Wet-Type Development Device Uniform Thin Layer Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wet-type development devices often form uneven thin layers at the nip section due to uneven developer accumulation, leading to thickness variations and streak noise, which affect the quality of the toner image formed.

Innovation Solution

A wet-type development device with a developer regulating member that creates a storage space upstream of the nip section with a higher fluid level than the nip section, ensuring uniform developer supply and constant pressure, thereby forming a uniform thin layer at the nip section.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a thin layer is formed on conveyance roller using developer stored in developer container, then developer can be supplied to form toner image, but uneven developer accumulation occurs causing thickness variations and streak noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethin layer uniformityVSAvoiddeveloper accumulation uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a developer regulating member that creates a storage space upstream of the nip section, where developer accumulates before being supplied to the nip. This preliminary accumulation ensures uniform developer distribution at the nip section, preventing thickness variations and streak noise in the formed thin layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The developer regulating member acts as an intermediary between the developer container and the nip section. It includes a storage space with bottom surface positioned higher than the nip section, regulating developer flow and ensuring uniform supply to eliminate accumulation unevenness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If draw-up roller is partially soaked in developer to draw up developer toward conveyance roller, then developer can be supplied continuously, but uneven accumulation in axial direction causes streak portions and raised/lowered portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeveloper supply continuityVSAvoidthin layer thickness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The developer regulating member serves as an intermediary that receives developer from the draw-up roller and regulates its flow to the nip section. The storage space with elevated bottom surface ensures uniform distribution, preventing streak portions and raised/lowered portions while maintaining continuous supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the storage space bottom surface, positioning it higher than the nip section. This parameter change regulates developer flow dynamics, ensuring uniform accumulation and preventing the formation of streak portions and raised/lowered portions on the draw-up roller surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If two rotatable members are brought into contact to form thin layer at nip section, then developer can be transferred to form image, but uneven developer distribution leads to thickness variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethin layer formationVSAvoidthin layer thickness consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The developer regulating member creates a storage space upstream of the nip section, performing preliminary developer accumulation and regulation. This ensures uniform developer distribution is achieved before the thin layer formation process at the nip section, preventing thickness variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The developer regulating member with its storage space acts as an intermediary between the developer container and the nip section. It regulates developer flow and ensures uniform distribution to the nip section, enabling consistent thin layer formation without thickness variations.

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 a uniform thin layer at the nip section, eliminating thickness variations and enabling the formation of high-quality toner images with consistent image quality.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid level in the vertical direction of the developer in the storage space is higher than the nip section when the developer is being supplied toward the nip section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrostatic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8818243B2Wet-type development device and wet-type image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A wet-type development device includes a draw-up roller and a conveyance roller rotating in contact with each other's surface, and a developer regulating member arranged facing to and keeping a distance from a nip section formed between the draw-up roller and the conveyance roller at the contact surface. The developer regulating member forms a storage space for storing developer to be supplied toward the nip section, on the upstream side of the nip section. The fluid level of developer in the vertical direction in the storage space is higher than the nip section when the developer is being supplied to the nip section.