Wet-Type Image Formation Apparatus Noncontact Heating Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wet-type image formation apparatuses face challenges in achieving high fixing strength and transparency of toner-fixed images due to issues like low-temperature and high-temperature offset phenomena, where toner particles adhere to the fixing member, and excess carrier liquid affects the bonding strength and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A wet-type image formation apparatus that includes an image carrier with charged toner particles and a carrier liquid, a transfer mechanism, a charging device to oppose polarities, and a noncontact heating device to form toner particles into a film, separating them from the carrier liquid, which is then fixed on the transfer surface, with an optional removing mechanism to manage carrier liquid and a pressurizing and heating mechanism for further fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a wet-type developing method is used to achieve high image quality and resolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the toner particles are not sufficiently melted and combined due to excess carrier liquid, resulting in low fixing strength and image detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating before the fixing process to evaporate excess carrier liquid from the toner image. This preliminary action removes the harmful excess carrier liquid that prevents sufficient melting and bonding of toner particles, thereby enabling strong fixation while maintaining high image quality achieved by the wet-type developing method
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter during the fixing process. By heating to a temperature sufficient to evaporate the carrier liquid and then melting the toner particles, the system achieves both high image quality from the wet-type method and strong fixing strength through controlled thermal parameters
2Productivity
If heating and fixing is performed under application of pressure, then productivity is improved, but toner particles not sufficiently melted adhere to the fixing member, causing low-temperature offset phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating to evaporate excess carrier liquid before the pressure fixing step. This preliminary action ensures that toner particles are sufficiently melted and ready for bonding, preventing them from adhering to the fixing member during pressure application and thus eliminating the low-temperature offset phenomenon
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the carrier liquid from liquid to vapor through heating. This phase change removes the excess carrier liquid that causes adhesion problems, allowing subsequent pressure fixing to occur without low-temperature offset while maintaining high productivity
3Use of energy by moving object
If the fixing member is set at low temperature, then energy consumption is reduced, but carrier liquid is less likely to be volatilized, causing low-temperature offset where toner particles adhere to the fixing member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating in a controlled manner to evaporate excess carrier liquid before the main fixing process. This preliminary action reduces the total energy required by removing the carrier liquid that would otherwise require high energy input to volatilize during fixing, while preventing low-temperature offset
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of carrier liquid from liquid to vapor through controlled heating. This phase change efficiently removes excess carrier liquid with moderate energy input, preventing low-temperature offset without requiring excessive energy consumption during the fixing process
4Temperature
If the fixing member is set at high temperature, then carrier liquid is more likely to be volatilized, but melted toner particles are divided by the fixing member, causing high-temperature offset phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating to evaporate excess carrier liquid before the main fixing process. This preliminary action reduces the amount of carrier liquid that would interfere with toner particle bonding at high temperatures, preventing the division of melted toner particles and thus eliminating high-temperature offset
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of carrier liquid from liquid to vapor through controlled heating. This phase change removes excess carrier liquid that would cause toner particle division at high temperatures, enabling high-temperature fixing without high-temperature offset phenomenon
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
This configuration effectively suppresses offset phenomena, enhances fixing strength, and improves image transparency by ensuring proper bonding and melting of toner particles, reducing carrier liquid interference and adhesion to the fixing member.
Implementation Method 1
a charging device that charges the transfer surface to have a second polarity opposite to the first polarity before the recording medium is conveyed to the nip portion
Implementation Method 2
a noncontact heating device that heats the toner image without contact with the toner image transferred onto the transfer surface. The noncontact heating device forms the toner particles into a film such that the toner particles and the carrier liquid are separated from each other by heating the toner image
Implementation Method 3
The noncontact heating device forms the toner particles into a film such that the toner particles and the carrier liquid are separated from each other by heating the toner image when the toner particles having been charged to have the first polarity are electrostatically adsorbed onto the transfer surface charged to have the second polarity
Data Source
AI summary
A wet-type image formation apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body that carries a toner image including toner particles, which are charged to have a first polarity, and a carrier liquid; a transferring roller that transfers a toner image onto a transfer surface of a recording medium; a charging device that charges the transfer surface to have a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; and a fixing mechanism that fixes the toner image. The fixing mechanism includes a noncontact heating device. The noncontact heating device forms the toner particles into a film such that the toner particles and the carrier liquid are separated from each other by heating the toner image when the toner particles charged to the first polarity is electrostatically adsorbed onto the transfer surface charged to have the second polarity. The film of the toner particles is fixed onto the transfer surface.