then the cleaning ability is improved, but toner soaks into the sponge layer and transfers onto it, reducing wear resistance and cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a sponge layer with a fluororesin PFA surface layer. The sponge layer provides elasticity and cleaning contact, while the PFA surface layer prevents toner absorption and provides wear resistance. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing both cleaning ability and reliability to coexist through the complementary properties of the two materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer with different properties from the bulk sponge material. The PFA surface layer is applied only to the outer surface where toner contact occurs, providing toner parting properties and wear resistance exactly where needed, while the inner sponge layer maintains its elasticity and cleaning function.
2Productivity
If wire is wound on the sponge layer to enhance cleaning power, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the wire may deviate from its position, reducing manufacturing precision and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The PFA surface layer acts as a bonding matrix that embeds and secures the wire in its intended position. The composite structure of PFA and wire prevents wire deviation while maintaining the enhanced cleaning power provided by the wire's mechanical action on the cleaning web.
Solution Approach 2:
The PFA surface layer functions as a flexible thin film that conforms to the wire structure while holding it in place. This thin film layer provides positional stability to the wire without restricting its ability to provide mechanical cleaning action through the cleaning web.
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 suppresses toner transfer onto the sponge layer, enhances cleaning power, and reduces the frequency of part exchanges, maintaining print quality and enabling stable continuous printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a surface layer made of a fluororesin PFA extending along a peripheral surface of the elastic layer
Implementation Method 2
a bonding material between the elastic layer and wire
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An urging roller (46) for urging a cleaning web (48) to a rotatable member of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a shaft (46a); an elastic layer (46b) provided on a peripheral surface of the shaft; a wire (46c) wound on a peripheral surface of the elastic layer; and a toner parting layer (46d) coating a peripheral surface of the elastic layer with the wire.