Variable Resistance Platen for Static Charge Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medium processing apparatuses, such as printers and scanners, face issues with static electricity causing paper dust to adhere to transport paths, leading to clogging and image quality issues due to ineffective charge elimination methods that can damage the medium.
Innovation Solution
A medium processing apparatus with a path forming member that changes its surface resistance value based on applied voltage, allowing for rapid charge elimination of the medium and adsorption of remaining powder, using a resin material with carbon nanotubes or a conductive metal grounded via a relay member with varying surface resistance properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a charge eliminating member such as a charge eliminating brush or a charge eliminating cloth is disposed on an upstream side or a downstream side of a platen to charge-eliminate the medium, then the medium can be charge-eliminated, but a stable charge elimination performance cannot be obtained because the distance between the charge eliminating member and the medium fluctuates, and if the charge eliminating member is brought too close to enhance performance, the surface of the medium may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the electrical parameter (surface resistance) of the platen dynamically. The platen is constructed with a resin base layer and a conductive particle layer that can alter its electrical conductivity based on applied voltage, enabling controlled charge elimination without mechanical contact that could damage the medium surface
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical charge elimination system (brushes or cloths that physically contact the medium) with an electrical field-based system. The platen with variable surface resistance creates an electrical field that eliminates charges on the medium without physical contact, thereby avoiding surface damage while maintaining effective charge elimination
2Reliability
If a metal rib having conductivity is provided on a platen formed of a resin and the metal portion is grounded to charge-eliminate charges on the medium, then charge elimination can be performed, but the surface resistance value does not change appropriately to suppress both charge elimination and paper dust adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a resin base layer and a conductive particle layer (containing metal particles, carbon particles, or graphite particles). This composite material provides both the insulating properties of resin and the controllable conductivity needed for charge elimination, allowing the surface resistance to be dynamically adjusted to prevent both charge accumulation and paper dust adhesion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the platen's surface resistance dynamic rather than fixed. By applying voltage to the conductive particle layer, the surface resistance can be changed in real-time to match different operational conditions, enabling the platen to suppress charge elimination when not needed and prevent paper dust adhesion when charges are present
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 eliminates charges from the medium during processing, preventing paper dust from adhering to the apparatus and maintaining image quality by rapidly eliminating charges and adsorbing residual powder, thus reducing the risk of clogging and dot blanks.
Implementation Method 1
a surface resistance value of the path forming member changes according to an applied voltage of the medium
Implementation Method 2
the charged medium is in sliding contact with the path forming member... the smaller the surface resistance value is, the more rapidly the charge elimination of the charged medium can be performed
Implementation Method 3
the medium powder dropped from the medium... is charged... the charged medium powder is unlikely to be charge-eliminated, and is likely to keep charged state of low voltage for a while. The medium powder charged in the low voltage state can be adsorbed by attracting to the path forming member by electrostatic attraction
Data Source
AI summary
A printer as a medium processing apparatus includes a transport path through which a paper being transported passes, a recording head that records on the paper on the transport path, and a platen that forms at least a portion of the transport path as a path forming member with which the paper comes into contact, in which a surface resistance value of the path forming member changes according to an applied voltage of the medium.